Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmware ?

[chris murphy]

"Hello All",

I wondered if anyone else has heard the RUMOUR that Sky are going to broadcast a Firmware Update around September which will have the `accidental effect` of removing the Set Up Option within the Engineers Set Up Menu to turn Power ON to the Digi-box RF2 Output / Remote Control `Magic Eye`.

This would obviously RUIN the `other Room viewing` for anyone who uses the RF2 Output / Remote Control Magic Eye set up to watch Sky TV in the Bedroom for example !


This RUMOUR has come from a well informed source - I cannot identify Him but He is a `renowned Expert` in all things Satellite TV.


He has NOT been able to confirm this at present as Sky simply will not discuss the matter - I have also tried to ask about this but I just cannot get access to anyone who would either know about this matter or tell Me the details about it - IF it is going to be done.

He has stated that it would be easy to get power to the Magic Eye - there are products made to do just that - BUT the Firmware Update may cause the Signal from a Remote Control via the RF2 Output to not be recognised by the Sky Digi-box !


I wondered if any other Member has heard about this ?


IF True this would be a `Disaster` for Me as I watch Sky TV ONLY from my Bedroom !


I also have a Second Sky Box [`Multiroom`] installed in the Second Bedroom which supplies the Third Bedroom via the RF2 Output / Power to a Remote Control Magic Eye - I THINK that it would be possible for Me to extend the incoming Satellite cable from Bedroom 2 to the Main Bedroom and install the Second Sky Digi-box there - this would mean losing Sky in Bedroom 3 but that is not really a big deal.


I have also heard that future Sky Digi-boxes will NOT have the RF2 Output - obviously IF what I wrote about here is true there would be no need for an RF2 Output - this would also present a problem if an existing Sky Box on which the RF2 Output was being used malfunctioned and a replacement was required.

I HOPE that this is NOT going to happen - BUT obviously Sky would prefer people to have `Multiroom` for viewing Sky TV in other Rooms.


Any comments would be very welcome.

Regards,

Chris

 

[UNG]

Re: Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmwa

Logic would say that the RF2 output and for that matter any RF output will be removed / designed out on future Sky boxes as TV's move away from utilising analogue tv signals and the cost of including a DVB-T modulator in the box would make them significantly more expensive

I think your rumour is little more than the engineering inevitable as analogue RF is consigned to broadcast history and pennies are saved removing unnecessary connectors and the bits connected to them in the box

Let's face it as the available bandwidth increases and if broadband is made available to all at speeds to enable consistent video streaming then over the air TV by terrestrial and satellite may become history as well and the rumours of this are already out there


There is no doubt that to future proof AV installations an amount of crystal ball gazing is going to be needed in the next few years as how we view TV evolves and how many rooms we want to view it in from different sources within the home changes

 

[kingeri]

Re: Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmwa

It wouldn't matter too much to me. I use an HDMI splitter/replicator to view Sky in every room in the house in full HD. I do use the RF2 just for the magic eyes. If this is switched off it would be a ballache but there are loads of third party products that can get round that.

 

[chris murphy]

Re: Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmwa

It wouldn't matter too much to me. I use an HDMI splitter/replicator to view Sky in every room in the house in full HD. I do use the RF2 just for the magic eyes. If this is switched off it would be a ballache but there are loads of third party products that can get round that.

"Hello kingeri",


I posted my message on here because I thought that there would be a chance that Electricians or other Members who deal with wiring etc. for Sky TV throughout Homes might have also heard about this Sky Firmware Update RUMOUR.

Although I am not in any way Expert in Sky TV I have wired and set up Sky in all of the Bedrooms in my Home.



I did mention this in my message that You replied to:

QUOTE:

He has stated that it would be easy to get power to the Magic Eye - there are products made to do just that - BUT the Firmware Update may cause the Signal from a Remote Control via the RF2 Output to not be recognised by the Sky Digi-box !


In view of Your comment here:


QUOTE:


I do use the RF2 just for the magic eyes. If this is switched off it would be a ballache but there are loads of third party products that can get round that.[/QUOTE]


Could You please let Me / Us know how you could `get round` the Sky Digi-Box not accepting commands from the Remote Controls - as it would no longer recognise a `Remote Command` because the RF2 Output would be `Gone` - ?

I don`t know the Technical details - but it seems to Me that if the Magic Eye is connected to a satellite cable which connects to the RF2 Output and that RF2 Output Power is turned Off - or if a Digi-box reset has to be done it cannot be turned back On - then even if You connect a Power Unit to the Magic Eye the Sky Box may NOT accept the Remote Control signals any longer - ?


Obviously I HOPE that I am completely WRONG about that !


I would be VERY interested in your recommendations to deal with that - as would no doubt Hundreds of other Members who use the Sky Box RF2 Output and `Magic Eye` Remote Control Link for viewing Sky TV in other Rooms.


Thanks very much in advance for your help with this.



Regards,

Chris

 

[chris murphy]

Re: Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmwa

Logic would say that the RF2 output and for that matter any RF output will be removed / designed out on future Sky boxes as TV's move away from utilising analogue tv signals and the cost of including a DVB-T modulator in the box would make them significantly more expensive

I think your rumour is little more than the engineering inevitable as analogue RF is consigned to broadcast history and pennies are saved removing unnecessary connectors and the bits connected to them in the box

Let's face it as the available bandwidth increases and if broadband is made available to all at speeds to enable consistent video streaming then over the air TV by terrestrial and satellite may become history as well and the rumours of this are already out there


There is no doubt that to future proof AV installations an amount of crystal ball gazing is going to be needed in the next few years as how we view TV evolves and how many rooms we want to view it in from different sources within the home changes

"Hello UNG",

Thanks very much for your interesting reply.

IF Sky do broadcast a Firmware Update which has the effect that I described in my original Post do You know of ANY way to keep a Sky Remote Control operating the Sky Digi-box from a Bedroom - is there any `Transmitter` type unit which could be located near the Sky Box in a Living Room which could accept the Sky Remote Control signals - But would then transmit them to the Sky Digi-box ?

If not is there ANY way to be able to control the Sky Box from another Room ?

Thanks in advance for your help.


Regards,

Chris

 

[kingeri]

Re: Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmwa

You can get third party IR senders, drawback is you need to position a receiver pointed at the Sky box.

 

[Darkwood]

Re: Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmwa

IR signal repeater.... you can even get wireless ones i believe so i dont think its going to be a big issue, i use magic eye so yes ill need to adapt if the OP holds any truth in what he has said.

 

[chris murphy]

Re: Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmwa

"Hello again",


I think that I MAY have missed the most Important point of this RUMOUR - IF the RF2 Output Power On / Off option is terminated by a Sky Firmware Update would that mean that the RF2 Output to the Bedroom TV would be terminated / the TV signal would NOT go to the Bedroom / other Room TV - ?


Regards,


Chris


I came back to Edit this after Marvo very kindly replied to my other thread where I posted details regarding having problems using the Forum last Night and Today.

He suggested trying another Browser [other than Internet Explorer] - at present I am using Google Chrome to access the Forum - everything is now working as it should - "Thanks Marvo".

 

[Darkwood]

Re: Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmwa

The Magic eye sends a coded signal down the rf2 line to tell the sky box your request as well as the TV images, if as you suggest this rf2 outlet is turned of or lost then you may have to run cable direct from tv to tv to view your sky upstairs but you wont be able to control it so you could purchase a IR repeater that will read the IR code you press upstairs and send it out on a sender unit aimed at the sky box down stairs.

 

[chris murphy]

Re: Sky digibox rf2 output - power to magic eye option to be turned off by sky firmwa

The Magic eye sends a coded signal down the rf2 line to tell the sky box your request as well as the TV images, if as you suggest this rf2 outlet is turned of or lost then you may have to run cable direct from tv to tv to view your sky upstairs but you wont be able to control it so you could purchase a IR repeater that will read the IR code you press upstairs and send it out on a sender unit aimed at the sky box down stairs.

"Hello darkwood",


Thanks very much for your reply.

So that I can get prepared for the possibility - I ask this as if the Sky Box RF2 Output HAS `Gone` - No Sky TV to the Bedroom TV from the Sky Box RF2 Output via the cable:

As I already have the Satellite quality cable running between the Sky Box RF2 Output and the Aerial socket on my Bedroom TV what would I have to do with the cable end from the Sky Box [RF2 connection at present] to be able to receive the Sky TV on my Bedroom TV ?

The Living Room TV connects to the Sky Box via a Scart Lead so there is nowhere to connect a cable to my Bedroom TV.

I understand the Infra Red Transmitter / Reciever advice for getting the Bedroom Sky Remote control to work the Sky Box from the Bedroom - "Thanks to You and kingeri" - for that information / suggestion.

Regards,

Chris