Directv HDMI issues

[Che]

Ive been noticing this pop up screen on some of my HD channels about the use of hdmi is incompatible with this channels feed, except it always disappears before I get to read it in full. Anyways, I get a phone call from a friend saying that directv is making him downgrade to component cables, which they supply but you have to wait for, to continue viewing his channels in hi def. Apparently, the directv rep told him piracy is a growing issue that they are addressing in this manner.Why is the hdmi cord responsible? How are people ripping the stream anyway?

 

[s7v7n]

It's not about HDMI, it's about HDCP (the encrypting & decrypting of HDMI signal or lack there of on some older TV's).

Taken from zatznotfunny.com

Beginning last week, a subset of DirecTV subscribers may have experienced tighter HDMI output controls limiting their ability to view HBO via the television and connectivity options of their choice. The scope of the lockdown isn’t yet clear, but at least one HR20 owner and a THR22 (the new, old TiVo) have been negatively impacted by this change. Brent D. tells me there was zero proactive outreach and support informed him implementation was required by the studios by 4/12 and offered to send component cables to overcome his older Toshiba HDTV’s lack of High-bandwith Digital Content Protection (HDCP).

I reached out to both HBO and DirecTV for comment. HBO indicates their copy protection policies haven’t recently changed, while DirecTV’s rep confirms a HDCP requirement for premium channels when using HDMI connections and suggests customers with older TVs switch to component cables. I’d say this is anti-consumer and a misguided approach to reducing piracy as it’s much easier to archive video traveling via an analog component connection. Unless DirecTV or HBO’s ultimate intent is to provide lower resolution 540p video over component…

What makes this move particularly offensive is, unlike Blu-ray’s analog sunset, DirecTV’s lockdown is occurring on deployed hardware – with no outreach, knowledge base articles (that I can find), and essentially breaking formerly working customer configurations. Impacted subscribers can give up HDMI for component clutter or buy new televisions. Nice?

 

[Ricker]

Ive been noticing this pop up screen on some of my HD channels about the use of hdmi is incompatible with this channels feed, except it always disappears before I get to read it in full. Anyways, I get a phone call from a friend saying that directv is making him downgrade to component cables, which they supply but you have to wait for, to continue viewing his channels in hi def. Apparently, the directv rep told him piracy is a growing issue that they are addressing in this manner.Why is the hdmi cord responsible? How are people ripping the stream anyway?

Yeah, when I first got TW Cable. I went out and spent 60 bucks on another HDMI cable. Constantly had issues with reception. After about 6 mos and 12 repair techs at the house. They told me to get rid of the HDMI, and they hooked up the component cables. So I wasted 60 bucks, but on a good note. I got rid of cable completely. Now I just pay 29 bucks a month for internet. Gotta love Netflix.