Eminent iTrio EM7100 HDMI wireless video sender
Room with a view
Review The video senders of yesterday didn’t enjoy the best of reputations. Typically used to route the analogue feed of one VCR to a second TV at the other end of the house, they suffered all manner of RF interference. Even when you managed to align their directional antennas, ghostly gremlins would make for a second rate viewing experience.
Eminent's iTrio 7100 receiver supports analogue sources as well as HDMI
But that’s all changed with the advent of a new generation of HDMI senders. Using the 5GHz band intended for short-range wireless LAN applications, they can deliver a high-quality Full HD image through brickwork and other household miscellany.
Most of HDMI senders offer a simple single HDMI link between two points. The Eminent iTrio EM7100 reviewed here, however, is rather more versatile. The Transmitter features two HDMI v1.1 inputs, SCART, PC VGA/Component (a VGA-to-component adaptor lead is enclosed in the box) and a stereo minijack audio input. The look-alike Receiver offers HDMI, Scart and component outputs. This broad selection of connectivity means the system can be used both with modern kit and legacy hardware. The units support HDCP v1.2.
There’s also an Ethernet LAN option on both. The instruction manual declares that this is intended for "professional use only" which appears to be Eminent's way of dodging including wired networking configuration information in a bid keep support calls to a minimum. Also provided is a USB input for firmware upgrades. Filling out the pack is a small remote control and a standard IR ‘flasher’ cable.
Transmitter – upright, if you like
Build quality is good. Both Transmitter and Receiver are finished in a smart, gloss black and supplied with plastic cradles which allow them to stand vertically. It’s important these are used as the units run warm.
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COMMENTS
hdmi swap out?
You swapped a HDMI 1.4 for a 1.3 unit and saw no diff? What did you expect?
Someone needs to read up on the HDMI spec. 1.4 means it's listed on a web site, that's all!
The biggest problem with AV senders is the infra-red side.
Most don't support IRDA which SKY and VM boxes use.
Some of the cheaper av boxes use 2.4GHz and the number of people who can't figure out how to change their wi-fi router box channel so the av box doesn't clash is a great many.
Maplin sells many types of AV senders. But only 2 work with SKY+ & VM boxes 100% because of the IRDA issues.
No way either
As above, plus where's the HDMI pass through on the sender?
Just about to say
I don't think 5GHz penetrates bricks very well - my 5GHz network only has a range of about 8m with nowt but a stud wall in the way (WNDR3700 for reference purposes). High speed across the room is about all I'd trust it for.
£399 to go 5 metres?
Whats the point? You could rent a masonry drill for around £50, put some nice little holes through the wall, and actually have decent quality video and audio.
Signals sent over HDMI just aren't made to be sent over anything other than HDMI - which supports a bandwidth of between 4-8 Gbps for 1080p video + audio. Re-encoding that to be sent over wifi (probable bandwidth: 50 Mbps), in real time, with no coding hints, will lead to worse artifacts than you get on your average illicit DVD (you wanna buy DVD?)
