The proper HDCP-removing methods

[Audrey Heburn]

If, however, you do not want to use the above method of “bypassing” HDCP, and would rather avoid all the troubles and just strip away the HDCP normally, this part of the article is for you.

The complicated conversion-way

Most people who today remove HDCP, are doing it an awkward and complicated way. They’re converting the signal using a HDMI to DVI converter (hardware), then receiving the signals through a DVI connection and AUX cables.

The simple Splitter-way

Others are running it through converters that are a little bit more practical; the converters also have HDMI outputs, meaning they can input HDMI into the converter, but also output it as HDMI, preserving it the way I wanted.
You can also convert it to other things than DVI, using other converters.

But, I wanted something that preferrably didn’t convert the signal at all, in fear of loss of quality. Also, I do not want a big box for converting everything, but I’d rather like a smaller box. And if that box can output the HDMI through even more outputs, how great isn’t that?

These boxes that I found, happen to be some specific Splitters, that for one reason or the other, don’t seem to preserve the HDCP. Some may intentionally not, while others just had defective designs that only harmed HDCP.

Sewell 1x2 HDMI Splitter

The smallest and earliest Splitter I found, was an old box from Sewell. It’s commonly known as the “Sewell 2 Port 1x2 HDMI Splitter V 1. 3b”, and as the title suggests, supports HDMI 1. 3b.
This splitter in particular had a defect that would cause HDCP not to output.

However, they fixed this issue, and all the newer versions of this box (They look nearly identical) will now output HDCP normally. So unless you manage to find the old version, you risk getting the wrong item.
There has also been a lot of other boxes that were rumoured to strip away HDCP, but I can’t tell for sure if they do.
A lot of splitters are identical-looking, save for their branding or text font.

Also note that I heard some splitters will be able to pretend to remove HDCP, if you connect one of the outputs to a valid monitor, making the other output then not have HDCP because you already validated it with the monitor. But this method is no good if you want to just purely capture the signal and not preview it on a valid HDCP-compliant monitor at the same time.