What They Say
HDMI 2.1a Amendment 1 has been announced with a new feature, HDMI Cable Power that can be used to support active cables if the source device can provide that power. HDMI said that this is to help with the development of active cables as:
In the case of the Ultra High Speed HDMI® Cable, performance requirements are so high, it is likely that the only way to meet the Ultra High Speed HDMI requirements in cables longer than a few meters is through powered, active HDMI Cables.
HDMI cables that support Cable Power will include a separate power connector for use with source devices that do not support the HDMI Cable Power feature. Typically, these connectors will be USB Micro-B or USB Type-C, but different power connector types may be used.
There is an FAQ at the hdmi.org site.
What We Think
This seems like a good idea, but as usual with HDMI, the feature will be optional so consumers will have to digout the information about support. HDMI already supports 5V but at a lower current than many active cables need. (BR)
