Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Does this mean NTL will be getting the PVR earlier than planned as it is already launched in Telewest areas? ;)

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Major development is still required to allow the 8300 to work on either ntl network. I can't give any timescales though.

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Oh man, the 8300 looks absolutely the suxor compared to the 8450. Was looking forward to the Multiroom over Ethernet. Burn in hell Telewest.

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Ah well at least someone will be getting a bonus in Ntl/Telewest land this year. You can just imagine the board meetings.

CTO - "And I've managed to save some money by scrapping some trials we were running, next we will be going back to analogue and putting some valve technology into the street cabs to stop having to use these expensive digital decoders."

Good call from the new guy :td:

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

To be fair to the CTO he had to decide to scrap either Telewest's or NTL's system as it would be stupid to start rolling out two different systems in the merged company. It is just that we were all hoping it would be the Telewest system that would be scrapped.

However, Telewest have already launced their system (whereas NTL were still only in trial) and the STBs should be slightly cheaper (and hopefully that saving will be passed on).

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

I'm no expert when it comes to the finer points of different MPEG streaming technologies but from what I've read the MPEG2 standard needs significantly more bandwidth than other, newer, standards.

So the actual STB's will be cheaper but less channels etc. will be able to be squirted down the cable than if a more advanced codec was used. If it comes down to it going with a more advanced solution from the beginning would be more cost effective in the long run rather than making wholesale changes once TVDrive and it's 'pure' Ntl equivalent are installed in a significant number of homes.

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Does Sky's HD service use Mpeg4 or Mpg2 ?

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

I believe Sky HD is MPEG4.

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

I *think* it's MPEG4 as there have been a couple of rumours that getting this working the way they want is holding up the rollout of Sky HD.

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Sky/the BBC/world+dog will be using MPEG4 for HD, and the kit for converting MPEG4 to MPEG2 is very hard to get hold of and costs a bundle - plus there'll be some quality loss.

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

From press reports, Sky will be using MPEG4 not 2. meaning its definetly more efficent use of bandwidth. Don't see personally how going fron forward thinking MPEG4 to not so efficent MPEG 2 is an improvement though.
So why on earth are ntl:Telewest going backwards and potentially having to spend more money to do the job when they could have saved in the long run by using MPEG4?

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Thanks, looks like yet another NTL rubbish management decision then, I can just see the reviews when all the various HDTV services are launched - Sky with about 50 channels, NTL with about 20 (Heh, I guess thats kinda like it is now - perhaps NTL are destined to always be in Skys shadow) and maybe even with the Sky HD channels (which are already compressed - recompressed again into MPG2) - great service NTL :(

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Either they are pushing *very* hard to get a PVR out across the network and want to run with the simpler technology just now rather than wait for the MPEG4 PVR to be ready (although as Quadplay has said there is a lot of work to be done to get the TVDrive working on Ntl networks) or the new CTO has made a snap decision (Heads = Mpeg2 / Tails = Mpeg 4?)

Thats about the only 2 reasons I can think of.

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Ive just spoken to my man,

Whilst the information posted is true it isnt the entire truth.

The TVDrive service will work pretty much out of the box on the Langley platform, this means NTL can also launch HD services like Telewest have.

NTL are still working on the MPEG4 trials, eventually all services will move to MPEG4, they cannot ignore this as the bandwidth it will save is astronomical.

Re: Where Is Hdtv From Ntl.....when?
 

Completely wrong, for numerous reasons. Sorry.