Wireless sound system

I was looking for GPS device for my car. While comparing different products, some features came to my notice - hands-free, text-to-speech, FM transmitter .... obviously, I didn't know many of them. So, I started digging and ended up how wireless sound system works. Eventually, it solved one of my problem at home.

The problem - when I watch movie on my laptop, I had to sit near the sound system. I have short cable.

The solution - USB FM Transmitter. Tune my spare FM player. Connect FM player to the sound system.

FM Transmitter

FM Transmitters work as FM broadcasting stations. They work in a smaller range, as they are for personal use. Within the range, any FM player can receive the signal and play. It will appear just another FM channel.

It costs around $20-40 to buy one.

How will it work

• I connect FM transmitter to my laptop. I will use a USB one, so no extra power source is required.
• I have a portable FM player. I will tune this player to the transmitting channel.
• So, anything I play on the laptop, I can listen on the FM player. Anywhere in my home.
  So can people nearby - I don't care.
• I connect the input cable of my sound system to the FM player, just like I attach headphone.
• Benefit: No cable is need to reach the sound system.

Issues to think about

• Even with a highly capable sound card and sound system, having FM as the intermediary carrier, I will get FM quality sound at the end. Ok for me now.
  
• Not secure. People in the range of 150ft can pick up the FM signal. Ok for me now.
• FM player will need separate power, namely battery. Alternative: Connect player to a AC-to-USB power source.

Other products in the market

• Conceptually, there are products that solve similar problem.
• One problem to solve: so many cables from the central sound unit to the small boxes.
  
• Some products use different frequency range (900 MHz, or 2.4 GHz) to distribute the signal to the smaller boxes. These products will have to operate in the ISM band (Industrial, Scientific and Medical)
  
• Some (Bose) offer full 5.1 or 7.1 connectivity over proprietary wireless signal.
  
• But you still need to connect your main audio source to the central unit.
• Some products use WiFi or Bluetooth for the same connectivity.
  My openion - Bluetooth can be too narrow carrier for good quality.
  WiFi - I would love to have this. I already have a WiFi network for the laptop.
• Some products allow different music on different wireless sound terminal. So, you can have different sound in different room, at the same time :). Neat!
  

So far ok.. I will add some more, if I find anything more.