# Is there a wireless way to connect my laptop to my TV
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [July 28, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759 "2013-07-28T22:43:59Z")
**Posts on this page:** 8
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [July 28, 2013, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759/1 "2013-07-28T22:43:59Z")
I have a TV and a laptop. The laptop does not have widi, and right now my method of connecting the TV to the computer is via a wired hdmi cable. If there were a wireless option I’d like to try it.
I’ve heard of the new google chromecast for $35 but I don’t know if it lets you truly connect your PC to the TV or just use functions approved/allowed by google chromecast.
Is there a wireless way to connect a PC to the TV?
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 28, 2013, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759/2 "2013-07-28T23:08:05Z")
How does any notebook less than 10 years old not have built in wifi?
Chromecast requires the television to be able to accept a USB input.
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### Author:  [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)
#### Post date: [July 28, 2013, 11:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759/3 "2013-07-28T23:53:41Z")
> [@astro](#):
>
> How does any notebook less than 10 years old not have built in wifi?
>
> Chromecast requires the television to be able to accept a USB input.
My computer has wifi, but it does not have [widi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiDi)
Chromecast requires an HDMI port. I have an HDMI port that I used for a wired HDMI to HDMI connection, but I’d like to connect wirelessly.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759/4 "2013-07-29T00:20:51Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#):
>
> My computer has wifi, but it does not have [widi](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WiDi)
>
> Chromecast requires an HDMI port. I have an HDMI port that I used for a wired HDMI to HDMI connection, but I’d like to connect wirelessly.
Sorry for the error, I should have read more carefully.
It says here that chromecast will connect to the TV HDMI but requires a USB port for power. If uses the sending devices wifi capability to receive signal.
> **[Did Google gloss over Chromecast needing USB power? Not hardly](https://www.androidcentral.com/did-google-gloss-over-chromecast-needing-usb-power-not-hardly)**
>
> A ... certain segment of fans ... have gotten it into their heads that Google played down the fact that Chromecast needs USB power to work. They are wrong.
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2013, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759/5 "2013-07-29T00:27:51Z")
Here is a video re Chromecast operation.
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRu18f2GRQo)
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### Author:  [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2013, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759/6 "2013-07-29T00:47:08Z")
[Per this video](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdftjt7vmEE)the micro USB PS is included, and is not on the TV. I’m going to stop posting now to save myself further embarrassment.
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### Author:  [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2013, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759/7 "2013-07-29T01:10:09Z")
The upcoming standard is Miracast. You can get a USB adapter for your computer, and an HDMI adapter for your TV. Phones are starting to become available with the feature natively, so you can show pictures or other content on the big screen without needing a cable.
I haven’t used it yet, personally.
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### Author:  [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)
#### Post date: [July 29, 2013, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-a-wireless-way-to-connect-my-laptop-to-my-tv/664759/8 "2013-07-29T01:13:41Z")
If your TV (or a receiver) is on your home network, check into some DLNA options. This is pretty much what they were designed to do. IME, the programs tend to be sort of hit or miss, so sometimes you have to try more then one.
If you have a TiVo, you can get the TiVo desktop and use that.