HDBaseT 2.0 Specification Released

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It shouldn’t come as a surprise that I find HDBaseT an incredibly interesting technology. What’s not to love about simplified distribution of audio, video, Ethernet and control over a single cable? OK, there is one thing – price. HDBaseT is expensive, so it only ends up in the high-end components. Fortunately this is something that they are aware of and are hoping to fix with HDBaseT 2.0 which should lower switch cost and also adds support for USB 2.0.

Of course we can’t get too excited until actual products hit the shelves, but there’s no reason not to celebrate a cool technology getting cooler. Full PR after the click.

BEAVERTON, Ore. – August 13, 2013 – The HDBaseT Alliance today releases the specifications for HDBaseT 2.0, making the latest version of the HDBaseT technology available to manufacturers of professional AV and consumer electronics products. The new HDBaseT HomePlay feature set, based on the HDBaseT 5Play capabilities, will make it simpler and more cost-effective for consumers to turn their entire homes into multimedia entertainment centers.

“Over the last three years, HDBaseT has become the digital connectivity standard for professional AV installations, and we have leveraged our experience working with the pros to ensure that HDBaseT 2.0 will enable consumers to enjoy the same benefits and user experience: highest video quality, reliability and multi-room support all over a single inexpensive cable,” said Micha Risling, marketing chair of the HDBaseT Alliance. “HomePlay, as defined in the new HDBaseT 2.0 specification, features an elegant, affordable plug-and-play solution that will allow the average consumer to experience the same multimedia benefits of HDBaseT that the professionals have become accustomed to.”

HomePlay: the Evolution of Connected Home Entertainment

HDBaseT 2.0 represents the evolution of both multimedia entertainment and Ethernet technology.

“The HDBaseT 2.0 specification defines the required adaptations across all seven layers of the Open system Interconnection (OSI) model to support time-sensitive, high throughput video/audio and other time sensitive applications,” said Eyran Lyda, HDBaseT Technical Committee chairperson. “The HomePlay switch is designed to provide all required services for the multimedia home.”

While HDBaseT 1.0 only addresses the Physical and Data Link layers, HDBaseT 2.0 adds networking, switching and control point capabilities. HDBaseT 2.0 also defines point-to-multi point connectivity, providing multi-stream support. HDBaseT 1.0 defined a point-to-point connectivity standard.

Spec 2.0 also adds inherent support for USB 2.0, and other native interfaces which enable manufacturers to remove multiple interfaces and conversion components required for HDBaseT 1.0 products. The result is a smaller and a simpler-to- implement switch, which means vendors can produce HDBaseT switches with a consumer-friendly price tag.

“The key to making HDBaseT more cost effective for consumers and professionals is making the HDBaseT-enabled components more affordable, and the new features HDBaseT 2.0 offers will help manufacturers do just that,” added Risling.

HDBaseT 1.0 was defined to support the transmission of the 5Play feature set (video, audio, Ethernet, power and controls) and Spec 2.0 establishes the specification that will allow HDBaseT – HomePlay switches to control and distribute multimedia across consumers’ homes.

For more information on HDBaseT 2.0, please visit www.hdbaset.org.

About the HDBaseT Alliance

Founded by LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sony Pictures and Valens Semiconductor, the HDBaseT Alliance is comprised of leading cross-industry companies formed to promote and standardize HDBaseT(tm) technology. The cornerstone of HDBaseT technology is 5Play(tm), a feature set that converges uncompressed full HD digital video, audio, 100BaseT Ethernet, power over cable and various control signals through a single LAN cable.

Members supporting HDBaseT technology play a pivotal role in defining the future of multimedia transmission and data communication in the consumer electronics and content provider industries. For additional information on HDBaseT Alliance and membership benefits, visit www.HDBaseT.org.

  • I am super excited for this

    I am super excited for this as well. Who do you think the first one will be to integrate it into their technology?

    • No idea. Probably won’t make

      No idea. Probably won’t make it into next year’s products, though so probably something to watch 2 CES from now.

       

  • Atlona and other Video Matrix

    Atlona and other Video Matrix Switch manufacturers that have been producing the HDBaseT stuff and I figure they will be the first for the new spec as well.  The true dream of this is a Denon or Yamaha putting 6 or 8 RJ45 jacks in the back of their receivers and then connecting your TV’s and SetTop boxes and Game Consoles and Blu-ray players into them and that is all you need for everything, one Cat5 no power cable no HDMI no nothing!! That would be awesome but Denon and Yamaha won’t put those jacks on the back of their receivers until they are on TV’s and SetTop Boxes and Game Consoles and Blu-ray players.  So we need the Matrix Switch guys to build those things first and us custom guys to start asking for them in the back of the higher end TV’s and then within 5 – 10 years we have a shot at the dream.

    HAHA

    I guy can dream can’t he?

    Geoff

    • Some of the high-end AVR from

      Some of the high-end AVR from Onkyo & Sony have HDBaseT switches built in so the concept you want (me too) exists, it’s just priced out of what’s accessible to most consumers. Hopefully that changes and by making it cheaper to implement we’ll see it start to trickle down the CI->consumer device curve.

  • The only reciever I am aware

    The only reciever I am aware of is the Integra that was just released, I couldn’t find the Onkyo or Sony that have them.  I found one Sony that has a 4 port switch and an Zone2 Video out jack that is RJ45 but it needs to go to a component balun for it to work.  Can you provide a link?

    Thanks,

    Geoff

  • Great article from 2 years

    Great article from 2 years ago, funny how fast some things work and how slow some other things work basically in the same technology sphere.