Contents:

Download a PDF of the entire FAQ here.

 

Q: Who is the HDBaseT Alliance™?
A: The HDBaseT™ Alliance is a cross-industry alliance formed to promote and provide a technical standard for HDBaseT™ technology for whole-home distribution of uncompressed HD multimedia content. Founding members include the following top consumer electronics and content companies: LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Valens Semiconductor.

Q: What is the HDBaseT technology?
A: HDBaseT technology is optimized for whole-home distribution and can connect all the entertainment devices in the home through its 5Play™ feature set, converging uncompressed full HD digital video, audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, power over cable and various control signals all through a single 100m/328ft CAT5e/6 cable.

The compelling features of HDBaseT technology include:

  • Uncompressed video/audio up to 10.2 Gbps. HDBaseT technology is capable of scaling up to 20 Gbps of throughput while enabling multi-stream support
  • Maximum cable length of up to 100m, including support of multiple hops, up to 8 x 100m
  • Low cost standard Cat5e/6 LAN cable
  • Utilizes a standard RJ-45 connector
  • POH technology supports up to 100W of power – which can be utilized to power a remote TV
  • Support for 100Mbps Ethernet – HDBaseT technology is capable of scaling up to Gigabit Ethernet
  • Easy installation utilizing existing in-wall Ethernet connectivity
  • USB support
  • HDCP Support
  • Networking support including extended-range daisy chain and star topologies


Q: What does the HDBaseT Alliance do?
A: The Alliance and its cross-industry member companies are working openly to create a global standard for advanced digital media distribution. The Alliance’s standardization activities cover the entire value chain of the digital media ecosystem and the various industry segments: TV sets, projectors, professional AV equipment, PC, portable devices, home theater, content providers, IT companies and more. The HDBaseT Alliance presents an easily workable solution to minimize the challenges associated with whole-home connectivity.

Q: What is the demand for HDBaseT technology?
A: Consumer demand for high-definition, quality entertainment is booming and is projected to grow in the coming years. As this consumer demand grows, the installer community requires a dependable solution that can be implemented easily, quickly and economically. Outside of the home, the digital signage industry is also looking to new, simplified networking solutions like HDBaseT to address implementation challenges presented by digital signage installation and operation.

Q: Does the Alliance currently have a specification?
A: Yes, the HDBaseT Alliance has been formed to license the existing HDBaseT specification and to engage in development activities to advance the specification in the evolving industry.

HDBaseT technology has been in development over the past few years, culminating in the finalization of the HDBaseT 1.0 base specification in June 2010. This specification is currently available to all HDBaseT members. This specification is currently available to all HDBaseT members. The POH addendum to the existing HDBaseT 1.0 specification was released in July 2011 and publicly announced in September. You can find information about the HDBaseT 1.0 specification here: http://www.hdbaset.org/technology/specification.

Q: Will members collaborate on future specification development?
A: Yes, the goal of the HDBaseT Alliance is to offer opportunities for members to take an active role in future versions and use cases shaping and defining the specifications for HDBaseT technology to meet the evolving needs of the marketplace. All HDBaseT Contributor and Promoter members are eligible to participate in Alliance working groups and committees and to assist in defining the next HDBaseT standard. 

In addition, the Alliance will look to develop certification and compliance guidelines for future HDBaseT-enabled products.

Q: How is HDBaseT technology different than others?
A: Unlike other HD distribution technologies currently available, HDBaseT is the only technology which enables long-reach wired connectivity up to 100 meters for uncompressed full HD multimedia content and up to 100 watts of charging power via a single cable. HDBaseT is optimized for video applications and can connect all HDBaseT enabled home entertainment devices by providing the 5Play convergence. Furthermore, HDBaseT technology has the capacity to deliver double the resolution available today, a component necessary for 3D integration and future 2K and 4K formats. Other existing solutions also require a specific cable and/or a new proprietary connector while HDBaseT utilizes the existing Ethernet infrastructure.

Q: Using HDBaseT's Power over HDBaseT (POH), will consumers be able to power a television using that same LAN cable?
A: Yes. HDBaseT’s POH technology can power remote TVs and other devices up to 100 watts, using a single Ethernet cable as the power transmission medium, a capability no other transport technology can provide. A 40” TV connected via an HDBaseT enabled Cat5e/6 cable requires no power source. This is ideal for wall-mounted flat panel TVs prevalent in the consumer living room today. You can power an HDBaseT enabled 40″ LED TV with 70 watts, and in the near future the TV size you can power with HDBaseT will dramatically increase.

Beginning in May 2012, the latest Energy Star™ 5.1 specifications will mandate that TVs may consume no more than 108W of power, regardless of screen size. As TVs continue to consume fewer watts, HDBaseT is staged to provide power to TVs of virtually any size. .

As wall-mounted TVs get thinner and lighter, TV manufacturers find it extremely difficult to find a place for all the AC-to-DC and DC-to-DC power circuitry. For the first time, HDBaseT enables all-in-one connectivity that helps manufacturers in their quest to design thinner devices that can be connected with a single cable/connector, thereby eliminating the AC-to-DC elements.

Q: Are there any special connector or cabling requirements that differ from existing Ethernet LAN products?
A: No, this is what makes HDBaseT so unique and easy to deploy. HDBaseT utilizes the existing Ethernet infrastructure meaning adopters can use existing CAT5e/6 LAN cables, Ethernet in-wall passive connectors and RJ45 Ethernet jacks, while electronics manufacturers also utilize the existing RJ45 connector.

In addition, HDBaseT is fully backward compatible with Ethernet protocol, and connected devices can automatically switch to Ethernet communication mode only.

Q: Is the Alliance seeing increased traction in the marketplace?
A: HDBaseT Alliance has seen tremendous growth in membership since its incorporation in June 2010 and products enabled by HDBaseT are already on the market. We expect to see additional devices coming to market throughout 2012 and adoption picking up as well.

The industry is accepting and recognizing HDBaseT as a viable solution for key installer and consumer challenges. In 2011 alone, HDBaseT technology was given the Best of InfoComm Award for Best Potential New Technology by rAVe Publications and Best Buy installed HDBaseT in one of its Chicago-area stores to cost-effectively carry a high-quality video from source equipment to displays throughout the store.

Q: When will products be available?
A: External implementations supporting HDBaseT chipsets, such as dongles, extenders and switchers, are available now.

Q: Is there a product certification program?
A: On June 15, 2011, the Alliance announced the 1.0 Certification Program. The 1.0 Certification Program provides members with a set program for ensuring their products are compliant, interoperable and part of an established product ecosystem. This is an important milestone for the Alliance in promoting industry-wide adoption of HDBaseT technology for whole-home and commercial multimedia content distribution.

The 1.0 Certification Program includes the HDBaseT Compliance Test Specification (CTS), designated logo guidelines as well as the first HDBaseT recognized test facility, located in Israel.

Q: When will certified devices be available?
A: The first HDBaseT certified member products were announced on June 15, 2011 in conjunction with the 1.0 Certification Program launch. These products have gone through thorough testing based on HDBaseT CTS, ensuring they work in accordance to all functionality specified in the HDBaseT 1.0 specification and are interoperable with other HDBaseT products

Q: Has HDBaseT been installed in commercial settings?
A: A: Yes. One example is within a Best Buy store in the Chicago-area. Best Buy installed HDBaseT technology to cost-effectively carry a high-quality video from source equipment to displays throughout the store. By converging the 5Play™ feature set−uncompressed full HD digital video, audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, Power over HDBaseT and various control signals−through a single LAN cable, HDBaseT was implemented easily, economically and met the store’s distance requirements by enabling runs up to 100m.

Q: What is HDBaseT Alliance's roadmap/timeline?
A: A: The 1.0 specification is now available for members to license and the 1.0 Certification Program was announced on June 15, 2011. The Power over HDBaseT (POH) addendum was also released in July 2011.For future specifications, HDBaseT is looking to address additional features such as higher video and data throughput and an improved networking offering.

Q: How can my company join the HDBaseT Alliance?
A: Members of the Alliance play a pivotal role in defining the future of multimedia transmission and data communication in a variety of industries. We appreciate our members’ time and rely on their intellectual contributions in driving the development of quality HDBaseT specifications. The HDBaseT Alliance offers three membership levels: Promoter, Contributor and Adopter.

Review the chart below to see how the levels compare and determine which level is right for you.

Benefit Promoter Contribtuor Adopter
Access to HDBaseT Specifications X X X
Provide feedback on final Specifications X X X
Participate in Committees and Work Groups X X
Chair Committees & Work Groups X X
Early access to draft Specifications and Alliance materials X X
Right to approve Alliance Specifications X
Eligible to be elected an officer of the Alliance X
Permanent seat on the Board of Directors X
Listed as a member on the Alliance website X X X
Leverage Alliance marketing tools X X X

Review the member benefits chart to see how the levels compare and determine which level is right for you.

To request an invitation to Board level membership or download the Contributor membership or Adopter membership application, visit www.hdbaset.org/join_us. To join the Alliance, or for more information, contact HDBaseT Alliance Administration.

 

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Members of the Alliance play a pivotal role in defining the future of multimedia transmission and data communication in a variety of industries.