Ruckus Wireless introduced the MediaFlex USB Dongle, designed to provide stable, wireless connectivity to in-home multimedia devices such as set-tops and media center systems. The company will demonstrate at CES the first of several integration efforts of this new technology with an IPTV set top box from Motorola.

Unlike other USB Wi-Fi adapters, the Ruckus MediaFlex USB Dongle is the only video-grade wireless USB adapter on the market to leverage patent-pending BeamFlex smart antenna technology.

“Deployments by over 100 IPTV service providers worldwide have proven that smart Wi-Fi technology delivers dramatic improvements for supporting multimedia and extending range. Our next step is to cost reduce and miniaturize the technology to make it even simpler and more accessible,” said Selina Lo, president and CEO of Ruckus Wireless. “And the integration with Motorola marks yet another milestone for bringing the next stage of wireless multimedia connectivity to carriers and their customers.”

The Motorola VIP1700 series is the first IPTV set-top to successfully integrate with the Ruckus MediaFlex Dongle. The VIP1700 line of hybrid set top boxes integrate IPTV and DVB-T broadcast support into a single device, and supports MPEG-2, MPEG-4/AVC, and VC1 video codecs.

At CES, the companies will demonstrate three multicast MPEG-2 streams delivered from a single Ruckus MediaFlex router to three different Ruckus MediaFlex USB Dongles connected to a Motorola set top box.

“This cost-effective solution presents a simple, no-hassle way for a consumer to experience rich, IPTV content in any room in their home that they wish,” said Matthias Trygg, Marketing Director, Motorola IPTV Open Solutions.

Ruckus BeamFlex takes advantage of multiple high-gain antenna elements to constantly adapt to the changing RF environment by automatically adjusting antenna patterns to optimize reception and minimize interference. This translates into extended range, reliable performance, high data rates and stable connectivity for video, voice and data.

Competitive testing in a real-world home environment reveals that the Ruckus MediaFlex USB Dongle delivers a 100 to 600 percent increase in throughput over standard USB wireless client adapters while providing better range and reliability. The testing was conducted in a typical U.S. house (approximately 2500-3000 sq. feet) using standard UDP test tools.

Designed to work with the Ruckus MediaFlex router, the Ruckus MediaFlex USB Dongle is completely plug-and-play with the Motorola VIP1700 series and is powered by the settop box over the USB connection. It requires no external power supply and simply attaches to the set-top box via a standard USB 2.0 connector. Requisite USB drivers are being made available for popular set-top boxes.

The Ruckus MediaFlex USB Dongle allows the automatic configuration of SSIDs, encryption keys and other parameters, enabling deployment in a matter of seconds. Available immediately for integration with set top box suppliers, the Ruckus MediaFlex USB Dongle is list priced at US $59.00.