Black Sky+ Box.

[chief barker]

Having taken delivery of my new plasma and home cinema kit, which is all black is it possible to buy a black Sky+ box? to match.

I really don't see the need to upgrade to SkyHD at the moment. Or maybe I could get a local car repairers to spray it gloss black.

Maybe there are kits like the xbox 360 to customise it.

[numberonecoach]

Hi

I'm sure i have seen some black Sky+ boxes flying around on Ebay. Just purchased my Sky+ Box and installed myself today.

Very happy with it and couldn't believe how easy it was to install.

[Mooney]

Originally Posted by chief barker

Having taken delivery of my new plasma and home cinema kit, which is all black is it possible to buy a black Sky+ box? to match.

I really don't see the need to upgrade to SkyHD at the moment. Or maybe I could get a local car repairers to spray it gloss black.

Maybe there are kits like the xbox 360 to customise it.

Just Buy a SKY HD box off eBay. You don't have to get the HD sub.

[alternate]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/THE-FIRST-BLAC...QQcmdZViewItem

you can get just the replacement bits for £59

[Phaedrus68]

Originally Posted by Mooney

Just Buy a SKY HD box off eBay. You don't have to get the HD sub.

Can you still get your normal Sky+ channels & functionality if you do this?

Mark

[davemurgatroyd2]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus68

Can you still get your normal Sky+ channels & functionality if you do this?

Mark

Yes no problem all you need to do is ring Sky and pair your subscription card to the HD box - don't bother telling them it is an HD box and if they realise it is an HD box (not very likely) just tell them you do not have an HD TV yet and od not wish to pay an HD sub yet. You will also get BBC1 HD and Channel 4 HD (and probably ITV HD soon) for free.

[Phaedrus68]

I don't currently have Sky, so I'd be a new customer.

This is interesting.

Thanks,

Mark

[Phaedrus68]

Should you still connect the Sky HD box to your AV receiver via HDMI, even though it's only SD signal?

If yes, I assume that'd be the only output from the Sky HD box - there'd be no need to connect from it to the TV?

The connection to the TV would be made from the AV receiver?


Thanks,

Mark

[Stevenage Neil]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus68

Should you still connect the Sky HD box to your AV receiver via HDMI, even though it's only SD signal?

If yes, I assume that'd be the only output from the Sky HD box - there'd be no need to connect from it to the TV?

The connection to the TV would be made from the AV receiver?


Thanks,

Mark

Depends on where your AV receiver is situated. My AV receiver is situated across the room from the TV/digibox and my preference is HDMI from Sky box to TV and optical from Sky box to AV receiver.

Neil

[Phaedrus68]

I assume that's cos you don't want a long HDMI cable?

If all components are situated such that no single cable needs to be longer than 1 or 2 metres, would just HDMI suffice?

What I really want to know is if there's anything wrong with connecting a Sky HD box via HDMI if it's only receiving SD signal?

Thanks,

Mark

[Stevenage Neil]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus68

I assume that's cos you don't want a long HDMI cable?

What I really want to know is if there's anything wrong with connecting a Sky HD box via HDMI if it's only receiving SD signal?

Thanks,

Mark

No. As stated in my previous response my only connection to the TV is HDMI.

Neil

[Broadz]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus68

Should you still connect the Sky HD box to your AV receiver via HDMI, even though it's only SD signal?

A couple of points here.

One, it isn't only receiving an SD signal, it is a Sky HD box and therefore can receive high definition broadcasts (BBC HD, C4 HD, Luxe HD) whether you subscribe to Sky HD (the HD Mix) or not. If you choose to not watch the high definition channels then that is up to you - but don't think that your box is not capable of receiving them just because you aren't subscribing to Sky HD. Everybody else who owns a Sky HD box doesn't have a scart connection as well as a HDMI connection to their TV, just in case they happen to want to watch an SD broadcast. Some people do - some people think that scart gives a better SD signal than HDMI - but most people use HDMI for transmitting all programmes from Sky box to TV.

Two, if you only use HDMI to connect your Sky HD box to your amp, don't expect to hear DD5.1 on the channels which are broadcasting in digital surround sound. HDMI does not carry a full DD5.1 signal, only stereo. To hear full surround sound you need to use an optical cable between your Sky HD box and your amp - same as on a Sky+ box. By all means use HDMI for sending the pictures, but use optical for sending the audio.

[Phaedrus68]

Originally Posted by Stevenage Neil

No. As stated in my previous response my only connection to the TV is HDMI.

Neil

Oookay...

I read it wrong.

Originally Posted by Broadz

...if you only use HDMI to connect your Sky HD box to your amp, don't expect to hear DD5.1 on the channels which are broadcasting in digital surround sound. HDMI does not carry a full DD5.1 signal, only stereo. To hear full surround sound you need to use an optical cable between your Sky HD box and your amp - same as on a Sky+ box. By all means use HDMI for sending the pictures, but use optical for sending the audio.

I gather this point is just in relation to broadcast HD and not Blu-ray or HD DVDs? I thought HDMI could carry 5.1 Dolby? Wasn't the thrill of HDMI that it was "one cable for everything"?


Thanks for the replies,

Mark

[Stevenage Neil]

http://news.digitaltrends.com/talk-b...-audio-for-now

[Broadz]

Originally Posted by Phaedrus68

I gather this point is just in relation to broadcast HD and not Blu-ray or HD DVDs?

Don't even think it's in relation to broadcast HD. I think it's just in relation to Sky HD. Sky expect you to connect your HD box to your TV using HDMI (which won't be DD5.1 compatible). And to your amp using optical (which will be DD5.1 compatible).

I don't know whether any of the Freesat HD boxes output full DD5.1 through their HDMI...