Feature Articles

First introduced in 2010, HDBaseT™ has fast become the global go-to connectivity standard for the AV Meets IT market by implementing a 5Play™ cornerstone to provide a simple and cost-effective solution for transmitting 4Kultra-high-definition (UHD) signals, along with audio, power, home networking, Ethernet, USB, and control signals, overa single Cat 6/6a or fiber cable. These features made it a great choice for KVM extender applications. Then, with therelease of HDBaseT 2.0 in 2013, the format became even more accessible to consumers by enabling a multimedia homeconnectivity solution while also re-affirming HDBaseT’s commitment to professionals, with significant benefits forvarious commercial applications in the AV Meets IT realm. With HDBaseT, USB compatibility and long distances are the keyfactors that make the standard so beneficial when it comes to applications that involve KVM extenders.There are a variety of related advantages to HDBaseT 5Play technology that makes it especially useful for KVM extenderapplications. These include:

• Simplified Cabling – HDBaseT extension technology allows the connection of transmitter and receiver units over one single Cat 6/6a cable
• Flexible Control – Provides multiple control signals: CEC, RS–232, Ethernet, IR, and USB 2.0
• Long Distance Transmission – Delivers uncompressed video and audio using one Cat 6/6a cable up to 100–150m
• Anti-jamming Design – HDBaseT Anti-jamming technology resists signal interference during high-quality video transmissions
• Ultra HD and High-Quality Audio – Supports Full HD, 3D and 4K x 2K, Dolby True HD and DTS HD Master Audio

The Key Improvements of HDBaseT 2.0 for AV Meets IT Applications

By specifying the HDBaseT network protocol and defining the required adaptations across all OSI layers, the HDBaseT 2.0 specification both increased interoperability and also allowed for the provision of optimized services for high-throughput AV Meets IT applications. These new enhancements to the technology included expanding it as a multipoint-to-multipoint technology and adding multistream support, as well as adding support for daisy-chain installations in multi-display environments. Spec. 2.0 also added fiber as a new transmission medium. Perhaps the most significant benefit to AV Meets IT applications with the release of HDBaseT 2.0 were the embedding of native USB 2.0 support via a high-speed USB channel with an active bitrate of 127Mbps, which meets demand for long distance touch-screen and keyboard-video-mouse (KVM) functionality, as well as storage devices and cameras. The new specification also incorporated further features that improved performance for the no-latency transmission of ultra-high-definition audio and video (@4K).

HDBaseT 2.0 and ATEN KVM Extenders

To understand why ATEN considers HDBaseT 2.0 to be so ideal for our KVM extenders in a wide variety of applications,it’s useful to take a look at the purpose of KVM Extenders. The main purpose of a KVM extender is to provide convenient,remote, high-speed access to a computer system located elsewhere, as well as the ability to control multiple remotecomputers if used in tandem with a KVM switch, with a single set of peripherals, over Cat 6/6a cables. In this way, inaddition to playing an important role in overcoming the bandwidth limitations of traditional interface-based cables(such as HDMI, for example), KVM extenders help to overcome the distance limitations of the protocols themselves (such as USB). Furthermore, KVM extenders can help to improve workspace ergonomics by locating PCs elsewhere so as to avoidheat and distracting fan or hard drive noise, and by allowing computers to be kept at secure locations or away fromharsh environments, such as factories and industrial areas. ATEN’s HDBaseT 2.0 support means that in addition to thesetraditional uses for KVM extenders, there are many more uses possible in a wide variety of AV Meets IT applications.With RS232, IR, Ethernet, and USB 2.0 enabled, HDBaseT allows pro AV vendors to send proprietary controls to be usedwhen their equipment is on both ends.Further benefits of HDBaseT 2.0 include:

• Enables digital signage installations with embedded data diagnostics
• USB transmission up to 100-150m with support for control, bulk, interrupt, and isochronous transfers
• Allows automation commands to be sent to remote displays
• Offers improved resistance to signal interference during high-quality video transmissions

The ATEN HDBaseT 2.0 + USB Advantage

A longtime member of the HDBaseT Alliance, ATEN has over 30 qualified HDBaseT trainers and over 20 Pro AV solutions certified by HDBaseT, including video matrix switches and high-definition video/KVM extenders and splitters. In addition to Contributor member privileges such as a dedicated company page in the HDBaseT Alliance’s Installer Zone, ATEN has also been invited to share the benefits of 40 years of IT management and KVM control experience to define specifications for products that further accelerate the integration of AV and IT technologies, in turn helping both customers and solution partners to stay ahead of the curve.
What all of this means is that ATEN solutions feature the following advantages:

• Uncompressed, zero latency signal extension: Supports Long Reach mode up to 150 meters


• Diverse interface support: A wide range of highly-compatible, fully-certified HDBaseT 2.0 KVM Extender solutions, such as DisplayPort, HDMI, dual-view DVI and DVI models, including the industry’s first DVI Dual-View HDBaseT 2.0 KVM Extender to meet different application needs.


• Mix and match compatibility: The whole series of ATEN KVM extenders can also work as mix and match and use as IO converters while extending KVM signals


• Remote WakeUp PC function: Allows user to just push a button to remote wake up the PC from standby mode


• HDBaseT certified with solid USB compatibility testing: Testing through a multitude of USB peripheral devices including keyboard/mouse, touchscreen, USB storage, camera, speaker, etc to meet USB device compatibility challenges.


• Extra reliability and stability: Models have passed 50,000hrs burn in test and 1000 times power ON/OFF test

The following are two real-life cases in which ATEN solutions, boosted by HDBaseT 2.0, went beyond the traditional KVM extender functions to deliver excellent results.

Critical Healthcare – MRI Diagnostics

A hospital implemented a new, cutting-edge MRI-guided radiation therapy as part of their ongoing development of leading treatments for cancer and brain disorders. They required a reliable MRI extension solution with high-precision video quality and accuracy that would meet the high demands of such critical medical and healthcare applications.
By adopting ATEN’s CE920 USB DisplayPort HDBaseT 2.0 KVM Extender, MRI equipment is able to be accessed and operated with 100% zero latency transmission while uncompressed video with pixel-to-pixel quality over 100 meters is reliably delivered to the operator’s room for real-time diagnosis. And the single cable to install is easy.