HDCP implementation in 2407WFP (HDCP in native resolutions)?

Question

Thinking about buying the 2407WFP. But I have one issue. I've read about banding and all that, no problem. My question regards the HDCP implementation through DVI connector. Tried reading up on it, but cannot seem to get a clear understanding.

Here's my problem. It seems the 2407WFP won't display more than 720p signals through the DVI connector, if you have a 'stupid' device like PS3 or a standalone HD-DVD/Blu-Ray player. But what I don't get is how future Media Player programs like PowerDVD or WinDVD is going to display contents from HD media through a PC? My point being, today these programs displays DVD's in a window or scales it directly to whatever resolution the display card is using for the moment. Meaning the program gets to use whatever native resolution the LCD is set up to, without the LCD monitor itself interfering.

But how will this happen in future PC's with a 5.25" HD-DVD or Blu-Ray player? Will the Media Player programs need to instruct the OS(Windows)/Graphics card to feed a HDCP compatible data/signal to the LCD, and then the LCD will display the signal? Or will the Media Player be able to instruct OS(Windows)/Graphics card to display any HDCP compatible data/signal in a window or full screen in LCD's native resolution?

Because if 720p data/signal directly to LCD is the only HDCP compatible resolution for 2407WFP, I do not see much future proofing in this product.

Hope someone can clear this up. Is the only issue standing in my way before getting a 2407WFP.

PS: All discussions here assume a HDCP/DVI compatible Graphics Card (not many existing for now)

PS2: I may be wrong about assuming HDCP data/video can be used in native resolutions at all, but any info on that would also be appreciated

Regards /Svein

gpro · Answer

hi sveinan,
this might help: Windows Vista, HDCP and Digital Rights Management.

You are also assuming that the source content provider has turned the protection flag on. I've read that some are not going to rush to do that.

skibum5000 · Answer

does anyone know if vista will let users record flagged HD cable content, like you can record OTA HD now? if so, what happens when you upgrade computer system? all recordings permanently can only be viewed low-res from then on?? if it will disable any recording, that stinks, people have used VCRs and custom tivo-like systems for years. i so hate this DRM crp.

sveinan · Answer

Thanks for the link gpro, was a nice read. Got me more uptodate on the Microsoft/Vista implementation. Answered some things. Here is a direct link to the PPT slide with the graphics in the article. For anyone interested. Was a little difficult to read the compressed text in graphics. One thing I have wondered about is the pre-processing options for a Media Player application on protected HD content. From the cutout below from one of the slides it seems that a Media Player application will be able to do this. That is good news, if it stays true. When you talk about the protection flag, do you mean the Image Constraint Token (ICT)? If so, my understanding of that is it will down-convert analog output from 1920x1080 to 960x540, if ICT is enabled for media. Even if it is not, you would need to go through analog outputs on PC video card to 2407WFP to get this (don't know the capabilities for 2407WFP on this). Because even without ICT enabled on a HD-DVD/Blu-Ray media, it is still required to have HDCP on all paths, including the LCD, to get full 1080p digital signal through. And I do want it digital, I do not want to go through an analog component connection to 2407WFP. Still I have one unanswered question. And I think it is easier to formulate now, after reading the article. The cutout below is from the last stretch of communication between the graphics card on PC and the LCD. From what I've read about 2407WFP it will handle HDCP on native HD resolutions from any source like this:720p + HDCP = Ok1080i + HDCP = Fail1080p + HDCP = Fail My question: Is 2407WFP able to handle a HDCP encrypted signal through DVI connector in its native resolution 1920x1200? If no, then for all purposes the 2407WFP is not able to play back digitally protected content in any other resolution than 720p. At least from what I can understand. I would like to be proven wrong, bite the dust, and buy the 2407WFP ;)

gpro · Answer

Yes, I was referring to the Image Constraint Token.

To summarize:

HDCP is a form of digital rights management. It uses of a key-exchange authentication between the HDCP transmitter and receiver, and requires a digital (DVI or HDMI) interface between components. For PCs it will also require OS support.

If the playback system does not support HDCP authentication and the content provider has activated the Image Constraint Token, the content will not be displayed in full, high definition 1080i/p. Instead you will either get:

* A blank screen, telling you that your device is unsupported or
* A down-sampled version of the content, running at 480i/p

The way I understand it, the separate, but related issues are:

* What resolutions, interlaced and progressive, does the monitor handle through each of its inputs?

* Does the monitor support HDCP?

These issues have been discussed on other threads, and I don't have definitive answers (I have only taken a passing interest as I have a 2007WFP, not a 2407).

Can 2407 support 1080p? Reply 6 by ChrisM

Does the 2407WFP support 1080i through DVI?
* No.
Does the 2407WFP support 1080p through DVI?
* No.
Does the 2407WFP support 1080p through component?
* No.
Does the 2407WFP support 1080i through component?
* Yes.
Does the 2407WFP support 720p through component?
* Yes.

This specification says the 2407WFP is HDCP ready.

It looks like HDCP could be a non-issue -

X-bit labs - Hollywood Studios Abandon Main HDCP Capability

gamesindustry.biz - Movie industry may drop HDCP until 2012

rkhrt27 · Answer

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_monitor&message.id=60191#M60191 Read that message. Turns out that the 2407wfp can support 1080p through dvi...

sveinan · Answer

Typical. After posting a reply, I see a new post with interesting info ;) Thanks rkhrt27 for the reference. Is promising seeing that the 1080p signal over DVI actually might work.

sveinan · Answer

After reading those 2 articles I'm getting even more confused. I had the understanding that whatever ICT restrictions or not, you would not be able to play back encryptet HD content through a digital pipe (like DVI) without HDCP. Because the movie companies was afraid of digial extractions of unencrypted signal. And even for analog signals they wanted it downscaled if ICT was enabled.

About the specification saying HDCP ready. Don't mean nothing. They can say the 720p compability was all it was. That's what I don't like about this. Can't Dell write in the specs what HDCP ready really mean? So we get the issue resolved.

And I still havn't, after reading much material, found out if any DHCP capable LCD is able to support encryptet HD content in its native resolution (scaled by PC). Not through the LCD scaling a 720p/1080i/1080p signal itself.

Not easy being a consumer held hostage by hardware / movie companies :(

Monitors

HDCP implementation in 2407WFP (HDCP in native resolutions)?

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