I currently use an Optoma RD50 DLP RPTV as my primary display. This TV has no HDCP, making it difficult to upgrade to HD-DVD, Blu-Ray or any future HDCP-enabled source.

Is the DVI on the 970 a pass-through only? Does the 970 have an HDCP module built in?

If not, is there a relatively cheap solution to this situation short of replacing the tv? Any external modules?

The 970's DVI switching is HDCP compliant (meaning it will switch between HDCP-compliant sources and displays without messing up the HDCP handshake), but it won't help if the display lacks HDCP and the support uses HDCP. I don't know of any devices that would help with this either, aside from many some of the video scalers. Anybody out there know any tricks? I know some of the CRT front projector crowd were talking about devices that would convert DVI sources to analog, but they were rather mysterious "black boxes" since Hollywood doesn't want to offer any loopholes around HDCP.

I found a little box called "DVI Magic" that supposedly strips the HDCP from the digital video, but it's susceptible to the dreaded HDCP "revocation lists."

Optoma did make a HDCP compliant DLP, the RD50H, I'll try writing them to see if this is retrofittable to the RD50. Thanks for the quick reply gonk.

PS (and totally off-topic). A few days ago I ran into an archived thread about a silly little device called the Clever Little Clock. Man did I have a laugh! Thanks for that! HAHA!