A wireless home theater system means different things to different people. For some it may mean simply eliminating the speaker wires from the main amplifier to the speakers in the back of the room without the necessity of tearing into walls to route hidden wiring. For others, wireless home theater involves interfacing the entertainment system with an existing 802.11b network to allow it to stream files from the Internet or the local network. The first step in installing wireless home theater systems is to select the right technology for the job.
Eliminating speaker wires
The Dolby surround sound audio of most movie and game files assume the user has either five or seven speakers. In a hard wired system, a speaker wire runs from each of these to the amplifier in the front of the room. This is not so bad for the front left and right channel speakers which are normally placed near the amplifier anyway. The left and right surround speakers and the subwoofer are positioned further away, as are the left and right rear channel speakers in a Dolby 7.1 system. This means wires must be run around the perimeter of the room to each speaker in bundles that are unsightly and confusing to install as well as a pain to troubleshoot.
The speakers in a wireless home theater system are not entirely wireless. The speaker itself needs power, which means it has to plug into a wall outlet. It also needs amplification, since the wireless signal itself is not enough to drive the speaker. Some speakers incorporate amplifiers, but others will require a separate amplifier and a wired connection to it. Not all speakers in a wireless system connect without wires. It is quite common for the front left and right channel speakers and the front center channel speaker for systems that have one to have wired connections to the amplifier, while the surround and rear channel speakers and the subwoofer utilize wireless connections.
Home networking
As the method of distribution of entertainment content changes, it becomes more and more necessary for a wireless home theater sound system to have an Internet connection. The most convenient way to set up a system to play streamed content is by interfacing with an existing home network which connects a computer system to the Internet. It is possible to connect a wireless home theater system via a wired connection to a network router, the “wireless” in this case referring to speakers. Wired connections may be desirable for hard core gamers after bleeding edge performance, but it is more usual for an entertainment system to connect with a wireless network.
Modern televisions may come equipped with wireless connectivity or at least with a USB port to connect a wireless adapter. Other systems employ a dedicated digital media player to interface with the network and play files from a local computer or the Internet. In some cases a high end game console may provide all the wireless connectivity needed to play audio and video files. While many systems connect to a 802.11b network like any other peripheral, others are set up to use the same Bluetooth protocol commonly used for cell phone earpieces. A Wireless HD standard designed specifically for entertainment systems exists, but was only finalized in 2008. Inexpensive devices for a wireless home theater system using this technology are now becoming widely available.
HomePlug
There is one other technology that can be used to connect a wireless home theater system. It is not exactly wireless, but it does do away with bundles of wires running along baseboards or the necessity of retrofitting wiring through the walls. HomePlug is an industry specification that allows the use of existing home wiring for networking. This means that the regular electric wires that carry power to lights and other equipment also carry digital information from one part of the entertainment system to another.
In a typical setup a cable from the Internet device that connects a home to its ISP plugs into a HomePlug adapter’s USB port. The HomePlug adapter then plugs into the home’s power distribution system via a wall outlet or power strip. Network signals are now available at every other power outlet in the home. A second adapter connects with the wireless home theater system and gives it access to all the files on the local network as well as anything that can be streamed from the Internet.
While HomePlug devices themselves will work with any computer operating system, some manufacturers only supply password setup software for their encryption system for Microsoft Windows, meaning that users must make other arrangements to prevent eavesdropping on their data. This substantially reduces the usefulness of HomePlug systems used with computers not running Windows.
Conclusion
The best technology to use in reducing the number of wired connections to an entertainment system depends on what parts are to be wireless, the files the system is required to handle, the units it incorporates and the computer system with which it will interface. In the case of HomePlug connections, the computer’s operating system is vitally important. By considering the system’s purpose and the technology available in local markets, almost anyone can find a way to set up a wireless home theater system. Just be sure to avoid cheap home theater systems. This will make sure you get the most value for your money.



































