RGB problems with new TV

brewerdave

almillar wrote: »

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.

Don't want to open the old can of worms....but sorry,have to disagree - the piccie on our SD Sky+ box is perfectly adequate via SCART on our 51" screen sitting as we do, more then 10 ft from the screen, ...and it saves us ~ £10 pm on the sub!!:D

Kurtis_Blue

brewerdave wrote: »

Don't want to open the old can of worms....but sorry,have to disagree - the piccie on our SD Sky+ box is perfectly adequate via SCART on our 51" screen sitting as we do, more then 10 ft from the screen, ...and it saves us ~ £10 pm on the sub!!:D

You cant disagree that the picture quality is far better with HDMI, than scart? this is measurable and provable fact.

However not every one cares greatly about picture quality.

I bet though that if you had it set up correctly for a week or so you would find it hard to go back, remember you don't need to pay the HD sub for the main fta HD channels and HD sky boxes go for a few quid on eBay saw a brand new 500gb boxed one go for £26 last night.

[Deleted User]

Kurtis_Blue wrote: »

I bet though that if you had it set up correctly for a week or so you would find it hard to go back, remember you don't need to pay the HD sub for the main fta HD channels and HD sky boxes go for a few quid on eBay saw a brand new 500gb boxed one go for £26 last night.

In addition, modern decoders connected via HDMI also upscale the picture from standard definition channels which (while hardly HD) is far superior to anything provided by an old decoder connected via SCART.

almillar

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...

I was pointing out how very cheap it would be to upgrade - extra money, but good value IMO for something that gets used daily.
Brewerdave - you missed my point - even without paying for the HD pack, and even without a subscription at all, you can still avoid SCART, have a better box, and get some HD channels FREE.
Kurtis - I actually have to say I don't think SCART was the problem in my case, it was either bandwidth or decoding - it was blocky and full of artifacts - SCART, if anything, would round this off and hide it compared to HDMI.

InsideInsurance

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

In addition, modern decoders connected via HDMI also upscale the picture from standard definition channels which (while hardly HD) is far superior to anything provided by an old decoder connected via SCART.

LCD/ Plasma can only show at their native resolution so either SD is shown as a small square or its upscaled and all of these TVs have their own scaler built in.

There is an advantage of a purely digital pathway but dont get caught by the "upscale" con. The question comes down to if the Sky HD box or the TV has the better upscaler built in (or AVR if you add that to the mix)

[Deleted User]

InsideInsurance wrote: »

There is an advantage of a purely digital pathway but dont get caught by the "upscale" con. The question comes down to if the Sky HD box or the TV has the better upscaler built in (or AVR if you add that to the mix)

Don't forget we are discussing the difference between an old Sky decoder connected via SCART and a modern HD version connected via HDMI.
I realise the TV itself will upscale, but with an old box connected, the TV won't be receiving quality signals in the first place.

brewerdave

In terms of pure physics then obviously HD signals via HDMI are better than SD via SCART -however a lot depends on expectations and eye sight -I was round at my daughter's on Wednesday night -they have a 47" Samsung attached to a SKY HD+box -sitting on their sofa about 15 ft away from the screen,I didn't find the quality awe inspiringly better than I'm getting at home -so no upgrade for me unless this box goes bang. As to free to air HD -take it or leave it - the only thing I MIGHT upgrade for,is sport, and that would require the increased Sky sub.:)

Moneymaker

pineapple wrote: »

It seems that my Panasonic box is known for this particular fault on the RGB setting.

It is indeed. In fact I have a copy of the eBook "Repairing Sky Digital Receivers", which devotes two pages (57-58) to explaining the cause of the fault in the Panasonic TU-DSB31 model. It was apparently a design fault and Michael of "Digifix" used to offer a fix but, of course, it's way too old to be spending money on, now.

InsideInsurance

Moneyineptitude wrote: »

Don't forget we are discussing the difference between an old Sky decoder connected via SCART and a modern HD version connected via HDMI.
I realise the TV itself will upscale, but with an old box connected, the TV won't be receiving quality signals in the first place.

Hence my other comment about keeping a purely digital pathway rather than going through a DAC and then back through a ADC.

Not sure what version of HDMI sky boxes use these days or what video format to be able to compare with RGB Scart but knowing Sky itll be YCbCr in which case whilst better than RGB it isnt night and day difference

[Deleted User]

InsideInsurance wrote: »

Not sure what version of HDMI sky boxes use these days or what video format to be able to compare with RGB Scart but knowing Sky itll be YCbCr in which case whilst better than RGB it isnt night and day difference

I was actually using an old Sky box in exactly the manner which the OP was when I bought a new flat panel TV to replace my ageing CRT. When I received the new digibox and connected via HDMI, the difference was indeed "Night and Day" even for standard definition channels.
I have to say though that there are a few channels (broadcasting in standard definition only) which never look good on any television connected to any decoder.