Distributing HDMI-sourced HD around the house is made easy with One For All's neat-looking SV1760
Getting AV to another room in the house without the hassle of running cables? Quite an enticing prospect, and one that a wireless video sender delivers. A chunk of hardware (the transmitter) connects to your source gear, while another box (the receiver) sends on AV signals to a TV located in another room.
The concept has been around for a while, but a problem is that yesteryear's offerings can't handle anything above stereo audio and composite video. Furthermore, they usually operate in the crowded 2.4GHz airspace – and the lack of encryption means any neighbour with a receiver tuned into one of the few (switchable) frequencies available can also enjoy what's was being transmitted.
Now, One For All – better-known for its comprehensive range of universal remotes – has a solution for the digital age. The £200 SV1760 consists of a compact transmitter and receiver that interface to your gear via HDMI; no provision is made for analogue. As a result, the SV1760 can convey HD (up to 1080p) and 5.1 multichannel sound. 3D compatibility is claimed too.
It harnesses the less-crowded 5GHz band, in conjunction with secure Wi-Fi technology, to establish communication. A bonus is that the SV1760 can remotely control your source gear. The receiver – located wherever remote viewing is required – comes with a wired infra-red sensor that picks up commands from the handset you'd normally use to control the source. Commands are relayed to the transmitter, into which plugs an emitter positioned within sensor range of the source equipment. The transmitter rebuilds the control pulses and sends them to your kit. Thanks to this arrangement, it's possible to change channel or pause playback without having to traipse downstairs, or wherever.
It's all easy to set up, and HDCP poses no barrier. Indeed, the transmitter even features an HDMI loopthrough output so that your source (e.g., a Blu-ray deck) can remain connected to existing equipment (like an AV receiver). Buttons on the front of the unit initiate wireless pairing; normally, you would only need to do this once. Nearby are LEDs that confirm connection status. Onscreen displays confirm video and link status when compatible HDMI video isn't present.
I tried the SV1760 with multiple video formats. All were accepted, including 1080p24. As regards audio, Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 bitstreams from DVDs can be conveyed. Hi-def audio (e.g., Blu-ray) can't; if you want remote Blu-ray, set your player to output 16-bit PCM multichannel (up to 48kHz) and all should be well. PCM is also recommended for TV set-top boxes.
And on the whole, it works. The SV1760 takes the uncompressed HDMI digital video, and compresses it with H.264 so it can be reliably transmitted over Wi-Fi. Compression artefacts are negligible, and there is no obvious impact on colour fidelity, detail or dynamic range. On occasions, motion judder is visible, but overall I was amazed how minimal the deterioration relative to a direct connection is. And I got 20m of real-world range.
However, there were problems getting the infra-red relay to work – ironic, given the brand's core business. At best, it was unpredictable with the gear I used – Cambridge and Samsung BD players, an Onkyo AVR, a Humax PVR and two LCD TVs. It's a shame the front-panel LEDs and onscreen displays can't be used as a setup aid, or confirm that IR commands are going through the system. Factors include sensor and emitter positioning and whether the loopthrough output is active (disabling CEC has no effect).
One For All sent me several samples, all of which behaved alike. Having a number of SV1760s did, however, allow me to discover that two receivers can work simultaneously from the same transmitter. The caveat is that the IR relay doesn't work under such circumstances.
Copes with HD video and multichannel audio, performance is good and range will suffice for most. But we had issues with infra-red relay.
SPECIFICATIONS
CLAIMED TRANSMISSION DISTANCE: 30m VIDEO RESOLUTIONS: 480/576i/p; 720p; 1080i/p (inc 1080p/24) DIMENSIONS: 25(w) x 90(h) x 85(d)mm WEIGHT: 200g approx (transmitter, receiver)
FEATURES
HDMI 1.4a connectivity; 5GHz Wi-Fi with WPS and PBC; 128/256-bit AES encryption; latency <0.5s; transmitter HDMI loopthrough; infra-red relay; trailing emitter/receiver; stereo/multichannel audio (16-bit/48kHz DTS/Dolby Digital/PCM); onscreen displays; multiple receivers allowed; vertical stands supplied; two-year warranty