Sky HDTV to only support HDMI/DVI NOT component!

[garydhooper]

According to news on HomeCinemaChoice Sky are saying they will ONLY support HDTV via HDCP compliant HDMI/DVI. So displays with only component inputs will not be able to display Sky's HDTV at all - even if they can support 720/1080

http://www.homecinemachoice.com/cgi-...ws.php?id=7231

I suppose it makes sense that Sky want to protect their content. Does rule out Sky HDTV for many existing plasma/lcd owners though.

[Flashman]

Yeah, wonderful.....My Tosh 32WL46 is HD compatible through it's component inputs and I thought I would be okay when Sky upgraded......Looks like that's not going to happen.

Still, in two years time I may have relegated it to the bedroom by then, in place of something hopefully a bit more future proof!

[roberte]

this leaves only a few lcds compatable at present therefore?
sharp, hitachi ,is this right?

[richjthorpe]

Originally Posted by roberte

this leaves only a few lcds compatable at present therefore?
sharp, hitachi ,is this right?

Toshiba 32WL48 has HDMI.

[roberte]

any others?

[CarnalSins]

Philips 32pf9986

[jimg]

The Sharp Aquos screens with DVI should be OK

Hi Jim

Thanks for your query; The 37GA4E has a DVI-I terminal which does indeed support HDCP (High Definition Copyright Protection) which prevents users
recording to other digital devices.

So when BSkyB commence HD transmission your new Aquos will be compatible.

Hope this helps

Regards
@@@@@@@
Aquos Trainer

Sharp Electronics (UK) Limited
Reg. No. 965877
Reg. Office: Sharp House, Thorp Road, Manchester M40 5BE

[PhilB1234]

I'm disappointed as I have a new Tosh 30WL46 in transit to me at the moment! They even ran promotions in FHM boasting about it's HDTV compatibility, but it's non-HDCP compliant so it'll be impossible!
The helpdesk asked me to call back to speak to the workshop to see if the HDCP can be 'enabled' as the specs describe it as 'not enabled'... Not holding my breath....
Surely a third party could make a device to remove HDCP? Any ideas of how to get round this?

[ianh64]

Loewe Xelos SL and Spheros support both 1080i and 720p without compromise.

Hopefully the Sky boxes will be compatible with the Sharp 1080i input - some sources are not. I guess that is up to Sharp and Sky to work out between them.

Some displays also give a bordered screen when presented with some resolutions/timings, ie 720p - 1280x720 displayed on a 1366x768 screen. I think someone mentioned that this was the case with the Philips when presented a 720p picture via DVI but maybe they didn't find any zoom mode.

Something to note, the resolution used, 720p, 1080i is at the broadcasters discretion, with 720p being the dominent format. With HD boxes that already exist overseas, it is not possible to convert between the two formats within the box. So if the picture is broadcast in 720p, you get 720p, if its broadcast in 1080i, you get 1080i. It is possible that this will be the case with Sky.

As for 'cracking' HDCP. Don't hold your breadth. The encryption is performed at chip level by the source MPEG decoder and decrypted by the display again at chip level. If the public decryption key of the display is compromised, ie hacked, then the key will be held in a blacklist that is broadcast with transmissions or stored on future software - ie DVD's. Short of replacing the MPEG encoding chip with HDCP free versions, HDCP remains extremely secure especially in such a controlled hardware environment such as Sky.

-Ian

[cerebros]

Originally Posted by garydhooper

According to news on HomeCinemaChoice Sky are saying they will ONLY

To be accurate, they say "vast majority". As they've yet to state what content this will apply to it may not be the absolute disaster people are treating it as, although obviously it's disappointing.

[Quickbeam]

Originally Posted by ianh64

Something to note, the resolution used, 720p, 1080i is at the broadcasters discretion, with 720p being the dominent format. With HD boxes that already exist overseas, it is not possible to convert between the two formats within the box. So if the picture is broadcast in 720p, you get 720p, if its broadcast in 1080i, you get 1080i. It is possible that this will be the case with Sky.

The output is switchable between 720p and 1080i on US HD STBs; I believe this is a mandatory feature. This is essential as many displays will not accept 720p, which would mean no picture on FOX, ABC and ESPN broadcasts if only native output was supported.

Sky boxes will almost certainly be 720p/1080i switchable. 768p may well be supported too as it is such a common display resolution.

[ianh64]

Im glad the be wrong about that.

[jgrg]

Originally Posted by PhilB1234

I'm disappointed as I have a new Tosh 30WL46 in transit to me at the moment! They even ran promotions in FHM boasting about it's HDTV compatibility, but it's non-HDCP compliant so it'll be impossible!
The helpdesk asked me to call back to speak to the workshop to see if the HDCP can be 'enabled' as the specs describe it as 'not enabled'... Not holding my breath....
Surely a third party could make a device to remove HDCP? Any ideas of how to get round this?

HDCP only works on digital connections, and the 30WL46 doesn't have any (DVI or HDMI) as far as I know.

You will not be able to buy a legal device that removes HDCP. Devices with digital and analog inputs must disable any analog video outputs when playing a HDCP compliant input.

James

30WL46 has a dvi input but sadly its non HDCP enabled... More like a PC input only (1280x768 over 1280x720 resolution tends to confirm that choice...)

[PhilB1234]

Hi jgrg
I fear you're right about removing HDCP... However the set definitely does have a DVI input as I checked that thoroughly as I have a scaler that I am going to use with it over DVI. Still no use for Sky-HD though!