Int= erview with Micha Risling from the HDBaseT Alliance

delivering multimedia in the home, but it doesnÕt make sense to require one cable for video and audio, one cable for Internet, another cable for power and an additional cable for the different controls. HDBaseT technology is the mark= et solution providing all-in-one connectivity. HDBaseT offers each element for every CE device, replacing multiple cables with a single LAN cable that sav= es money, provides higher reliability, and enables longer distances.

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No, and that is what ma= kes HDBaseT so unique and easy to deploy. HDBaseT utilizes the existing Ethernet infrastructure meaning you can use the existing CAT5e/6 LAN cables, Ethernet in- wall passive connectors and RJ45 Ethernet jacks.

What about within each of the devices – are there special HDBaseT transmitters/receivers required?

External accessories, s= uch as dongles with HDBaseT technology, are already available in the market to connect CE devices. Consumer products with embedded HDBaseT technology are expected to become available in the near future. HereÕs how it works: Chips transfer uncompressed HD video, audio, HDCP encryption, controls, power and Ethernet via a low-cost LAN cable, with a standard RJ45 connector, up to 100m/328ft. This enables both point-to- point connectivity and full multime= dia distribution with higher reliability, longer distance, and lower cost cable= .

Do you ultimately= see HDBaseT as a replacement interface to HDMI, an additional interface solutio= n, or will HDBaseT happily co-exist with existing interface options like HDMI?=

It is almost impossible= to define one connectivity technology that can perfectly address all the diffe= rent usage cases. In the foreseeable future, HDBaseT and HDMI will coexist in the connectivity market. HDBaseT is the first technology to enable long-reach w= ired connectivity of uncompressed full HD multimedia content via a single CAT5e/6 cable. HDMI is still a valid technology when it comes to providing video and audio point-to-point connectivity over a few meters. However, HDMI can be q= uite expensive even at the very shortest cable length and especially when using cables of three meters or more. Moreover, itÕs difficult to install due to = its thickness and soldered connectors. It forces users to put up with thick, unsightly HD= MI cables dangling down from the TV. The Alliance recognizes HDBaseT as the id= eal interface in the whole- home distribution setting. The market has evolved rapidly as consumers now demand a higher-quality= , easy to install, easy to distribute, theater-like experience when viewing premium entertainment content at home. HDBaseT is designed specifically to meet new market requirements of today and tomorrow.

With digital interfaces like HDMI 1.4 and DiiVA now supporting Ethernet communication capabilities, how does HDBaseT plan to differentiate itself?

HDBaseT will incr= ease the distance that uncompressed HD multimedia content can transfer, expanding distribution, simplifying installation and ultimately lowering overall syst= em cost. The Alliance believes this technology will set the bar as the most technologically advanced, unmatched solution for optimum digital media distribution.

Considering future enhancements that will increase demands upon the video system, (such= as 3D, dual-view, 4K, 24-bit color, etc.), are there any bandwidth concerns related to the HDBaseT? =

No, HDBaseT can already support similar bandwidth to HDMI 1.4 and can be further improved to double= the existing bandwidth to support future ultra high video resolution. Unlike ot= her technologies that are already limited in terms of cable reach, HDBaseT will= be able to support all future 3D/2Kx4K 240Hz video formats over extremely long cables.

There are literal= ly billions of legacy products that will not be displaced quickly. If a buyer wants to incorporate HDBaseT solutions, do they need to replace all associa= ted products or is there some sort of transition?

The current option is to incorporate external accessories, such as dongles with HDBaseT technology. These devices are already available, offering a way to connect CE devices u= ntil devices with embedded HDBaseT become available. In the future, we envision HDBaseT switches that will have a mix of HDBaseT ports and legacy ports, wh= ich should simplify home installations.

I canÕt help but envision some variation on a situation where you have a computer with a min-DisplayPort connection, to which you want to alternatively show data fr= om an external Blu-ray player with an HDMI port and a PowerPoint presentation – and you want the vi= deo to be simultaneously transmitted to a projector with a single DVI port and = an LCD screen with a DiiVA port. This seems like a nightmare of dongles and HD= CP handshakes. Will you support such a scenario, or do you suggest simply forgetting about the alternative interface options and incorporate an all-HDBaseT solution from the start?

a single-= cable solution. Furthermore, in the longer run, since HDBaseT supports power as part of 5Pl= ay, the consumer electronics device can be sources directly over the HDBaseT li= nk, with no need to plug the device into the wall. Eliminating the power supply will significantly reduce the cost of the device.

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DBaseT is an approved generic HDCP output. This means HDBaseT has been approved by the HDCP authority (DCP LLC) at the identical level as HDMI. Contrary to Approved Retransmission Technologies (ART) approvals, HDBaseT is a full, generic approved output. T= his was a pre-requisite for any Hollywood studio to support HDBaseT, which is supported by the MPAA generally and specifically by Sony Pictures Entertainment, one of the founders of HDBaseT Alliance.

dramatically in 2= 011.

What should we be looki= ng forward to as a next step from the HDBaseT Alliance? =

The Alliance anticipates that the 1.0 version of its specification will be available for licensing during the first half of 2010. In the future, HDBaseT is looking to address additional features, such as higher wattage and longer Ethernet length.