Sky Q SD/HD conflict

[Gromit23]

Recently taken delivery of new Sky Q box. Seemed straightforward until I started recording my favourite shows. Recorded and playing back one episode as a test went ok. Then I tried to record the series. It recorded two shows and when playing back the first one the Sky Q box tried to force me to upgrade to HD (I have a basic SD package). I gave up and played other shows I had recorded - they seemed ok. Why ?? On returning to the series I had recorded I noticed the "All formats" box - and found TWO entries for the same show - on clicking the SD version the box started to download. It didn't just download the two episodes I had recorded - it downloaded FOUR episodes. How come ?? Why ?? This box seems to have a mind of its own !! How do I record in SD only - is it buried somewhere in the Settings ??

[Laing1]

---

@Gromit23 wrote:

Recently taken delivery of new Sky Q box. Seemed straightforward until I started recording my favourite shows. Recorded and playing back one episode as a test went ok. Then I tried to record the series. It recorded two shows and when playing back the first one the Sky Q box tried to force me to upgrade to HD (I have a basic SD package). I gave up and played other shows I had recorded - they seemed ok. Why ?? On returning to the series I had recorded I noticed the "All formats" box - and found TWO entries for the same show - on clicking the SD version the box started to download. It didn't just download the two episodes I had recorded - it downloaded FOUR episodes. How come ?? Why ?? This box seems to have a mind of its own !! How do I record in SD only - is it buried somewhere in the Settings ??

---

Sky signature comes with live TV, catchup and boxsets.in SD as standard you may be trying to download the programme in HD

The default download setting is HD so try changing the format to download in SD

you can change the default to SD by Pressing Home on your Sky Q remote and select Settings, then Setup.
Select Preferences, then 'On Demand default download format', and choose SD.

[Gromit23]

Thanks for reply but I was not trying to download !! All I wanted to do was record - and how come this download system found FOUR episodes when I had only recorded two ?? All very odd !!

[Laing1]

---

@Gromit23 wrote:

Thanks for reply but I was not trying to download !! All I wanted to do was record - and how come this download system found FOUR episodes when I had only recorded two ?? All very odd !!

---

@Gromit23 to record it should be as simple as finding the SD channel and recording from it. I'd still change the downloading format to SD 

you might find that when downloading there will be a signed download and a non-signed download

Also with recordings im sure you are aware that free to air channels such as BBC etc you get the HD version as well for free

[nigea99]

hi @Gromit23 

You need to be aware that most content you find via search will be downloads rather than a recording  - a recording is when set from the TV Guide or similar future episode listings - if you can access it now it is a download (often indicated by a down facing arrow in the thumbnail)

There is also a setting you may wish to clear/set as you wish

Home - Settings - Prefernces 

Auto download next episode 

which will trigger a download of the next episode (when available) when you start wathing an episode

BTW One quirk to watch out for you can watch & record from C4 & C5 in HD without the HD add on but you can't watch HD downloads without the HD add on! 

[nigea99]

@Gromit23 

The reason for multiple copies of your episodes mught be because of this recordings vs downloads & a very unerliable nature of the buttons above recordings

To explain an example I have often watched a recording i have made but not quite finished the episode (say series 1 episode 1 of prog x)

The button above the episode says 'Continue S1 Ep 2'  - spot which epsisode !

If you then select the button it downloads Ep2 & then starts playing it even though you hadn;t finished ep 1

Our general advice is to be very wary of (if not ignore)  the buttons above the episode lists - instead scroll down & scroll to the episode you are sure you want & select the butons underneath  

Also we strongly advise not to use the 'Continue' section of recordings unless you are 100% sure it is pointing to the correct episode - I have known it do similar behaviour to above or as a flip to this download an epsiode I have just watched & deleted! - So generally always use the 'Most Recent' section for recordings