No audio with new Mysky HDi HDMI Dolby setting

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Kiwiwolf

69 posts

Master Geek

# 45387 1-Nov-2009 18:02

Probably a silly question from a techo phobe. I have Mysky HDi connected to my Panasonic 42 inch telly via an HDMI cable and a Panasonic wireless home theatre via another HDMI cable. I use an RCA audio cable to feed the audio from my telly back to the home theatre.

I noticed that the volume levels from all the TV programmes through the home theatre were much much lower than when playing dvd's and I need to almost have the volume controls up to full.

I them stumbled across the new HDMI setting on the Mysky HDi box that allows you to change from Mpeg/PCM to Dolby. I changed it to Dolby and this really reased the volume but unfortunately killed the audio altogether on TV 3, Sky Moves 1 and 2 i.e. the HD channels with the exception of TV 1 and 2 which still worked.

What am I doing wrong? Do I need an optical audio cable instead of RCA and if so will I then be able to have increased volume on ALL channels includung the HD one's.

allstarnz

1699 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

# 269132 1-Nov-2009 23:30

you need to run the audio via an optical or coaxial cable. RCA will only do two channels.

you didn't used to be able to do surround sound via the HDMI cable, but I understand that has changed now.

Doesn't sound like you have it set up correctly. TV1 and TV2 don't have Dolby sound, only 2 channel like the SD channels are. Sky Sport 1, Sky Sport 2, TV3, Sky Movies 1 and Sky Movies 2 all do 5 channel.

Dingbatt

4131 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

# 269241 2-Nov-2009 12:04

What you are doing by setting your MySky to HDMI Dolby is asking the your TV to take a Dolby Digital signal (via hdmi) and decode it and then output it (via RCA L/R) to speakers. Your TV probably doesn't have a DD decoder so what you get is.....nothing. If you don't have a digital optical out from your TV (hence you using RCA connectors) then you will need to leave the MySky HDMI setting on PCM. As allstarnz pointed out you need to run an optical or coax direct from MySky to the HT Amp, but what that will mean is having to manually select audio source when you change inputs.
If you do have an optical audio out on your TV you should probably be using that in preference to the RCA connection. Even if you do, I don't believe that the TV will pass through digital audio from the HDMI to the optical out.

Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

Kiwiwolf

69 posts

Master Geek

# 269360 2-Nov-2009 18:47

Thanks to both of you for your help.

My TV does have a optical output and my HT can also decode DD according to the specs. I also see there is an SPDIF setting on the HDi box. Given that if I set the SPDIF to Dolby and run the optical cable between the HDi and HT would all channels then be played without having to change anything manually each time.

Dingbatt

4131 posts

Uber Geek

Lifetime subscriber

# 269383 2-Nov-2009 19:34

What are the models of the HT and TV?
Do you do all your TV watching via Sky?
Does the HT have an HDMI IN (or just OUT to the TV)?

Since you have an HDMI between the TV and the HT you may be be able to activate the Viera-link which at the very least will allow you to set up the HT so it turns on with the TV. My Panasonic TV is connected to the AV receiver via hdmi and also digital optical. When AV (hmdi1) is selected on the TV, the receiver uses the digital (spdif) input from MySky to get its signal. When TV (freeview) is selected on the TV the receiver uses the digital optical from the TV for its signal. The change between the two modes is signalled via the Viera-link so no manual changing is required.
I'm assuming since there is an hdmi between the HT and the TV then it probably has a DVD or BD player built in, so it might not be quite as simple because it is likely to switch to the disk player when you go to AV. I have just been trying to set up a friend's Sony HT/Sony TV and have found the Bravia-Synch function really frustrating to configure for this very reason.

Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

Kiwiwolf

69 posts

Master Geek

# 269514 3-Nov-2009 08:36

The TV is a Panasonic TH-42PY800AZ and the HT/DVD is a Panasonic Wireless SC-PT865.

Yep I do all of th TV watching via Sky.

The HT only has an HDMI out.

I do hace Viera link set up so that I can turn the TV and the HT on and off at the same time and also control the HT speakers via the TV remote.

Hdi is connected to the TV via HDMI1
HT is connected to the TV via HDMI2
RCA from TV to HT

I change the HT to Aux when watching TV.

Dingbatt

4131 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

# 269539 3-Nov-2009 10:15

From what I can tell by looking at page 34 of your TV manual and page 30 of your HT manual you should have the HT turning off with the TV and have the volume control using the TV remote. The HT manual says it doesn't switch on with the TV but you indicate above that it does. If you turn the equipment to standby, when you start it up again is it in exactly the same mode (channels, audio settings, etc)?
If you run an digital optical cable from your MySky to the HT (I can't see a spdif socket in the manual) and set MySky spdif to Dolby. Then by selecting D-IN on your HT remote you should get DD sound through your HT speakers. Viera-link should have muted your TV speakers when you set it to Home-Cinema.
Note you won't be able to run an optical cable from your TV to the HT because the socket is occupied by the MySky cable. I don't believe this is any great loss because the PY800 doesn't do freeview so its optical out doesn't add much over the L/R RCA cables.
If the system remains in D-IN after coming out of standby then you should be able to enjoy MySky DD audio from your HT system while controlling the volume with the TV remote.
What may upset the settings is if you select analogue TV because it appears from the manuals that the TV will signal the change to the HT and it will use the digital optical socket expecting to get an audio signal from the TV (it will be MySky). Because of the improvement in picture quality (and sound with these config changes) you will probably stick solely to MySky anyway.
All of the above assumes your PY800 operates kind of like my PZ850, so good luck, I hope it helps.

Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

Kiwiwolf

69 posts

Master Geek

# 269714 3-Nov-2009 18:38

As long as I power up and down the tv, I still have control over the HT and yes the TV speakers are muted. When I power down the HT the Viera menu setting on the TV reverts back from Home Cinema to TV.

There is an optical conector on the HD.

I will get hold of an optical cable. What $$$ are typical for one of these?

Many thanks for your time. You should do this for a living!!!

clevedon

1013 posts

Uber Geek

# 269863 4-Nov-2009 07:35

We have basically the same setup and instead of using the Viera link, just got a Harmony 785 universal remote - does it all with one button.

Dingbatt

4131 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

# 270074 4-Nov-2009 16:31

Kiwiwolf: As long as I power up and down the tv, I still have control over the HT and yes the TV speakers are muted. When I power down the HT the Viera menu setting on the TV reverts back from Home Cinema to TV.

There is an optical conector on the HD.

I will get hold of an optical cable. What $$$ are typical for one of these?

Many thanks for your time. You should do this for a living!!!

I wouldn't spend a fortune on an optical cable. In fact I have used ones as simple as this one

http://alkrisshop.shopnz.biz/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=600_1289&products_id=7298&osCsid=b636d5543c2a459470748e65b3825102

But you should be able to get a reasonable one for $40-50.

Clevedon's suggestion about a universal remote is worth considering. However you can probably do everything you will want to with just the TV and MySky remotes, and it may be simpler for your family to understand.

As for doing doing this for a living, being paid for it would kind of take the fun out of it.

Areas of Geek interest: Home Theatre, HTPC, Android Tablets & Phones, iProducts.

manta

249 posts

Master Geek
Inactive user

# 270086 4-Nov-2009 17:01

I too have a Pana HD and Pana HD so will look at going optical for Dolby Digital. Thanks for the pointers!

About 6 months ago I bought the Logitech Harmony One and this has replaced the MySky HDi remote, the TV remote, the HT remote (which was still needed to watch DVD or listen to the radio etc), and the VCR remote. Once I got it set up correctly (which was pretty easy) my wife can easily operate the whole setup and so can my kids (aged 5 to 11); we could not now be without the Harmony One and I do strongly reccomend it if you're getting remote overload!