View Full Version : DVI/HDCP must have or don't worry about it?
spinynorman
03-16-2003, 12:07 AM
I decided I just had to have a plasma and was about to pull the trigger on the 42" Panasonic HD monitor. Just a little more research brought up the whole DVI/HDCP subject. All the reviews I've seen say the Panny is the way to go for a plasma, but it doesn't have a DVI input. A $400 optional card will replace the component inputs with a DVI connector, but no HDCP. As I understand it, without HDCP my receiver would downrez copy protected HD material to 480p. Would this also affect the (analog) component output? I would think not since the purpose of HDCP is to prevent digital-to-digital recording. Is a DVI connection that much better than component or RGB, that I should wait for Panasonic to offer HDCP or look for a different plasma?
kevinw
03-16-2003, 08:50 AM
The HDCP softwares will be contained in the tuner. You can get the TV then add the DVI when needed. Copyright protection schemes are not yet in effect and there is still legal issues if they ever will.
I would get the DVI card now so you can connect a tuner and a HD recorder just in case content providers do start down- rezzing.
kidslice
03-25-2003, 06:40 AM
HDCP is partially run via the firmware in the tuner but a majority of it is in the DVI chipset (i.e. the expansion card). If the chipset does not HDCP, then you do not have HDCP. Likewise, if the tuner does not have HDCP, then you do not have HDCP.
Panasonic could make a board that has the processing and memory to handle HDCP and thus put all of HDCP with the chipset (expensive $$$). Or they may have some means to load new firmware in TV when you add the card (doubtful)
The option to get a card that allows you add DVI is a good thing, this leaves the door open for HDMI. HDMI should be shipping soon. But again, if they do not have the means to do a firmware upgrade and/or put all of HDCP on the board, then you are out of luck.
Depending on the transmitter, you may not get downres'd only constrained. You will keep the vertical and horizontal aspect, the transmitter will filter the pixels to give you the visual equivalent of no more than 500,000 pixels per frame. I have seen this and is not that bad. I have also seen DVI and component side-by-side and it is very very very very hard to tell the difference.
