Choosing an HDMI to USB adapter for TV

To connect your phone or PC to your TV, you need an HDMI cable. However, not all mobile gadgets are equipped with an HDMI port. In this case, you will need a special USB adapter. What is an adapter for a cable, what is its feature, how to choose and how to use it correctly - this will be discussed in this article.

All modern TVs have an HDMI port, but even the most advanced TVs do not have MHL extensions. It is this extension that is responsible for the transmission of not only pictures, but also sound. If your TV model is equipped with this extension, then you only need an HDMI cable to connect the devices. In other cases, a special adapter with MHL support is required. This device is an HDMI to USB TV adapter.

The adapter is a standalone device that includes the functionality of interfaces such as USB and HDMI.

The USB interface has a high data transfer rate that covers the needs of the second interface - HDMI. In turn, the video signal is carried out in the presence of special software. Thus, the HDMI to USB adapter for TV, in fact, acts as a full-fledged external video card.

Depending on the task the adapter can work in several modes... The device is used as a backup for displaying information on a TV screen. Everything that happens on a mobile device takes place on the big screen.

The second mode of the adapter is aimed at the independent operation of the additional screen. This mode is used when connecting a PC to a TV.

There are several subspecies of the adapter.

1. Micro USB to HDMI adapter. This type of device is used on mobile gadgets such as a smartphone or tablet. If a smartphone or tablet has sufficient power, then you can watch a familiar video player on a large screen, having previously connected the gadget via a micro USB adapter.
2. The micro HDMI to USB adapter has the same functionality as the previous type of adapter. The adapter is used on more modern models of mobile devices and PCs that are equipped with a micro HDMI input. When working through such an adapter, you can save resources without sacrificing transmission speed and performance.

It is worth noting that, in addition to adapters, connecting devices to a TV is possible via a USB / MHL cable to a TV with HDMI. There are several types of MHL cable:

• passive;
• active.

The active wire has an additional micro USB input for connecting to a power source. When working for a long time via mobile gadgets, the active cable must be connected to an additional power supply.

Attention should be paid to one more type of adapter - mini USB / HDMI. To work with the device, you need to install a set of drivers, which is included in the package. If the software is not available, you can download it on the Internet. The drivers are loaded onto a PC, phone, or other device that will pair with the TV.But it should be remembered that this type of connection makes it possible only to view images. In order for the picture to be with sound, additional connections are needed. The device was the very first of its kind, and its popularity is gradually declining due to the advent of the micro USB / HDMI adapter.

There are several aspects to consider when choosing an adapter for your TV.

• Full HD high-definition picture support enables high-definition data transfer through the adapter. When buying, you should be careful, as often instead of Full HD, the manufacturer offers devices with HD Ready. This is a little different. This will not affect the price of the gadget in any way, but the quality of the transmitted image will be much worse.
• Sound... Some problems may occur when connecting an HDMI adapter. There are no general recommendations for choice in this matter. It all depends on the characteristics of the paired devices. In order to sort out the problems, you need to read the Internet forums and study some information on thematic sites. This will help you understand the problem.
• Software compatibility with adapter drivers. It happens that the adapter drivers are not suitable for the OS. It is worth finding out at the stage of buying an adapter.
• USB port version of the connected devices. The port version plays an important role in data transfer. For example, USB 3.0 will have a faster transfer rate than the slower 1.0.
• Adapter cable length. The length of the adapter is limited, so for a more comfortable use of the gadget, you need to purchase an additional HDMI cable.

And also when choosing an adapter you need to consider the number of devices connected to the TV. For multiple devices, it is better to purchase a USB / HDMI / KVM adapter. Using the switch makes it possible to connect several gadgets to the TV at once.

When connecting an HDMI to USB adapter, remember that the device is active and needs power... An ordinary charger is used for charging. In order to display an image on a large screen through an adapter, you must first connect the adapter to your phone or PC. After that, a regular HDMI wire is connected to the adapter. The other side of the cable is connected to the TV. All possible ports for connection are located on its back panel. Further, the adjustment takes place automatically, and the image is displayed on the screen. The setup process may vary depending on the TV model. If automatic tuning has not occurred, then on the remote control you need to press the Source button. Then you need to select the HDMI item. As a rule, after these actions, the image is displayed on the screen.

An important aspect when connecting is setting up on a smartphone or PC. The connection details differ depending on the model. For exact actions, you should read the required section in the instructions for the gadget, or find information on the Internet.

It should be borne in mind that to connect some devices to the TV through an adapter, you will need to install the necessary drivers. Drivers for installation are usually included with the adapter. However, some manufacturers do not consider it necessary to add an installation package to the device. In this case, the required software can be downloaded from the Internet. More modern models of mobile gadgets and PCs already have the necessary "stuffing", so in this situation it is possible to do without installing additional software.

It is important to know that Data transfer via an HDMI / USB adapter is possible from a computer or phone to a TV, but not vice versa. It is not possible to install the required drivers on the TV.

Modern technological capabilities allow you to get the most out of TVs, PCs and smartphones.Connecting mobile gadgets to TV has become a clear step forward in the development of technology. There are many ways to connect. Wired and wireless connections have their own characteristics. The best solution is an HDMI to USB adapter. The device perfectly converts a digital signal into a picture on a large screen. Thanks to the built-in MHL extension, the adapter allows you to play video with sound, which distinguishes the device from conventional adapters.

This article provides guidelines to look out for when buying and using a device. And also when choosing, do not forget about the features and characteristics of mobile gadgets and TV.

Video review of 4K HDMI USB KVM SWITCH adapter, see below.