Connecting two LCD televisions to standard Sky

[ecurran1969]

Hi all

I have a 37' Toshiba LCD television in the bedroom with standard Sky box in same room connected via scart lead.

I have a Samsung 32' LCD television in the lounge, feeding Sky television via a coax cable. The problem is the quality of the Sky broadcast to the Samsung LCD has dropped in quality alot. Is this because the signal is running down the coax ?

The way I have connected it;

The television aerial enters via the bedroom and is connected to the Sky box aerial in. The coax from the Sky box to the Samsung LCD connects to RF 1 out at the Toishiba LCD and then connects to the aerial in of the Samsung LCD. Do I need to connect a scart cable ( Samsung LCD is 7 metres from the Skybox ) from the Sky box to the Samsung LCD ?

Doesn't seem right ?

Have I connected the right way or can I improve the signal to the Samsung LCD.

Thank you very much.

Regards

ecurran

[JimBobVFR400]

The Sky+ has only one RGB scart, for the best picture on both sets then some sort of Scart distribution amp would be your best bet. 7M with a decent scart cable should be fine. You could use the VCR scart on the sky box but this would only give Composite video, still better than the RF signal, or a SVHS + 2 phonos > Scart cable if your downstairs TV ac cepts SVHS on one of the scarts.

Some possible products below

Scart distribution amp.
http://www.lektropacks.com/view_prod...ub1=18&show=64
SVHS cable, 10M
http://www.lektropacks.com/view_prod...ub1=29&show=29

[Mr Incredible]

If you connect the RF from the Sky box to the local LCD, how's the RF picture compared to the RF on the Sammy?

What type of coax cable do you have between the Sky box and the Sammy?

There is a possibility that the RF channel on the Sky box may get interfered with by the terrestrial signals. What channel number is the Sky box "transmitting" on?

To change the channel that Sky outputs on:


UHF tuning procedure

Connect your Sky box directly to the TV using a SCART lead if you have one. This will provide the best picture and sound quality and may help to resolve problems such as colours not displaying properly. Only attempt the UHF Tuning Procedure if you are familiar with tuning your TV set, as it's possible to leave your TV out of tune and unable to pick up programmes if you are unsuccessful.

1. Press services on your Sky remote control.
2. Highlight option 4 using the up/down arrows and press select.
3. Press (number) 0 then 1, then select.
4. Highlight option 4 and press select to display the RF Outlets menu.

Make sure that the RF Channel number is highlighted.

5. Use the number keypad on your Sky remote control to choose a channel number between 21 and 69.
6. Press the down arrow.

Please note that if you watch Sky on an RF connection, the picture will disappear when the RF channel number is changed.

7. Fine-tune your TV. You may need to refer to the manufacturer's instructions to do this.
8. When the services menu re-appears, highlight Save New Settings and press select.

If the picture is still poor, repeat this process, but choose a different channel between 21 and 69.

9. Press sky to return to normal viewing.
10. Your video recorder may now need to be re-tuned according to the manufacturer's instructions.

From: http://mysky.sky.com/portal/site/sky...icleId=2329810

[ecurran1969]

Hi

Thank you both for your helpful replies.

Jimbob, can a scart cable be run between the two televisions as there is the large connector both sides, I need to go through 2 walls. Or is there a version of scart where you can disconnect the large connector so that the cable can be fed through a wall ?

Thank you

Regards

ecurran1969

[JimBobVFR400]

Yes there are but AFAIK they come in 5M at the longest. The SVHS + 2RCA option might be easier to route though.

5M version Link

[ecurran1969]

Hi Jimbob

Thanks again for taking the time to reply.

The link you posted seems to be the way to go, will need a longer Scart though so I will fish around for one.

I was looking through the net yesterday & found a product made by MadNat. They are Baluns which require Cat5 cable and has scart connections at either end, product called a 500060 Scart balun transmitter & receiver.

Do you think this is over the top for the requirement I need ? I am a CCTV security Engineer so I have fitted CCTV baluns with Cat5 before & it seems to be the same sort of technology.

Thank you

ecurran1969

[JimBobVFR400]

Well it depends on how much you are spending. Personally with your experience and skills I would presume you are proficient with a soldering iron? I'd make my own scart. Its relatively straightforward and would allow easy cable routing.

The balums are a good product and do work well, but I have to say you do tend to pay for the privilage. remember unless sold as a pair you would 1 at each end. I'd certainly use them for longer or more complicated runs and its defemitely an option but 7M would be easily doable with a simple scart cable.

Remember you would need to ensure the Baluns you buy are capable of sending RGB Scart and Stereo audio, I've seen some that do just RGB scart without sound so you'd need seperate cables and/or baluns for the audio.

The Baluns you refer to seem to be composite or SVHS only and look to be about £42 each, needing a pair to work. You could use these via the seperate SVHS socket on the sky+ box without the extra expense of a buffer/splitter amplifier but RGB Scart is the best possible option if possible.