Warpia Wireless USB Display Adapter SWP100

If you have ever tried to share vacation pictures or videos with friends and family then you know the 4 square inch screen on your digital camera just will not do the job. Don't like the idea of huddling around you computer or laptop to share these precious moments? Then the Warpia Wireless USB Display Adapter Set model SWP100 is the perfect solution. The folks at Warpia provide everything needed to view PC content wirelessly on TV's, monitors or projectors from distances up to 30 feet. Utilizing a VGA or HDMI cable to connect your TV, monitor or projector to the Video Adapter you will be enjoying 720p HD video in a few short minutes.

Will the Warpia Display Adapter be the one to have in your accessory arsenal? It very well could be so Benchmark Reviews put it to the test to find out. In this article, Benchmark Reviews sets out to subject the Warpia Adapter to vigorous testing in an effort to determine if the Adapter lives up to the marketing proclamations; or misses the mark.

The Warpia USB Adapter is easy to install using the quick start guide and installation CD so even those who are a little phobic of technology can be up and running in mere minutes. If the HD video is streaming seamlessly and pictures are bright and colorful, then the Warpia Adapter may truly be a must have for your techno tool box.

About the company: Warpia

Here is some insight to the company vision for this product from their website.

Warpia, a leading provider of single-chip based Wireless USB solutions, distributes a Wireless USB Display Adapter Set that wirelessly transfers PC content to TVs, monitors and projectors. The Wireless USB Display Adapter allows users to view video, Internet content and pictures from their computer on monitors and HDTV displays without the hassle of extra cables.

The Warpia Wireless USB Adapter Set features VGA and HDMI connectivity options and supports up to 1400x1050 screen resolution. It provides a wireless range of up to 30 feet (in the same room).

Wireless USB Display Adapter Features:

• Enables wireless connectivity between PC/notebook and remote display (HDTV, Projector, Monitor) via both HDMI and VGA connectors.
• Supports up to SXVGA+ (1400x1050) resolution.
• Display any content or file type which is supported by user PC, up to HD 720p video.
• Point-to-multipoint (up to 3 Device Adapters can operate simultaneously with a single PC Adapter).
• Automatic Rate Adaptation and Channel Sharing.
• Complete driver suite and application software provided for Windows XP/Vista OS.
• Simple user interface for monitoring and management.

Warpia SWP100 Specifications:

Video Adapter

• VGA and HDMI connectors
• 32-bit True Color support with display resolution of up to 1400 x 1050 (SXGA+)
• 1680 x 1050 resolution (WXSGA+) optional
• Power supply unit 5VDC.

PC and Device Adapters

• USB type-A male.
• Internal antenna.
• Single LED - Power/traffic.

Wireless USB WiMedia Standards

• Wireless USB 1.0, USB-IF certified.
• Certified WiMedia PHY and MAC.
• 3.168 to 4.752 GHz (WiMedia band group 1).

General

• 128-bit AES security.
• Regulation compliant to US, Japan, Europe, Korea.
• Software drivers: Windows Vista SP 1/XP SP 3.
• Input voltage: 100-240V, 50/60Hz.
• Operating temperature range: 0-40°C

Closer Look: USB Display Adapter

The Warpia Wireless USB Display Adapter kit, model SWP100, comes with everything you will need to transmit signal from a Windows PC to a monitor or HDTV.

The benefit of the clear plastic packaging is that the consumer can see exactly what is included with the product. There are no surprises with color or damaged components.

After a quick snip with the scissors I was able to pull the rest of the packaging apart rather easily. I was thankful for this considering opening similar packages usually means I am in for a fight. The Device Adapter and Video Base are compact and fit in the palm of my hand. The Device Adapter can also be removed and inserted into the top of the Video Base for vertical mounting.

The PC Adapter is no larger than a USB flash drive and can be adjusted to fit a particular angle needed to transmit or to accommodate other USB devices. However, this is where I made my first discovery of what I viewed as poor craftsmanship. Be sure to grasp the head of the USB firmly before rotating. The plastic casing around the metal USB tip split open when I rotated the head. This did not impact the performance of the unit as I was able to snap it back together but had to be careful with the head for the remainder of the testing process.

The PC Adapter can be adjusted to fit the needs of the user if space is at a premium, if line-of-sight becomes an issue or for storage of a notebook computer without removing the PC Adapter.

The PC Adapter can be inserted into any available 2.0 USB port on the user PC or notebook. With such a small footprint, the PC Adapter does not hinder user operation and makes monitoring signal activity easy.

The AC adapter provided has to the capability to accept interchangeable power prongs which is a well thought out feature for those who tend to travel internationally.

Warpia SWP100 Detailed Features

The Video Base has two available outputs; HDMI (left), and VGA (center). Both outputs can be utilized simultaneously to display the same content but more control is gained by using two units as I found out during testing.

The AC adapter input is pictured above (center) to the right of VGA output. The Video Base does not have a power switch or on/off function so once the AC adapter is plugged in, the unit is on and waiting for signal from the PC Adapter.

Simply remove the Device Adapter and slide the shutter forward for vertical mounting of the Video Adapter. Reinsert the Device Adapter, plug in the AC adapter and display device and the Adapter Set is ready to transmit/receive.

Located on the lower third of the PC and Device Adapters is the LED power and network activity indicator. This LED will activate and flash green one time when the Device Adapter is powered up. After connectivity is established from the PC/notebook, both LED indicators will continuously flicker green signaling data is being transmitted.

Testing Methodology

The testing process was performed using both a PC and notebook with first a single Warpia Adapter Set and then two Warpia Adapter Sets simultaneously. Single unit testing was conducted on a 15" LCD monitor with a VGA cable connection and a 37" 1080p HD plasma television with an HDMI cable connection. These two display devices were used for dual unit testing. Both testing scenarios were performed at approximately 10' and again at 28' in order to obtain an accurate representation of product performance.

The single and dual unit configurations were tested by first viewing photographs online and photographs stored on the local drive of the PC or notebook. Next, both configurations were tested viewing online video and then DVD video or video media on the local drive of the PC or notebook. The test results are based on visual and audio inspection only and no other measuring devices were implemented in the testing process.

Test System

System Requirements per Manufacturer
• Personal computer with available USB 2.0 port
• System Memory: 512 MB (1 GB recommended)
• Processor: At least 1.20GHz Single Core CPU (1.80GHz Single Core or 1.60GHz Dual Core recommended)
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP SP3 or Microsoft Windows Vista (32 or 64 bit)

System Specifications for PC
• USB 2.0 port
• System Memory: 3.0 GB
• Processor: 3.20GHz Intel Pentium 4
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Professional XP SP3

System Specifications for notebook
• USB 2.0 port
• System Memory: 2.0 GB
• Processor: 2.80GHz Intel Pentium 4
• Operating System: Microsoft Windows Professional XP SP3

Test Results

First, I followed the quick start guide provided by Warpia to be certain that I did not encounter any difficulty during the installation process as recommended by the manufacturer. After inserting the CD, the user is given two options; install from CD or download the drivers from the Warpia website. I downloaded the drivers from the Warpia website which came packaged as a zip file and then executed the setup file from the Drivers\DisplayLink folder. After installing the current drivers I completed steps 3 through 6 of the quick start guide and I was up and running.

I first viewed still photographs from my PC/notebook and then photographs online using a 15" LCD monitor with a VGA cable connection in both mirror mode and extend mode. There was no noticeable quality or color loss of the photographs in either mode. It is worth noting that mirror mode will automatically reset the primary PC/notebook display if the display connected to the Display Adapter supports a lower resolution. Mirror mode will not allow the user to change screen resolution or color quality settings so if the user is experiencing poor quality or display issues, extend mode is the preferable mode of operation.

Using the 15" LCD monitor I then viewed online video through several websites. This is where the problems began. Of the three websites visited, I could not produce video on the display from one of them even after adjusting quality and color in extend mode. The two sites I was able to view video from worked well in both mirror and extend mode. I noticed very little, if any, frame loss, color loss or quality degradation and audio on the primary PC/notebook was in sync with the video displayed. However, when I attempted to view online video in full screen mode I was unable to reproduce full screen video at all from the Display Adapter in mirror mode. In extend mode, I was able to reproduce full screen video with significant frame loss and quality degradation in both audio synchronicity and video display.

The last test conducted with a single unit and LCD monitor was DVD video. In both mirror and extend mode I noticed minimal visual frame loss and audio stayed in sync throughout testing in full screen mode. While not in full screen there was a nearly undetectable lag in video reproduction in mirror mode and extended mode was absolutely seamless with complete audio synchronicity.

The exact same testing procedure was repeated with a 37" 1080p HD plasma TV connected via an HDMI cable with nearly identical results as the 15" LCD monitor testing. There was slight pixilation in mirror mode since screen resolution was automatically adjusted on the PC/notebook and TV to best fit the TV. In extend mode, I was able to adjust the TV resolution to better fit the media I was viewing and at a distance of 10' away the difference in quality was unnoticeable. Extend mode is likely the preferable option with larger displays due to the additional resolution and color control available in this mode.

Dual Unit Test Results

With single unit testing complete I then followed the steps outlined in Appendix B of the user guide provided on the CD to complete the addition of a second unit to the PC/notebook. I then proceeded to view photographs and video in a similar manner as described above in both online and local native formats.

Using mirror mode with two displays and the primary PC/notebook display netted nearly the same results as a single unit. Photographs were a perfect reproduction of the originals I was viewing on the PC/notebook so no quality issues to report there. Online video worked great with minimal frame loss and audio remaining in sync throughout when not viewing full screen. However, full screen online video could not be reproduced at any of the three websites I visited. I was a little nervous about performance of full screen DVD video but was pleasantly surprised to see that there was minimal frame loss and audio remained in sync throughout.

Using extend mode I was able to view multiple sources simultaneously and find out if the Warpia Adapter Set was really up to the task. Still frame pictures were no problem and reproduced at ease with great quality. Viewing two or three online programs at once worked better than I would have hoped but I could only listen to audio for one program at a time in order to judge audio synchronicity. I was able to watch all three programs at once with minimal frame loss all while keeping audio in sync for the programs when listening at separate intervals. DVD video testing was a great surprise. While watching a DVD and a video on the local drive at the same time, I was able to view both with minimal frame loss and audio remained in sync when listening at separate intervals.

Full screen testing in extend mode with two units was as successful as I had anticipated. There were no problems to report with still photographs. Good quality, good color, an all around great reproduction. Online video could not be reproduced. Viewing a DVD video and a local digital copy at the same time resulted in noticeable frame loss but the audio was still in sync with the video I could see when listening at separate intervals.

The next round of testing took place at approximately 28' feet away from the Display Adapter. Results were similar to testing from 10' with exceptions noted below.

Still frame photographs reproduced perfectly with both one and two units in mirror and extend mode. Online video not viewed full screen experienced noticeable frame loss with one unit but audio remained in sync throughout in mirror and extend mode. Online video frame loss increased with two units but audio remained in sync when listening at separate intervals. Online video could not be reproduced in full screen with one or two units in either mode.

DVD video and a video on the local drive were then tested for a single unit and two units respectively. I was able to view the DVD video on a single unit in both mirror and extend mode with minimal frame loss but audio remained in sync with what was being viewed. When viewing a DVD video and a video on the local drive simultaneously on two units in mirror and extend mode, video was reproduced on both displays with minimal frame loss but audio remained in sync. DVD video viewed in full screen in mirror or extend mode on one unit was reproduced with increased frame loss (still viewable) but with audio still in sync. When viewing full screen DVD video and a video on the local drive simultaneously on two units in mirror and extend mode, video was reproduced on both displays with increased frame loss (still viewable) but audio remained in sync.

The final test procedure was to verify the line-of-sight limitations of the Display Adapter and PC Adapter. For this test I watched a DVD video and moved around the room behind obstacles and around corners of adjacent rooms. I found that once I was more than 6 feet outside of the line-of-sight, moving parallel to the line-of-sight, the signal would drop. I could however set the notebook behind some furniture within the line of sight and still be watching video with audio in sync so that was quite a surprise. The device could not receive a signal through walls although that would have been a rather impressive trick.

USB Display Adapter Final Thoughts

Overall, I was impressed with the ability for such a compact device to reproduce such vivid images and sometimes flawless video almost identical to what the user sees on their PC or notebook screen. The Warpia Wireless USB Display Adapter Set appears to be best suited for viewing still frame photographs and DVD or local video files as viewing online video was inconsistent. In order to make the Adapter Set an absolute must have, video reproduction should be refined so the user can rely on seamless video when it is necessary or desired.

Warpia SWP100 Conclusion

The Warpia Wireless USB Display Adapter Set performs as presented by Warpia if the consumer reads the user guide and provided literature. If the user were to simply plug everything in and hope for the best, there would probably be some disappointment. The Adapter Set is sleek, compact, and shiny with no external antenna, what's not to like? The USB end of the PC Adapter is quite fragile but safe handling and a solid plastic casing would solve that problem. Functionally, the Warpia Wireless USB Display Adapter Set performs as advertised with a few minor adjustments. Using the Benchmark Reviews price comparison tool we located the SWP100 model for $129.99 at Amazon. Compared to similar alternatives, Warpia provides a cost effective, quality product that could be used for both personal and business functions without breaking the bank.

Pros:

+ Simple setup and user friendly even for the non-technical user
+ Compact size makes storage easy when traveling
+ Plain language user manual makes it easy to realize the full potential of the product
+ Streamlined driver update function so user has the most current software needed for installation

Cons:

- Questionable construction quality of some components
- Inconsistent video reproduction
- No audio but that would dramatically increase the product price

Ratings:

• Presentation: 9.00
• Appearance: 9.50
• Construction: 8.50
• Functionality: 8.00
• Value: 9.00

Final Score: 8.8 out of 10.

Quality Recognition: Benchmark Reviews Silver Tachometer Award.

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