Sky Q random frequent sound dropouts

[HiHoSilver2000]

My sound from my Sky Q box frequently drops for a second then comes back. Sometimes it will be OK for 5 minutes other times it will drop after another second or 2.

Happens with Live TV, recorded programs and streaming (netflix & prime).

XBox and fire cube both have no issues using the same cables and HDMI port on the TV.

Also tried a different TV.  Same.

On 3rd Sky Q box. Engineer said it must be the TV, despite the fact I've tried another TV with the same results.

TV is Samsung UE50AU9000.

Help, dont know what to try next.

[Mark182004]

This also happens to me sky q 2tb box with power brick, audio output set to normal but also happens on Dolby digital.

power off at the mains/unplug works for short period of time before the drops come back... 

[JT16]

My box has started this  nonsense the last couple of days - has there been a recent s/w update? 

it's absolutely infuriating and, a quick Google suggests that's it's a very common problem that Sky either can't or won't fix.

I've done all of the usual, reboot, reset, changed ports, leads, even the TV but no solution. 

[Mark182004]

There is another post on here relating to the same issue does anyone no how we can link the posts together?

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@HiHoSilver2000 wrote:

My sound from my Sky Q box frequently drops for a second then comes back. Sometimes it will be OK for 5 minutes other times it will drop after another second or 2.

Happens with Live TV, recorded programs and streaming (netflix & prime).

XBox and fire cube both have no issues using the same cables and HDMI port on the TV.

Also tried a different TV.  Same.

On 3rd Sky Q box. Engineer said it must be the TV, despite the fact I've tried another TV with the same results.

TV is Samsung UE50AU9000.

Help, dont know what to try next.

---

---

@HiHoSilver2000 wrote:

My sound from my Sky Q box frequently drops for a second then comes back. Sometimes it will be OK for 5 minutes other times it will drop after another second or 2.

Happens with Live TV, recorded programs and streaming (netflix & prime).

XBox and fire cube both have no issues using the same cables and HDMI port on the TV.

Also tried a different TV.  Same.

On 3rd Sky Q box. Engineer said it must be the TV, despite the fact I've tried another TV with the same results.

TV is Samsung UE50AU9000.

Help, dont know what to try next.

---

[MFBSky · Accepted solution]

Same problem here with Sky Q2tb with Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus settings. Read an old article (5yrs) and someone else disconnected it's Internet access completely, it worked and they changed their router.  Tried mine disconnect to watch a UHD movie download and it worked perfectly no dropouts. Have since reconnected my Sky Q box, will see if the issue returns

[Mike259Tiger]

I too have had this problem over the past year. I have had 3 visits from Sky engineers had 3 new boxes and still the problem persisits. To be fair the engineers have really tried to solve the issue but to no avail. I have even had a new LNB and the dish realigned and software updates (x 3 ).

There must be a software issue that Sky are not admitting too because it is happening to a lot of customers!

Anyone got any advice?

[HiHoSilver2000]

What network setup do you have?

Wifi connection straight to the sky broadband router fixed my problem. 

[Tom-W19]

Hi @Mike259Tiger 

Your post has been escalated to our Community Messaging team who will invite you to a private chat shortly and help you with this.

Just look out for the chat bubble to start the conversation.

Here's more information on how Community Messaging works - https://community.sky.com/t5/Did-you-know/Escalating-a-post-to-a-Sky-expert/ba-p/3711147

[donbidyre]

Did this private chat resolve anything?

I've had this issue intermittently for years. Sky have variously denied the issue, blamed Samsung, or said they are working on it, yet the issue still persists.

[Mike259Tiger]

Hello,

No the issue has not been resolved and still an ongoing issue. Just wish i could get another server but no cable services in  my area.

[Ninja882]

I have this issue too and all the Sky engineer suggests is switching the DD Plus off!! That's not my idea of a resolution! I'll will be swapping B4ARN shortly as I've lost all faith in Sky. 

[donbidyre]

Hi @Ninja882,

From my experience, playing with the Dolby settings, will normally have no impact on this issue at all. Occasionally it will give you a temporary restbite. But as the problem is intermittent anyway, I believe that this is little more than coincidence & after a while the problem returns under your new Dolby settings, proving that the previous setting was not the issue in the first place.

On the plus side, the problem seems to occur much less often than it used to, so hopefully, it means that Sky have actually been working on it & have managed to improve things a bit (or maybe we've just been a bit lucky lately).

[MFBSky]

I had this problem whenever I had sky q set to output sound in Dolby Digital or Dolby Digital Plus, change settings to normal and it disappears but I want to use Dolby Digital audio. Found a sound setting on my Sony TV to 'Output only compressed Audio for multi channel content without change' Seems to be working for now..

[Trebor4]

Happening to me too, much more frequently in recent days on live UHD sport. Sound is in dolby Atmos which is great (when it works) so I don't want to revert to Normal sound. When sound goes the AV receiver appears to turn off briefly. In addition, there are sometimes loud buzzes and clicks from the speakers. Only live sport seems to be involved. I have Samsunbg TV and Yamaha Av receiver.

[MikeySti]

I've had this exact same issue with two  Q boxes outputting to Yamaha AV, the receiver supports all Dolby options and works flawlessly with Apple TV+ and PS5. The only way to stop it is by disabling Dolby output on the sky box, to be honest I shouldn't be surprised, every sky box I've owned in more than 20 years has been unreliable in some form or another.