9. Technologies
HDMI20-OPTC series – User's Manual
66
9.2. HDCP Management
Lightware Visual Engineering is a legal HDCP adopter. Several
functions have been developed which helps to solve HDCP related
problems. Complex AV systems often have both HDCP and non-HDCP
components. The extender allows transmitting HDCP encrypted and
unencrypted signals. The devices will be still HDCP compliant as they
will never output an encrypted signal to a non-HDCP compliant display
device. If an encrypted signal is switched to a non-compliant output, a
red screen alert or muted screen will appear.
9.2.1. Protected and Unprotected Content
Many video sources send HDCP protected signal if they detect that
the sink is HDCP capable – even if the content is not copyrighted. This
can cause trouble if an HDCP capable device is connected between
the source and the display. In this case, the content cannot be viewed
on non-HDCP capable displays and interfaces like event controllers.
Rental and staging technicians often complain about certain laptops,
which are always sending HDCP encrypted signals if the receiver
device (display, extender router, etc.) reports HDCP compliancy.
However, HDCP encryption is not required all the time e.g. computer
desktop image, certain laptops still do that.
To avoid unnecessary HDCP encryption, Lightware introduced the
HDCP enabling/disabling function: the HDCP capability can be
disabled in the Lightware device. If HDCP is disabled, the connected
source will detect that the sink is not HDCP capable, and turn off
authentication.
9.2.2. Disable Unnecessary Encryption
HDCP Compliant Sink
Protected
content
HDCP-compliant
sink
Encrypted
signal
HDMI cable
HDMI20-OPTC-RX220-Pro
HDMI 2.0 Multimode Fiber Receiver
POWER / LIVE
FIBER LINK HDCP
SIGNAL PRESENT
OUTPUT CONVERSION
CONTROL
FUNCTION
USB
HDMI20
OPTC
220-PRO
MAIN MENU
> System Settings
Ports
EDID
Health
Remote
POWER / LIVE
FIBER LINK HDCP
INPUT 1 INPUT 2
CONTROL
SELECT
USB
HDMI20
OPTC
220-PRO
HDMI20-OPTC-TX220-Pro
HDMI 2.0 Multimode Fiber Transmitter
Encrypted
signal
HDMI cable
Optical
cable
Transmitter
Receiver
All the devices are HDCP-compliant, no manual setting is required, both
protected and unprotected contents are transmitted and displayed on
the sink.
Not HDCP-compliant Sink 1.
Unprotected
content
Non-HDCP
compliant sink
Non-Encrypted
signal
HDMI cable
HDMI20-OPTC-RX220-Pro
HDMI 2.0 Multimode Fiber Receiver
POWE
R /
LIVE
FIBE
R L
INK
HD
CP
SIGN
AL P
RES
EN
T
OUTP
UT
CONV
ERSIO
N
CONTROL
FUNCTION
USB
HDMI20
OPTC
220-PRO
MAIN MENU
> System Settings
Ports
EDID
Health
Remote
POWER / LIV
E
FIBER L
INK
HDCP
INPUT
1
INPU
T 2
CONTROL
SELE
CT
USB
HDMI20
OPTC
220-PRO
HDMI20-OPTC-TX220-Pro
HDMI 2.0 Multimode Fiber Transmitter
Non-Encrypted
signal
HDMI cable
Optical
cable
Transmitter
Receiver
Non-HDCP compliant sink is connected to the extender. Some
sources (e.g. computers) always send HDCP encrypted signals if the
receiver device reports HDCP compliancy, however, HDCP encryption
is not required all the time (e.g. computer desktop image). If HDCP is
enabled in the extender, the image will not be displayed on the sink.
Setting the HDCP parameter to Auto on the output port and disable
HDCP on the input port, the transmitted signal will not be encrypted
if the content is not protected. Thus, non-HDCP compliant sinks will
display non-encrypted signal.
Not HDCP-compliant Sink 2.
Encrypted
signal
HDMI cable
HDMI20-OPTC-RX220-Pro
HDMI 2.0 Multimode Fiber Receiver
POWER
/ L
IVE
FIBER LINK HDC
P
SIGNAL PRESENT
OU
TPU
T CO
NVER
SION
CONTROL
FUNCTION
USB
HDMI20
OPTC
220-PRO
MAIN MENU
> System Settings
Ports
EDID
Health
Remote
POWER / LIVE
FIBER LINK HD
CP
INPU
T 1
INPUT 2
CONTROL
SELECT
USB
HDMI20
OPTC
220-PRO
HDMI20-OPTC-TX220-Pro
HDMI 2.0 Multimode Fiber Transmitter
HDMI cable
Optical
cable
Transmitter
Receiver
Non-HDCP
compliant sink
Protected
content
The layout is the same as in the previous case: non-HDCP compliant
display device is connected to the extender but the source would send
protected content with encryption. If HDCP is enabled on the input
port of the extender, the source will send encrypted signal. The sink
is not HDCP compliant, thus, it will not display the video signal (but
blank/red/muted/etc. screen). If HDCP is disabled on the input port
of the extender, the source will not send the signal. The solution is to
replace the display device to an HDCP-capable one.