Wireless HDMI promises around-the-house high-def viewing

[Bob Crabtree]

Enjoy high-definition encrypted video and audio anywhere in the house. That's the alluring promise held out by wireless HDMI circuitry co-developed by Tzero and ADI and likely to be used first in consumer and specialist products produced by Gefen.

More in this HEXUS.lifestyle.news headline.

[Steve]

Read about this on Slashdot very recently.

One very interesting question was raised: will they use JPEG2000 in lossy or lossless mode? Seeing as it's supposed to be wireless HDMI, one would hope lossless.

[Bob Crabtree]

I've now posed that question and will get back with any answer I get.

[Blademrk]

The other question is would you be able to use several receivers from 1 transmitter, or would they be linked so only 1 receiver would work with a transmitter.
i.e. If I had a HD player set-up using one of these transmitters and a HD TV set downstairs and a second HD TV upstairs (or anywhere else for that matter) if both were set up with receivers could you get the signal on both?

[Bob Crabtree]

The other question is would you be able to use several receivers from 1 transmitter, or would they be linked so only 1 receiver would work with a transmitter.
i.e. If I had a HD player set-up using one of these transmitters and a HD TV set downstairs and a second HD TV upstairs (or anywhere else for that matter) if both were set up with receivers could you get the signal on both?

I'd VERY much like to think that this is question that doesn't need asking.

If anyone, Gefen whoever, were to launch a transmitter that couldn't only be picked up by a single receiver, then I think it would have shot its foot right off.

The whole point is that this is an around-the-house system, not point-to-point.

Of course, you'll need additional receivers to pick up the signal in different places around the house, and they're going to cost extra - and that would bring in extra revenue for all concerned.

[pak000]

I'd VERY much like to think that this is question that doesn't need asking.

If anyone, Gefen whoever, were to launch a transmitter that couldn't only be picked up by a single receiver, then I think it would have shot its foot right off.

The whole point is that this is an around-the-house system, not point-to-point.

Of course, you'll need additional receivers to pick up the signal in different places around the house, and they're going to cost extra - and that would bring in extra revenue for all concerned.

It would be nice to think this, but if there is any content protection involved, i'm willing to bet that it will be limited to one receiver unless you want the quality degraded.

[Blademrk]

It would be nice to think this, but if there is any content protection involved, I'm willing to bet that it will be limited to one receiver unless you want the quality degraded.

that, and how would you differentiate between feeds (say HD DVD player downstairs and PS3 upstairs).
and what's to stop next door from watching what you're watching (not that they'd want to watch Finding Nemo for the millionth time )

[GFiSH]

In principal it sounds like a great idea, I'm very interested to learn more about this.

[Bob Crabtree]

It would be nice to think this, but if there is any content protection involved, i'm willing to bet that it will be limited to one receiver unless you want the quality degraded.

Bandwidth issues may well limit how many receivers you can use at the same time, I don't know, but I would be shocked if it wasn't possible to have different receivers in different rooms and use them all with the one transmitter.

[Bob Crabtree]

that, and how would you differentiate between feeds (say HD DVD player downstairs and PS3 upstairs).

Doesn't strike me as a difficult thing to be able to do - and something that, logically, you would be able to do but there still isn't a lot of info available about what you can and can't do.

and what's to stop next door from watching what you're watching (not that they'd want to watch Finding Nemo for the millionth time )

I'd almost guarantee that this will not be possible - the handshaking between transmitter and receiver wouldn't allow it, I think.

[shaithis]

I think the fact that its wireless means that it won't be lossless

[charleski]

and what's to stop next door from watching what you're watching (not that they'd want to watch Finding Nemo for the millionth time )

I'd almost guarantee that this will not be possible - the handshaking between transmitter and receiver wouldn't allow it, I think.

The encryption problems with multiple devices (especially in a freely-configurable setup) are significantly greater than those involved in a single one-to-one link. There are lots of problems here with regard to interfacing, determining and enforcing rule sets, prevention of cascading, etc. Not to mention the biggest problem: getting the studios to allow multiple redirection in the first place (because there's nothing in it for them, if you want to watch a film on 2 TVs, they will want you to buy 2 discs).

I would be highly surprised if this didn't turn out to be Hi-Def to the main TV but only 480p to any other receivers.

[pak000]

Bandwidth issues may well limit how many receivers you can use at the same time, I don't know, but I would be shocked if it wasn't possible to have different receivers in different rooms and use them all with the one transmitter.

Oh, I'm not saying it won't be possible to use multi receivers, I'm just saying that the people that control the HDCP may get a little upset by it and mandate that it be restricted so that if you broadcast a "protected" film, it will only be decoded on a single receiver

[Bob Crabtree]

I'm keen to be able to provide some definitive answers about all this but I've not yet had back any responses.