OFDM trial - 24 Mb/s
Philips, Wi-LAN Conduct Wireless OFDM Trials 8/23/99
During this week's IFA Conference in Berlin, Philips Semiconductors (Sunnyvale, CA) and Wi-LAN (Alberta, CA) have demonstrated the transmission of digital video streams over a 2.4 GHz RF link using Wi-LAN's patented wideband orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (W-OFDM) technology.
The wireless demo features an MPEG-2 data stream generator, which feeds a multiple transport stream into a Philips set-top box (STB). The STB converts the signals to an IEEE 1384 (Firewire) data stream and applies it to the Wi-LAN W-OFDM radio system. The radio system's transmitter then sends the data stream over the air to a corresponding W-OFDM receiver. On the receive side, the IEEE 1394 signal is demodulated on two separate monitors.
According to Benno Ritter, international product marketing manager at Philips, the demonstration system can achieve a raw data rate of 46 Mb/s. In reality, however, Ritter says that the system can deliver a net payload of approximately 24 Mb/s once a header is added and forward error correction (FEC) is performed. This compares to the 11 Mb/s data rates being touted by the IEEE 802.11 committee.
By enabling high-speed wireless connectivity, the demonstration system may change the way video is distributed throughout a household. According to Ritter, systems, such as the Philips/Wi-LAN demonstration system, will allow users to distribute video inputs throughout the home without the need to run additional cable. In addition, Ritter says this technology may enable engineers to develop handheld screens that allow users to browse the Internet, run PC operations, and watch TV anywhere within a home.
The first STB products employing W-OFDM technology are expected to hit the market in 2001. For additional information, contact Philips at 800-447-1500 ext. 1828.
Edited by Robert Keenan
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John |
