topic Re: Slow Downloads & Lag on Changing Channels in Sky Q

Slow Downloads & Lag on Changing Channels

johnhunter23 — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 00:49:35 GMT

Hi,

I have had a new Sky Q box installed after some issues and that along with my 3 minis seemed to all be working fine.

however, I have noticed a couple of issues:

1/ when I try to download anything from on demand or sky cinema (on main box or minis) it goes very very slow! Most of time time it eventually loads to 1% and seems to take an age to go anywhere else (speed is c250Mbps and no issues on other devices with speed) - I have seen a thread about changing the DNS which I have tried and while it seems to improve things slightly, the speeds still slow - any other ideas/suggestions on how to fix this issue?

2/ when I change channels, there seems to be a few second lag where I get a black screen followed by a freeze frame before everything seems to catch up - anyone got this or know how to solve it?

Thanks all,

John

Re: Slow Downloads & Lag on Changing Channels

Quoman7 — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 07:43:46 GMT

@johnhunter23 wrote:

Hi,

I have had a new Sky Q box installed after some issues and that along with my 3 minis seemed to all be working fine.

however, I have noticed a couple of issues:

1/ when I try to download anything from on demand or sky cinema (on main box or minis) it goes very very slow! Most of time time it eventually loads to 1% and seems to take an age to go anywhere else (speed is c250Mbps and no issues on other devices with speed) - I have seen a thread about changing the DNS which I have tried and while it seems to improve things slightly, the speeds still slow - any other ideas/suggestions on how to fix this issue?

2/ when I change channels, there seems to be a few second lag where I get a black screen followed by a freeze frame before everything seems to catch up - anyone got this or know how to solve it?

Thanks all,

John

Hi @johnhunter23 Try rebooting your router by removing the power cable for 30 sec then reconnect to reboot, then reboot your main SKYQ box by turning the power off at the socket for 30 sec then turn back on to reboot, do the same with any Mini boxes?

Re: Slow Downloads & Lag on Changing Channels

johnhunter23 — Thu, 27 Jul 2023 11:50:29 GMT

Thank you - that seems to have done the job but I do seem to be having some speed issues with Apps (Netflix etc) - any ideas?

Those same apps work fine on other devices

Re: Slow Downloads & Lag on Changing Channels

Ajaja — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 21:27:09 GMT

Hi there,

I just came across your post about the lag you see when switching channels.

I experience the same thing and have been asking sky for a while to improve this with a software uodaye as it seem that the box itself can't speed up up the signal decoding. Please read read my post.

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Q/Lag-when-switching-channels/m-p/4938506

It's frustrating to be looking at a black screen for up to 3 seconds before we get a picture. I am certain Sky can improve the caching in the software and improve the transition. My box is brand new and still behaves in this way. It's simply the hardware isn't probably powerful enough to decode the signals. Sky HD channels are heavy and come on fully loaded, Sky seem to prioritise the full decoding over speed. When they can do is speed up the process by allowing for better caching or lower resolution that build as the picture becomes available.

Re: Slow Downloads & Lag on Changing Channels

Quoman7 — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:03:22 GMT

@Ajaja wrote:

Hi there,

I just came across your post about the lag you see when switching channels.

I experience the same thing and have been asking sky for a while to improve this with a software uodaye as it seem that the box itself can't speed up up the signal decoding. Please read read my post.

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Q/Lag-when-switching-channels/m-p/4938506

It's frustrating to be looking at a black screen for up to 3 seconds before we get a picture. I am certain Sky can improve the caching in the software and improve the transition. My box is brand new and still behaves in this way. It's simply the hardware isn't probably powerful enough to decode the signals. Sky HD channels are heavy and come on fully loaded, Sky seem to prioritise the full decoding over speed. When they can do is speed up the process by allowing for better caching or lower resolution that build as the picture becomes available.

Hi @Ajaja Try connecting your SKYQ box to a different HDMI port on your TV?

Make sure you are using the HDMI lead that came with your SKYQ box?

Re: Slow Downloads & Lag on Changing Channels

Chodley — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 08:58:34 GMT

@Ajaja wrote:
Hi there,

I just came across your post about the lag you see when switching channels.

I experience the same thing and have been asking sky for a while to improve this with a software uodaye as it seem that the box itself can't speed up up the signal decoding. Please read read my post.

https://helpforum.sky.com/t5/Sky-Q/Lag-when-switching-channels/m-p/4938506

It's frustrating to be looking at a black screen for up to 3 seconds before we get a picture. I am certain Sky can improve the caching in the software and improve the transition. My box is brand new and still behaves in this way. It's simply the hardware isn't probably powerful enough to decode the signals. Sky HD channels are heavy and come on fully loaded, Sky seem to prioritise the full decoding over speed. When they can do is speed up the process by allowing for better caching or lower resolution that build as the picture becomes available.

That kind of approach doesn't work on a satellite signal. Streaming apps do it by starting with a low bitrate. It's all or nothing on satellite. The v3 box is a bit snappier but frankly 3 seconds is not really a long time. Most streamers buffer for longer.

Re: Slow Downloads & Lag on Changing Channels

PandJ2020 — Wed, 19 Mar 2025 09:25:44 GMT

@Chodley wrote:
The v3 box is a bit snappier but frankly 3 seconds is not really a long time. Most streamers buffer for longer.

I've got a rather old UHD box and switches much much quicker... Strange.