[nashm]

Hi,
I'm totally baffled by the following situation. I can't seem to find any answers despite trawling through the site here (and also the relevant archives) I'm now totally frustrated. Any help or advice would be MUCH appreciated!!!

So, I'm running a Philips 37PFL7662D as my screen. I have 2 Sky HD boxes - one Amstrad (new in August 09) and one Thomson(Aug 08). I have tried both of these boxes with the screen and get the same problem.

The basic problem that I am experiencing is that the screen does not seem to recognise the Sky HD 1080 signal. When the Sky box's HD output is set to Auto or 1080 and I switch to an HD channel, the picture switches to 1080 BUT appears in the top half of the screen and is distorted, the bottom half shows a blue screen. When the picture appears it is clear ie you can see the broadcast but not the whole picture. This has happened on both my new and old HD boxes. I also think that when HD was first installed the engineer got another box to see whether it was a problem with this. I therefore conclude that there is not a fault with the boxes (although there is obviously a problem!)

As soon as the setting is changed to 720 on the Hd output the picture appears normally, but I am not getting 'full' HD.

I have also connected a PS3 to the TV and am able to run this at 1080p, this indicates to me that the screen is able to cope with full 1080 (as the TV manual and sticker on the front tells me!) Within the settings for the TV, I am able to detect that when the Sky is set to 1080 / Auto, the signal is seen as a 1080 though the picture is not correct (description as above!)

I have connected the sky boxes with the HDMI leads that a) came with the box b) that I purchased separately (a Cambridge Audio number) c) the HDMI lead with the PS3. and still get the same problem! I therefore conclude that the HDMI lead is not to blame. I have also connected to different HDMI slots with differing leads.

After reading the information on here, I went out today and bought composite leads to connect straight from HD box to the screen. The people in Richer Sounds also said that there were aware of compatibility issues between Philips and Sky HD and he thought that the composite cables would solve the problem. So, I have tried the composite leads on the Thomson box and this has NOT solved the problem . The Amstrad box does not have composite out and therefore I can't determine whether this would work - although the combinations that I have now tried seem to indicate that the connectivity is not the problem.

It's really frustrating, I think I've exhausted the options that I Can think of.

I also have a Yamaha AV centre which I have not integrated with the picture yet - I can't imagine that this would make any difference, sending the HD picture to that and then onto the screen to see if it processes it any differently. It handles the Sky sound via Optical without too much of a problem.

Can anyone shed any light on this situation. 3 different Sky engineers have been no help, hours on the phone to Sky (obviously no help ) and so far an internet trawl that has found no one with the same problem.

I *think* I know it's a put up with it really, it simply frustrates me that it shouldn't have to be this way! I think the next thing to do will be to ring Philips and see what they have to say, the screen is under 2 years old after all. It's also got an extended warranty on it.... I guess I could give this one to the wife and go and choose a new one !!

What I don't understand is that the screen will display the PS3 at 1080 without a problem - there are settings on the Philips' menu system that only appear when there is a 1080 input detected and it appears when both the PS3 and the HD box are connected. When I access the menu system with the picture distorted (on the Sky input) this has also become disrupted - perhaps a clue that it is the TV?

But why doesn't it do it with the PS3?

Is this a compatibility issue with Sky (and possibly a known problem?), a problem with the TV (which could be solved by an update from Philips?) or a problem with the encryption from the Sky box (I assume it can not be a handshake problem because exactly the same happens with composite and HDMI leads)

Anyone? Please?

Thoughts, suggestions, answers on a postcard? Thanks Myles.

[Joe Fernand]

Hello nashm

Had a quick look at the User Manual for your Display and have to say its clear as mud!

See http://www.p4c.philips.com/files/3/3...05_dfu_eng.pdf

The Display is not marked as HD Ready and there is no clear table of what it does and doesn't support at 50Hz via HDMI.

Lots of non HD Ready displays will cater for 1080p, 1080i and 720p at 60Hz (which covers you for the PS3) but not cover everything at 50Hz.

SKY HD is 1080i50 for HD channels - its perfectly feasible that your display will only do 720p50 and you are stuck with letting SKY 'downgrade' the signal to 720p before the TV scales it to fill its 1920x1080 pixels.

Joe

PS If your SKY box has Analogue HD outputs (3RCA) you may find the display supports 1080i50 on that Input.

[nashm]

Joe,

thanks for that info. I have tried it with component leads and get exactly the same problem.

I spoke to Philips this morning, they have suggested changing the Sky Box to either a Samsung or Pace to see whether that makes a difference. I guess that's the next port of call. They said if that didn't work then the screen would need to have its firmware updating. As the machine is out of manufacturers warranty it would need to be done under the extended warranty that I have with Richer Sounds - they said it should be covered. It's still very annoying!

Thanks for the help though, I think it must be to do with the 50/60hz issue, that's the only logical explanation that I can see.

Myles