RGB problems with new TV

pineapple

Hi
Got Freesat from Sky with an old Panasonic box and a new Samsung TV - connected via scart. Everything great apart from pixelation and break up on Sky news. Which was odd as the one channel I could get even in bad weather was Sky!
However when tinkering with the Sky remote settings, I discovered that by switching the picture format from RGB (which I used with the old CRT) to PAL the problem was sorted.
I don't understand. Does this mean the new TV is formatted just to work with PAL?

Moto2

Does the scart input on the TV need configuring for RGB?
Some TVs have specific scarts for RGB

I not bothered looking at anything modern re this but I've seen it plenty of times in the past

[Deleted User]

Do be aware that watching via a SCART set to "PAL", you are getting the worst possible standard Definition on a TV designed for viewing HD.

Moto2 is correct that back in the day a lot of TVs had only one RGB SCART. What model of Samsung TV do you actually have?


Time to upgrade the Sky box and use HDMI instead of SCART. If you are viewing only Freesat from Sky, might be an idea to spend a few quid on a proper Freesat PVR which will also give you the ability to pause and record. You'll also get free HD channels from the BBC, ITV and CH4 and you'll forget all about RGB standard definition.

almillar

As above, most TVs only have 1 SCART that does RGB, and it's usually SCART 1. If Sky isn't plugged into that, do it now.
Sky are also being misleading calling that setting PAL. It should really just be called Composite, which is the same signal that would be sent down a yellow phono wire, ie very poor.
Plus, an old SD Sky box WILL look blocky and rubbish on a new TV. I just set one up the other day, and they must have squeezed the bandwidth or something as it was awful and blocky. The PAL setting might mask this a bit because it can't give you so much detail.

pineapple

Thanks everyone. My TV (Samsung UE284000) has only one scart and Samsung has confirmed that it is RGB. Most TVs I looked at had only one scart and at least one had none. I think HDMI is becoming the standard.
It seems that my Panasonic box is known for this particular fault on the RGB setting. In fact on switching to PAL, the reception problems on a few channels (that I had thought were down to other issues) have actually disappeared. But you are right about PAL being inferior - though I've actually managed to get a surprisingly good picture by adjusting the settings. Pending the arrival of a new box which I will connect via HDMI!

yangptangkipperbang

almillar wrote: »

Sky are also being misleading calling that setting PAL. It should really just be called Composite,

..........which explains why I couldn't make head nor tail of your original post...........:D. "PAL" or "RGB" just didn't make sense in the scenario you were describing.

[Deleted User]

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

..........which explains why I couldn't make head nor tail of your original post...........:D. "PAL" or "RGB" just didn't make sense in the scenario you were describing.

On a old Sky box the SCART settings were either RGB or composite, but Sky decided to designate the latter as PAL (probably because there were far fewer letters rather than to deliberately mislead)

yangptangkipperbang

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

On a old Sky box the SCART settings were either RGB or composite, but Sky decided to designate the latter as PAL (probably because there were far fewer letters rather than to deliberately mislead)

They would have been better calling it CAT or DOG.....sounds as though who ever decided to call it PAL knew as much about TV as my CAT

[Deleted User]

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

sounds as though who ever decided to call it PAL knew as much about TV as my CAT

But PAL is dogfood isn't it?;)

almillar

This problem will go away when the new box arrives. I don't really undersand anyone who has an HDTV, sticking with an SD Sky box. You can have a SkyHD+ box for £60 (look locally on Gumtree or eBay) which will give you a better quality picture and programme guide.

[Deleted User]

almillar wrote: »

I don't really undersand anyone who has an HDTV, sticking with an SD Sky box.

It's an additional cost and this is a money-saving site. However, I have to agree that the OP will be amazed at the difference in picture quality a more modern decoder will provide...