5 VDC and Its Importance in AV Distribution
Sam Metivier, Director of the AESG
Interacting with
5-Volt Power
5 VDC is used in both USB (VBus) and HDMI™ (5 VDC Power) as a positive supply voltage. Each interface’s
5-volt pin initiates the connection handshake process and may provide power to peripheral devices or
accessories. In USB, common peripherals include conferencing cameras, mice, and keyboards, while HDMI
accessories typically include Active Optical Cables (AOCs). However, voltage alone is insufficient for the
5-volt power to function correctly.
In the webinar Starting the HDMI Engine with Jeffrey Boccaccio from DPL Labs and Jason Dustal from
Murideo, Boccaccio discusses the 5-volt power line, referring to it as “HDMI’s Life Blood.” He equates the
minimum current provided by an HDMI source to that of a car battery, visualizing this analogy by noting
that if a car battery cannot provide enough current, the car will not start.
Why is Current Important?
Each peripheral and connected accessory draws what it needs from the current supplied by this
5-volt power supply. If not enough current is provided for each item, the connection handshake
appears faulty or fails. Various types of power injectors and powered hubs may be used to supply
additional current along the pin, correcting handshaking failures caused by power supply issues.
This happened because something between these connections maintained
power, often a dock, hub, or extender, which kept the connection alive.
Controlling the 5-volt power allows a device to simulate a physical
disconnection. Removal of the 5-volt line may have two meanings: for
HDMI, it is simply a disconnection; for USB, this function is known as
Surprise Removal. Cycling through the handshake process may resolve
issues that typically occur when peripherals get stuck in an operating
mode, as the connection was severed entirely. In other words, your
monitor sleeps, your peripherals are ready to connect, and your autoswitch
changes appropriately.
Think about when you used your computer in a work
environment and closed it to go home for the day.
- Maybe the monitor that should have gone into sleep mode remained on.
- Maybe the lights on your keyboard remain lit.
- Maybe your auto-switch remained stuck on an input.
The AVPro Edge
Solution
AVPro Edge continues to develop products to enhance its existing
catalog, implementing 5 V control wherever appropriate. From simple
connectivity devices such as the AC-SC-1X to our point-to-point
solutions like the AC-EXUSB-3-KIT, AC-EX100-444-GEN3, and our AVo-
IP distribution line MXNet, we continue to solve simple connectivity
issues for any environment. For a more detailed list of products with 5
V Control, look here:
HDMI 5V Control Command
SET HP OUT 5V MODEx
{x=[1,2](1=HDMI Output 5V Always High, 2=HDMI Output 5V Follows Transmitter 5V Input)
HDMI 5V Control Command
SET OUTx HDMI STREAM MODEy:
Set Output x Stream Mode {x=[0,?](0=ALL),y[0~1](0=Always On,1=Follow Input Signal)}
HDMI 5V Control Command
SET OUTx HP HDMI STREAM MODEy:
Set Output x Stream Mode {x=[0,?](0=ALL),y[0~1](0=Always On,1=Follow Input Signal)}
HDMI 5V Control Command
config set device stream on/off {RxID/RxMAC or RxMAC1:RxMAC2:...}
USB 5V Control Command
SET USB MODEx (model rev. B only)
{x=[1,2](1=USB Device 5V Always On, 2=USB Device 5V Follows Host Input)
USB 5V Control Command
Via Dipswitch
On – 5V Always Present
- Host – Follow
5V Input on Host Input
USB 5V Control Command
Config set device usb5v {0,1,2} [EncoderID/EncoderMAC]
[DecoderID/DecoderMAC]
Function:
NOTE: Requires CBOX V2.55 or higher. V2 Decoders on PCB V0.6 only!
Adjusts the configuration for the USB 5v connection on V2 Decoders.
NOTE: Only decoders on PCB V0.6 or higher supports
this function, such as the AC-MXNET-1G-DV2-C!
Option “0” = Follow the encoder, targeted via the [EncoderID/
EncoderMAC] argument. When the USB-B/USB HOST
connection is dropped on the specified encoder, the specified decoder
will shut off its USB 5v connection.
Option “1” = Always on (default). When option “1” is desired, the argument
[EncoderID/EncoderMAC] is not required.
Option “2” = Always off. When Option “2” is desired, the argument
[EncoderID/EncoderMAC] is not required.
About AVPro
AVPro Global is a privately held American company headquartered in Sioux Falls, SD, with satellite offices in
St. Petersburg, FL, Seattle, WA, a European office in Bratislava, Slovakia, and an office in Shenzhen, China.
The five AVPro Global audio/video-centric brands - AVPro Edge, AudioControl Pro, Bullet Train, Murideo,
and Thenaudio – combine their respective strengths to create the fastest-growing AV signal distribution
company in the residential and commercial systems integration spaces, perfectly complementing AVPro
Global Founder and CEO Jeff Murray’s vision, “To be recognized as the best AV signal distribution and control
products and services company on the planet.”
Sam Metivier,
Director of the AESG
Sam Metivier is a standout engineering
talent at AVPro, whose rapid ascent and
impact in the audio/video technology
sector have set him apart as a driving
force behind some of the company’s most
advanced solutions. Despite being in his
mid-twenties, Sam’s career trajectory,
technical ingenuity, and commitment
to excellence have made him integral
to AVPro’s product evolution and the
broader AV industry.
