A new video system from Bluedelta could change the way we distribute video in our homes and throughout other buildings.
Bluedelta has devised a video distribution system that utilises that most trusted of cables - CAT5 - as its interconnect. This allows them to transmit video massive distances. We're not talking Ethernet style ~100m either; more like 1600m.
This solution could be the ideal way to get high quality video across distances that were, until now, difficult or impossible with traditional video cables. Better still, the technology is compatible with the connectivity of existing hardware.
In a basic setup, a master connector is hooked up to the device providing the video feed, through its SCART socket. A slave MILESTONE device (pictured right) is plugged into the SCART socket of the receiving device, and a cheap CAT5 cable run between the two. Bluedelta have also redeveloped their smart-SCART multi-SCART input technology to work over MILESTONE, so you can attach multiple inputs to a MILESTONE smart-SCART.
For distributing video to multiple points, the MILESTONE system hub (pictured left) allows a video signal to be broadcast to several slaves. Stacking and linking of hubs could, according to Bluedelta, lead to as many as 512 outputs.
Control of the video source can also be achieved using MILESTONE. Their IR Eye and Blaster set is capable of relaying remote control commands back to the source, making remote control that little bit more remote.
Finally, there's a Sky adapter for Sky Digital users. Interestingly, Bluedelta say the MILESTONE system consumes such a small amount of power that the RF2 on a Sky Digibox can power a simple master-slave point-to-point link. Regardless of the setup and power requirements, the system will power itself down when no video feed is present.
Bluedelta have a very interesting product here, and they've announced it at a time that could hugely influence the way in which HTPC and Media Center fans construct home-wide systems. Of course, the only down-side is the cabling requirement, but wireless distribution of video remains troublesome, so the MILESTONE solution could prove to be the best one going right now.
