SKY Q and streaming. Buffering and Pixellation

SKY Q and streaming. Buffering and Pixellation

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FiF

Original Poster:

45,537 posts

258 months

Thursday 15th August
quotequote all
Just checking if my understanding of things is correct.

We're getting an occasional pixellation on rapidly changing motion and detailed pictures on our TV.

Trying to figure out when it occurs the feeling is that it occurs mainly on streaming services eg Paramount+.over the app on SkyQ. Also lots of buffering on Youtube app, again over SkyQ. Video stops, buffers, jumps back to a point already watched, plays, sometimes several iterations before it continues. I've been telling them to cease pausing the YouTube app as many say that makes it worse but frankly it's like herding cats.

Have googled and as usual there are conflicting views and irrelevant comments abound.

My understanding fwiw, is that as Paramount+ is a streaming channel, also there is no channel for it on SKY EPG then the feed is streamed over the broadband. For something to come from the satellite feed it needs to be over a channel as listed on EPG.

However the complication is that we sometimes get the pixellation on recorded content, it's very intermittent in that case and not been able to find if it happens on streamed or satellite feeds which have been recorded. Btw is catchup done streamed or satellite which might explain things.

It manifests itself very much like we used to get in bad weather when tall trees swayed about interfering with the signal, until we moved the dish hence the uncertainty. But because it's happening on what I think are streaming services suspect that reason can be eliminated.

The broadband service from Sky is very stable and typically 55Meg down 15Meg up FTTC which should be plenty for streaming I would have thought.
Finally we have a relatively 'old' TV a 12 year old Samsung HD only and maybe that needs an upgrade. It does have a Freesat tuner, maybe I should also try to see if it occurs there.

TL:DR Issues with pixellation and buffering on streamed feeds via SkyQ apps mainly. Every time BB checked it gives good results. Trying to figure out is it Broadband, TV or the Sky box with problems? (Tin foil hat time, is it sky buggering about to get shift to Stream. Paranoid obviously)

the_fatadder

28 posts

219 months

Friday 16th August
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Having exactly the same issues with my Sky Q system, I saw mention on the Sky website to try doing a reset of the apps (on home scroll down to settings which I gave a try yesterday. I havent watched enough on the streaming apps yet to see if its worked, but it may be worth a try if you havent already.

You scroll down to settings but dont press select, key in 001 followed by enter and it brings up the hidden settings. Scroll down to Apps and select refresh.

edit: apparently according to my daughter it hasnt worked with Disney+, so if anyone does find a solution I'd love to hear it. I suspect the answer is to use the built in apps on the TV rather than through Sky. But the latter is so much more convenient

Edited by the_fatadder on Friday 16th August 10:37

Ikemi

8,492 posts

212 months

Friday 16th August
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Our SkyQ has been doing the same too. I'm almost certain the issue has occurred across two or more apps, although I can't remember if the issue has affected the usual Sky channels. That said, I haven't noticed the issue in the last few days; it was more apparent last week. Perhaps the SkyQ firmware/software has been updated? I honestly thought it was potentially an issue with either our television, Sky box, or the AV receiver ...

Jordie Barretts sock

6,018 posts

26 months

Friday 16th August
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Yep, same here. Was watching Disney+ via Sky Q. Pixellation was quite random, but very annoying.

Because of where we are, our broadband is via a Vodafone sim card in a Huawei router. Typically 35 down 16 up. No issues with anything else Internet related.

FiF

Original Poster:

45,537 posts

258 months

Friday 16th August
quotequote all
Thanks for comments, good that it's not just us, not so good as obvious more widespread issues generally.

It's annoying as generally the Sky user interface generally just works and one answer might be just get rid and move to something else. However we have one family member who records everything and I suspect would struggle with something else especially 100% streaming.

Need to make a visit to an EE shop to have a look at their system

tele_lover

597 posts

22 months

Friday 16th August
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Sky broadband uses BT broadband/Openreach.

The local box you're connected to might be overloaded.

Usually they'll install another box and move some houses across.

Phone Sky/Openreach.

Edited by tele_lover on Friday 16th August 23:09