What internal hardware is necessary for WiHD?

So I got my M14x after waiting over 3 weeks and they forgot to install the one thing that really geeked me out about this lappy! I ordered the wireless HD internal transmitter card with the Vizio receiver kit but they forgot to install the internal card. I had to make 3 calls to speak to customer support before they finally told me that I didn't have the hardware in my machine as I suspected. So they sent out a tech to my home to install the hardware. What they sent was a new HD monitor with an extra connector (must be for the antenna) and 2 wireless cards. One of the cards came with the monitor and the other in a separate box. They looked almost identical but the tech was not given any info from Dell/AW so we decided the safe bet was to install the card that came with it, right? Wrong. The tech support said the card that came with the monitor is for the M17x....? Why would they send a 14" monitor with a M17x card??? After the tech that came to my house to install the hardware left I loaded the WiHD Controller driver and encountered an error. Yup, the card didn't work. So now they are sending me a new lappy with everything installed from the factory.

My question is does anyone know what hardware is actually necessary for this WiHD? Is it true that they installed the wrong card or do you think there's more to it? Nobody from AW support really knows about this new technology. I am not surprised but am disappointed that they don't know.

Does anyone know how this WiHD actually works? Do I need line of sight to the receiver? Is sound transmitted as well?

TIA.
joey

 

I can't tell you anything about installing the hardware since mine was installed when I got it. I don't know why they sent you the monitor at all. The only pieces you should need are the hardware in the laptop and the receiver for the tv. (As well as a couple of cables)

As far as the line of sight, you do pretty much need line of sight. I have noticed that once you are connected to your tv using this, you can not walk between the two otherwise you loose the picture. Also you for a better signal you need the laptop to be facing the right way.

I got this because I wanted to leave my laptop on my desk but play games from my couch using my tv. Well after messing around with it I ended up having to put it by my tv anyway so the signal was stronger.

Oh and sound is sent through the wireless signal. You just might have to select it as your default playback device.

 

I got a replacement laptop today and again they built it without the WiHD. I can't believe their incompetency. I've reviewed the order with the rep to double check and the assembling department still get it wrong. Anyhow...

Does anyone know what should show up in the device manager as hardware for this WiHD?

Thanks.
joey

 

I just checked the device manager but I didn't see it in there. A couple of things to look for would be to press FN key and F3. Try to click turn on wireless display. Also the program for it is called WiHD controller, look for that to. If those aren't there or not working then yeah you don't have it.

 

I don't have the WiHD Controller software and when I hit Fn F3 "WirelessHD Display On" is not clickable. Just as I thought they screwed me on my second laptop as well. I can't believe how incompetent they are. Augh.
Thanks for your help macaddict84.
joey

 

As far as I know, the antenna for the card is routed through the monitor. If you order the laptop without the card, it does not come with the additional antenna installed.

 

Is it possible to install the WiHD internally later on just like a hdd or additional ram?

 

I think just like Spectat0rzero says, you will have to get a new monitor with the transmitter embedded into it and there is a third wire coming off of it to connect to your motherboard along with a WiHD card. You can do it afterwards but you'll have to pay a lot more because you have to get a new screen.
Hope this explanation helps.
joey

 

I don't have a tv or monitor with WiHD in it so I have to pay for that anyway. I wanted to see if in the future I decide to get this option I can unlike a GPU which is fixed. Based on what you said, I shouldn't have to worry about it then.

 

No, you're misunderstanding me...what I meant by "monitor" is the screen on your M14x...its a new one with an extra antenna in inside it. So it'll be more expensive as a retrofit because you'll have to buy a new laptop screen along with the WiHD card and be prepared to take the whole computer apart to install it.
joey

 

Oh. I didn't know that. Thanks for the warning.

 

Call them back for another one, and this time demand they give you something for free for the trouble.

 

It should be listed in the Device Manager under Ports as SiBEAM SB92xx Host Serial.

The driver would probably need to be installed to show up, otherwise it would be listed as Unknown Device.