Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Because of it being rebranded.. Need to force the name into our heads ;)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

OK, I understand now. However, it still does not explain why this page "up" and "down" feature could not be implemented in LCR3. The previous explainantion was that Bromley boxes do not have those buttons but if Page up and Down can still be used in other places in LCR3 then why not in the Mini Guide?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

OK, I don't claim to know a lot about how the update works but I seem to be having a lot of problems. For the last 4 days we haven't been able to watch any digital tv channels and the front of the box flips through numbers and says various other things. The screen says that NTL are updating the service and this will only take a short time.... Two days ago we got a message on the screen saying that the update had occured but then we couldn't change the channel or even turn the box off. Rebooting took us right back to square one. Is there a reason for this? Anything I can do? NTL are not being helpful.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

where do you live?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

No announcement about the plan for next week. :(
Problems? Nothing was ever planned? Just can't be bothered? :confused:

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

i believe its been said the rest of belfast is due this week :D ...can't wait! , well i was playin with my mates but his is slow, so hopefully my box can handle it better, and hopefully ill find out which games on Two Way TV are actually not Pay Per Play , lol

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Having had LCR3 for almost a week now, I thought I'd post my experiences so far. If you don't have LCR3 yet, it will probably help to refer to the Langley CR3 Screenshots on Digital Spy as you wade through the text. :)

Guide
This is a big improvement. The layout won't be particularly new to anyone that's seen Sky Digital, but it's definitely much better than the old Guide. You can see 7 channels (rows) with 3 half-hour slots (columns) for the programme listings per page. The mini-view in the top-right also means you can keep track of the current channel; it's a useful feature although you wouldn't want to watch the footy on it! :) You can also change the mini-view channel using the red button or simply by pressing channel up/down. I've found the Guide especially useful for setting up reminders in advance, but even with the mini-view I still find it a little too intrusive for normal channel browsing. I would prefer a +/-12hr option instead of +/-24hr since I'm typically setting up reminders for my evening viewing, so I want to be able to go from the morning to the evening quickly. It would also be nice to have the full programme name displayed for the current selection, otherwise I have to click Browse just to double-check that "Park" is actually "Parkinson", etc. One final bit of nit-picking is that I would like the channel list to wrap, i.e. I'd like to be able to go up from the 100s to the 900s and down from the 900s to the 100s.

Favourites
This reminds me of the old guide (although it's been a while since I've used it) overlayed on the current channel rather than in its own screen. In this view you can see 10 channels but no programme listings. To view the programme listings for a channel you have to press right (>), at which point the channel list expands to show the programme listings for the selected channel (up to 5 programmes per page). To move back to the channel list you need to press left (<) to hide the programme listings. I don't really use this view as I find the switching between the channel list and the programme listings a little awkward and repetitive. Also, the view occupies most of the screen when the programme listings are shown. Having said that, I think the channel list should also wrap in this view as suggested for the Guide above.

Mini Guide
This is the replacement for the old Browse feature. The layout is subtley different in that all of the information is now at the bottom of the screen; the old Browse used to display the name of the channel and programme you were viewing, together with the time at the top. The Mini Guide is shown by pressing TV (permanent) or any of the navigation buttons (disappears after a delay). I was a big user of the old Browse since I found it to be the least intrusive method available, but I'm disappointed with the Mini Guide; the fact that everything is in one place is better but the lack of page up/down support is a real killer. The lack of a 1st Channel button is also unfortunate since this provided a quick way to navigate past masses of channels by using the 1st channel as a "pivot". On the few occassions that I've used Sky Digital, I couldn't help but notice how rubbish the channel browsing was compared to NTL, but those advantages appear to have disappeared in LCR3. It also seems a little odd that, if I display the Mini Guide by pressing TV, The Mini Guide remains visible when I change channel; to me changing channel implies that I've finished browsing, so the Mini Guide should disappear after a delay even though it was displayed via the TV button.

Reminders
AFAICT reminders are now always auto-tune, which is fine with me as I always used auto-tune reminders before the upgrade anyway. It is also possible to cancel reminders now without having to go to the diary; anyone who's accidentally setup reminders in the past (like me) will be grateful for this. It would be nice if I could reduce the reminder display time a little more; currently it goes from 1 minute to no prompt, but I think 10 seconds and 30 seconds would be useful. No series links yet.

Buttons
There seems to have been a concerted effort to make the buttons consistent insomuch as they perform the same actions across different views. For example, in most views blue is Diary, Browse is More Info, etc. There are some exceptions, primarily because the avaliable actions change across views, however I'm still struggling with the changes to the TV and Browse buttons although I think this is just a matter of getting used to the new system. This might explain why page up/down isn't in the Mini Guide, because this would behave differently to the other views, i.e. it means +/- 100 channels rather than literally page up/down. In this case I think the benefits of page up/down in the Mini Guide outweight any consistency issues. It also looks like Menu (I think this is Text/TXT on Bromley remotes) got missed out; AFAIK this doesn't do anything in LCR3 and I can't remember it doing anything before the upgrade. Personally I'd like to have seen Menu assigned to Favourites, then Guide, Favourites and Mini Guide would have their own dedicated buttons. This would mean that, if you prefer the Favourites view, you don't need to go into the Guide or the Mini Guide first. It would also means that we could have a 1st Channel button in the Mini Guide. :) Out of curiosity, I wonder what the chances are of getting one of the new remotes free of charge if you complain that you're struggling to get to grips with the button changes on the old remote? ;)

Performance
Many people have already noted that the new EPG can be a little slow. I'm not sure if this is just down to the initial roll-out or whether it is something more long-term, but it is something that I've become increasingly aware of the more I use it. The way that some of the red/green/yellow/blue buttons keep appearing and disappearing is particularly distracting. I think the old EPG left all the buttons visible and just didn't show a button label for buttons that served no function; using this approach would help with the new EPG (you could "dim" the button and label if you wanted to be flash, but given that performance is already an issue it's probably not a good idea). Skipping forward 10 or so hours in the Guide can also leave you waiting a while for the programme listings to update. A notification that programme listings are being updated would be useful, rather than displaying a bunch of "Programme information unavailable" messages (Favourites displays "Searching for programmes...").

Bugs

1. The Mini Guide disappears when it shouldn't; it seems as though the delay is only reset when the view changes (i.e. different channel or +/- 1hr) rather than just by pressing a button. Intuitively, I would expect that pressing a navigation button would reset the delay. For example, assuming a 5 second delay:
   • Press a navigation button.
   • Wait 2 seconds.
   • Press down.
   • Wait 2 seconds.
   • Press up.
   • The Mini Guide disappears.
2. Pressing +24hr in the Guide causes the mini-view to switch to Front Row previews. I've also seen this happen when selecting something other than All Channels, but I can only consistently repro it using +24hr.
3. Occassionally, using the red button to change the mini-view displays the Diary instead of changing the mini-view, although I've yet to pin down the precise steps (I think it's related to selecting programmes that have already finished).
4. The Guide doesn't really resize all that well. For example, if viewing a 16:9 (full) transmission the Guide forces itself to 4:3. If viewing a 16:9 (zoom) transmission the Guide stays in 16:9 (zoom) and so parts of the Guide are obscurred. Therefore if you change the mini-view from a 4:3 transmission to a 16:9 (zoom) transmission, it gets a little confusing. Obviously the Guide should switch to a known format to remain completely visible, but it would be nice if it tailored itself to the format specified in my preferences. This means you could make the half-hour slots a little wider for 16:9 (full) or maybe even fit in an extra half-hour slot.

So what does all this mean? Well it's difficult to give an overall verdict because one of the biggest features of LCR3, better red button support, will not make an appearance until the roll-out is complete (ch 120 does have red button support if you want proof that LCR3 can handle it). So far I've seen good (Guide) and bad (Mini Guide), but on the whole I'm encouraged by the upgrade; just fix the Mini Guide and I'll be over the moon. :)

I haven't gone through any of the On Demand stuff yet, so there are probably some other improvements that I've missed. Assuming anyone makes it this far, I hope you found this feedback useful.

Incidentally, does anyone know if it we can expect additional red button support for Euro 2004 and Wimbledon this year?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Very detailed review - nice one! :)

Just one thing to note - bug #2 (switching mini-view to front row) is actually not a bug - there are technical reasons behind why this must happen.

re Euro 2004 and Wimbledon - I don't know the actual answer, but I can say that I personally expect the full interactive content!

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

you made reference to the new remote?? , On the new remote, does the Browse button actually bring up browse, or do you still have to hit TV

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Thanks for clarifying the Front Row switching point, although you'd have to admit that from the user's perspective this is still unexpected behaviour (well, it left me wondering anyway :) ), even if there are technical reasons for it.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I'm assuming that the buttons have the same function, although I was only going by the screenshots on Red-Eye (I don't have one myself, hence my tongue-in-cheek reference). The main thing I noticed was that the TV button is in a slightly better position on the new remote, given that I use the TV button a lot more now. On closer inspection, it also looks like one of the buttons (top-right) is actually Favourites, which I guess explains why they didn't hook it up to Menu; the new remote already has a dedicated button.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

on the new remote.
Text/Menu share the same button (both labelled, but is REALLY the text button), and
i/browse share the same button (both labelled, but is REALLY the i button)

text/menu does nothing on ex-cwc, and never has! be interesting to see what it will do in the future!
:)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Something i've noticed is that it can be slow to accept channel inputs when they are dialed in. For example I want paramount so type 400. I see 40 on the box for a while and press 0 again thinking it missed the last 0 and find myself suddenly on the on demand channel 0. Back sorts this out though.

Good summary from DeKurver above.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

When is the Stafford area going to be upgraded?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

;)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Just to clarify-I did ask for people to mail me with any specific questions/queries re CR3, & that I would forward them on to Sam B.

So far I think I have had 2 emails........

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Hi

I'm new to this site so bear with me.

I tried to record the boat race yesterday but can't find what channel the video is on. So I can't watch it. I've had the LCR3 update if that helps.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Couold you record from the cable box before the LCR3 update? This update should not have changed anything.

You will either be recording from channel 5 or 6 or somewhere on your VCR that is tuned to the composite output from the STB that is chained into your VCR then into the TV (the STB being the equivilant of the roof aerial).

Or you will have a scart from the STB to the VCR in which case you will be recording from AV1 or 2 (for the sake of this post AV1) depending on where it is plugged into your VCR.

If you also have the STB connected to the TV by scart (AV2), you can record this when the TV is switched on. The STB sends a signal to VCRAV1 which sends it out of AV2 and to the TV, the scart is bi-directional so can then send this back to the VCR to record. This will only work when the TV is on, so might by what you did wrong.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Mrs H opinion of LCR3

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I have a question I don't think's been answered yet:

Do the volume control buttons still work? (on older remotes, not the new tv controlling ones)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

yup:)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Thank you :)

(btw... The volume doesn't work on Bromley CR3... I just realised my question might have a seemed a little stupid to anyone who didn't know that!)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Those complaining about the speed of LCR3, it should improve after the upgrades have all taken place. I believe it is because both sets of software are being sent out, which is hogging bandwidth.

I know Bromley cr3 was problematic at the begining but I cant pick any major faults now.....excepting a few sound issues and colour, but that will never please everyone its about time skinable systems were developed.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

It might have been true on the Bromley platform but it doesn't apply to Langley fed regions. On Langley only one version of code is available in a region per set top box. The codes don't share bandwidth.

People do seem to think that a couple of reboots speed things up, I can't see how, but I won't say it doesn't work!

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

A reboot certainly hasn't speeded up our box. Press the Browse button (or whatever damn one it is now) and you get please wait appear.

We used to be able to set an evenings reminders in 3 minutes, its more like 15 mins at the mo.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I've had CR3 for about 3 weks or so (Colchester rollout), and none of the interactive works, e-mail, red button, the interactive buton. But I've read that people in Belfast who have just got the rollout a few days ago e-mail and on some channels the red button works.

Is there something wrong with mine or is it just not in my area yet? If so when is it likely?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Yes everything is working on my 4001 in Belfast though the 'red button' still goes to walled-garden internet. Maybe your STB is cr*p? ;) :D

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I think it depends on how you define "the red button works". It works on my STB on BBC for example, but only insomuch as it displays the same BBCi page that I got before LCR3. The only genuine red button improvement I can speak of is that it no longer forces a reboot. :)

I think ntl will start focusing on improvements to interactive services when the LCR3 roll-out is complete (hopefully in time for Euro 2004 and Wimbledon).

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I do find it a little concerning that the ability to change channels has suffered, in the sense that it is slower than it has ever been. After all, fundamentally, the point of television is to watch the programmes, and no amount of menus or red button frippary is of the slightest interest if you can't get from BBC2 to BBC4 (or whatever) at anything other than a snail's pace.

I rather think the speed you get from channel to channel is now on a par with the seventies, when you had to walk across the room to do it. What price progress.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Thanks for the reply DeKurver, I don't even get bbci, I only get "we are currently unable to proceed with your request" MO44 Error msg on every thing e-mail, interactive and red-button.

Does this mean I should be on the blower to the wonderfull CS?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Do you ever use Pay Per View? Sounds like your return path does not work.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

frostygills: press page up, page down, blue on your remote.

On the first page, does it have something saying your IP address?

(This is how it works on Bromley, anyway. That might not even be there in the Langley version...)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

SMHarman - never used PPV.

Tristan - it did work here is the info found:
iEPG ver - iEPG 4.0645
Netowrk ID - 00011
STB IP Address - Not Availble
CA IPPV Stat - Unknown
SNR - 35.8db
Pre RS Error - 0.0E+00 per 0.5s
post RS Error - 0.0E+00 per 0.5s
AGC Sig Level - 1677194
RF Chan - 65

IP not available, is that my prob?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Yes it looks like you have a return path issue. Call to CS required.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

cheers, called CS got me to do the usual re-boot etc. They said to check the info page for the chnl sig and it's at 4, they said it shouldn't be below 5 . They then said they would get someone to call me back as V busy. Didn't get the call, maybe tom! :(

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

If not, inform us here and I'm sure an ntl-bod will pick this up for us :)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

The next rollout of CR3 will be in and around the Cardiff area, beginning on 14th April. If you are in this area, you should expect your letter and information pack to arrive in the next few days.

Cheers
Sam

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Just in case anyone thinks 'why have they stopped?', I will point out that code downloads are still continuing until next week.
Belfasts final stages are due in the morning, and Lutons final stages are due next week.
Easter means that there is a freeze on changes, just in case a change causes unforeseen issues. A problem whilst so many people are off work, and potentially watching TV would swamp call centres.

It also means I can get some sleep. :tu:

Hope this explains the apparent long break.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Slackers ;) :pp :D

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I wish!
I'll be on call at Easter. Like I was at Christmas.

Brain the size of a planet, 2 degrees, Cycling proficiency award, overworked, underpaid, sleep in a cardboard box, etc, etc

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

All still going well I assume? I've not heard many bad things on here or DS.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Havnt time to read through all these posts so forgive me if this has been already answered. Some people have asked if the problems with the old browse where all you could get was now next has been cured. NO it hasnt at least not in Belfast. The old feature of pressing the select button to get a synopsis of the program is now the browse button but the result is the same no information. The colour seems to be all that has changed. And what genius decide to make the browse button the synopsis and arrow buttons the browse. To make matters worse a number of channels are blank with stuttering sound, eg Sky 1 and one of the kids channels. Sci fi is now more of a slide show than moving pictures. Interactive is as useless as usual and I seem to have to type in channel numbers twice before it changes. On the first day I had to reboot so many times I lost count but thankfully that is no longer happening. Hopefully they will iron out the teething problems soon cause I have had more problems this last week than I have had in the past year since they replaced my old box

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Some of the problems you describe (like picture freezing) have nothing to do with the software. You most likely have a problem with the signal level going into the box. This could also cause the problems with the EPG listings you mentioned.

You should call customer services or faults to get this resolved.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

why did they actually change the feature of the browse button?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

The point is that the software is really based around the new remote in which i/browse share the same button - but i is the prominant symbol on that button, so that why they changed it - but I can see why its awfully confusing for those with an old remote

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I think the changes are also probably to bring the same functionality to both platforms. Anyone on Bromley confirm the funtions of the buttons mentioned?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

the "i" button shows programme information on ex-cwc, and always has. the new remote has i and browse labelled together (and menu/text).

the pageup/down thing on the "mini guide" has never moved 100+/- on ex-cwc, and seeing ntl want to make the cwc software the one used everywhere, i can see it being added again!!

hope that helps :)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I'm sorry, but I don't really see the difficulty... Press TV to bring up/hide the Now & Next bar/Mini Guide. Press browse to get details of the programme you are watching, or that you have highlighted in the mini-guide/guide/favourites.

Seems simple enough to me.

How did it work with the old software?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Pressing the browse button brought up the browse function (Now/Next Bar) and TV used to exit browse function an all other TV menus

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

The problem is the TV button is quite far from the arrows, so it isn't easy to press then flick around. Browse is right next to them, as is TV on exCWC.

However, this shouldn't be a problem if just pressing an arrow brings up Now/Next - I'll reserve judgment until I get it! (which I guess is a long way off here)


On the subject of Page up/down moving 100 channels - I don't think the absence of this feature on exCWC is any excuse for it not being on LCR3 - taking the best features of both platforms would be better.

A much better excuse lies in the practicality of it - with channels reordered, how would it work? With an example channel order of, say, 101, 400, 103, 910, 812, 125, 126, 140, 930.......... What would Page up actually do?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Did you mean that you "can't" see it being added again? If so, I hope you're wrong. The page up/down functionality was extremely useful and I can't see that re-introducing it will cause problems; the buttons currently do nothing in the Mini Guide so making them do something isn't going to break anything.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Yes, the TV button IMO is not in a great place for frequent use on the original remotes (it's better on the new ones). The arrow buttons do bring up the Mini Guide, but this disappears after a specified delay (assuming no further interaction). The default delay is 5 seconds but you can bump it up as far as 30 seconds or turn it off altogether, although you still need to use the TV button then to get rid of it. The main limitation of the delay for me is that, if another screen is displayed (e.g. programme info or reminder), the delay clock keeps ticking. This means you might browse so far, display programme info only to see the Mini Guide disappear and you have to start from the beginning again. I've found myself learning to use the TV button. :)

You make a good point about the page up/down feature wrt reordered channels. How did this work, if at all, prior to LCR3?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

After a week - and now with the new remote- i tend to use the favourites feature - where page up/down does jump - rather than the mini-guide.

It is running much better now --- roll on 'e-tv'!



Aside: anyone know if Euro 2004 will be widescreen- the games not the studio inserts?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

At a very educated guess - no.

England's recent away friendly in Portugal was shown in fullscreen, which is a good indicator of the technology they have in place (or the feeds that the broadcasters here will buy)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

CR3 does not change the aspect ratio, the STB's can already handle widescreen and 4:3 broadcasts. We rely on the broadcasters as magpie says, and just pass on what they send out.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I've noticed that all of a sudden this week the box seems to be tramlining everything, not stretching it sideways to fit my w/s TV. Some channels Paramount Frasier leave a thin white line between the tram line and the picture - most annoying.

No changes made to STB settings or TV. Can I change this. My TV and STB are set to 16.9

Aargh

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Have you got AV control enabled? CR3 unfortunately disables it by default.
When you say tramlining can you explain a little?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

The Program guide let me down last night, As I was going out, I set a reminder for 24 on Sky 1, set the video and went out.

When I came to watch it earlier, the reminder came up on the video tape and said 24 on Thane Direct (That stupid shopping channel) and proceeded to switch to that channel. Bearing in mind sky one is not listed on the same page as the shopping channels and Thane does not have a program called 24, I am not very happy about it.

Has anyone else found problems ?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Thought thats what they were called.

Like a letterbox on a 4:3 but the otherway round. Black bars vertically left and right, but a line of white appearing between the left black bar and the picture.

I'll have a check on the remote about AV control tonight.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

just checked my MORE INFO feature in langley and there is no "this programme has enhanced abilities" icon , on the Grand National . :(

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Just phoned ntl: (home) and asked the man

"i live in Belfast and was wondering will the Grand National be interactive tomorrow", after spendin two minutes checking on the computer he said

"my computer says yes, however i will check"

so he put me on hold he came back and said,

"ive been told by my ""Seniors https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2004/04/16.gif "" that the Grand National WILL be interactive". and i said is that for Belfast and he said yes! https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/local/2006/07/3.gif .

hopefully it will be E-tv.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Sorry. He was wrong. It won't be. 100% sure.
The BBC Interactive on langley is not currently fully active. That is there are no ETV extra video feeds. There maybe extras in terms of text based content.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

As a whole, it seems slower. The mini guide jitters when going between channels whereas before it would be an instant transition. The guide, even though has a better layout, is poor. I just expect to get the 'Program Information Unavailable' or whatever it says every time even though it loads up after 20-30 seconds per page. At least it actually eventually works now.

Though my biggest gripe is the removal of the +/- 100 channel skip. That was invaluable with the big blocks of shopping and kids channels :(

But....that two way tv is great, must of run up the bill with those annoyingly addictive games :) Still tbh, i'd prefer to see etv up and running properly before (hopefully) other changes.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

To save any more of our new members PM'ing me. The Bromley platform will have ETV content if the BBC are providing it.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Good good.
I mean, it's not like I like horse racing or anything, but it's nice to see them keeping up ;)

Browneggsandham :)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

The next area to get the CR3 download is Northampton and this will start on Tuesday 20th April.

Cheers
Sam

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Could someone explain what CR3 is???? i have been looking from page 1 and I can't seem to see someone else asking.

what is it? I live just outside glasgow, do we have it????
what is it for?

ik

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Basically, it is just new software for your set-top box that will allow interactive TV to be made available.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

ah, cheers

ik

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

...and I believe, Mr "java programmer", that it's written in Java! ;)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Javascript, actually, running on the Liberate 1.2 browser.

Well, that's what I understand, feel free to correct me...

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

what CR3 is written in java, if i could get a hold of the code.......
javascript is different from java.

ik

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

well we have had it here in Bedford for a few weeks, but I am not that thrilled with it! the box keeps freezing out, the box says one thing and the tv another, and you then can't do anything with it except remove the cable and reboot. The mini guide is about as much good as flying a kite on a non windy day! half the time it doesn't tell you anything at all. the remote sometimes works and has a mind of it's own, and has been thrown in temper across the settee a couple of times in disgust by my better half, but on the plus side the interactive is nicer and when it works quite positive, but this freezing up is driving us up the wall and why does it always happen when cs aren't there?? Humph. so we are up the creek with out a paddle. My daughter lives in Northampton and her reaction on learning she would be getting it soon was 'you can keep it!'

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Hi, I've noticed a new remote mentioned several times in this thread, will everyone be getting one of these? We were upgraded a while ago (Cambridgeshire) but don't recall anything about a new remote.

As far as the upgrade goes, I have to be honest, but I don't find it any better than it was. I get the overall feeling I'm having to push more buttons to get the same info, than on the old version, and as has been mentioned, I think the button I miss most is the 1st channel button that used to be in the browse menu. Still, it's early days, I'll no doubt get used to it :-)

Derekm

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

You won't get a new remote as part of the upgrade; there are some screenshots of the new remote on the Red-Eye site. The main differences are that the TV button is in a more accessible place, there is a Favourites button, some of the buttons have been renamed (Browse is now "i", Menu is now Text, etc.), there's a "#" and "*" button (not sure what these do, possibly for interactive use), plus some other cosmetic changes.

Like you, I found the 1st channel option useful. It's a pity that the old remotes didn't have a Favourites button, since it seems that the only reason we lost the 1st channel option was to provide easy access to Favourites for those that have an old remote.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I've noticed with CR3 that the STB and remote has become very slow and unresponsive. To add to this, the Mini Guide is just as useless as it ever was - it doesn't update too well. But I'll give it credit, at least it is capable of showing the programmes that are on after midnight (when it works), unlike the previous EPG.

One last point - I was sitting watching a DVD several nights ago and the remote for the Digital STB was about three metres away - I noticed the display on the front of the STB was changing - I realised that the box was rebooting!!! How can this happen?? I've never seen it before and it was somewhat strange - can NTL reboot an STB remotely?? If so, why would they do this??

:shocked:

James

Just to update - just five minutes ago, the STB downstairs rebooted itself - I was up here at the computer at the time, but all of those downstairs got a bit of a frightener!!!!! :D :D

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

As I'm not about to wade through nine pages, does anyone know if Nottingham has been done, or when it is due ?

Oh, and how do you tell if you have it ?.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

My set top box reboots itself sometimes. which is extremely annoying.

self-rebooting must be a "feature" of CR3!! :D

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

OK well I guess, like many, I've been using the new software for a couple of weeks now, and I have some comments, some of which may be related to the age of my box box I guess....

1. Lip sync. I know this used to happen every now and then, but it appears to go out of sync several times a week now under the new software. Skipping up to the next channel then back down cures it, but it is a little ittitating.

2. Box freezing. Has happened several times since new software. Sometimes it needs a reboot, sometimes it just stalls for a minute or so then catches up. Seems particularly prone to doing this when using the mini-guide to scroll up channel lists (not chainging channel at the same time).

3. Speed of EPG. Seems far far slower than the previous. I guess it's doing a lot more than the previous so it's not much of a bug-bear, but again a little irritating.

4. Channel ordering. Great idea in principle, but now we have so many channels it would take hours to put them in the order you want - so I've left them alone! Can I still do favourite channels and group these at the top by the way? I don't seem to be able to find this function like before.

Hopefully this can be used as constructive feedback on the system by someone. Any comments?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Not for at least 3-4 weeks. You will be able to tell if you have it because your epg will be blue.:)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

In response to Andy E's comments, I have to agree that I've noticed these problems also - lip sync is a bit of an irritation, boxes working at a snails pace is unacceptable as part of a "Upgrade".

In terms of the channel ordering - what is the deal with showing all unsubscribed channels when you are "flicking" through the channels. I know that you can send them to the end of the channel order but whouldn't it be much better if you weren't able to automatically see them (ie. to get to them, you would have to actually input the channel number). Perhaps this is a plot to get customers to upgrade their television package, by getting them anoyed with seeing "You are not subscribed to this channel....." messages. If it is - it wont work!!!!

Wasn't there a comment made that the "Bug" with BBC3, BBC4, CBeebies, and the CBBC Channel was to be fixed when an entire area had received the update. This bug was where you could watch BBC3 & 4 on the CBeebies and CBBC Channels in the evening and vice versa. Perhaps if it is to be fixed, this will happen when the entire software rollout has been completed in all areas.

Just a few additional comments that came to mind.

:shocked:

James

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

The next area to receive the software download will be Leicester from Wednesday 21st April.

Thanks for all of the comments regarding the software. It's useful to have the feedback.

Cheers
Sam

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Mine works pretty amazingly, except for a few times a week, i will have to reboot cus the Menu freezes, when you hit guide, you are unable to hit, "all channels (etc)" however i find Data for the next day, loads much much MUCH quicker and it also now tells you the program episode title, for example "the Simpsons" (program info = Ho diddly-do - flanders goes on holiday)
:D

i love it, well done ntl: i just wish we had big brother interactive :(

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Well I am underwelmed with the new CR3.

It took 5 minutes, bloody 5 minutes of messing around with the remote to get my digi-box to change channel from sky one to 500 The Discovery Channel. Christ, it would be easier to hop individual channel than to get the sodding stb to accept a new three digit channel number.

And before anyone asks, no I didnt have this problem with the previous 2 platforms. :mad:

Sodding ntl, dont fix what aint broken on my stb. :mad:

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Yes it is very slow.

Here in Leeds been like that last 10 days or so.
Brian

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Sam, can you just confirm that Northampton is still receiving the code download next week? Your last post said Leicester (183), but your previous post (167) said Northampton. Is the roll-out gaining in speed or has there been a change of plan?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

They are both correct. There will be 2 areas starting to receive the download next week, a day apart. Cambridge and Luton were previously both started on the same day, so it's not anything different particularly.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

I thought I was supposed to receive my update today on the 14th April in Cardiff, but no update. I received my booklet about 2 weeks ago.

Feedback
 

We've had CR3 in Colchester for a little while now, and whilst I was giving it a chance to get 'settled in' I suspended my opinion, but it's been long enough now.

It's very VERY slow. Changing channels - even up and down - is very slow. Rather than click-click-click it's click..........................click.............. ...........click. Sometimes I think the machine hasn't registered the button press and so press it again. After a while it changes channel and then a while later changes again. Typing the channel number in isn't much better, I press number '1' and then wait...... '1' appears on the box, press another number...... wait..... it appears. If I type in 3 numbers (say '144') one after another it seems to flummox the box and so I have to wait for each one.

The guide/now-next feature. I can't say much about this because I think it hardly ever works. Sometimes the information is completely inaccurate - although I guess that is the fault of the listings service and not the box or CR3. Now/Next doesn't update very quickly, so it can be 3pm and it's still showing 11am programmes. This used to happen with the old system but after a minute it would 'realise' and update but that doesn't happen as quickly with CR3... 10, 20 minutes later it still thinks it is 4 hours earlier.

However, most of the time there is no information on the Now-Next, it just says "See Guide for information". So then there is the very long and torturous prospect of having to use the Guide. Maybe 1 time in 10 or 15 goes I press Guide, then press down to "Entertainment" and press Select and.... nothing happens.... 10 minutes later, still nothing....another 10 minutes, still nothing. Put box onto standby for 5 minutes, turn it back on and it's still on the Guide page with no information. Every once in a while magic happens and you actually get the channel informatio, on-screen you can see 5 or 6 channels with the time across the top and all the information there for you to see.... "No Information Available" is followed by "No Information Available" which is just before "No Information Available", then there is a Friends episode for half an hour and then "No Information Available" followed by "No Information Available".

At the moment I am finding CR3 painfully slow to use and the Now/Next/Guide system to be virtually unusable, and if you do use it, it's slow and usually doesn't work, when it does work most of the time it is completely useless because it has no information anyway.

Hopefully, these are still just teething troubles and maybe once CR3 has been rolled out to the whole country NTL can put the resources into it to make it (i) work and (ii) fast enough to use without wanting to throw things at the TV because it's too slow.

Jon

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Just had this email from NTL ref CR3 in Swindon if it is of any interest to any Swindonians here.. :D

Dear Mr ******

Thank you for your email, and my apologies for the belated response.

This is planned to be released towards the end of April.

Regards

****
Customer Liaison team
ntl: C.O.B.I - Midlands

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Had the same response for the Stafford area.

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

can you set the order of the channels with CR3

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

i think it depends on what box you have, for the best results...i have a 4010 and it rocks, my mate has a 4001 and it sucks...so Just lucky i guess :D:D:D .

yes you can rearrange channels

Re: Feedback
 

I've come across this problem once before, where selecting a list (e.g. All Channels, Sport, etc.) in the Guide doesn't do anything. A reboot (unplug for 30 seconds then plug back in) cured this for me, and I've not seen it since. This is the only manual reboot I've needed since getting CR3, so from my POV it's definitely better than before as I was often having to reboot to get up-to-date programme information with the old EPG. I've had the "Fix" screen come up once aswell, but I don't think this is the same thing as physically unplugging the STB. Have you tried a reboot?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

The rollout started today in Cardiff, but not all box types get it today. You'll get it sometime over the next few days.

Cheers
Sam

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Hi Sam, now that we've fed back quite a lot of info, would it be fair to ask how this will be handled? Are the issues raised 'known' and if so what is the plan for solving these? Or is it too early to say?

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Yes - here's a strange one.


If you change from, say, Radio Five Live to Prem Plus on 900, the on-screen graphic for 5 Live stays on over the 900 picture. Minor bug but it is there.:erm:

i clear it by switching to any other TV channel and then back to 900.

Strange but true....


;)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

Just rebooted my box and all is there. :) I have a 4010 and am happy with CR3 so far :D Nice one NTL just get E-TV ;)

Re: CR3: Any Feedback or Questions?
 

So is the performance of the 4001 boxes really that bad compared to the 4010s or are people just experiencing teething troubles that will clear up once everyone's on CR3?

I've been eagerly awaiting CR3 as it supposedly fixes some issues with the current software (such as the 00:10GMT/01:10BST blanking bug), but if the 4001 boxes (of which we have 2) are going to perform badly I can see NTL getting a lot of angry calls from customers.

(and I'm sure NTL are holding off on rolling out CR3 in northeast Hampshire just to annoy Tod in Aldershot ;))