TECHWEEK
In this article, we will tell you how to properly connect a computer via wifi to a TV, consider several of the most popular options today. The meaning of such a connection is the ability to conveniently watch video files and photos stored on a computer or broadcast over the Internet on a large screen.
What do you need to establish a wireless connection?
Since Wi-Fi involves the exchange of data over a radio channel, first of all, you need to make sure that your Smart TV, like your computer, is equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi module or optionally supports this technology.
As for laptops, almost all of their modern models have a hardware built-in Wi-Fi module. If you want to connect a stationary desktop to the TV, then you will have to additionally purchase a special Wi-Fi adapter for it.
The adapter can be made in the form of a PCI-card built into the system unit with an antenna or an external USB-module that looks like a regular USB flash drive. The same external Wi-Fi adapter may need to be connected to the USB connector of the TV, if it is not initially equipped with a built-in module. To avoid connection and setup problems, it is best to purchase adapters from the same brand as your TV.
It will not be superfluous to pay attention to the version of the Wi-Fi standard that the modules support. Better to dwell on the most current and fastest version of IEEE 802.11n. It has a wide bandwidth and will not cause delays and freezes on the TV screen. Also, do not forget to update the driver versions for all network devices.
Wireless transfer of images or music from a computer (laptop, tablet) to a TV is easiest to organize in the following ways:
- Over a local area network LAN via a Wi-Fi router (computer – router – TV).
- With Intel Wireless Display (WiDi) or Wi-Fi Miracast (wireless monitor).
Connecting the TV to a Computer Using a Wi-Fi Router (DLNA Technology)
To organize wireless data transfer between several devices, it is required that they have built-in or external Wi-Fi modules and be combined into a single local network via a Wi-Fi router. At the same time, the TV must support DLNA technology – a set of universal standards for multimedia exchange. You can check the availability of this feature in the accompanying technical documentation, although today all Smart TVs support DLNA.
1. Configuring the router
We turn on the Wi-Fi router, configure it to work in DHCP mode (automatic distribution of network settings) and assign a password to enter the local network.
2. We connect the TV to the local network
From the remote control we enter the TV menu, go to the “Network” item and open the “Network Settings” tab. In the opened wizard for configuring network connections, activate the item “Wireless connection”. From the list that opens, select our Wi-Fi network, wait for the connection check to pass, and enter the access password.
If the router supports WPS technology, then connecting the TV to a Wi-Fi network can be even easier. It is necessary to select the appropriate item (WPS / PBC) in the TV setup wizard and hold down the WPS button on the router for a while until the connection is established.
3. Install the media server on the computer
Simply put, in order to transfer files to a TV over a local network, you will need to create several folders on your computer to store various types of multimedia files (video, music, photo). After that, these folders should be opened with extended access from all devices connected to a common network, including from the TV.
The easiest way to do this is using any media server program that is convenient for you, which is designed to organize access to network resources from various connected devices. There are a lot of programs that solve this problem: AllShare (Samsung Link), Samsung PC ShareManager, SmartShare, Serviio media server, Plex Media Server, Home media server and others.
The program should be downloaded to a computer, installed, conveniently configured and launched. After starting the media server, you need to go to the TV settings, where you will see the folders you have assigned with the multimedia content available for demonstration. Now you can view files on your computer by launching them directly from your TV screen.
Connecting the TV to a Computer Using WiDi / Miracast Technology
Unlike DLNA technology, this option for wirelessly outputting multimedia information from a computer to a TV allows you to view not only files recorded and stored on the computer’s hard drive, but also those that are played online on its built-in web browser.
True, WiDi / Miracast technology (screen mirroring) is very demanding on computer resources, therefore it is supported only by individual computers (laptops, tablets) with powerful hardware. And, of course, these advanced technologies must be implemented in the TVs themselves. If the TV only optionally supports WiDi / Miracast, then you will have to additionally purchase a special adapter, which can then be connected to one of its HDMI ports.
The principle of wireless monitor technology is that the picture that is currently displayed on the screen of your computer is compressed using a special algorithm, after which it is mirrored over the Wi-Fi radio channel to the large TV screen. At the same time, it is not at all required to connect the TV to a local wi fi network together with a computer using a router: the TV receiver organizes a separate mini-network for communication only with a PC.
To start transmitting an image, you need to install a special Intel Wireless Display application on your computer (if it was not preinstalled) and start broadcasting in it. In the TV Menu, the WiDi / Miracast function must be activated. This can be done in its settings by going to the “Network” tab, and then go to the item “Miracast / Intel WiDi”.
