Pioneer LX53 vs SKY+ dolby signal - PLEASE HELP ME!

[rigors]

hi there guys

really hoping someone can help me because this is really annoying....

i'm trying to get dolby digital from my sky+ hd box. i am using a pioneer VSX-LX53 as my AV receiver.

what i have done:

* i have checked that the SKY+ tv show i am experimenting with has the "DD" signal on the program information. experimented with multiple channels with "DD" signal with no change in effect.

* i have an HDMI lead from my SKY+ box into my Pioneer LX53 into input HDMI1. i also have an optical digital cable into input 2 (also experimented with optical input 1 and HDMI input 2 + BD and combinations of those 3)

* i have made sure that the sky+ box is sending a dolby digital signal

* i have gone into the Pioneer amp, into settings, and set the HDMI settings for HDMI1 to read the digital signal from Optical input 2

* i have the pioneer amp set to "automatic detection" as far as the DOLBY/direct/etc sound setting goes



and none of this is working!! it's really annoying! when i exit the pioneer menu after fiddling with the HDMI input settings i get about half a second of the DOLBY DIGITAL logo on the AV receiver but then that disappears and i get the very depressing STEREO text appear. and sometimes when i first turn on the system i get the DOLBY DIGITAL logo on the AV receiver but only while the tv is black - soon as the picture comes on i get that STEREO text appear again.

does anyone know what i am doing wrong or how to fix this???????

in the meantime i've connected the Sky+ directly to my TV so i only have the optical digital cable going into the AV Receiver, which will work as a temporary fix...

any and all help gratefully received....

russell