[valleygreen22]

I have an older Sony HDTV that only has component video input. No HDMI. I understand that Blu ray players that have component only output at 480p. Is there any way to get a 1080p signal from the Blu Ray to the TV.

 

[west99999]

Short answer is no only way to get 1080p is with HDMI

 

[spartanstew]

You can buy an older Blu Ray player, I believe.

 

[CCarncross]

I don't think any BD player will transmit 1080p over component, just up to 1080i....

 

[spartanstew]

Ah yes, CC, correct. 1080i or 720p.

 

[John Williams]

If you don't mind spending a little extra money, then this is your solution: http://www.hdfury.com/no-hdmi-no-problem/

 

[Stewart Vernon]

There is no technical reason that 1080p could not be transmitted over component cables... BUT it is a designed limitation to limit the 1080p output to the "secure" HDMI connection.

Blu-ray players that "upconvert" DVDs will not upconvert above 480p over component... BUT Blu-rays should play at 720p or 1080i currently over component.

The "flag" that prevents a Blu-ray disc from being played at HD resolutions over component connection has not yet been implemented... and whenever it does get implemented, it should only apply to new Blu-rays made after that date... so current Blu-ray discs on the shelves and in your house should be playable in 1080i over component cables.

 

[CCarncross]

I actually thought that part of the reason was a bandwidth issue.

 

[Stuart Sweet]

It's not bandwidth at all. By mutual agreement, manufacturers of HD playback devices (Blu-ray, etc.) agreed to close the "analog hole" that allowed full-resolution HD playback without copy protection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_hole

 

[John Williams]

The "flag" that prevents a Blu-ray disc from being played at HD resolutions over component connection has not yet been implemented... and whenever it does get implemented, it should only apply to new Blu-rays made after that date... so current Blu-ray discs on the shelves and in your house should be playable in 1080i over component cables.

Not true. For at least 3 months now, current new release Blu-rays have the flag preventing HD output on component video. I have seen it on this year's model Sony Blu-ray and last year's model Sony Blu-ray. I don't know if older Blu-ray players would be affected or not. Obviously, older Bluray discs would still work OK that didn't have the flag embedded.

 

[mutelight]

It's not bandwidth at all. By mutual agreement, manufacturers of HD playback devices (Blu-ray, etc.) agreed to close the "analog hole" that allowed full-resolution HD playback without copy protection.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analog_hole

Correct, I was running one of my Xbox 360s at 1080p resolution over component for a while until I ended up replacing it with a HDMI equipped unit.

 

[Stewart Vernon]

Not true. For at least 3 months now, current new release Blu-rays have the flag preventing HD output on component video. I have seen it on this year's model Sony Blu-ray and last year's model Sony Blu-ray. I don't know if older Blu-ray players would be affected or not. Obviously, older Bluray discs would still work OK that didn't have the flag embedded.

Even if they update firmware in older players to honor the flag, the flag has to be present on the disc. Any disc already pressed without the flag will be safe... which is what I said.

I grant you, though, there are probably are some on the shelved that honor the flag. Heck, I seem to remember at least one import Blu-ray (one of the Resident Evils I think) that had the flag on it years ago, but I can't say for sure.

That's why I said "should"... because even if they have started implementing the flag on some newer Blu-rays, that still leaves most of them untouched.