Frequently Asked Questions
Gateway 42-Inch Plasma Television      Show Part Numbers

Q: What is HDCP and how do I troubleshoot it?

A: High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP) is a specification developed by the Intel® corporation to protect digital entertainment content that uses a digital visual interface (DVI).

HDCP encrypts the transmission of digital content (signal) between the video source and the digital display. HDCP is not designed to prevent copying or recording of digital content, but solely to protect the integrity of content as transmitted.

Video source / transmitter = a computer, DVD player, or set-top box.
Digital display / receiver = devices such as a monitor, digital television (DTV), or projector.

How does HDCP work?

Implementation of HDCP requires a license obtainable from the Digital Content Protection, LLC, which then issues a set of unique secret device keys to all authorized devices. During authentication, the "receiver" only accepts content after it acknowledges the keys. To further prevent stealing of the data or line tapping, the transmitter and receiver generate a shared secret value that is constantly checked throughout the transmission. After authentication is established, the transmitter encrypts the data and sends it to the receiver for decryption.

Do all of Gateway's TV support HDCP?

No, not currently. Please review the specifications and the Frequently Asked Questions for the TV in question.

Troubleshooting:

What happens if I lose signal to the TV while watching a movie on a HDCP equipped component?

The component, such as a DVD player, must be restarted to establish renegotiation.

Example: While watching a movie on a HDCP enabled DVD player, you change the "receiver" (DTV, monitor, projector) input to watch broadcast TV, and then change the input back to watch the DVD movie. However, you are unable to watch the movie. This is because when the input was changed, the receiver lost the HDCP signal. Restart the HDCP enabled DVD player to allow renegotiation.

What is the cause if a movie starts and then slowly fades to static?

The "receiver" / DTV is not HDCP compatible or it is not negotiating correctly. Restart the "transmitter" device and reset all video cables from the source to the TV.

How do I know if a component is HDCP compliant?

If the "transmitter" (DVD and so forth) does not have a DVI connection, it is not HDCP compliant.