Sky TV - Which is best connection SCART to SCART or SCART to component

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Sky TV - Which is best connection SCART to SCART or SCART to component

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Spyware

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#113912 1-Mar-2008 11:43

Sky decoders output component via the scart connecter only as they have no individual Y/Pb/Pr outputs. Whether the signal output is composite, svideo, rgb or component is determined by a sky decoder setting for the scart connecter in advanced setup.

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PomDave

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#113917 1-Mar-2008 12:00

Hi. Thanks for that. Good to know. My current decoder only provides composite or s-video. It includes RGB in the advanced set up menu but does not allow you to select it (very helpful). It doesn't even include a component option. Looks like I'll have to pay Sky to come and fit me a new decoder.

cyril7

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#113953 1-Mar-2008 15:18

Hi Dave, in practice yes Cr and Pr and Cb, Pb can be treated as if the same, techinically Cr and Cb are the analog component signals in analog form, if in digital form (ie before the DAC) they are called Pr/Pb, but as far as we are concerned we can interchange them. All most universally consumer product manufactures incorrectly refer to Cr/Cb and Pr/Pb with the C version being only SD (576i) capable and the P versions accepting all including 576p/720p/1080i etc. again for all intense and purposes treat them as the same.

So I assume you have your Cambridge DVD connected via component to your display using the RCA component connections. You are now wanting to connect your Sky Box via SCART using component video, correct?

If so then all current SkyNZ decoders except the old Pace DSR600 and Zenith models will output RGB or Component from the TV SCART. The SCART to RCA component cable you have should work, dont connect the composite, leave it disonnected. You will have to go into the Sky Advanced setup menu, then SCART setup then for the TV SCART select Component video (other options are composite/S-Video/RGB) this is what decides goes out the TV SCART.

Hope this helps.

Cyril

PS: If you select anything other than composite for the VCR SCART setup then RGB and Component may be blocked in the TV SCART setup. Some people also get confused when using this menu, note carefully the blue banner at the top of the screen, when you first entre the SCART setup menu you can select the TV SCART setting, then without confirmation are moved to the VCR SCART setting (watch the blue banner at the top) the VCR SCART has less capability and is also dependant on what you select in the TV SCART so you may need to go through the process a couple of times first setting both to composite then go back thru and select RGB or Component. If RGB is offfed but no component then your box does not support component.

Which box do you have, all have product code on the bottom or rear.

PomDave

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#113957 1-Mar-2008 16:00

Thanks again Cyril.

Unfortuantely I am one of those poor soles with "the old Pace DSR600". In the advanced set up menu, it does offer RGB, but then refuses to allow you to choose it. Hmm.

I am going to have to pay Sky to get a newer box (pay them to be able to continue to pay them every month - Hmmm).

I want to make sure that the new box I get will do the job. Which one should I ask for if I want 2 separate SCART to component connections (one for decoder direct to TV and one for decoder direct to DVD recorder). I know I should really ask the SKY customer service helpline, but I have had conflicting advice, offers to discuss with technicians and call back which never happens etc etc. You seem to be far more helpful.

On a slightly related topic, will any of the existing decoders be any good for HDTV which SKY have promised for "later this year". I expect not (like Freeview) and that we will yet again be asked to pay SKY for the privilege of being able to pay them more money but I thought I would make sure I have a full picture.

Thanks in anticipation of your undoubtedly inciteful response.

PomDave

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#113958 1-Mar-2008 16:03

oops. I've just got to your p.s.

Can I assume from your comments regarding the VCR scart that I will not be able to have 2 separate SCARTS both running component on any decoder?

Spyware

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#113960 1-Mar-2008 16:09

Sky will provide new decoders that support DVB-S2 (change in modulation from DVB-S) H.264 (change in codec from mpeg2) for HD service. Probably won't appear until June or July at earliest.

You can't have component out on both scarts as decoders don't support it.

PomDave

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#113964 1-Mar-2008 16:25

Thanks Spyware.

Any tips on the best way to cable up to get best quality possible on both TV and DVD recorder given the limitations? The better qualityof the two should be on the DVD recorder if possible.

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richms

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#114020 2-Mar-2008 00:05

If you get sky to come out to change the decoder they will give you a scart to component cable, so the $40 to get it swapped gets you a cable delivered to you. In that context its not bad value at all.

Cables not too bad either.

Using RGB like this doesnt work too well on really old tvs, as mentioned they do no processing to the image at all before sending it to the tube. I gave up on it on my old dinosaur TV, looked fine for xbox games, but video just looked too fake on it whereas being able to change the colour on composite actually ended up looking better despite all the zipper artifacts. The RGB in was designed in the early 80s or whenever as a way for external decoders to overlay graphics, thats why the blanking line is an analog 75 ohm line so it can turn it on and off on a per pixel basis. Even on a recent philips the blacks were pretty crap on RGB from a sky, using component was better IMO.

Richard rich.ms

PomDave

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#114092 2-Mar-2008 12:34

Thanks everyone for all your helpful replies. In the short run it looks like a new decoder is the only way I would get a better picture.

However, with Sky going HD on some channels later in the year now I think it might be worth holding off and getting a new decoder at that point rather than paying twice. I think a read on a forum somewhere that the type of decoder has been chosen, although I may be getting it mixed up with Freeview. I will try to find that forum, but if anyone can provide a link I would appreciate it.

In any case does anyone know when Sky is going HD and how much it will cost (the Sky website is pretty useless in this regard).

cyril7

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#114094 2-Mar-2008 12:51

Hi Dave, here is a link to the Foxtel site, the SkyNZ MySky HDi is identical except for logos. The Sky HD service is meant to start July this year, no indication of costs, although Skys recent financial report indicated that rather than a one off cost line the MySky has there would be a subscription fee to pay for the rent of the box as well as the HD service.

Cyril

PomDave

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#114097 2-Mar-2008 13:01

Thanks Cyril.

For those intersted, the forum I was talking about is:
http://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=34&topicid=19577&page_no=2#114096

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