Sky Digital reduces sensitivity to sat signal once a TV SCART is connected

[Lucas]

This is weird!

I recently moved to another appartment which meant that the coax cable from the dish to the Sky Digibox (a Panasonic 35) is now 30 meters rather than the 15 that I had previously.

At the time of the move I also changed the connection to the PVR250 from composite to Svideo through a Scart RGB to S-Video converter from Keene Electronics.

I noticed then that the signal quality dropped a notch and started experiencing picture break-ups on some channels (eg Sky One etc).

At the time I though that this was due to reduced signal from the long cable length.

Yesterday, I decided to do some maintenance on my Sage TV box and I plugged in the Sky Digibox through the VCR Scart to the TV Directly so that I can still watch things while working on the PC.

To my amazement the low signal issue went away and the Sky Digibox was performing flawlessly.

As soon as I connected a fully wired Scart cable on the TV Scart of the Digibox the signal quality would plummet causing picture break-ups.

Has anyone experienced anything like this?

Is my digibox broken or should I invest in a top quality Scart lead?
(Note that I tried 3 different Scart cables of averable quality with the same result)

Looking for ideas.....

[ron.smythe]

I know this is a silly question, but the Panasonic does provide RGB out? Also if it does have you made sure it is set to on in the Sky maintance menu, can't rember exactly where it is, but I have to turn it on for my digibox.

[Lucas]

That's correct. It has, like all digiboxes, 2 scarts, one TV and one VCR.
The VCR Scart only outputs composite video. The TV Scart outputs either composite or RGB and this is selecteable from the services menu.

My problem is that once I select RGB output on the TV Svart and connect any device like a TV or in my case the RGB to SVideo connector, the picture starts breaking up especially on lower signal channels. On more powerfull channels, this only happens occasionally and on bright scenes.

Once I disable/disconnect the RGB output I stop having problems.

This is because I am in the edge of the Astra satellite footprint.
From what someone mentioned in another forum, it seems that this is a specific Panasonic model issue. Most users don't notice because they are probably in a high signal area.

So I either get another digibox or install a bigger dish! :(

[edgley]

get a bigger dish. I replaced my 45cm mini with a 80cm and now have no problems.
Sky went for the very smallest dish they possible could, if it had been only a little bigger these breakup problems wouldnt occur.

Cheapest place for dishes that I have found is here (and they are very helpful too!)

http://www.dastv.co.uk/DAS/Products/ProductSearch.aspx?rangeID=2&FreeText=&RangeName=Satellite%20Dishes&Category=24

[Lucas]

My location requires bigger still....... I have 1.2 now but going to 1.4 will happen when I move houses!
I have also got some low loss coax - that should improve the signal over the 40m cable run.
After tuning the composite capture - it is not that bad..... maybe I'll stick with it:)