topic Re: Flickering picture in Sky Glass

Flickering picture

David164 — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:28:58 GMT

Hi,

Please can someone help, we have recently joined sky stream because virgin was getting too much money per month. Since joining i have noticed that programs i'm watching containing graphics are flickering we thought at first that this was because our connection was wireless and only going through a 5G box. Today we had someone come and fit an ethernet cable which i thought would make a difference but it's still happening. Some peoples clothes are also flickering during shows as well could this be a fault with our tv or something else. If anyone has any advice or suggestions i'd much appreciate it. Thanks in advance

Re: Flickering picture

MarkGoldsmith — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:30:44 GMT

Have you also disabled the WiFi in the stream puck settings?

if not the likelihood is that it's still using the WiFi as that's the default preference unless it's disabled.

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:45:33 GMT

Yes i have disabled it. Sadly made no difference 😞 I wish i could attach a video here so you can see what's happening for yourself but i don't believe there is an option to do so

Re: Flickering picture

MarkGoldsmith — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 16:51:12 GMT

If you haven't already you may want to also reboot the stream puck by turning it off at the puck for at least 30 seconds as well.

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 17:03:07 GMT

Just done this. Checking if it made a difference will let you know later after watching something else to see if the issue is continuing

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 17:24:23 GMT

watching Tipping Point at the moment and the flickering isn't occuring on that seems fine. So you might have actually helped solve it but i'm not going to mark as answered yet just in case it does happen to occur again. But think we maybe getting somewhere thanks for your advice

Re: Flickering picture

MarkGoldsmith — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 18:15:25 GMT

No worries. From my experience when I made the switch from WiFi to Ethernet I also had to give it a reboot as well.

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Fri, 29 Dec 2023 18:51:57 GMT

Spoke too soon the fickering has occured again during an episode of The Chase 😞 just when i thought you'd solved it for me. If you have anymore advice for this issue please do send it through the more help/tips the better. Thanks 🙂

Re: Flickering picture

Paul+Dray — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 03:27:18 GMT

@David164 wrote:
Hi,
Please can someone help, we have recently joined sky stream because virgin was getting too much money per month. Since joining i have noticed that programs i'm watching containing graphics are flickering we thought at first that this was because our connection was wireless and only going through a 5G box. Today we had someone come and fit an ethernet cable which i thought would make a difference but it's still happening. Some peoples clothes are also flickering during shows as well could this be a fault with our tv or something else. If anyone has any advice or suggestions i'd much appreciate it. Thanks in advance

Could this be a mismatched frame rate issue I wonder?

May need a little more info from you to be able to help...
What TV (make and model number) have you got the Sky Stream puck connected to?
When you notice the flickering is it when watching live tv channels from the tv guide or streamed programs via the apps? (such as bbc iPlayer, ITVX etc.).

How have you got the Picture settings set on the Sky Stream settings page? Resolution, streaming format, apps judder reduction on or off etc.?

Also you say you've rebooted the sky stream puck, but have you tried unplugging the hdmi cable at both ends and reconnecting again to make sure of a firm connection? Are you using the hdmi cable that came with the sky stream puck or one of your own? I'm just thinking of little things to try really.

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 10:21:52 GMT

Hi,

Just focusing on the question you mention about checking the sky stream settings page i hadn't actually looked there till you said when checking my picture resolution is on 1080p, Default streaming format is on Auto and Judder reduction for TV apps is off at the moment. Are these the right settings i should have or do i need to change something to make the picture better ?

Re: Flickering picture

Paul+Dray — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 12:56:32 GMT

@David164 wrote:
Hi,
Just focusing on the question you mention about checking the sky stream settings page i hadn't actually looked there till you said when checking my picture resolution is on 1080p, Default streaming format is on Auto and Judder reduction for TV apps is off at the moment. Are these the right settings i should have or do i need to change something to make the picture better ?

That should be fine. Though as I say be good to know what TV you have.
The App Judder reduction supposedly tells your tv to switch between 50hz (off) and 60hz (on) refresh rate for app streaming content which is more what I was alluding to in my previous post regarding being a possible frame rate / refresh rate mismatch. My own tv allows me to set the tv to a certain refresh rate separately so this setting on the sky puck when I've tested it doesn't seem to be doing anything for me. Again though this is just for stuff played from the apps.

The reason for me thinking it maybe this is that you say it was fine on one program but not on another.

Re: Flickering picture

Jones_The_Cat — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 12:44:53 GMT

@David164 wrote:
Hi,
Just focusing on the question you mention about checking the sky stream settings page i hadn't actually looked there till you said when checking my picture resolution is on 1080p, Default streaming format is on Auto and Judder reduction for TV apps is off at the moment. Are these the right settings i should have or do i need to change something to make the picture better ?

Try changing the resolution to 1080i which is the native HD output. Do you have a 4K TV? If so then try 2160P.
Default streaming format is fine to leave in Auto.
Judder reduction should be turned on if you watch lots of American movies or series via Netflix, Prime, Apple TV+ or Disney+. Sky Stream cannot output the native frame rates of movies or US shows shot at 24 or 30fps so turning judder reduction on will change the output to 60hz which minimizes juddering on such content.

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 16:25:36 GMT

I've changed the settings as you said to 1080i , HD and Judder Reduction to On so i'll have to see if that makes a difference when i watch something, will let you know later. I mainly watch Gameshows / Entertainment shows. we have a 4KHDR tv. so shall change it to 2160p ?

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 16:42:06 GMT

If i had my resolution on 1080i do i keep my streaming default to Auto or change to HD ?

The picture on the tv itself is brilliant nothing wrong with the image quality it was just the case that i was noticing the flashing graphics or certain parts of the show was flickering and it was doing my heading really. I just wanted to be able to enjoy my favourite shows without the issues that's my reason for posting here 🙂 If you could confirm in answer to my question i'd much appreciate it.

Re: Flickering picture

Jones_The_Cat — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 16:45:09 GMT

@David164 wrote:
If i had my resolution on 1080i do i keep my streaming default to Auto or change to HD ?
The picture on the tv itself is brilliant nothing wrong with the image quality it was just the case that i was noticing the flashing graphics or certain parts of the show was flickering and it was doing my heading really. I just wanted to be able to enjoy my favourite shows without the issues that's my reason for posting here 🙂 If you could confirm in answer to my question i'd much appreciate it.

You can leave it on Auto if you're keeping your puck on 1080i.

Do you have the UHD/Atmos pack as part of your package? If so then try switching the output to 2160P. This will allow all Sky content to play in full 4K. Also, if you pay for Netflix Premium, Disney+ or any other streaming services, you will be able to get the best quality possible.

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 16:49:49 GMT

Yes done that on my settings. No i don't have the UHD/Atmos pack as part of the package. Would you say it's worth me trying the output on 2160p anyway ?

Re: Flickering picture

Jones_The_Cat — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 16:52:33 GMT

@David164 wrote:
Yes done that on my settings. No i don't have the UHD/Atmos pack as part of the package. Would you say it's worth me trying the output on 2160p anyway ?

You can if you like - all it does is put additional pressure on the puck as it has to upscale the native 1080i streams itself before outputting to your TV. If you leave it on 1080i (and have no need for 4K from the puck) then your TV will do the upscaling, often better than the puck will.

I could tell the difference with my puck - I found that my TV did the better job of upscaling.

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 16:58:34 GMT

Ok cool thanks for that advice. I will get back to you on here asap once i've watched a few shows to see if i still notice the flashing or not. Hopefully what you've said will make a difference appreciate you getting in touch.

Re: Flickering picture

Paul+Dray — Sat, 30 Dec 2023 17:56:26 GMT

There could be some picture 'enhancement' setting on your TV picture settings itself that isn't playing nicely with some program streams from the sky puck. First thing I normally do with a tv is turn off most of the so called enhancements, picture smoothing or noise reduction features as they generally do more damage than good. Still think it could be a refresh rate conflict though especially as you mention graphics flickering. My tv has what's called Drive Modes to fix this. Again be good to know the exact tv you have.

Re: Flickering picture

David164 — Sun, 31 Dec 2023 11:00:54 GMT

After watching a few shows last night. I can confirm what you said had improved the issue by making it less noticeable in regards to the flickering but i still noticed it in a few places but far less than it was originally this was on 2160p i tried it on last night. If i change back to 1080i do u reckon it will work better for me ?