HDCP error and netflix apple tv 2

Level 1

0 points

Jan 15, 2011 5:24 PM in response to blackhillsken

Same problem here. Apple TV has been nothing but problems since the 1st day.
Total waste of time troubleshooting all the glitches.

Apple please explain why I can no longer connect to netflix due to HDCP error after having used the service for over 2 months?

Cables have been checked and are not the issue. TV is fine as directTV HDCP connects fine and is HDCP.

IMO Worst apple product ever.

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Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,548 points

Jan 16, 2011 1:28 AM in response to GVW61

GVW61 wrote:
I think most people with this issue would agree the HDMI/HDCP handshake is flaky. Each 'fix' is only temporary though, and the HDCP error can return at any time. The bottom line is, the ATV2 worked great until the firmware/software was updated. APPLE - FIX YOUR FIRMWARE

Both AppleTV 1 and 2 have had flaky HDMI/HDCP implementations affecting a small number of users fro as long as I can remember and software updates that fixed things for some then caused issues for others!

Yes, in some cases HDMI leads may be faulty or not up to spec, but I think there's more to it as very often people's other HDMI equipped devices work fine. The question is what is Apple doing wrong or differently? Are content providers forcing Apple to use some more stringent DRM controls that other devices don't normally use or need to use? Are Apple just no good with this and need to involve an established TV manufacturer to sort out their HDMI needs? Maybe it's that the GPUs in AppleTVs are computer graphics chips with HDMI capability which is flaky rather than dedicated AV graphics chips found in most other media players?

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Alley_Cat

Level 7

20,548 points

Jan 16, 2011 1:29 AM in response to Alley_Cat

You should all send feedback here:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

Can't remember if the link was posted earlier.

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Jan 26, 2011 1:58 PM in response to Kmannes

Hey all... Ive had the same exact problem but my configurations are a little different. I'm running hdmi into dvi then to the TV using optical for audio. (my tv is an old as dirt gateway plasma. However, I have found a work around for this hdcp error.

If I use airplay from my itunes library on my computer I get the error every time.

However if I access my library from apple tv under the computers section of the apple tv menu it works perfectly... this doesnt solve the netflix issue but its a start for anyone wanting to watch movies saved on there computer... weird.

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Jan 27, 2011 11:02 AM in response to Kmannes

I had an HDCP error trying to play content from my iTunes Library and I tried various things, but this is what worked:

Swap the ends of your HDMI cable.

I know, sounds simplistic and not at all like a real solution, but try it. I read it somewhere as I scoured the internet and it worked like a dream.

Let me know how it goes.

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Jan 27, 2011 11:04 AM in response to firepig

Read my reply below - try swapping the ends of the HDMI cable. Worked for me. Don't know why, don't care.

Let me know if it works for you.

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Feb 2, 2011 9:01 PM in response to rollerborges

Ok, I swapped the cable ends and the problem went away. However, IMHO this is a totally random fix. Apple, please fix the firmware. This is silly!

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Gornum

Level 1

0 points

Feb 9, 2011 1:33 PM in response to Kmannes

I've had the same HDCP problem with my Apple TV and my Samsung TV.

Thanks everyone for all the tips, but the only thing that fixed the problem was
changing the hdmi cable.

Seems the apple tv hdcp is very sensitive to the type of cable used.

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flashram

Level 1

0 points

Feb 18, 2011 9:51 AM in response to Gornum

Had my sister-in-law try this and it worked for her:

Log out of Netflix on the ATV then go to the Netflix web page on your computer. Under your account settings look for the devices and computers section. Deactivate the ATV from the list. Then go log back in on the ATV and try again.

Hope that helps someone else.

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gero1965

Level 1

0 points

Mar 14, 2011 1:39 PM in response to Kmannes

Here's the deal kids....ATV2 and Netflix are not compatible; of course, does Apple tell anyone this? Of course not Is Apple reading this forum? If they are, then it seems to me a simple firmware fix would do the job here. In the meantime, what I have done to solve this issue is to unplug the ATV and turn off the TV and the Receiver and chill for 30 seconds, then plug it back in, turn everything on, and I don't see that annoying HDCP error for at least 2-3 days, and then I have to do it again. It's a pain....and why it is not being dealt with by Apple, who claims that ATV is compatible with Netflix, is a mystery. This is a known issue that sadly you only find about after you do research when you are staring at that screen wondering why you can't watch movies from your Netflix subscription.

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Mar 15, 2011 7:52 AM in response to gero1965

The problem is not only Netflix, I can not watch many movies with itunes my macbook 😟
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=2777997&tstart=0

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Mar 30, 2011 1:20 PM in response to Kmannes

This is frustrating but let me tell you how I solved it. Essentially I saw ZERO concrete answers here or anywhere else so the things I checked:

1. Does my TV supports HDCP (just Googled the model number and HDCP and saw places selling it and showed support). For the record, I called Samsung first and they said no. Idiots.

2. Tried all the standard troubleshooting including the hard boot (unplug) the ATV2, unplugging and replugging the cables, try the opposite ends, try a separate cable.

3. I was about to give up before I decided to check the connection port on my TV. I noticed it wasn't tight so I held the HDMI cord up so that it plugged in at a downward angle. Amazingly, that was the issue. The bad port in the TV so I just used some trusty duct tape and taped the HDMI cable in that position and I'm set. The Samsung I'm using is five years old so I didn't bother getting it fixed properly.

Again, not another concrete answer but one that worked for me. NOTE that the TV all worked fine otherwise. Video would display from the ATV2 fine. For some reason, the HDCP handshake was failing due to the poor connection on the back of the TV.

Hope it helps another frustrated customer. This is the second example of DRM wasting my time this past year. UGH! It frustrates those that are trying to do things legally more than the pirates it seems.

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Apr 22, 2011 1:06 PM in response to Kmannes

I called Phillips, my tv maker, they had a fix which it seems some of you have been doing, perhaps unwittingly, it was referred to as a "hot disconnect/reconnect". While your tv and apple tv are both on and connected by hdmi, pull the hdmi plug out of both devices. Time at least one minute, then reconnect both (they should still be on). You will see a brief snowy screen then the picture will resume. Worked like a charm, and my tv is from 2006.

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Aug 6, 2011 9:41 AM in response to Kmannes

I've tried EVERYTHING posted in this thread and others. Nothing works. Ever since I've updated to 4.3(2557) I can't watch netflix or purchased movies from iTunes. I REFUSE to buy a new HDMI cable!! I'm bringing my BLACK BRICK back to the Apple store and they are going going to take it back whether they like it or not.

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Aug 6, 2011 10:52 AM in response to Kmannes

I had this same problem that just started a couple of weeks ago. My son who is in Japan got online with me and researched this until we found this thread. I had been able to watch everything perfectly for the last year on my new little apple tv. I have net flicks and other than getting an occasional "net flicks is not available right now check later" message it had worked great. I had watched a movie at 4 pm and when it was over I got the horrid HDCP error message. I was so frustrated cause I was geek enough to know to try all the turn on and turn off stuff as well as unpluging etc and nothing worked. Till we got down to the one about switching the ends of the cable. I thought to myself "how silly to have to do this" but dang if it didn't work. It was an immediate fix. So please add that to your "try" list. LOL I don't know how often I will have to do it but I'm sure if I continue to have to switch the ends I won't be a happy camper either but for now as long as it works. But geesh ..you would think a billion dollar company could come up with something else! I will try and report back if I have to keep doing this!

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