Digital multimedia networking over coax - take two

Startup Coaxsys came out of stealth mode today at the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) to announce its Pure Speed networking system. The newcomer is taking yet another run at giving consumers an alternative to pulling CAT5 ethernet cable for their home networking needs, this time using coax cable and promising 100Mbps speed.

Coaxsys' system employs a familiar hub-and-adapter model, but doesn't require "home run" wiring or even have a one-to-one relationship between each adapter and hub port. Multiple adapters can be connected to the same coax line, or even have cable splitters between them, and the system will still work. The adapters are intended to connect to any device sporting a 10/100 Ethernet port and require no drivers or other software to be loaded on connected devices.

If it works as advertised, Coaxsys will have the speed edge over rival UCentric Systems , which last week announced its 27Mbps 802.11g-over-coax system aimed at deployment by service providers [related story ]. The technology would also beat power line based HomePlug devices, which have a top raw data rate of 14Mbps and average real rate in the 5-7Mbps range.

Coaxsys President and CEO Michael D'Addio figures "just about every new home built since the 1960s has been wired for cable television, and the proliferation of home computers, multiplayer game consoles and other 'connected' consumer electronics makes the existing coaxial cable infrastructure a natural networking solution". The company says their target customer is a consumer looking to install a network for in-home digital multimedia use that will handle multiple video and audio streams, and probably networked gaming, too. That customer is more likely to need the 100Mbps "Pure Speed" bandwidth - and pay the premium price that Coaxsys will ask for the system.

D'Addio said that the product will be entering Beta this month and be available in retail by July . Preliminary pricing has a starter kit of a hub and two adapters listing for $350 , with additional adapters running about $130 each.