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Posts with tag home networking

Netgear's Home Theater Internet Connection Kit spreads content on power lines

by Darren Murph Aug 12th 2009 @ 8:41AM

Not so fond of those wireless streaming solutions? Unable to strew Ethernet cables all across your abode for fear of an SO beating? Fret not, as Netgear's now-shipping Home Theater Internet Connection Kit has you covered. The $179.99 bundle consists of an XAVB1004 Powerline AV Ethernet switch and a single Powerline AV Ethernet Adapter (XAV101) to get you started; just connect your web-ready wares to these adapters via Ethernet, and connect said adapters to your home's vast array of power outlets. It's magic, really.

[Via HotHardware]

HomePlug fires back with powerline IEEE P1901 Draft Standard adoption

by Steven Kim Jul 29th 2009 @ 5:19PM

HomePlug Power Alliance logoHighly variable real-world performance aside, the lack of a well-defined standard for powerline networking isn't helping the technology take off; but sticking consumers between the warring G.hn and HomePlug AV factions doesn't help anybody. In the latest round of the fight, the IEEE P1901 reached Draft Standard acceptance, and -- wouldn't you know it -- the onus of coming up with compliance and interoperability testing for products will fall upon the HomePlug Powerline Alliance. Just to raise the stakes, the Draft Standard is aiming for backward compatibility with existing devices. Sounds like herding cats to us, but with finalization of the Standard slated for 2010, it looks like things are going to heat up in the coming months.

Ralink and Celeno team up on HD WiFi home networking wares

by Darren Murph Jun 1st 2009 @ 8:00AM


We've known for some while that Celeno had a thing for high-def over WiFi, and that favoritism has never been more clear. Today, the outfit is announcing a partnership with Ralink that will hopefully lead to an array of WiFi home networking designs that are optimized for HD video distribution. The first solution will combine the CL1300 and CLR230 802.11n chipsets along with Ralink's RT2880 and RT2850 chips. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem as if Celeno is announcing any set-top-boxes to contain said solution just yet, but hopefully that's just a few months away. Hey, CEDIA ain't too far off, is it? Full release is after the break.

Continue reading Ralink and Celeno team up on HD WiFi home networking wares

Netgear's MoCA coax-ethernet adapter kit now available, explained with bizarre cartoon

by Ross Miller Apr 22nd 2009 @ 4:43AM

Netgear's coaxial-hijacking adapter kit MCAB1001 MoCA is now available. The pair of devices, which turns your cable outlets into a home networking solution with transfer speeds up to 270 Mbps, is retailing on the company's online shop for a penny under $190, and if you'd like to watch an infomercial on how it works, chock full of oddly-chosen metaphors and trippy visuals, we've got the perfect read link for you just below.

Read - Product page
Read - "MoCA in a Nutshell" video

D-Link ships $139.99 PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit

by Darren Murph Apr 15th 2009 @ 3:21PM


While we wait for the phenomenon that is wireless HD to actually matter, D-Link's forging ahead with technology that's here, now. Starting today, the outfit is shipping a new PowerLine kit that can stream high-def footage throughout a home's integrated electrical wiring system. In other words, it's not wireless, but it's far from being messy. The PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit (DHP-303) includes a pair of wall plugs / adapters which convert power sockets into access points for streaming media across the network. D-Link promises that users will see up to 200Mbps of throughput, and of course, the tried-and-rarely-true "plug-and-play" buzzword is thrown in as well. Assuming it actually works, the $139.99 asking price ain't too bad.

Gallery: D-Link ships $139.99 PowerLine HD Ethernet Adapter Starter Kit

Linksys by Cisco PLTK300 Powerline kit is pretty, sluggish

by Darren Murph Mar 21st 2009 @ 8:17AM


And to think, this here box had so much promise. At first glance, it's easy to fall head over heels with the PLTK300 Powerline box. After all, it features a four-port adapter that easily manages game consoles, Blu-ray players, AV receivers, etc., and passes those signals along your home network via power wiring. The rub? It's based on the older 85Mbps standard and not the fresher, speedier 200Mbps protocol. In other words, you may see dropped frames and the like if trying to push too much HD through here at once. Ah well, at least that news makes the Asia-only availability that much easier to live with.

Update: So, these seem to be shipping now in the US. Huzzah! [Thanks, Dave!]

UPA and HomeGrid Forum agree to support G.hn networking standard

by Darren Murph Mar 1st 2009 @ 10:16AM

While wireless HD / HDMI attempts to find itself a place in the market, G.hn is racking up its fair share of support from those who still get along with wires. Universal Powerline Association and the HomeGrid Forum have just announced an agreement to support the G.hn wireline networking standard. If you'll recall, G.hn was just recently ratified by the ITU as a new global standard for HDTV home networking, and while it's tough to tell how it'll react to HomePlug AV vying for those same customers, we can already see a battle shaping up. Still, a universal format for transmitting 1080p content around the home is certainly something that's easy to dig -- it's getting everyone on a single caboose that's difficult. Full release is after the break.

Continue reading UPA and HomeGrid Forum agree to support G.hn networking standard

Gennum's Aviia enables 1080p surveillance over coax

by Darren Murph Feb 28th 2009 @ 12:46AM


These days, it's just not enough to have a grainy, low quality loop of a crook robbing a convenience store. No one understands this better than Gennum, who has just introduced a new audio / video interface for professional and industrial applications (such as advanced video security and surveillance systems) that will enable 1080p transmissions over existing coaxial cables up to 100 meters long. The main selling point is this technology's ability to work over existing coax infrastructures, giving CCTV networks the ability to capture and distribute content at high resolutions without upgrading to CAT5 or the like. Big Brother just found a way to keep a much, much clearer eye on you -- better watch your steps, bub.

DiiVA home networking spec exposes itself to potential partners

by Richard Lawler Feb 25th 2009 @ 2:24AM


Sporting an extra "i" DiiVA is back, ready to show off the initial draft of its home networking spec. The same old crew of Chinese manufacturers are still pledging support, claiming it solves data channel issues for the future of interactive TV and such. We'd probably want to make sure the name is nailed down before signing up but interested parties can register as a DiiVA promoter to review and provide feedback before its finalized. Still, in the China-based format race, it probably has better odds of ever catching on than CBHD or HD NVD.

Netgear's Coax-Ethernet Adapter up for pre-order

by Darren Murph Jan 29th 2009 @ 8:53AM


Netgear quietly introduced us to its MCAB1001 MoCA Coax-Ethernet adapter (among other things) at CES this year, but the curiously useful device has just now set itself up for pre-ordering. Put simply, this is the device to get for those who both loathe wireless (and all those inexplicable dropouts) and can't pony up the courage / fundage / willpower to wire their home with Ethernet. By enabling users to extend Ethernet signals over existing in-wall coax cabling, you can easily pass along web content, Blu-ray / DVD material or practically any other digital signal over the coax network that's (hopefully) already established within your domicile's walls. Yeah, $229.99 is a bit pricey, but go price out a house full of Ethernet and then reevaluate.

[Thanks, Matt]

DS2 shows off embedded powerline module

by Darren Murph Jan 15th 2009 @ 9:52AM


While powerline as a whole still has quite a ways to go before it's considered mainstream, DS2 is apparently hoping to bring it a touch closed by embedding it in places we'd least expect. At CES last week, the company was spotted showing off an embedded PLC module which gave powerline capabilities to whatever item it was integrated into. Now, let's see DS2 convince router companies and the like to follow suit.

Broadcom produces MoCA-integrated SoC for HD STBs

by Darren Murph Jan 12th 2009 @ 10:37AM


Ready to sling recorded content around your home via the coaxial wiring in your home? Broadcom is. The outfit has just introduced the industry's first MoCA-integrated SoC solution for use in high-def set-top-boxes and gateway applications, which would theoretically "transform a subscriber's existing coax cable infrastructure into a whole-home media distribution network." If you still can't piece together the potential here, we're talking whole-home digital media distribution over one's existing coax network, and DLNA support is thrown in too. Who knows when your cable company will decide to adopt an STB with this within, but tomorrow would be good.

HomePlug's powerline technology incorporated into IEEE P1901 standard

by Darren Murph Dec 23rd 2008 @ 1:02PM


Powerline technology has been hanging around for years, but due to a combination of subpar real-world performance and a general lack of structure around the tech, it never really managed to take off. Now, it appears that we've stumbled upon yet another format war, this one over the power cabling within your walls. Within the very same month, we've seen the ITU ratify G.hn as the global standard for HDTV home networking and the IEEE bake HomePlug technology into its P1901 draft standard. Rob Ranck, president of the HomePlug Powerline Alliance, said about the development: "The formation of a ubiquitous IEEE standard will help to unite the industry, create even faster market growth and provide strong benefits to the consumer." Right, except now we're in the midst of yet another war of the protocols (or so it seems).

DLNA gives thumbs-up to MoCA standard for new guidelines

by Darren Murph Dec 20th 2008 @ 3:30PM


You know that DLNA support that your media streamer has, which currently only supports WiFi and Ethernet as approved LAN standards? Yeah? Well MoCA is about to join in. Yep, the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) has given the green light to the Multimedia over Coax Alliance (MoCA) technology standard for "incorporation into the next version of its Networked Interoperability Guidelines," which should be out in early 2009. The guidelines will aim to "unite various consumer electronics, personal computer and mobile device technologies into a cohesive home networking environment," and being that MoCA is an open initiative intended to distribute multimedia over a home's existing coaxial network, it's a wonder the two haven't linked up earlier. Who says coax is dying?

DS2 already concoting a G.hn-compatible chipset

by Darren Murph Dec 19th 2008 @ 4:07PM

Man, these guys are really on top of things. Just days after the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) ratified the G.hn home networking standard, DS2 has emerged to announce that it is already working to introduce a G.hn-compatible chipset as early as next year. When brought to market, the DSS9960 chipset will enable manufacturers to jump in and attempt to revive the obviously flagging powerline niche. Will interoperability be what finally turns this segment into a viable business model? We'll wait 'til the wireless HD fiasco gets sorted before attempting to answer that.




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