Help!!!!!

[shack]

I don't know if this is a fault but at the moment my Sky box is running through a 4:3 television in 4:3L letterbox mode. Since I have only had it just over a week I want to know if it is a fault. The letterbox borders at the top and bottom of the screen are blue! Now being though I used to have Sky I know they used to be plain old black which is a bit easier on the eyes for waching films etc. The other night I was watching a film on Sky movies, when I changed the channel and then moved it back they black!! I have changed connections and settings to no avail. Being though it is not even two weeks old I was going to get it replaced but before I do this I just wanted to check if any one knows if this is a fault???

Any ideas???

p.s. Do I call Sky direct or the local specialists who installed it?

[Starburst]

How does the TV react if you feed it a letterbox image from a DVD?
It sounds to me more likely the TV itself is deciding what sort of "black" to show when there is no picture since the digibox if it was having colour issues would not limit it to just a handful of scan lines at the top and bottom.

[shack]

just tried it on a new set with different scart cable and same results

[shack]

Who do I call?

Sky or the independant who installed it?

I just know they will try and offer me a refurb box, but for something thats just under two weeks old I expect a new one

[FRANTIC FRANC]

Hey, I've never seen this one before! You are right the letterbox mode on the skybox is in black. The only time I've seen different colours is on a Panasonic TV whereby you could choose the colour of the borders in the TV's menu but that was on a widescreen tv. If it happenss again press the tv button on your rcu (this will switch the sky output to PAL ((if it is currently in RGB mode that is)) and see if it changes colour) If it does then suspect scart or scart sockets on the tv or digibox. However if your rcu doesn't work the volume on your tv then you will need to go into the menu and change it to PAL there instead. Cheers, Franc

[Anuj]

I've just come onto AV forums to look for help regarding the exact same problem.
I have a Toshiba TV which has been working fine for ages, my box was replaced this morning under my extended warranty (Nationwide Digital Satellite). They replaced my old Grundig with a new Thomson.
Now the widescreen bars are blue and I can't change it!!
It cannot be the TV as it was working fine before the box was changed, but I don't know what it is.

Any ideas?

[Anuj]

I found out how to fix it!! Go to BBC 101 and press "text" on your Sky Remote, then press the "Sky" button to exit text.
Once you've done that, it should be fine - I didn't beleive it would work when I read it, but it did

[shack]

Originally Posted by Anuj

I found out how to fix it!! Go to BBC 101 and press "text" on your Sky Remote, then press the "Sky" button to exit text.
Once you've done that, it should be fine - I didn't beleive it would work when I read it, but it did

It only works for while mate. I have had may box replaced so it isn't a hardware fault! From what I know when they (Sky or independant) set up the boxes they default them to 4:3 standard i.e non letterbox so people don't notice it, either that or no one has 4:3 tv's any more!

[davemurgatroyd2]

Originally Posted by shack

I don't know if this is a fault but at the moment my Sky box is running through a 4:3 television in 4:3L letterbox mode. Since I have only had it just over a week I want to know if it is a fault. The letterbox borders at the top and bottom of the screen are blue! Now being though I used to have Sky I know they used to be plain old black which is a bit easier on the eyes for waching films etc. The other night I was watching a film on Sky movies, when I changed the channel and then moved it back they black!! I have changed connections and settings to no avail. Being though it is not even two weeks old I was going to get it replaced but before I do this I just wanted to check if any one knows if this is a fault???

Any ideas???

p.s. Do I call Sky direct or the local specialists who installed it?

What make/model of dodgibox?

I have heard of this problem but only so far on Thompson boxes, certainly all 3 of my Pace boxes and my friends Amstrad are black.

[shack]

Originally Posted by davemurgatroyd2

What make/model of dodgibox?

I have heard of this problem but only so far on Thompson boxes, certainly all 3 of my Pace boxes and my friends Amstrad are black.

Yeah it's a Thomson DS14214C!

Have switched it for my old Pace 2500 and thats much better!