[mythtvnz] freeview HCDP question

[Steven Ellis]

On Thu, May 22, 2008 9:07 pm, Stephen Worthington wrote:
> On Thu, 22 May 2008 19:08:55 +1200, you wrote:
>
>>A bit OT but not really....
>>
>>Apparently Freeview boxes receiving HDTV will only output that HD signal
>>to HCDP-compliant devices over HDMI (eg LCD TVs). DRM in action. Anyway,
>>if you don't have a HCDP-compliant device, then it's downgraded to
>>Standard Dev?
>>
>>I'm curious. What does that mean? Does that mean it's MPEG2 SD, or some
>>weird MPEG4 low-res format? And does it happen automatically (which
>>implies firmware), or would you have to manually configure the Freeview
>>to output SD? I don't own a box - so I have no idea.
>>
>>Jason
>
> I did not think that Freeview was transmitting anything that required
> HDCP.  You only need HDCP if the source signal says it is required,
> and Freeview so far does not seem to be setting that flag.
>
> My TV (Panasonic TX-32LX70A) does not have HDCP and is happy playing
> all the HD programs I have recorded so far using my Asus G1S
> notebook's HDMI port.  Until MythTV can do Freeview, I am using GB-PVR
> software under Vista Ultimate with my Hauppauge HVR-900 tuner, and
> Cyberlink PowerDVD 8 to play back the files (GB-PVR can not keep audio
> sync yet).
>
> There is plenty of HD content on TV3 (1080i) and also on TV1 and TV2
> (720p).  It is clearly HD on screen, as you can see all the little
> details they put into the titles specially to show off HD
> capabilities.
>
> If Freeview ever did set the HDCP flag, there would be an outcry as
> most HDMI capable TVs sold in NZ up until very recently did not do
> HDCP.

It appears that the official STB do require HDCP for any HD picture to be
sent. It doesn't mean they have enabled ICT yet. Also there is a good
chance that ICT is ignored by GBPVR anyway.

Steve
--------------------------------------------
Steven Ellis - Technical Director
OpenMedia Limited - The Home of myPVR
email   - steven at openmedia.co.nz
website - http://www.openmedia.co.nz