Sky HD onto NEC LCD 4000 via VGA?

spooky

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Hi everyone. Long story short, I have a NEC 4000 LCD, and i've been using Sky Plus on it using S Video cable (with my X box going into the RGB connectors) now i've moved house and gone to a Sky Plus HD box. We dont have the HD channels, but the HD box is the standard box now.

The installed connected the HDMI cable into my DVI port using a converter dongle. But all I get on the RGB1 input is a H / V Sync problem, and cant get into any menu etc. If I change the HD output on the sky box to 500 / 720 instead of 1080 then I get a small picture in picutre of HD sky, but its only like 10% of the screen.

I know the NEC can handle 720p, and a big resolution. But cant seem to get it to work.

Two options - one resolving the DVI problem. Two is that I have a VGA connection on the screen.

So my question is - does anyone use HDMI to VGA connector on Sky Plus HD - and does it work? I heard you can get Xbox ones for like £20. But you need to check if the cable is DVI-i or DVI-d. Anyone know about this?

Cheers all
 
bit more info, the spec on the NEC manual reckons my screen is wxga, can handle 1280 x 768. and 480i, 480p, 720p, 1080i. I see why it doesnt work on DVI tho, apparently my screen does not have HDCP, so the DVI connection will not work.

So that leaves us - will a basic HDMI to VGA cable do the job, or do I need to look at something like the HD fury converter?


help!
 
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Change the colourspace for the HDMI input on your telly and it should resolve your problem (if it is a colourspace problem), or you could send a different signal from the SKy box ie RBG instead of YPbPr or CMYK.

You could also play around with the picture settings for scaling on your TV. Have you tried sending 576i, 720p and 1080i from the Sky box whilst setting the TV to display the native resolution of the screen? I'd let the Sky box do all of the scaling and get everything working before you adjust the scaling settings for your TV.
 
Hi thanks for the reply. been doing lots of research, and basically while my screen handles HD sources (i.e. blueray etc) Sky HD encrpyts the signal (using HDCP) so I'll never get it to work using the HDMI to DVI input.

Outputs on the Sky + HD are RCA (Yellow composite) SCART and HDMI. So I think my options are to get a SCART to RGB / Component connection - or get the HD Fury thing that takes HDMI down to VGA only way of bypasing the HDCP

Does anyone know if the SCART to RGM / Component will bypass HDCP? As those cables are alot cheap than the VGA converter?
 
You can find a used HDFury in the Avforums classifieds, they come up quite frequently.

I find it difficult to believe that your TV does not support HDCP over it's DVI port, I'd be quite surprised if that were true.

Can your Sky box output component video over SCART? That would be your cheapest and best option.

I haven't heard of HDCP over analogue connections so with component you should be fine.

For SCART to VGA I would try a J S Technology converter. I've used their converters in the past and they are excellent.
 
Isn't the problem that he is trying to display a high def picture on his TV, when he does not subscribe to any hi def channels?

Does it work if you just display at 480p?

Or am I a moonhead?
 
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Thanks for the help mate, i've been on the phone to NEC again too. My screen is def not HDCP, tho is HD capable. Like you say tho its either a VGA converter or use component.

I've had to learn the difference between YUV (component) RGBHV and RGB. My screen has RGBHV BNC ports, with the RGB covering RGsB with the sync on green. SO long story short i'm going to buy a decent SCART to RGsB and turn the Sky HD box SCART to RGB (you can switch the SCART output from SCART PAL to RGB)

That should at least give me picture as good as I had on the old Sky Plus box on S video, hopefully better. I'm not sure that the converter on VGA will be any better, as its still converting Digitial to Analogue?

Apologies if any of the above is wrong, i'm a total novice sorting this out so just parroting what i've learnt!

this site was handy to learn the differnces in RGB, RGBHV and Component - The Lektropacks AV Guide - Audio Video Signals and their AV Interconnectors - A Simple Guide

Thanks for the help Monkey, I appricate the replies and will feed back on how I get on with scart to RGsB!!
 
Hi Mozr, just read your post sorry - nope that wasnt it. Sky + boxes only come as Sky + HD boxes now. My problem is they have removed the S Video connection from the SKy + HD box, so unless you have HDMI connections you got SCART, RCA (Phono) as your options.

I'm not trying for HD, i'm trying for the best picture possible! (if I could get HD then I would subsribe to HD, but as it turns out I got to go SCART to RGsB so no point going HD)

What a learning curve, sheesh. I guess Sky remove the S Video to steer people onto HD kit - big conspiracy thery...
 
I checked this link out and it shows that you have a component connection on your telly. I hope this doesn't sound too condescending but are you sure you don't have component on the back of your box?

If you have component connectivity, you could always get your hands on a Sky HD player with both component and HDMI outputs.
 
HDCP is just a pain, I'm sure the component connectiions were dropped and prob boxes with component will have comp output crippled like the humax foxsat.

Q: How do I know if my TV will work with Sky HD?
A: This site should help here. In addition, this might help you:
If it is HD Ready - then it will work and you can ignore the rest of the bullets
If it does DVI/HDMI with HDCP, and is a UK 50Hz model, then it will work and you can ignore the rest of the bullets
Otherwise:
The TV needs to be capable of receiving either 720p or 1080i (or both) at 50Hz
The TV needs at least a 1280x720 resolution (if not then your picture will be downscaled but better than existing Sky SD and about as good as current SD DVD)
The TV needs HDMI, DVI, or component inputs
HDMI connection: Perfect as this supports HDCP
DVI connection: The TV needs to be capable of complying with HDCP (copy protection for HD signals) as SkyHD HDMI output forces HDCP on this output. If it isn't then you need to get a component-HDMI/DVI cable and take component output from the SkyHD box to the TV via DVI/HDMI
Component connection: Second-gen boxes are expected to lose the component outputs. You will be blocked from HDCP content

It might be worth a Digi please help thread or look @ a linux HD Box as an alternative less likely to have the comp connections crippled.
 
Hi again, not condescending at all - I appricate the help! It definately has no Component out - RGB is only handled by the SCART connection. If you google up Sky + HD component you will see lots of threads like this with people missing Component!

Good advice on getting an older box tho, I didnt realise but the original Sky HD boxes DO have component.

Keanes have a SCART to RGsB cable that i'm going to try. Otherwise the HD Fury to DVI is an option (but heard this should be no better than the RGsB option ) or there is a HDMI to YUV (Component) scaler but thats like £100 plus!!!

Sorry if i'm coming across dumb, learning as I go!
 
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