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HDMI is Dead. Introducing HDBaseT = Networking

by Clint DeBoer = =E2=80=94=20 last modified July 01, 2010

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HDBaseT to replace HDMI as the new A/V/control = standard

HDMI is dead. How can we say this? Because we have seen the = future and=20 it is HDBaseT. HDBaseT technology runs over STANDARD Cat5e/6 cable = and=20 implements something it calls 5Play, an unrivaled feature-set that = converges full uncompressed HD video, audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, = and=20 various control signals. Oh, it also transmits up to 100W of power = -=20 that's enough to drive a 37-inch TV. And it can extend up to 100 = meters=20 passively. HDBaseT has the bandwidth to support the highest video=20 resolutions such as full HD 1080p as well as 3D and 2Kx4K formats. = HDBaseT=20 is the first to provide all-in-one connectivity, making it = possible for a=20 single-connector TV to receive power, video/audio, Internet and = control=20 signals from the same cable.

Think HDMI has a chance? Think again.

We were fortunate enough tp speak first hand with Ariel = Sobelman,=20 President of the HDBaset Alliance. He filled us in on the missing = details=20 and answered our questions regarding the future of HD = BaseT.

What makes HDBaseT so odd is that it is sending more info than = HDMI=20 over a set of 8 wires within a standard Cat5e or Cat6 cable. How = can it do=20 this? Well, it uses much lower frequency modulated packets. These = are not=20 IP packets like you find in Gigabit Ethernet. Since they run on = such low=20 frequency, they are not subjected to typical EM (electromagnetic)=20 interference. That means you can sit the cables in front of = microwave or a=20 cell phone and there are no problems with signal degradation.

5Play - Why You Should Be Impressed

Sure, HDBaseT replaces HDMI with a standard Cat5e or Cat6 = cable... but=20 is that really impressive? No, what's REALLY impressive is that = HDBaseT's=20 protocol allows you to literally NETWORK your sources and displays = just=20 like you do your home data network. They call it = 5Play.=20 Want to watch your living room Blu-ray in your bedroom? Check. How = about=20 your bedroom's cable box in your theater room? Check. Theater = room's Xbox=20 360 in your children's room? Check? How about allowing three = televisions=20 to watch the Superbowl from your single Dish Network set top box = at the=20 same time? Check. Check. Check.

HDBaseT enables a network of sources - such as digital video = recorders=20 (DVR), Blu-ray disc players, game consoles, PCs and mobile devices = =E2=80=94 to be=20 connected directly to displays in multiple locations. It allows = users an=20 independent yet fully compatible experience. HDBaseT LAN-based = technology=20 makes it possible to cut out the assortment of cables for audio, = video,=20 connecting CE devices. IR, networking... it's all there. At this = year's=20 CES show, LG did a demo where they sent three different sources to = three=20 different displays and switched them at will using an HDBaseT hub = (and=20 remember, when A/V receivers pick this up everything will be = switched via=20 GUI software).

Remember, 5Play is concurrent in its ability to send all of = these=20 different types of data. It converges full uncompressed HD video, = audio,=20 100BaseT Ethernet, high power over cable and various control = signals=20 through a single 100m/328ft CAT5e/6 LAN cable. HDBaseT has the = bandwidth=20 to support the highest video resolutions such as full HD 1080p as = well as=20 3D and 4K x 2K formats. HDBaseT is the first to provide all-in-one = connectivity, making it possible for a single-connector TV to = receive=20 power, video/audio, Internet and control signals from the same = cable.=20 Here's a quick comparison against other existing technologies:

Feature	HDMI 1.4a	DiiVA	DisplayPort 1.2	HDBaseT 1.0
Uncompressed = Video/Audio	10.2Gbps	13.5Gbps	21.6 Gbps (17Gbps data)	10.2Gbps (can scale to = 20Gbps)
Max Passive Cable = Length	~5-7m	26m	15m for 5Gbps 3m for 5-21.6Gbps	100m (plus 8x multiple = hops)
Cable type	HDMI	DiiVA	DisplayPort	Cat5e/6
Connector type	HDMI	DiiVA	DisplayPort	RJ-45
Charging power	No	5W	No	100W
Ethernet	100 Mbps	Gigabit	720Mbps	100 Mbps (can scale to = Gigabit)
Daisy chainable	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Installation-friendly	Heck No	No	No	Yes (can use existing = wiring)
USB	No	Yes	Yes	Yes
Networking methods	None	Daisy & Star	Daisy & Star	Daisy & Star (with=20 extended-range)

But why do we believe HDBaseT is more than just a simple new = spec that=20 shouldn't be taken with more than a grain of salt? Simple. They = founded=20 the group with heavyweights like LG, Samsung, Valens Semiconductor = and=20 Sony Pictures and installed members from each company as their = board of=20 directors. Next, they waited to announce and promote the new = incorporation=20 until the HDBaseT 1.0 specification was finished. That's right, = the 1.0=20 spec is COMPLETED, not just announced as some vague vaporware = never to be=20 finished.

There is also silicon for it RIGHT NOW and the first products = to=20 support it are hitting the market. Last year we covered Gefen's = HDMI v1.3=20 CAT-5/6 ELR Future Proof Extender which used HDBaseT to = send HD=20 video, audio, networking, IR and more over a single Ethernet = cable.

The development of this cohesive specification is nothing short = of=20 mind-blowing. As we've mentioned in other articles dealing with = the failings=20 of HDMI, HDBaseT is exactly what the industry needs - a = unified and=20 simplified protocol, not a new cable.

"HDBaseT Alliance=E2=80=99s creation of a = unified specification=20 based on HDBaseT technology will raise the bar as the most = technologically=20 advanced, unmatched solution for optimum digital media = distribution.=20 HDBaseT technology is poised to become the unrivaled = next-generation home=20 networking transport to meet the ever-changing trends in the = digital media=20 market."

- Ariel Sobelman, president and chairman = of the=20 HDBaseT Alliance

This form of networking, whether it is done by daisy chaining = devices=20 or through star topology, can be applied in both the consumer home = and in=20 B2B cases such as digital signage networking.

Power Over Cat5e/6? You Betcha

Since HDBaseT is capable of sending 100W of POWER over a single = Cat5e/6=20 cable, this means that many smaller televisions (figure 37-inch = TVs at the=20 most right now) are going to be able to receive literally = everything they=20 need from a single cable - even without an electrical outlet=20 nearby.

Remember, this is over a standard Cat5e/6 (Ethernet) cable. It = doesn't=20 need to be shielded and there's no danger involved in sending = power=20 within. HDBaseT is working with UL right now on certification for = this,=20 but there are no warning signs or inherent problems with it = passing. At=20 this point, it's just going though the proper motions & = channels.

So What's Next?

The demand for in-home converged distribution of HD multimedia = content=20 and the lack of adequate existing technologies are driving the = industry=20 toward an HD digital connectivity standard such as HDBaseT. Put = plainly,=20 HDMI, with its myriad of internal wires and impossibly difficult=20 terminations, simply can't cut it. You really can't terminate it = in the=20 field and the more they add to the spec, the shorter the cable = runs become=20 until they need active components on either side just to make it = work.=20 Installers, in general, can't stand HDMI and are going to = latch=20 onto HDBaseT like you can't believe.

Consumers, on the other hand are familiar with Cat5e and more = and more=20 are running the lines in their houses for networking. At the very = least=20 they've all plugged in a desktop, laptop, or router to get onto = the=20 Internet. It;s comfortable, it's familiar.

It's lightweight and locks into a jack without falling out for = heaven's=20 sake!

Through development of the HDBaseT 1.0 digital connectivity=20 specification, the HDBaseT Alliance addresses consumer needs and = high=20 market demand. HDBaseT increases the transfer distance of = uncompressed HD=20 multimedia content, expanding distribution, simplifying = installation and=20 ultimately lowering overall system cost.

"Today, there is an abundance of content in the = home,=20 including video, images and data. As HDTVs and HDTV services = proliferate=20 throughout the world, the amount of content, and the ability to = move it=20 around the home, becomes much more complicated. The next frontier = in=20 networking is the ability to control and distribute this content. = HDBaseT=20 technology is well-positioned to offer a simple solution = throughout the=20 home to meet consumers' needs.=E2=80=9D

- Brian O=E2=80=99Rourke, principal = analyst,=20 In-Stat

The finalization of the HDBaseT specification paves the way for = HDBaseT=20 embedded products to hit the market. The HDBaseT Alliance = anticipates=20 products with embedded HDBaseT technology to be available in the = second=20 half of 2010, with the majority of adoption taking place in 2011. = Let's=20 hope it pops up everywhere, concurrent with HDMI - and that in a = short=20 amount of time, it quickly supplants it. Think about the recent=20 disappearance of S-Video connectors on the backs of A/V receivers. = That's=20 what we hope to see happen to HDMI in the not-so-distant future. = The=20 specification will be available for licensing within the second = half of=20 2010.

Development and preparation for an HDBaseT Alliance Compliance = Program=20 is currently underway. The Alliance plans to formulate a logo = usage and=20 licensing program to ensure consistency and consumers=E2=80=99 = ability to=20 recognize interoperable HDBaseT devices in the market.

Version 2.0 of the spec is already in the works, though no = formal dates=20 for its release have been given. At that time the video bandwidth = is=20 expected to go up (exceeding 10.2Gbps). Version 2.0 will continue = to use,=20 of course, the same cabling and physical format of version 1.0, = being=20 completely backwards compatible. We can also look forward to = HDBaseT=20 quickly bringing on new partners as their incorporation paperwork = is now=20 finalized and can be reviewed by manufacturers and content = providers.

For more information about HDBaseT Alliance and membership, = please=20 visit the HDBaseT Alliance website at http://hdbaset.org/.

About HDBaseT Alliance
The = HDBaseT=20 Alliance is comprised of leading cross-industry companies formed = to=20 promote and standardize the HDBaseT=E2=84=A2 technology for = whole-home=20 distribution of uncompressed HD multimedia content. The = cornerstone of=20 HDBaseT technology is 5Play=E2=84=A2, a feature set that converges = uncompressed=20 full HD digital video, audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, power over cable = and=20 various control signals through a single LAN cable. Members = supporting=20 HDBaseT technology will play a pivotal role in defining the future = of=20 multimedia transmission and data communication in the consumer = electronics=20 and content provider industries. For additional information on = HDBaseT=20 Alliance and membership benefits, please visit = www.HDBaseT.org.

Recent Forum Posts:

Re= ad=20 the Complete Thread

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Hi Ho posts on July 08, 2010=20 20:41

highfigh;732064
Yeah, good luck with that. = WiFi=20 is only 54MB/sec (802.11G) and 802.11n is only about 160MB/sec. = I doubt=20 20GB/sec will be here in 3 years.

Just to be = clear=20 here, that is 54Mb/second. That's megabits, not bytes.=20 54Mb/second is 6.75MB/second. I'm lucky if I get 3MB/s transfer = rate over=20 my 802.11G network.

I can transfer at 85MB/second+ over my = wired=20 Gigabit network.

Now, 20Gb, that is is 2.5GB/second. That = is an=20 entire 50GB Blu-Ray disc in 20 seconds!

highfigh posts on July 08, = 2010=20 10:18

Stereodude;731923
Let me know when you = find a=20 wireless solution capable of 20Gbit/sec. =

Yeah, good=20 luck with that. WiFi is only 54MB/sec (802.11G) and 802.11n is = only about=20 160MB/sec. I doubt 20GB/sec will be here in 3 years.

Clint DeBoer posts on July = 08, 2010=20 08:54

DigitalDavid;731839
The killer protocol = must=20 play over wireless connections. Commodity wireless routers, hubs = and=20 adapters will support the winning protocol. They could also = supply power=20 if that is part of the winning protocol. None of the wireless = suppliers=20 (e.g., Cisco/Linksys, Netgear, ...) were part of the = announcement. This=20 is necessary for the "next generation home networking." Its = doubtful=20 consumers will support two home networks. I wonder if wireless = suppliers=20 are working on an alterantive next generation. They too are = aware of=20 this this market opportunity. I doubt HDBaseT's wiring and = superior=20 fidelity can beat a commodity wireless capability that is good=20 enough.

Apple. Orange. I have no doubt wireless will = come into=20 play, but for now this is a wired solution and it's going to be = VERY easy=20 to manufacture switches. Compatibility seems inevitable to some = degree,=20 and I wouldn't base anything on the presence of three founding = members.=20 New companies will come on board now that the spec is finalized = and the=20 papers are filed. They quite literally COULDN'T come on board = earlier=20 (there was nothing to come on board to).

TLS Guy posts on July 07, = 2010=20 23:33

DigitalDavid;731839
The killer protocol = must=20 play over wireless connections. Commodity wireless routers, hubs = and=20 adapters will support the winning protocol. They could also = supply power=20 if that is part of the winning protocol. None of the wireless = suppliers=20 (e.g., Cisco/Linksys, Netgear, ...) were part of the = announcement. This=20 is necessary for the "next generation home networking." Its = doubtful=20 consumers will support two home networks. I wonder if wireless = suppliers=20 are working on an alterantive next generation. They too are = aware of=20 this this market opportunity. I doubt HDBaseT's wiring and = superior=20 fidelity can beat a commodity wireless capability that is good=20 enough.

Good enough is the first curse of = mankind!=20

Stereodude posts on July 07, = 2010=20 18:48

Let me know when you find a wireless solution = capable of=20 20Gbit/sec.

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