veronica.webb asked

24th July 2012

I have a HD-Ready TV but it is connected to my standard-definition Humax PVRr with Ffreeview, so I cant watch HD TV programmes. Can I buy a box to convert my live HD programes to watch, I know I will not be able to record HD programmes, to be compatible with my Humax PVR.

If all you want to do is watch the Freeview HD channels a Freeview HD set-top decoder box will suffice, you'll connect it up to your HDTV with an HDMI cable and so be able to watch the HD channels. As soon as you want to record the HD Freeview channels as you recognise you will need a new recorder that will have one or more Freeview HD receivers of its own inside.

Ail asked

24th July 2012

I have an AKURA APLDVD21568 which is connected to a SKY+ HD box, and has been ever since I was given the Akura for my birthday in 2011. I subscribe to the HD Channels, and although I know it could be a total coincidence, until Sky in their infamous wisdom did their latest EPG "Upgrade" I was able to watch all channels including the HD ones via the HDMI slot.

Last Sunday though, as I was in the middle of watching a show, the whole screen went dark (navy, not black) and no amount of changing Source input, rebooting the set-top box or changing the aspect ratios on both the SKY+ HD box and TV would fix the matter. In fact at one point when the Sky+ HD box was resetting, it showed "SKY+ HD please wait," but the entire screen was bright red and fuzzy! Never have I seen such a thing before. Akura's (not very helpful at all) helpline can only help you while you are still in warranty, and mine expired in May, so in sheer frustration I decided to add a SCART lead, just to see if I could get a picture of any sort, and Lo and behold - it works! However, I am not receiving a proper HD picture any longer I know, so I would like any suggestions you can offer me please as to how to fix this. I thought initially it was a faulty backlight, but surely if that was the case, it wouldn't even play via the SCART at all? The DVD part of the TV/DVD combi is also working perfectly.

I really thought the TV/DVD combi was a total goner at first, but it's obviously not when it works via SCART, but I would like it to be able to operate via the HDMI lead again. I have tried three different HDMI leads now and the result has been the same every time: Unless it is now also connected via the SCART - no picture, and of course it also works via SCART alone. It is extremely frustrating, so I really hope you can help.

I would try resetting the connection between your Sky box and your HDTV by causing the two to perform a fresh HDCP handshake over the HDMI connection:

Switch your Sky box into standby and switch the TV off completely (not onto standby).Unplug your Sky box at the mains. Disconnect the HDMI cable connecting your TV and the Sky box at both ends.Swap the ends around and reconnect the HDMI cable again.Power your TV on again first and wait 30 seconds.Power your Sky box on again at the mains and leave for 3 minutes.Press Sky on the remote to turn it on again.

Beyond these steps I would try and isolate the HDMI input on your TV or the output on your Sky box as the problem by trying another HDMI device with your TV or trying another TV with your Sky box as your means allow.

Natalie asked

20th July 2012

I have a freesat box connected to my HDTV via HDMI cable and it's been working perfectly until a couple of weeks ago but now when I turn everything on it's OK on that particular channel but if I try and change station the Freesat box changes it's number and the 'information bar' comes up on the bottom of the TV screen saying the different channel but I have no picture (just a black screen with the info bar telling me what channel I'm on). I have retuned both the freesat and TV with the changeover. Also I tried again last night and this time I had the picture on the TV, changed channels with the Freesat the info bar was saying the new channel but the picture didn't change it was the previous programme? Please can you tell me what my problem is and how I can solve it?

In that you can see the on-screen display from the Freesat box this suggests that your HDTV and HDMI cable are both working correctly and would tend to point to a problem on the Freesat side of things. If you've rescanned/retuned recently I doubt deleted channels are the cause of the problem; more likely an issue with signal strength or the Freesat box itself. If there's no obviously loose connection or damaged cabling I'd get in touch with the manufacturer of your Freesat box and see what support they are able to offer you.

Syed asked

17th July 2012

I'm considering buying a Samsung TV with a built-in Freeview HD tuner and a built-in Freesat HD tuner. Would I need to get an aerial in order to use these tuners, or will they work out of the box? I've so far been unable to find an answer to my question. The model in question is the Samsung UE32ES6300.

You will need an aerial connection to use the Freeview tuner and/or a connection to a satellite dish to use the Freesat receiver.

John asked

13th July 2012

Following water damage, we are intending to replace all damaged equipment with:

(a) Sony TV KDL-46HX753 (b) Panasonic PVR/DVDrec DMR-EX83 (c) Panasonic PVR/DVDrec DMR-EX83 (d) Samsung Blu-ray sound system HT-E5500

(b) and (c) are duplicated as they each have only one tuner, although they have the facility to record from HDD to DVD at high speed.

I had intended to connect using HDMI leads in one of two ways:

(b) to (a) directly, (c) to (a) directly, and (d) to (a) using HDMI-ARC;

or

(b) to (d), (c) to (d), then (d) to (a) using HDMI-ARC.

Either would require three HDMI leads. Would each method work properly? Would one method have benefits over the other?

There's nothing to stop you trying and testing both ways when you have the three HDMI cables. I think either connection scheme should work but the second is the more conventional.

Mark asked

13th July 2012

I recently purchased a Humax Foxsat HD Freesat set top box, I wanted to replace my Sky Thomson box so I could get HD without having to pay Sky for the privilege. When I connected the Humax to my Panasonic Viera via an HDMI cable I got a great picture but problem is the Humax only has one satellite LNB input whereas the Thomson had two - one for the old aerial which served as connection to a loft room via splitter so my son could watch the Sky programme we were watching at the same time. Once I disconnected the splitter aerial connection his TV couldn't get any channels - he has a Goodmans set top box so he can get terrestrial digital Freeview. Presumably also because of this disconnection I can't record from the Panasonic DVD/HDD recorder any satellite or any other channels via the Humax. I am stumped and have had to reconnect everything again, any ideas please?

What you refer to as the second LNB connection on your old Sky box is infect an aerail/RF pass-though which also added whatever Sky channel was being received at the time. To get all your other TV and recorder working again you need to connect them to your aerial so that the tuners built in to them are able to pick up the Freeview signal. If your recorder box doesn't have an aerial pass-through (like your Sky box did) that you can use to get he signal upstairs you simply need an aerial splitter so all the devices can be connected at the same time. The last piece of the puzzle is that you need to connect each device to your HDTV. You'll use an HDMI cable for the Humax box and probably a SCART or some other analogue connection for your DVD recorder.

Peter asked

13th July 2012

I have a HD-Ready Samsung TV that is nearly seven years old but has an HDMI port. The TV is connected by SCART cables to two DVD recorders that do not have HDMI outputs. The system works well with a good quality picture.

Can I purchase a HDMI decoder to take advantage of HD Channels connected directly to my TV or do I have to get an HD DVR?

If you purchase a Freeview HD set-top box and connect it to your HDTV with an HDMI cable you won't be able to record any of the channels it receives, only watch them on the TV. If you want to record the HD channels you will need to purchase a Freeview HD recorder which contains one or more high-definition Freeview tuners of its own.

William asked

13th July 2012

i have a HD DVD Player and a HDTV. They have a SCART socket and an HDMI socket on them, do I connect the two of with both types of cable, or is it just one HDMI or SCART all that's necessary?

If you can connect the two with an HDMI cable this will give you the best picture quality as HDMI carries high-definition video whereas SCART is only a standard-definition connection.