Looks like we’ve got a new player in the PC extension business… Last last week, ZeeVee introduced the ZvBox – available for pre-order. The ZvBox transmits both PC VGA video output (up to HD resolutions) and audio (up to 5.1 surround via USB) over coax to televisions in your home. Re-using the existing coaxial cabling installed in most homes is an efficient way to move content, from the SD DIY AVcast to whole-home DVR products from vendors like Verizon FiOS TV and Dish Network. Unlike those solutions, however, ZeeVee doesn’t transmit control over coax – relying instead on a two-way RF remote with a reported range of 150′.
ZeeVee hasn’t yet indicated the exact requirements to receive the “Zv channel.” Can the signal be passed through a set-top box, or will the cable need to be split? And what about my older Panasonic CRT HDTV without ATSC tuner – am I out of luck? Though, the biggest hurdle these guys face isn’t technological, it’s pricing… At $500, I’d rather buy a small, dedicated computer to watch Netflix, Hulu, etc on my television. If they reduce consumer cost by 1/3 – 1/2, they’ll have a much better shot at success.
(Thanks for the tip, Ryan!)