HDBaseT: The HDMI replacement? Just wait a minute.

If you have not heard there is a new connection standard set to take the place of HDMI, component, coax and other standards currently used to connect electronics to TVs and monitors for audio and video. This new standard will be named HDBaseT. The electronics that will be used with this standard will be computers, game consoles, AV receivers, blu-ray players and other devices that output high-definition audio and video.


So what makes HDBaseT better than current connection standards?

HDBaseT will have the ability to not only carry high-definition video and audio, but also network devices over Ethernet, power devices over Ethernet and send control signals to devices.  Maybe the best part of all is that HDBaseT will use RJ-45 as connection ports and CAT5 and CAT6 as connection cables.

Features of HDBaseT:
HD Video and Audio
100BaseT Ethernet
Power devices over Ethernet
Send control signals
Use standard CAT5/6 cables

So whats the problem with HDBaseT?

Looking at all these great features, you might ask why I am not sold on HDBaseT. The answer is very simple. The reason behind my reluctance to buy into HDBaseT is because of the current TVs and devices we all currently own. Take a good look at your TV, PC monitor, PC and other devices you may have in your home. None are compatible with HDBaseT. Most TVs and monitors don't even have RJ-45 Ethernet ports. Even if your devices do have RJ-45 Ethernet ports, it still will not be compatible with HDBaseT because it does not have the new technology inside it.

In my mind HDBaset is no more than a plan to force people to buy new electronics, which will certainly be more expensive than the electronics will all currently own. How many people can really afford to replace every electronic in there home for the sake of HDBaseT. Keep in mind a lot of people still don't know what HDMI is. For the next couple of years I will be sticking with HDMI.