2.4-GHz Radio Syncs Home Audio Devices

Dec 16, 2009 3:38 PM, Steve Kovach, Associate Editor

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The Kleer KLR3012 is a fully integrated 2.4-GHz radio that will allow consumers to wirelessly sync all their home audio devices – speakers, headphones, media players, and the like – without losing CD-quality audio or interfering with other home networks such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth (Fig. 1). The new system tackles wireless connectivity on two fronts: radio improvements, called KleerStream, and device control, called KleerControl.

The Kleer KLR3012 will allow wireless syncing of all audio devices in the home without losing quality or interfering with other networks.

KleerStream improves line of sight range up to 100 meters indoors and up to 30 meters through floors and walls. This increased coverage should be enough for most homes, said Brent Allen, senior director of product management at Kleer. The KLR3012 also reduces audio latency to below 25 milliseconds, which is below the 45-millisecond television industry standard required to eliminate sync issues between audio and video.

Since many homes already have WiFi or Bluetooth networks, KleerStream can coexist with these technologies by speeding up its dynamic channel selection. A 3-MHz radio channel allows the KLR3012 to function simultaneously with WiFi and can scan 16 channels across the radio spectrum, switching without a noticeable audio drop.

Kleer will demonstrate a version of the KleerControl iPhone application at the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

With KleerControl, the company hopes to innovate the way consumers select song libraries and rfchoose audio sources. The technology allows developers to create iPhone applications that allow the phone to be used as KleerControl remotes, or make their own remote control hardware from scratch. The applications and remotes will allow users to control any Kleer-enabled device in the home without additional installation (Fig. 2).

“The key thing is that there’s no huge initial investment in rewiring the home or buying new boxes,” Allen said. “You don’t have to transfer content to another device. All sources are the native sources.”

Products that use the KLR3012 technology come included with Kleer firmware that the company guarantees will pair with all Kleer devices. And unlike many Bluetooth pairings, each device will appear as user-friendly names.

Kleer plans to demonstrate the KLR3012 and a version of the iPhone application at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. A full version of the iPhone application will be available for a free download by the end of the first quarter of 2010.