[mythtv-users] Which TV connector type?

[Chris Ribe]

> When it comes to input connectors for a new telly with MythTV, is
> there anything I should be looking out for? Most of them seem to have
> HDMI inputs - will that play nice with MythTV or will I have to spend
> a packet on a new video card to connect to it? From what I've read DVI
> quality is the same as HDMI but DVI seems to be more popular on this
> list - how come? And what about VGA?
>
> And am I right in thinking there is no such connector type as HDCP -
> it's actually a protocol that the evil empire wants but is only
> compatible with HDMI?
>
> If someone could share a few brief pros & cons on the different
> options that would be great.

If DVI is the most popular connector type on this list, it is only
because it is supported by more combinations of video card and monitor
than any other connector type.  It has been the de facto standard for
computer monitor connections for a couple of years now, and it is also
present on most digital "tellys."

HDMI is the new standard connector for digital TVs, but a simple
adapter will allow a DVI video card port to talk to an HDMI input.

HDCP is a nice feature to have in a television, but is not a
necessary, useful, or supported thing to have in a myth box.
Televisions that support HDCP will happily talk to video sources that
do not.

All that said,  MythTV doesn't give a rats ass what type of connector
you use.   You could play back  your video on an oscillating
kaleidoscope driven by a finely tuned choir of goats and chickens, for
all MythTV cares.