DVI monitor without HDCP.......SOL?

[Bogey]

I have a gorgeous Sony 23" 1900x1200 computer monitor that used to show great HD 1080 video from a VOOM receiver via its DVI output to a second DVI input on the Sony. VOOM is now dead. The Dish Network boxes are all HDMI and, though a HDMI to DVI converter cable is available, I fear I'll get the same "No HDCP" handshake message I got when trying to use a Comcast HD box that supposedly had "DVI capable" output. Is there no way to get quality HD video on this "I-can't-believe-its-already-obsolete" monitor?

[mjones73]

What other connection options does it have? Might have to go component to VGA with a transcoder.

[Bogey]

You're right; it does have VGA (DB-15) inputs. Unfortunately, component video is already poorer quality than DVI. A $300 converter for component video to RGB is too much for too little.
Will this be the same for ALL satellite boxes; i.e a DishNetwork one that has a DPMI (similar to DVI) output? If so, I really feel rooked. I'd rather put the $300 towards a newer 1920x1200 computer monitor that has HDCP - If there are even any of them out there yet!

[TravisT]

Which dish network receiver are you running. I remember my 811 having a dvi connector - and I did a quick google search and the pictures that I found show this also. I do see that on the 942 it shows a HDMI. Maybe this is what you have. You could always look into switching boxes...

[Bogey]

Both the 942 or the 811. I did a search on "1900x1200" and it appears that since the correct HD resolution would be "1920x1080", these high res monitors don't need to handle HD video. This is crazy because the HD fits beautifully and looked superb - at least from the orphaned Voom box. I'm convinced that there is no way to now get HD on this DVI monitor. I'll switch to any box!

[TravisT]

Not sure on the resolution part, but as far a physically connecting a HD receiver to your monitor, the 811 should work for you and give you at least what you had with the VOOM receiver.

[Good Advisor]

Same with my $10000 Yamaha video projector! I can only get a singnal using the ANALOG, component input. President of Yamaha told me through his employee......too bad ....buy a new unit!

[swall1701]

I am in the same boat. Last year I purchased an EIKI EIP-25 DLP projector and I also had VOOM. It was awesome! Then VOOM goes bellyup and I have to switch to Comcast and HDCP authentication failure. The projector is not HDCP compatible. EIKI says "Buy newer model". This is ridiculous! What happens next year when potocols change again. Someone should make a box that goes between non-HDCP compatible displays to do the handshake for them and then send a non-HDCP signal out through DVI to the displays!

What do you think?

swall@xtn.net

[a_nonamiss]

Someone should make a box that goes between non-HDCP compatible displays to do the handshake for them and then send a non-HDCP signal out through DVI to the displays!

Unfortunately, this is EXACTLY what HDCP (http://www.webopedia.com/TERM/H/HDCP.html) is designed to prevent. Such a device would be illegal under the DMCA. It would take copy-protected video and output unprotected digital video. Using this, all those people committing wanton piracy would be free to make thousands and thousands of illegal perfect digital copies of movies, TV shows, etc.

Oh well, I guess it's better that schmucks like us lose $10,000 on worthless 6-month old TV sets than those poor starving people that the MPAA represents. Those people really need a break, and it's a good thing that they're being protected at our expense.

The only way to change this is
1) Have the United States Supreme Court strike down the DMCA (not bloody likely, considering they don't even think your ownership of your house (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displayStory.cfm?story_id=4298759) is important, much less some vague notion of ownership of a digital signal.)
2) Vote for some US legislators that will repeal the DMCA (once they get tired of the campaign contributions from Hollywood moguls, and decide they don't like free money anymore)
3) Move to Grenada (http://www.oas.org/juridico/MLA/en/grd/) and design and construct your own HDCP handshake box. The US extradition treaty with Grenada is notoriously weak, and it's not likely that you can be extradited from there. You'll have to use Satellite, though, because there aren't many HD cable providers there. Or running water. Or sewage.

[50BMG]

Your monitor isn't "obsolete"... the politicians and HDCP are to blame!

I was investigating getting a DISH DVR a few months back and spent quite a bit of time exploring DVI capable units with them.

The bottom line is: They told me their equipment didn't require or use HDCP.

If this it true, you should be good to go.

As an Aside: You are doing exactly what I did - Use a Sony 1920x1200 computer monitor to watch HD content. I was using an LG LST-3510A STB with ATSC tuner and DVD player. I even wrote a review on it.

See the review forum:

http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/reviews/showproduct.php?product=94&sort=7&cat=5&page=1

So, you're not alone. I used my this monitor to watch HD content with good results. The only additional thing I can offer is that until I managed to get my STB to disable HDCP, I had determined that I might need to get a YCbCr to DVI converter module to get around the problem. (HD Component is assumed to be a monitor so no copy protection required)

Maybe I should write a review of the STB?

Hope this helped.

[leevitalone]

Which dish network receiver are you running. I remember my 811 having a dvi connector - and I did a quick google search and the pictures that I found show this also. I do see that on the 942 it shows a HDMI. Maybe this is what you have. You could always look into switching boxes... and there are plugs available that change DVI to HDMI. as for HDCP check with the rsident pros here.

[Bogey]

Sony Addict,
You matter-of-factly said "until I managed to get my STB to disable HDCP..."
Whoa! How you do that?
good thread.

[Bogey]

Leevitalone,
Thanks! Here's the update and it might help others, though not me.
I had the DishNetwork people in and their 811 box DOES DO DVI WITHOUT HDCP!!!
Bad news for me - their satellite is much lower in the sky and gets totally blocked by several of my 50 foot trees. Same for DishTV. Voom was angled twice as high, of course.

[50BMG]

Sony Addict,
You matter-of-factly said "until I managed to get my STB to disable HDCP..."
Whoa! How you do that?
good thread.

Please see the review for the:LST-3510A (http://www.hdtvoice.com/voice/reviews/showproduct.php?product=95)