HDMI Ethernet Channel

What will I be able to do with an HDMI Ethernet Channel - enabled device?
The HDMI Ethernet Channel enables a number of new possibilities via the HDMI link, including:
Sharing an internet connection- The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature allows your internet-ready entertainment devices, from gaming consoles to Blu-ray Disc players and more, to share an internet connection without any need for a separate Ethernet cable.

• Content distribution- Devices connected by the HDMI Ethernet Channel will be able to exchange digital content in its native format, enabling recording, storage, and playback options across a connected system, with no need for a separate Ethernet cable.
• Home entertainment networking- The HDMI Ethernet Channel accommodates current and future IP-based networking solutions for consumer electronics, such as UPnP, LiquidHD, and DLNA. HDMI with Ethernet is the ideal one-cable solution for connecting devices in these advanced home-networking environments.

What network protocols are supported over the HDMI Ethernet Channel?
 The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature supports any networking protocol that can run over an existing Ethernet connection, including TCP/IP, UPnP, DLNA, LiquidHD, and so forth.

What is the maximum available bandwidth of the HDMI Ethernet Channel?
 Up to 100 Mb/sec of bi-directional (full-duplex) bandwidth is available over the HDMI Ethernet Channel.

Will devices connected via the HDMI Ethernet Channel be able to share an Internet connection?
 Yes. Provided there is a routing device somewhere in the network - either a stand-alone router or a device with integral router functionality - the HDMI Ethernet Channel will enable linked devices to share an Internet connection.

Will content distribution and recording be possible in a system connected via the HDMI Ethernet Channel?
 Yes. The HDMI Ethernet Channel allows connected devices to share digital content in its native format. For instance, if it is protected by HDCP encryption, it will stay in its encrypted format, and can only be accessed if all the devices in the system are HDCP-compliant. Unprotected content, such as digital HD broadcast programming or user-generated HD video, will of course be free of any content protection.

Will I need a new cable to support HDMI Ethernet Channel functionality?
 Yes. The HDMI Ethernet Channel feature will require a new type of cable, either a Standard HDMI Cable with Ethernet or a High-Speed HDMI Cable with Ethernet, depending on the maximum resolution to be supported.

What will I be able to do with an Audio Return Channel -enabled device?
 If your HDTV has a built-in tuner, DVD player, or other digital content source, the Audio Return Channel allows the TV to send audio data "upstream" to your A/V receiver, eliminating the need for a separate audio cable in this type of configuration. Audio Return Channel-enabled TVs can either send or receive audio via the HDMI link, giving you greater flexibility in how you set up your home theater equipment and making a separate upstream audio link unnecessary.

Which audio formats are supported over the Audio Return Channel?
 The Audio Return Channel supports all the same audio formats that can be sent through a traditional S/PDIF audio connection, including Dolby Digital, DTS, and PCM audio.

Is the HDMI LipSync feature compatible with the Audio Return Channel?
 Yes. Whether the TV is sending audio to the sound system or vice-versa, devices featuring LipSync functionality (introduced in HDMI 1.3) will be able to track and correct for any processor lags, and adjust the delivery of audio and video so that the two signals stay in sync.

Will I need a new cable to support Audio Return Channel functionality?
 No. Audio Return Channel -enabled devices can be connected via the existing categories of HDMI cables.