Whilst Intel’s Wireless Display technology may be front of mind for many when considering pushing video from a PC to a TV or projector, it requires compatible laptops (Intel-based, obviously) and TV adaptors. That may be fine for those ready to invest in new kit, but what about connecting your existing, or older PCs?
Today we take a look at the Q-Waves Quicklink HD, which takes advantage of a combination of the Wireless USB, WiMedia and DisplayLink standards to connect your mobile or desktop PC (sorry Mac owners) to the big screen. It’s a use case that may be more relevant to the workplace than the home, but Q-Waves boast the ability to stream video content from BBC iPlayer and other service providers from PC to the TV at 1080p. For those yet to hook up their TV to the Internet, the Quicklink HD may offer a convenient alternative – as long as it lives up to its promise.
What’s in the Box?
The relatively compact package contains:
- 1 x Wireless USB (PC) Adaptor
- 1 x Wireless USB HD (TV) Adaptor
- HDMI Cable
- TOSLINK Optical Audio Cable
- USB TV Adaptor Dock
- Power adaptor
- Quick Start Guide
- Installation CD
The kit itself comes in two parts – firstly, a USB adaptor for your PC that sticks up rather awkwardly at a 90 degree angle plus a second adaptor for the TV that fits into a supplied dock. The adaptor slots into a USB port on the top surface of the dock and you’ll find a HDMI connector, optical audio and a headphone jack all fitted to the rear of the dock for connection to your AV equipment. Materials consist of relatively cheap plastics that haven’t been assembled to the highest quality (e.g. the PC adaptor fits the USB port well, but is relatively wobbly to the touch). With regard to the TV Adaptor, the USB connector appears to have been fitted the wrong way around, in that when the adaptor is placed on the desktop with the connectors at the rear (which I’m assuming is how most users will position it) the blue connection LED on the USB adaptor itself is turned away from you. Perhaps this is to help reception, but ergonomically, it’s broken. But you’ll be more interested in function than form, for this kind of device I’m sure.
