24 Jul 2023 05:48 PM
Hiya,
I'm very happy with my Sky Stream being behind my wall-mounted TV. The Bluetooth remote is not a problem, and I use Ethernet cabling instead of Wifi. In fact I recommend Velcro to attach the stream to the back of the TV.
My question is because of the bulk of the power plug. It would be a lot tidier if I could use a USB to Stream cable. Ideally the TV would have the power, but if not it's a lot easier to send power via USB extensions than electrical sockets.
Has anyone managed this, or am I dreaming?
TIA.
24 Jul 2023 05:58 PM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more
@DisplayName31 wrote:
My question is because of the bulk of the power plug. It would be a lot tidier if I could use a USB to Stream cable. Ideally the TV would have the power, but if not it's a lot easier to send power via USB extensions than electrical sockets.
Has anyone managed this, or am I dreaming? The USB socket is intended just for the Sky Live camera - Using it for any other reason may damage it & the TV.
TIA.
24 Jul 2023 06:18 PM - last edited: 24 Jul 2023 06:25 PM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more
A typical smart television USB port will not provide the 5V at 1.2A required for a Stream puck: such ports are usually limited to 500mA (enough to power a USB memory stick, but not an external AV device)
You'd need a Type A USB to 3.5mm x 1.35mm Barrel Jack cable for USB extension.
Note that using anything other than a Sky-supplied PSU with a puck on loan (acquired after 23rd February 2023) is not advisable.
25 Jul 2023 08:45 PM
Thanks Tim,
You tecchie measurements might seem simple but are critical "USB to 3.5mm x 1.35mm Barrel Jack ", and Amazon are sending me a few for a fiver each.
My pucks are (all but one) purchased not loan, in June 2023, but I'm worried that you say not using the supplied massive UK plug is inadvisable. Any links or 'allegedly' tales of woe to share.
I'll report back on my experience with Amazon cables. I'm not expecting the TV output to be fruitful, but I've got some powerful USB possibilities. Also does the community use smart or dumb plugs to cut the power and reboot their Pucks overnight? I've done that with my main Sky Satellite box for 2 decades.
Amazing lack of foresight to have underpowered USB in a TV (mine is generic Android) when you think my 3 yr old PC Monitor can provide enough power over Thunderbolt USB-C to charge my laptop and be a docking station.
TIA, fab resource.
25 Jul 2023 09:18 PM - last edited: 25 Jul 2023 10:09 PM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more
@DisplayName31 wrote:
Amazing lack of foresight to have underpowered USB in a TV (mine is generic Android) when you think my 3 yr old PC Monitor can provide enough power over Thunderbolt USB-C to charge my laptop and be a docking station.
5v at 0.5A is what's defined by the official USB 2.0 standard which is nearly a quarter of a century old.
25 Jul 2023 10:19 PM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more@DisplayName31Assuming your TV's USB socket will provide enough power and you get the adaptor to connect USB to the stream box check the polarity is the same as the original power unit, getting + & - mixed up can do nasty things to the stream box.
26 Jul 2023 06:55 AM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more@DisplayName31 your use case of hiding the Stream behind a wall mounted tv by using velcro in a vertical position is not recommended for good reason. First TVs contain metal which blocks wifi signals. Secondly the Stream units are designed to be used horizontally both the allow them to cool and secondly because the wifi antennae are designed to work in that orientation both will be far less efficent in the vertical position.
That you can get it to work is not the same as it is a good idea. By far the most common issue with these units is poor performance due to wifi signal issues. Perhaps Sky chose the power supply with that in mind?
26 Jul 2023 08:16 AM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more
@bob1234 wrote:
@DisplayName31 check the polarity is the same as the original power unit, getting + & - mixed up can do nasty things to the stream box.
This post seems relevant:
20 Oct 2023 08:57 AM
Ive sucessfully used the cables listed above from a USB from an LG2, albeit not any of the links, just a regular one from ebay. What I notice is that the puck doesnt start when the TV turns on, although it does try.l via light on, but then off. Then i manually turn on and its fine. Annoying process over time. Any ideas/shared experience?
22 Sep 2024 04:03 PM
Rather concerned a "SuoerUser" like yourself gives dodgy advice and would miss a simple "." 12amp @ 5V equates. To 60w
@ 12amp the puck would light up like a......well a 60w light bulb !
Read the specks correctly and you will see the OEM supply is 1.2amps or 1200ma or 1 POINT 2 amps
Whilst old smart TVs are limited to 500ma per usb outlet, modern ones have an increased output, to multiple outputs and a Y output can be used. However a puck will use more current drain on start up than on normal use and will run at 500ma, the processor will not run at full speed and picture will be glitchy at best.
Yes it will not run at its best, but base things on real facts 🙂
22 Sep 2024 04:13 PM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more
@Mentor1 wrote:
Rather concerned a "SuoerUser" like yourself gives dodgy advice and would miss a simple "." 12amp @ 5V equates. To 60w
I can't find any reference to '12amp' in this thread.....
22 Sep 2024 08:38 PM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more
@Mentor1 wrote:
Rather concerned a "SuoerUser" like yourself gives dodgy advice and would miss a simple "." 12amp @ 5V equates. To 60w
@ 12amp the puck would light up like a......well a 60w light bulb !
Read the specks correctly and you will see the OEM supply is 1.2amps or 1200ma or 1 POINT 2 amps
Whilst old smart TVs are limited to 500ma per usb outlet, modern ones have an increased output, to multiple outputs and a Y output can be used. However a puck will use more current drain on start up than on normal use and will run at 500ma, the processor will not run at full speed and picture will be glitchy at best.
Yes it will not run at its best, but base things on real facts 🙂
@Mentor1 if you are refering to @TimmyBGood post you are misreading it
@TimmyBGood wrote:
A typical smart television USB port will not provide the 5V at 1.2A required for a Stream puck: such ports are usually limited to 500mA (enough to power a USB memory stick, but not an external AV device)
You'd need a Type A USB to 3.5mm x 1.35mm Barrel Jack cable for USB extension.
Note that using anything other than a Sky-supplied PSU with a puck on loan (acquired after 23rd February 2023) is not advisable.
22 Sep 2024 08:48 PM - last edited: 22 Sep 2024 08:51 PM
Posted by a Superuser, not a Sky employee. Find out more
My post says 1.2A
The decimal point is rather small and somewhat obscured by the second numeral, but it is there.