Offering both in-room and room-to-room A/V signal distribution, Monster, a manufacturer of audio and video connectivity solutions, and Sigma Designs (News - Alert), a provider of digital media processing system-on-chip (SoC) solutions for consumer electronics, have announced a collaboration. With this partnership, the companies are looking to create advanced wireless solutions for HDMI home entertainment distribution.

 

With long-range capability to cover the whole home with wireless connectivity that achieves mobility and flexibility for in-room video streaming, Sigma’s Wireless HDAV and UWB-over-Coax combination solution powers the Monster Wireless Digital Express HD product. At the same time, the solution maintains the highest quality of service that is required for HD content that travels from room-to-room. Also, Sigma’s UWB technology works on the most preferred WiMedia Alliance (News - Alert) standard, which is supported by many of the technology companies. The economies of scale and rapid market adoption are gained by the WiMedia standard-based architecture and interoperability.

 

With a transmitter and receiver elements inside box equipment, Monster’s Wireless Digital Express HD product offers in-room and adjacent room wireless connectivity, and 330 ft. plus range of coax connectivity room-to-room; encodes older video formats to 1080P HDMI; and can upscale all inputs to 1080p format. In addition, the product offers a fully-integrated Infrared (IR) distribution solution, as well as inputs for two HDMI ports, two component, one composite video/S-video with audio, coax digital, optical digital with outputs of coax digital, optical digital F-connector for coax, 3 IR emitters and a serial communication input. Through its included USB port, the Wireless Digital Express HD can be software updated.

 

Featuring Sigma’s UWB Windeo chipset and its Intelligent Array Radio (IAR) technology, Monster’s Wireless Digital Express HD is powered by Sigma’s Wireless HDAV. To provide the industry’s most reliable wireless link that is uninhibited by walls, objects or people, Sigma’s IAR technology incorporates three antennas.

 

“We are excited that Monster has chosen Sigma’s wireless HDAV and “no new wires” UWB-over-Coax solutions to power the new Wireless Digital Express HD product,” said Hung Nguyen, vice president and general manager at Sigma’s Wireless Products Division. “Monster’s selection of Sigma’s UWB technology further validates that advanced wireless home connectivity is here now, ready for our home high def products. We are delighted to offer Monster customers a simple way to set up and experience broadband wireless connectivity between their home entertainment products, and once and for all eliminate the need for any new complex wiring.”