Hdmi Cable » wireless HD

HDBaseT tech carries HD video, audio and internet over Ethernet

andrew — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:18:58 +0000

Valens’ HDBaseTTM extends current digital connectivity technologies with first ever full HD multimedia content and Ethernet via a single 100m/328ft LAN cable

Valens Semiconductor, a fabless semiconductor company, announced today that it will demonstrate the first ever convergence and high quality transmission of uncompressed high-definition (HD) video, audio and Internet via a single LAN cable, creating a seamless end-to-end entertainment and networking experience in the home environment.

At the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), taking place January 8 – 11 in Las Vegas, Valens will introduce its HDBaseT™ technology in South Hall 2, Booth 27006. Valens is working towards creating HDBaseT as the new digital connectivity standard for HD multimedia distribution by overcoming the limitations of current wired and wireless technologies, while ensuring content rights for Hollywood studios and other content providers.

Valens’ VS100SK (receiver) and VS100SR (transmitter) ICs, the first to implement HDBaseT, will be commercially available during the second half of 2009. A source side implementation, VS100SR is designed for use inside Blu-ray DVD players, set-top boxes (STBs) and other HD source equipment. A sink side implementation, VS100SK is designed for use inside HDTVs, projectors and other display equipment.

With the growth of the HD market, consumers are looking for a way to connect TVs and other display equipment with entertainment devices, such as a Blu-ray DVD player, for in-home converged distribution of HD multimedia content. This demand to access and easily distribute HD content to any device at any time has caused consumer electronics manufacturers and content providers to push the limits of existing wired connectivity technologies, such as HDMI, MOCA and HomePlug, and emerging wireless technologies, including 802.11n, WHDI and WirelessHD.

While some existing technologies are limited in terms of bandwidth and cannot support uncompressed video, others are limited in terms of distance, reliability, flexibility, overall system cost and cost of installation – all pressure points for the end user. The demand for in-home converged distribution of HD multimedia content and the lack of adequate existing technologies are driving the industry towards a HD digital connectivity standard that increases distance of data transfer, expands distribution, extends the range, simplifies installations and lowers overall system cost.

Valens’ HDBaseT technology is optimized for video application and can connect all the entertainment devices at home by providing the 5PlayTM convergence of 8Gbps of uncompressed full HD digital video, audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, power over cable and various control signals. HDBaseT overcomes the limitations of HDMI and other current technologies as the first technology to enable long-reach wired connectivity of uncompressed HD multimedia content via up to 100m/328ft low-cost single standard Cat-5e/6 cable. This enables both point-to-point connectivity and full multimedia distribution with higher reliability, longer distance and lower cost cable, while supporting all existing and future content protection schemes.

“The market for HD content continues to grow and evolve as the end user increases content consumption. But today, connectivity and distribution of video, audio and Internet in the home entertainment environment are inconsistent,” said Dror Jerushalmi, CEO, Valens Semiconductor. “HDBaseT is revolutionizing the multimedia distribution of uncompressed HD multimedia content via a single LAN cable. There is no technology on the market today that is better positioned to be the future HD digital connectivity standard than HDBaseT.”

In addition, Valens’ HDBaseT technology offers a combination of media distribution and content protection that provides studios and CE manufacturers with a high level of content security and high quality transmission of uncompressed HD video, audio and data in a home environment.

Rocketfish WirelessHD Adapter Replaces HDMI, Is Uber-Expensive

natasha — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 08:15:10 +0000

We’ve been talking quite a lot about the idea of Wireless HD over the past year or so, and, in pretty much each and every single case, we mentioned the fact that this otherwise quite interesting A/V streaming solution is doomed to a niche segment as long as the devices using it have ridiculously high price points. Unfortunately, that’s the case as well with the gadget you’ll read about as follows, namely the Rocketfish WirelessHD Adapter, which has just become available at Best Buy.

Similar to other solutions of this type available on the market, the device wirelessly connects favorite home theater products such as Blu-ray players, A/V receivers, videogame consoles, and set-top boxes to HDTVs and projectors, transmitting lossless high-definition 1080p True Cinema picture resolution.

The Rocketfish WirelessHD Adapter operates in the open and interference-free 60GHz radio band, is able to send full 1080p/60fps HD content up to 10 meters away and supports Deep Color, 7.1 surround sound, Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Audio. Furthermore, it’s compatible with HDMI CEC control functionality.

“We asked our customers about their ideal home entertainment experience, and used these insights to create the new Rocketfish WirelessHD adapter, which responds to their desire to transmit high definition video wirelessly in the same room,” said Nigel Waites, CTO of Rocketfish. “This new product not only complements our existing suite of Rocketfish products but also allows consumers to easily integrate this new technology with their existing home theater equipment, regardless of the brand.”

As mentioned right from the start, pricing for the Rocketfish WirelessHD Adapter is quite high, the device selling at BestBuy for around 600 US dollars. For this sum, users will get the Wireless HD transmitter, WirelessHD receiver, two four-foot HDMI cables, two AC Adapters, two mounting brackets and the Quick Start Guide.

Wireless HDMI goes legal in UK

natasha — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 07:50:04 +0000

British TV viewers will finally be legally allowed to use televisions with wireless HDMI tech in the UK this week.

This is obviously terrible news for fans of ugly lounge-cluttering wires but a superb announcement for everybody else.

So as of 27 July, we will finally be able to head down to our local HDTV emporium and (in theory, at least) purchase a wireless HDMI-ready telly.

“It’s great that Ofcom has moved so fast to clear the bandwidth for ultra wideband devices like wireless HDMI – and it shows regulators don’t have to be lumbering behemoths,” commented What Satellite and Digital TV magazine editor, Alex Lane.

“This is great news for anyone with a wall-mounted TV or a projector at the other end of the room from their HD source – no need to run a 10 meter HDMI cable around your walls. Expect wireless HDMI to be standard on top-end TVs at next year’s CES.”

The wireless dream

A number of major retailers, including Sony and Panasonic have already been showing off TVs packing in wireless HDMI tech, so you can also expect to see models such as the Panasonic Z1 or the Sony Bravia ZX1 in your weekend trawl around your local out-of-town electrical superstore sometime very soon.

TechRadar will, of course, be testing out our latest stack of Blu-rays with a wireless HD set-up as soon as we can get one in to test out.

We only hope that all the other wireless signals throbbing through our block of flats doesn’t cause any interference to the picture or sound quality, because that would totally spoil that recurring dream of a wireless lounge…