One of the topics we explored with keen interest at this month’s CEDIA Expo in Denver was the proliferation of interfaces on video equipment, with an eye towards where it’s all going. Not to spoil the punch line, but to put it simply, the designers of these connectivity solutions are probably enjoying the fact that consumers and installers are exceedingly confused about how to hook up their equipment-and that probably will only get worse before it gets better.

Aldo Cugnini

Starting from the lowest common denominator, you’ve got composite video (yecch), S-video, component video, even RGB video, but if you’ve got more than a few sources (or displays), then what a nuisance! The resulting rat’s nest ends up looking like the refrigeration system on the space shuttle. OK, let’s switch over to HDMI. Well, if you’ve got more than a few sources, you’re pretty much back in the same predicament. (And do I really need gold-plated connectors for HDMI?) Let’s see, you want to hook up all your HDMI sources to an HDMI-equipped monitor? Seems like a no-brainer, but what if they’re not near each other? Hmmm, how about HDMI over CAT5, or wireless? (Rats, there goes the video–who’s running that vacuum upstairs?)

Problem with connectors falling out? Well, you could go the DVI route if you’ve got it (where’s that wrench?), and DisplayPort has a nifty latch, but how many TVs can we expect to support either of those? VGA is somewhat dated, but there’s all those legacy PC monitors out there–perhaps it would make sense to connect them with a USB-to-Wireless adapter?

But networking is the wave of the future, say the brains at that big software company, so how about 1394? Well, it’s not fast enough (yet) for uncompressed video, but MPEG-2 is just dandy over it, provided you can get your mitts on the signal. Oh, there’s that pesky DTCP in the way, if you’ve got a set-top box, and don’t hold your breath waiting for the Blu-ray (or Hollywood) folks to give you access to the bitstream anytime soon. Remember, HDCP is (so far) just for uncompressed video. And, there’s that annoying distance limitation–no, wait, you can use a 1394-over-CAT5 adapter, or a 1394-to-coax adapter–just don’t forget the 1394-to-HDMI adapter at the end.

Hey, while you’re at it stringing coax around the house, why not just use HD-SDI? If it’s good enough for the pros, why not for us pedestrian users? Oh, right, there’s that annoying content-protection problem again, and of course, no consumer equipment supports it. But as long as you’re stuck with CAT5, why not just IP it and cram it down Ethernet? Aw, nuts, there’s that quality-of-service problem–the digital equivalent of the vacuum-again.

So, I think my advice is, if you’ve got the bucks, let someone else worry about and install your system. (I’m sure CEDIA will appreciate that.) But if you can’t afford that–and you just want to watch some plain old TV–then just wait a while; someone is bound to make a DVD-VCR-STB-TV-with built-in surround speakers, and sell the whole thing for a ridiculously low price at the local mega-mart. (Gee, maybe I should get into that business.) All you’ll need is an empty wall plug that pumps 30-amp service. (By the way, for more–serious–in-depth coverage, look to this month’s Large Display Report.)