New Artisan, Dell LCD 37" Sky+ Connections

[Robinredbreast]

Hi,

I have a Dell 37" LCD TV, A Thomson Sky+ Digibox (all new) and am taking delivery of an Elonex Artisan this Thursday. I have read with concern the problems people are having connecting Sky+ to media PC's. Could anyone please advise me as to what is required cable/box or anything else, and how to connect the whole lot together please, before I get into apickle and waste a lot of money.

Redbreast

[springtide]

Not a Sky or Artisan user....

Whats the reason for connecting the Sky+ box to the HTPC? - I know this probably sounds like an obvious question....Where I'm leading is that Sky+ already offers you PVR functionality so you could just connect the Sky+ box to the LCD. Is the reason to connect the Sky+ box to the Artisan to improve quality or to record?

Basically there are a few options, but first a set of requirements are required ! :-)

BTW - What's the quality of the picture while using the Digital Tuner? Thinking at getting the 32", but not seem any reviews!

[Robinredbreast]

The reason for connecting is a) I want to be able to record from Sky+ to DVD on the Artisan, b)I would like to be able to browse Sky through the Artisan purely for convenience, c)If possible of course I would like the best quality picture I can get.

Currently the Sky+ box is connected directly to the LCD TV by a scart connection, which I have to say is excellent. The Dell TV to me seems a very good quality set with just about every connection you could think of. Is S-Video better than Scart? The Thomson Sky+ box only has S-Video and Scart Video output. 2 x Scart, 1 called TV & one called VCR

Hope you can help, thanks

Robinredbreast

[jonsayers]

Best use S-Video to S-Video on the Sky+ box.

[briles]

The Artisan does come with a variety of cables and connectors, and the s-video to s-video is one of them. It has a s-video to scart adaptor with the input/output switch. Best to take delivery, use the cables supplied to connect up, then assess and see where you can make better connections, but you will have enough to get you up and running, or at leat I did. Hope that helps.
Dave B.