Dec. 21, 2023 - AVPro Edge has recently made a transparent hardware upgrade to three HDMI and HDMI/USB extender kits, plus a firmware upgrade to a scaling receiver, applicable to model numbers now shipping, dramatically adding to their flexibility while increasing their value in commercial and entertainment workspaces.
For the AC-EX70-444-KIT, an HDMI-only extender, the AC-EX40-444-PLUS-KIT, and the AC-EX100-444-KIT (only new versions currently shipping), a hardware change makes it possible to enable a new 5 V Follow-source feature for HDMI, while the AC-EX40-444-PLUS-KIT and the AC-EX100-444-KIT each provide the same capabilities for HDMI and USB inputs/outputs.
The scaling receiver-only AC-EX70-SC2-R contains compatible hardware from its original build and simply requires the firmware upgrade for the 5 V Follow-source feature to be enabled.
Current receiver default mode is for the 5 V output (HDMI or USB) to always be on, regardless of the transmitter's 5-volt status. The update allows the 5-volt output (HDMI or USB) to follow the transmitter's 5-volt input state (HDMI or USB).
For installed products, firmware updates to AC-EX40-444-PLUS-KIT (T2 & R2 Rev. A) and to the AC-EX100-444-KIT (T3 & R3 Rev. A) enable the 5 Volt Follow-source feature for the HDMI ports only.
Installed products designated as AC-EX40-444-PLUS-KIT (T2 & R2 Rev. B) and AC-EX100-444-KIT (T3 & R3 Rev. B) may be upgraded to enable the 5 Volt Follow-source feature for the HDMI and USB ports.
The 5 Volt Follow-source feature proves invaluable when the USB or HDMI hot plug event is required to initiate switching, triggering a display, or an HDMI-to-USB ingest/Codec device such as the Poly X70 Conference Bar to react to a new connection automatically.
Disabling/enabling the 5 Volt Follow-source feature is accessed by command entry to the devices through a USB-to-serial connection and a communicator such as MyUart, Hercules, or PuTYY, then entering the applicable “Stream Mode” command (Example: A00 SET HDMI STREAM MODE1).
These updates and their relevant models solve the issue of perpetually having to restart systems to induce a receiver to “let go” so new sources may be connected. These updates and additional information may be found at https://support.avproedge.com/portal/en/kb/avpro-edge/general under the HDBaseT Extenders and Scalers sections.
