Okay, we’re not saying that wireless technology gives you tumors. The jury’s still out on that one. What we are saying is that rather than go through the painful process of setting up a wireless network to stream you’re Hi-Def porn collection illegally bittorrented home movies (the only legal type in Australia, really) from your PC to your TV, why not try streaming it through the powerlines?
The Billion BiPAC 2070 (sounds like an evil robot from the future) is a 200Mbps Ethernet over power plug that lets you stream content through the copper in the walls rather than the air. Because it’s so fast, there’s no need to worry about buffer streams or interference like you would with a wireless router.
You get two HomePlugs in a box for $229, which automatically creates an extended network. Grab a couple more for different rooms of your house and anybody can log onto your new super fast ADSL2+ network as well.
Of course, to stream your video, you’ll still need a separate box, like an Apple TV or a Netgear EVA8000. But as far as setting up a home networks go, this sounds about as easy as plugging in a powerpoint. Stay tuned for a review in the coming weeks.
[Billion]
Sharp just jumped into the powerline networking game, rolling out its HN-VA40S and HN-VA10S network adapters. Using the HomePlug v1.1 standard for high-speed transmission over power lines, these babies will be great for those who don’t feel like using a wireless router or stringing Ethernet cables throughout their houses. Just plug one end into your cable modem and the other into an electrical line and you have an instant and fast network. HD streaming, anyone?
Shipping in Japan on August 24, Sharp gives you a choice of two different box pairs, one with a single Ethernet port at the other end, and another with four Ethernet ports. This is a way to send signals at around 85Mbps throughout your house with no muss, and no fuss. Hey, that’s fast enough for HDTV streaming, listening to music, or sending files around lickety-split. Sharp says these boxes will roll out on August 24, with the four-port unit selling for $194 and on a single port for $161.
Press Release [Sharp Corporation] More »
