Re: PVR release dates
 

Installs and service start there training next week for our aera :tu:

Re: PVR release dates
 

Called the 0845 number this morning and got installation arranged for next Saturday (in Glasgow area).

Thanks for the heads up folks. Superb.

Cheers

Re: PVR release dates
 

Only two days to go, god i'm so excited i could wee myself.

Roll on tuesday

HDTV TO PC Monitor
 

Lovely to hear the new PVR and HDTV coming to Coventry this December. Unfourtunately I am not able to afford a new HDTV at present so was wondering if the new PVR will have a out-put so I can connect it to the pc HDTV card until I'm in a posistion to upgrade to a new TV. I have a connection to my TV card from by present STB and that works fine. Was thinking of upgrading to new service but wondering if the signal from new PVR will be HD. Also what would be the best card to buy ? Thanks In anticipation.

Re: PVR release dates
 

AFAIK the TVDrive will only have the PVR aspect for now - HD will be in the new year!

Re: PVR release dates
 

Is there an NTL staff type person out there who is able to confirm that the areas that are not listed in Post 1 (for example London ex-Videotron) are not going to be getting the TV Drive within the Dec/Jan window.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Ok this afternoon i got mine installed which took about 40 or so mins because a certain setting wasn't letting him change some freq, however he managed to get it going.

Just like a huge dvd recorder with built in hdd apart from the dvd recorder aspect, 3 days of tV guide without any waiting for data msg all shows up really fast, pause play live tv is awesome for having a quick time out (toilet, kitchen phone etc). When the guy installed it he said some functions wont work at this moment in time ie tv on demand, i asked when it will be up and running he said it wont. However PVR is much much better.

I'll give it a test run tonight and record my mums tv shows.

Anyways i like it:D

Re: PVR release dates
 

i thought vod was still on the tvdrive telewests still have there teleport on there.;)

Re: PVR release dates
 

Mine gets installed on saturday, I've heard some features are not initially enabled. I dont care about VOD, but what about HD? I know there's not any real channels, but is BBC HD available straight away? IF not anyone know when it will be?

Re: PVR release dates
 

Well I'm down for Saturday between 8am and 1pm. Just some aspects of the install I'm not sure about, so if possible could a kind NTL staff member who has access to my account please PM me if possible :)

In regards to On Demand. Remember VoD is going to work differently on the TVDrive. Teesside and Glasgow are trial areas, so maybe the new version isn't quite ready yet. I'm sure it will appear before the full rollout next month.

I believe HD will be along next year :)

Re: PVR release dates
 

HD won't be enabled for a while yet apparently. They want to make sure the main features are working first. I have a small amount of on Demand working.

Remember its still partly a trial so there will still be a few things not working properly.

Re: PVR release dates
 

My newly installed ntl TVdrive and remote has the Telewest Broadband logo, limited or no VOD and no HD.

Not as intuitive as a TiVo but will get used to it.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Hi Folks ! I have been in contact with NTL and they are hooking me up with NTL HD on the December the 12th :0) is is finally kicking off, on the downside, till today I was still getting 20Mb downstream, seems they have ended the testing in my area Nhants and gone back to 10Mb, man just got used to 2400+KBS :0) oh well.

:angel:

F.

Re: PVR release dates
 

I was told BBC HD would begin sometime next month but in trials only.

and yes the boxes are telewest pvr boxes. They work alot faster than the pace/samsung boxes combined.

I did a test recording two channels at the same time, fantastic stuff. :)
very happy

Can you connect the tvdrive to a pc?

Re: PVR release dates
 

As far as I'm aware, all Bromley areas will get it at the same time, early next year.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Great, December for Cambridge. Any idea on the cost for people on lower Packages (Select for example)?

~RileyM

Re: PVR release dates
 

Riley its gonna be 10 p/m extra for the box and if you want to keep your old box for say Multiroom then its another 5 quids on top of that. and thats on all price plans I heard

Re: PVR release dates
 

£15 per month for packages below Family.

Re: PVR release dates
 

No HD or VOD, still calling it a trial but charging for full service i think i`ll cancel my order for Thursday. Until the service has extras not less than my current services was lead to believe BBC & ITV HD would be there from the start.

(End of rant)

No HD DEVASTATED

Re: PVR release dates
 

I phoned CS because I was thinking of switching back to NTL tv from Sky and was persuaded to take out a tvdrive package, to be fitted middle of December. One of the selling points was I would get free VOD. Is it really the case that I wont get this service but I would get it with one of their older boxes?

Re: PVR release dates
 

Arranged installation for 19th December in Luton (LU3).

Re: PVR release dates
 

Re: PVR release dates
 

There is a software issue at the moment that means that VOD does not work in NTL areas on the TVDrive.

The TVDrive is capable of VOD as the same box in Telewest areas can use Teleport. The NTL areas will get a software update in due course to allow the VOD to work.

Re: PVR release dates
 

No. The PVR uses a new type of VOD server. There's a hiccup with it today, but it will work.

Re: PVR release dates
 

i am looking into getting the tv drive when available( leeds area if anyone knows???) i will also be looking at investing in a lcd hd tv , does anyone know what requirements my new tv should have regarding connections etc.. or do i just need to look for any "hd ready" tv. also should i look at lcd or plasma for best quality picture??? any advice would be appreciated.thanks

Re: PVR release dates
 

When you say it will work, does that mean ATM it does not work and for how long. :confused: Just due install on Thursday morning but use VOD all the time, ps do you have any idea on the HD activation date.

Thanks

Re: PVR release dates
 

I got my tvdrive install booked for the morning of the 12th December they allowed me to pre book as 12th is first day in my area :)

Re: PVR release dates
 

VOD should be working on the PVR already, but something has broken. I'm hopeful they'll get it working again in the next couple of days. But as always with computers, you can never be sure. I also don't know whether all the content has been put on the new servers yet.

Nor can I tell you when HD will be available.

Someone please nominate me for Least Helpful Post of the Month. :)

Re: PVR release dates
 

Spiderplant, I'll give you a lovely rep if you can answer these 3 questions for me.

size of the harddrive in the unit
firewire ports active :) ??
and last but not least the sata connection at the back of the unit is that active?

ps. me thinks you are NTL staff so a bit in the know ;)

Re: PVR release dates
 

I'm curious - why do they need a new type of VOD server for PVR? Wouldn't it be doing the same stuff as the existing servers? (Streaming video and audio on demand?)

And - gob forbid - are we in for another year of VOD rollouts for the new servers?

Re: PVR release dates
 

THe HDD is 160GB good for around 70hrs recording of SD stuff

The sata isn't working just now and there is no firewire port its a USB.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Size of hard drive: 160GB
SATA and Firewire ports: Inactive

:)

D'oh! Beated to it!

Re: PVR release dates
 

I thinks its due to the way the TV Drive works compared to the old boxes. There has been some stuff working over the last few days.

No there won't be new roll out dates. They are just playing around with it to tweak it and make sure it all works smoothly. Once they get the VOD working they will probably work on getting HD working.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Excellent! Thanks Darth. :tu:

Any official word on what HD content will be available? I'm hoping to buy a Toshiba HDTV set for Xmas and it would be nice if there's actually any HD content to watch it on.

Re: PVR release dates
 

So far BBC HD, ITV HD and the History Channel HD along with some HD stuff in the VOD section.

Re: PVR release dates
 

What colour? ;) (I have to be careful - I got a red one for answering a question the other day)
160Gb, there ain't no firewire port, and the external SATA isn't enabled.

ntl and Telewest chose different (incompatible) VOD servers. But the PVR uses the Telewest software, so needs the Telewest-style server. Don't worry, they've been installing the new servers for months and are ready to go.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Hi guys,

Got mine today and I can tell you, from my point of view it is superb. Ok so the VOD ain't working but hey you can record any progs you want. But yes VOD is dead just now. One query though, I cannot now get VOD on my 2nd box though it was working before. Hmmmmm It just says that the service is unavailable, Now why is that?

Still finding my way about the menus but it seems to be working ok.

Initially it is def :clap:

Re: PVR release dates
 

Can it connect to the pc and if it does, does that mean i could hook it up to the pc's hdd and edit programes etc?

Re: PVR release dates
 

Yeah, VOD is generally unwell at the moment. I'm sure it will all be working again soon though.

---------- Post added at 23:59 ---------- Previous post was at 23:56 ----------

Yes, you can use the RF out to feed into an analogue TV card. You won't be able to control the box from your PC, but your TV card software will allow you to record (and you can then edit with other software).

Re: PVR release dates
 

Spoke to NTL this morning and they asure me that VOD & HD should be there from the start but you all know NTL so who knows whats going on.
Cheers Des.

Re: PVR release dates
 

In otherwords, no different from any other NTL STB! ;)

Re: PVR release dates
 

Yes, except you can do that while recording other programmes or with programmes you recorded earlier - so a way of getting recorded programmes off the box.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Not what i asked, on the TVDRIVE it has a usb port so a usb, hook the wire from the tvdrive to the pc, much like connecting a external usb hdd to the pc.


Anyways if you turn to 108-109 you get BBC HD preview and it's defo High Def on my tv. :D

Re: PVR release dates
 

Well, you didn't specify HOW you wanted to attach the box to the PC. For what it's worth, as far as I know, the USB, eSata and Ethernet ports are not used for anything by the TV drive.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Dang *slaps thigh*
Seriously thought i did mention "usb" but as you correctly pointed out, i didn't. :(

Re: PVR release dates
 

It would be nice, however, if they enabled at least one. Even if it's just so you can plug in extra storage to the TV Drive.

Re: PVR release dates
 

108 also appeared here but no ITV HD. Will need to go into town to look at getting a HD panel. Hmm trip to John Lewis today probably...:D

Re: PVR release dates
 

Hi,
Just rang sales this morning about the hd pvr and when it would be available in Leeds, and was told late Febuary:Yikes:

Re: PVR release dates
 

Rebooted box and BBC HD 108 is now an "unsubscribed channel" :erm:

Re: PVR release dates
 

What about Dartford?

Re: PVR release dates
 

Just spoken to CS, no queue, and really nice friendly person on the other end to find out about launch date for Andover.

The date given is 12th December with orders not being taken till around the same date.

Looks like our Christmas TV is sorted :p:

Re: PVR release dates
 

I have looked through some of this thread but not all i was hoping someone could just answer the question now that th ePVR is officially released in Glasgow.

It says in the news if you use the top package it costs £10.00 a month can you still pay one off fee of £75 & if anyone knows the prices for otehr digitial packages.

Re: PVR release dates
 

I have a question about the second box situation/free install etc that I hope someone might be able to advise on.

Currently have an old pace box in the main house and about 4 months ago got an extra box in an outbuilding. Thinking about upgrading the pace to a tv drive and keeping the second box in the outbuilding. Will I be able to do that and move to the lower monthly rate for the second box or will I have to wait till the end of the initial 12 month contract on the second box?

Re: PVR release dates
 

There was never an option to pay a one-off £75 charge. Whatever package you are on, you can either pay £75 for installation, or you can keep your existing STB in addition to your TV Drive for £5/month (for a minimum of 12 months).

Re: PVR release dates
 

I see BBC HD on my guide, but get can't tune to it as I get a message saying I'm not subscribed & to contact customer services - can you actually view it? - meant to add - I do have TVDrive, installed yesterday

Re: PVR release dates
 

So any one got any pics of the NTL TV DRIVE PVR and menus & tv guide etc,

Re: PVR release dates
 

Thanks for the reply. So what you saying is i can pay £10 a month and pay £75 installion to have just a PVR . OR i pay a total of £15 a month to have both my STB and a Tvdrive to have NTL in seperate rooms ???

Re: PVR release dates
 

As long as you are on family pack or above, yes. (Plus you have to keep the PVR and second STB for a minimum of 12 more months).

Re: PVR release dates
 

BBC HD is working here now in Reading. And it still looks amazing even though I've been watching it in the office for months! :D

It just looks better in my own home!

Re: PVR release dates
 

VOD is up and running :)
Well bbc HD (some movie) not sure what it's called. :)

Re: PVR release dates
 

Still no joy getting anything on ch108, does it require a HD display and will not give anything via Scart to SD??

Re: PVR release dates
 

rankrotten you need to have HD to view HD if I'm correct as your tv wont be able to handle it.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Ok, thought the stb would downscale to STDV resolution via scart but apparently not. Anyone know any tricks to convince the better half of the need for a new TV...

Re: PVR release dates
 

Arrange for the other one to develop a "fault". ;)

Re: PVR release dates
 

I suspect that a lot of old TVs will develop 'faults' in the run up to Xmas. :p:

Re: PVR release dates
 

hehehehe you got a point there Chris...and I think the shops will help and "cure" the "faults"

Re: PVR release dates
 

My installation is scheduled for this Saturday. Could those that have had it done answer a couple of queries?

1. Does an HDMI cable come included?

2. If you retain your original box, does it continue to recieve the channels that you had originally, e.g. if you are paying for Movies and Sports, do you continue to receive this on both boxes?

Cheers!

Re: PVR release dates
 

1. when you ordered, they should have asked you if you had a hd tv. If you said yes, a hdmi cable will come with the tv drive. If they did not ask you this, you can connect through scart in the mean time and then phone customer services and they will send you out a hdmi cable.

2. Yes, the second box will receive all channels you get on your main box (except HD channels obviously)

Re: PVR release dates
 

Thanks for that. They didn't ask, so I'll give them a call.

With regard to the channels question, I'm now looking forward to seeing something other than the Disney Channel!

Cheers again

Re: PVR release dates
 

Hi guys, first time post here!
Just a question on pricing, i currently ONLY have 10mb broadband from ntl, currently on a £17.49 for 3 months deal.
If i go for the tvdrive, any ideas on what install costs or monthly fees i'd be looking at.
Also i currently only have a crt is this ok or is this lcd only?
Cheers guys, herby.

Re: PVR release dates
 

I emailed NTL to ask about availability in Hertfordshire. They responded:

"We are currently testing a new set top box that will support HDTV.

This box will also have a built in hard disc drive and three tuners so
you can watch one program and record up to two others. It will be
available early in the New Year."

I asked how much and they said:

"As we are still testing the HDTV we haven't put a price on it yet. If
you keep an eye on our website in the next couple of months then there
should be updates about HDTV on there soon."

Re: PVR release dates
 

:notopic: hi herby, if you have a 16:9 format crt, then files will display, fine, otherwise, it is a new LCD, I'm afraid..

:welcome:, btw

---------- Post added at 23:31 ---------- Previous post was at 23:21 ----------

:welcome: to you too rp689 :)

Re: PVR release dates
 

Got install yesterday and managed to watch movie (Pride) in HD tonight via on demand pretty impressive - still can't get BBC HD preview to work though - blank screen sound only now!

Re: PVR release dates
 

Anyone got any screen shots of what the system etc looks like? Wonder if everything will become red next year?

Re: PVR release dates
 

garry_boy

Does this mean that VOD now works with the tvdrive?

Cheers

Re: PVR release dates
 

Have taken some shots of the TVDrive interface and may upload them tomorrow if I have time. I connected the box to my Samsung 244T 24inch LCD computer monitor via component outputting native 1080i which displays fine. However... the TVDrive OS has crashed three times in the last 20mins. Sometimes it freezes for a minute or two then executes all of the remote commands rapidly in one go and latterly it totally locks up. only seen this behaviour on component so far :(

Edit: Locking up more frequently now on SDTV also. Pah!

Re: PVR release dates
 

Not in full effect just yet, although assured it will be - only programs available as at last night were some channel four guff (Hollyoaks etc) and the HD file Pride from BBC.

Anyone able to watch the BBC HD preview channel on 108?

Re: PVR release dates
 

BBC HD is audio only. On demand not working at all here, not even Hollyoaks or Pride.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Hold on, let me get this straight....The new TVdrive won't work with my 21" non-widescreen crt TV?! :shocked: I knew it wouldn't do HD obviously but I thought it would work in SD.

Can someone confirm this please, as I'm about to order it...

Re: PVR release dates
 

The PVR is fine on a CRT TV as it has scart connections.

Re: PVR release dates
 

If you watch a SD channel does the box upscale for use on HD televisions?

Re: PVR release dates
 

Ok, thanks.

It was just this quote above that had me thinking:

"hi herby, if you have a 16:9 format crt, then files will display, fine, otherwise, it is a new LCD, I'm afraid.."

:wtf:

Re: PVR release dates
 

Hi there this is my first post.

Having lurked on this board for a while I picked up on TVdrive being available in Glasgow on the 14th Nov, and on my third attempt was able to order an install for that day.
I thought I'd share my reaction to the new box.
Usual story for an NTL installation. Get a 12 to 6 slot, nobody there by 5.45, call CS and miraculously guy is there 10 mins later.
To cut a long story short it works great as a STB and PVR but HD a problem for me. I requested that the installer bring a HDMI cable, though my HDTV had DVI in, as I had bought a HDMI/DVI adapter.
Imagine my surprise when the engineer tod me no HD available so no way to test the connection. But sales promised me BBC HD / ITV HD and History HD, say I. Blank look and a shrug.
However I connected it up, got the menus and such visible at Hi-res and tried to playback the one HD VOD item -Pride - which gave me audio only. No SD picture (on ordinary broadcast channels) via HDMI either.
This put me into a panic that either my "HDReady" TV is not actually HDCP compliant (which I understand will result in loss of picture) or that the adaptor is somehow not HDCP compliant (is this possible ?).
However, channel 108 (BBC HD) came up yesterday and that is also no picture, audio only in SCART or HDMI mode, even though there is an onscreen message in SCART mode along the lines of "...you are viewing this HD channel in SD..." (I'm viewing nothing,pal)
So my question is:
- Is everybody in Glasgow getting this problem
OR
- Is it just my HDTV that's the problem?

As a corollary, if it is a HDCP issues, plan B is to get a component to VGA cable (my HDTV also has a VGA input) and try that; as it is my understanding that the component does not carry HDCP. Any opinions on that?

Re: PVR release dates
 

Another question, which may have been answered before... :dunce:

Is it possible to watch any HD channel via a SCART connection? If so, would there be any noticeable increase in picture quality compared with regular broadcasts? (I often notice "blockiness" on fast moving scenes.)

I've got two small (crayon brandishing) children, which makes a new LCD TV an unwise investment at this point!

Re: PVR release dates
 

I watched Pride last night in HD via HDMI -> HDMI (Pannny LCD) this is on HD VOD (only thing that is) - but got audio only on channel 108 (BBC HD Preview)

In fact also got messages saying I wasn't subscribed on channel 108 for a while...

To be honest just think it's not working at the moment rather than issues with box / TV set up.

Re: PVR release dates
 

come on lads how about some screen shots keep me going till jan?

Re: PVR release dates
 

ok who wants the good news and the bad news?

Good news, ITV and History HD channels are up but have no way of telling you the number unless somebody else can confirm this (currently at work) and oh yeah during the itv comercials there was a sky sports ad that said coming soon to cable. (i take that to be ntl telewest ?)

Bad news is
i deleted ramsays kitchen nightmares. (Grrr)

Re: PVR release dates
 

In the words of the man himself: "what did you f*cking go an delete that for, you tw*t" ;)

Re: PVR release dates
 

Tried to delete river city and the bugger skipped onto GRKN.:mad:

Re: PVR release dates
 

Ok here's a start...

Re: PVR release dates
 

And more...

Re: PVR release dates
 

nothing there mate.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Nice one thanks for the pic's, Any change of some pics of the box itself, Cheers

Re: PVR release dates
 

Last ones...

Box is the exact same as on the Telewest web page.

Re: PVR release dates
 

got em cool pics.

---------- Post added at 12:24 ---------- Previous post was at 12:20 ----------

any pics of the box?;)

Re: PVR release dates
 

This is the feature that I'm looking forward to (as with my present STB & HD recorder setup, I can only set up recordings 2-3 days in advance, which is no good when I go out of the country for a week!).
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/at...8&d=1163678681

Good pics, thanks for the info.

Re: PVR release dates
 

Re: PVR release dates
 

Whips out the camera for one last time...

Re: PVR release dates
 

Nice one thanks

Re: PVR release dates
 

not that it will get much use now but is the VCR scart socket RGB ? on the Samsungs i think only the TV scart socket is RGB