HDCP strippers

[gll99]

Yes, I have the one with the round push button and older silk screened text "HDMI 3D SPLITTER 1X4".

Thanks.....

I guess I should have worded that better since it's unrealistic to expect everyone who has the same model as you to respond. What I should have said is.....if anyone has the model with the rocker switch please post here to say if it works too. I hate the idea of waiting another month to find out for myself.

[imissnumber3]

I would have ordered the other model from the States labelled CVID at a bit higher overall net cost but unless they use the USPS through to Canada Post it can be a real costly dealing with border brokers through UPS or others who add unnecessary exorbitant customs brokers fees.

I had thought there were some U.S. resellers of this unit who had it in stock, albeit with their extra margin for profit added on ? Your experience -- and the associated uncertainties -- turn me back in the direction of the HD Fury or Moone devices, more known quantities even though they cost much more. But that's just me . . . . .

I've had better Customs luck regarding the shipments I got from Canada. Some of those items were used though; others were marked "used" by the seller on the customs form, even though this was bending the truth at best. But then there was the new-in-box, leftover stock DVDR (a couple years back) that came through, without getting assessed by customs or having other non-shipping fees.

Do let us know how this turns out.

I can't wait to get it to see if they did something to the hdcp handshake or if the changes are only cosmetic. I'll definitely post the results when I get it.

A question to anyone who owns the splitter.

Do you all have the original model with the round on/off push button switch or does anyone own the model with the rocker switch?

I have the pushbutton with the silk screened text "HDMI 3D SPLITTER 1X4". I just received two of the 4/19/13. They was shipped on 4/2/13. So far though, I've not been successful getting content to display or capture with my Intensity Pro card. I'm still working at it.

[gll99]

I have the pushbutton with the silk screened text "HDMI 3D SPLITTER 1X4". I just received two of the 4/19/13. They was shipped on 4/2/13. So far though, I've not been successful getting content to display or capture with my Intensity Pro card. I'm still working at it.

So are you sayings that you just received 2 of the round on/off button style from TomTop and they were shipped April 2. Funny I ordered before that and my order was held back saying they were out of stock but I had to ask and didn't know until mid last week because I had to chase to get the tracking info. Now they are supposedly back in stock but the picture on the site has changed. As I said, when I look at it now it has a rocker style switch and the label is different.



I just want to confirm that you got the round button model. If you did then either your order somehow got ahead of mine and you may have gotten the last 2 or the picture is wrong and I'll still get the same model as before. Here's hoping it's the latter.

[imissnumber3]

I have the pushbutton with the silk screened text "HDMI 3D SPLITTER 1X4". I just received two of the 4/19/13. They was shipped on 4/2/13. So far though, I've not been successful getting content to display or capture with my Intensity Pro card. I'm still working at it.

So are you sayings that you just received 2 of the round on/off button style from TomTop and they were shipped April 2. Funny I ordered before that and my order was held back saying they were out of stock but I had to ask and didn't know until mid last week because I had to chase to get the tracking info. Now they are supposedly back in stock but the picture on the site has changed. As I said, when I look at it now it has a rocker style switch and the label is different.


[Attachment 17522 - Click to enlarge]

I just want to confirm that you got the round button model. If you did then either your order somehow got ahead of mine and you may have gotten the last 2 or the picture is wrong and I'll still get the same model as before. Here's hoping it's the latter.

Yup. The dates are correct and they both have the pushbutton. I hope your's has the HDCP strip capability. Actually, I hope mine does as well. I think my issue has to do the settings in the Intensity Pro. I'm still fiddling with it. I've had great advice from folks on this forum and really appreciate their input. Stick around here for the info from some really competent people.

Also, keep everyone informed on what you end up with from Tomtop because many people monitor this forum and make purchase decisions based on other users experience.

[Seeker47]

I had thought there were some U.S. resellers of this unit who had it in stock

There are; we live in Canada.

Ah, I see. Then the customs issue is worse going in the other direction ?

I expect they are to be found somewhere earlier in this thread, but could someone remind us who some of those domestic resellers are ?

[jagabo]

I got mine through Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

It shipped from nearby so I got it a few days, even with free shipping. Mine doesn't have the "BG-550" model number silk screened on the device but the box it came in shows that model number.

This looks to be the same device from Amazon.ca:

http://www.amazon.ca/Panlong-Powered-Amplifier-Splitter-Support/dp/B00CE4ZUDC/

Though the branding is Panlong, no CVID. Mine looks exactly like the picture in that link, including the two little holes on the sides.

[gll99]

I got mine through Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

It shipped from nearby so I got it a few days, even with free shipping. Mine doesn't have the "BG-550" model number silk screened on the device but the box it came in shows that model number.

This looks to be the same device from Amazon.ca:

http://www.amazon.ca/Panlong-Powered-Amplifier-Splitter-Support/dp/B00CE4ZUDC/

Though the branding is Panlong, no CVID. Mine looks exactly like the picture in that link, including the two little holes on the sides.

One of my friends orders stuff through Amazon.ca (not .com) all the time so I called him and based on your comment and my own quick examination of the specs I asked him to order the Panlong for me and it's already done.

Meanwhile the contact in China wrote back to say that they asked for the original splitter order to be reprocessed but don't have the tracking number yet. They can't confirm any change in design. They will send the track# to me as soon as it is available. It gives me 2 chances that one will work with the hdcp trick. I can easily find another home for one of the splitters if I can't use it and if they both work it will be a good backup.

btw) Shipping the Panlong by slow mail is $5.54ca and they estimate 7 to 11 days but if Canada Customs stops it there could be a small tariff added at pickup time. Customs tariffs are usually based on Country of Original manufacture so it depends how the item is labelled. If they mark it product of USA there shouldn't be any duty but if it says made in China, Korea etc... then they could add a duty charge but I wouldn't expect it to be more than $3 to 5$. On small personal shipments they don't often bother.

[Seeker47]

I got mine through Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

It shipped from nearby so I got it a few days, even with free shipping. Mine doesn't have the "BG-550" model number silk screened on the device but the box it came in shows that model number.

This looks to be the same device from Amazon.ca:

http://www.amazon.ca/Panlong-Powered-Amplifier-Splitter-Support/dp/B00CE4ZUDC/

Though the branding is Panlong, no CVID. Mine looks exactly like the picture in that link, including the two little holes on the sides.

Thanks for that info. Did you tell us whether you found that these actually worked for the desired purpose, earlier in the thread ?

[jagabo]

[QUOTE=Seeker47;2236742]

I got mine through Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

Yes, I've verified mine works. I can capture HDMI (HCDP protected) from cable TV, Blu-ray players, etc.

[Seeker47]

[QUOTE=jagabo;2236746]

I got mine through Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

Yes, I've verified mine works. I can capture HDMI (HCDP protected) from cable TV, Blu-ray players, etc.

That's very good to know. And this one is not suspected of possibly having undergone a design change, like the TomTop ? But it's also still a fraction of the cost of the Fury or the Moome . . . .

A few more questions: What have you been doing right in your usage of it that some other posters in this thread seem to have been overlooking or doing wrong ? Any overheating issues ? If this is known effective with HDCP, why haven't the powers-that-be lowered the boom on it yet ? (Dare I say it, but after all the adventures folks had with importing exotic, pricey solutions, this now almost seems too easy ?!)

[jagabo]

[QUOTE=Seeker47;2236887]

I got mine through Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

Yes, I've verified mine works. I can capture HDMI (HCDP protected) from cable TV, Blu-ray players, etc.

That's very good to know. And this one is not suspected of possibly having undergone a design change, like the TomTop ?

Who knows. All I can tell you is the one I have removes HDCP and that's where it came from.

A few more questions: What have you been doing right in your usage of it that some other posters in this thread seem to have been overlooking or doing wrong ? Any overheating issues ?

I just plugged it in and it worked. There's nothing to configure. Just a power input, an HDMI input, four HDMI outputs, and a power switch. I haven't had any overheating problems. It sits all by itself on the shelf. Not on top of a hot cable box or A/V amp (the mistake many people make with lots of devices).

If this is known effective with HDCP, why haven't the powers-that-be lowered the boom on it yet ? (Dare I say it, but after all the adventures folks had with importing exotic, pricey solutions, this now almost seems too easy ?!)

Once the HDMI consortium finds out they'll probably send a DMCA letter to the seller at Amazon. They can't touch Chinese companies, of course.

[Seeker47]

I just plugged it in and it worked. There's nothing to configure. Just a power input, an HDMI input, four HDMI outputs, and a power switch. I haven't had any overheating problems. It sits all by itself on the shelf. Not on top of a hot cable box or A/V amp (the mistake many people make with lots of devices).

If this is known effective with HDCP, why haven't the powers-that-be lowered the boom on it yet ? (Dare I say it, but after all the adventures folks had with importing exotic, pricey solutions, this now almost seems too easy ?!)

Once the HDMI consortium finds out they'll probably send a DMCA letter to the seller at Amazon. They can't touch Chinese companies, of course.

Hmm. If this is bye-bye to HDCP (at least until they try making some move to quash it) what's to stop anyone from recording premium content in HD out of their sat or cable box ? All you need then is an HDPVR -- with at least a couple of these being readily available on the market -- or at most a suitably equipped HTPC ?

[As to how much real difference this is apt to make in the existing landscape, I have my doubts. Apart from rather more obscure things not of wide interest, there is very little in the realm of TV | Film | Music that does not already make its timely appearance onto numerous venues of "The Scene." Back when MegaUpload went kaboom, soon followed by a number of other services, I thought the handwriting was on the wall. But I seem to have been wrong.]

[jagabo]

Hmm. If this is bye-bye to HDCP (at least until they try making some move to quash it) what's to stop anyone from recording premium content in HD out of their sat or cable box ?

Nothing.

[vhelp]

i know its a stupid question, but is the quality worth all this ?

i have not seen anything HD'ish in good quality. aside from the larger pixel space and slightly sharper image (varies from provider to provider) all i've seen is mpeg artifacts. to my knowledge, no one has ever posted actual samples of hd content of various programs to change my perception.

[jagabo]

i know its a stupid question, but is the quality worth all this ?

Compared to what?

Compared to no recording at all since your cable box only has an HDMI output? Quality is infinitely better.

Compared to recording an HD source using the standard definition composite output of your cable box? Quality is much better.

Compared to recording the HD component output of your cable box? Quality might be slightly better but a lot will depend on the quality of the source and the quality of the recording components.

[vhelp]

i have several devices capable of receiving hd content. when i first started out in this area, i was not satisfied with the quality. yes larger picture and sharper image on some, i..e, nbc 1080i, abc 720p and upsampled content to 720 or 1080.

unless you are saying that providers outside the "free over the air" is better, than that is what i would like to see samples of because so far i have not seen better than what i've already seen in my various hd receivers to date.

edit: i mean atsc devices that give you back the actual untouched mpeg sources.

[jagabo]

edit: i mean atsc devices that give you back the actual untouched mpeg sources.

No capture from that mpeg source will ever be better than the untouched mpeg source (aside from any filtering you might do to it to fix problems). But downloading the mpeg source is not an option with most cable boxes, satellite boxes, Netflix, etc.

[Seeker47]

i know its a stupid question, but is the quality worth all this ?

i have not seen anything HD'ish in good quality. aside from the larger pixel space and slightly sharper image (varies from provider to provider) all i've seen is mpeg artifacts. to my knowledge, no one has ever posted actual samples of hd content of various programs to change my perception.

You seem to be referring to the kind of results I was getting from TWC when they were my provider (we're talking over 4 years ago here), where over-compression was obvious, as they tried to cram too many channels into the space they had available. One of the tell-tale signatures was in dark or night scenes, which had this nasty mottling. Another was evident when there was a high rate of motion. This could be found sometimes even on their premium movie channels.

There really should be a sticky gallery of stills on VH illustrating the more common compression artifacts, with whatever their proper names are, for reference.

I can't tell you that my encountering objectionable artifacts ended with that TWC service. The sat service is not completely immune to this. It still crops up on occasion in something being broadcast -- to where the quality of a well-made dvd would clearly be superior -- but there is a striking difference with how it was before. Even the recordings I had been making for the last three years to my Pioneer DVDRs, which are SD via S-Video, have largely been quite acceptable.

[vhelp]

the last time i record via atsc through my pinnacle pctv pro usb, i optained the untouched mpegs (ts) files, it was the 2008 olympics, vollyball, still have the clips/games somewhere, it was horrible. even still shots. it was nbc 1080i and i was convinced to not go with directv hd. i stayed with their sd service..was not worth the extra dollars, plus i don't watch all the other channels.

[Seeker47]

Hmm. If this is bye-bye to HDCP (at least until they try making some move to quash it) what's to stop anyone from recording premium content in HD out of their sat or cable box ?

Nothing.

But what would one place after this gizmo ? Probably an HTPC w/ capture card, as I'm not aware of any great standalone option. In the Hauppauge lineup, there is only the Colossus (an internal card), and the HD PVR2 Gaming Edition, that offer HDMI In | Out. For these, you still need to add storage (from a laptop or PC) and to employ software. There are a number of technical or quality issues, according to the reviews.

That said, we may still be looking at enough complications as to render this a niche situation, not enough to get the powers-that-be excessively riled up.

[netquik]

Hi guys... after reading this post days ago i bought a similar device splitter from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0042KY0GY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

i'm in italy so i didn't have many options...

so now how can i test this fro HDCP? actually i don't have a pvr or similar card...
can i test it in any way without this devices to understand if it is able to strip out the protection?

Thanks

[jagabo]

Hi guys... after reading this post days ago i bought a similar device splitter from Amazon:

http://www.amazon.it/gp/product/B0042KY0GY/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

i'm in italy so i didn't have many options...

so now how can i test this fro HDCP?

You'll have to find a TV or some other device with HDMI that doesn't support HDCP. Some older HDTVs, computer monitors, or a capture device.

[mrwhitethc]

I got mine through Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

It shipped from nearby so I got it a few days, even with free shipping. Mine doesn't have the "BG-550" model number silk screened on the device but the box it came in shows that model number.

This looks to be the same device from Amazon.ca:

http://www.amazon.ca/Panlong-Powered-Amplifier-Splitter-Support/dp/B00CE4ZUDC/

Though the branding is Panlong, no CVID. Mine looks exactly like the picture in that link, including the two little holes on the sides.

Did you happen to get it directly through amazon or from the reseller Great Elect?

Thanks for the info.

[jagabo]

I got mine through Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

Did you happen to get it directly through amazon or from the reseller Great Elect?

The order was placed through Amazon. It was shipped from Great Elect.

[mrwhitethc]

I got mine through Amazon.com:
http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

Did you happen to get it directly through amazon or from the reseller Great Elect?

The order was placed through Amazon. It was shipped from Great Elect.

Thanks just ordered, hopefully I get the same one

[netquik]

Thanks... i will try to test it in some way... even if i read on the net that it does not strip hdcp...

should we start to populate a list of "capable" devices? perhaps we can also open the device a take a photo of internals for reference...
just a proposal...

bye

[Seeker47]

I got mine through Amazon.com:

http://www.amazon.com/CVID-BG-550-portable-Powered-Splitter/dp/B0089DVCT8/

It shipped from nearby so I got it a few days, even with free shipping. Mine doesn't have the "BG-550" model number silk screened on the device but the box it came in shows that model number.

This looks to be the same device from Amazon.ca:

http://www.amazon.ca/Panlong-Powered-Amplifier-Splitter-Support/dp/B00CE4ZUDC/

Though the branding is Panlong, no CVID. Mine looks exactly like the picture in that link, including the two little holes on the sides.

Just received mine (from Great Elect, via an Amazon order). It is completely plain -- no brand markings or name, not even a 'Made in China.' Single On | Off pushbutton. I don't know that this is consistent with the other or earlier descriptions & pix . . . .

[Steve(MS)]

I got mine earlier this week and it looks the same as in jagabo's link...and it was from Great Elect.

[jagabo]

Mine looks just like the one in the Amazon.ca link:

[Seeker47]

Mine looks just like the one in the Amazon.ca link:

[Attachment 17664 - Click to enlarge]

Yep, that's it. No "CVID" or "BG-550", or whatever designation may have been there for some earlier production runs (or sourcing). I would have to read back earlier in the thread to refresh my memory, but didn't this originally have a rocker switch, rather than the tiny On | Off button ?

The printed, so-called 'User Manual' is very minimalist too: I see no mention of HDCP stripping . . . almost like they are trying to keep a very low profile. All well and good, as long as it works. But I may just have to build that HTPC, in order to find out.