Scart output from Sky Digibox

VERYinterested

I bought a 10 metre scart cable and have connected it to my 32" lcd tv in the bedroom, much improved picture, so you'd think I'd be happy. Another reason I bought the scart was so as I could change the 'Picture Settings' to be permanently on 16:9, but leave the other 4:3 ratio tv's in the house alone. I have an rf cable connecting a 4:3 tv in the living room (from first output) that is rarely watched and I have an rf cable running upstairs (from second rf output) to feed two other tv's with a signal booster. I have a magic eye connected so as I can change the picture in the bedroom with the 32" lcd. So if the scart is plugged in to either tv or video output on the back of the digibox and I change the ratio for 1st tv to 16:9 it makes no difference to the scart output. It is only when I change the ratio for the second tv location will it work on the lcd as 16:9. Is there any solution that will allow the scart output to be considered the 1st tv location by the digibox? I know this all sounds complicated as I've described it badly but I'm tired, please help as I can't see the wood for the trees.

Tony

Normally the scart is considered the 1st location, is the scart fully wired? Are you sure its connected to the TV output scart socket on the digibox?

VERYinterested

Tony wrote: »

Normally the scart is considered the 1st location, is the scart fully wired? Are you sure its connected to the TV output scart socket on the digibox?

That was part of the thinking of my cunning plan that the scart would be considered the 1st tv location, but I've tried all sorts of permutations and the only way I can get it to work 16:9 is to select it for the second tv location. It's definitely connected to the tv output on the back of the digibox. This is the scart I am using, they are sealed so I can't see anything loose:

http://www.tvcables.co.uk/cgi-bin/tvcables/SC010.html

Maybe the Sky box is faulty, I'm getting a Free Sky Plus box soon (person I recommended was installed on Saturday), hopefully it will work with the new box.

Tony

Does sound like a problem with the box. Try taking out the viewing card and do a forced download of the box firmware.

VERYinterested

Ok, will do thanks.

VERYinterested

Found this when Googling Firmware Upgrade, it might have something to do with the Magic Eye:

Second Location Picture Format

With the latest Sky Digibox software, it is possible to set up a different picture aspect ratio for TV's fed by a TV Link (remote eye) from the second RF outlet in the "Picture settings" menu under "Services". This is referred to as Second location picture format. Settings include 16:9, 4:3 or 4:3L (letterbox mode).

Picture format switching is performed by using a TV Link remote eye. The Sky Digibox software detects whether the remote signal came from the TV link or the Infrared sensor on the Digibox front panel itself. If the remote command came from the TV Link, it changes all of the outputs to the second location picture format.

For example, if you have main TV picture aspect ratio set to 16:9 and second location set to 4:3 LB then when you press a button on a TV link remote, all outputs change to 4:3 LB, but when you press a button on the remote directly controlling the Sky Digibox front panel infra red sensor, it resets the aspect ratio back to 16:9. This means that if you are viewing both your main 16:9 TV and your 4:3 TV's fed by TV links, then one TV will show the wrong aspect ratio, depending on which Sky remote was used last.

byte

Yup, you have found your cause. As you're using a TV link with the 32" TV as well as the Scart lead, and Second output being set to 4:3, this is why it's changing to 4:3.

The only way around this will be to buy a remote extender, which has a transmitter (will be placed beside the 32"), and a receiver, which has in IR emitter which you place in front of digibox. That way the digibox will think you're in the main room, and switch to 16:9 accordingly.

VERYinterested

Thanks for that, will go buy one. I dropped in to Pan TV in Camden Street and they used to stock the extenders but people kept bringing them back as they didn't work, so they stopped stocking them. Has anyone had a bad/good experience with these?

byte

At work, we did stock SLx ones, but they have poor reliability in my experience.

Televés ones seem pretty good, and Powermid's used to be very good, if expensive.

VERYinterested

Yeah, I was worried about the reliability after the guy in the shop said that. I moved the lcd tv down to the digibox tonight, removed the magic eye and selected 16:9 on the first output and 4:3 on the second. Obviously the lcd displayed a lovely widescreen picture, but so did the other 4:3 tv's that are connected upstairs. So I presume the digibox can only display with one signal at a time if there are two tv's or more connected, in this case 16:9. I hope the new Sky+ box I'm getting will be a bit more advanced. I'm afraid to do a firmware update as I have the current version. Thanks for the replies, I think I'll hold off on an extender til I get the new box and see how I get on.

watty

The local / remote setting changes the Skybox SETTINGS according to which remote is used. There is only ever one video out. Same signal for RF, SCART etc...

Set both to 16:9

Lidl and others do cheap 2nd 4:3 TVs that support 16:9 by reducing height.

VERYinterested

I think the kids will just have to tolerate their picture a bit stretched on their tv's just noticed there is a newer EPG Software version on the box this morning, 3.6.4.18