Oh goodness, this was unexpected. The
invitation for our group test asked for 'NAS boxes for streaming media' so
naturally enough we expected to receive some sort of box with a network
connection and an ability to add a hard drive or two. Belkin took the wind from
our sails when it sent us the Screencast AV4, which doesn't have any storage,
and neither does it have any form of networking.
Belkin
Screencast AV4
Instead the Screencast AV4 offers an
alternative to those annoying HDMI cables that hang from your wall mounted HDTV
and cause offence to the tidy-minded.
Here's how it works: the Screencast AV4
consists of two boxes with a transmitter that looks like a small Wi-Fi router
and a receiver that looks like a very small router. Both units are powered by a
small transformer that is mounted on a mains plug. This resemblance to a pair
of routers isn't entirely a coincidence, partly because Belkin manufactures a
large number of routers and also because the two units are linked together with
a 5GHz Wi-Fi signal.
The transmitter has four HDMI connections
on the rear of the unit, along with a power button and a wireless pairing
button. You connect your set-top box, Blu-ray player, media streamer and games
consoles to the four HDMI ports, but there is no need to position these media
devices below your TV. If you like, you can move your gadgets to a discreet
cupboard at the side of the room.
Belkin
Screencast AV4
The second task is to mount the wireless
receiver on the wall behind your HDTV by hanging it on a couple of (supplied)
screws, and then you connect them together with a single HDMI cable (which is
also supplied).
Once you've plugged in the four-way IR
remote receiver, you're ready to rock and roll. You use your TV remote to
switch to the HDMI input that is connected to the Screencast AV4, turn on the
two Belkin units, click the buttons to pair the devices and wait for the Belkin
menu to pop up on your TV.
The Belkin credit card remote is used to
switch between the four inputs at the transmitter end, so the Screencast AV4
also acts as a four-way HDMI switch.
You don't have to mess around with wireless
protocols or anything tricky like that, as the transmitter and receiver are
paired at the factory and use a proprietary 5GHz wireless protocol to
communicate.
The claimed range is 30 metres, but you are
likely to find that the wireless link actually works up to 15 metres when you
have other devices causing interference. It's impressive to see that the
Screencast AV4 delivers exactly the same picture quality as a regular HDMI
cable, and that's even true with a Full HD Blu-ray movie or fast-moving game.
So how does the Belkin Screencast AV4 count
as a media streamer? Well, let's say that your PS3, Xbox 360 or WD TV Live is
connected to the internet using HomePlug (that's what we do in Casa Waldock)
and you use one of these devices to watch YouTube or to download movies from
Netflix or LoveFilm. In this case, the Belkin wireless HDMI kit acts as the
final link in the chain, and it does a very good job in the process.
Unfortunately, there is a downside: the
price is rather high. Amazon or Maplin will charge $433 while Richer Sounds
demands a hefty $481, and that's a lot of money to tidy up your HDMI cables.
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Details
·
Price: $433
·
Manufacturer: Belkin
·
Website: www.belkin.com
·
Required spec: HDTV with HDMI
Verdict
·
Quality: 8
·
Value: 5
·
Overall: 6
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