LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Valens Semiconductor have been secretly conspiring to kill HDMI. And today they set their plans into motion, introducing a brand new audiovisual standard, HDBaseT. While that name may sound confusing, before you slap your head, this will not likely introduce a new kind of cable to your house.
Past A/V standards from industry groups have introduced a plethora of connectors (S-Video, HDMI, DisplayPort for example), so that makes this release all the more unusual. Instead of a new connector, it is based on the Cat 5e/6 network cables, commonly referred to as “ethernet cables”.
It supports cable lengths up to 328 feet. The cable can pass HD and 3-D video signals, as well as data through an integrated 100MBit Ethernet connection. That data feed should allow for new internet-connected TV services, such as Google TV which delivers advertising-funded services to TV sets.
The standard also has many other advantages. For one, it will help declutter the growing mess of cables in the average household. By repurposing ethernet cables, it should also dramatically lower costs, both for the manufacturer and the consumer.
About the only loser in the situation may be “premium” cable makers like Monster Cable Products. However, it’ll only be a matter of time before Monster finds a way to throw gold or other precious metals into a Cat 6 cable and release it as a “premium” HDBaseT cable.
About the only loose end is what mini-connectors will arise out of this new standard. Currently many smart phones, such as the HTC EVO 4G offer mini-HDMI connections. Perhaps more advanced mini-USB connections will answer that dilemma, though.
The standard will begin its rollout later this year. The majority of its volume will hit in 2011. Check out the comparison table below:
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Don’t be fooled by expensive brand name cables. Yes there are crappy ones out there but there is no need to buy the most expensive ones. at one point it becomes redundant and only a scanner can actually tell the difference.
Also the markup on cables is usually in the 200 to 300 % mark. thats why when you buy a TV or DVD they always try to push some new cables on you.
Hmmm…interesting; I’ll be curious to how this turns out. Recently, I saw a HDMI to Cat5 box and was somewhat confused – now I know why.
“”Premium” cable makers like Monster Cable Products.”
I laughed.
Yup, expensive cables, especially “gold plated” ones are the biggest rip off in the entire world. I think the only reason they ever became popular was that companies like Best Buy and Circuit City told their “Audio employees” to push these babies all day long. In fact, time and time again there have been test that have taken the most basic of cables and their signal pass through was just as good as anything else.
300%? Oh, my friend…if only you knew, if you only you knew. Having worked at one of the aforementioned companies, I know that the $70.00 Monster Cable you bought could be bought by at employee, at cost, for about $4.00
This was so yesterday ;)
The ink cartridges of electronic gear.
@Chris..im done with Monster Cable’s insane prices…monoprice.com has the best deals…..
I've been in the custom AV business for 12 years. I started just as DVD and component video were comming out.
The change to HDMI has not been a plesent one and I will be glad to see it go away.
Try to explain to your client that the house you wired for them 3 years ago is not going to work for distrobuting HDMI because you used RGB, Component or cat5 for baluns.
Now go back and explain to them that you can remove the $5000 video matrix and put in a $200 Network switch (can't you just see the smile on their face) and get 1080p.
The great thing about this is, we have cat5 everywhere in the house now.
Bring on the network TV!!!
I have to say I am falling over myself as to how logical and cool this is. Category wire can do virtually anything these days. As someone who installs custom A/V products every day of the week, having a field terminatable HD wire, that's thin and not bulky is a godsend. Not only that, we're pulling CAT wire as backup between all devices; that means we've got HDBaseT already run!
I suppose as the article says, the losers will be guys like Monster and those who make a major profit on wire.
Reliability will definitely improve in terms of connectors not falling out…RJ45's have a built in locking mechanism, unlike HDMI. Also, no bulky HDMI head to deal with on increasing slimmer display devices (think having ultra thin LED TV's and having to hide them behind).
Big thumbs up!
I have been using HDMI over ethernet for my home distribution of all home theatre for quite some time now and it works great. I would imagine this would be something similar.
I was using HDMI enabled system from last couple of years, again i have to upgrade it..it sounds good.
Uh… Since I can get HD on my laptop through the Internet isn't this de facto?
Not if you want to connect your laptop to a home theater receiver etc. That's what this cable standard would let you do.
Why don't they act smart and call it Ethernet so the dumbasses at Monster Cable won't try to scam fools out of spending 5x more on a product that is already typically priced 30x more than it costs?
100W over ethernet? Last I checked you need shielding (or walls) for that kind of power, otherwise it's just too much of an electrocution hazard. Maybe there's built-in GFCI?
Don't just look at Watts, they're only one part of the equation.