Getting the best from HD

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Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#33783 12-May-2009 10:06

Yesterday I had My Sky HDI installed but we have not really noticed any improvement in the picture quality.

Previously, the sky signal went from the Sky decoder to my Sony DVD recorder/player via a SCART cable, then to my Sony Bravia TV via an HDMI cable.

I told the installer that I wanted to keep my DVD player “in the loop” as I run a component cable (YRW) to my PC to enable me to record and edit Formula One races and then burn them onto DVD – OK so I am a nutter.

We watch TV through the DVD and change channels with the Sky remote.

I believe the HDMI cable on the DVD player goes to the HDMI 1 port on the TV.

The My Sky decoder that was installed yesterday is connected to the DVD recorder via the SCART cable with an HDMI cable direct from the decoder to the HDMI 2 port on my TV.

To get the full value of HD, should we be watching TV via the HDMI 2 connection, and if so, do I have to change the input settings on the TV itself?

Batman

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#214300 12-May-2009 10:28

i dont believe the channels you're naming are delivered in HD via mdskyhdi. yet.

Klathman

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#214303 12-May-2009 10:39

I'm not sure that you'll be able to get HD across the scart cable at all but definitely some channels have the copy protection flag on which stops it being shown in HD across an analogue connection.

The only way to guarantee that you're getting HD from a sky STB is to use HDMI for the whole chain.

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#214310 12-May-2009 11:07

Joker, please re-read my OP. I didn't mention channels

I realise that the F1 races are not broadcast in HD. We viewed some advertised HD programmes last night, but frankly, the picture quality was no better than what we have previously been watching - a high quality picture

Klathman, are you saying that I should change my setup to be direct from the decoder to the TV, rather than from the DVD recorder?

CYaBro

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#214314 12-May-2009 11:18

Everything is connected OK and the setup still allows you to record on your DVD recorder for editing etc.
But to view anything in HD you will need to switch the TV to HDMI2 so that you are viewing a direct HDMI connection from the MySkyHDi box.
But, as you already stated, you probably won't notice any difference unless the channel you are watching is in HD and you are viewing on HDMI2 input on the TV.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#214329 12-May-2009 12:11

Thanks Bro

I will try that out when I get home tonight

Klathman

301 posts

Ultimate Geek

#214333 12-May-2009 12:21

If your dvd recorder supports HDMI pass-through then use HDMI to the recorder and then hdmi to the TV.

Otherwise you'll need HDMI direct to the TV to guarantee HD on the TV.

The joys of HD. Just because you have the right equipment doesn't mean you'll be "allowed" to see it in HD. If you try to use any nasty devices in the middle that aren't HCCP compliant it will detect your trickery and force you back to SD. Only some DVI connection and most HDMI connections are HCCP compliant and if you put a device in the middle of the cables that can't do pass-through then you're out of luck as well.

Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#214363 12-May-2009 14:13

Thanks.

A quick read of my DVD manual late last night makes me think that I have not setup the "loop" process correctly.

That might expalin why I received the "Due to HDCP support not being detected from your TV this program cannot be viewed", message at one stage.

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Zippity

683 posts

Ultimate Geek

#214493 12-May-2009 22:00

Problem solved

I setup my TV to accept the HDMI2 cable directly linked to the My Sky decoder and everything is now working as it was intended to do

HD looks terrific.

I have also retained the HDMI1 connection to my DVD recorder which is also linked to my PC