Sky+HD and HD TV technical problems, in the UK.

[Mr Allen]

Above.

I know about Google and the Sky website, I just can't speak to Sky customer services because it's a non UK call centre that don't understand my accent.

The problem on both is that the screen keeps flickering between colour and black and white, that's usually a Scart cable issue, but the fact it's doing it on both Sky and normal digital TV is a bit worrying.

Can anyone help? {please do not just tell me to use Google or any other search engine, I am NOT in a Google fanboy mood)

 

[Graphin]

{;please do not just tell me to use Google, I am NOT in a Google fanboy mood.

Use yahoo or duckduckgo instead?

Are there chat or email support options availible?

 

[Mr Allen]

Use yahoo or duckduckgo instead?

Are there chat or email support options availible?

Use yahoo or duckduckgo instead?

No to both options, and Sky do have a customer service chat option on their site, but it's manned by a non UK call centre, so I have the same problems as when I ring them up, they do not understand my problems.

 

[Autistamatic]

If it's doing it on both sky and normal TV (i.e. not via the Sky decoder) then it's most likely the TV that's at fault itself. It could be a corroded component if it's an old set or if it's kept in a damp room, a faulty connection or a loose ribbon cable inside.

There are other possibilities but those are the most likely causes.

If it's still within guarantee then get in touch with the retailer you bought it from, or if it's past the guarantee period get it into a repair shop.

 

[Judge]

Rule out the simplest things to consider first:

1. Check to make sure all HDMI and coaxial cables are tightly connected to all components connected (TV, console game, dvd player, cable box, audio system, etc.) to the tv and free of dirt and dust.
2. Make sure there are no audio speakers of any kind too close to your tv set. (Sometimes the magnets in such speakers can cause this sort of interference.)
3. Make sure your tv set hasn't gone into a self-test mode. Refer to your tv's instruction manual to make sure this feature is turned off.
4. Check your tv set's manual to see if it has an automatic ambient light brightness adjustment. Turn it off to see if this helps as well.

If none of these things solve the problem, then it may be a component failure from within the tv or cable box. If you simply cite or claim a faulty cable box with customer service, I'd think they could schedule an appointment to come out and check it. Do this before moving on to whether or not there may be a component problem within your television.

One thing for sure. It's amazing how even a slightly loose coaxial or HDMI cable as well as dirt and dust on the connectors from virtually any component can impact the picture of a high-definition television signal. In my own case one time I even lost access to a single channel simply based on a connector issue. Go figure. These things can be damned finicky at times.

 

[Mr Allen]

Sorted, it was a loose Scart lead.

Mods can lock this now.