From Hong Kong, Via Wireless Technology's Cuadro is a battery-operated wireless A/V transmitter and receiver set transmitting over four frequency channels in the 2.4GHz RF band.

Dominant RF-based line also includes models in the 0.9GHz and 5.8GHz bands. FM and IR models are also available.

Wireless A/V transmitters are usually used for home entertainment, car entertainment and security applications. Some models have PLL coding technology.

In Hong Kong and Taiwan, mainstream models operate in the 2.4GHz band, and have three, four or eight channels and transmission range of up to 100m. While there are 5.8GHz models, only a few makers are making them due to relatively higher production cost that translates to higher selling prices. Some makers also offer 0.9GHz models. Portable, battery-powered versions are available, as well as high-powered models that come with power adapters.

Although mainland China makers also offer 2.4GHz models, units using FM and IR wireless technologies remain popular and comprise the bulk of the mainland makers' exports. Product prices are expected to remain at current levels in the next six months.

Since profit from the line has been decreasing over the years, the majority of makers are holding the release of new models pending a significant increase in demand.

	Taiwan's Tranwo Technology offers the GigaAir2525, a 2.4GHz transmitter with two SCART connectors.

Transmitter models offered by makers in mainland China include RF, IR and FM units, with IR and FM models dominating exports. PLL technology is used in some units.

Hangzhou Dusun Electron Co. Ltd's DSR-0042 consists of an FM transmitter, audio cable and car adapter. The unit transmits through FM frequencies from 88MHz to 108MHz. It has 200 selectable channels. It transmits sound from various media devices such as MP3 players and notebook PCs. It is powered by three AAA batteries or through a car cigarette lighter plug. It has an auto power-off function that is activated when no audio signal is detected in three minutes.

This year, Dusun will release new wireless A/V transmitter models with LCD panels.

Shenzhen Longsign Electronics Co. Ltd's AVL3001 is a 2.4GHz model with USB output for PC, A/V output for monitor or TV, built-in microphone and built-in rechargeable lithium battery. It has a transmission distance of 100m. It supports MPEG-4 compression.

Shenzhen Yaing Technology Co. Ltd offers 2.4GHz models. One such model, the AVS-80, has a range of approximately 100m. It consists of a transmitter and multiple receivers that are compatible with PAL and NTSC systems. It can be used with a digital video camera or CCTV camera.

Yaing Technology's AT-60 is a dual-channel model working on 850nm IR wavelength. Its frequency response range is 20Hz to 20kHz with an effective range of up to about 10m. The model has less than 1 percent THD, ±50kHz modulation and more than 60dB S/N ratio. Its carrier frequencies are 2.3MHz (left) and 2.8MHz (right) in one channel, and 3.2MHz (left) and 3.8MHz (right) in the other channel.

	From Hong Kong, Koda's RF10 wireless transmitter and receiver supports 8-channel and 80m transmission.

Makers in Taiwan and Hong Kong offer models that are mostly RF-based. Mainstream models usually use the 2.4GHz frequency. Models that operate in the 5.8GHz and 0.9GHz bands are also available from some makers.

Taiwan's Airwave Technologies Inc.'s A/V transmitter series includes 2.4GHz models with four channels and 5.8GHz models with seven channels. The company uses its own modules in its A/V transmitters.

Racewood Telecom Co. Ltd offers 2.4GHz models with up to 100m operating range. These products use PLL technology, and are compatible with NTSC and PAL systems.

Tranwo Technology Corp. offers the GigaAir A/V sender series that includes the GigaAir2525, which has a 100m operating range and two SCART input connectors for two A/V devices. Users can switch between the connected A/V devices at any time. Aside from A/V transmitters, Tranwo also produces baby monitors and surveillance products that use wireless transmission technology.

In Hong Kong, Via Wireless Technology has released two models of wireless A/V transmitters. The Cuadro is a battery-operated 2.4GHz RF wireless A/V transmitter and receiver set with an operating range of 30m. It transmits over four frequency channels. It uses two AA batteries for four hours of continuous use. The Cuadro supports composite video and stereo audio connection.

The Cavo, also from Via Wireless, features a high-gain receiver and an integrated transmitter to enable transmission through walls and across rooms. It transmits over four channels in the 2.4GHz RF band. It comes with a power adapter, and has composite video and audio connectors.

Koda Electronics (HK) Co. Ltd offers model RF10, a standalone wireless transmitter/receiver suitable for active 5.1ch speaker systems and DVD players. The 2.4GHz unit has 8-channel selection and up to 80m transmission distance. It features 15W per channel power output, 2.4GHz to 2.4835GHz frequency range, 80dB S/N ratio, 120Hz to 20kHz frequency response range, and 8Ω impedance. It can handle up to 40W output for rear speakers.

	The Cavo wireless video transmitter system, from Hong Kong's Via Wireless, features a high-gain receiver and an integrated transmitter.

It is the general consensus of interviewed Greater China makers that the prices of wireless A/V transmitters will remain relatively stable throughout 2007.

Prices of FM and IR models start at about $7. Models that use 2.4GHz frequency are priced from $20 to more than $130.

At mainland China's Dusun, products are priced from $15 to $20. Model DSR-0042 is priced at $15.

Yaing Technology's 2.4GHz A/V transmitters are priced at about $20 for a minimum order of 1,000 units. The company expects the prices of FM and IR models to remain stable in 2007 and that of 2.4GHz transmitters to possibly decrease by 5 percent because of mass production.

In Taiwan, the GigaAir series of Tranwo Technology is priced at about $65 to $130. The entry-level units in the series feature 2.4GHz transmission frequency, three selectable channels and transmission range of up to 100m.

In Hong Kong, the Cuadro and Cavo wireless A/V transmitters from Via Wireless are priced at about $20 per unit. These prices have been unchanged since the company's product launch in Q3 2006. Since there is not much difference in terms of product features, wireless A/V transmitters used in security applications have about the same price.

Aside from wireless A/V transmitters, mainland China's Dusun is also engaged in the development and manufacture of IR/wireless remote handsets and microprocessor controller cards for household appliances. It exports mainly to Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America, Asia and Oceania. OEM and ODM orders dominate Dusun's exports.

Dusun has an ISO 9001:2000-certified factory with an area of 4,200sqm, four production lines and about 400 workers. It has a 10-staff R&D department and takes up to three months to release a new model.

Longsign Electronics focuses on the manufacture of CRT tuners, LCD TV tuners, car tuners, DVB-S/T/C tuners, RF modulators and 2.4GHz wireless products. It has an 8,000sqm factory in Shenzhen, which is equipped with SMT machines, lead-free reflow welding machines and A&T testing devices.

Longsign Electronics exports its products to more than 30 countries in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America, Asia and Oceania.

Yaing Technology develops, manufactures and exports wireless A/V transmitters, wireless headphones and wireless speakers for the audio, communication, multimedia and car industries. It has a 1,000sqm factory with 100 workers in Shenzhen. Its R&D team can release new models within seven working days. OEM and ODM orders account for almost 100 percent of Yaing Technology's output. The company's major export markets are Europe, the United States, Japan, Australia and Taiwan.

Best Talent Industrial Ltd manufactures earphones and microphones for Kenwood and Motorola. Its OEM buyers include TTI, HYT and ICOM Wai. It ships its wireless A/V transmitters to Europe, North America, the Middle East, Africa, Central and South America, Asia and Oceania. It conducts all production processes in-house. It has an 18-member R&D team and more than 400 workers.

For Hong Kong companies Via Wireless and Koda, wireless A/V transmitters are secondary products. Sales from this line contribute a small percentage to their total revenue. Consequently, investment in new models is limited as makers await a significant increase in demand before pursuing a more active product development.

Koda manufactures up to 100,000 sets of speaker systems and 50,000 amplifiers monthly for buyers such as Akai, Carrefour, Dixons, Otto, Sansui, Sears, Sherwood and Toshiba. It also supplies home theater systems, iPod music stations, A/V equipment stands and DVD players.

Koda's ISO 9001-certified factory complex in Guangzhou, Guangdong province in mainland China has a total area of about 300 acres. It has two speaker driver production workshops, two sound box production workshops, two assembly workshops and one amplifier production factory.

A subsidiary of Pearl River Yunfeng Enterprises Group, Koda has more than five years of OEM experience and offers design and buyer label services. It employs more than 70 R&D engineers and electroacoustics experts who can develop a new product every three months.

Via Wireless develops, manufactures and distributes highfrequency wireless audio and video products. The company offers wireless A/V transmitters, water-resistant wireless speakers, portable wireless speakers, USB audio transmitters, wireless speakers, audio receivers, wireless headphones, wireless home theater systems, wireless VoIP adapters and wireless VoIP headsets.

Via Wireless' wireless A/V transmitters/receivers feature Amorf wireless stereo technology and ZCube acoustics—two technologies developed in-house by the company's R&D engineers in Singapore. Product housings, on the other hand, are developed by in-house designers at Via Wireless' Hong Kong office. The company's products are assembled by partner factories in mainland China.

Via Wireless shipped 5,000 sets of wireless A/V transmitters in 2006, as it began mass production in the fourth quarter only. The company will release a new series of audio products in Q3 2007.

Taiwan makers are projecting an increase in export sales in 2007 as prices stabilize. Sales decreased in 2006 when makers passed the additional cost of RoHS compliance to buyers. The price increase was more than the projected market expectation, causing a decrease in export sales.

Airwave exports its products to Europe, Australia and the United States. The company has offices in Taiwan, mainland China and the United States to meet demand in the OEM and ODM markets.

Airwave is an ISO 9001-certified wireless technology provider. The company uses its own 2.4GHz RF, 5.8GHz RF analog and digital audio modules. The company also has its own MMIC chipset and LMDS transceiver.

Tranwo Technology is one of the major manufacturers of wireless A/V transmitters in Taiwan. The company has an ISO 9000- and ISO 14000-certified factory in Suzhou, mainland China.