Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
When I bought mu U4 I didn't buy the dongle because I wasn't sure what is was?
I have reading posts about the dongle, but to be honest I can't grasp what the thing does? Maybe I'm missing out on a good piece of kit?
I also read the quick start setup guide.
Why do people buy them? What do they do?
How do you navigate the content (whatever that content is?)
Is it the same thing as wifi dongle in Beyonwiz shop?
Do you need the keyboard to operate it?
I have reading posts about the dongle, but to be honest I can't grasp what the thing does? Maybe I'm missing out on a good piece of kit?
I also read the quick start setup guide.
Why do people buy them? What do they do?
How do you navigate the content (whatever that content is?)
Is it the same thing as wifi dongle in Beyonwiz shop?
Do you need the keyboard to operate it?
-
- Wizard God
- Posts: 32714
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 13:49
- Location: Canberra; Black Mountain Tower transmitters
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
Jeddie wrote: ↑Tue Sep 03, 2019 11:47When I bought mu U4 I didn't buy the dongle because I wasn't sure what is was?
I have reading posts about the dongle, but to be honest I can't grasp what the thing does? Maybe I'm missing out on a good piece of kit?
I also read the quick start setup guide.
Why do people buy them? What do they do?
It's a small media streaming device that runs Android. It allows access to streaming services and catchup TV. It's not necessary to use it with a Beyonwiz, though if you use it with a U4 or T4, you can record from the video output of the dongle. It can (I think) also play media from a microSD card or a USB drive, but I've never tried that.
I have mine directly connected to our home theatre system, rather than to our U4, because I don't want to record from it. We've only used it for watching catchup TV, and now not even that any more, because our new TV does a better job than the dongle.
By using the U4 remote in WizTV mode, the remote supplied with the dongle (if it is still being supplied with its own remote), or with a keyboard/mouse (or keyboard with a touchpad like the ones Beyonwiz sells).
No, not like it at all. The WiFi dongle is a USB device allows you to connect your Beyonwiz to your home network, and via that, the Internet, using WiFi.
The WizTV dongle is a media streaming device that connects to the Beyonwiz T4 or U4's HDMI IN port (or to a HDMI IN port on a home theatre, A/V receiver or TV). It has WiFi itself, but only to allow it to connect to your home network, and via that, to the Internet. The dongle also has a wired Ethernet port for the same purpose (which is what I used). The WiFi and Ethernet connection on the dongle can't be used by your Beyonwiz, even if the dongle is connected to the Beyonwiz.
In theory, no. Its basic functions can be accessed through its remote (or the Beyonwiz remote). However, some plugins (like the one for SBS OnDemand), are at best very difficult to use without a keyboard.
IMO, if you have a smart TV or a home theatre or A/V receiver that can stream media from the net, the dongle may not offer you much more.
The dongle can run Kodi, if that is useful to you.
Peter
T4 HDMI
U4, T4, T3, T2, V2 test/development machines
Sony BDV-9200W HT system
LG OLED55C9PTA 55" OLED TV
T4 HDMI
U4, T4, T3, T2, V2 test/development machines
Sony BDV-9200W HT system
LG OLED55C9PTA 55" OLED TV
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
Thanks Prl.
Very clear and concise answer as usual.
Very clear and concise answer as usual.
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
I use mine for YouTube, Stan, and the SBS, ABC and Ten catchup services. Too many ads on 7 and 9. Kodi works but it's an older version.
It works ok but it can be a bit temperamental, esp late at night when it can be non-responsive because it's doing something else (updating?). Sometimes it freezes and has to be rebooted to recover. Navigating is best with a keyboard and scrolling some sites is a pain as my left hand is nearly useless but essential for scrolling. (Hold the left button to grab and scroll a page).
__________________________________
Paul
Beyonwiz T4, 2 x U4: FW - 19.3 20211010
Samsung QA85Q80BAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung QA65Q80TAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung HW Q800BXY soundbar
OverlayHD 1.70, IceTV, Foxtel IQ4
2 x Win7 PCs, 2 x Win10 PCs
Denon AVR -X2400H
Paul
Beyonwiz T4, 2 x U4: FW - 19.3 20211010
Samsung QA85Q80BAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung QA65Q80TAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung HW Q800BXY soundbar
OverlayHD 1.70, IceTV, Foxtel IQ4
2 x Win7 PCs, 2 x Win10 PCs
Denon AVR -X2400H
-
- Wizard God
- Posts: 32714
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 13:49
- Location: Canberra; Black Mountain Tower transmitters
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
The newer P9 mini-keyboard that I have from Beyonwiz allows two-finger drags up and down for scrolling (it shows that on the touchpad and mentions in in the manual, and I've used it). The older Xtreamer mini-keyboard that I have from Beyonwiz does not seem to have this feature.
The Beyonwiz mini-keyboard Web page shows an image of the Xstreamer, but I don't know which one they actually sell now (or even if it's either of those two).
Peter
T4 HDMI
U4, T4, T3, T2, V2 test/development machines
Sony BDV-9200W HT system
LG OLED55C9PTA 55" OLED TV
T4 HDMI
U4, T4, T3, T2, V2 test/development machines
Sony BDV-9200W HT system
LG OLED55C9PTA 55" OLED TV
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
Thanks for the tip Peter! I'll give it a try tonight.
On close inspection, both my keyboards show the two finger drag symbol. Both are from Beyonwiz at different times. One is marked Rii and looks like the xstreamer. The other is not branded.
On close inspection, both my keyboards show the two finger drag symbol. Both are from Beyonwiz at different times. One is marked Rii and looks like the xstreamer. The other is not branded.
__________________________________
Paul
Beyonwiz T4, 2 x U4: FW - 19.3 20211010
Samsung QA85Q80BAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung QA65Q80TAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung HW Q800BXY soundbar
OverlayHD 1.70, IceTV, Foxtel IQ4
2 x Win7 PCs, 2 x Win10 PCs
Denon AVR -X2400H
Paul
Beyonwiz T4, 2 x U4: FW - 19.3 20211010
Samsung QA85Q80BAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung QA65Q80TAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung HW Q800BXY soundbar
OverlayHD 1.70, IceTV, Foxtel IQ4
2 x Win7 PCs, 2 x Win10 PCs
Denon AVR -X2400H
-
- Wizard God
- Posts: 32714
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 13:49
- Location: Canberra; Black Mountain Tower transmitters
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
Peter
T4 HDMI
U4, T4, T3, T2, V2 test/development machines
Sony BDV-9200W HT system
LG OLED55C9PTA 55" OLED TV
T4 HDMI
U4, T4, T3, T2, V2 test/development machines
Sony BDV-9200W HT system
LG OLED55C9PTA 55" OLED TV
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
Yep, that's the answer! Works perfectly one-handed.
__________________________________
Paul
Beyonwiz T4, 2 x U4: FW - 19.3 20211010
Samsung QA85Q80BAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung QA65Q80TAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung HW Q800BXY soundbar
OverlayHD 1.70, IceTV, Foxtel IQ4
2 x Win7 PCs, 2 x Win10 PCs
Denon AVR -X2400H
Paul
Beyonwiz T4, 2 x U4: FW - 19.3 20211010
Samsung QA85Q80BAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung QA65Q80TAWXXY 4K TV
Samsung HW Q800BXY soundbar
OverlayHD 1.70, IceTV, Foxtel IQ4
2 x Win7 PCs, 2 x Win10 PCs
Denon AVR -X2400H
-
- Wizard God
- Posts: 32714
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2007 13:49
- Location: Canberra; Black Mountain Tower transmitters
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
Great to hear!
Peter
T4 HDMI
U4, T4, T3, T2, V2 test/development machines
Sony BDV-9200W HT system
LG OLED55C9PTA 55" OLED TV
T4 HDMI
U4, T4, T3, T2, V2 test/development machines
Sony BDV-9200W HT system
LG OLED55C9PTA 55" OLED TV
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
I gave up on my Smart HDMI Dongle.
I found that the picture on Netflix was always dark, as if it was shot at dusk and the sound quality was not great. I switched to Apple TV and found a great improvement in picture and sound quality. Someone advised me that it was the Android operating system that was causing the problem, but I have no idea if that is correct.
I found that the picture on Netflix was always dark, as if it was shot at dusk and the sound quality was not great. I switched to Apple TV and found a great improvement in picture and sound quality. Someone advised me that it was the Android operating system that was causing the problem, but I have no idea if that is correct.
Re: Smart HDMI Dongle - What is it?
It's not "android" as such since they're are hundreds of other devices running Android that don't suffer from darkness issues. It would be something specific to the Wiz stick's particular implementation in combination with your equipment I would say.
Logitech Harmony Ultimate+Elite RCs
Beyonwiz T2/3/U4/V2, DP-S1 PVRs
Denon AVR-X3400h, LG OLED65C7T TV
QNAP TS-410 NAS, Centos File Server (Hosted under KVM)
Ubiquiti UniFi Managed LAN/WLAN, Draytek Vigor130/Asus RT-AC86U Internet
Pixel 4,5&6, iPad 3 Mobile Devices
Beyonwiz T2/3/U4/V2, DP-S1 PVRs
Denon AVR-X3400h, LG OLED65C7T TV
QNAP TS-410 NAS, Centos File Server (Hosted under KVM)
Ubiquiti UniFi Managed LAN/WLAN, Draytek Vigor130/Asus RT-AC86U Internet
Pixel 4,5&6, iPad 3 Mobile Devices