Talk:High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection

New Section "HDCP ROADMAP EXPLANATION" is needed

Having looked at this article I am still mystified by HDCP. We need a Roadmap Explanation, stating what happens at what point done by what circuitry or computer software.

A Transmitter of RF Signal at TV Station. Does this insert HDCP?

Does a cable service insert HDCP into its RF transmitter?

B RF Signal through Air: Is HDCP protocol a part of the RF signal?

Or does the RF signal through the cable system contain HDCP protocol as part of the cable RF signal?

C TV Tuner / Cable Box: Does the TV Tuner have a circuit or software that generates the HDCP query?

D HDMI cable: Does the HDMI cable have inserted into it a microchip or a circuit to generate & receive HDCP query? (This seems unlikely since HDMI cables are very cheap.)

E HDMI Splitter: Does an HDMI splitter inserted into the HDMI pathway have in itself an HDCP answer device to complete a handshake with the HDCP query?

F HDMI SINK (TV set, monitor, DVR) Does the sink have an HDCP query responder to complete or refuse a handshake with the HDCP query source?

My experiment: I hooked an HDMI cable to the HDMI output of a Philips DVR. The HDMI cable went to a 1x2 splitter. Then I hooked 2 monitors to the dual outputs of the splitter, both monitors HDCP compliant -- result was a picture on both monitors. Then I unhooked one monitor & instead ran the 2nd HDMI splitter output to a converter box that converts HDMI to Component Video. Then I hooked that converter's component output to the input on a Component input monitor which was HDCP compliant. That monitor also gave a component video input picture. Then I inserted a Component splitter into the component line, running the component signal thru the splitter to the same monitor - and I got a picture. Then I added a component cable to the 2nd output on the component splitter & ran it to the component input on a DVR; but though I was still seeing pictures on the HDMI monitor & on the Component monitor, the Component input DVR did not get the signal & record it. The component video DVR is a rare model made before there was HDMI, capable of handling no greater resolution than 720P.

I would like that this article have enough precise (but not overly technical) information to explain this. It seems that the HDCP could detect through the HDMI to Component converter through the Component cable to the component monitor, that the component monitor was HDCP compliant, though running an analog signal. (This monitor has both HDMI & Component inputs, but I was using Component input.) But at the same time seems the HDCP could also detect that I had attached to the second output of the Component splitter a component line going to an HDCP non-compliant Component input DVR & deny a signal to it while feeding a signal to the 1st output of the component splitter. (PeacePeace (talk) 02:31, 12 August 2018 (UTC))

Does Not This Article Require Drastic Revision in View of old citations?

2018 observation: It would appear that a lot of this article is supported by ancient citations; thus it needs updating. It seems probable that this article will require carefully dated statements (never present tense or "currently") since HDCP seems to be a matter of cyber war between over-protectors of intellectual property and hackers. Things that were true a few months ago may be false now. (PeacePeace (talk) 02:46, 12 August 2018 (UTC))