HDMI Input & Output Boards
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Enova Digital Media Switchers - Hardware Reference Manual
Attaching HDMI Connectors
4K HDMI Boards require Category 2 high-speed cable for use with 4K content.
NOTE:
If a device with an EDID (e.g., a video processor) is installed between the output and destination monitor, the scaler
override function will read the EDID for that device. If this happens, we suggest a procedure where you first connect the
output to the monitor and Save the EDID (see page 141) then connect the output to the device and the device to the
destination monitor. When all connections are made, Load the previously saved EDID (see page 141).
The HDMI connector has a center screw for locking capability.
Refer to the specifications table (page 96) for detailed cable requirements.
Executing a Test Switch for an HDMI Board
Execute a test switch to verify the system is working correctly, then disconnecting the test switch before finishing the
installation. See the
section on page 70 for details.
HDCP Support on Enova DGX Switchers
The Enova DGX HDMI Boards provide true matrix switching for complete distribution of high resolution digital video and
embedded audio from the sources to the destinations (audio can also be inserted or extracted with the use of Audio
Insert/Extract Boards; see page 183).
NOTE:
This section also applies to DGX DVI, DXLink Twisted Pair, and DXLink Fiber Boards.
Full-matrix HDMI support allows protected entertainment content to be switched freely, while its high resolution
capabilities provide the advantage of being able to use this solution to switch high resolution computer images. As a
result, a single system can handle a combination of computer images and protected content.
Enova DGX Switchers meet the HDCP Standard, which was established to prevent the unauthorized transfer of protected
audiovisual content between devices. In addition, these switchers support InstaGate Pro, which was developed to
address the special concerns that arise when protected content needs to be distributed.
Enova DGX HDMI Boards route HDCP (content-protected) and non-HDCP digital audiovisual signals. If HDCP is applied,
the transmitted video is encrypted. The HDMI input connectors act as HDCP receivers (RXs) for upstream devices, and the
output connectors act as HDCP transmitters (TXs) for downstream devices.
If the content is protected (HDCP), the Enova DGX Switcher functions as an InstaGate Pro sink and through the HDMI (or
DVI) output connectors handles verification of the connected individual downstream sinks / destination devices (and
downstream repeaters in the path if applicable). This means that the source device only needs to authenticate the HDMI
input. Once the authentication is complete, the encrypted content begins to display on the destinations.
NOTE:
Enova DGX Boards do not support CEC.
HDMI System Conditions
Normally, all devices used in an HDMI system are HDCP compliant. Each HDCP capable device has a unique set of
confidential keys (used to encrypt and decrypt the data).
Normally HDCP is used only when the source content is copyright protected. In some cases, source devices will
always enforce HDCP even if the content is not protected. In those cases, when the source device sees that its
output is connected to the input of the Enova DGX HDMI board (or another HDCP compliant sink), the source
device will always enforce and encrypt the HDMI signal that it sends. If the system equipment includes this type of
source device, be aware that DGX HDMI Boards will not be able to route that source device signal to a non-HDCP
compliant display. Unprotected content is not affected and may be routed as desired.
Each HDMI input can be routed to any number of outputs. The HDMI input (using InstaGate Pro Technology) is the
only sink that the source device is required to verify (unless any repeaters are installed between the source device
and the Enova DGX Switcher).
Each HDMI output goes through a verification process with its connected sink(s).
If the connected downstream sink is not HDCP compliant, then the HDMI output will not send the signal. This does
not affect other outputs the source may be routed to. This allows compliant displays to show content from source
devices even if the source devices are switched to non-compliant displays. Non-compliant outputs can easily be
identified because they display a dark red image to indicate they failed the authentication process.
Each HDMI output can support a maximum of 16 devices (repeaters and destination devices) with seven levels,
i.e., the number of times the signal goes through a repeater prior to going to the sink. However, if the HDMI output
goes into a device which is also utilizing InstaGate Pro, then the process starts all over again and the Enova DGX
Switcher only sees the input of that InstaGate Pro device as the one sink that it needs to verify. So even though the
number of sinks each HDMI output on the switcher can handle is finite, the number of sinks can be unlimited if
using AMX devices that support InstaGate Pro Technology.
Steps in the Content Protection Process
The content protection process for the point-to-point connection between the upstream transmitter on the source device
and an HDMI input connector (which is an RX) on the Enova DGX Switcher through an HDMI output connector (which is a
TX) to the destination device includes four steps:
1.
The transmitter on the source device uses authentication protocol to verify that the HDMI input is authorized to
receive the protected content. This is true regardless of how many destination devices the source is being routed to.
The content is encrypted and transmitted.
