Is the SkyHD box capable of outputting HDMI 1.3?

[Ash007]

With this talk of HDMI 1.3 being what you want for proper HD, does the Sky HD box output HDMI 1.3? Or does the box/connector matter i.e just the lead matters Or will the box have to be updated?
Will todays SkyHD box be out of date with the adoption of HDMI 1.3?

Sky HD has HDMI 1.1. Don't get carried away with HDMI 1.3. Sky HD will output 1080i and 720p HD definitions. There are no plans to broadcast 1080p if that is what is you are thinking is true HD.

When HDMI 1.3 is implemented in the future on screens, amps etc. it will be fully backwards compatible with all versions of HDMI. So you skyHD box would still work. SKY HD will not be out of date for a few years yet.

I really recommend you look at the HDMI site www.hdmi.org to understand what HDMI is all about.

[Joe Fernand]

Hello Ash007

There is no such thing as 'Proper HD' video - there are various formats of High Definition video; the most popular in terms of Consumer Broadcast and Pre recorded being 720p and 1080i with 1080p on the near horizon in pre recorded formats.

HDMI 1.3 adds various functions and enhancements to the HDMI 1.2a and HDMI 1.1 spec - though remember its the Source and Display on either end of the cable that dictates what you see and hear; the HDMI cable and Input/Output socket cant improve the signal the Source is Outputting.

In terms of video enhancements HDMI 1.3 has very little to offer most of us until the hardware manufactures come out with a completely new generation of Display devices that are vastly superior to what is on offer today.

HDMI 1.1 is more than capable of carrying a 1080p signal so has no problems with the 720p and 1080i signal being output by SKY HD.

Soon enough you'll see HDMI 1.3 compliant Input/Output sockets on all manner of kit - though none of them will fully embrace what is on offer because currently there are no Display devices capable of resolving the signal the HDMI 1.3 pipeline is capable of transmitting.

Best regards

Joe

[Stephen Neal]

I'm not sure that the Sky box is capable of receiving broadcasts that would be able to exploit the advantages of HDMI 1.3 over HDMI 1.1 - so it isn't really important.

AIUI HDMI 1.3 allows for greater than 8 bit bit depths - but broadcast HD will remain 8 bit for the time being. HDMI supports 1080/60p interconnects - but DSat will remain 1080/60i and 720/60p - so 1080/60p broadcasts are not likely within the current standards.

I'm not fully across the audio differences between the standards - but AFAIK HDMI 1.1 isn't a limiting factor in the audio quality for DSat HD broadcasts either.

HDMI 1.3 is probably most useful as an interconnect for PCs and Games consoles, which benefit from 1080/60p most. (There is no production in 1080/60p or 1080/50p currently...)

[NicolasB]

You don't need HDMI 1.3 for 1080p/50 or 1080p/60 anyway. You only need it for >8 bits per channel colour data, resolutions above 1080p, or lossless audio formats, none of which are likely to be an issue with Sky HD.

[Stephen Neal]

Originally Posted by NicolasB

You don't need HDMI 1.3 for 1080p/50 or 1080p/60 anyway. You only need it for >8 bits per channel colour data, resolutions above 1080p, or lossless audio formats, none of which are likely to be an issue with Sky HD.

Yep - I thought 1080/60p 8 bit was within HDMI versions below 1.3.

That is 4:4:4 rather than 4:2:2 isn't it?

[welwynnick]

Hi Stephen,

Very good to hear from you again - thought we'd lost you!

HDMI V1.3 is a pretty big marketing feature, and any equipment that supports will make sure you know all about it. It's value for now is largely down to an element of future-proofing rather than tangiable gains. The max bit rate is more than doubled, so you get more capacity for refresh rate, depth of modulation and HD audio - not that HDMI V1.1 can't carry uncompressed HD PCM audio, though. I think the benefit of V1.3 is to carry compressed TrueHD etc, so that the amp/processor can decode and decompress it.

Just don't mention jitter and actual audio quality........

For the record, all versions of HDMI and DVI have been able to carry 1080p60 and more; either YCbCr/RGB 4:2:2 or RGB 4:4:4.

regards, Nick

[Stephen Neal]

Originally Posted by welwynnick

Hi Stephen,

Very good to hear from you again - thought we'd lost you!

Had a very busy summer!

For the record, all versions of HDMI and DVI have been able to carry 1080p60 and more; either YCbCr/RGB 4:2:2 or RGB 4:4:4.

regards, Nick

Yep - thinking back on it - isn't HDMI 1.1 in single-link configuration limited to 1920x1200 at 60Hz progressive in 4:4:4? (Just enough for a 16:10 1920x1200 PC display - presumably a DVI inheritance?)