I have a pioneer vsx-30 with hdcp error on the face i see it when a scientific atlantic cable box is connected through a componet connection

Component cables don't have the ability to carry decrypted HD info.

HDCP is "High Definition Copy Protection"...In theory, it prevents you from running the HDMI cable out of your receiver, and into a recording device, thereby recording HD content without a license for it.

HDCP handshaking is done between devices that run HDMI, or DVI.

If you're running component from your Cable box, and then HDMI out to your TV, then the content you're carrying from the Cable box may not be getting decrypted properly when it gets upscaled onto the HDMI port from Component.

IT could also simply be that you're using an HDMI 1.1 or HDMI 1.2 cable, which may not be able to carry the high bandwidth stream of your Receiver and TV.

Please be sure that all HDMI devices can support the same HDMI version, and also be sure your HDMI cable is labled "HDMI 1.x compliant". . .e.g. if your TV and Amp support HDMI 1.2, make sure you're also using an HDMI 1.2 Cable.