Official 1080p transport proposed for component video
by Matt Burns 
posted Aug 14th 2007 at 1:09PM
Finally, a group of A/V installers has heard the cries for 1080p via component instead of HDMI. The official spec defining component video transport, CEA-770.3, does not officially allow that cable system to transmit the highest spec of HD: 1080p. Now, most have found out that component can indeed handle the signal and in fact, since most installers have found component is easier to work with than HDMI, there is a group pushing for 1080p support. However, even if this spec is indeed updated to handle 1080p support, there is no doubt that next-gen DVD players and game systems will not allow it due to piracy concerns. Hopefully the MPAA is too busy suing some random 12-year-old and doesn't notice the spec bump as we would love to see 1080p support via component.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Victor @ Aug 14th 2007 2:51PM
doesn't the 360 and ps3 allow 1080p via component for gaming? i know it won't upscale dvd's and play back hd dvd/blu-ray via component at 1080p, but i believe gaming is possible.... if your tv supports it!
Big Sam @ Aug 14th 2007 3:02PM
Yes it does. My 360 is outputting games at 1080p over component to my 42" Westy. (only 1080i for HD-DVDs)
Cash @ Aug 14th 2007 4:36PM
Yeah it does, although some TV's don't like a 1080p signal coming over the components. I have two Sammy tv's, and while my LCD has no problems with it, my DLP goes all goofy when I try to feed it a 1080p signal. According to the specs, both sets are using the same signal processor chip, but one works and one doesn't. Go fig.
It really annoys the crap out of me that I can't upscale dvd's over the components on my 360 even though I know it has a scaler built in. This is just a big F-U to early adopters who drank the HD koolaid too soon and missed out on the rest of the party. And as others have said, there are so many easier ways of ripping HD content then using the analog signal. Linux already has more then a few programs out to do just that, and unlike MS, Apple, etc, Hollywood can't lock that down. They can kill one prog, but an hour later a new version from someone else will find it's way to the net.
Zach @ Aug 14th 2007 2:03PM
I still don't get the piracy concerns over component cable issue. I realize HDMI has the protection built into the cable, but why not just have the player check the disc to see if it has copy protection on it? All my old DVDs I copied stripped the protection off it, so shouldn't the player be able to tell if the disc has it on or not? If it doesn't have any not on it, don't play the disc. It's that simple. I guess the pirates could put fake protection back onto the disc, is that the entire reasoning behind it? But wouldn't it then be good for HDMI cables if they did that? I've never understood this issue.
andy @ Aug 14th 2007 2:18PM
Well, considering you can rip direct from disk (BRD and HDDVD), what are the piracy concerns?
Or are we just turning a blind eye to the fact that DRM on disc has failed? What about the fact that Geffen sells an EDID faker for converting a protected HDMI signal to an open DVI-D?
Just give me what I want for goodness sakes (unprotected hdmi).
Nick @ Aug 14th 2007 2:36PM
There are so many better ways to pirate HD content than try to convert an analog component signal back to digital and sync it with a separate audio source. The industry needs to realize that no one would try to copy content this way, as it's really hard and involves a significant loss of quality when going from a compressed digital stream, back to analog, and then back to digital. The difficulty is compounded by the challenge of syncing audio to the new stream. It's like taking an MP3 and recording it via an analog connection- pirates are far more sophisticated than that.
Grizzly Adams @ Aug 14th 2007 4:56PM
Actually, its quite easy to get good quality copies of HD cable programming this way. Theres plenty of 1080i/1080p capable YPbPr->HDSDI adapters to choose from, and keeping things sync'ed isn't a problem when you have an integrated HDTV encoder like those sold by Panasonic. Its not cheap to do, and only someone who has money to blow will do it, but its quite easy to setup.
Andy @ Aug 14th 2007 3:14PM
Why is copyright an issue here? I know whenever I play back any DVDs or VHS over analog, it sends a copyright signal to the device receiving it, because whenever I tried to record a DVD to a VHS or to the computer using an analog connection, I would only get strange colors and lines, because of copyright protection. Why can't they just use that?
NoelSM @ Aug 14th 2007 5:03PM
Who cares I have HDMI and am looking on buying a new Tv with 3 HDMI inputs!
NoelSM @ Aug 14th 2007 5:07PM
1080p Will look better through an HDMI port than Component. If you do use component you'll need high quality cables that cost "too much" to get the best picture because anolog signals usually get a lot of noise. HDMI is all Digital.
NoelSM @ Aug 14th 2007 5:10PM
I still don't see why people would want 1080p over a component conection unless they're trin' to bootleg somthin'!
Michael @ Aug 14th 2007 10:54PM
Easy, there are a LOT of people out there with limited HDMI ports (or NO HDMI ports...) but there usually are more than a few open component video inputs remaining they could feed their video through. I've only got one DVI input on my Pioneer Elite that will provide me with an 1080i signal. That means I've got to send all my video inputs through an HDMI switcher or use component video lines instead.
This answer your questions?
JeffDM @ Aug 14th 2007 6:10PM
NeolSM:
What? Why did you ignore the previous posts that explained how to pull the DIGITAL signal for recording? Why would someone bootleg analog if they have an easy to get digital source?
Something that the article doesn't say is that for some installations, component video is a lot easier to distribute. HDMI can get flakey over longer distances, or so I am told, I am currently using a 50ft HDMI cable, people tell me that it's not often reliable at that distance, but component over such distances are pretty foolproof.
horngreen @ Aug 14th 2007 7:26PM
1080p over component is good! My lcd hdtv-ready TV plays 1080p stuff that I download from the internet, but it must down rez it since tv set is 720p/1080i.
If I try to change resolution in Windows XP to 1080p it stays for a few seconds then reverts back 720p. Anyone know if there is a hack to keep it at 1080P??
gt350 @ Aug 14th 2007 9:35PM
Since the only common way to watch 1080p is Blu- or HD DVD so what, HDMI still is BI-Poler (works-doesn't work reboot new color-ARRG)90% of programing is 1080i or 720P just use good COMPONENT cables and call it a day, because any reel difference is not worth the hassle of 1080P 0r HDMI. Stop being BETA testers and quit buying BROKEN standards. THATS when it will be fixed.
h0mi @ Aug 14th 2007 10:33PM
I want. I want this so I can upscale dvds to 720p or 1080i (assuming my sister's set doesnt do 1080p) on my sister's tv set. Her set is older and lacks HDMI.
Diesel213 @ Aug 21st 2007 2:45PM
A couple of points.
1.) SW is not going Blu-Ray at this time. From digitalbits, "While we're talking Fox, you may recall how we mentioned a few days ago that Lucasfilm producer Rick McCallum told audiences at the Star Wars Celebration convention in Europe recently that the Star Wars films wouldn't be released in high-definition until one format emerged a winner. Industry sources have informed us that McCallum also added that if the high-def format war isn't resolved soon, the company might skip high-def disc altogether and release the films in HD via download only. Yikes!"
2.) I don't really see what the problem with Paramount going HD is. Yeah, it definately sucks for people with Blu-Ray players that they can't get BRDs, but Sony, Fox, and Disney don't produce HD-DVDs either.