DirecTV begins enabling HDCP!

[Skirge01]

The beginning of the end?

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...-watch-hbo.ars

[panteragstk]

Aww crap.

They already had it on HBO zone, but none of the others. I'm going to be pissed if I have to go to component.

EDIT: I can confirm that this has happened with my receivers. Crap. Just crap.

[Skirge01]

I hate to be the possible bearer of more bad news, but there seems to be a bit of a debate in the Ars comments about the component aspect in the article. One of the editors even replied in the comments that component is limited to 540p now.

Anyone able to confirm that one?

[panteragstk]

I'll find out when I get home.

[will]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

component is limited to 540p

If that's true, you may want to invest in a HDCP HDMI to Component converter.

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by will

If that's true, you may want to invest in a HDCP HDMI to Component converter.

Sadly, I know. However, the only one I know of is the HDFury, which runs $400-500. Considering I have two HD-PVR's, that's a huge chunk of change. Are there others?

[graywolf]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

Sadly, I know. However, the only one I know of is the HDFury, which runs $400-500. Considering I have two HD-PVR's, that's a huge chunk of change. Are there others?

Haven't used this but saw in another post (comments on the article?)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details

For about $94...if it would work, would be a lot cheaper than HDFury

[sleonard]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

I hate to be the possible bearer of more bad news, but there seems to be a bit of a debate in the Ars comments about the component aspect in the article. One of the editors even replied in the comments that component is limited to 540p now.

Anyone able to confirm that one?

I've recorded 1080i from my cable boxes via the USB HD-PVR for years. Unless his comments were restricted only to D* boxes he's full of it.

S

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by sleonard

I've recorded 1080i from my cable boxes via the USB HD-PVR for years. Unless his comments were restricted only to D* boxes he's full of it.

S

This is only for DTV. All of my premiums are not working over hdmi now. I'll be able to confirm whether or not component is downconverted or not in about an hour.

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by sleonard

I've recorded 1080i from my cable boxes via the USB HD-PVR for years. Unless his comments were restricted only to D* boxes he's full of it.

S

Hehe... sorry for the confusion there. Yeah, this whole thread (and the one on Ars) is solely about DirecTV's STB's.

Also, I just got home and checked both my receivers (H21 & H23). They last had a software update on 2/15 & 2/16, but are both still playing 720p and 1080i over component. Obviously, that doesn't mean that a software update to fix... err... break them isn't in our future.

Originally Posted by graywolf

Haven't used this but saw in another post (comments on the article?)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details

For about $94...if it would work, would be a lot cheaper than HDFury

I saw the same comment, apparently, but I didn't click the link until now. That seems somewhat encouraging, especially with the 5.1 support over SPDIF.

[panteragstk]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

Hehe... sorry for the confusion there. Yeah, this whole thread (and the one on Ars) is solely about DirecTV's STB's.

Also, I just got home and checked both my receivers (H21 & H23). They last had a software update on 2/15 & 2/16, but are both still playing 720p and 1080i over component. Obviously, that doesn't mean that a software update to fix... err... break them isn't in our future.



I saw the same comment, apparently, but I didn't click the link until now. That seems somewhat encouraging, especially with the 5.1 support over SPDIF.

You beat me to it. HR24 working fine with component/spdif. Hopefully it is as reliable as HDMI was. Stupid DTV messing up my pretty cable management.

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by graywolf

Haven't used this but saw in another post (comments on the article?)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...00_i00_details

For about $94...if it would work, would be a lot cheaper than HDFury

Here is one that isn't a switch and a little cheaper. Quality may suffer I suppose. Haven't used one.

Also they haven't updated mine yet(HR22 DVR) I still get all of the Premiums on HDMI. He says quietly in hopes that they will forget me.

In case it isn't a fluke here are my connections on my DTV HR22-DVR if you want to try something similar:
HDMI to Colossus recording 5.1 audio and HTTP tuning
Component to Samsung TV (for easy STB changes because of software update)
SVideo+Stereo to HVR-2250 input 2
Network connection - for HTTP tuning - DHCP with mac address reservation on D-Link DGL-4100
phone line (connected when first got box and never removed)

[wbarber69]

So I take it you guys are starting to have better luck with the collossus card. I wanted to get one, but I have 3 hdpvr now. I just couldnt risk it not playing nice with my hdpvrs

[IVB]

if D* goes haywire, I wonder if I could convince my wife to finally cut the cord. 90% of what I watch is OTA, 75% of what she watches is available via iTunes Season Pass. Wouldn't all be via Sage, but thats not my problem :-)

(clearly i've been married >10 years...)

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by wbarber69

So I take it you guys are starting to have better luck with the collossus card. I wanted to get one, but I have 3 hdpvr now. I just couldnt risk it not playing nice with my hdpvrs

Not sure where you got lost in this thread, but I think you missed something. Let's be perfectly clear about what's being discussed about DirecTV:

HDCP has been enabled for premium channels (if not all premiums yet, it will be all of them soon).

The Colossus can record unencrypted (i.e. non-HDCP) HDMI, so since the STB now expects to get an HDCP handshake from the receiving device, which the Colossus will not do, this renders the Colossus useless on the premium channels.

Ars Technica reported that the component outputs were also being limited to 540p. However, I confirmed that is NOT YET the case on both of my units. I can still get 720p and 1080i via both my STB's on HBO, Starz, and Showtime channels.

[Evil_Attorney]

So, how are products like this and the HDFury being sold in the US? Aren't they illegal or are they finding a gray area?

Originally Posted by BobPhoenix

Here is one that isn't a switch and a little cheaper. Quality may suffer I suppose. Haven't used one.

Also they haven't updated mine yet(HR22 DVR) I still get all of the Premiums on HDMI. He says quietly in hopes that they will forget me.

In case it isn't a fluke here are my connections on my DTV HR22-DVR if you want to try something similar:
HDMI to Colossus recording 5.1 audio and HTTP tuning
Component to Samsung TV (for easy STB changes because of software update)
SVideo+Stereo to HVR-2250 input 2
Network connection - for HTTP tuning - DHCP with mac address reservation on D-Link DGL-4100
phone line (connected when first got box and never removed)

[tvmaster2]

Originally Posted by Skirge01

The beginning of the end?

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/n...-watch-hbo.ars

with regards to other companies such as Comcast or Cox, can they do this with older, existing STB installs via a software update, or would they have to get new boxes out into the field?

[Skirge01]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

with regards to other companies such as Comcast or Cox, can they do this with older, existing STB installs via a software update, or would they have to get new boxes out into the field?

I have no clue. My guess is that most companies probably planned for this capability some time ago with the equipment they already have in use and would just need a software update or possibly as little as a software configuration change.

@panteragstk: Since we know your HDCP is enabled, when was your last software update? Mine was on 2/16, so I'm curious if the capability has been there and it simply wasn't turned on. If yours is still at 2/16, then that would seem to confirm this.

Originally Posted by Evil_Attorney

So, how are products like this and the HDFury being sold in the US? Aren't they illegal or are they finding a gray area?

Good question. Check this out and be even more surprised.

[Evil_Attorney]

I have DirecTV and HDPVRs but no premium channels, so this does not immediately affect me. But does anyone have any guesses as to when HDCP/downrezing will be turned on for all channels? I'm guessing within the next year.

Maybe it's time to start testing/reviewing some of these cheaper HDCP-stripping boxes that show up on Amazon?

[KeithAbbott]

Originally Posted by tvmaster2

with regards to other companies such as Comcast or Cox, can they do this with older, existing STB installs via a software update, or would they have to get new boxes out into the field?

They already have. Most, if not all, cable companies already have HDCP activated on their STBs. DirecTV was unique in that they had not activated HDCP on their boxes. Colossus owners have been able to take advantage of this since the Colossus was introduced, because of the HDMI input available on the Colossus.

As far as cable STBs are concerned, I'd be surprised to find any that would work via the Colossus' HDMI input. Your reference to Comcast or Cox is probably referring to the CCI flag being set to "copy freely", which allows SageTV to take advantage of cablecard-ready hardware like the HDHomeRun Prime. But keep in mind, the CCI flag can be set at the individual program level, and as such can be changed at the cable providers discretion. The only restrictions is that OTA broadcast stations must be sent over cable in the clear, but the remaining cable-only stations are entirely at the cable providers discretion, bearing in mind any contractual obligations they have for copy protection with the content providers themselves.

Anyone who is currently using, or contemplating using a cable card tuner with SageTV needs to realize that their capability of doing so could end at any time.