What is a Wireless Video Transmitter?

A wireless video transmitter is a system used to display a picture from a video source on a screen not connected to the source by wires. In most cases the audio signal is also transmitted, but some systems are designed for security monitoring purposes are video-only.

The most common use of a wireless video transmitter is when somebody has a cable or satellite box in one room and wants to watch the picture from it in another room. For example, the box may be in a living room but the viewer wants to watch the video while in bed. The transmitter avoids the expense of a second box. It also bypasses cabling which can be expensive, tricky to install, and potentially dangerous if it isn’t secured in place.

One drawback to using a wireless video transmitter is that the viewer will not be near to the source equipment and thus can’t change channels or control playback. Some wireless systems get around this by including an infrared (IR) extender, sometimes known as a magic eye, which passes remote control signals back to the source equipment. If a system doesn’t include this, the viewer can buy a standalone IR extender.

A wireless video transmitter can also be used for security in larger properties. The transmitter can carry footage from a camera outdoors to a screen inside the property. Another use for this set-up would be to allow the viewer to see who is at the door before answering.

The picture for a wireless video transmitter can be affected by interference from other wireless equipment which transmits at a similar frequency. Common examples include wireless Internet routers, cordless telephones, and microwave ovens. With the exception of microwaves, most of this equipment can be set to one of several transmission channels, either through a physical switch or through the computer settings for the router. Experimenting with these settings can avoid the conflicts between equipment which can degrade the signals.

It is worth remembering that a wireless video transmitter does not respect the boundaries of your property. It is possible that a neighbor could pick up the signal sent via your transmitter if he or she has similar equipment. Of course, this isn’t normally a problem, but it does mean that you should possibly think twice about using a wireless transmitter for any potentially embarrassing material such as home movies.