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A look at HDBaseT: 4K video over standard Cat 5 cables (pictures)

HDBaseT, which can send massive amounts of audio, video and data hundreds of feet over cheap, simple Cat 5 Ethernet cables, is coming to an AV device near you.

David Katzmaier
David reviews TVs and leads the Personal Tech team at CNET, covering mobile, software, computing, streaming and home entertainment. We provide helpful, expert reviews, advice and videos on what gadget or service to buy and how to get the most out of it.
David Katzmaier
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One cheap cable does it all

HDBaseT can send massive amounts of audio, video and data hundreds of feet over cheap, simple Cat 5 Ethernet cables. The HDBaseT Alliance recently demoed some of the technologies used.
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Multi-zone 4K AV receiver

Pioneer's upcoming Elite receiver utilizes HDBaseT to send AV signals to a second zone.
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Logo

The HDBaseT logo is assurance that the device has been certified by the HDBaseT Alliance.
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Pioneer backside

Among all those connections...
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HDBaseT port

...is the familiar port for a Cat 5 cable, primed to run to another zone up to 328 feet away with one cable length.
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Single-wire TV

Also on display was a modified TV running from a single cable. Audio, video and even power were supplied via that cheap Cat 5 cable. The upper limit of 100 watts of power means that only smaller LCD TVs will be "single-wire," however.
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Home networking box

I also saw a demo of a home-networking solution run by a single HDBaseT hub.
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Multi-room, multi-source

The hub was supplying four different TVs with four different sources, including a PC that was controlled remotely by a USB keyboard/mouse plugged into a far-flung TV.
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Source control matrix

An iPad app can control which sources are sent where.
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Security camera

This modified HD security camera is one source that could benefit from HDBaseT's combination of signal and power capabilities.
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HDMI in, Cat5 out

The back of the switcher box shows the numerous kinds of signals one cable can carry.

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