Sky Stream Input Signal Format (v Sky Q)

[1964+Shot]

For Sky Q:

The input signal format to the set top box will either be 576i50 (for SD), 1080p50 (for full HD) or 2160p50 (for 4K) irrespective of whether it’s a live broadcast or a playback from a recording.

For Sky Stream:

Is the input signal format to the puck for live broadcasts always identical to the equivalent channel on Sky Q?  I am assuming it will be for channels available via subscription? But what about Freeview channels? For example, is the input signal for ITV1 HD still 1080p50?

Are there no SD channels on Sky Stream? So, if a channel is only available in SD on Sky Q, if it is available on Sky Stream will it automatically be in HD?

What about the input signal format for playlist playback? Is it always the same as the original live broadcast that would have been received by the puck? For example, I thought ITV channels were only 25 frames per second?

[mikealanr]

Hi @1964+Shot 

There are no SD channels on Glass / Stream they are either HD versions or may not be available. The channel list is different: https://www.sky.com/help/articles/tv-channel-list-sky-glass.

There are no Freeview channels, Freeview is marketing for the DTT platform. When stream is set to UHD it outputs a picture resolution of 3840x2160 pixels at 50 frames per second. It consistently reports this on my TVs so I assume it's upscaling. Although I use a Glass TV for most viewing.

However given that you cannot record anything locally and cloud recording is only where there isn't a broadcaster catch-up, the experience can vary app to app. So not necessarily the same.

MikeAlanR

[Chrisee]

@1964+Shot there are two issues here the first is the resolution of the incoming stream which is set by the  broadcaster.  HD channels are standardized to 1080i 50Hz  - no channel outputs 1080p 50Hz a few Freeview channels use 1080p 25Hz but that is effectively the same as the interlaced format. The linear UHD channels are in 2160p 50Hz. As important as the resolution is the compression system used with both streams and broadcasts . 

The second factor is the output resolution of the Q box or stream puck which can be set by the customer. The box will then upscale, downscale and deinterlace content according to the format of the  input signals as appropriate. Sky do not offer the option of outputting the signal automatically to match the incoming resolution on either system. Its an option thst has been requested but Sky say the extended time many TVs take to switch resolution would cause too many support issues.

In practice I find the picture quality from my pucks exceeds that of the Q boxes they replace and on my main TV I leave the puck set to output in UHD. 

[Padam_Padam]

@1964+Shot 

The other thing to think about with the playlist is that any content played back from a UK broadcaster's third party app (iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 or My5) will only ever have stereo sound.

5.1 audio (when available) is only ever on the broadcast stream. Some, but not all, playlisted content might be cloud recorded, and will therefore be a duplicate of the broadcast stream so will carry 5.1 audio. But (and it's a big but) you have no idea whether you will get a cloud recording or a link to an app stream until after the broadcast. 

If audio is important to you then it might be worth thinking about before switching from Q to Stream. 

As for image quality, yes Stream does output a slightly sharper, punchier image quality than Q and it does upscale well. My 4K OLED TV can upscale HD better than the puck though. If I set the puck to output the native 1080i of the HD channels and let the TV upscale, the image is a tad sharper overall than leaving the puck set on 2160P. It's marginal though. 1080i Freeview HD channels from the TV's native internal tuner look sharper than a 2160P upscale of a 1080i stream from the puck too. You'd have to really look for the difference though - it's very minimal and only worth worrying about if you're a real purist.   

[TimmyBGood]

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@Padam_Padam wrote:

My 4K OLED TV can upscale HD better than the puck though.

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One might reasonably hope the silicon in a £1000 television set is rather 'better' than that in a £20 set top box ; )

[Padam_Padam]

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@TimmyBGood wrote:

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@Padam_Padam wrote:

My 4K OLED TV can upscale HD better than the puck though.

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One might reasonably hope the silicon in a £1000 television set is rather 'better' than that in a £20 set top box ; )

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Indeed! The puck does do a remarkably good job for the price though. Just wish it was a lot faster, kept things in sync, and had a much more reliable remote control. But I guess if it did, it wouldn't cost £20 would it?! 😁

[TimmyBGood]

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@Padam_Padam wrote:

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Indeed! The puck does do a remarkably good job for the price though. Just wish it was a lot faster, kept things in sync, and had a much more reliable remote control. But I guess if it did, it wouldn't cost £20 would it?! 

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As I've observed in relation to Glass, having design and manufacturing fall within the pandemic almost certainly didn't help: while it's quite hard to find definitive information, it appears that the ARM SoC used in the Sky hardware wasn't exactly cutting edge even in 2021.

[Exiled-in-HH]

What's the penalty charge for not returning a Puck... £20?

[Padam_Padam]

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@Exiled-in-HH wrote:

What's the penalty charge for not returning a Puck... £20?

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£45 apparently.

[Exiled-in-HH]

That charge can be applied multiple times until the Puck is returned?

What value does Sky place on a Puck... surely more than £20?

[Padam_Padam]

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@Exiled-in-HH wrote:

That charge can be applied multiple times until the Puck is returned?

The cost is per puck

What value does Sky place on a Puck... surely more than £20?

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They probably cost about a £1 to manufacture in the quantities Sky/Comcast/Foxtel/Xumo need.

£20 was all they charged me for mine when I purchased it prior to February last year when they changed to the loan system.  

[Exiled-in-HH]

Wasn't that a discounted price at the time?

The penalty charge can be made multiple times per Puck until returned🤔

[TimmyBGood]

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@Exiled-in-HH wrote:

What value does Sky place on a Puck... surely more than £20?

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£45 according to https://www.sky.com/help/articles/charges-for-not-returning-sky-stream-puck 

[1964+Shot]

@Padam_Padam 

I didn't realise that playback from 3rd party apps would be in stereo even if the original broadcast was in 5.1 Dolby Digital. It does seem odd that these providers do this as the Sky Stream Box is compatible with more advanced formats than stereo e.g. Dolby Atmos with Netflix.

The consistent reports of better picture and sound quality for Sky Stream does make it an attractive option. However, if only the playback for BBC, ITV, C4 and C5 was a properly integrated experience with the sound and picture format being the same as the original broadcast. The cloud recording seems very promising but as you say isn't for all broadcasts.

A smaller box and less wires needed compared to Sky Q is advantageous. I only watch Netflix and Discovery Plus on Apple TV so if the performance for these is good on Sky Stream I could remove the need for the Apple TV box in my system.

As for the price of a Sky Stream puck - I wonder whether it is sold at a discounted / loss leading price, with the difference effectively clawed back via the monthly subscription rate?

[Exiled-in-HH]

Sky don't sell Pucks... you have to pay a onetime fee to receive a Puck and return it to Sky when you cancel your subscription😉