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Next-gen WiFi technology to deliver IPTV around the home

Written by James Delahunty @ 31 May 2006 7:56 User comments (2)

Next-gen WiFi technology to deliver IPTV around the home Next generation WiFi technology could be used to send Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) around the home, according to WiFi chip-maker Airgo Networks. The company announced on Tuesday that Caton Overseas and STMicroelectronics will use Airgo's latest technology to distribute video through WiFi links throughout the home. Airgo is the pioneer of the Multiple Input, Multiple Output (MIMO) technology which improves WiFi's range and throughput.
MIMO is primary basis for next-generation WiFi standard 802.11n. Airgo supplies companies like Linksys with its high performance chips. The company has tweaked its MIMO technology to improve the throughput, range and reliability of the signal to make it adequate enough to transmit three high-definition TV channels. Airgo's next generation chips are called True MIMO Gen3.

Using this latest technology, transmission speeds up to 240mbps can be reached. Airgo tested the technology in a 6,000-square-foot model home, according to Dave Borison, director of marketing. Carriers are already breaking the bank rushing to upgrade their networks to offer IPTV to consumers but another problem remains; most homes today aren't equipped with Ethernet cabling. This is where WiFi comes in.



"Until now, the only way to get multiple TVs connected to an IPTV service was to use wires," Borison said. "Earlier wireless technology couldn't offer the performance to replace wires. But now it can." Borison also commented that competitor Ruckus Wireless, which is also optimizing WiFi for video delivery, is using old WiFi technology to improve performance.

Source:
News.com

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2 user comments

11.6.2006 03:48

6000-square-foot model home? Sure, It would probably work in a single family house. But, what about apartement houses? You have 10 flats in that same area, each using wiFi-TV? Will it work or will the signals get mixed up or blocked by each other?

24.6.2006 05:47
mark5hs
Inactive

katzuu, Im sure you will be able to use diffrent channels to minimize interference

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