XCam XRay

by Rick LaBanca

Video Sender/Receiver

The video sender and receiver pair transmit composite video and stereo audio about 100 feet, through walls. The units each are powered by wall warts, but they aren't identical. The receiver has a slightly beefier one for some reason.

These run at 2.4ghz, but be forewarned that cordless phones in this range may wreak havoc. I've got no first hand experience, but have read about problems... since many of the phones are spread spectrum, changing the X10's channel may not help (let me know if you discover more info about this!)

Standard RCA connectors are used for the transmitter's composite video, left and right audio. The receiver has the same plus an added bonus of a channel 3 or 4 RF modulator, if you ever wanted to use it on a TV lacking video inputs.

On the other end, I plugged the receiver into my SoundBlaster Live! sound card line inputs, and Matrox Rainbow Runner video capture card. This card allows me to view video live on the screen (excellent quality, better than a standard TV), and also capture.

You just aim the little pivoting circular antennae at each other, and you're all set. The aim is actually pretty forgiving, and the signal was going through three walls, and in the path of my 'fridge. I estimate the arc to be about 20 degrees at about 60-70 feet between the units.

I found the picture to be on par with good broadcast TV. I didn't note any interference. Admittedly, my 17" monitor running a 1/4 screen video window could mask flaws, but the picture appeared to be very good. I've got a screen capture as a link (because of the large size, 150k).

The audio is good, maybe a notch below FM radio. The frequency response isn't quite as wide as FM radio, and there is a little more hiss, more apparent with quiet passages. This product is also sold as part of MP3 Anywhere and DVD Anywhere packages, but you won't hear the MP3 or digital with the same quality as hooking up directly. But it's still very good for a wireless system -- and remember this is a review, so I'm nit-picking!

If somebody walks near either unit across the path, the signal can flutter a small amount, but this didn't happen when crossing the signal path from more than 4 feet or so. The video was good, you just hear it in the audio, much like older FM car radios when going by a tall building (picket fencing as it's called).

Overall this seems like a great way to get video/audio from point A to B, avoiding wiring, or a distribution system. X10 has ideas about having one transmitter and a few receivers, but I'm not sure how practical that would be since they have to be aimed toward each other in that 20 degree arc.

Overall impression: B+