Magic eyes and new TV

[veryfedup]

Hi. I'm not really fed up! 🙂 I have a couple of Magic Eyes connected to Sky+ HD box in lounge. I put first one in myself many years ago. But had TV guy replace when had second Magic Eye installed. I think the splitter has failed, the cables were moved and both Magic Eyes no longer work. As it happens, my Kitchen TV is on the way out, so I need to replace it.

My question is: Do I need to buy a TV with an Analogue channel for Sky to work via the Magic Eye?  

I don't feel competent to replace splitter or try to identify what's gone wrong with the cables, and also to set up a new TV with the Magic Eye. What sort of TV engineer do I need to sort this out? I live in Nottingham and have approached a TV repair guy, and also an Aerial Engineer, to no avail. 

My 2nd question. Does Sky still have engineers that understand the old technology of Magic Eyes? So they'd be my best bet? Appreciate your comments. 

[Annie+UK]

Please Note: Sky+ is now a legacy service that Sky are replacing with their newer services: Sky Q, Sky Glass and Sky Stream

Magic eyes require an analogue tuner in the TV fr picture and sound

Sky don't semd people out for Sky+ customers any more

[Mark39 · Accepted solution]

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@veryfedup wrote:

My question is: Do I need to buy a TV with an Analogue channel for Sky to work via the Magic Eye?

Not specifically for the magic eye, but yes you do, in order to receive picture and sound via a coax cable connection to your Sky box.  

I don't feel competent to replace splitter or try to identify what's gone wrong with the cables, and also to set up a new TV with the Magic Eye. What sort of TV engineer do I need to sort this out? I live in Nottingham and have approached a TV repair guy, and also an Aerial Engineer, to no avail. 

I would have thought any competent TV installer or aerial installer should be able to fix it. We can try to help if you wish.

My 2nd question. Does Sky still have engineers that understand the old technology of Magic Eyes?

Sky no longer provide any engineer support for Sky+ boxes unless you have Sky Protect.

So they'd be my best bet? Appreciate your comments. 

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[veryfedup]

@Annie+UK Oh thanks for that, so a new TV requires an Analogue Tuner. And oh yes, I'd got the impression Sky are not bothered about Sky+ customers, but I don't want to be pushed to Sky Q because my understanding is Sky Q doesn't support Magic Eyes. And I don't want the expense of monthly Multi channel charges. So I'm stymied trying to find a suitable Engineer these days. 

[veryfedup]

@Mark39 Thanks for your comments, very useful. I'll try searching on 'installers' aswell. I might have a chat with my local electronics shop too, they're more used to a traditional TV setup themselves and are not engineers, but they may have knowledge of installers. Thanks.

[TimmyBGood]

@veryfedup 

And note that an analogue tuner now only has a purpose in attaching really antique external hardware, and so won't be found in most current television models.

The standard specification will be multiple HDMI 2 ports, a Digital Terrestrial Television (DTTV) tuner and perhaps a digital satellite tuner with appropriate sockets, plus optical audio and USB.

Analogue tuning, SCART, RCA, composite and component video are all essentially obsolete and removed to decrease complexity, create space and save component cost.

[veryfedup]

@TimmyBGood Yes I agree, I hadn't been able to replace Bedroom TV for years cos I thought I had to find a TV spec with Analogue Channel.  Now it's been clarified I need a TV spec with Analogue Tuner, I've found a 24 inch Panasonic with that. Hooray!   

[veryfedup]

@Annie+UK , @Mark39 , @TimmyBGood   Hello. I wanted to give an update.  After trying several contacts to find an installer who understood Magic Eyes, the 6th one did, and fitted me a new 3-way splitter.  Brill.  Except that the 24 inch Panasonic TX-24MS480B, of which I bought 2 sets, DOES NOT have an Analogue Tuner!  Despite it stating quite clearly it does, in the online Technical Specification.  And also in the 37-page online Operating Instructions.  

[Mark39]

@veryfedup sorry.to hear that  - possibly because some of Panasonic's smaller models aren't built by Panasonic themselves. Their website does, in fact, indicate that there's no analogue tuner: https://www.panasonic.com/uk/consumer/televisions/HDTV/tx-24ms480b.html, so perhaps the spec has been updated.

[nigea99]

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@veryfedup wrote:

@Annie+UK , @Mark39 , @TimmyBGood   Hello. I wanted to give an update.  After trying several contacts to find an installer who understood Magic Eyes, the 6th one did, and fitted me a new 3-way splitter.  Brill.  Except that the 24 inch Panasonic TX-24MS480B, of which I bought 2 sets, DOES NOT have an Analogue Tuner!  Despite it stating quite clearly it does, in the online Technical Specification.  And also in the 37-page online Operating Instructions.  

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Just out of interest where did you see it has an Analogue Tuner - the online specs on the Panasonic page onlylists  DVB tuners (Terrestrial - DVB-T/T2 & Satellite S-S2 & C for Cable

Edit - Sorry I did not scroll down enough where it mentions an an analogue Tuner

If it has one - it  may be difficult to find  in menus

As an aside I remember I really struggled to find a 32" TV 8 years ago that had an Analogue Tuner when I still had SKY HD

[nigea99]

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@nigea99 wrote:

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@veryfedup wrote:

@Annie+UK , @Mark39 , @TimmyBGood   Hello. I wanted to give an update.  After trying several contacts to find an installer who understood Magic Eyes, the 6th one did, and fitted me a new 3-way splitter.  Brill.  Except that the 24 inch Panasonic TX-24MS480B, of which I bought 2 sets, DOES NOT have an Analogue Tuner!  Despite it stating quite clearly it does, in the online Technical Specification.  And also in the 37-page online Operating Instructions.  

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Just out of interest where did you see it has an Analogue Tuner - the online specs on the Panasonic page onlylists  DVB tuners (Terrestrial - DVB-T/T2 & Satellite S-S2 & C for Cable

Edit - Sorry I did not scroll down enough where it mentions an an analogue Tuner

If it has one - it  may be difficult to find  in menus

As an aside I remember I really struggled to find a 32" TV 8 years ago that had an Analogue Tuner when I still had SKY HD

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BTW I found this discussion which seems to indicate the analogue tuner is only accessible in counties with analogue transmissions (sorry that is not what you wanted to hear) Not sure if the Samsung TV mentioned  might be available

Analogue Tuner discussion  

[veryfedup]

@Mark39, @nigea99  Hello, yes my research for 24 inch with Analogue Tuner produced Panasonic.  The Tech Spec and online Ops Instructions, page 15, referred to Analogue Manual Scan.  But when I failed to set it up to Sky, I contacted Pansonic, and after a long online chat, they conceded that that model does not in fact have an Analogue Tuner. Like you say, if Panasonic don't make their smaller models, they've lost sight of what they're actually offering and online info cannot be relied upon.  

I really do not want to pay Sky a monthly multi channel charge. I would rather pay an upfront investment charge, whatever that is.  I was wondering whether some sort of HDMI/RF modulator setup would work, as in the kitchen, I don't need HD sparkly setup.  It's beyond my ken now, so I've contacted an East Mids specialist firm to see what they advise and can action.  I appreciate all your comments along the way. Thanks.   

[Mark39]

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@nigea99 wrote:

Edit - Sorry I did not scroll down enough where it mentions an an analogue Tuner

If it has one - it  may be difficult to find  in menus

As an aside I remember I really struggled to find a 32" TV 8 years ago that had an Analogue Tuner when I still had SKY HD

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@veryfedup I missed that too - @nigea99 is right, it does say there's an analogue tuner, so you should be ok. Current TVs don't tune above channel 50 or channel 60, so if your Sky box is set to the default RF Output Channel 68, your TV will never find it. Could that be the problem?

[veryfedup]

Well, I'll give it another look over the weekend.  But I think it's unlikely now.  Altho the Tech Spec and Ops Instructions state there is a Analogue Manual tuner, page 15, that Option does not appear on the 24 inch TV Panasonic Channel Control Panel, it isn't even greyed out, it just doesn't appear.  And after a long online Chat with Panasonic, they conceded that in fact, that TV no longer has Analogue tuner supplied to the UK Market.  😞 

[veryfedup]

@Mark39 @nigea99 Sorry forgot to tag above response