topic Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help in Sky Q

SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

phil+mo — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:44:49 GMT

I am having trouble getting accurate help from Sky.

I have just paid to update my package to Ultra HD - and have been repeatedly told my box is compatable. The box code is :32B064

But everywhere I look (like here https://www.sky.com/help/articles/sky-software-updates ) the box is listed as not HDR compatable.

Can someone please confirm which is the case ASAP please.

Thanks

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

PandJ2020 — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:53:33 GMT

UHD and HDR are different things.

Your box is UHD. Change your display mode to 2160P.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

MightyQuinn — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 16:52:18 GMT

Hi @phil+mo You box is UHD but not HDR. They are different things.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

phil+mo — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:23:58 GMT

Thanks so much for the quick reply, this area has confused me a little.

In simple terms I have just ordered a 4K TV and upgraded to the Ultra HD.

Will I benefit in upgrading to a HDR capable 32B2XX box ?

I guess I have confused myself between 4k/Ultra HD / HDR.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

nigea99 — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:41:28 GMT

@phil+mo wrote:

Thanks so much for the quick reply, this area has confused me a little.

In simple terms I have just ordered a 4K TV and upgraded to the Ultra HD.

Will I benefit in upgrading to a HDR capable 32B2XX box ?

I guess I have confused myself between 4k/Ultra HD / HDR.

UHD (aka 4K) is an increase in picture resolution 3840x2160 (2160p) over full HD 1920 x 1080 (1080i or p)

Many people don't notice much difference between good HD & SDR 4K (i.e. non HDR) especially as a 4K TV has to 'upscale' HD to fill the physical resolution of the 4K/UHD screen - although it does depend on the material

( SDR = Standard Dynamic Range)

The big difference that most people notice is watching HDR which stands for High Dynamic Range wich gives deeper blacks & brighter whites and as the name implies extends the Dynamic Range.

HDR is not technically restricted to 4K/UHD but as far as SKY and many other platforms they only use HDR on 4K/UHD

Your 32B0xxx box is, as mentioned by others, only UHD/SDR capable

The later versions 32B1xxx & 32B2xxx are HDR capable

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

MightyQuinn — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:45:05 GMT

Hi @phil+mo You can still try UHD/HDR if you download a programme in this format. Your 32B0 box does not switch HDR on, on your TV but you can change it manually. The Sky Q box needs to be set to 2160p 10 bit and then manually change your TV to HLG HDR.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

nigea99 — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:47:53 GMT

@MightyQuinn wrote:

Hi @phil+mo You can still try UHD/HDR if you download a programme in this format. Your 32B0 box does not switch HDR on, on your TV but you can change it manually. The Sky Q box needs to be set to 2160p 10 bit and then manually change your TV to HLG HDR.

The non HDR SKY boxes cannot handle the HDR signal and do not let you download the HDR versions - it is not just a matter of automatic switching

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

MightyQuinn — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:55:01 GMT

Hi @nigea99 I used to have a 32B0 box and it used to work fine outputting HDR. The only difference was the HDR switching on the TV.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

nigea99 — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 17:55:47 GMT

BTW @phil+mo

if you want to see some HDR material (but not via SKY) use the iplayer app on your TV and select something like The Green Planet / Frozen Panet 2 (making sure you select the UHD version)

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

Chodley — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:09:25 GMT

@MightyQuinn wrote:
Hi @nigea99 I used to have a 32B0 box and it used to work fine outputting HDR. The only difference was the HDR switching on the TV.

I didn't think the non-HDR box could be set to 10bit colour

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

nigea99 — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:13:48 GMT

@Chodley wrote:

@MightyQuinn wrote:

Hi @nigea99 I used to have a 32B0 box and it used to work fine outputting HDR. The only difference was the HDR switching on the TV.

I didn't think the non-HDR box could be set to 10bit colour

@Chodley Yes they could be set to 10 bit - I had one for about 3 years before upgrading to an HDR box

It wouldn't show or let me download any HDR content though

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

MightyQuinn — Wed, 18 Oct 2023 18:21:28 GMT

@nigea99 wrote:
@Chodley wrote:
@MightyQuinn wrote:
Hi @nigea99 I used to have a 32B0 box and it used to work fine outputting HDR. The only difference was the HDR switching on the TV.
I didn't think the non-HDR box could be set to 10bit colour
@Chodley Yes they could be set to 10 bit - I had one for about 3 years before upgrading to an HDR box

It wouldn't show or let me download any HDR content though

@nigea99 If I remember right, I used to download and watch the Lemars something ... in HDR. It persuaded me to pay the £50 for the 32B2.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

MorgSky — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:05:54 GMT

Hello all, apologies for replying to a very old post.

I can not watch anything in HDR due to having 1 of the first Sky Q 2TB boxes. I was just informed, in order for me to view HDR , I have to pay £99 for a new box...... this is crazy? Anyone else have the same response?

Any ideas to get around this?

Cancel and re-sign up?

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

PandJ2020 — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:34:23 GMT

@MorgSky wrote:
Hello all, apologies for replying to a very old post.

I can not watch anything in HDR due to having 1 of the first Sky Q 2TB boxes. I was just informed, in order for me to view HDR , I have to pay £99 for a new box...... this is crazy? Anyone else have the same response?

Any ideas to get around this?

Cancel and re-sign up?

That's correct - you have to pay to upgrade your loaned box. No way around it.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

MightyQuinn — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 14:35:59 GMT

Hi @MorgSky Try manually setting your TV to HLG HDR. I upgraded a B0 box for a B2 box a few years ago, but I am sure that manually setting my TV to HLG HDR worked fine. It is the automatic switching that is not included with the B0 box. All you can do, is try it and see. You obviously need 2160p 10 bit.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

MorgSky — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:24:55 GMT

Not overly happy with that answer.

Thanks for the clarification though, appreciate it.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

MorgSky — Tue, 09 Apr 2024 16:25:42 GMT

thanks @MightyQuinn

I will give this a go....just in case I get lucky......

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

phil+mo — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 11:54:07 GMT

I had the same issue with the same box, and refused to pay the new box cost.

I could get 4k via the apps on my TV anyway as well as Atmos.

However my box later last year started freezing and the drive died.

I was told the replacement box would be the same, however they sent version (for self installation) version 32B106 (Ultra compatible). So if you develop issues with your box you never know.

Good luck

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

Chodley — Fri, 12 Apr 2024 04:31:23 GMT

@phil+mo wrote:
I had the same issue with the same box, and refused to pay the new box cost.
I could get 4k via the apps on my TV anyway as well as Atmos.

However my box later last year started freezing and the drive died.

I was told the replacement box would be the same, however they sent version (for self installation) version 32B106 (Ultra compatible). So if you develop issues with your box you never know.

Good luck

You could always get 4k on the original box. It was HDR it couldn't do.

Also I'm not sure setting the TV to HLG actually makes the original box output HLG. It might just stretch the SDR signal across a wider contrast ratio.

Re: SKY Q 2TB :32B064 - HDR/4K help

MorgSky — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 15:07:34 GMT

Thanks for everyone's replies.

After calling back and fighting with 4 different people regarding my contract incorrectly renewal price. I paid for a replacement 2TB HDR box. Today, I have swapped it over and when viewing UHD channel, HDR now shows up instantly on my LG OLED.

Annoying they never actively offered to upgrade my existing box with any kind of offer, seeing I was paying for UHD/HD and they know I had an incompatible box for years.