WHDI spec becomes official
updated 03:05 pm EST, Tue December 8, 2009
WHDI spec is official, gains 1080p support
The WHDI wireless HD video standard that uses 5GHz, Wi-Fi-based technology has been finalized recently. The technology was found by chip designer Amimon and is one of at least four technologies aimed to bring wireless HD video distribution in the home. The technology will allow sending 1080p HD video at 60Hz refresh rates and 12-bit color depth up to 100 feet away and through multiple walls. Maximum data rates are said to be fixed at 3Gbps using a 40MHz channel.
Initially, Amimon promised only support for 720p video, but the technology has evolved and it now also supports the full High-Bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) version 2.0. There is also a version of the Consumer Electronics Control protocol from HDMI included, which would allow users to send video to multiple rooms.
The Amimon chips comprise of individual two-chip receivers and transmitters that use a 90nm CMOS baseband and a silicon germanium radio, while consuming up to 3W of power. Members of the consortium can have access to the technology for a fee of $2,000 per year if they sign up in 2009.
The WHDI Consortium hopes to create an interoperability test suite and certification lab in the autumn of 2010, with the first products using the standard available at around the same time.
Competitors include the WirelessHD standard and the Wireless Gigabit Alliance, though the former doesn't have HDCP 2.0 support.
Several TV makers have already committed to the WHDI standard, including Sharp and Sony, but LG, Hitachi, Motorola and Samsung are also part of the consortium.
