Belkin FlyWire HDMI Transmitter

Finally an HD-ready wireless video transmitter solution for that picture perfect home theater installation. Belkin has officially announced FlyWire (AV69003) and FlyWire R1 (AV69000) audio/video transmitters that are capable of video resolutions up to 1080p.

Tricky custom home theater installations can be a nightmare with the limitations of HDMI. That flat panel hung perfectly on the wall can lose its hyper-modern interior style when it’s accompanied by a stack of components and a plethora of cables and wires.

FlyWire will let you place that stack of gear in another room, its powerful transmitter can even send signals through walls. FlyWire R1 is the less powerful flavor of Belkin’s wireless A/V transmitter at a slightly lower cost and is designed for in-room transmissions.

Operating on the open 5GHz band FlyWire will transmit up to six A/V devices throughout the house. FlyWire transmits audio and video uncompressed so the quality that goes into the transmitter is coming out of the small receiver you can easily hide on the back of your flat panel HDTV.

Judging by rear image of the transmitter, only the first five sources look like they’ll be capable of high-def video and only the first three (HDMI) capable of 5.1 audio. But the first three inputs will transmit anything you can connect via HDMI including Blu-ray players, game consoles and high-def Cable or Satellite TV. What we don't know yet is whether it will be future ready to support eventual Deep Color (12-bit) applications - which have yet to come to market.

The Belkin FlyWire will cost a whopping $999.99 (yikes!) and is set to hit stores in October. Its single-room little brother, FlyWire R1 will cost $699.99 and will be available in early 2009.