Executive Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Selection Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Wireless Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Wireless Technologies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Choosing the Best Solution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The total distance that can be covered between endpoints in a Wireless analog video transmission has for the most part
wireless link is affected by a combination of factors including become obsolete, due to the inefficient use of RF spectrum
frequency, antenna geometry, interference, and obstructions. These that was typical for these devices. Instead most analog
factors make precise distance calculations extremely dependent on signals today are digitized and also compressed before
local environments. However, some general rules can be defined to wireless transmission. This includes audio signals even
help guide technology selection. though these signals consume much less RF bandwidth.
One application where analog video signals are still widely
Rule 1) Lower frequency bands support greater transmission distanc- used today is (ironically) for delivering signals from comput-
es, and are less sensitive to signal path obstructions. But low frequen- ers to displays. Formats including VGA, RGB and DVI-A are
cy bands are more likely to be restricted by the FCC (or other national all analog in nature, and therefore are rarely transmitted in
authorities) to narrow channel bandwidths and hence limited bit their native form over wireless networks. Several different
rates. types of converters are available that can digitize and
Rule 2) More complex modulation schemes (such as 16QAM as optionally compress these analog signals to make them
compared to QPSK) that deliver more bits in a given channel band- easier to transport over digital wireless links.
Comparison Matrix
Fixed Portable Unlicensed Bonded 60 GHz
Microwave Microwave Wi-Fi Cellular
Bit Rates 20-50 Mbps 5-50 Mbps 5-200 Mbps 1-20 Mbps 1.5 Gbps
Link Distance 1-50 km 1-10 km 0.1-5 km N/A 300-500m
Video Interfaces ASI, SDI, HD-SDI ASI, SDI, HD-SDI SDI, HD-SDI, IP SDI, HD-SDI HD-SDI
Video Compression Light to Medium Light to Medium Light to Heavy Heavy None
Initial Cost High High Low Medium High
Recurring Cost None None None $500/month None
for up to 50 Gbytes
License Required? Yes Yes No No No
Portability Not Limited High Within Cell Coverage High
Antenna Types Parabolic Parabolic Omni or Dish Omni (typical) Parabolic
Example Product TBD TBD VidOlink COFDM LU-500 VidOlink 60G
& VidOLink 5G
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