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I’ve never felt comfortable logging into a hotel’s streaming services or an Airbnb TV. The alternative I suggest for watching our favorite shows on a big screen is to travel with a 10-foot HDMI cable and a USB-C to HDMI adapter to connect our mobile devices directly to an unfamiliar TV. The Belkin Wireless HDMI Adapter will allow me to leave this cumbersome mess at home.
Wireless video streaming is already built into Apple and Android devices through AirPlay and Google Cast, but using these features away from home requires access to a compatible TV or streaming box and a reliable Wi-Fi network. If all you used for a shared TV while traveling was watching our favorite shows, a built-in HDMI dongle from Roku or Amazon would be the easiest solution. But my family loves to scroll through the day’s photos on the big screen, collectively plan our next adventure, and even play some games. For our needs, the ConnectAir is a welcome upgrade over a long video cable that was a tripping hazard on more than one occasion.
It’s not a perfect solution, but it’s easy to overlook some of the compromises given how easy the $149.99 ConnectAir is to use. Setting up the wireless video adapter was easier than using AirPlay or Google Cast. It comes with a transmitter dongle, about the size of a wireless earbuds charging case, which you can connect to any device with a USB-C port that supports DisplayPort Alt mode. (No, Nintendo Switch is not compatible.)
The ConnectAir also comes with a 28-inch receiver cable that features an HDMI connector on one end and a USB-A connector on the other for power. Most hotel rooms, or at least those that have been upgraded at some point in the past 15 years, should have a TV with a USB port in the back that can run HDMI accessories. I haven’t encountered one that doesn’t, but if you find yourself trying to connect to an early 2000s TV without it, you’ll need to find an alternative power source for the receiver. This will complicate the setup process if it requires a separate power adapter and a USB extension cable if the available port is more than 28 inches away.
Once both are connected to their respective devices, the transmitter and receiver need about five seconds to automatically connect and start sharing video wirelessly at up to 1080p/60Hz resolution. I used the ConnectAir to watch several hours of movies and TV shows on Netflix and Disney Plus, and despite ditching 4K, video quality was very good, with only subtle signs of additional compression and color loss.
Video streaming was also very strong within a certain range. I don’t live in a sprawling mansion and wasn’t able to test Belkin’s claims of a 131-foot range for the ConnectAir. But I was able to get about 60 feet away from a TV, with the signal passing through the floor and wall before the video playback would occasionally start to hiccup or stop briefly.
This 131-foot range may be possible if you use ConnectAir to present a slideshow on a projector on the other side of a large meeting room without any obstructions. Keeping your transmitter and receiver in the same room will give you the best results at home, but it’s good to know that they don’t always have to stay in each other’s line of sight to work.
You’ll find buttons on both the transmitter and receiver to reset the wireless connection if you’re having problems, but I haven’t had to use either yet. The HDMI receiver will also display a still image on the TV when it is not connected to the transmitter, making it easier to find the device when navigating through the TV inputs.
Being limited to 1080p resolution isn’t an issue for me, but after streaming a two-hour movie, the ConnectAir’s transmitter dongle was too hot to touch. I wouldn’t be comfortable throwing it in a bag without a cooling off period. There’s also a small gap between what you see on your device and your wirelessly connected TV. It’s not a problem for casual games, but I wouldn’t recommend playing it fortnite With this setting.
My biggest complaint with the ConnectAir is the lack of power passing through the transmitter. It pulls all the power it needs from your device, which will drain its battery faster. On a laptop, you’ll have other ports to plug your power supply into, but mobile devices only have a single USB-C port. If you want to charge your mobile device while streaming to a TV with ConnectAir, you’ll need to add a mini hub to the mix, or pair your phone with a wireless power bank.
ConnectAir is certainly not a cheaper alternative to tying a long HDMI cable wherever you go, and you can find it Wireless alternatives from Belkin competitors like Ugreen (Power passthrough port included!) For less than $100. What I like about the Belkin solution is that even with an additional power adapter for connecting to older TVs, I still find it a more convenient and portable solution than an HDMI cable stretched across the room. ConnectAir is easy to use, reliable, and there’s no risk of TVs and appliances accidentally hitting the ground if someone forgets they’re plugged in.
Photography by Andrew Leszewski/The Verge
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