HDTV Forum

Updated 05/13/2008. Click this link to skip prior conversations


http://www.hdfury.com/

HDfury is a tiny external add-on card/adapter that you can hook up on any RGB display through its SUB-D HD15 Female Input.

Once screwed, it becomes a "part of the display" itself and will permanently perform an outstanding HDCP modification. Therefore, you can connect any HDMI source in Full HD 1080p to your now "enhanced" display hooked up with the HDfury module !

If you have a legacy HDTV with an HD ready RGBHV or VGA input this product will convert HDMI for you! It is a slave device to the source so the output is determined by what you set the source for with support up to 1080p. This product WILL NOT work with component YPbPr connections. This product will trigger your source to output digital RGB rather than digital YPbPr and not all HDMI sources output the correct video standard when switched to RGB; you may have to calibrate the display or source to correct this or possibly add an external scaler to correct errors.

While both HD disc formats currently allow up to 1080i analog video for legacy displays all drop to 480p when you watch an SD DVD. The HDfury allows you to now also use one of these players as a scaler for SD DVD! There are some other problems that crop up with HDMI and the new HD audio soundtracks with legacy products due to source products or your A/V receiver expecting an HDMI display connected to the output. The HDfury solves all of those problems giving you the same operational convenience and full benefits as if you had an HDMI ready display.

For those hard core videophiles with a legacy CRT front projector you now have a solution to continue enjoying that CRT performance envelope which to this day remains the reference response for what we want our new digital technologies to emulate!

For legacy consumer displays the HDfury alone may not be the solution. VGA and RGBHV inputs for these may have design limitations from simply not working to centering problems. The good news is Curt Palme has the performance solution in the form the Box1020. This product converts RGBHV to what these displays already have for HD content, analog video component YpbPr, providing a plug and play hassle free solution that Curt guarantees to work in your system. The Box1020 includes another feature called LBB, Low-level Black Boost, which should not be required with a properly designed and calibrated display; turn it off. If you have a centering problem turn IAC, Image Alignment Correction, on. Finally, the output is either RCA or VGA and while Curt claims you can drive any cable length, for performance viewers I recommend you follow the common rules with such connections; avoid long distance runs and use HDMI instead for the distance. Note that the Box1020 is designed for 720p, 1080i and 1080p only. This combo requires only the HDfury 2008 Gamer Edition because it will be installed directly to the Box1020 VGA/RGB input. For a total of $258 you can update any legacy HDTV display to the current HDMI standard. As for your sources you should set them to the same 720p or 1080i output you have always used with your legacy display; 1080p is not an option and the Box1020 is not a scaler or scan rate convertor.

For more info on quality and performance issues when using this device:
http://www.curtpalme.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=5282

The input is DVI so a DVI to HDMI cable is preferred over using an adapter. It comes in Blue, Green or Red versions with the only difference being the cable that is included for the VGA output connection.

BLUE: includes VGA extension cable

GREEN: includes BNC RGBHV breakout cable

RED: includes VGA to DB9p FEMALE input extension cable/adapter

Please use your favorite search engine to find a retailer!

HDMI and HDCP COMPLIANCE
Absolutely, 100%, but how? Don't know but the original US bound Xbox 360 with out HDMI is the reference point. Many were surprised to learn that the Xbox 360 was allowed to break the rules of digital video by upconverting SD DVD to 720p, 1080i and 1080p to an analog video output but only when using the RGBHV VGA output which requires you purchase a separate cable that does not come with the system. Apparently the digital video rules and regs folks are not nearly as concerned about your ability to capture and record analog RGBHV as they are about your ability to do the same with analog YPbPr component. We don't know of any product that will record RGBHV but just recently Hauppauge released a PC product that will record analog YPbPr component.

Just yesterday, someone posted this solution on another forum topic. A box that will convert HDMI to Component video. Not a cheap solution but if you have an old Pioneer plasma, for example, without HDMI and it ain't broke yet, this might be a good solution.

http://www.curtpalme.com/boxHD.shtm

I did a little surfing after that and there might be a couple of other similar boxes but they all seem to be in the same price range.

Jerry

If the upconverting DVD player looks for a HDCP handshake when playing copy protected DVDs through the HDMI port, then this box won't work-it doesn't support HDCP.

jjkilleen wrote:If the upconverting DVD player looks for a HDCP handshake when playing copy protected DVDs through the HDMI port, then this box won't work-it doesn't support HDCP.

Here is another box that does support HDCP. I suggest caution if you buy it for use on a TV. It only outputs VGA/RGB. My set accepts RGB but the HD Fury box shifted the picture to the left and I could not re-center it without messing up the geometry. The HD Fury site recommends a transcoder (rtc2200) to correct the problem. It would not correct it on my set it would only adjust picture farther to the left.

http://www.hdfury.com/

What TV do you have?

Well, I suspect that if the DRM "police" ever take an interest in this device, it'll disappear quick-so if it interests anybody, buy it now. It could help anyone with an old non-HDCP display, if they've got a VGA/RGB input.

This is a legal device - check the last paragraph of the first post.

Richard-before I posted, I read throgh several articles on this device, which basically can be boiled down to: It may not be legal, but we think we can get away with it."

I guess Microsoft thought the same thing with the Xbox 360?

Another interesting factoid...

This product uses a Silicon Image chip and they are the ones who hold everything on the HDMI standard. If there were a legal or industry compliance issue they have stuck their necks out as well as Microsoft who has developed Vista to be copy protect compliant for both audio and video. As far as I can tell there is no law per say on this stuff considering the enforcement is non-existent. External scalers have been upconverting DVDs for a decade now via SDI to boot and those manufacturers have not received the first cease and desist from a lawyer yet on the other hand they do comply with any HDMI input requiring HDCP. You can buy gray products that also allow upconversion to analog. This seems to be far more of an internal industry compliance / gentlemens handshake to not provide upconversion with mass market products...