Frustrated Plasma Owner

[forrestgump]

Had my Hitachi PM400E over a year now, nothing wrong with it apart from the obvious, no HDMi or DVi input. Question is, will a scaler for about a grand improve the picture remarkably? Or would I be better selling it and buying the new Hitachi model which can be bought for less than I paid for mine?

Will a scaler allow HD material to be shown via the component input on my plasma?

Is DVI or HDMI that much better than component? WILL not be using SKY even when they go hi=def, think they are a load of to...ers, would be using the screen for Hi Def DVD and HDV DVD

[gandley]

I think you will find "HD" dvd will require DVI/HDMI with HDCP
Skys service has been said will also require a HDCP display,
so the best bet would be to stick your money towards getting an up to date display that has HDMI HDCP.

[Liam @ Prog AV]

But since you've got a plasma you're happy with already I would wait to see what offerings pan out from the various manufacturers as they come out with more HD Ready screens. Panny 8 series, new Pioneers etc. Never know, the price may fall too!!!

There may be limitation of a scaler on the component. My DVD player which has a scaler inside says that it can only support up to 576p on component as compared to 720p & 1080i on HDMI. Other more expensive analogue scaler may be better on component but to dump money in a dying analogue scaler is not worth. My mid-priced DVD palyer gives crisp & sharp pictures at 720p via a HDMI which I 've never got such from component.

If I were you I'll definitely sell the old & buy a new HDMI stuff with a scaler DVD or standalone scaler.

[HeweyBoy101]

Or ...... buy a "box" for a couple of hundred quid to effectively remove HDCP from a DVI-D source and output via VGA (RGBHV) or component. I am trying this route currently with my Denon 3910, so that I can access the upscaled 1080i output on my (non HD) Philips Plasma. Worth a try I think. If it doesn't work I have 7 days to return it (www.lektropacks.co.uk)

I'm hoping the results will be good enough to keep me happy for a couple of years (still seething that I spent £2k on a Plasma just 6 months before they reinvented the wheel and decided everything had to be digital and copy protected !).

[mouseboy]

Hey HeweyBoy101,

How did you get on with your HDCP removal unit?
I'm wondering if that's the sort of thing i'm going to need. I have a Panny PW7, and i'm trying to get my head around what i'll nead to view HD content. Does the box you got act as a scalar too, and is that even a requirement?!
I'm trying to plan for an XBOX2 SKY+HD and a HD DVD player. Obviously I could get a new Plasma, but i'd like to know the options for watching HD content using my existing setup - especially HDCP encrypted content!

Thanks!

Andy

[gizlaroc]

Is this the device you are getting?

http://www.lektropacks.com/view_item...7&&category=12

It doesn't just transcode the dvi to rgbhv, it seems to output whatever resolution you set, not good for a device costing £230!

Input Resolutions:

PC (RGBHV) HDTV (YCbCr, YPbPr, RGBHV)
VGA
640x480
60/72/75/85 Hz
1080i
1920x1080
60 Hz

VESA85
640x400
85 Hz
720p
1280x720
60Hz

VGA70
720x400
70 Hz
576p
720x576
50Hz

SVGA
800x600
60/72/75/85 Hz
480p
720x480
60 Hz

XGA
1024x768
60/70/75/85 Hz
576i
720x576
50 Hz

Mac
1152x864
70/75 Hz
480i
720x480
60 Hz

WXGA
1280x768
60 Hz




1280A
1280x960
60 Hz




SXGA
1280x1024
60Hz



Output Resolutions:

PC (RGBHV) HDTV (YCbCr, YPbPr, RGBHV)
VGA
640x480
60/72/75/85 Hz
1080i
1920x1080
60 Hz

VESA85
640x400
85 Hz
720p
1280x720
60Hz

VGA70
720x400
70 Hz
576p
720x576
50Hz

SVGA
800x600
60/72/75/85 Hz
480p
720x480
60 Hz

XGA
1024x768
60/70/75/85 Hz




Mac
1152x864
70/75 Hz




WXGA
1280x768
60 Hz




1280A
1280x960
60 Hz




SXGA
1280x1024
60 Hz

Distinct lack of 50Hz on needed reolutions too!

the digital connections device is far better.

[Liam @ Prog AV]

Originally Posted by mouseboy

Hey HeweyBoy101,

How did you get on with your HDCP removal unit?
I'm wondering if that's the sort of thing i'm going to need. I have a Panny PW7, and i'm trying to get my head around what i'll nead to view HD content. Does the box you got act as a scalar too, and is that even a requirement?!
I'm trying to plan for an XBOX2 SKY+HD and a HD DVD player. Obviously I could get a new Plasma, but i'd like to know the options for watching HD content using my existing setup - especially HDCP encrypted content!

Thanks!

Andy

You're going to need something that converts HDCP DVI/HDMI into analogue component video. Although initially Sky HD will use component connections anyway so you're not too badly done. Nothing to worry about for the next couple years or so anyway