FlyWire: Multiroom Video

Multi room audio has been relatively easy to solve. One central storage / Internet audio services gateway appliance (in my case the faithful ReadyNas running the SlimServer software). And a number of players (in my case a number of faithful Logitech duets) connected over the home WiFi LAN. The standard Ethernet / IP network layer has been more than enough to stream high quality audio around. And the standard Ethernet / IP network layer has given the ultimate flexibility in building / converging the network topology. Bringing audio to just another room? Piece of cake... Make sure the room is within the range of the home WiFi network and plug just another audio receiver to an amplifier and speakers. Remote controllers operate over WiFi too, so no problem there either.

But when we move to multiroom video, we are far, far from where the audio solutions are present now. The reason is the bandwidth. FullHD, or 1080p uncompressed high definition video stream requires a network capable of carrying some 3 GIGA bits per second. That is ten times more than the fastest 802.11n is capable of (provided it works). And that is three times more than the four - pair copper CAT5 wires can handle. We won't fit video over existing technologies. We need a new foundation.

Belkin has recently announced the first FlyWire product. Technically the FlyWire is based on the WHDI (Wireless Home Digital Interface). Operates in the 5GHz band, with 100ft / 30m range and latency below a millisecond. From the user's perspective it is just a wireless hub / networking adapter, but capable of delivering FullHD video. The price tag is shocking $1500. And you canot buy one now, Amazon is only taking preorders on this gadget. Eventually the price will come down, as it is not more than a product made of sand (silicon) with some IP (Intellectual Property) in it. Still it will in some way solve the multiroom video problem. It even streams back the IR (Infra Red) remote controller signals, so you will be able to control your HD receiver or your BlueRay player and watch its output on any screen in the house. Sans wires.

So just when it has almost been clear Ethernet and WiFi would be the only network you needed in the house, you see there will be at least one more. I just wonder how they will compete for bandwidth... Well... At 5GHz, at least they won't have to fight with the 2,4GHz microwave oven :)