Should I buy a couple of HDFury's?

[sdsean]

Well, I just realized that the sunsetting of component video out is supposed to start at the end of this year, beginning of next. . .

I have been pretty happy with my dual HD-PVR setup, and of course I can't use the cablecard methodology since i use DirecTV.

While the sunsetting calls for no "new" hardware to be created with analog video in HD (which btw i really cannot believe this is for real) .. . my concern is that satellite and cable companies will in turn force updates on their STBs
which will only output 480p or something similar over component. . .

I'm also concerned b/c when the digital transition happend. . . Time Warner stopped broadcasting their local channels in ClearQAM HD. You could still get the digital SD signal, but not the HD one. . . (really ticked about this also). . .

So. . . I'm thinking about purchasing a couple HDFury's to get around said issue. . . but they are so expensive and I'm not sure if I should really be worried about it or not. . .

Thoughts?

[reggie14]

I think analog video outputs will die, but they'll die a slow death. I think you're probably jumping the gun on this one. Analog outputs on cable/satellite boxes probably aren't going anywhere anytime soon. Basically, they're not allowed to shut them off:

Originally Posted by FCC Rules, Section 76.1903

A covered entity shall not attach or embed data or information with commercial audiovisual content, or otherwise apply to, associate with, or allow such data to persist in or remain associated with such content, so as to prevent its output through any analog or digital output authorized or permitted under license, law or regulation governing such covered product.

That rule is the reason that the MPAA has been fighting for a waiver to make "selectable output control" (SOC) allowed. So far they haven't been successful. And even if they are, the supporters of SOC have all been saying that this would only be used for early releases of movies, and that everything you can do now with analog outputs from cable/satellite boxes would still be possible. Would that be true forever? Maybe not. But it wouldn't look good if content creators/providers took that opportunity to try to kill component outputs entirely. Plus, any FCC waiver would likely be pretty focused.

There is a a possible backdoor approach for killing component video, which is similar to how they're doing it with blu-ray. Basically, they could stop making cable boxes with component outputs. Even if they do that (which I think is pretty unlikely in the next couple years), current HD boxes will be out there for a while.

[sdsean]

Well I think in general you are right, and I'm comforted by the illegality of disabling current analog stuff. . .

However, I'll have to find the link. . . but I swear hardware makers are trying to
sunset the creation of new devices by Jan 1 2011. . . .

Even still that doesn't mean current hardware wouldn't work. . . as you mention which is of course my biggest concern. . .

The 2nd concern is that I'm currently "leasing" my DirecTV STBs. . .
I suppose I need to buy them outright or buy HDFury's. . . and maybe I don't need to do either, but it just makes me nervous that DirecTV would start requiring a hardware update or something. . . (similar to what's happend in cable where now to get HD you have to have a box or cable card, even for locals. . .). . .

[davenlr]

The (not yet released) new DirecTv lineup: H24 receiver, and HR24 DVR, both have analog video outputs, so you are good for a while.

[reggie14]

Originally Posted by sdsean

However, I'll have to find the link. . . but I swear hardware makers are trying to sunset the creation of new devices by Jan 1 2011. . . .

Are you talking about blu-ray players? They're planning to phase out analog outputs in 2011. The FCC rule only applies to multichannel video programming distributors (i.e., satellite and cable TV).

The 2nd concern is that I'm currently "leasing" my DirecTV STBs. . .
I suppose I need to buy them outright or buy HDFury's. . . and maybe I don't need to do either, but it just makes me nervous that DirecTV would start requiring a hardware update or something. . . (similar to what's happend in cable where now to get HD you have to have a box or cable card, even for locals. . .). . .

Basically, you're going to be fine at least until you need to get a new box. DirecTV isn't going to pull their current boxes until absolutely necessary. As long as your current box supports H.264 video, you'll probably be fine for a while, even if you're just leasing it. I see very little reason to buy them outright.

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by sdsean

Well, I just realized that the sunsetting of component video out is supposed to start at the end of this year, beginning of next. . .

I have been pretty happy with my dual HD-PVR setup, and of course I can't use the cablecard methodology since i use DirecTV.

While the sunsetting calls for no "new" hardware to be created with analog video in HD (which btw i really cannot believe this is for real) .. . my concern is that satellite and cable companies will in turn force updates on their STBs
which will only output 480p or something similar over component. . .

I'm also concerned b/c when the digital transition happend. . . Time Warner stopped broadcasting their local channels in ClearQAM HD. You could still get the digital SD signal, but not the HD one. . . (really ticked about this also). . .

So. . . I'm thinking about purchasing a couple HDFury's to get around said issue. . . but they are so expensive and I'm not sure if I should really be worried about it or not. . .

Thoughts?

This only applies to AACS licensed devices, ie Blu-ray players.

[LittleJohnny]

Originally Posted by sdsean

The 2nd concern is that I'm currently "leasing" my DirecTV STBs. . .
I suppose I need to buy them outright or buy HDFury's. . . and maybe I don't need to do either, but it just makes me nervous that DirecTV would start requiring a hardware update or something. . . (similar to what's happend in cable where now to get HD you have to have a box or cable card, even for locals. . .). . .

No matter where you get your DirecTV receivers, they are still considered "leased". Yes, if you walk into BestBuy, purchase a DirecTV receiver and hook it up, DirecTV still considers that a leased receiver. Your only advantage of buying in a store is that you know the receiver is new and exactly which model you are getting.

[Skirge01]

Combine how long it takes DirecTV to release new hardware with the fact that their next gen hardware is going to have component outputs, I think you're jumping the shark a little early. I'm sure we'll know when DirecTV's upcoming STBs are not going to have component in them. It'll leak pretty quickly. Then, we can start considering whether we need to go the HDFury route, but won't actually need to move until DirecTV comes up with a reason for us to swap out the current STBs.

Right now, I'm not even slightly concerned about this. Maybe we'll even have an alternative to the HD-PVR by then! (Yeah, that's how far off I think this is. )

[Fuzzy]

I think there are a lot of factors at play here.

1. Content distributers are incredibly slow adopting any changes to hardware. This will slow the risk of losing analog outs.
2. The numbers of PC styled PVR's/media portals will likely continue to increase, eventually reaching a point of the market share that would make dish and directv start to truly consider a pc based system (the long discussed and never realized DTV PCI card).
3. Increasing online availability of media will start to cut into distributers profits, which may actually lead to a loosening of the DRM belts.

All in all, I think you probably don't have to worry about this too much now, or in the next couple years. Who knows, by then you may not even WANT directv...

[stanger89]

Originally Posted by sdsean

Well, I just realized that the sunsetting of component video out is supposed to start at the end of this year, beginning of next. . .

And once again since it seems to have been completely missed, the "Analog Sunset" is part of the AACS License Agreement, something that only applies to those hardware manufacturers producing AACS compliant/licensed products.

To put it another, more direct way: "Analog Sunset" only applies to Blu-ray Disc players, it's got nothing to do with Cable or Satellite STBs, there's no rule or regulation (to my knowledge) that will prevent manufacturing, selling, or renting cable or sat boxes with analog outputs.

[sdsean]

Thanks for that stranger . . . i didn't realize that part. . .

and btw little johnny, your info about directv stb's always being leased is not correct. . .

True you can walk into a bestbuy and in that case you are leasing a receiver. . .

But you can also go to mom & pop satellite co and buy older directv receivers (and yes they still work).

In both cases you get charged 5 bucks for every extra one, however in the purchase case I'm responsible for the repairs and mods. . . wink wink. . .

but anyway thanks folks. . . you eased my troubles. . . at least for a while. . .now back to figuring out how the heck i can use extenders better. . .