Page 1 of Sky Digital? Dolby Digital? to a Panasonic SC-HT80

I understand that Sky Digital could transmit Dolby Digital but they just dont want to. As I understand it, Dolby Digital is contained on a stereo track (be it digital).
If SKY did transmit DD, would this signal pass through the Stereo Outputs of my Digi-Box and into the AUX or TV of my Panasonic SC-HT80?
The Manual for the SC-HT80 states that only DVD`s will activate the Dolby Digital side of the AMP. The manual is however very basic. I am wondering if any input signal containing DD information may work.

I have been unable to find any depth as to the internal workings of these systems.

Lots to think about......
Any comments would be great..... Alex.

Actually I don`t think they can transmit it, even if they wanted to. When the standards for digital transmission were being laid down the powers that be decided that ProLogic was enough for anyone so if I recall correctly only stereo signals can be decoded by set top boxes.

Amazed we even got widescreen transmissions, although equally annoyed that my digital cable box doesn`t do S-Video output.

For any amp to decode DD it must be fed the signal from either the optical or coaxial socket on the connected equipment. No Digiboxes have these sockets and even if they did Sky cannot transmit in DD.
Sky haven`t even given us the `timer` promised nearly a year ago!.

Thanks for the info guys.

I guess for now I will have to get my 5.1 fix from my DVD`s 8-)

Alex,

This month`s sky magazine covers the issue.

Sky are now sending dolby digital. You need a sky+ box (£300 + an extra £10 a month). This is basically a TiVo box with sky. It has an optical output.

Anyone know how to receive the signal without buying sky+ ie as a regular subscriber?