Sony's LocationFree goes HD with LF-W1HD kit

Welcome to HD LocationFree; Sony just announced their 1080i-capable LocationFree Home HD gear. The LF-W1HD pushes MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 formatted video between the wireless receiver / transmitter pair. While the receiver does support a single HDMI-output, the transmitter does not so HDMI signal transmission is a no-go. It's also limited to 802.11a/b/g instead of 802.11n Draft 2.0 which is much more appropriate for HD streaming. Look for these to hit Japan in December for about ¥50,000 or round-abouts $431 whenever they make it this way. Backside-ports face front, after the break.

[Via Impress]

[Adrian Niculescu @ Sep 5th 2007 7:20AM]

"While the receiver does support a single HDMI-output, the receiver does not so HDMI signal transmission is a no-go."

You probably meant the TRANSMITTER supports a HDMI-input, am i wrong?

[turbochargedbrick @ Sep 5th 2007 7:26AM]

engadget is busy cleaning out their garage at the moment, it must have slipped.

[Thomas Ricker @ Sep 5th 2007 7:42AM]

@Adrian, Indeed! Fixed the post.

Thomas

[Willen @ Sep 5th 2007 9:46AM]

Just FYI.

The unit on the left which is marked 送信機 is the transmitter. The unit on the right with 受信機 (and HDMI) is the receiver.

[Mike @ Sep 5th 2007 7:51AM]

I'm looking at the picture of the rear of the unit and the transmitter only seems to accept VGA(!?) or standard definition component.

So no HDMI input, but not even HD component input? Some very strange decisions by Sony - they don't even have a wired LAN port for if an 802.11g stream is too slow or jerky.

[Pastafarian @ Sep 5th 2007 8:26AM]

@ Mike

The one on the right CLEARLY has an HDMI port, right below the USB port and to the right of the composite ports.

[RichardC @ Sep 5th 2007 9:26AM]

I agree with Mike:
It's the transmitter that has HDMI output - that's the portion that hooks up to your tv to view the signal.
The receiver, the part that you hook up to the video source like a satellite box, appears to only have VGA or Composite for inputs?! That makes for one pretty useless "HD" product!

And for those wondering: I'm assuming the photo of the rear with inputs has the receiver on the right and the transmitter on the left.

[Willen @ Sep 5th 2007 9:29AM]

@Mike

The connector(s) you see on the transmitter unit (on the left) which look like VGA connectors are D-Terminals. They are used extensively in Japanese-market TVs and video equipment (kinda like how SCART is used in Europe, but with more limited functionality).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Terminal

They are essentially a one-connector analog component video interface which can support up to 1920x1080p signals. D-Terminal connectors can be easily converted to RCA-type connectors which are used in other countries via a simple adapter.

If this setup had HDMI input AND output it would be more compelling as a purchase. As it is, it's only good for wireless transmission of broadcast and cable HDTV signals from a set-top box which are generally 1080i. Blu-ray and HD-DVD analog component-out compatibility (especially if ICT is enabled) would be limited or severely crippled.

Also, if 802.11g transmission isn't stable enough for this unit (due to high traffic on the 2.4GHz band), there is always the less-crowded 802.11a protocol as an alternative. ;)

Wired LAN compatibility would probably be useless for the application for this device since if you had CAT-5 wiring at the sending and receiving unit's locations, you could just get this: http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=4141 or for HDMI over two CAT-5 cables, this: http://www.gefen.com/kvm/product.jsp?prod_id=3872.

[greathui @ Sep 5th 2007 8:19AM]

Cool I thinks I should buy one ^ ^

[antoniosevi @ Sep 5th 2007 8:40AM]

When arrives to Europe?range?

[Stan @ Sep 5th 2007 9:32AM]

Finally Sony Locationfree is going HD! I am glad I held off and did not get the Locationfree Box which actually never came out in the States most likely because it would not do well at all.
@Mike: those ports that you see look like VGA are actually Japanese D4 ports, not VGA. As for not including N Draft, I streamed HD over 802.11a and it worked just fine with no hiccups.

[timmaughan @ Sep 5th 2007 10:25AM]

so...could i use this to stream HD content from a mac/pc to an HDTV?

[smokeonit @ Sep 5th 2007 12:48PM]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D-Terminal

the d-terminal does SDTV annd HDTV analog in from 480i up to 1080i. 1080p is a no go since D5 isn't featured...

there are D-terminal adapters on the market to convert component 720p/1080i to D3 or D4 (D31080i D4 720p).