Wireless HDTV continues to be a hot topic in the consumer electronics space. The need for a solution that will finally eliminate audio/video wires is stronger than ever. The TV market is at an inflection point ready to take off, propelled by a combination of major technical and regulatory advances. Flat panel display, LCD and plasma technologies have enabled an amazing offering of elegant TVs that most people want in their living room. HD content is also fueling the demand for HDTVs, with most consumers in the US and Japan having access to a wide array of HD content from TV networks and cable channels, and distributed via terrestrial, cable or satellite broadcasts. In the US this trend is facilitated by the FCC which is making sure through regulation and its influence on cable/satellite operators that HDTV is finally going to happen and on a large scale. Other world markets will follow, including Europe, which already has several satellite providers offering HD programming.
Sporting events such as the Super-Bowl or the Olympic Games see more people rushing to spend thousands of dollars on new HDTV sets. The availability of new HD DVDs will only intensify this demand. This hot market is attracting new players from the PC space such as HP and Dell who hope to take a slice of the TV market from the incumbent TV brands. With such intense competition in this lucrative market, CE manufacturers are investing heavily in differentiating qualities enabling them to offer more elegant designs, better picture quality and more functions. A wireless interface would be a perfect addition to their offerings.
Consumers have shown that they like wireless. The proliferation of cordless phones, Bluetooth headsets and Wi-Fi home networking kits are just a few indications of this preference. Consumers are very likely to opt for a TV with a wireless interface over a TV without one. What is the point of spending so much money on an elegant wall-hanging flat panel TV if its aesthetic appeal is compromised by wires running to the display? To illustrate this concern, one TV manufacturer tells a story about a couple at an electronics store where the wife says: “OK, you can have your silly four- thousand dollar TV, but I don’t want to see any wires running through our living room…”
The need for wireless HDTV is even stronger when it comes to multimedia projectors. The market for HDTV multimedia projectors for home use is growing dramatically. A true cinema experience with a huge picture cannot be matched by TV sets, and the space occupied by these machines is very small. In many cases a projector is not purchased in place of a TV but rather as a complement to it; to be used for special events such as parties and other social gatherings or a ‘night out’ at the home cinema. Although growth is strong, this market is very far from realizing its potential. Perhaps the greatest inhibitor of further growth is the installation difficulty. Having to run video wires across the room to the projector discourages many from purchasing this device. The high prices – as much as several hundreds of dollars – of the long video cables required for projector installation, make the installation experience even more painful. A wireless interface would make all the difference.
It is not surprising therefore, that so many companies have been trying to address this need. Many top TV OEMs have been spending resources on wireless TV technology, while standard bodies and special interest groups, such as 802.11n and UWB, are also targeting this application. Most of the solutions that have been proposed for wireless HDTV share a common assumption: the HD video stream delivered wirelessly is compressed with a typical data rate of 10-30 Mbps. This assumption is based on the premise that video is distributed to the home through terrestrial, cable or satellite...
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