Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1156106
20 I ICT TODAY HD Media Source Extender Transmitter (PoH) Extender Receiver (PoH) HD Display options and control functionality. Also, the projector with a built-in receiver is not likely to support power over Ethernet (PoE). Therefore, the HDBaseT transmitter must be powered separately. Just as passive AV cables have distance limitations, older Category cables have limitations too. With 5Play, transmission of AV signals is possible at speeds of 10.2 Gb/s and a frequency of 300 MHz over one Category cable. Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) cable specifications for UTP define the frequency capa- bility for Cat 5e at 100 MHz, Cat 6 at 250 MHz, and Cat 6A at 500 MHz. To determine the capability of different category channels, cable, and connector types for use with HDBaseT signal extenders, Leviton conducted a series of tests using 1080p/60 video sources. Testing of UTP cable found that Cat 6A was the only Category-rated cable to consistently deliver reliable signal performance. Moreover, testing showed that Cat 5e UTP over Category-rated cable using HDBaseT transmitters and receivers. It also enables the implementation of HDBaseT 5Play technology (Figure 2). 5Play offers five key AV system capabilities: • Digital audio • HDMI uncompressed video • 100 Mb Ethernet • Power over HDBaseT (PoH) • RS-232 and IR control signals To accommodate all five signals without 5Play technol- ogy, three or four different cables would be needed. When PoH is implemented as a bidirectional solution, the transmitter and receiver pair can be powered at either end, which is ideal for environments where power-outlet locations are limited. PoH can also be used to power multiple auxiliary devices, such as auto-switching wall- plates and control panels. HDBaseT PoH transmitter and receiver pairs typically only draw about 10-15 watts (usually < 300mA @ 48 VDC). Only half of that wattage is sent to the opposite end over the Category cable. It should be noted that there are many different types of HDBaseT transmission devices on the market today, and they take on different form factors. For example, some projectors have HDBaseT receivers built into them. These built-in receivers may have more limited distance FIGURE 2: Cabling configuration for 5Play and HDBaseT. Most AV applications will require some form of signal extension.