GrandTec Ultimate Wireless
Starting at: $111.06
CNET Editors' Review
CNET Editors' Rating
- Reviewed by: Dan Ackerman
- Released on:
- Reviewed on:
The good: Quick and easy way to send video and audio signal wirelessly; includes cables.
The bad: Poor image quality; only composite video available wirelessly.
The bottom line: The GrandTec Ultimate Wireless offers some potentially useful video-conversion ports in its base unit, but the wireless output is composite video only, which greatly limits its appeal.
Getting content, especially
... Expand full reviewGetting content, especially media, from the PC to the TV is a problem with many potential solutions, none of them perfect. Media extenders, including wireless models such as the D-Link MediaLounge DSM-520, have their own proprietary menu systems and often are limited in the kinds of media files they'll transmit (try streaming a protected iTunes file, and you'll see what we mean). The more specific subgroup of Media Center Extenders, for use with Windows Media Center, at least offer the familiar MCE interface, but they are even more limited in some ways: wireless Media Center extenders generally won't play videos other than WMV files.
Instead of bothering with that, GrandTec promises to simply take your video and audio output and send it via a 2.4GHz wireless transmission to any TV. On the surface, that sounds like a good idea, especially combined with the box copy, which promises S-Video, composite, and VGA outputs, but once you delve into the actual hardware, the real story is somewhat less impressive.
The GrandTec Ultimate Wireless consists of two parts: a base unit and a receiver. The base unit is actually a capable video transcoder, taking standard VGA signals and outputting them as composite, 9-pin RGB (useful for European SCART connections) or S-Video signals. But to take advantage of those outputs, you'll need to connect your TV directly to the wired base unit. If you want to take advantage of the included wireless receiver, you'll be stuck with a single composite video output (that's the standard old yellow cable that many still use to hook up everything from DVD players to PlayStations). The wireless receiver also supports stereo audio connections.
In today's high-definition world, a composite video connection is not going to give you the video quality users expect. But for throwing a basic signal across a room or a house (the reported range is 150 feet), the quick-and-dirty signal may suffice for watching Web-based videos or surfing the Net. The composite output can also be sent to a VCR or a video camera for easy recording of the PC's video output. GrandTec also offers a full-resolution VGA wireless device, albeit one that retails for $999, according to the company's Web site.
Hide Review New York native Dan Ackerman, a former radio DJ turned journalist, has written about technology and music for publications including Spin, Blender, The Hollywood Reporter, and Men's Journal. He hosts the weekly CNET Labscast show (Mondays at 2pm ET) and his most recent album, Tales Out of Night School, is available now.
User Reviews
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Showing 2 of 2 reviews
"Keep your expectations realistic" By image66
Pros: Excellent for streaming video and games
Cons: Lack of detail and bad documentation
Summary: The GWB-4000 does not give the sharpness and detail of regular computer monitor. As the unit scales the PC's video image to 525 vertical lines, there will be a loss of resolution as the unit scales and performs some anti-aliasing.
It is excellent for playing Internet streaming video from ... Expand full review
"Poor Wireless Range" By
Pros: It was easy to hook up and did produce a fair quality picture from my PC to my TV.
Cons: The GWB-4000 works ok. It has a very limited wireless range. It did not work in my livingroom (approx 25-30 feet) but did in a room around 15 feet away. There was a lot of interference with other electronic devices such as my telephone and when other d
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Specifications
See full specsQuick Specs
- Max Resolution (external): 1600 x 1200
- Compatibility: PC Mac
