Sky Q - HDMI Handshake problem?

[Fonzey]

I've had SkyQ in for a little over a year now and to be honest it's had a problem since Day 1 and I've just been working around it, but it's starting to really grate.

Issue seems to be when the box is in standby, sometimes (probably 70% of the time) it just fails to output sound or video after its switched back on. I have it connected via HDMI to a Denon AV receiver which then passes through to my LG TV, but I've tried bypassing the AV receive and it has the same issue.

If I power the sky box off at the mains and then instantly flick it back on - it immediately outputs video with the start up sequence and it'll then work fine for the rest of the session. The ~2min boot up time makes this a bit annoying though, especially when you're recording something and you want to start watching it part way through. Recordings continue to work fine though if the box is just left alone.

I did my googling and found a bunch of LG specific similar stories on the Sky forum - but their support experience doesn't sound promising with Sky blaming LG and LG blaming Sky.

Anyone else have these issues or know of a fix before I get stuck in with Sky support?

[39sl]

Not sure I can really help but here are some thoughts

Are you using the Denon as a home cinema and just sending video to the LG or are you using the speakers on the LG ?

If home cinema, could you take an optical feed from Sky Q to Denon and use this for audio to see if the audio works when video fails. This would help to confirm the Skq Q box or the HDMI is faulty (less likely given the reboot sorts it).

My money would be on a dodgy Sky Q box

[Fonzey]

39sl said:

Not sure I can really help but here are some thoughts

Are you using the Denon as a home cinema and just sending video to the LG or are you using the speakers on the LG ?

If home cinema, could you take an optical feed from Sky Q to Denon and use this for audio to see if the audio works when video fails. This would help to confirm the Skq Q box or the HDMI is faulty (less likely given the reboot sorts it).

My money would be on a dodgy Sky Q box

Thanks, yeah the Denon is used for the 5.1 separates and that's a good suggestion for troubleshooting. I'll have a dig around for an optical cable and report back.

[craig1912]

Ask Sky to change the box- you are only renting it. Not with the same issue but we have had our main box and both minis changed over the last two years.

[megaphone]

Try setting the resolution on the Sky box, try 1080i and see if it fixes it.

[Red 5]

Which HDMI on the LG are you using?
Try the others, as they are configured differently. This is to take into account poor compliance with HDMI standards.

Sky are reported to be pretty poor in this regard, also refusing to explain themselves to Denon and others.

The same HDMI variances apply to the Denon, for the same reasons.
Use the other HDMI sockets, to see if there is any difference.

Also, try messing about with ARC.
Make sure it’s off in every device to start with, running via the amp. This would be ideal, in conjunction with a working combo of HDMI in/out on the amp/TV.

Try then activating ARC in the Sky and TV and running direct.
Use the TV ON ARC communication to fire up the Sky.

Do you have a miniQ box at home? If so, as well as resolution changes to the Q box, try a miniQ too. Just as a test etc.

You might be able to apply what you learn and get it working consistently.

If it still always proves to be a problem, then I also vote to get the box changed.

[mathmos]

Yes, I have this problem and for me it’s down to the input I leave the amp on when I turn it off (also a Denon).

If it’s all switched off with Sky Q as the input it all fires back up fine, it I turn it off with Apple TV, blue ray etc as the last thing I was watching then it craps out and it needs a power cycle to get it all talking again.