Futureproofing your media centre pc

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openmedia

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#91165 15-Oct-2007 21:52

rhysb:
Some of the newer Nvidia & ATI cards provide HDCP over DVI, so you don't necessarily need to have an HDMI output.

Yes this is true. Plus some TVs and monitors support HDCP over DVI.

The point I'm trying to make is to watch freeview in HD from a PC based tuner you don't require HDCP.

Steve

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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mcraenz

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#91171 15-Oct-2007 22:16

No1Daemon: So updated drivers will do the trick? I am installing a Hauppauge HVR3000 currently and only chose it because it was a hybrid DVB-S/Analogue and also DVB-T and I didn't really want to change cards next year just to use the DVB-T service instead of satellite.

I don't think the card or driver really anything to do with it. the DVB-X card is more like a network card receiving data, it's the PVR Software and codec that processes that data whether it be MPEG2 or MPEG4 or whatever. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

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Nety

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#91172 15-Oct-2007 22:20

openmedia:

The point I'm trying to make is to watch freeview in HD from a PC based tuner you don't require HDCP.

Steve

So your saying that even if Freeview set HDCP "on" then it is possible to get a PC based tuner to still receive the HD broadcast but drop the HDCP encoding?

I realise that HD can be played without HDCP and have done so, just trying to nail the requirements down as if Freeview do use HDCP on some HD material and as the PC I am planning on using as a media center does not have any HDCP built in if I can't drop the HDCP then I have a problem with my intended hardware.

Media centre PC - Case Silverstone LC16M with 2 X 80mm AcoustiFan DustPROOF, MOBO Gigabyte MA785GT-UD3H, CPU AMD X2 240 under volted, RAM 4 Gig DDR3 1033, HDD 120Gig System/512Gig data, Tuners 2 X Hauppauge HVR-3000, 1 X HVR-2200, Video Palit GT 220, Sound Realtek 886A HD (onboard), Optical LiteOn DH-401S Blue-ray using TotalMedia Theatre Power Corsair VX Series, 450W ATX PSU OS Windows 7 x64

rhysb

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#91176 15-Oct-2007 22:53

My understanding is that Vista is the only operating system that currently has an encrypted path to allow the output of protected content, that's why MS require signed drivers etc. Which means that if Freeview were to turn on the broadcast flag you would only be able to view it in HD on Vista with an HDCP compliant video card and display. However you should still be able to view it in SD on other platforms.

I believe apple is also looking to add the DRM stuff required to OSX, not sure of the timeframe though.

If they do turn on the broadcast flag, will this make us the first country in the world to do so?

No1Daemon

172 posts

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#91177 15-Oct-2007 23:05

mcraenz:
No1Daemon: So updated drivers will do the trick? I am installing a Hauppauge HVR3000 currently and only chose it because it was a hybrid DVB-S/Analogue and also DVB-T and I didn't really want to change cards next year just to use the DVB-T service instead of satellite.

I don't think the card or driver really anything to do with it. the DVB-X card is more like a network card receiving data, it's the PVR Software and codec that processes that data whether it be MPEG2 or MPEG4 or whatever. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

Hi McraeNZ. I read your howto on your system and it gave me a lot of ideas.
I was the one who questioned you on where you had got your sat card with ci.
Good to see you on here.

openmedia

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#91196 16-Oct-2007 08:48

Nety:
openmedia:

The point I'm trying to make is to watch freeview in HD from a PC based tuner you don't require HDCP.

Steve

So your saying that even if Freeview set HDCP "on" then it is possible to get a PC based tuner to still receive the HD broadcast but drop the HDCP encoding?

I realise that HD can be played without HDCP and have done so, just trying to nail the requirements down as if Freeview do use HDCP on some HD material and as the PC I am planning on using as a media center does not have any HDCP built in if I can't drop the HDCP then I have a problem with my intended hardware.

Ok you are still missing the point.

On broadcast there is no HDCP. There is a flag that tells the STB to turn the HDCP between it and the screen on or off.

If you have a PC you just ignore the flag and watch the unencrypted HD content.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

No1Daemon

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#91198 16-Oct-2007 08:55

And in what manner do you get your pc to "ignore the flag"? Is it hardware or software based?

Rollux

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#91220 16-Oct-2007 12:22

I believe the only time HDCP is ever an issue on a PC is if you are using it to watch a BluRay/HD-DVD. And, as said before, you will still be able to watch it in SD if you do not have HDCP compliant GPU and monitor/TV.

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No1Daemon

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#91234 16-Oct-2007 14:04

Rollux: I believe the only time HDCP is ever an issue on a PC is if you are using it to watch a BluRay/HD-DVD. And, as said before, you will still be able to watch it in SD if you do not have HDCP compliant GPU and monitor/TV.

So watching anything other than a blueray or hd dvd is not a problem. Then that still leaves me with my original question for future proofing your media centre which is how do you get your pc to ignore the hdcp flag so you can play hd dvd and bluray

rhysb

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#91240 16-Oct-2007 15:02

The only way to strip it on a PC is to use AnyDVD which can remove the DRM stuff from some BlueRay & HDDVD disks. Otherwise you need a setup that has DRM all the way ie Vista/Signed Drivers/HDCP.

Nety

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#91272 16-Oct-2007 18:27

openmedia:

Ok you are still missing the point.

On broadcast there is no HDCP. There is a flag that tells the STB to turn the HDCP between it and the screen on or off.

If you have a PC you just ignore the flag and watch the unencrypted HD content.

OK sounds good. Now I just need to see if I can coax my aging P4 2.8 HT to handle HD broadcasts.. oh and convince someone to upgrade the local TV tower...

No1Daemon

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#91334 17-Oct-2007 10:26

rhysb: The only way to strip it on a PC is to use AnyDVD which can remove the DRM stuff from some BlueRay & HDDVD disks. Otherwise you need a setup that has DRM all the way ie Vista/Signed Drivers/HDCP.

The motherboard I have chosen has a daughter board with HDMI that it compliant with hdcp so I shouldn't have to worry hopefully.
Otherwise ANYDVD is easy enough to get hold of.

Thanks

sbiddle

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#91335 17-Oct-2007 10:29

No1Daemon:
rhysb: The only way to strip it on a PC is to use AnyDVD which can remove the DRM stuff from some BlueRay & HDDVD disks. Otherwise you need a setup that has DRM all the way ie Vista/Signed Drivers/HDCP.

The motherboard I have chosen has a daughter board with HDMI that it compliant with hdcp so I shouldn't have to worry hopefully.
Otherwise ANYDVD is easy enough to get hold of.

Thanks

What board did you go for? I would suggest steering clear of an Asus M2A-HDMI. I got one of these a few months ago when I rebuilt my PVR and regret it as they are full of problems.

No1Daemon

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#91339 17-Oct-2007 10:34

Thats unfortunate because I got the ASUS M2A-VM HDMI. What sort of problems did you encounter with it?

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