Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter v1

I have been looking for some sort of device to mirror my Surface Pro 3 to the TV without having ugly wires showing at this is it! I had tried the Google Chromecast since it said mirroring was possible however it was only mirroring what was being shown on google chrome. I could not mirror different applications like the Netflix app. I then tried the Amazon Fire Stick- I thought it had mirroring capabilities however it does not as well. I finally stumbled upon this little beauty and it did everything I wished it would. I had called the local Microsoft store and they told me it would mirror everything that was on my tablet so I had to give it a try. It was perfect! Very simple to install- just plug the HDMI in its slot and plug in the USB for power (I plug it into an empty USB slot on my TV). Then all you do is go to your tablet search for devices and it shows up and installs by itself. I have had one problem with it recently in that it would not connect- however after some tinkering with my tablet I realized it was the fault of my tablet and not the Microsoft Wireless Display. Also as a side note this will only work with devices with Microsoft WIDI (Apple products will not work). So this device doesn't work on my older laptop (4 years old) but works perfectly with my girlfriends newer laptop.

Absolutly awesome! That little thing is what I was waiting for for a long time. It does what it is designed to do: sharing your screen anywhere wirelessly. I travel a lot for my business meeting with our sales force and it's the ideal solution when we get together in an hotel room to present. Just plug it in the TV and you're good to go. No frills, just the good stuff. I also use it at home to stream movies from CBS online it works wonderfully well, and soon we will equip our conference rooms with it. No more cables. Connecting is incredibly easy: no setup, no need for any wifi connection. The computer just finds it, you click, it works! I also like the fact that with the display app (Windows 8) you can rename it, password code it etc. For my Surface Pro 3, this device is a great complement. I guess the only bad side is the fact that you need Windows 8, not all computers have it yet.

Good when it works, Windows 10 compatible UPDATED 22 Nov 15. This review discusses Windows 10 and the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter Three stars because of nearly useless Microsoft documentation, a minimalist "app", confusing initial setup with Windows 10, and apparently unavoidable dropouts / hang-ups. Otherwise, a useful device which does not require a wireless router / network for its own operation. Not requiring a wireless network to operate can be a major advantage, since audio/video can be transferred to a TV (or other HDMI-input display) in places like grandpa's living room, which may not have a wireless network – or in which existing wireless networks are weak or unreliable. Grandma can see all the latest grandkid photos from the smartphone on her TV set, big and bold, no network needed. As touted by Microsoft, the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter can wirelessly receive video and audio from appropriately configured smartphones, tablets, laptops, or any other devices with so-called "Miracast / WiDi" capability. The adapter receives video, audio, or both from a "controller" device and processes received signals into HDMI-format signals for use by TV sets, monitors, or anything else which accepts HDMI -format signals. I've never been able to continuously use this device for more than about an hour without it suddenly quitting, and having to be re-started. Most recent smartphones, tablets and laptops have the hardware (wireless interconnect) and software required to connect to, control and use the Microsoft Adapter. The adapter is easy to physically install. It must be connected to both HDMI and USB connectors on a TV set, since it gets its power from the USB connection. In use, the adapter gets warm, but in my experience, not hot. Once the adapter is physically connected to the TV set, the TV set turned ON, the device selected for display on the TV, and the device allowed to initialize, the "controller" – smartphone, tablet, laptop – must be wirelessly connected to it. As a minimum, that means the controller must download a free Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter app from the Microsoft Store. This begins the hassle, unless one already has a Microsoft account. Once the adapter app is installed on the controller device (smartphone, etc.), the controller is theoretically ready to "talk" to the Microsoft adapter; update the adapter firmware; establish system settings; and go to work transferring video and audio from the controller device to the TV or other display device. It is good to have the controller (laptop, etc.) within a few feet of the wireless adapter during this setup. Unless Windows 8.1 or 10 users are familiar with the operating system "project" function – the verb form, to shine upon or make visible / audible at a distance, not the noun form, an endeavor planned and executed – it can be a hassle finding the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter in Windows to set it up and use it. I'm not familiar with Windows 8.x – I have avoided it like the plague. In Windows 10, the easiest way I have found to find, set up and use the Microsoft adapter is to click on the "Notification" icon in system tray / notification area (lower right of the screen). Unless you've hidden it, a "Connect" block or tile will be present toward the bottom of the full Notification area window which appears. Click on the "Connect" block / tile to force the laptop to search for the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter. If the "Connect" process finds the adapter, "MicrosoftDisplayAdapter_xx" (where xx is a number), will appear in the "Connect" window. Click on the name displayed to force Windows 10 to actually connect to the adapter. UPDATE: THIS PROCESS MAY OR MAY NOT REQUIRE A "PIN" FOR THE ADAPTER. Contrary to Microsoft claims in Windows 10 Start -> Settings -> Devices -> Connected Devices ->MicrosoftDisplayAdapter_xx, there is no PIN on the display adapter itself, nor in accompanying documentation. If a PIN is asked for by the Windows 10 "Connect" process, it will be displayed on the TV screen during a "pairing" process which is displayed on the TV or other display. UPDATE: If a PIN is used, once it has been entered in the Windows 10 "Connect" box on the control device (laptop, etc.), the requirement for a PIN can be disabled using the downloaded display adapter app. Open the app on the control device (Start -> All apps -> Wireless Display Adapter) and uncheck the "Pairing mode" box for "Require PIN code to pair". On subsequent use of the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter, the control device will connect to the adapter without the use of a PIN. UPDATE: If the video displayed on the TV is poor, it may be necessary to update the software driver for the Microsoft adapter. For Windows, this can most easily be done from "Device Manager". To access Device Manager in Windows 10, right-click the Start icon, and click Device Manager in the pop-up window. In Device Manager, find and click on "Miracast display devices". UPDATE: Right-click "MicrosoftDisplayAdapter_xx" ("xx" is a number). Click on "Update Driver Software". Select your preferred driver search, and complete the driver update. UPDATE: If all is well after driver update, continue to use the wireless display adapter. If the TV display is still unsatisfactory, it may help to restart windows and re-connect the control device (laptop, etc.) to the wireless display adapter. Once Windows 10 is connected to the Microsoft adapter, clicking on ""Change projection mode" will permit selecting "Duplicate", to ensure that if you view video on your laptop, that video will appear on your TV or other device. UPDATE: The Microsoft adapter can also be found from Start -> Settings -> Devices -> Connected devices ->Add a device. Clicking "Add a device" will cause Windows 10 to search, and it should find the Microsoft wireless display adapter. If it does, clicking on the "MicrosoftDisplayAdapter_xx Television" (where xx is a number) will bring up a window requiring a PIN, which the window claims is on the device or in its accompanying documentation. WRONG!!! There is no PIN on the device, or in accompanying documentation. See previous paragraphs to find the PIN displayed on your TV. For those not "in the know", this so-called "display adapter" is a peer-to-peer device operating in the 2.4 GHz radio frequency band (as do many, many other devices, particularly wireless routers and Bluetooth devices, increasing the likelihood of interference with this "adapter"). As a peer-to-peer device, this adapter "talks" directly to and from whatever is controlling it - a laptop, smartphone, tablet, etc. The controlling device (smartphone, etc.) must have "WiFi" (wireless local network) capability, plus appropriate software drivers and apps which allow the controlling device to "talk" to the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter using a so-called "Miracast" version of Intel Corporation's WiDi (Wireless Display) protocols, or similar Android devices and software with Miracast / WiDi capability. Strangely enough, "certification" of devices to work with Miracast / WiDi is performed by the Wi-Fi Alliance, a group of commercial companies initially brought together to make sure their own supposedly IEEE 802.11 - compliant devices were 1) actually compliant, and 2) would operate satisfactorily with each other. These firms trademarked the term "WiFi", for "Wireless Fidelity" - yeah, for real - meaning nothing more than devices compliant with IEEE 802.11 standards. UPDATE: Functionally, this means the controlling device (laptop, etc.) must have a wireless send-receive capability in the 2.4 GHz region, and have software which allows it to "pair" directly with the Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter.

This wireless display adapter has worked flawlessly for me. It connects the first try, every time. And I have never lost a connect unexpectedly. I want a wireless display adapter to support display of the entire desktop and all applications, not just a select number that had been optimized, like with the Google ChromeCast. With the ChromeCast, even with apps design to be 'cast,' it was very unstable, and randomly dropping offline, even in a area with strong wireless coverage. I was very disappointed with it. I have an Amazon FireStick, and for what it does, it's awesome, and 100% reliable. Great for media consumption. But is still doesn't solve an easy way to wirelessly connect your computer to a display, and use the entire desktop. Now, I can still easily watch Netflix or Amazon Prime streaming, as well as use any other app I may want to share with others, or enjoy in large format. For me, this is a no-compromise device.

i'm reviewing in comparison to the chromecast as this was the first choice that failed miserably. wireless display adapter, its more expensive than a chromecast but it actually uses the miracast connection. that means a wifi direct-like connection to your tablet or pc without adding any load to your network. theres no app required and there is no sending to microsoft messages about your activity, or viewing content. If you have a PC with an intel chipset from the last 4 years, chances are you already have the hardware to wireless display and didn't even know it. chromecast $35 MS Widi adapter $45~$60. i guess the extra 20 bucks is the tradeoff of using the wireless display without tweeting back to google that you are watching a movie that exceeds the safesearch rating, at the hotel shangri la, room 134, room reserved under mr and mrs smith, a google wallet charge for champagne, chocolates, condoms, a mini bar tab of 5 vsop brandies, with face unlock image of ...oh wait, that isn't your wife in the background!...i just want to put image on screen A to screen B, without anyone reaching below and asking me to cough every time i turn it on..microsoft wireless display adapter fits that bill to a TV without any fuss. the only downside i've seen with the MS wireless display adapter is the fixed usb cable, which at some point will fatigue and break, should you have a tv without a powered usb port, then you have to buy a usb extender or an adapter with a female connection. for the current price that is kind of lame considering even the chromecast comes with a wall wart and long usb cable for this very scenario. in your average 3 bedroom home, the wireless display adapter stays paired and a live netflix movie runs without stutters. chromecast, not even close; you have to be very close to the dongle and the dongle must be as close to your AP as possible. even then, if other people are on your network, you will see hiccups. and as chromecast idles, it chats a LOT with google, 300 megs a day worth..

I was able to connect my Microsoft Surface Pro 3 running Windows 10 to my Panasonic TC-P65VT50 Plasma HDTV within two minutes, see and hear whatever was on the Surface also on my TV. The Surface Pro 3 is Miracast enabled if using Windows 8.1 and 10. Its native screen resolution is 2160 x 1440 and will support attachment of additional HDMI devices. I did not purchase the adapter to view TV; but, my new projector has not yet arrived. I had no expectation that my 2012 TV even had a powered USB connector since its specifications did not clearly state that fact. I plugged the adapter into one of its HDMI ports then one of its USB ports and the little white light on the adapter lit up. Then it was as simple as connecting the Surface to the adapter device. Like magic, it worked. I can see everything on my Surface also on my TV. PowerPoint played fine including imbedded video with audio. No, the Surface image did not fill the 65" HDTV screen fully. The free Microsoft Wireless Display Adapter application has a slider to resize the image. That allowed me to fit the full Surface screen to the TV, leaving some black to the image sides. The sound was louder than normal from television. The image looked as clear as on my Surface only much larger. If I have the same results thru a HD projector, then mission accomplished. FYI: the adapter kit includes a separate male / female HDMI plug of almost 7 inches. It would allow you to run HDMI cable from the wireless adapter to your TV / projector. That might be useful if you have difficulty reaching a powered USB port. Logically, I would agree that a wired HDMI or DisplayPort connection could pass more audio and video data than this wireless device; but with the inconvenience of being tethered to the other device. Oddly, I use satellite or 100 Mbps wired Ethernet to watch movies on my TV, not a cell phone or a computer. So this wireless adapter seems quite adequate to my needs. My tip: ensure you do meet the specifications of the adapter by checking the available Technical Data Sheet. UPDATE: Also no issues connecting to a Epson PowerLite 1284 projector. Resolution at projector is 1920 x 1440. No direct cable connection, pure wireless. Sound is louder than at the PC. I also tried the Epson USB connection to the projector. Not any higher perceptible resolution and no sound. Very minor delay apparent only to me not audience. This is a keeper with direct HDMI or USB as alternate plans.

I use this to display both my Surface Pro 3 as well as Sony Vaio with Windows 8.1 onto my TV both at home and at clients offices and facilities for meetings. The plus side to this VS chromecast and some other similar devices is that i don't need to connect the device or my laptop to someone elses WiFi network which is good for both my security as well as the other persons and some businesses you can't connect without security certificates or registering the MAC address first an this eliminates that hassle. Great product and works very well! There are many companies/brands that make miracast receivers but Microsoft is a well know hardware manufacturer and you generally get what you pay for :) For the initial setup use the following procedure for the best results - -Swipe in from the right edge of the screen, and then tap Devices. (If you're using a mouse, point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Devices.) -Tap or click Project, and then tap or click Add a wireless display. -Choose the wireless display in the list of devices found, and follow the instructions on the screen. Mission complete!

I am disappointed. We bought this to watch some live streaming from our computer. It connects fine. Then about 30 to 45 minutes into the 2 hours presentation the video freezes. Some times we can reconnect and every thing is fine for 10 to 15 minutes. Other times the video will come up but no audio. Other times neither will reconnect. I will say after the first connection drops it is about 1/3 each of the other failures. I upgraded my computer to Wins 10 hoping it would help. It did not help the same problem. I took the unit today to the MS Store and they were very nice to swap the unit with a new one. I encountered the same issue with the new adapter but only faster loss of connection. I do not know if it is the TV, the Adapter or the Computer. So I rated this as a 3 stars because I am not 100% it is the adaptor fault.