My Sky HD - HDCP?

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roysta

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#25272 17-Aug-2008 10:20

Help
I have had the new HD My Sky installed today replacing ordinary my sky, only to find out that my 50" Harsper Plasma tv is not accepting an HDCP signal, yet it has an HDMI input. Sky guy told me that its to do with copyright & to stop people copying to blue ray etc. (is'nt that what limewire is for) So im stuck with a very expensive hdmi lead running up & down the wall & only able to watch using scart to component - grrr! It seems im not the only one out there with this issue, alot of sony tv's have this problem as well. He told me I need to decode the HDCP signal & convert to a HDMI, but did not know how.
My Sky HD > Yamaha rx-v661 Amp > Harsper 50" plasma. All using top quality hdmi leads
Thanks

sbiddle

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#157488 17-Aug-2008 10:42

Have you tried running MySky directly to the TV rather than thru the amp? Does this cause the same issue?

I would suggest contacting the supplier of the TV and looking for a firmware upgrade, the TV should support HDCP if it has a HDMI port. Many manufacturers have had minor issues with HDCP that have required firmware upgrades to fix.

I've certainly never heard of any Sony's with the issue and it certainly isn't widespread - the main issue is people ordering MySky HDi thinking they have a HDTV capable TV when infact they don't.

alanarkas

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#157491 17-Aug-2008 11:05

Hi, I had the same problem but solved it easily. You can buy an HDCP "stripper" called HD FURY. It is US$ 159 (Shipping included) and the web site is http://www.curtpalme.com/HDFury.shtm

It is a US web site but the device is shipped direct from the manufacturer in Taiwan. Mine arrived in 3 days so no argument with the service! It plugs into the RGB (computer) connection of your TV and has and has a DVI input. As the Sky box has an HDMI output, you will ned to get an HDMI / DVI converter. Actually it is not a converter, it is an adapter plug as DVI is just HDMI without sound. Dick Smith sell them for $25 and the part number is P1204.

When connected, the HDFury makes the neccesary handshake with the Sky box, deals with the insidiouse HDCP issue, and sends the wonderfull High Def picture through to the TV. Sound is another issue but there are plenty of other audio outputs on the back of the Sky box to choose from.

Hope it helps.

stuzzo

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#157506 17-Aug-2008 12:26

As previous posters have said first thing is to see if your TV is HDCP compliant. It probably will be.
Then try the HDi connected directly to the TV.

The My Sky HDi definately has HDMI issues most likely related to HDCP handshaking and it seems to occur mainly with HDMI repeaters of which your receiver is an example. Most people won't experience any problems but particular combinations of TV and repeater(switch) seem to cause the HDi to refuse sync.

Unacceptable really given HDMI testing now includes HDCP compliance testing as well but satelite boxes seem to be the biggest product category for these type of issues. Foxtel's equivalent box also has problems.

If you confirm it's the HDi causing the problem get on Sky's case to pressure for firmware fixes.

roysta

2 posts

Wannabe Geek

#157550 17-Aug-2008 18:24

Cheers people for your help,
Im on the right track i think. I have tried HDMI from sky to TV but it not work either - thanks
My 50" Harsper TV has a DVI input as well as the HDMI input, so do I really need the HD Fury? & if so which colour extender cable do I need as it explains on website:-
                     HD15-VGA
                     Barco port 3
                     5-BNC Breakout
If I dont need one of these, will just the HDMI to DVI converter from dick smith electronics be enough?
The tv also has the female version of the RS-232 if this helps

Once again cheers

stuzzo

534 posts

Ultimate Geek

#157554 17-Aug-2008 18:40

roysta: Cheers people for your help,
Im on the right track i think. I have tried HDMI from sky to TV but it not work either - thanks
My 50" Harsper TV has a DVI input as well as the HDMI input, so do I really need the HD Fury? & if so which colour extender cable do I need as it explains on website:-
                     HD15-VGA
                     Barco port 3
                     5-BNC Breakout
If I dont need one of these, will just the HDMI to DVI converter from dick smith electronics be enough?
The tv also has the female version of the RS-232 if this helps

Once again cheers

I think from memory the HD Fury is HDMI in VGA out so you just need a VGA extension cable to go into your "female RS 232", cheap as chips on Trade Me etc

Do you have the actual model number of your TV?

alanarkas

9 posts

Wannabe Geek

#157561 17-Aug-2008 19:13

Its the blue one you need HD15-VGA. Its the RGB (VGA) port on your TV that it connects to, NOT the DVI. I have a DVI port as well and I first tried pluging the Sky box straight into it via a HDMI - DVI adapter plug. It doesnt work because the Sky box still doesnt recieve HDCP complience confirmation from the TV, because your TV is not HDCP (I assume) compliant. The HDFury is what gives the Sky box the correct reply regarding HDCP. When the sky box gets that confirmation, it is happy to send the high def picture on through to the TV.
The HDFury uses the TV's RGB port rather than the DVI port because only some TV's have DVI, whereas all have RGB (the 15 pin computer connection). Though why the other side of the HDFury is DVI instead of HDMI is a mystery. Anyway, thats where the Dick Smith HDMI to DVI adapter comes in.
The end result is it works brilliantly. Basically it is just a hack to enable and HDCP (copy protection) source device to send an HD picture to a non HDCP complient device eg your TV or.....shock horror...... a hard drive recorder.

sbiddle

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#157569 17-Aug-2008 19:49

Before you go and buy one of these I'd suggest you contact the distributor or retailer you purchased it from and get them to contact the distributor. Companies do update their firmware and there have been HDCP issues that have been rectified by companies such as Pioneer and LG with firmare updates.