FCC filings reveal that Google is working on a 4K wireless Fiber TV box

By Kris Wouk February 23, 2017

1134533 autosave v1 google fiber channels — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Last year, Google paused the rollout of its Fiber service in 11 cities, and even though the company has since rolled out the service in more cities since then, customers have been worried about what this means. Fortunately for the relatively small group of Google Fiber TV subscribers, it seems the company hasn’t given up on the service, as FCC filings spotted by Business Insider point to a new 4K wireless set-top box on the way.

This new 4K Fiber TV box was first reported on last year by 9to5 Google, but at the time, details were scarce. With the FCC filings, not many more details have been made available, but this is the first official confirmation that the box is on the way and that, as reported, this will be the first box from the company to operate wirelessly.

“The enclosed documents constitute a formal submittal and application for Equipment Authorization for a set-top box that contains a 4×4 5GHz 802.11a/n/ac and a Bluetooth 4.1 radio,” one of the letters included in the filing reads. Google Fiber TV boxes have included limited Wi-Fi connectivity before, but the wording here means that this one would not be tethered by a wired connection, allowing for more flexible placement in your house.

The initial reports of the new 4K Fiber TV box mentioned being able to stream from YouTube in High Dynamic Range (HDR). This isn’t immediately evident in the FCC filings, but Google’s Chromecast Ultra also supports HDR, so it’s unlikely that Google would not include this functionality in this device.

There is no word on when the new 4K set-top box could arrive, but some of the documents in the filing, including the manual and photos of the device, are being kept under wraps until August 8, 2017. This means the box will likely launch sometime before then, since Google likely doesn’t want the launch of the device being spoiled by the documents.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…

Audio / Video

If you don’t see CBS in 4K on YouTube TV, try this

Super Bowl in 4K on CBS on YouTube TV.

A quick heads up if you have the 4K add-on for YouTube TV but aren't seeing the option to watch Super Bowl 2024 in 4K on CBS: It's likely because you're using a custom sort on your live channel listings. (Which is something you might have done if you want to hide YouTube TV channels that you never watch.) That'a bad enough for the game itself, and it also means you won't be able to enjoy the Super Bowl Halftime Show in 4K.

This is a known problem — and has been for years — anytime YouTube TV adds a new channel to the listing. If you're not using the default sort on the live channel listings, a new channel will appear at the bottom of the listings, which is bad enough. But worse is that it's hidden by default until you actively go in and unhide it.

Audio / Video

TCL’s giant 115-inch QM89 is the world’s largest 4K mini-LED TV

The 115-inch TCL QM89 television.

If you're going to unveil the world's largest mini-LED TV, CES 2024 in Las Vegas seems like an appropriate venue at which to do it. The honor goes to TCL's new QM89 -- an absolutely massive 115-inch 4K, quantum dot mini-LED TV. TCL announced the QM89 along with the rest of its 2024 TV lineup and its 2024 soundbars.

First Look at TCL’s 115-Inch QM89 TV | The World’s Largest Mini-LED TV at CES

Audio / Video

What is 4K? Everything you need to know about 4K Ultra HD

A Roku 75-inch Class Plus Series QLED 4K Smart Roku TV hanging on the wall.

High-definition content has been a TV mainstay for more than two decades now. From broadcasted cable stations to streamable movies and shows from streaming services such as Netflix and Disney+, 1080p HD is no longer the golden standard for modern TV models. It kind of feels like a no-brainer at this point, but what you want to invest in these days is a 4K TV, as most of the best TVs available are.

4K media is also not as rare as it once was either. In fact, most new films, shows, and even video games are now engineered from the ground up with a 4K screen in mind. And not to worry if you don’t currently watch any 4K content, because most 4K TV sets do an excellent job at upscaling lower-res sources. So is it worth it to step away from your HD past in favor of a higher pixel count present and future? Let’s explore the world of 4K a little further to find the answers we seek.
What is 4K Ultra HD?
In a nutshell, 4K Ultra HD is the name assigned to a screen with a resolution that's four times that of a Full HD (1080p) TV. That translates to 8 million pixels being crammed into the same space in which a Full HD TV fits just 2 million -- achieved by making each pixel four times smaller. The result for the average viewer? A clearer image, more accurate color, and with most new TV sets, High Dynamic Range, or HDR (more on that in a bit).