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Appendix A – EDID Programmer
101
Instruction Manual – HDMI-UTPRO-0808
Appendix A – EDID Programmer
Applicability
EDID Programmer software is provided for re-programming the EDID EEPROM chips on the HDMI UTPro if
necessary. This software is available at www.amx.com.
EDID Overview
EDID (Extended Display Identification Data) is a data structure established by the Video Electronics Standards
Association (VESA) to enable plug-and-play support by enabling easy configuration of a computer’s graphics subsystem
based on the capabilities of the attached display device.
EDID information includes items such as the following:
Manufacturer’s name
Product type
Supported video resolutions and refresh rates
Color space and filter chromaticity
Detailed timing
When a computer is directly connected to a display device, it can use the display device’s EDID information to
determine an initial compatible video signal to send. With the computer’s display controls, the user can modify this
selection to another compatible signal based on the provided EDID information.
With High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) (which requires EDID on the display devices) using EDID
information has extended beyond computers to other source devices, such as DVD players. As long as the source device
sends a compatible signal, the plug-and-play feature will work.
Matrix Switchers and EDID
Matrix switchers, such as the HDMI UTPro, provide the ability to route one source signal to many potentially different
types of display devices. As long as the source signal being routed is supported by all of the display devices, the result
would be a good image on each display. If the source signal being routed is not supported by a display device, the result
would be either a badly distorted image or no image at all.
To address these issues, the HDMI UTPro comes with one EDID EEPROM chip per input connector, which has been
pre-loaded with an AMX AutoPatch EDID set. This EDID set consists of some of the most common EDID settings in
use today, including VESA Established Timings encompassing 8 resolutions at a variety of refresh rates and 8 additional
Standard Timings encompassing 8 resolutions and refresh rate combinations. In many cases, the matrix switcher can be
used straight out of the box with no adjustments (see “Determining the Need for EDID Programming” on page 102).
The EDID Programmer software has been provided for cases where additional in-field programming of the EDID chips
is needed. The EDID Programmer can be used for the following:
Reading and saving EDID data in Hexadecimal from a device
Writing EDID data to the HDMI UTPro input connector’s associated EDID EEPROM
Note: Any analysis or editing of the EDID data necessary to support the equipment specific to your
installation will need to be done separately prior
to using the EDID Programmer. A variety of freeware tools
can be found on the web to help with these tasks.
Keep in mind that the EDID information for some equipment may not be compatible with the remaining equipment even
with programming. In those cases, the signals will have limited routing options.
Tip: If the signal from some of the equipment can only be routed to part of the destinations due to
incompatible EDIDs, control for the system can be simplified by creating a separate virtual matrix (level) for
the inputs and outputs involved.
The remaining sections in this appendix provide information on:
Determining the need for EDID programming
Installing the EDID Programmer
Reading and saving EDID data from a destination device
Writing EDID data to an HDMI input connector