Sky+HD box isn't compatible with my TV...Please help or else we will have no Xmas TV!

[jony_dols]

I bought a new TV from the US (it is a Samsung UN46c8000)
I used a US to Euro power adapter and it works perfectly.

I have connected both my UK PS3 & my sons UK Xbox 360 to the TV using HDMI,
and they play 100% without any hitches.

However when I connected my Samsung Sky+ HD box to the TV using HDMI, it shows up on the TV that the 'resolution is not supported'. But the TV supports 720p,1080i & 1080p. I tried changing the settings on the Sky box (on a separate TV) and I have tried 576,720p & 1080i as well as automatic, in the settings. But every time it shows up as resolution not supported......

I have updated the firmware to the latest version on the TV, and I have updated the Sky box using the holding Backup method. And it still isn't supporting my TV.

I have contacted both Sky and Samsung, and they don't see any reason why it will not work....Please can anyone help me, it is driving me mad, and my TV is pretty much useless for anything apart from Video games......

[penrhyn]

Could it be something to do with the repetition rate of the picture, the UK being 50Hz, whilst the US uses 60Hz.

Why would you buy a TV from the USA escapes me?

I'd suggest trying to connect using Scart but I don't think Americans use them.

[dms05]

SD TV in the USA is 480i not the 576i used in Europe. Also you have the NTSC/PAL standard difference. In addition the 50 vs 60 Hz mains variation.

I have had one instance of my Samsung TV reporting a resolution problem with my Sky+ HD box. This turned out to be a handshaking problem between the TV and STB which was solved by moving the STB to another HDMI port.

HDMI is theoretically the same worldwide but this problem reappears regularly on the Internet so something is causing a problem.

[Isitme]

I think your problem is that US uses NTSC which displays in a different TV resolution from PAL, which is used in UK and other European countries. The two systems are not compatible. The consoles work OK because the two standards are coded into most games by the game developer. This is probably to keep production costs down, ie, separate versions do not need to be manufactured for the different regions.

I think your only option is to keep the TV for your consoles and buy another for TV viewing.

[Kenedin]

It's the old problem of US-made tv's not supporting refresh rates in UK/Europe of 50Hz ( including Sky ). I think many UK/European manufacturers enable their products for 50Hz/60Hz for use in the USA, but similar dual capabilities are rare in US-made sets. The UK/European model, which looks to be the UN46E8000 supports both as far as I can see from the spec on Samsung UK. I tried to get the User Manual for your model downloaded from Samsung US, but it was blocked for some reason. You could pop the question to Samsung US Support and see what they say ( ho ho ), or ask on a US expat forum. You can't be the first to have this problem.

I came across this. Maybe you should email them and see if they can help.

[jony_dols]

It's the old problem of US-made tv's not supporting refresh rates in UK/Europe of 50Hz ( including Sky ). I think many UK/European manufacturers enable their products for 50Hz/60Hz for use in the USA, but similar dual capabilities are rare in US-made sets. The UK/European model, which looks to be the UN46E8000 supports both as far as I can see from the spec on Samsung UK. I tried to get the User Manual for your model downloaded from Samsung US, but it was blocked for some reason. You could pop the question to Samsung US Support and see what they say ( ho ho ), or ask on a US expat forum. You can't be the first to have this problem.

I came across this. Maybe you should email them and see if they can help.

Thank you so much, I'll get in touch with them asap, and hopefully this device will work......

Oh btw the reason why I bought an american set is because I bought it through bundlebox.com from an US site, and it still worked out several hundred pounds cheaper than buying the UK model, even after duties and delivery.....

[Smithy99]

So you save some £££'s and get a TV that won't show a TV picture, bargain

[steelysteph]

.......
Oh btw the reason why I bought an american set is because I bought it through bundlebox.com from an US site, and it still worked out several hundred pounds cheaper than buying the UK model, even after duties and delivery.....

What warranty did you get with this purchase?

[Proppinupthebar]

I think your problem is that US uses NTSC which displays in a different TV resolution from PAL, which is used in UK and other European countries. The two systems are not compatible. The consoles work OK because the two standards are coded into most games by the game developer. This is probably to keep production costs down, ie, separate versions do not need to be manufactured for the different regions.

I think your only option is to keep the TV for your consoles and buy another for TV viewing.

HD resolution is the same in US and Europe. Its the frame rate which is different.
OldNick recommended an ISIS SU20 unit a while ago which was available on ebay, this does frame rate conversion which may work for you. You basically need a format converter by the sounds of it.

Nick - I bought one and am happy, but a friend also did and his has since stopped working.

[Old_nick]

They're still being sold on Ebay (£80), and mine is still working fine - I use it every day. Apparently the power supply is the weak point on the ISIS, but it's nothing special.

P.S. I agree with the diagnosis - it's the 50Hz/60Hz thing that's causing the problem. Most US TVs won't do 50Hz.

It's never a good idea to buy TV/Radio stuff from the US...... I once bought a little digital FM radio for my wife to use while jogging when I was out there once, only to find that the AM & FM channel separations are all different out there ! Dohhh !