SkyTV and HDMI Issues

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networkn

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#175455 30-Jun-2015 14:50

Hi There!

About 18 months ago I installed a new Projector and they had to re-run a new HDMI Cable 1.4 into the roof. It had a jackpoint at each end for connecting to my amp and the projector itself, also with a dual cat5e port for ethernet.

We have a problem where when watching TV (It's not ALWAYS sky but frequently), the screen will go black, or I will get short periods of very fine static/snow (Visual not audio) on screen. Sometimes it will do this for 5 minutes on and off every few moments or minutes and then settle down, or othertimes I will unplug the cable between the amp and the jackpoint on the wall and it will resolve more or less immediately.

Is it likely the faceplate is faulty or is there likely any other explanation as to what I can do to resolve it?

timbosan

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#1334182 30-Jun-2015 15:07

Hi networkn,

I have a VERY similar problem, however quite a different setup. I have an Apple TV (V3) connected to my amp, then to my TV (Panasonic Plasma). When I have the Apple TV already on and change the input of the amp and TV to select the Apple TV, I get the same as you said:

"the screen will go black, or I will get short periods of very fine static/snow (Visual not audio) on screen. Sometimes it will do this for 5 minutes on and off every few moments or minutes"

I have to restart the Apple TV and its all fine. However I never got this with my Apple TV 2, and I just put it down to one of the annoying consequences of HDMI interfaces and the HDCP part. Perhaps try an HDCP remover?

I do NOT have any problem with Tivo, Igloo, PS3, XBox 360 or HTPC (most of which go through the amp, except Igloo and Tivo), just the Apple TV. I don't have any faceplates, just Apple TV -> AMP -> TV.

insane

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#1334190 30-Jun-2015 15:16

Yeah as mentioned above try a little CEC delete, my one is just a female to female adapter and short cable without pin 17 i think. Fixed similar issues I had between my Igloo and Receiver.

networkn

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#1334194 30-Jun-2015 15:22

insane: Yeah as mentioned above try a little CEC delete, my one is just a female to female adapter and short cable without pin 17 i think. Fixed similar issues I had between my Igloo and Receiver.

Sorry what is a CEC delete?

I do from memory get this very occasionally with my PS4 too.

timbosan

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#1334198 30-Jun-2015 15:27

insane: Yeah as mentioned above try a little CEC delete, my one is just a female to female adapter and short cable without pin 17 i think. Fixed similar issues I had between my Igloo and Receiver.

I don't think Apple TV's have CEC. But interesting idea.....

I actually mean an HDCP stripper. Discussed a few times on geekzone, available on ebay etc. Not sure as to their compatibility with Sky units though.

Dunnersfella

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#1334237 30-Jun-2015 15:48

timbosan: Hi networkn,

I have a VERY similar problem, however quite a different setup. I have an Apple TV (V3) connected to my amp, then to my TV (Panasonic Plasma). When I have the Apple TV already on and change the input of the amp and TV to select the Apple TV, I get the same as you said:

"the screen will go black, or I will get short periods of very fine static/snow (Visual not audio) on screen. Sometimes it will do this for 5 minutes on and off every few moments or minutes"

I have to restart the Apple TV and its all fine. However I never got this with my Apple TV 2, and I just put it down to one of the annoying consequences of HDMI interfaces and the HDCP part. Perhaps try an HDCP remover?

I do NOT have any problem with Tivo, Igloo, PS3, XBox 360 or HTPC (most of which go through the amp, except Igloo and Tivo), just the Apple TV. I don't have any faceplates, just Apple TV -> AMP -> TV.

What amplifier?
A firmware update may help, and I can only assume that you've tried different cables + re-routing the offending HDMI's.

To the OP, the use of wall plates for HDMI cables is problematic and I would never actually suggest using them... brush plates are your friend!
A little too late in the piece, I know...

networkn

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#1334241 30-Jun-2015 15:50

Dunnersfella:
timbosan: Hi networkn,

I have a VERY similar problem, however quite a different setup. I have an Apple TV (V3) connected to my amp, then to my TV (Panasonic Plasma). When I have the Apple TV already on and change the input of the amp and TV to select the Apple TV, I get the same as you said:

"the screen will go black, or I will get short periods of very fine static/snow (Visual not audio) on screen. Sometimes it will do this for 5 minutes on and off every few moments or minutes"

I have to restart the Apple TV and its all fine. However I never got this with my Apple TV 2, and I just put it down to one of the annoying consequences of HDMI interfaces and the HDCP part. Perhaps try an HDCP remover?

I do NOT have any problem with Tivo, Igloo, PS3, XBox 360 or HTPC (most of which go through the amp, except Igloo and Tivo), just the Apple TV. I don't have any faceplates, just Apple TV -> AMP -> TV.

What amplifier?
A firmware update may help, and I can only assume that you've tried different cables + re-routing the offending HDMI's.

To the OP, the use of wall plates for HDMI cables is problematic and I would never actually suggest using them... brush plates are your friend!
A little too late in the piece, I know...

What's a brush plate and how would that differ?

richms

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#1334247 30-Jun-2015 15:54

networkn:

What's a brush plate and how would that differ?

A wall plate adds 4 more connectors and an in between connection of the 2 sockets of the wall plate of "who knows what" impedance.

A brush plate lets you pull the cable from the wall/roof out to the device and closes around it with little brushes or a foam gasket to make a seal to stop wind/insects coming thru. An actual brushplate has brissles over a big hole, but there are better ones that have a snap apart plate which has 2 rows of semicicrcles that line up, and a hard foam in them so they seal properly around the cable when the 2 halves are pushed together.

Richard rich.ms

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Shop now for Lenovo laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

timbosan

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#1334255 30-Jun-2015 15:59

richms:
networkn:

What's a brush plate and how would that differ?

A wall plate adds 4 more connectors and an in between connection of the 2 sockets of the wall plate of "who knows what" impedance.

A brush plate lets you pull the cable from the wall/roof out to the device and closes around it with little brushes or a foam gasket to make a seal to stop wind/insects coming thru. An actual brushplate has brissles over a big hole, but there are better ones that have a snap apart plate which has 2 rows of semicicrcles that line up, and a hard foam in them so they seal properly around the cable when the 2 halves are pushed together.

I think @richms means one of these:

networkn

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#1334259 30-Jun-2015 16:03

Well I could potentially replace it with this at the amp end, but I couldn't at the projector end anyway.

I may just replace the current faceplate with a different brand, will cost less than $50 so easy for us to just try it and hope it works, if not I'll look at alternatives.

richms

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#1334276 30-Jun-2015 16:17

If you are just pushing 1080P thru it, then a cheap HDMI repeater might solve it. Put it in the cieling before the second wall plate.

Have one of these at a friends place half way on a 30m run (2 15m cables) and it works fine for that.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/2015-New-Mini-HDMI-Repeater-Extender-HDMI-Amplifier-Booster-130FT-40M-720p-1080p-1-65G-bps/32332611306.html

Richard rich.ms