Lazy, lazy Sky?

[admin_exported]

This is my first post here, though I have been following the comments in this forum (and other forums) in search of finding out the truth about Sky.

My parents have ordered the Beosystem 3 and have also ordered Sky HD+. I`ve downloaded the userguide from the bang-olufsen website and have noticed a potential problem. While the system has a choice of 6 SPDIF inputs (linked tfrom AV 1 tthrough to AV 6) it appears that neither can be configured to work with the four HDMI sockets that would be used to connect the Sky HD box.
The way I understand this to work, is that by connecting Sky through HDMI, high definition pictures will be received but the 5.1 surround sound will not output over HDMI, and as far as I can tell from the userguide, there is no way of a work-around.

Naturally, I am very annoyed about this, both with Sky and B&O, and this is where I would ask WHF to give some insight into what can be expected from either company, especially Sky as this appears a common problem for a considerable length of time on all the forums. Personally, if it was my choice of equipment I would not choose B&O - but as it is my parents decision they should at least have the option of being able to receive the full deal from Sky through a single, modern connection.

Given WHF`s vast wealth of experience, influence and contact reference to the numerous companies, I would like to ask one of the editors of this magazine to officially contact Sky and find out the truth behind their "apparent laziness" in not supporting surround 5.1 and publish their findings in this great mag. Sky may well have a genuine reason for not doing so since the introduction of HD four years ago - but it would be nice to know one way or the other and who better to do that than WHF.

Of course, I could always try to contact Sky myself but I fear it would be bordering on necromancy!

So, please great editors in the sky of What Hi-fi?

 

[The_Lhc]

AllisonX: but as it is my parents decision they should at least have the option of being able to receive the full deal from Sky through a single, modern connection.

Well they don't. plug an optical cable in and connect the HDMI lead directly to the TV. Or buy something that CAN assign an optical input to an hdmi input, that's the real laziness (and quite surprising coming from B&O).

Given WHF`s vast wealth of experience, influence and contact reference to the numerous companies, I would like to ask one of the editors of this magazine to officially contact Sky and find out the truth behind their "apparent laziness" in not supporting surround 5.1 and publish their findings in this great mag. Sky may well have a genuine reason for not doing so since the introduction of HD four years ago

It's probably cost, updating the design of the boxes will cost money, a cost that will only be passed on to the customers, which, given how much people moan about the price of Sky now, is not going to be popular.

 

[Anonymous]

There are no optical inputs on the BeoSystem 3, only coax. Actually, the real laziness is not spending £300 on the humax foxsat-HDR and having the 5.1 over hdmi though obvious lack of HD channels at this present time.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Of course there may be content protection issues here, given that an HDMI output complete with 5.1 might allow copying of content to external devices.

 

[The_Lhc]

AllisonX:There are no optical inputs on the BeoSystem 3, only coax.

I believe all current SkyHD boxes have coax output as well.

 

[Anonymous]

You possibly may be right..... only one way to find out the truth behind it all.
Ask them to give their side of events, it gives them a chance to defend themselves against angry people like me

 

[Andrew Everard]

It's a conversation we have had several times, and as yet there are no plans to change the situation, though it may be possible at some point in the future with some of the latest boxes.

I really don't think it's laziness, but rather a conscious decision the company has made to implement surround sound in this manner.

It may be worth contacting B&O to see whether it can implement a workaround, as other manufacturers have; alternatively, you can connect the Sky+HD HDMI output direct to the TV, and then feed audio to the BeoSystem3 using the digital audio connection.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, thanks for replying. I just feel like nobody is really interested in getting to the bottom of why Sky doesn`t support what humax foxsat-hdr does.

Guess I will do what the rest of the public does and put up without knowing the real truth.

 

[Andrew Everard]

You're not being brushed off: you now have all the information we have about why Sky chooses to do things this way, and some solutions to the problem.

 

[Anonymous]

I understand that.

I thought that WHF has the tools and motivation to push Sky on this issue.

 

[The_Lhc]

AllisonX:I understand that.

I thought that WHF has the tools and motivation to push Sky on this issue.

They're not the Stazi you know...

 

[Anonymous]

Lol.... I know that. Every little bit helps toward another step in the right direction.

I don`t think for one minute that WHF can change Sky, just a hint at what the public would like, a gentle reminder of changing technology and if possible, costs of implementation.

 

[Andrew Everard]

And looking at Bang & Olufsen shop websites such as this one, it's clear the B&O installers know how to integrate Sky+HD boxes with the BeoSystem 3, so I suggest you ask the supplying dealer to do it for you. Problem solved...

 

[Anonymous]

Very helpful on the first matter. Thanks!

As for the second matter, without appearing selfish as in - it doesn`t apply to me anymore..... a small article in your magazine giving Sky an official stance on the subject wouldn`t go a miss.... not requesting a 6 page blow-out though!

 

[Andrew Everard]

I've passed the request on to the Editor.

 

[Anonymous]

What an excellent response.... both concerns addressed. I can`t thank you enough for your time and patience.

 

[Andrew Everard]

BTW I agree that the user manual for the Beosystem 3 doesn't make it clear how the system is set up to work in this way with Sky - I can only assume the installers have a more detailed installation manual not made available to the public.

But it does show the importance of having systems such as this configured by the supplying dealer to suit your needs: doing all the messy stuff so that the system simply works as the customer wishes is one of the aspects of its service on which B&O prides itself.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for all your help and support Andrew, look forward to reading more issues of WHF.

I had hoped my parents wouldn`t be disappointed and contacting this forum has made that possible, not just for myself/parents, but should the request be successful and make it to print, hopefully it will give some insight into Sky`s intentions toward future support for surround 5.1 over HDMI and even include it in this website as a permanent article for future reference for others.

You`ve been extremely helpful.