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

Guys, the subject is NTL's upcoming HDTV service. Can we please stick to it?

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

On my ntl box it appears every few minutes and I am unable to stop it appearing. If it only appeared at the start of the programme then I would not have an issue but it appears during programmes every few minutes. Before it would only appear when programmes started. On my Freeview box it never appears at all but as you say Parliament is quarter screen so I can't sue Freeveiw to record programmes on Parliament and I like to tape the archive election programme reruns but obviously can't do so if PRESS RED appears every 5 minutes as it does on ntl becuase it maskes the programme unwatchable.

I fail to see why they can't offer people an option to turn it off permanently like they do with subtitles.

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

Back to HDTV.. err, except there is no ntl hdtv to talk about...

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

I See no confirmation from NTL that they will be using MPEG2 and my contact at Scientific Atlanta still says they are making the MPEG4 STB For NTL

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

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...117#post711117

Quadplay works for NTL, and is involved in the deployment of STBs on the network, so should know.

He says NTL won't be using MPEG 4.

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

It may be that NTL have not yet informed SA yet to keep their options open until the last minute.

There was also a rumour that NTL would deploy the MPEG2 PVRs first to early adopters, as it could do that more quickly and the HD bandwidth requirements were low. It could then switch to the MPEG4 PVRs a year or so later when they were cheaper and there was more demand for HD bandwidth.

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

Woah there! I didn't say that. I just confirmed that the 8450 is not currently being developed for ntl platforms.

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

....err, actually you said "its true" in response to the ntl is dropping the mpeg4 boxes. So in fact you did say it...

So after 8 pages mostly dicussing this, its looking like rubbish which is exactly what I said over on DS when I first heard about it:

Perhaps there should be a official statement from ntl clearing this up one way or another. But echoing previous posters, I reckon its more likely the mpeg2 tv drive gets deployed (where networks allow) in ntl areas this year. Then the mpeg4 box is deployed when sufficient numbers of them have been made and tested.

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

Exactly. The MPEG4 box. Not necessarily the technology. I don't know about that yet.

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

Ok, I'm lost...So you're saying (I think) you can have mpeg4 technology in a mpeg2 box? If so, I don't have any problem with that, as long as I can have a ntl tv drive as soon as its available.

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

This is disapointing news if it's true. I'm not really bothered about the HDTV side of things, but did like the idea of the Scientific Atlanta 3 tuner PVR, and have been hanging fire on buying a hard drive dvd recorder on the basis of the announcement last year that they were bringing a PVR out, and looking at Scientific Atlantas demo page of it.

If it's not going to have that functionality, then I may as well just go and buy my own HDD PVR after all. The plus side of the ntl one was that I imagine the EPG would be linked in, so making setting up recordings easier y just selecting the programme from the EPG.

Also the £25 a month extra someone mentioned earlier in the thread would be a no go for me, I'd just buy a standalone HDD PVR. I wouldn't mind a one off fee to upgrade to the newer box, and the subscription fee stays the same (which I think is what was trying to be said earlier in the thread).

I wish ntl would make an up to date announcement one way or the other. We often wait for new things to come out, but youv'e got to draw the line somewhere.

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

No, the 8300 isn't capable of MPEG4. I'm saying that I don't know if/when future boxes may allow the use of MPEG4 technologies.

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

No, all the functionality of the PVR is in the MPEG2 box currently being issued in Telewest areas (TVDrive). The only difference between the Telewest STBs (which are definitely being used) and the NTL STBs (which are probably not being launched this year) is the HD technology.

Sky intend to charge £300 for the box and £10 per month on top of the subscription so NTL may decide to adopt a similar package.

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

...ok, that's clear...:rolleyes: So just to tie things up, when the original poster said this:and somebody else said this:and you responded by saying this: so you basically didn't mean it and don't know any more than the rest of us...:)

If anybody was in a position at ntl/telewest (which you're clearly not) to know confidential information, they wouldn't be posting it on public forums such as this.

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

So it still has the three tuners then?

Even if it has, it's academic if your prices are correct, as I wouldn't pay £300 for the box (I thought we'd rent it like currently?), I'd rather buy my own HDD DVD recorder of my choice rather than what ntl decide to give me.

I'd pay maybe a one off upgrade fee for the new box, but wouldn't expect the subscription charge to go up as they not offering me any more channels etc. The only advantage is being integrated with the EPG, which needs updating anyway, as I find the one on my £40 Freeview box much better laid out, and it's a 7 day guide...no extra costs to use.

If you can buy a HDD dvd recorder for £160 now (maybe even less), then they must get these boxes much cheaper when buying by the thousands.

For £300 do you own the box, or is it still the property of ntl?
Even if you own it, you can't use it any other way if you choose to leave ntl, like you could with a normal PVR.

I've waited a long time for this, but it's becoming a less viable option the more I read about it.