Old(er) Mitsubishi TV + Blu-Ray HTPC

[theexitwound]

I'm currently the owner of a Mitsubishi WS-65313. It's an older set from the early 2000's. It works perfectly with my DirecTV setup as well as the HTPC I have connected. However, I have a few questions regarding its future.

If you check the stats on this tv:

Display Informtion
Display Type: CRT
Television Type: Rear Projection
Screen Size: 65 Inches
Aspect Ratio: 16:9 Widescreen

Integrated TV Tuners

ATSC (HDTV) Tuner: No
NTSC Tuners: 2 NTSC Tuners

Television Inputs

IEEE1394: No IEEE1394 (Firewire)
DVI/HDCP/HDMI: DVI / HDCP
Composite: 2 Rear / 1 Front
S-Video: 2 Rear / 1 Front
Component HDTV: Two (Max Res)
Component 480p: Two (Max Res)
Component 480i: Two

Resolutions Displayed

1080i is Displayed As: 1080i
720p is Displayed As: None
NTSC is Displayed As: 480i
Or NTSC is Displayed As: 480p

You'll see it lists HDCP compliance with HDMI. If from what I remember way back in 2002 is correct, this TV has an earlier version of HDCP than what's available now and fully compliant with today's HDCP specs.

I currently run DVI-->component out the back of the HTPC and into a receiver, and out to the TV via component as well. I'm also running the DirecTV box through the receiver via component and all works well in 1080i.

If I build a new HTPC with a BluRay player, I'm worried that the TV will not pass the HDCP check and fail to output correctly. The TV has no HDMI inputs, only 2xComponent, VGA, and DVI. What do you think might happen? How can I be sure that if I build the PC, the TV will operate properly and give me the 1080i BluRay?

Thanks.

 

[erwos]

Answer: no one can tell you for sure. Make sure whomever you order from has a liberal return policy.

 

[s44]

Why aren't you using the DVI input?

 

[theexitwound]

At the time, DVI cables were quite expensive (from what I could find). There were a lot of instances of overscan that weren't fixable on the set through DVI. Video card drivers didn't support underscan resolutions then either. I purchased the official ATI DVI-->component converter and use that. Never went back to use the DVI.

If I use DVI, will there be any differences regarding the HDCP?

 

[erwos]

Originally posted by: theexitwound
If I use DVI, will there be any differences regarding the HDCP?

No. But, honestly, you're getting pretty hung up about using DVI. VGA and component support 1080i (or in VGA's case, 1080p) output of Blu-Ray without HDCP. Any IQ difference is probably going to be minimal at that resolution unless you're doing a huge cable run.

 

[theexitwound]

I'm more concerned that the blu-ray will not talk to the TV through an HDCP path and downplay the resolution as a result.

 

[s44]

Originally posted by: theexitwound
At the time, DVI cables were quite expensive (from what I could find). There were a lot of instances of overscan that weren't fixable on the set through DVI. Video card drivers didn't support underscan resolutions then either. I purchased the official ATI DVI-->component converter and use that. Never went back to use the DVI.

If I use DVI, will there be any differences regarding the HDCP?

Well, DVI carries the HDCP signal. Component doesn't.

What's your vidcard?

 

[theexitwound]

It's running an ATI Radeon 9800. This will most likely be upgraded (as well as the CPU/mobo) if I go blu-ray. I'm just concerned how the TV will affect the setup.

 

[s44]

If you haven't put Blu-Ray on your computer yet, I would very strongly advise just getting a standalone player instead.

 

[Shawn]

Originally posted by: s44
If you haven't put Blu-Ray on your computer yet, I would very strongly advise just getting a standalone player instead.

Same here.

 

[theexitwound]

Still doesn't answer my question whether or not the secure HDCP path will work or if the player might downscale to lower resolutions. Even if there's a standalone player, what happens if the tv doesnt' have a fully compliant HDCP spec?

 

[abaez]

I don't know about standalone players, but if you try with your HTPC to your TV the software will say Cannot play disc HDCP not found or something like that (I can't remember).

If you can go DVI out on your HTPC to DVI in on your TV, that is probably your best bet since the HDCP signal is available via DVI. You could also get anydvd and use any connection to the TV you'd like (as long as it supported 1080i/p).

 

[s44]

Standalones will do 1080i over component.

 

[spidey07]

Originally posted by: s44
Standalones will do 1080i over component.

Precisely. OP - the only way to know is to try it out. Mits was particularly bad at HDCP as they tried to rush product to market.

In your case with your TV it is probably better to feed it analog 1080i over component. Sets like yours benefit by having an analog component input instead of digital.

 

[scttgrd]

Yes but then you have the never ending firmware updates. No wonder I haven't jumped on $ony-ray, I mean Blu-ray yet. Just make it so the damn thing plays. How hard is that?