DS2 and Cavium Networks are working together to bring 1080p60 high definition (HD) video powerline communications networks.
Powerline comms is being proposed as a HDMI video cable replacement technology and the expectation is that HD video distribution over powerline links will be used by consumer electronic manufacturers and gaming console vendors.
Earlier this year the IEEE started work on the P1901 draft standard for broadband over powerline networks was published with medium access control (MAC) and physical layer (PHY) specifications.
The intention is to develop a standard to support data rates greater than 100Mbit/s for devices communicating via alternating current electric power lines. The standard will use transmission frequencies below 100MHz.
Valencia-based DS2 develops transceiver chips supporting up to 200Mbit/s bandwidth over existing home mains wiring.
Cavium Networks' netHD technology with DS2's powerline technology uses standard H.264 video encoding to distribute 1080p60 high quality video to flat panel displays in the home.
"HDMI video cable replacement and distribution in the home from multiple sources to flat panels is the next big disruptive application for powerline but has not gained traction yet because of the lack of cost effective, high-performance, low-latency 1080p60 encoders," said José Encabo, Business Development and Sales Manager, DS2.
The netHD evaluation platform integrates the Cavium Networks' PureVu CNW3602 and OCTEON CN50XX MIPS64 processor.
The platform offers 2x HDMI interfaces, 1x VGA input, 1x SPDIF audio output, 1x GE port and 1x USB 2.0 host.
The HDMI interfaces can input 1080p60 HD video and send a secure compressed video stream via DS2’s powerline technology to a receiving flat panel that displays the HD video. The netHD evaluation platform ships with ready-to-use software called the netHD application.