The Phoenix Home transmitter only has one HDMI input for the source video and the receiver only has one HDMI out for connecting to a TV or projector. This was never an issue for me and kept things simple.
The transmission quality is frankly amazing. The Phoenix transmits in 4K resolution at up to 60 frames per second (fps) and supports Dolby Atmos, DTS, and 7.1 channel surround sound. It can transmit up to 500 feet away in clear areas with no obstacles, and 75 feet through walls, floors, and ceilings. That’s a better range than the more expensive options like the $450 SIIG 4K HDMI Wireless Extender Kit, for example.
The Phoenix Home transmitter also has a USB-C port that you might think is for connecting more devices, but it’s actually for controlling a computer wirelessly. You can connect a laptop over USB-C to the transmitter, then connect a mouse and keyboard to the receiver, and control the laptop remotely. I had to adjust the mouse speed, but it generally worked without any issues, allowing me to control a laptop that was physically in a totally different room. I imagine the USB ports would be helpful for school teachers, allowing them to control a slideshow or other apps. But for those who just want to stream video, it’s a bit unnecessary.
The transmitter and receiver also both have a port for an IR extender, which can be used for controlling a remote. An HDMI out lets you see whatever you are transmitting by connecting a TV or computer monitor, but I found that capability was entirely optional.
With everything connected—including the IR extenders, a keyboard, and a mouse—I was ready to start testing how it all performed for HDMI wireless transmission.
Testing Through Walls
Photograph: John Brandon
I used three scenarios to test the Phoenix Home True 4K. I started by playing games on my Xbox Series X and didn’t noticed any lag or slowdowns. I completed a couple of chapters of Crimson Desert over several hours, and every controller nudge felt instantaneous to me. (The brand says there is a system latency of up to 88 milliseconds, but I never noticed it.)