NEC Develops 1 Gbps Wireless HDTV Transceiver in 60-GHz-band

Earlier this month, NEC announced a wireless transceiver for indoor, short range HDTV transmission, such as between a cable box a wall-mounted display. The wireless module carries uncompressed HDTV signals and stereo audio signals in a 1 Gbps data stream in the 60-GHz-band using amplitude shift keying (ASK) modulation. A dual receiver configuration supports two transmission paths. Automatic switching from one path ensures continuous transmission should interference disturb one of the paths.


Compared to other WLAN (2.4 and 5 GHz) or UWB, NEC said the 60-GHz band is better suited for HDTV transmission because of less interference at high frequencies.


In Japan, 59 to 66 GHz is allocated as an unlicensed frequency band for low-power applications. In the U.S., 57 to 64 GHz is also allocated for unlicensed applications. NEC said the radio wave in these frequency ranges is characterized by relatively high attenuation in the air due to the oxygen absorption and thus appropriate for short-range communications with less interference from other wireless systems. Its propagation is straightforward rather than diffractive and interrupted with significant attenuation by obstacles such as a human body in the way.
http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/0504/0101.html