HomeGrid Forum Hits CES To Promote Powerline Networking for Ultra HD Video Distribution

At a show awash with wireless technology, the HomeGrid Forum used CES to promote powerline technology as a “robust networking backbone” for the connected home. G.hn offers a single, widely supported standard for connected networked devices over existing wired infrastructure including powerline, coax and phone line, it said. The expansion of Ultra HD TV content and multiple screens in the average household has created the need for a “high throughput home networking backbone," said the forum. HomeGrid positioned powerline networking for “real homes” where obstacles such as surge protectors, appliances and network congestion can interfere with wireless networking. It showed Sigma Designs’ CG5321 and SMP8758 G.hn chipsets for its G-Connex entertainment and networking device that’s said to combine the features of a streaming device with the high transmission rates required by Ultra HD 4K. It also showed Sigma Designs’ Ultra HD-ready G.hn Prime that was selected by Zinwell for its Multi-Input, Multi-Output powerline communication home networking product line. Arris, Brightech, Comtrend and Wondertek also showed G.hn-based devices.