HDBaseT3 Recommended Cables Testing and Certification Service

The HDBaseT Alliance, the cross-industry group tasked with promoting and advancing the HDBaseT standard, and alliance contributor member UL Solutions announced that the testing service of HDBaseT3 Recommended Cables based on the HDBaseT 3.0 Compliance Test Specification (CTS) is now available at UL Solutions test facilities in New York state and Taiwan.

The HDBaseT 3.0 CTS covers two types of HDBaseT3 Recommended Cables, including standard and premium cables, which are tested using different lengths and configurations. HDBaseT3 Recommended Cables are suggested to meet Category 6A or better transmission performance requirements and employ a U/FTP constructions.

The HDBaseT 3.0 CTS provides test requirements for products designed to meet the HDBaseT 3.0 specification, supporting up to 18 Gbps, long-reach distribution of uncompressed HDMI 2.0 4K@60 4:4:4, 1Gb Ethernet, USB 2.0, controls and power, with near-zero latency while remaining fully backward compatible with previous HDBaseT specifications.

Certification program for power over HDBaseT cables

The Power over HDBaseT (PoH) cable program was jointly developed and launched by the HDBaseT Alliance and UL Solutions in 2017 and helps cable manufacturers address the increased performance and safety requirements of audiovisual installations. With increasingly complex installations and the proliferation of PoH equipment, AV vendors, manufacturers and professionals have indicated the need for standardization and high-speed consistency regardless of the size of cable bundles. The certification program evaluates the cable’s ability to carry up to 100W of DC power over the four copper pairs per the PoH standard while maintaining HDBaseT data transmission performance. The PoH standard is based on the IEEE 802.3 standard clauses for Power over Ethernet, with the necessary modifications to enable safe power delivery.

UL Solutions evaluates the PoH cables in accordance with UL 4299, the Outline of Investigation for Power over HDBaseT (PoH) cables. The cables are covered under UL Solutions Follow-Up Services Surveillance Program, which includes regular inspections at cable manufacturing facilities and ongoing testing to confirm continued compliance.

To address the newly introduced HDBaseT3 Recommended Cables, UL 4299 has been revised to provide additional requirements for PoH cables developed for use with AV products meeting the HDBaseT 3.0 CTS.

“Our latest spec—3.0—brings unprecedented performance for multimedia distribution with higher video resolutions and increased bandwidth to all aggregated interfaces for the benefit of our member manufacturers, integrators and installers,” Tzahi Madgar, president of HDBaseT Alliance, said. “We are glad to partner with UL Solutions to support cable manufacturers on compliance testing to the HDBaseT 3.0 CTS.”

“As HDBaseT became the standard for the transmission of high-throughput content, it was natural for UL Solutions to join the efforts to help address the safety and performance issues of powering over these cable installations,” Eric Bulington, director of the Global Product Management team in the Engineered Materials group at UL Solutions, said. “Through the HDBaseT3 recommended cable testing and PoH cable certification programs, vendors and end users will benefit from knowing that these cables are suitable to transmit HDBaseT 3.0 and do so according to highly respected industry standards.”

About the HDBaseT Alliance

The HDBaseT Alliance advances and promotes the adoption of HDBaseT technology as the global standard for ultra-high-definition, digital connectivity. Since its founding in 2010 by LG Electronics, Samsung Electronics, Sony Pictures Entertainment and Valens, the Alliance has brought together the leading names in the consumer electronics, professional AV, industrial and automotive sectors and it consists today of more than 200 members and thousands of Certified products in the market.

UL Solutions can help with Cable Compliance Testing and Certification

As the wire, cable and connectivity industry evolves, devices require greater speed, power and mobility. As a result, cables must also innovate to address key wired technology demands. At UL Solutions, our diverse capabilities help manufacturers, retailers and brand owners navigate safety, performance, regulatory compliance and market access challenges. For more information, visit our High-Speed Cable and Connectivity Testing and Certification service page.