HDCP - Be it hardware or software?

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Level 1

46 points

HDCP - Be it hardware or software?

I've got a three year old Olevia LCD TV that clearly states that the DVI connection (it only has DV) is HDCP compliant. Well, since my newly purchased Apple TV is HDMI, I had to buy a cable that was DVI on one end and HDMI on the other. I downloaded one movie for the Apple TV and things went great, not a hitch in viewing. However, I downloaded another movie and got the dreaded message that my HDMI didn't support HDCP. I waited a while, turned my set off and turned it back on and it worked - quirky.

Here is my question: If my TV's DVI is HDCP and I purchase a HDMI to DVI cable, is my connection still HDCP compatible? I'm wondering if it is a pin or configuration in the actual hardware that makes HDCP or is it a circuit board encoding thing? If it is software encoding, then it seems that the DVI to HDMI should be bullet-proof. (I know there are DVI-I and DVI-D, and DVI- A specs, but I don't know that that matters of I can see the pic and hear the sound).

It just seems to me that it should work if it is HDCP compliant and should not work if it isn't. I don't know why it would be intermittent.

So, is it a hardware specification and you have to search for HDMI to DVI cables that ACTUALLY SAY THEY CARRY THE HDCP CONTINUITY? If so, I can't find any such cables.

If it is software for firmware, seems to me there would be less emphasis on the hardware connection type and more on the circuitry decoding. But, everyone refers to HDMI as inherently HDCP as if it is a hardware connection.

Last thing, does the DVI (type D, type A, Type I etc.) matter to HDCP? I plugged my cable in, it fit and worked, but not without some glitches like I described.

intel Mac, Mac OS X (10.5.2)

Posted on Feb 25, 2008 8:57 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 28, 2008 10:46 PM in response to Charles Cole

I am having a similar issue with a 2.5 year old panasonic HD flat screen. I got the error and switched out for the component plugs and that option plays absolutely NOTHING - no error, but no video or audio at all. When I press "pause", it shows the bar as if it's going through the movie, but nothing is there. I wrote panasonic, but not sure they can do anything. If you find a solution that's workable, please do let me know. I'm not as astute with technology as you seem to be (girl thing, I suppose), but really hoping to make this work without having to spend a fortune on a new TV when this one is already pretty great.

When you say, DVI on one end and HDMI on the other, what do you mean? The red, blue, green plugs on one end and HDMI into the ATV? I'd like to try this, but again, technologically challenged, so any help is appreciated.

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Answer 2

Macaby

Level 3

923 points

Feb 28, 2008 11:24 PM in response to Charles Cole

Today I also got the "dreaded message that my HDMI didn't support HDCP". I've only had my ATV for a couple of weeks and haven't had any problems period. Mine is setup with a HDMI cable from the ATV to my Sony LCD. Today I downloaded an HBO show (Podcast) to my computer and then went to my TV room to play it on my Sony.

When I turned on the ATV, I got the above message for the first time. I turned the ATV off and then turned it back on and it played my podcast normally.

I thought initially the problem MIGHT be something to do with the podcast that would only play with a component output. To test this theory, I hooked up component cables from my ATV to a component input on my TV WITH the HDMI cable still connected. I was curious if the ATV would put out a signal in this configuration, but nothing appeared on my TV in that component input signal.

Does anyone know if you the ATV will feed both the HDMI and the component output signals at the same time or is it one or the other only?

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Answer 3

Charles Cole Author

Level 1

46 points

Feb 29, 2008 9:20 AM in response to pickedapepper

When you say, DVI on one end and HDMI on the other, what do you mean?
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I have an older TV that only has a DVI connection. It looks like an old-style serial connector for a PC.

However, Apple TV has an HDMI connection, so the cable running between my TV and Apple TV has to be a DVI connector connector on the TV end of the cable and an HDMI connector on the Apple TV end of the connection.

The red, blue, green plugs are for a Component connection - which is a very high-end analog connection DVI and HDMI are digital (not analog).

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Answer 4

Macaby

Level 3

923 points

Mar 1, 2008 12:02 AM in response to Charles Cole

Sorry, but I don't understand your question. However, I do understand the ATV outputs. Of course, one is HDMI and the other is for a component hookup.

If your TV ONLY has a DVI input or you choose to use the DVI input, it will be necessary to buy an HDMI to DVI cable with the DVI cable plugged into your TV. Of course, in this situation, it will also be necessary to run a separate audio cord to your TV or system amp if you prefer to run your audio in that manner as the HDMI->DVI cable doesn't carry the audio. For your audio, you have a choice of the regular L/R signal or optical.

Or you can go with the component hookup as well. I know some purists will stick their noses up at the thought of using component wiring, but almost any video store you go to has most if not all there HD demos running with component hookups. On a quick trip by all the demos at Costco, I can't tell the difference.

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