Now tv boost not working.

[Anonymous User]

Just signed up to the Boost free trial but nothing is showing up as 1080p or 5.1 on tv or phone app.

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User 

Firstly the Boost Pass will not work on any mobile device.

With regards to your television what is the make and model number ?

Also have a read of this link below with a table of what devices are supported with the Boost Pass.

https://help.nowtv.com/article/what-is-highest-streaming-quality-for-my-device 

[Anonymous User]

The tv is Samsung UE49KS7500. 

I've got 2 months entertainment pass and 3 months cinema.

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User 

I don't own a Samsung Smart TV, but the first thing i would check is to go into the NowTV App on the television, then navigate to My Account on the TV App to see if it shows the Boost Pass active.

Then read these instructions on how to setup the 5.1 audio (click the green arrow next to Samsung TV to expand the on screen information).

https://help.nowtv.com/article/how-to-adjust-audio-settings 

Then try and watch a movie or TV show that has the HD and 5.1 icon symbol next to it.

Also have a read of this for further information on the Boost Pass.

https://help.nowtv.com/article/what-is-now-tv-boost 

[Anonymous User]

Thanks for the reply. Unfortunately I dont have an option on the app for surround sound and although nothing is showing as HD the stream quality on the film I'm watching shows 7830?

[schnapps · Accepted solution]

Hi @Anonymous User 

When you go to My Account > Passes & Vouchers whilst logged in on here does it show you have started the 7 day Boost Trial and on the same page does it also show your cinema and entertainment passes are active ?

Also i am assuming your entertainment & movies passes are not part of a Vodafone deal ?

Apart from that, i can only suggest try signing out of the NowTV App on your television, then temporary unplugging the power to the TV for say a minute, then restart the television and log back into the App with your account details that you double checked on here.

If that doesn't work perhaps a fresh install of the NowTV App on your Samsung Smart TV.

Otherwise see if a Samsung Samsung TV owner can come along and offer you some assistance or try NowTV live chat.

Because i don't own a Samsung TV i don't know what the 7830 figure equates too, where NowTV are quoting somewhere around 12 Mbps to use their Boost Pass service.

i am guessing none of the new movies such has Captain Marvel is showing the HD 5.1 symbol next too it.

Also i haven't got a Boost Pass my end to check. 

[RoyB]

@schnapps @Anonymous User 

I’m running the NowTV app on my Samsung UE55JS9000, and I plan to obtain a Boost Pass tomorrow for my account, and then to try it out over my 20Mbps BT Broadband.

I’ll let you know how that goes, and if it throws any light on your difficulties here, @Anonymous User 

[Anonymous User]

Signing out then back in solved it for me.🙂🙂

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User 

Glad you got it sorted, enjoy 👍.

[RoyB]

@Anonymous User @schnapps 

And probably @everybody else, as I think there is a problem here.

I ordered my Boost pass on my iPad. Pleased I could do this, even though the iPad version of NowTV doesn’t support the Boost processing. 

First, I went into our HD 32in M5520, with the NowTV app on the attached Stick, and started S1E1 of Succession. It came up as HD and 5.1, and there was video (which I felt took a little longer than before to appear, perhaps due to starting a stream enhanced from what it used to be) but no audio.

So I went to My Account, where there was a Settings button beside the Boost Pass entry, and saw it was set to 5.1. recalling some of the earlier messages in this thread, I went into the Settings option in the Stick menu, and toggled the audio settings to Automatic.

After that, the sound came back, and all was well.

I’ve just fired up the JS9000, the NowTV app in the Smart Hub, and that was still running at 720p with stereo; both video and audio present, but unchanged from before.

Went to My Account, and there was the Boost Pass, but with no button beside it to change anything (Bug 1).

So I signed out, as per @Anonymous User , and signed in again. tried ion (that’s Succession without success) - still 720p, stereo. (Worth a try, but not entirely unexpected, so I’m not calling Bug here).

But now My Account/Boost Pass did have the button, set to stereo still, so I toggled it to 5.1 Surround Sound, and voila! Succession now showed the entries for HD and 5.1, and was playing both.

The Settings button on the Boost Pass is now a fixture; in case I want to toggle back to stereo, I guess, Which I tried; nice big banner to tell me what I had done, but when I went back to Succession, it was still showing HD and 5.1. But my sound bar was no longer showing the illuminated  ‘SUR.’ that it had when Settings was 5.1.

So is NowTV getting the HD/5.1 copy here, as the flags indicate, but busting the sound back to stereo, or what? If so, though, it is misleading to show the 5.1 flag on the screen; and this is Bug 2 maybe.

Switching to NowTV on my Roku Streaming Stick+, the Settings button on the NowTV Boost does appear, and come up selected, but it says ‘Settings’ in off-white on brilliant white; you have to squint to be sure it is there at all. Bug 3.

Going to Succession, again, without touching that button, the screen shows HD and 5,1, but the soundbar doesn’t light up its SUR. indicator.  Going back to the button, it tells us we are in Stereo, but we must go to Home>Settings>Audio to change this; we can’t do it in the button.

But there, it’s already set for Audio Mode Auto and HDMI Auto detect. Which is detecting Dolby Digital, DTS.

But still no SUR. when I go back to Succession, and no sound either.

So it’s back to Auto, which says it’s Dolby Digital, DTS, so we can watch stuff. But it doesn’t light up SUR.

So that’s where I’ve got to. Now I need to go and lie down in a darkened room and read the soundbar manual. But it’s defeated me so far.

And it shouldn’t be this hard 😢

[schnapps]

Hi @RoyB 

On your Roku Stick Plus Audio settings did you try Dolby only or Dolby Plus only instead of the combined Dolby / DTS mode ?

I have just signed up to the Boost Pass myself, where sometime through the course of tonight i am going to test my Roku Stick Plus with the HD Boost Pass on the AV Receiver in the back Cinema Room.

It will be an interesting test, where i can compare the NowTV HD picture quality against Netflix HD and Amazon HD on a 92" projector screen and 5 .1 surround sound on my Pioneer AV Receiver and 5.1 speaker /sub setup.

Watching HD Boost on my 50" Panasonic 4K TV the most noticeable significant improvement is the 50fps playback on Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League which i was expecting to be honest (more than the bump from 720p to 1080p).

The other Sky Sports channels even with the bump to 1080p hasn't improved much has a viewing experience over 720p where the 25fps is still spoiling it for me.

Let's hope NowTV can update the other Sky Sports Channels to 50fps sooner than later, then i will gladly buy a Sports Pass on a more regular basis.

[schnapps]

Hi @RoyB 

My Roku Stick Plus immediately detected Dolby Digital Plus when watching a HD 5.1 surround sound movie on NowTV with the Boost Pass, which was confirmed on the AV Receiver digital display panel.

The audio settings on my Roku Stick Plus was all set to Auto.

Must admit the picture quality on HD was pretty good and the DD+ sound was excellent using my go to reference movie Oblivion which excels in both PQ & SQ.

Finally i can now watch the Blockbuster movies that i have been holding off on my NowTV Cinema Pass in my Home Cinema setup 😊.

[RoyB]

@schnapps 

I’ve got a bad cold, so I am not on top form at the moment 🤧

I saw your link to which of Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and DTS I should use.

Getting the app on the TV working was easy, I think, because it isn’t going to offer anything the TV can’t handle, and the Yamaha DSP2500 seems to be able to handle anything, from reading the manual in bed last night, with a nice Lemsip instead of my usual Viognier.

But I have no clear idea of what the Roku Stick is doing in this area; whether it is just telling me what it can do, or whether it has negotiated with the TV and is showing me what the two can do together, or what. But I think Auto/Auto ought to work, as it does for you, and it doesn’t for me

I’m happy with the app for now though, as we get the full benefit of the Boost through it.

I’ll return to the Roku Stick when I’m better 🤒 Also a few of the things I’ve found the soundbar can do that I’ve never played with.

[schnapps]

Hi @RoyB 

Get well soon.

I always seem to get a touch of the Man Flu during the festive holiday period and it spoils my Christmas 😠.

[Anonymous User]

When you watch the sky sports channels with the boost should the sky channel logo in the top corner of the screen show that it is the hd channel?

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User 

Nope there is no indication on the actual television screen when you play a Sky Sports HD channel when on a Boost Pass.

The only place i can see the HD logo is on the dedicated Sky Sports EPG page by navigating to the Watch Live Sports on the front Home screen horizontal rail or whilst watching a Sports channel and pressing the OK button on my box remote to bring up the on screen information where there is a small HD icon added at the end of the Sky Sports channel.

I noticed if you access the main overall NowTV EPG either via the TV Guide or the TV Guide picture thumbnail box it doesn't show HD next to the live channel list ( which also includes the entertainment, cinema channels list).

Not sure the reason for this or if it's a limitation with the software or a bug which needs ironing out.

[Anonymous User]

Tried everything written in posts but not working so now cancelled, waste of time for me untill they fix whatsevers wrong. But NOW TV dont seem too concerned because they are still offering the service in which for lots of people simply doesnt work.

[RoyB]

@Anonymous User 

You activate the Boost, having paid for it, by going into My Account on any device, finding the Boost Pass there, and selecting the button in there.

The HD then comes on automatically, but you may have to follow the instructions you will be given if you want to turn on 5.1 sound.

I see no other reports on here of the HD Boost not working, though there have been a few asking how to turn it on.

[Anonymous User]

I have searched and unfortunately I don't even get the option to even trial the Boost Pass. It just isn't there!

I have both a stick and a black Smart Box, even have my phone and broadband with Now.

Any ideas?

Thanks

[schnapps]

Hi @Anonymous User 

Was you on the older legacy NowTV Combo package that was introduced about 3 years ago with the NowTV Freeview Smart Box and TV passes on the same bill ?

I believe when NowTV introduced the Boost Pass back in November there was a problem where certain Combo customers didn't see the option to buy the Boost Pass on their account.

Don't know if it's resolved now (perhaps a Combo customer can confirm either way).

[Anonymous User]

Yes I think so, only pay one bill to NOW for everything.

Doesn't look like there is a resolve, which is a shame as I have been quite loyal to NOW TV