How Standard is HDMI??

[nyadrms]

I'm a first time poster to this forum with a very unusual question that I'm hoping someone can help me with. I recently moved back to Australia from the US where I got very used to HDTV on a Panasonic plasma TV which I brought back with me. I finally got my sea freight shipment and was looking forward to enjoying my TV and I find that there is no easy way to use it here. I thought I could get around the issue that the TV only had an ATSC tuner (the rest of the world apparently uses DVB) by subscribing to the local satellite provider (Foxtel), only to find that they don't yet provide HD, and their top tier receiver (the IQ DVR) only has AV, S-video and component outputs. As an added quirk, Free-To-Air channels in Australia aren't retransmitted by Foxtel, so I need to get an HD set top box to watch those!
So here are the problems I have found so far:
1. PAL vs NTSC - everyone knows about this, so it was no surprise, however finding that AV and S-Video was based on these meant that these connections were useless.
2. Component video (isn't that a universal standard?) - the TV doesn't recognise the audio or video from the Foxtel box. The best I can tell there are 2 standards for component video. The Foxtel box puts out YUV or YCbCr, but the TV only accepts YPbPr. I have confirmed that these don't appear compatible because I have also tried to drive an Australian TV from a US DVD player using these cables and it doesn't work.

So my last hope here appears to be using HDMI to interface to the TV via yet another DVR (Australian) or other box in the middle, and input the component video from the Foxtel box to this. But my question is whether HDMI is a truly universal standard, or will I buy yet another device for several hundred dollars only to find that the actual video is encoded in some obscure manner which is not compatible with the TV?

Of course I could just ditch the US TV and buy an Australian model and have a wife continually telling me "I told you so", but I would be most grateful if anyone can help me solve my real dilemma....

 

[Audioholics]

I was under the impression that HDMI simply fiunctioned off frequency and resolution, so if the set supports, for example 720p at 50Hz you would be all set.

 

[mtrycrafts]

...So my last hope here appears to be using HDMI to interface to the TV via yet another DVR (Australian) or other box in the middle, and input the component video from the Foxtel box to this. But my question is whether HDMI is a truly universal standard, or will I buy yet another device for several hundred dollars only to find that the actual video is encoded in some obscure manner which is not compatible with the TV?

While I don't know for sure, I bet that the HDMI cable will send the signal it is getting from that Ausi DVR but the signal will not be compatible with the TV system.
Unfortunate that the world chose to divide the video into those different standards.
I think in the end, the 'wife was right' this time.

 

[TLS Guy]

I was under the impression that HDMI simply fiunctioned off frequency and resolution, so if the set supports, for example 720p at 50Hz you would be all set.

Oh! no it doesn't.

I have been handling questions about this with increasing frequency and have a lot of posts about it.

The problem is the rules keep changing due to the demands of the unsatisfactory people who inhabit Hollywood. Every time the pirates crack the code they want something else.

Now the HDCP compliance works though six digital coded keys. If the device is an end device such as a TV one handshake does the trick. However if the device is an receiving and outputting device then the rules are now draconian. There is now repeater architecture, so the a switch, receiver or preamp processor hss to continually repeat the coded handshake.

Now they are really paranoid with any device that outputs an HD signal. Basically they are trying to move to the point where you can only connect an HD device directly to a TV.

To make matters worse the new regs state that HD sources must downgrade all signals to 480i at the analog outputs and that includes the component video outputs!.

All this is illegal and contravenes the existing fair use laws.

Really we need DRM made illegal. Jobst is right about that. This is an arms race and the consumer is footing the bill. Hollywood might say they no longer will issue product in HD, but let them try! The manufacturers could end it, by refusing to use or license HDCP technology. Then HDMI would be a digital pass though interface the way it was intended until hijacked by the unsatisfactory people in Hollywood.

 

[TLS Guy]

This is such an important issue, I have bumped it into a new thread.

This is a vital issue for all forum members to understand, and I mean vital!

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?p=349286#post349286

 

[TLS Guy]

Pal converters

I think this unit will d the trick for you.

http://www.lenexpo-electronics.com/Atlona-Pal-HDMI-to-NTSC-HDMI-Converter-1080p-p-17375.html

Just hope that all the HDMI versions are correct and the unit will convert and pass.

 

[nyadrms]

Thanks

Thanks TLS Guy. I borrowed an Australian DVD player and confirmed that it also wouldn't play via HDMI to the TV so there is definitely a difference. The manual for the US DVD player referred to 480p on the HDMI, whereas the Australian DVD player refers to 576p on the HDMI. I tried adjusting to 1080i but that didn't help, so there is definitely a difference. I will try the PAL converter you have suggested, it certainly looks like a viable option.

Many thanks for your help.