HDCP. Have there ever been four letters that have caused a larger collective shudder from custom integrators everywhere? It works, it doesn’t work, it works again. Often there is no rhyme, reason or understanding as to why.
– John Sciacca / ResidentialSystems.com
Anyway, this new version of the ineffective copy protection scheme — called 2.2 — will be required for displaying UHD content, and if any part of the signal chain is not HDCP 2.2 compliant then there will be what HDCP does best: a black screen. No matter if content is streamed or downloaded from the web, or played from a disc. Adding to the confusion, products can be HDMI 2.0 certified but not HDCP 2.2.
Lots of 4K UHD TVs and 4K UHD media players have been sold since the early models arrived 2 years ago, and many of those products – especially from 2013 and 2014 – do not support HDCP 2.2.
Since HDCP is working at silicon level, these products cannot be software updated, instead they require a “hardware” upgrade.
Now if you want to view 4K60 content from these sources, every device in your video chain must have HDCP 2.2 which lead to further complications for system/custom integration.
If, for example, a matrix switch or an A/V receiver is incorporated into the system and it is not HDCP 2.2 compliant, then regardless of the HDCP 2.2 compatibility of your source device or display there will be problems playing encrypted content. Once again you end up with no image, an error message or some other low-value content.
As a solution we could convert the HDCP2.2 video stream into a HDCP1.4 video stream that will be accepted by any HDMI/HDCP revision devices.
Such solution recently popped up, however they are currently bandwidth limited to the HDMI1.4 300MHz, 10.2Gbps bandwidth and data transfer rate.
Concretely, they are not able to pass-through a 4K/60P/24bits/4:4:4/600MHz/18GBPS signal which is the best you can get out of the HDMI2.0 protocol aka “the real deal”.
4K UHDTVs are popular and new 4K60 4:4:4 sources are following shortly: we’ll be seeing loads of new 4K source devices in the next few years: 4K60 444 Blu-ray players and media players (Sony and Pioneer Elite players are already out, Nvidia Shield and the Joey from Dish too), 4K-capable satellite and cable TV receivers, and of course PC graphics cards that are shooting 4K60 4:4:4 600Mhz 18Gbps signals since the 9xx GPU serie from Nvidia. Apple, Roku and others should arrive any time soon and let’s not forget the mobile world since one of these 4K60 4:4:4 capable source “the shield” is running on a mobile processor!
As most of the current 4K UHD sink and equipment sold during the last 2 years are only capable of accepting and displaying a 4K60/4:2:0/300MHz/10.2Gbps signal another issue needs to be adressed if such equipment have to work in a setup where the main signal is at 4K60/4:4:4/600MHz/18Gbps.
This 4:4:4 > 4:2:0 or 600MHz > 300MHz or 18Gbps > 10.2 Gbps conversion issue was completely forgotten by current HDCP 2.2 converter, it could not be otherwise since none of them are able to accept a 4K60/4:4:4/600MHz/18Gbps signal.
Of course if you are reading this, it means that we have something that will address both issues the right way.
Well, yes, we have created a device that will solve all these issues the right way and make any others solutions looks like a toy from the dollar shop.
We do have a total workaround solution to any HDCP revision integration within any setup up to 4K60 4:4:4 600MHz 18Gbps 24bits (8-bit per color component), said otherwise the HDMI2.0 bandwidth in its whole.
Our solution is called: Integral, designed as a kind of hybrid Audio/Video “swiss knife” tool for integrator, it’s something that will please system integrator, hobbyist, advanced users and everyone else.
Stay tuned, more Integral informations will be posted shortly.
