Once the transmitter has been inserted, the IOGEAR Wireless USB Manager utility should show the state on the connection between the transmitter and receiver. A DisplayLink tool will also populate the system tray.

Using the native Windows screen properties configuration, the display connected via Wireless USB can be configured for the appropriate resolution with a maximum of 720p for video or 1440 x 900 for other applications. The display can also be configured to mirror the primary or be used in extended mode (recommended for video). 

Using the native Windows screen properties configuration, the display connected via Wireless USB can be configured for the appropriate resolution with a maximum of 720p for video or 1440 x 900 for other applications. The display can also be configured to mirror the primary or be used in extended mode (recommended for video).

On the audio side, a new audio output will be available to send stereo audio wirelessly to the display or speakers attached to the base unit.

Once the software and hardware were configured, the display was utilized at the maximum 1440 x 900 resolution. In both mirror and extended mode, there were no issues using productivity applications such as Microsoft Word, viewing photos or listening to stereo audio. Audio quality was acceptable and no aberrations were detected.

Using an environment with populated with 2.4GHz wireless and DECT phone frequencies, the maximum line-of-sight (LOS) that could be tested was a length of approximately seventeen feet and the GUWAVKIT2 had no problems maintaining a good connection at that LOS distance. The performance is sensitive to obstacles however, even walking in between the transmitter and receiver for more than a few seconds caused a loss of synchronization, a phenomena even more severe when using a wall as the obstacle. Fortunately, a resynchronization only takes approximately ten seconds. IOGEAR makes no claims beyond thirty feet LOS so any obstacles should certainly be accounted for when locating the base and transmitting units.

Finally, with the resolution configured for 720p in extended mode and using HDMI, video performance was examined. First, video levels were inspected and it was observed that the output of the GUWAVKIT2 was RGB with PC levels (0 – 255) with proper 0 – 255 levels displayed for PC content and 0 – 235 levels for video content. So while levels were correct, the HDMI device accepting the GUWAVKIT2 output should be capable of accepting PC level input (aka Full RGB).  There appeared to be no way to adjust video content such that “blacker than black” (BTB) or “whiter than white” (WTW) could be passed, if desired.

Next, test video was played through the GUWAVKIT2. About the best thing that can be said about the video was that it was watchable, but definitely flawed whether full-screen 720p or windowed in a partial screen. The video was choppy and suffered from compression artifacts. Using the DisplayLink “Optimize for Video” option proved to be even worse. While the video became somewhat less choppy, it became much blockier. A preference was developed for the non-“optimized” option. There also was lag with full-screen video which makes the GUWAVKIT2 unsuitable for gaming.

As a final note, the wireless transmission requires some amount of CPU power and IOGEAR notes that lower powered systems such as an ATOM-based one will require the use of a lower resolution when playing back video. Shown below is the resource manager while 720p video is being transmitted using an Intel i5-2500K CPU and another showing the resources used by an Intel SU2300 CPU. The SU2300 CPU is obviously taxed quite a bit with 720p video playback using the GUWAVKIT2 and shows how the minimum specifications should be adhered to.

Core i5-2500k Resources

SU2300 Resources

Power

Power usage of the system was measured at the wall using a P3 International P4460 Kill A Watt power meter. While the base unit and wireless USB receiver has no reduced power mode save for unplugging the device, it does use relatively little power. The same also holds true for the wireless USB transmitter.

Condition	Power Draw (watts)
Base Unit + Wireless USB Receiver	3.7
Base System (PC only)	69
Base System + Wireless USB Transmitter	72

 

Conclusion

The IOGEAR GUWAVKIT2 Wireless HD to Computer TV Kit solves the problem of wirelessly connecting a display to a PC. It is easy to install and is suitable for general purpose computing up to a resolution of 1440 x 900 so long as there is wireless LOS within thirty feet with relatively low power required. Unfortunately, the GUWAVKIT2 falls down when it comes to video or gaming applications. It will get the job done at 720p, but the quality will be degraded from what would be expected from a wired configuration or a wireless kit such as the more expensive brite-View system we reviewed previously.

Pros

• Adds wireless display to PC
• Quick wireless synchronization
• Suitable for general PC productivity tasks, stereo audio listening, picture and presentation viewing

Cons

• Lag makes applications such as gaming unsuitable
• Video quality degraded from original source (blocky and choppy)
• Wireless transmission strictly LOS
• Strictly uses Full RGB output

Thanks to IOGEAR for providing the GUWAVKIT2 Wireless HD Computer to TV Kit review sample which can be purchased from Amazon or Newegg.