08.21.2007 — With the recent arguments over the use of digital or analog cabling for multiroom video applications, we thought it would be worthwhile to go over some of the situations you may find yourself in.

The introduction of the HDMI cabling spec was supposed to resolve all the complexities of different connection formats, but in some ways it has complicated the situation even more as several different versions have been introduced.

The biggest questions might be:

• How enamored is the client with 1080p? Using component cables for long-run multiroom video cannot transmit 1080p.
• What’s their budget? HDMI systems will cost more.
• Do they want surround sound? Only HDMI can distribute surround sound to multiple rooms throughout the home.

Indeed, even the HDMI Licensing Group admits it might have been hasty in introducing the new version so quickly, saying, “We did ourselves a disservice because we did such a good job; everyone wants 1.3.”

During a session at EHX Spring, Joel Silver of the Imaging Science Foundation spent some of his time answering common questions from integrators concerning HDMI, and tried to offer some answers.

Can HDMI distribute to multiple devices? Yes. It can distribute to up to 128 devices in up to seven layers, but all must authenticate (in real time). Authentication failures can be handled, but that can be a bit slow. Clients have to be trained not to keep pressing buttons on the remote while the system is authenticating.

Can HDMI handle 1080p? Yes.

What sorts of cable-run distances can HDMI handle? Switchers with equalizers can be as much as 200 feet away, using both passive and active cables. HDTVs with equalizers can increase the transmission distance. Also, boosters in the cables are effective at increasing the distance. Silver also says directional cables will help.

What is the HDCP authentication situation? Every component in the system must authenticate, says Silver.

Can the HDCP content flag be carried over Cat 5 or fiber optic cable? Yes, as much as 100 feet in distance, says Silver.

Panelist David Frangioni, owner of Audio One in Miami, is another integrator sold on multiroom video. His company caters to the high end, where customers don’t necessarily know what technology they want, but know what they like.

Like many integrators, he is sticking with component video distribution topologies until the kinks are worked out with HDMI. Of course, those longrun component topologies cannot transmit 1080p.

“The problem is not with HDMI. It’s with the HDCP content flag,” he says, describing how if one component in the system is not HDMI 1.3 compliant, it can black out every display in the system.

Right now, panelist Mark Elson from Sound Solutions in Los Angeles questions the marketing advantages of using HDMI over component. “We have never had a customer ask for HDMI,” he says flatly. In the switching arena, several companies are sticking to component.

Sony just recently introduced its new CAVCVSES12 component switcher. The primary drawback to analog switching in a multiroom video application is that surround sound is not achieved.

Simply put, everything is compatible in the analog world, but not in the digital world.

According to Bob Farinelli, president of Elan, “Confusion on digital switching is rampant. Right now, integrators are creating analog component video switching solutions that run 400 to 500 feet on RG6 coax, but this solution really only sidesteps the incompatibility issues with HDMI, HD DVD and Blu-ray. This is the least-expensive solution, but the digital technology is not going to go away.”