How to improve Sky Stream

[Hyper1979]

I actually really like Sky Stream (I came over from Virgin).

One  way I think would provide a better user experience is to have a remote control that has a headphone jack. 

[Jason+Golding]

@Hyper1979 @Why? I have never seen an audio jack on any tv/set top box remotes. It is on Xbox etc because people often use monitors that may not have sound inputs? 

[Hyper1979]

As far as I understand (and I might be wrong so apologies in advance) the Sky Stream remote connects via wifi. My PS4 controller also connect via wifi and I can plug in a headphone jack to that and watch a movie or play a game through said headphones through the controller and therefore not disturb anyone else in my home.

I simply assumed it was the same type of tech?

[Jason+Golding]

The sky stream remote doesn't connect via WiFi. 

[Hyper1979]

Apologies then.

How does it connect?

[Hyper1979]

After some (quick) research online apparently the Sky Stream remote connects via Bluetooth.

Is there any reason why the Sky Stream remote cannot utilise this to allow a headphone jack?

I only ask as I'm new to Sky and they have sent me a questionnaire asking how I think they could imporve their service.

I can't see any reason why this feature couldn't be incorporated? 

[lettice]

Not sure why you would want to do this via a remote control.

Still, it's not possible.

The Sky Stream  remote control communicates with the Sky Stream box via IR and bluetooth and with your TV via Bluetooth for switching TV on/off and TV volume.

Use your TV headphone socket ( most TVs have one) or connect a pair of bluetooth headphones via bluetooth to your TV or via a soundbar connected to your TV that has bluetooth output.

[Nigelb1972]

@Hyper1979 I'd imagine that it'll be a combination of cost and that only a small minority of users have requested this feature. Most people who wish to use headphones or need to use them, will have a pair of Bluetooth ones connected to their TV already.

[Chrisee]

@Nigelb1972 you will find few TV set top boxes have an audio output for headphone s. Most only output audio over the HDMI interface to a TV or similar which has speakers etc. To add such an output to a device like a puck would require a circuit to convert the digital audio signal to analogue audio and a socket for the headphones to connect. While the pucks support bluetooth that is a dedicated link for the remote and is not equipped to support audio out.

Adding weither would increase costs and as a Sky engineer pointed out to me in the past when you are buying units by the million even 50p increase has to be signed off at board level so given the minimal demand  it isn't going to happen.

You can buy a device called a HDMI Audio extractor for around £20 which will give you a range of sockets to connect headphones etc.

[Jason+Golding]

I don't seen any benefit for having an Audio Jack on the sky remote. What is the point ? Vast majority of modern TV's have Bluetooth that you can use to connect earphones, secondly what happens in the family when one member want to change channels ? They pass the remote with ear phones attached ?? Only one remote can be attached to a box. This is one of those dragon dens ideas, when the inventor provides an idea for a problem that doesn't exist