HDTV Forum

I apologize beforehand for my lack of knowledge but I have been away from this forum for quite some time, I originally joined when the old format was active and was surprised my login still worked under the new format. My HDTV is working great and the time I have been devoting to my other hobby has prevented me from reading here regularly. Hopefully I can remedy that soon.

My question is about HD DVD. I know it is probably still caught up in the format wars it was when I was reading regularly here but my concern is how it will connect to the display. I have a Mitsubishi WS-55859(?) that I bought new I am guessing about two or two and a half years ago. I know it does not have HDMI it only has 1394 (HDCP) and component inputs. I also know there is little or no chance I will be able to replace it with a model that does have HDMI. Will I be able to take advantage of HD-DVD in whatever format it eventually materializes in?

Thanks

Good Question!

The answer is... Probably.

Component connections have the bandwidth necessary to pass an HD signal (you probably have this connection from your STB or cable/sat box already)

The early editions I have read about have component outs and other than Hollywood becoming involved.. It is a fair bet that component will still be available.

Since the output of these devices through either DVI or HDMI to a digital display keeps the datastream digital from dvd to display, there is no need for any digital to analog conversion. This can help to provide a purer signal. Since you have an analog TV, the point is moot.

The good news is that the HD dvd's even with a DAC involved will provide outstanding resolution on your Mits.

Good Viewing,


Doug k

This will be a first test case of how the industry is going to behave. The FCC refused to rule on the issue of whether the copyright holder ( the movie studio of the HD DVD in this case) can or cannot require down rez of HD content on component cables. FCC only prohibited down rez on broadcast HDTV where they have legal authority. Sales of the HD DVD is a private business and the encryption is protected by law.

If we use my DirecTV HD DVR as an example it has both component and HDMI outputs. The manual specifically states some HD content may be down rezed on the component outputs if the Movie studio requires it on DirecTV channels. So far none has done so that I have seen.

My guess is there may be down rez on component output "capability" built into HD DVD players similar to my HD DVR. HOWEVER-- any HD DVD vendor that puts in a flag to down rez and block what they call the "analog hole" will be seriously blocking sales to the majority of their potential customers for the HD DVD system. I compare it to strip searching customers as they leave a store to stop shoplifting- effective but it would kill sales too.

It would be stupid marketing!

In the longer run they still might do something. However there has not been pirated HD recording distributed that was redigitized off analog component outputs. It takes a LOT of computer power to record all that analog data and then encode it again to make a 2 hour MPEG DVD movie, especially a HD one. IF that does starts to happen; that someone sets up shop to create pirated HD DVD copies for sale in Asia for example, Hollywood would have the capability in the hardware to stop analog back to digital copying, but would hurt all legitimate customers. too.

I think the risk is small for a number of years, but everyone buying new equipment should be sure it has DVI/HDMI with HDCP because the axe may fall someday. With most Movies costing over $100 million to make, they could lose a lot sales, if the HD DVD is pirated and sold outside the USA legal system. And if that happens, release of good movies on HD DVD could be compromised.

I agree with all the points made by Donshan. But I am a bit more pessimistic about whether high-def component video will ever be permitted for DVDs. -Ken

Based on how DVI DVD players are being handled there is every reason to expect DVI/HDCP or HDMI will be required HD-DVD.

I would not worry about having a display with those connections until HD-DVD is clearly here.

I also have a pre-DVI/HDMI Mits 55" diamond. Is it possible that Mits will make an upgrade available like they did with the promise module that will provide a DVI/HDMI interface (using the firewire input)? Or could you use a 3rd party DVI/HDMI to firewire converter?

It appears no matter what configuartion you can come up with it is not going to be allowed.

External scalers have been upconverting SD video for 2 decades and that includes 720P and 1080P but, that was using an analog input. If I am not mistaken, for about 5 years you could use SDI which is a digital connection for your scaler to bypass the A/D convertors. This to a large degree represents the current DVI capability with one exception, the scaler must do the deinterlacing and 3/2 pulldown. The scaler does not have acces to the progressive flags on the disc unless you feed it the 480P output and recently that very feature has become available.

Take all that and balance it to this...

You can do anything you want with DVI unless it has HDCP encoded in the stream. That means DVI/HDMI scaling to analog is pretty much out, even for a product that has been doing the same thing for a very long time.

Bear in mind much of this centers around the DMCA that allowed us to do mostly what we want with analog signals but not digital which did not seem matter at the time since we were living in an analog world. That was the compromise and now we are paying the price.