Frequently Asked Questions
General:
Q1: What is HDBaseT, a product or a technology?
Q2: What problem does HDBaseT solve?
Q4: What do we do at Valens and what are the Valens’ products?
Q5: Is this product available?
Q6: What are the benefits of using HDBaseT?
Q7: Is HDBaseT a form of an HDMI repeater?
VS100/ HDBaseT Evaluation Kit (EVK):
Q8: What types of Evaluation Kits (EVKs) are there?
Q9: What Hardware is included in HDBaseT Evaluation Kits (EVKs)?
Q11: How do I connect my transmitter-side HDBaseT board to a receiving device (e.g. a DVD Player)?
Q12: How do I form an HDBaseT link over a CAT5E/CAT6 cable using the EVK?
Q13: How do I connect my 5Play EVK devices to a LAN network using HDBaseT?
Q14: Can I connect an HDBaseT 5Play EVK device directly to an Ethernet network?
Q15: Is there an option to bypass the HDBaseT link?
Q16: What LAN cable should be used to carry HDBaseT?
Compliancy:
Q17: Is HDBaseT based on transmission of packets over Ethernet?
Q18: What video resolutions does HDBaseT support?
Q19: Is HDBaseT compliant with HDCP?
Q20: Is HDBaseT compliant with other HDMI control signals, i.e. CEC, DDC, 5V, HPD?
Power:
Q21: What power source is needed?
Q23: When working with POE, which device is the power supplier, and which is the powered device?
Q24: How much power can the PD drive for an external device?
Miscellaneous:
Q25: How can I transfer serial data over the HDBaseT link?
Q26: How can I connect to the HDBaseT device as a host?
General
Q1: What is HDBaseT, a product or a technology?
A:HDBaseT is the latest innovative technology for uncompressed HD multimedia distribution over a LAN cable. This technology defines the physical layer and link layer of the HDBaseT standard protocol. In late 2009, Valens, together with world-leading market leaders, cofounded the HDBaseT Alliance to promote and standardize the HDBaseT™ technology.
Q2: What problem does HDBaseT solve?
A:HDBaseT facilitates simplified long-reach wired connectivity of uncompressed video, audio, Ethernet, controls and power over a single 100m/328ft long standard CAT5e/CAT6 LAN cable.
Q3: What is 5Play?
A: The five different transmission types of convergence via a single100m LAN cable:
- Uncompressed video 1080P, 60Hz, 48bits, 3D and 4K x2K
- High-quality audio
- Ethernet 100BaseTx
- Power
- Control signals including RS232 and Infrared
Q4: What do we do at Valens and what are the Valens’ products?
A:Valens is the first company to have defined the HDBaseT technology and the co-founder of the HDBaseT Alliance. Valens VS100 Product Family is the first set of chips that implement HDBaseT. It is a set of chips that transmits and receives uncompressed HD video, audio, Internet, power and control signals through a single 100m/328ft LAN cable.
Q5: Is this product available?
A: Yes! VS100RX and VS100TX are the first silicon implementations of HDBaseT Receiver and Transmitter devices and are available on the market.
Q6: What are the benefits of using HDBaseT?
A: Using Valens’ VS100 HDBaseT-compliant semiconductor products, consumer electronics manufacturers will enjoy the benefits of:
- Single cable/connector for uncompressed full HD digital video, audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, power over cable and control for HD video, audio and Internet, instead of many.
- Ability to meet customer’s need for performance over longer distance, ease of installation, reliability, flexibility and cost of installation.
- Introducing new applications leveraging the simple distribution of HD content.
- Ability to offer a HD distribution system based on CE devices; PC-based media servers are no longer required and CE devices are once again the emperors of the living room.
- Connectivity of multimedia devices/systems between multiple locations up to 100 meters apart by means of a single cable – savings of more than 10 times that of any competitive solution.
HDBaseT delivers significant value to the entire home and commercial entertainment ecosystem, from CE/PC equipment manufacturers and audio/video connectivity product suppliers, through systems integrators and retailers, to installers and consumers. With Valens’ VS100 HDBaseT-compliant semiconductor products homes, offices, hotels, airports and other public places can install a robust HD ecosystem easily, effectively and at very low cost.
Q7: Is HDBaseT a form of an HDMI repeater?
A: No, HDBaseT stands on its own as the most advanced method of digital connectivity.
VS100/ HDBaseT Evaluation Kit (EVK):
Q8: What types of Evaluation Kits (EVKs) are there?
A: There are two types of EVKs, 2Play and 5Play. 2Play EVKs feature Audio and Video over an HDBaseT link. 5Play EVKs feature Audio, Video, Power, Controls and Ethernet over an HDBaseT link.
Q9: What Hardware is included in HDBaseT Evaluation Kits (EVKs)?
A: Both types of EVKs contain a transmitter-side HDBaseT board and a receiver-side HDBaseT board. In addition, The EVK contains power supply units (48v DC or 5v DC, according to whether POE is implemented or not), and optional board casings.
Q10: How do I connect my transmitter-side HDBaseT board to a receiver-side device (e.g. a Television)?
A: Connect the HDMI out port of the HDBaseT Sink EVK to the TV’s HDMI in port via a standard HDMI cable.
Q11: How do I connect my transmitter-side HDBaseT board to a receiving device (e.g. a DVD Player)?
A: Connect the HDMI in port of the HDBaseT Source to the DVD Player’s HDMI out port via a standard HDMI cable.
Q12: How do I form an HDBaseT link over a CAT5E/CAT6 cable using the EVK?
A: Connect the HDBaseT Sink device to the TV and the HDBaseT Source device to the DVD player, as described above. Connect the Sink and Source devices' HDBaseT ports via a standard CAT5e/CAT6 LAN cable. Turn on the power on the HDBaseT devices. An HDBaseT link is formed, indicated by the Link LED. You can now watch your DVD on screen via a 100m CAT5e / CAT6 LAN cable. Please refer to “VS100 5Play EVK Quick Start Manual” or “VS100 2Play EVK Quick Start Manual” according to the Hardware you hold for further elaboration.
Q13: How do I connect my 5Play EVK devices to a LAN network using HDBaseT?
A:HDBaseT supports the transfer of full-duplex, 100Mbps Ethernet over an HDBaseTlink, together with the transfer of HDMI data. This allows, for example, connection of the TV to an external Ethernet switch, in parallel to AV transfer. In order to do so, first form an HDBaseT link over a CAT5e/CAT6 LAN cable as described in the previous bullet. 5Play devices have 3 on-board Ethernet ports. Connect an Ethernet port on the HDBaseT Source to an external Ethernet switch via a standard LAN cable. Connect an Ethernet port on the HDBaseT Sink to the TV’s Ethernet port, and that’s it: you are now transferring Ethernet over HDBaseT. Please refer to “VS100 5Play EVK Quick Start Manual” or “VS100 2Play EVK Quick Start Manual” according to the hardware you have, for further elaboration.
Q14: Can I connect an HDBaseT 5Play EVK device directly to an Ethernet network?
A: Yes. Valens’ HDBaseT 5Play EVK application includes an on-board Ethernet switch. In case the HDBaseT port is directly connected to an external Ethernet device, the application will fall back to 100BaseT full-duplex Ethernet functionality.
Q15: Is there an option to bypass the HDBaseT link?
A: Yes. The HDBaseT Source device can optionally bypass the HDBaseT link functionality, and acts as an HDMI repeater. In this mode it transparently passes HDMI data from its HDMI in port to its HDMI out port. This option requires a special Firmware version. Please contact Valens for more information.
Q16: What LAN cable should be used to carry HDBaseT?
A: HDBaseT requires CAT5e/CAT6 standard (or superior) cables for reaching 100m with full HDBaseT capabilities. Inferior cables or cables that are twisted or sporadically rolled raise the BER, and cause a drop in SNR. Please refer to “Valens' VS100 Application Note AN1002 - 100 meter cable testing in HDBaseT Systems” for further elaboration on the subject.
Compliancy:
Q17: Is HDBaseT based on transmission of packets over Ethernet?
A: No. HDBaseT provides Ethernet connectivity in addition to video, audio, control and power. This is referred to as 5Play. HDBaseT uses the Ethernet infrastructure as a physical medium but its packets are not Ethernet packets.
Q18: What video resolutions does HDBaseT support?
A:HDBaseT uncompressed video 1080P, 60Hz, 48bits, 3D and 4Kx2K.
Q19: Is HDBaseT compliant with HDCP?
A: Yes. HDBaseT passes HDCP information as is. HDBaseT has been officially acknowledged as HDCP compliant by DCP LLC. http://www.digital-cp.com/hdcp_technologies
Q20: Is HDBaseT compliant with other HDMI control signals, i.e. CEC, DDC, 5V, HPD?
A: Yes, see below:
- CEC Is transparently transferred over the HDBaseT link.
- HDBaseT passes 5V and HPD signals in compliance with the HDMI standard.
- DDC is also passed over the HDBaseT link. Source devices are required to support I2C stretching according to the HDMI 1.3 standard.
Power:
Q21: What power source is needed?
A:If POE is not applied, both sink and source need to be powered by a 5 volt DC power supply.
Q22: How do I work with POE?
A: Power over Ethernet enables the transfer of DC power from one side of the HDBaseT link to the other side in conjunction with the data signal, in compliance with standard IEEE 802.3 af/at. If POE is applied, then the Power Supplier Equipment (PSE) should be powered by a 48 volt DC power supply, while the powered device (PD) receives its power directly over the HDBaseT link. The PD’s power jack need not be connected to a power supply. Please refer to “VS100 5Play EVK Quick Start Manual” or “VS100 2Play EVK Quick Start Manual” according to the Hardware you hold for further elaboration.
Q23: When working with POE, which device is the power supplier, and which is the powered device?
A: Both sink and source sides may serve as either PSE (Power Supplier Equipment) or PD (Powered Device) devices. Other external devices may also be powered via the PD device. Please contact Valens for more information.
Q24: How much power can the PD drive for an external device?
A: Please contact Valens for more information on this option.
Miscellaneous:
Q25: How can I transfer serial data over the HDBaseT link?
A: A serial interface called PDIF, designated for serial data transfer (e.g. RS232,RS422) over HDBaseT is accessible on both Transmitter and Receiver boards. Currently, this channel can carry a maximum BW of 1Mbps. Please refer to “VS100 5Play EVK Quick Start Manual” or “VS100 2Play EVK Quick Start Manual” depending on the hardware you have.
Q26: How can I connect to the HDBaseT device as a host?
A: Please refer to “Valens' VS100 Application Note AN1004 - Host Interface_HostIF”