Amstrad Sky HD (Contrast over HDMI) Update?

[jabbski]

The Amstrad Sky HD has been great so far except for its Contrast over HDMI issue.

The box however has been around since mid-November and I still haven't seen an update to fix this issue yet. Has anyone received any information from Sky as to when they may release a software update to address this issue?

I have let them know with two emails in December and a phone call to their technical faults department, but have not heard any solid confirmation from them to say they are attempting to find a fix.

Starting to get frustrating!

[Miss Chief]

What contrast issue? I've got one and haven't noticed or read anything about it?

[Basil Plumley]

Originally Posted by Skytech

What contrast issue? I've got one and haven't noticed or read anything about it?

There is an issue where the contrast on the Amstrad boxes is stuck on "high" - you can't adjust it to medium or low.
Though it physically tells you it's doing it, there is no movement in the actual contrast onscreen...

[Miss Chief]

That's the contrast in the menus, it doesn't affect the contrast of the actual TV viewing. use your TV for that!

[Basil Plumley]

Originally Posted by Skytech

That's the contrast in the menus, it doesn't affect the contrast of the actual TV viewing. use your TV for that!

But that then affects all your other sources if you are using the one input through an AV amp for example...

[Martin J.]

Originally Posted by Skytech

That's the contrast in the menus, it doesn't affect the contrast of the actual TV viewing. use your TV for that!

The contrast control effects the contrast of everything you view, not just the menus. The control on Amstrad boxes is still broken, and it's also broken on Pace boxes (low and high are both unwatchable).

The Thomson works. You can see how it effects the output with actual programmes here: Telly Toad - Sky Plus and Sky HD Contrast Setting

[kenedin]

Originally Posted by Martin J.

The Thomson works. You can see how it effects the output with actual programmes here: Telly Toad - Sky Plus and Sky HD Contrast Setting

Thanks. Works fine on my Thomson. I reduced contrast to 'low' and could see the difference immediately onscreen. Much better now. A touch more of the TV's own contrast, and SD/HD pq much better. No more 'washed out' images on SD.

[Minigill]

Never knew about the low contract with Thompson. Just tried mine from med, and its certainly different. Need to live with it, but the colours have suddenly come alive on my Pion 428, maybe have to to adjust the brightness on the tv.

[Martin J.]

Originally Posted by Minigill

Need to live with it, but the colours have suddenly come alive on my Pion 428, maybe have to to adjust the brightness on the tv.

Remember that brightness controls the black level, the peak white is controlled by the contrast parameter. Set the box to low, then increase the display brightness until white is just below clipping and that should be just about spot-on.

[jabbski]

Does anyone either way have any insider news as to whether there will be an Amstrad update soon? Sod a new EPG, all I want is to see this issue corrected!