"You really need solid one-room [transmission] with one wall. You need 30 feet. In reality we can get about 50 [with wireless]," says Lee. "You also need a backbone for whole house. Coax is very good for that."

In addition to passing audio and video, the device supports IR pass-through via three emitter ports on the transmitter. IR signals are delivered over both cable and RF wireless. Ditto for HDMI-CEC (Consumer Electronics Control).

Monster expects to begin beta testing next month. The product will retail for about $1,000 for one transmitter and one receiver.

That's about the going price for similar products. Because of the cost of the components, Lee does not anticipate we'll be seeing cheap wireless HD anytime soon.

The Other Wireless HD Players

Meanwhile, most other major developers of wireless HD products seem to be gravitating towards Amimon, whose 5 Ghz solution is called WHDI, and a new 60-Ghz technology called WirelessHD. . WirelessHD, launched in April 2006, was developed by newcomer Sibeam.

Radiospire, Pulse-Link, and unadulterated UWB and 802.11n are also being touted for wireless HD.

And then there's powerline … but that's another story.

ABI Research estimates that 1 million wireless HD systems will be installed by 2012. The research firm evidently fell for vendors' promises that products would be shipping this year, as the company projected that about 100,000 wireless HD systems would be installed this year.

We have the whole run-down on the various wireless HD solutions.

Monster Digital Express HD Specs

• Component with Coax digital (1080i)
• Component with Optical digital (1080i)
• Video and S-Video with Audio
• F-connector for Coax
• 3 IR Emitters
• 2 HDMI (1080p)
• Digital Audio Output
• Upscales all Inputs to 1080p
• 30 foot plus range
• Integrated IR distribution