Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Well I spent £120 on my portable tv 8 years or so ago and that works so no need to replace it.

I got my sisters old 21" for free which works fine also.

If the 21" died I would maybe buy a new tv but probably wouldnt spend anything over £200 on a new one since I watch more tv on my pc then on normal tv and the type of money needed for a hd tv would be unrealistic for me. I do think £900 is expensive yes, very expensive.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Same sentiments here :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I am shocked because it is clear their is a high number of people wanting HDTV so they either have the equipment already or prepared to buy it when they can get the signal. Yet people generally are very price sensitive paying for services and broadband, its a vicous circle.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I, personally, would not want to spend more than £300 on my main TV but I might be tempted with this at £350:
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03..._ready_crt_tv/

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Obviously it's each to their own. I spend a lot on technology, eg my PC as detailed in my signature, but I spend little on the like of cars preferring to drive a £200 banger rather than spend thousand(s) on a car as many people do.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I have just spoken to Customer Services at NTL an I asked as a sideline question 'when was the HDTV STB coming out' and was told it is COMING IN JUNE:shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: :shocked: talk about surprised. Then I was told that the customer services staff had been on a training course last month!!!!!!!!!!!!
I will believe it when I see it,as i am very used to NTL false promises.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I just called up out of curiosity and the agent was very polite and friendly which is always good. She said she had been given info on the PVR and it will be available soon, but she couldn't give an exact date.

The good news, although off-topic, is she looked at my account and said I was entitled to a monthly discount of £8.50 as I subscribe to all 3 services. So that was a bonus making the call worth while!


A.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

if its coming in june, then that means its already in production and hence the spec has been finalised.

if the above is true, did NTL set the spec as they can do, and indeed as the UKs biggest cable company it would make long term finantial sense to spec the box to be long term field/base engineer expandable from their POV.

or, did they just take something like that reference design i posted about above, with the relevent options (read cheapest base options) required to work on NTL network in the short term ?, did they for instance spec a standard, (cheap) 3d gfx chip XGI V3XT 2D and 3D graphics support
http://www.xgitech.com/products/products_2.asp?P=22
Built in with latest 3D processing engines with HDTV output upto 720p/1080i, Volari V3XE has been broadly used in multimedia applications with various kind of processors such as RISC, ARM and the standard x86 CPU.

or just go the whole way and spec an ati X1300/1600 chip for far longer longevity, keeping in mind that even mobil phones have had 2D/3D and sprites hardware assisted chips for a very long time, and hence can far exceed any current NTL STB for playing the odd games or two, plus one of the above could potentially, vastly improve the liberate middleware NTL and C&W before them insist on using for their gfx and html/java return path/control.

i would also advise NTL to spec a good FPGA as standard and hence open their options to adding vast amounts of possibilitys, licencing old amiga/atari etc games and running them off an emulator that could sit in the FPGA chip for instance.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Just listened to the latest ntl financial webcast and despite what Burch (ntl's boss) said in the last webcast about hdtv launching around summer, this has now changed....HDTV is coming to "most" old ntl areas by the "end" of 2006 into 2007. Now we'll all the wiser....At least for those folks in the old Videotron and Westminster areas of London, their cables will finally get upgraded. So they'll be able to get digital and hdtv "sometime" at the end of 2006/7.

Now its clear. If you want hdtv in the near future, there's only one place to go and it ain't ntl.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Unless you live in a former-Telewest area where you can get HDTV from NTL!

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Explain...

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

HDTV has been available in Telewest areas since March. So we have one part of the SAME company that has a PVR and hdtv. And the other part of the company that doesn't....

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

There are no 'HD' broadcasts as such in Telewest areas, just SD (Standard Definition) broadcast in upscaled format (720p/1080i)

Still SD though.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Are you telling us thats the case with the HD VOD content?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Ah, thanks for clearing that up, i never knew it was so.
No TV's that would support it here though, just interested ;)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

AFAIK, The only HD VOD that Telewest had available was the film Sin City (in 1080i)

I gather that it's no longer available for selection.

That is the big issue with "HD" from Telewest-it doesn't really exist & there has been no official announcement of what (if any) of Sky's proper HD channels they will be carrying IE-Sky One HD, Sky Movies HD, Sky Sports HD.

As I have said many times-if youwant a proper HDTV service you need Sky.

Fact.

End of. ;)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I have decided to move to sky because of this. I have been with NTL for 5 years, and have decided that waiting for HD till next year is too long. I will stop with NTL for broadband and phone, but get sky hd fitted in june :angel: .

At least my red button will be worth using then, and I wont have to press it 2 months in advance :o: .

EVENT LOG

03/04/06 09:30:35 17 REBOOT
03/04/06 09:32:45 17 REBOOT
03/04/06 09:33:45 17 REBOOT
03/04/06 09:35:45 17 REBOOT
03/04/06 09:37:45 17 REBOOT
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03/04/06 09:40:45 17 REBOOT
03/04/06 09:43:45 17 REBOOT
03/04/06 09:45:45 17 REBOOT
03/04/06 09:32:45 17 REBOOT
03/04/06 09:32:45 17 REBOOT :Yikes: :Yikes: :Yikes:

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I hardly doubt thats true for leics and southampton tho is it.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Just read a newspaper article (cannot find it online) that said if you were hoping to get SkyHD installed for the World Cup you will be disappointed because the earliest installs available are now afterwards in July!

Apparently Telewest is also running low on HD STBes.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Which paper was it in?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

The Daily Mail but a Sky spokesman was quoted so it was not entirely fiction!:D

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Lol :D

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Could still be fiction ;) Who knows, did they say the name of the quoted person or just "Sky representative" ?

Anwyho, i doubt HDTV will be here fast enough, and even if many people would adopt it due to the high costs involved.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

It was also mentioned on BBC NEWS 24 thursday morning at about 6.50 am where they were talking about HDTV boxes and saying that the Sky boxes for new customers would not be installed until after the world cup was fin ished but Telewest was OK. I am with NTL and when i phoned customer services they said that there HDTV box would be available in June and that they had been on a training course last month but when an Engineer came he said no way it will appear until the end of the year!!!!!! So who do you believe!!!!!!

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I would imagine that independent installers may be able to install in time for the world cup.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I don't want/can't afford an HD TV & don't intend to buy one unless my present TV goes the way of the DoDo
, So what I need to know is will I still be able to watch the channels I pay for without shelling out for a new TV?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

yes

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

How long do you reckon that will last before they decide to do what is being done with analogue & force the change on us whether we want it or not?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Which channels?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

when HD does finally roll out (regardless of who or how you get it) the Biggest problem what brand / size TV do you go for (I've see TV advertised a HD ready when there no HDMI or other type of connectors).

Then theres the recorder, I don't know ant out there, other than Blue-ray & HD DVD and these are very expensive.

like Somebody posted here I'll wait till my TV dies the worry about it.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Not if they cannot get hold of the HD STB!

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

put it this way the digital swichover is not going to be finished at least till 2012 so it will be along time before hdtv will be norm for everyone.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Telewest scores HDTV deal for World Cup

Telewest is offering its TV viewers the chance to watch the World Cup in glorious high definition (HD) clarity following an agreement with ITV and the BBC.

As well as the footy, Telewest customers with a TVDrive - the cableco's HD-ready personal video recorder - can also see other shows including Planet Earth, The Proms, and a new wildlife series Jean-Michel Cousteau?s Ocean Adventures following the deal.

...

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/05/15/telewest_hdtv/

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

What a crock... so, those of us on NTL are left with no HDTV for the world cup, and no timeline for HDTV for the future.

Meh.. if I wasn't living in a flat that couldn't have a Sky dish, I'd be booking my Sky HD installation right now.

:(

Dean

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Not that you would get it before the Wold Cup! :(

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

http://www.forbes.com/2006/05/15/tel...rtner=yahootix

The headline is a little misleading really... it should be Sky fail to reach HDTV deal with ITV

No ITV HD for Sky. So if you want the FULL HD World Cup service, your only option is Telewest :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Well that is interesting. I can't wait to see how Neil spins it in Sky's favour ;)

Remember: if you want to watch all of the World Cup in HD, your only option is NTL*. End of.

(* although you do have to be living in an area previously serviced by Telewest)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

No spin from me. :)

But (as I predicted a while back) ntl are (again) subjecting some of their customer base to the 'poor relative' scenario.

It's a great coup that TW customers will be able to watch ITV HD stuff, but what about ntl customers??

It just smells of the old ntl/ex Cable & Wireless areas in the early days. :td:

And that ^^ is the important part-how many TW customers will be able to receive this, as opposed to how many ntl customers won't?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

So, the part of this post you made where it says isn't quite accurate, is it... :dozey:

Of course, you could totally ignore that fact that you posted incorrect 'facts' and just bleat on about 'poor relations' within ntl. :shrug:

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

It was accurate at the time. :dozey:

You could also state that the facts that I stated were indeed facts at the time I posted them, the situation has since changed-but don't let that get in the way of having a dig at me will you?

So-how would you describe ntl customers in non Telewest areas that won't be able to get ITV HD?


[Edit]-If ntl had pulled their finger out regarding HDTV, then all of their current customer base would have the option of watching ITVHD.

As it is, they didn't pull their finger out so only customers who live in TW areas will be able to watch ITV HD. :td:

Sky saw the HD era coming & approached it with open arms.

TW saw the HD era coming & embraced it with new STBs.

ntl saw the HD era coming & ignored it to the detriment of most of their customer base.

Way to go ntl.....:rolleyes:

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

So you are saying that most of the customer base has HDTV ready? Somehow doubt that :)

I do believe that TW launched their HD service before they actually merged. So that is totally irrelevant :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I thought it was actually:

ntl saw the HD era coming & embraced it with new STBs. TW and ntl merged. Then the TW CTO said that ntl customers cannot have better STBs than TW customers, so they cannot have any! :p:

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

No, what I am saying is that ntl customers in non Telewest areas do not have any choice in what HD content they can get from ntl.

ntl customers in non Telewest areas on the other hand have much more choice.

Not irrelevant at all Bob.

The 3 main TV providers in the UK (Sky/ntl/Telewest) all made a seperate business decision regarding how to proceed with an HD TV product.

Sky went for it & improved on a great product (Sky +), they now have a sound product on offer that offers PVR functionality along with HD programmes. :tu:

Telewest went for it (albeit not knowing what HD channels they would be able to offer, but the prioity for TV Drive was a PVR), they now have a product on offer that offers PVR functionality, upscaling of SD channels to 720p/1080i, & the ability (now) to watch all World Cup games in HD. :tu:

ntl have neither a PVR out nor an HD service.

Do you see the difference between the 3 companies planning now....?

The fact that ntl & TW are now as one is not relevant.

TW saw the future & embraced it.

Sky saw the future & embraced it.

What have ntl done?

No HD box.

No PVR.

Great planning by ntl....

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I never had a problem seeing the difference between the three companies planning - but thanks ;)

Hmm... but did NTL not plan to launch a MPEG4 PVR. - was announced last year. I would call that forward thinking.

Only recently have we discovered that those how now been sidelined for the foreseeable future because they decided it would be easier to offer the same as TW. Perhaps trying to avoid another two tiered system? Because like I said before the PVR was launched in TW before the merger - they could hardly change their plans coudl they?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

What would you call the decision making that means that only ex TW customers can watch any form of HD?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Did TW start their HD project before the merger?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

What difference does that make?

Either way, TW customers can watch HD & ntl customers can't.

So what was behind that decision making process?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Yes :)

Yes we know that and it was always going to be the case :)

They were two seperate companies at the time - both had different decision making bodies :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Let me approach this from another direction.....

1) TW started planning an HD before the merger.

2) Sky started planning an HD product sometime last year.

3) ntl have done what....? :erm:

My point is that pre merger what were ntl doing about HD?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

It makes every difference Neil. You asked There was no 'decision' to do this. It was purely (unfortunate?) timing or each of the pre-merger companies projects and the merger. What was the collective supposed ot do. Not release HD at all?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

So why did ntl not have an HD product in the pipeline pre merger?

[Edit]-If ntl were as 'on the ball' as Telewest then they would have had an HD product ready, & then placed it on hold post merger.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

ntl did have a HD product in the pipeline very much pre-merger!

From this very site:
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/...tas-mpeg-4-pvr

---------- Post edited at 16:07 ---------- Previous post was at 16:02 ----------

ntl's MPEG4 PVR was already on trial before the merger but these trials were suspended by the ex-Telewest CTO post-merger.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Neil you go on as if they have done absolutely nothing. They most likely are doing more than you give them credit for.

For instance, ntl trialled HD over ADSL2+ way back in March 2005 on the UK's first ADSL2+ trial. Forgot about that didn't we :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I have a JVC 28"" 28D40BK CRT TV which I am told from the specs is HDTV ready but it can only be achieved by having the signal input via its RGB component sockets as opposed to the normal HDMI socket. It can cope with both the 720 and the 1080 formats. When NTL do get round to supplying HDTV set-top boxes what kind of cable link will they use between the STB and the TV?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

HDMI & Component will both handle an HD signal (720p or 1080i)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Are you saying that the engineer will simply connect by the method available on your TV?

Wouldn't want a situation where the engineer turns up and says "Sorry, you have to have an HDMI connection".

Does it also mean that I will have to upgrade my VCR to accept the higher quality HDTV signals if I want to enjoy the benefits of HDTV quality on my recordings?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

If you are an ntl customer (as your forum name suggests) then you will not be getting HD from ntl any time soon I'm afraid as their PVR/HD equivalent of Telewest's 'TV Drive' is not scheduled for release.

Otherwise, from what I gather, TW engineers are turning up armed with HDMI leads & Sky installers will be doing the same (although Sky HD boxes & TW boxes will run on Component in the short term)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Yes except it won't be video based. As far as I am aware the only way of recording HD programming is either using a HD PVR (i.e. Telewest's TV Drive or Sky+ HD) or something like a Blu-Ray or HD-DVD recorder (both very expesive and I don't believe will be generally available for some time. Copyright restrictions will probably mean that recording HD on an external device will be a bit problematic anyway.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Thanks for that, Neil.

Looks like I had better start looking for a component cable,

BTW, I thought NTL were adopting the Telewest HD STB with the three tuners.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

They are. It's just going to take longer to launch on NTL :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Ntl seemingly do a lot of things on trial make sure they soak up publicity for it but are always behind on actual rollouts. The samsung boxes were they manufactured or just a pending order?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Do yourself a favour & get an HDMI cable-Component will get phased out at some point as it carries no encryption.

It will work to start with, but over time will not.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Well well, the silence in response to this post is absolutely deafening.... :rolleyes:

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

No silence from me. :)

So-ntl (by far the larger of the 2 companies) decided to place their PVR/HD box 'on hold'...

Can someone please explain to me why that was?

If they had a great product that was on track etc, why has the TW PVR/HD service taken priority?

[Edit]-Just FYI, that news item is 6 months old.

Why did they bother telling people they had an HD service "coming soon" when they knew they would be merging soon?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Ask the CTO of Telewest - it was his decision

Again, ask the CTO of Telewest

Because they maybe thought that it would be 'coming soon' until the CTO of Telwest vetoed it? :shrug:

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Hmmm-could it have been that the ntl box was nowhere near ready or good enough (likely)?

If the ntl box was 'good to go' they would have used it-what does it say that they went with Telewest's box & not ntl's?

Let's face it, ntl have never really led any market they have been in, they follow where others lead.

Telewest have long since been an example of how to run a DTV/BB/Telco.

Their products have always been superior to ntl's-just look at how ntl have now uncapped' the BB to follow Telewest.

Also-let's not forget how ntl were forced to follow Telewest's lead in their BB pricing (when 1 & 2Mb were 1st launched)

And not forgetting ntl upping the speed of their broadband products after Telewest had done it.

Oh, and let's not forget that Telewest have a clear & transparrent roadmap that details their upgrades from analogue to digital-where is ntl's?

ntl's motto should be:

ntl-others lead, we follow.

The only reason that ntl's PVR/HD box was ditched was because it was inferior to TW's.

Not only that, but the TW box was already out & working.

Not a very impressive CV for a company the size of ntl that is supposedly at the forefront of technology is it?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

An MPEG4 box inferior to and MPEG2 box? Weren't you the one hounding them for ditching that? And you have hit the nail on the head... it was dropped because TW's had already launched theirs and there was no point working on two different technologies. And whether or not it was 'working' is debatable :)

NTL did actually instigate the very first round of broadband speed upgrades. Telewest followed their lead.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

All in your opinion of course. Have you emailed your frinds at Telewest to ask like I suggested? The way you're licking boot polish, I assume you know them all....

Of course, because Telewest don't have any unhappy customers, do they?

It's not 'following' Neil, it's getting products in line post merger.

They weren't forced. ntl and Telewest weren't in direct competition, so how could they be forced?

I note how you conveniently omit to mention the FACT that ntl actually announced they were upping the speed limits first, and Telewest followed suit. Of course, Telewest finished their upgrades first, but then having a network and customer base that wasn't even half the size of ntls could factor into that, no?

I don't know, have you asked if they have one?

Really? Source? Proof?

That's YOUR interpretation Neil, which is your prerogative. If you weren't so damn biased, your post might be worth more than a fart in a thunderstorm.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Actually, as discussed earlier in this thread, the specs for the NTL box were better than the TV Drive, as it could use MPEG4 as well as MPEG2.

The reason it was ditched was because TVDrive was already in the market, and it was decided that developing a different box that did essentially the same thing (albeit with added MPEG4) would be a waste of R&D money.

And of course, far be it from me to suggest that TV Drive was rushed to market to ensure it was out before the merger, forcing the new company to go with the Telewest solution... I mean, it's not like there were any teething troubles or anything...

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Although lets be far Tristan this is TW, they never do anything wrong do they? :dozey:

www.telewestinfo.co.uk is worth a look because the site owner reviews the TVDrive regularly and discusses the problems :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I have an HD ready TV just crying out for an HD/PVR STB.

So, NTL: Do what Elvis say's, 'A little less conversation, a little more action!' :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

My TV does not have an HDMI connection. I would have to link the NTL HD
STB to the component connections on my TV to get HDTV.

I was assuming that any new NTL HD STB would have a SCART connector and was going to connect my STB to the TV using a SCART -> Component cable.

Are the specs for the NTL HD STB or the Telewest HD STB publicly available?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Scart can't/won't carry HD.

Component will, so will HDMI.

HDMI supports HDCP encryption, Component doesn't.

Component will carry the HD signals in the short term as companies like Sky will not be encrypting to begin with as there are quite a few people in your situation (no HDMI), but at some point in the no too distant future HD will require HDMI.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Do you know what connector the new STBs will be using to connect to the TV?

Will it be HDMI to HDMI?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I know it's completely off-topic, but why on earth should we need encryption between the STB and the TV? How does this benefit the customer?

The movie companies are so paranoid it's untrue.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Having cancelled my TV package with NTL, to go for SkyHD.

Today i had a CS guy from NTL phone me up asking why etc. When i told him it was purely for the HD. he then told me that NTL will have HD boxes out by the later part of the year and will/should only cost £50 for existing users. Food for thought for you all ;)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Was that £50 per month? ;)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

From the way he said it, it seemed like a one off payment. A bit like the £299 one for the SkyHD box.

Also he said something along the lines of being able to record two programmes while watching another, where as SkyHD can only record one. Something like that anyway. Maybe the tech heads can work that one out ;)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Yes it's the TVDrive as available to Telewest customers at the moment.

I too was told HD/PVR would be available later this year.... mind you I've already waited 2+ years for a PVR so I'm not holding my breath on NTLs actual rollout! :rolleyes:

I'm jumping ship to SkyHD for 12 months and if NTL get something out with content, that works, then I'll consider returning.... if they've got any staff left by then to take my order. ;)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Why is a trial been discussed?

Its whats rolled out that counts, NTL appear to be market leaders in trials as they seem to a trial an aweful lot of stuff first.

When it comes to rollouts thats where they poor, most rollouts dodnt reach universal coverage and what is rolled out is usually behind other companies.

I am sure the telewest guy had a good reason to suspend the new box, since telewest is now merged with ntl its in his interest for ntl to do well also, I can guess it could be a technical problem with the box or maybe the cost was deemed too high since the shareholders were sold a 250 mill cost cut as reward for merging.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

The reason is that the output from HDMI is a digital data stream and in theory there is nothing stopping you from connecting it to a PC or HD-DVD recorder and making perfect HD copies of films etc.

What HDCP does is to 'interogate' what it is being attached to. In the case of a TV then it would report back what it was and the circuitry in the STB would allow the HDMI connector to pass the High Def data stream. If on the other hand HDCP didn't like the replies it was getting then it could either refuse to output a signal at all or 'downgrade' it to SD

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

when they do get the stb out will i run in to problems with this since i have a dvi port and will need a hdmi to dvi cable.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Who knows?

DVI can handle HDCP, so all you will need is an HDMI>DVI adaptor, or an HDMI>DVI cable.

http://www.markgrantcables.co.uk/ind...products_id=39

Also-DVI does not carry audio (unlike HDMI), so you need to make sure you have a seperate amp or a speaker set up to handle the audio side of things.

HTH.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

The reason the trial was being discussed was because it was being claimed that, whereas Sky and Telewest had made preparations for HD, ntl had done nothing, which blatently was not true.

What is true, however, is that it appears that ntl were about six months behind Telewest in their HD preparations. As such they had a more up-to-date STB but would not have been able to release it until October at the earliest.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

And therein lies the problem...

How can a company the size of ntl be so far behind a company the size of Telewest??

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

:rolleyes:

Surely that question answers itself???

I have read this thread from start to finish. NTL and TW have merged. There are post merger changes still ongoing.

I am STILL flummoxed as to how you are an admin here Neil :erm:

You are SO anti NTL it is laughable!

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

There was once a time when that was the principal qualification for the job.

These days it is not, but then it's not a prerequisite to be an NTL fanboy either. ;)

I happen to disagree with your premise by the way (assuming that your post implies you think it is a given that Telewest should be able to innovate more quickly because it is smaller). Sky is bigger than both NTL and Telewest but is well advanced with a credible HD service. Business culture is what governs ability to innovate, probably more so than revenue streams. An innovative company will always be able to secure finance from somewhere. The problem here appears to be that NTL is hidebound in a management culture that does not foster and encourage free thinking and innovation.

It puts me in mind of a few years ago, during one of NTL's many appearances on Watchdog, when they put their head of interactive services up for interview. NTL's interactive service was so utterly, shockingly dire at the time I was left wondering what the bloke actually did for a living.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Right-good, constructive way to start a post.

So what is the answer?

Why were/are ntl so far behind Telewest?

Correct-however, I am asking about [pre merger stuff.

Are you? I suggest you take a look here then.

That may help you understand. :)

When ntl get it right, I am happy to say so.

What I don't find right is the following....

TW have an HD product available.

TW have a PVR available.

Sky have an HD product available.

Sky have a PVR available.

ntl do not have an HD product available.

ntl do not have a PVR available.

No why is that do you think?

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Yep, i was around in those days too ;)

It don't matter, carry on...

Don't mean to offend!

(and whoever repped me for this post before i edited - apologies and thanks!)

Just aint got time for the hassle :p

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

The box that ntl were said to use orginally, was best STB Scientific Atlanta had, feature wise.

Yeah Neil. Thats why Telewest offer a 10/384k service as opposed to ntl's 10/1mbit service. Not forgetting the coming 4mb/400k v TW's 4/384k.

Nuff said really.

The only thing an educated opinion what is better about the TW box over the original MPEG-4 box was that it was cheaper. Not so long ago, you were laying into ntl for not using an MPEG-4 box, now you are saying its a good thing!!

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

no surprise the telewest broadband service performas faster then as they decided to not oversell their bandwidth so much.

you found some chunks in telewests offerings that are inferior to ntl but telewest still has better customer satisfaction and makes more money, so it could be they decided since the ntl side is currently a liability the hd was sacrificed as part of cost cutting.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Ntl had a pvr in the works when I was there (2003) and the guy responcible is a member of this site.

Ntl shelved the project due to the cost and concentrated on broadband and fixing faults with the existing dtv system.

Now that ntl have started to get the pvr project back on it's feet they have made a hardware choice and this hardware is going to be far superior to anything offered by telewest or sky.

It will have a main stb with pvr hard drive.
It will be HD
It will have 3 tuners.
It will be able to be used with smaller multi room stb's that can either play recordings off the main stb or watch the channels on the main stb.

As far as I read it all of the multi-room stb's could watch,pause stop the same recording just as you could if watching an avi off a pc network.

If ntl can get this out this year and keep the costing done (and it works) they will start to make some inroads into skys domination...

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I think, if you're right Mark, it'll be a good product but will those with a working Sky+ system really want to go back to Ntl (which is a big no no for some in itself) for a product that really only has one additional feature they can't get with Sky+?? :shrug:

If people are happy with a product they generally stick with it, Ntl are way too late in my book. :(

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

They do?

Best tell ntl this they don't appear to have such a service released or planned.

Difference being of course Telewest have been offering 4/384k in some markets since last year while precisely no-one has 4/400 from ntl available yet. It's also fairly well accepted that ntl's very slightly higher upload will come with traffic shaping. Not necessarily a bad thing just mentioning you aren't comparing like for like. Considering the amounts of cash both companies had available for upgrades Telewest didn't do that badly and made more bandwidth available to their customers in some far more innovative ways than ntl.

I am amused at the way that people are blaming the Telewest CTO for halting the development of the ntl HD PVR, as if he works for a seperate company, works in a total vacuum and arbitrarily made the decisions to rush the Telewest PVR out and to prevent release of the ntl one. Surprisingly enough he's part of the same company as a lot of other people, at least one of whom would have been able to veto his decisions, but hasn't. Such a decision would be made at board level and MD / CEO would have had final word.

TV Drive does indeed have issues, though so did Sky+ when it was released, that's just what happens when products are released, nothing is ever bug free when released and ntl's PVR / HD won't be bug free when finally released either.

Here's hoping the interactive content and firmware is nothing to do with the original interactive developers. I used to think of them as my personal trainers, thanks to them I had to repeatedly get up from my chair while watching TV to power cycle the set top :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

It looks like Sky could be losing their perfect-pants image as far as HDTV goes.... linky

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Don't think they've ever had that image... still doesn't change the fact that people are, right now, having it installed which is more than can be said for ntl.

They are giving people £20 for the inconvenience, not exactly good compensation but at least it's something.

However you try and poo poo Sky as a diversion the thread asked where and when HDTV from ntl, Sky have released now, ex-Telewest has it, original ntl all is silent. They are certainly cutting it fine to say the least if they are planning on having a product available for the World Cup.

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

It would appear by looking at the thread on the other forum that some of those may not get it installed in time for the start of the world cup. That's like having a cigarette, but no lighter.

I'm not trying to poo-poo anything or anyone. But bet your cats life that if this had been ntl, there'd be a major outcry. :rolleyes:

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

I guess that's why this is Cable Forum and not Sky Forum - there are plenty of other forums for people to get upset with Sky on, as you know, you linked one :)

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

ntl wont introduce a PVR until 'early 2007' http://lifestyle.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=5670

Re: Where Is HDTV From ntl.....when?
 

Having read that linked article, and the defensive answers that the guy gave, I'd say thats game, set and match to Sky HD then once they get over their supply problems as the majority of ntl/cwc customers won't now be able to access TV Drive until next year at the earliest. Talk about not being imaginitive or thinking outside the box to actually get their product out at the same time as TW did. As for making inroads into Sky's domination of the PVR market - I don't think so now!

I'm guessing that part of the delay is with reprogramming the 8300DVR's so that they work on Bromley fed networks once they do roll out - as long as they get rid of the bugs in the CR4 software they use, maybe I'd think about it. But as things stand, Sky HD sure looks a lot more inviting to potential subscribers now that ntl have shot themselves in the foot with both barrels on this one.