[crunchie]

Can a "bog-standard" Scart cable cause pixellation and freezing with Sky? Or is this only a result of the Sky boxes input and performance? What about if a digital DVD recorder is connected between the Sky box and the TV using Scart? (I'm now getting breakups with such a connection). Thank you!
Kevin

[steven123]

The scart cable definately cannot cause pixellation or freezing. This is almost certainly a issue with your sky box. Poor quality scart cables can cause graininess and weak colours but usually nothing worse than that. With scart cables the most important thing is that it is fully wired so you can use RGB for best quality. Huge, thick, expensive gold plated scart cables might look impressive but won't make any noticeable difference on all but the most high end set ups.

Problems such as pixellation and freezing would suggest that the signal the box is getting may be too weak causing errors in the data resulting in the pixellation and freezing. This could mean you need a better reciever or simply need to reposition it.

If not it could be a fault with the sky box, maybe it is faulty. Its worth trying to reset it, usually can be achieved by powering it off at the wall for about a minute.

[bronx2282]

Although, if the shielding on the scart cable is poor it could mean that the feed from the dish is picking up RFI (interference) from the scart and thus reducing the signal.

[crunchie]

I also recently changed for the first time from PAL to RGB on the Panasonic '40' Skybox - could this be "working it too hard" hence the breakups? My new telly looks better with RGB than PAL.

Kevin

[bronx2282]

Doubt it, but I agree that RGB is visibly better than Composite or S/Video.

Have you tried ringing Sky?? It could be something to do with your dish or downlead.