14 DAY TRIAL // HDMI is probably the most annoying type of connector that ever existed. Not because of its ergonomics (in fact it's quite practical) but because through HDMI you can display full HD signal (let's say 1080p) only if your output is HDCP enabled. Otherwise, you'll end up seeing a HD movie rendered on SD resolution. And if that happens why bother with HD?
About three weeks ago, I wrote some words regarding Amimon and its wireless HD transmitter. The guys at Amimon had found an efficient (yet somewhat lossy) way to send HD signal across a large room by using a wireless connection. Rather than filling the entire 2.4GHz band, the transmitter was using 2 20MHz channels that were sending/ receiving the HD content. At the time, the technology still had some issues but it seems that today it has grown up enough to be incorporated in a functional product.
We can safely say that Wireless HDTV projection is here, and you can see it in action at the Sanyo booth (at CES of course?). Using the 20MHz transmitter and receiver from Amimon, the $3000 WHDMI module has been incorporated into a fully capable HD projector that costs roughly $10,000. The result is a wireless connection that can output uncompressed HD movies with no lag time. Sanyo officials have confirmed that the transmitter is capable of sending 1080p video over 60 to 90 feet at a maximum throughput of 1.5Gbit/sec.
Around July Sanyo will mass release its first WHDMI ready projectors but since the first ones will cost at least $10,000 expected sales will be low. October 2007 will bring the integration of wireless HD transmitters into the midrange projectors ($5,000 class) and things may improve on the sales, after the mass integration will begin.