On Aliexpress, or in our online stores, you can find a large number of different adapters, which are usually called MiraScreen, or AnyCast. These adapters add support for Miracast, AirPlay and DLNA technologies for any TV, monitor, projector. Most often, such adapters are bought specifically for the TV. To be able to duplicate an image from a smartphone, tablet (Android, iOS), or even a computer (Windows) to the TV screen. Image transmission to the TV (via MiraScreen and AnyCast adapter) occurs over the air, without wires. Or for broadcasting multimedia content (photo, video, music) to the same TV from different devices using DLNA technology.
As a rule, all these adapters support three technologies for wireless image and sound transmission: Miracast, AirPlay, DLNA. First, I will briefly talk about these technologies. Which one is used where, and how it works.
- Miracast - technology for wireless transmission of images and sound. It is used to mirror the screen from Android smartphones, tablets and other devices. Also, the "Wireless Display" function in Windows works through Intel WiDi, which is compatible with Miracast. Miracast technology is built into most modern Smart TVs. I recommend reading the article: What is Miracast.
- AirPlay - this technology is also used for wireless transmission of a multimedia signal (screen mirroring), only on Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac). This is their proprietary technology. An Apple TV set-top box is used to receive images and sound via AirPlay and output to a TV. There is information that AirPlay support will appear in new TVs from third-party manufacturers (it was not available until 2019). I talked about AirPlay in more detail in this article.
- DLNA - technology for broadcasting photos, videos and music over a local network. The main difference from Miracast and AirPlay is that you cannot start mirroring the screen via DLNA. You can only output a specific file (video, photo, audio). I also talked about this technology: using DLNA on Smart TVs and other devices.
notethat Smart TVs usually have built-in support for Miracast and DLNA. As for AirPlay, as I wrote above, only new TVs starting from 2019 can get this support. And then not all models and not all manufacturers. Read more about this at the link above.
It can be concluded that the purchase of a MiraScreen (AnyCast) adapter may be required in two cases:
- To add support for the above features for a TV that doesn't have a Smart TV (but does have an HDMI input). Or for a monitor, projector. The main condition is the presence of an HDMI port (input).
- To add AirPlay support (the ability to display images from Apple devices). Including for TVs with Smart TVs, where there is no built-in AirPlay support.
MiraScreen and AnyCast adapter for TV, monitor, projector
I specially ordered an adapter MiraScreen for Aliexpress to check everything and tell you how it works. There are simply unrealistic quantities on sale of these adapters. On different processors, firmwares, different shapes, etc.
I bought this one:
This adapter is in the form of a regular flash drive (slightly larger). The adapter itself is connected to the HDMI port of the TV. Power and antenna are connected separately to the adapter. Power can be plugged directly into the TV's USB port. Or through a regular adapter into an outlet (if the TV does not have USB).
On the TV, just select the HDMI input to which the MiraScreen adapter is connected. The menu looks something like this:
Using the button on the adapter, you can switch the operating mode (if you press this button and hold it, the settings will be reset).
There are two of them (you can see them in the photo above, two blocks):
- The one on the left (where the Apple logo is) allows you to connect devices via AirPlay and DLNA.
- The one on the right (Android logo, Windows) is Miracast mode. In this mode, you can mirror the screen from Android devices and Windows computers.
In the settings of the MiraScreen or AnyCast adapter, which can be opened through the application on the phone (by connecting to the Wi-Fi network of the adapter), or a browser. In the settings, you need to connect the Wi-Fi adapter to your router (home Wi-Fi network).
Connecting the MiraScreen adapter to a Wi-Fi router is only needed for AirPlay and DLAN operation (you can connect directly to the adapter's Wi-Fi network, but this is not convenient). Miracast works differently. The device (computer, phone) connects directly to the adapter and transmits the image and sound. No router.
It works like this:
In more detail about how to duplicate the screen and display multimedia content from different devices through the MiraScreen adapter to the TV screen, I plan to tell in separate articles. There is nothing difficult in setting up such an adapter. The main thing is to understand how it works. Well, you need to understand why you need it, for what tasks.
Quality and stability of Miracast and AirPlay (via adapter)
Do change MiraScreen Wireless Display with MX index. Later in the online store I found the same adapter, only 2 times more expensive (1600 rubles, 650 UAH) and with the M2 index. In the comments I read that it seems like this Mirascreen M2 is original, and the one that I bought (MX) on Aliexpress is a fake. Perhaps this is so, since this adapter works very badly. Screen mirroring from computer and phone (Android and iOS) comes with a decent delay. If you display online video, it constantly freezes, bugs, and the sound lags behind.
The maximum image resolution is Full HD (1080p). Tried switching to HD (720p) mode - the same thing. Perhaps this is a problem only specifically with my instance, or this model. I do not recommend saving money when choosing a MiraScreen adapter. I bought practically the cheapest one (for 740 rubles, 300 UAH).
It is enough to duplicate the screen on a TV (for some kind of presentation, viewing a photo), but for normal operation, video space, and even more so for games, my copy is not suitable. In reviews on Aliexpress, people write that everything works fine. I don’t know, maybe I did something wrong. Although, what can be wrongly configured there? I will still test. I have already checked the operation of this adapter on different devices. Duplicated screen from iPhone and Samsung phone. I also configured the Miracast wireless display function on a Windows 10 laptop through this adapter.
Thanks to the built-in Miracast in the TV, everything works somehow better. But what else to expect from a $ 10 device with this functionality. I am sure that on more expensive MiraScreen and AnyCast adapters everything works more smoothly and stably. But in any case, this is a connection by air. There will be no such quality and stability of the connection as with the cable. When it comes to computers, Miracast is not a replacement for an HDMI cable. Especially if we are talking about watching movies and even more so playing games. When mirroring the screen from a phone or tablet, there will also be a delay in the picture and sound. On some equipment less, on some more. But there will be a delay.
What do you think of these adapters? For what tasks do you use (or want to use), and how does such a connection for wireless image transfer work for you?
