Latin America. HDbaseT has become a de facto standard for its versatility, being able to carry up to 5 types of signals simultaneously: video (in 4K resolution) and audio (in digital quality), Ethernet (100Mb in data), control (both through RS232 and infra-red, and also CEC), USB (mouse/keyboard devices, headphones, etc.) and power (up to 100 watts).
All this through a single structured cable and up to a distance of 100 meters. However, as it has become popular, installers have realized a counterpart: HDbaseT is susceptible to "alien crosstalk" or external noise (especially when the cable that carries the signal goes along with other cables forming a "bundle", something that happens continuously in real life).
"Although the HDbaseT alliance indicates that a CAT5e is sufficient, it is known in the AV sector that this does not guarantee the integrity of the video signal, especially when we want to take advantage of its potential (4K resolution, 100 meters, power 100 watts). For this reason, the Belden engineering center has carried out numerous tests with different cables, its own and those of other manufacturers, to know perfectly what is required when we talk about a good cable for HDbaseT, and thus ensure the maximum reliability of the cables that we recommend and guarantee. And what the results of these tests show is that, beyond the quality of the active equipment used in the project, the most critical parameter of the cable with respect to HDbaseT is the "insertion loss" or attenuation, as well as the protection against external noise (RFI)," said Juanma Cortes, Belden's sales manager for Mexico.
He added that in the program of certifications and extended warranties for HDbaseT installations, which Belden is putting in place, the use of certain cables is required: shielded CAT6 and CAT6a UTP for video up to 1080p, or a cable specially created for HDbaseT (called 2183 in the case of Belden) when the signal to be transported is of 4K resolution. In these cases Belden will grant an extended warranty to the client's installation, "says Juanma Cortes de Belden.
And coming to corroborate this demand for quality by integrators, UL has launched a new cable certification program for "Power Over HDbaseT". And this belden model (2183), specially created for HdbaseT, has already been certified by UL as capable of carrying the 100 watts of HDbaseT without affecting the integrity of the signal.
This novelty was presented at the recent InfoComm Orlando, along with others such as the new "splice on" fiber connectors for indoor/outdoor use, which can go in package with the new Belden fusion machine. The new expanded Belden range of HDMI, VGA and DVI cables over multiple distances was also introduced.
