New TV old sky box

SpartanKiller

Hi,

I bought a new TV for my parents. They had an old sky box (white one with scart connection) which wouldn't connect to tv. So I ordered Sky Q box for them. They've a separate broadband provider (not fibre).

Anyway Sky engineer couldn't connect the 2 new cables needed from the dish to the new box. So on his recommendation I bought a second hand Sky HD box, connected it up. The connection is a generic old aerial connection from dish to box.

Picture is fine on entertainment channels but fuzzy or lagging on the sports channels.

I'm guessing this is because of the old generic aerial cable supplying the HD box and TV?

If I reconnected the old Sky box (white) with a scart to hdmi adapter would that improve it?

They live in the country, don't watch Netflix etc, wouldn't use on demand etc but love Golf and GAA.

Thanks

swoofer

Now that sounds weird. Are the sports channels in SD? Have you 2 cables from dish to box? You can check signal in sky hd box box. Check it on an entertainment channel first, while on entertainment channel, press services, then go to settings and then signal. Could be dish is off, lnb or box. You can still contact sky and get them out.

Elvis Hammond

If by 'generic old aerial connection' you mean this kind: https://www.aerialsandtv.com/product/brass-coax-plug-nickel-plated that just pushes in, the only place you'll find these on a Sky box is the RF in/out that have nothing to do with the connection between dish & box, these being screw-in f-connectors.

The RF section can feed other TVs with the Sky box output, & can include a terrestrial broadcast signal via RF-in.

biketard

Does the TV have any connectors other than HDMI? You might find you have either red, white and yellow phono connectors on there, or maybe even a 3.5mm jack socket (and if so the TV might have come with a little cable to convert that to the three phono connectors I just mentioned). If you have either of those, an adapter from SCART to that costs next to nothing, since it's the same actual signal, just different connectors.

SpartanKiller

Thanks for the replies.

Sports are in SD, there's only 1 cable from dish to box, originally installed 15 years ago, with a brass coaxial push in connection as described in link above. Tv ports and connections are;

Ports and Connection:

• HDMI: 2 (Side)
• HDMI 2.0
• Simplink (HDMI CEC)
• eARC / ARC (Audio Return Channel): eARC (HDMI 2)
• USB: 1 (Side)
• LAN (Rear)
• CI Slot (Side)
• RF In: 2 (Side, RF/Sat)
• SPDIF (Optical Digital Audio Out) (Rear)
• Wifi (802.11ac)
• Bluetooth 5.0

The box I have is pictured attached

Thanks

Atlantic Dawn

Sky should have replaced the LNB on the dish when they provided the Sky Q box as old LNB will not work with it, normally they would replace the whole dish as it's more cost effective in the long run.

What do you mean by the Sky engineer couldn't connect the cables to the box? Surely they could have just replaced the connectors on the end with standard F Connectors?

Going back to scart on the new TV is like buying a brand new car and taking out the engine to replace it with pedals.

I'd call Sky and tell them the entire thing is a mess and you want it resolved, sounds like installer cut corners and hoped you would be happy with a bodge job.

SpartanKiller

Thanks

I should explain he couldn't reach the dish as it's on the chimney, so I've cancelled the new Sky Q box, no point if he can't get new double wire connected.

But sports channels weren't blurry before on old TV and old box, now they are with new tv and sky HD box.

Galwayguy35

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117960523#Comment_117960523

Sounds like the Sky engineer just didn't want to bother his arse doing the job right.

Sky is expensive and are loosing customers left right and centre so if i was you I'd get back to them and say you want the job done right or you will cancel the subscription.

Elvis Hammond

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117960391#Comment_117960391

The cable from the dish won't be connected with a push-in connector. What exactly do you mean by a 'blurry' picture? Is sound affected too?

And this is with HDMI between box & TV presumably?

Also I assume the Sky installer offered to put up a dish in a more accessible location?

Atlantic Dawn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117960523#Comment_117960523

Yes that explains it.

I found myself when I got a 40inch tv and had old scart that picture was appearing much poorer. Would it be worth picking up a cheap FTA box with HDMI connection?

swoofer

It sounds like you have a 4k tv and that upscales everything to fit the screen. Can you say make and model of TV. The sky HD box should not work with one cable unless you have it on single feed. The output on the sky box can be set either to automatic or HDMI at either 720p or 1080i but TV will upscale again. I would have it on automatic so if its HD it will change to HD and if its SD it will change to SD but the screen goes blank and people hate that.

The pic on HD channels will look quite good but the SD channels will look awful and they are even worse on sky q. What size screen is the TV? I think you will have to bite the bullet and pay sky the extra for hd. I think its €8.00 a month but worth it.

Are they sitting very close to TV?

SpartanKiller

No they're not sitting very close. Tv is a 43" LG. It is a single feed.

SpartanKiller

Here's pics of the back box and tv

20211001_113757.jpg

Elvis Hammond

"Dish input 1" there is the screw connector I mentioned, so make sure that's screwed in tight.

The push-in connectors are the 3 below it, not relevant here.

swoofer

No he has only one feed from the dish and that goes to SKY HD box and then to TV via HDMI. They will have to tweak the picture settings and the output on the sky hd box. I really need the model no of the tv and then one can check settings with others. That TV has a satellite tuner as well.

SD is very poor on sports channels and you may notice the ads are better, have you tried setting output on sky box to automatic? That tv will have numerous settings that cam be tweaked . You may be able to get a picture that's bearable. Can you do a pic of sky sports 1 and when you say enterainment do you mean RTE2 HD, BBC1HD ITVHD etc. Make sure HDMI is well pushed in at both ends.

HD is €8.00 a month extra.

PS is the sky box on single feed?

The Cush

Would it be possible to mount the dish lower, on the gable wall or front or rear walls?