Super WiFi is currently being developed at Rice University. The picture above shows Rice U grad student Ryan Guerra installing a Super WiFi antenna. As I mentioned above, the trick was to downshift the high frequency WiFi signal – which has trouble going through physical obstacles like walls and trees – to a lower frequency (and vacant) TV channel.

Eager to test it in real world conditions, Guerra tested Super WiFi in a house a mile away from the transmission tower of the home owner’s service provider. Whereas the traditional set up was “frustratingly intermittent” due to the trees and foliage surrounding the house, Super WiFi “has been quite stable, even with leafy trees and through bad weather, and has yet to show any interference or connection problems, even at a mile from the transmitter.”

Pictured above are most of the components needed to set up a Super Wifi connection – a UHF-band filter, a frequency translator, a PC motherboard and WiFi card, and a power supply. The crucial component here is the frequency translator, a prototype device made by Alcatel Lucent. It’s the one that does the downshifting of the signal.

Another benefit of the technology is that, like the TV broadcasts that it replaces, anyone in the path of the signal from a Super WiFi transmitter can take advantage of the connection. It’s very promising, although it’s far from being finalized and has a couple of weaknesses, including a significantly lower bandwidth and network congestion.

I hope that Guerra and his colleagues can fine tune Super WiFi. I think it’s a great and relatively cheap way of providing Internet access. Even if it doesn’t totally replace conventional transmission it could come in really hands in rural areas, field work and in emergency situations. Check out Ars Technica for more info.

[via GizmoWatch via SlashGear]

The prototype circuit sends signals using radio waves in the 60GHz millimeter waveband (I think I saw them play at a local nightclub last night), and can transmit data at up to 11Gpbs over a distance of up to 14mm. As the components get further apart, transmission speeds drop to about 4.3Gbps from up to 60mm away.

In addition to cutting down on the complexity and cost of wiring, the breakthrough could someday be used to create gadgets that could be disassembled and maintained much more easily than today’s electronics with all of those wire harnesses that need to be disconnected for service. Never mind the fact that the wireless circuit board concept could allow for much more flexibility in where the various circuit boards are placed within a piece of equipment.

No word on if or when Sony will introduce this technology in any production devices, but it’s a pretty cool idea for sure.

[via Tech-On!]

• TuneBase FM Transmitter($79.99): Broadcast tunes to your car stereo; able to work in either portrait or landscape mode
• TunePower ($59.99): Special case which includes a battery for up to 6 hours of extra playtime and a “kickstand” for hands-free video viewing
• Acrylic Case ($29.99)
• Folio Leather Kickstand Case ($29.99)
• Microfiber Holster Case($29.99)
• Neoprene Sports Armband Case ($29.99)
• Sports Jacket Case with Armband ($19.99)
• ClearScreen Overlay ($14.99)

All accessories should be released in North America by the end of November.