What is an entertainment network and what makes it different from a data or communication network

When most people think of home networking, they think of connecting PCs, fast modems and peripherals. This enables them to share files between PCs, share access to the Internet over a high speed connection, or share peripherals like a printer. Avcast technology extends the home network to include entertainment devices like TVs, DVD players, VCRs, DSS satellite receivers, Personal Video Recorders (TiVo or Replay TV) and Game Devices such as Playstation or XBox. In addition, the Avcast network can include security cameras, home automation devices and residential gateways. By adding entertainment devices to the network, you get the benefit of enjoying these devices from any TV in the home. If you can imagine watching a DVD movie, a video tape, or a pay-per-view movie on any TV in the home, you can imagine what Avcast will do for you.

What equipment and wiring do I need to install a basic entertainment network in my home? What will I be able to do with it?

The essential component is called a CableCaster. It acts as the "video hub" of the network. It gets installed at the point where cable TV service or the antenna feed enters the house. Typically, the cable or antenna feed goes to a splitter. The splitter fans coax cable to the rooms that have a coax wall plate. The CableCaster replaces the splitter and in doing so, creates a home network using existing coax cables as the network infrastructure. No additional wiring is required, unless you want to extend coax cable to additional rooms. Once the CableCaster is installed, a video device like a DVD player can be added to the network using a MediaCaster. It attaches to the DVD player and injects the audio/video output of the DVD player onto the network on a specific TV channel, say channel 70. Once installed, any TV that can tune to channel 70 can view the DVD movie. A final component is called an IRCaster/IRDector. It attaches to a TV in a remote room. When attached, a user can take the remote control from the DVD player and control the DVD player from that remote TV. So now you can start, stop, pause, fast forward and even turn the DVD player on and off. You can begin watching a DVD movie in the family room, pause it, and finish watching it in the bedroom. These three components form the Avcast Media Kit.

Do I need a professional installer or can I do it myself?

The Avcast system is relatively easy to install. Assuming you can find where the cable TV or your antenna feed enters your house, it is a simple matter to replace the splitter with the CableCaster. The other components are no more difficult to install than a VCR. However, there are going to be individuals who wish to have Avcast components installed professionally.

Can I buy an entertainment network today? If not ... when? If so... where? What will it cost?

The Avcast Media Kit can be purchased today on this web site starting at under a $100 for one video source to every TV. The system can be expanded to include up to eight video sources and multiple TVs.

How does your entertainment network fit in with the concept of a "Home Network"? Will it be compatible with Home Networking systems in the future?

Avcast is complimentary to virtually every other home networking technology on the market. Since Avcast works over coax cables instead of phone lines, power lines or RF, there is little chance for conflicts. In fact, the Avcast components enhance today's home networking technologies.

What sets the Avcast system apart from the competition?

What sets Avcast apart from other networking technologies is the fact that we use coax cable as the backbone. Coax cable has over 1 Gigahertz of bandwidth available, compared to a few Megahertz available over other mediums. What that allows Avcast to do is to send multiple streams of native, uncompressed, un-digitized video simultaneously over the network. You can have up to eight video sources operating on the network at the same time.

Will you support all Avcast Products?

Yes, we will support all customers who purchase Avcast products from us.

Will you be manufacturing additional products once the inventory is exhausted?

This product will no longer be manufactured in its current form. We will continue to support current customers and will honor all warranties as described in this web site.