Switch from sky?
 

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been covered already, however, I am considering switching from Sky to NTL as it will save a bit of cash (just received one of their promo flyers). But I have a couple of questions that maybe you lovely people can help with!

1) Is going from Sky to NTL considered a backward step (I have a nice quick digibox and am quite happy with the service - I have never seen an NTL box before)?

2) Does NTL support the remote eye type service that Sky does (not multi room as such, but watching the same channel in both rooms and being able to change channels in both rooms)?

3) Anything else I should watch out for?

Thanks in advance all!

Baz

Re: Switch from sky?
 

1.
You may well find that NTLs EPG is slower in use than the Sky one and has missing data at times, it also only goes 3 days forward, not 7. However while it is in use, you still see a mini screen of what you are watching, so overall a drawer IMHO.
Channel changing is about the same.
You will lose a few channels Living 2, some of the Sky Sports

Interactive is not as good, this is where many see it as a backward step, but personally I see the loss of teletext on the digital platforms a backward step (where's my flight arrivals page).

2.
Remote Eye. Well NTLs boxes put out the signal on a coax as well as scart, so you can distribute that coax signal and most boxes use standard IR so this should work. Supported? Well NTL won't come install and support this if thats what you mean. Like sky they would prefer you got a second STB.

3.
I assume you are going for DTV, Telco and BB? Telco select services (CLID, Voicemail etc) vary across the country so make sure you will be getting any / all the services you currently use.
Also if you have a discount dial 18nnn plan this may not work on NTL.

NTL and TW BB (if correctly configured, installed and maintained) outshines ADSL anyday, TW are now offering 4MB across their network, NTL intend to be offering 3MB next year. NTL also have plans for video on demand and a Sky+ type box during 2005 and are activly working on upgrading the software and UI on the platform. Many think the NTL phone lines have greater clarity that their BT line and, though not many suffer from it, you will get no weather degredation in your tv picture. The NTL digibox is owned by NTL, so if it goes wrong they fix it, forever.

(waits for Neil to come along)

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Regards Sky Sports, you actually won't lose any of the actual channels, only the interactive stuff.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

That is one of the main reasons that I dropped NTL DTV and went all Sky, having both services side by side for a couple of years. In hot weather my NTL picture used to pixallate, judder and freeze despite several engineer visits and box swaps. This was really bad on low bandwidth channels. The STB was well ventilated so that was not the cause. A couple of the engineers said that this was a common problem during the summer months.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Aaah yes, the green cabinets getting to hot, rather than sleet / snow blocking the signal to the sat.
Thats a wash then +/-ve for both suppliers, though probably more of a problem for NTL as you said, all that extra equipment being crammed into cabs for more services.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

mr_baz,

in sky sports you lose the interactive 8 games and only have the main game on that channel with NTL, this goes for any other interactive channel.

The NTL digibox as said earlier only has 3 days of listings, if it shows you that far.....very slow, do you need 7 days?

It has a now and next feature which is ok, you can watch one channel (a bit small in my opinion) and search other channels which is on now and next through your range.

You can arrange channels in order of preference, but this take you ages not just the box.

You will probably have to reboot the system every couple of days to get all information on your STB, not unless you buy a plug timer that will cut the electricity to the STB and then restart it about 10-20 secs later.

I have not found any weather derteriation on my NTL, but some people might.

you don't have to have a seperate ariel for 1-5 as it comes with NTL (1-5 and on your *101-105 (so in a sense you get them twice))

Broadband is good, I have had better service on BB than on tv, but that is just my case, lots of people will be differenet, like many other people have different opinions about sky.

NTL is a wee bit cheaper, but it is not at the forefront of the technology stakes, so we are a bit behind the times, hence no interactive sky sports (many see this as a sky monopolising issue, while other say it is NTL not paying for it) no VOD or PVR, but they will be coming.

I have had no probs with the phone either,

although some of my points here may suggest I would take sky, I probably would not, but if NTL got their finger out and gave us a system to rival/compete (not be an underdog to them) sky I would be a much happier man.

ik

Re: Switch from sky?
 

That last bit is not quite true.

During Euro 2004, matches shown on the BBC had a choice of other matches available (where other matches were on at the same time), and also various commentary options, goal views and highlights. In other words, full interactive.

There's also been full interactive for Wimbledon.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

One advantage of the mini-guide (ntl's equivalent of the Search & Scan banner) is that you can get programme information for anything showing over the next 6 hours on any channel - not just the current programme as is the case with Sky.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Thanks ever so for the replies... Got some good tips and more to think about.

I only want the family pack so am not worried about Sky Sports or indeed the Movie channels to that end.

I rarely look 7 days ahead, so thats no problem.

It seems the main points for me are:

1. Reliability of the boxes - do they really need rebooting every couple of days, thats shocking!

2. Remote control and viewing from another room without another STB. Is there a good kit that can be used? Dont suppose the Sky kit works!!!!?

Thanks again

Baz

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Oh and forgot to mention I am already phone subscriber and 750 BB user - happy with both products. Just dont want to ditch sky and jump into a 12 month DTV contract and regret it to save a tenner a month!

Re: Switch from sky?
 

The other thing to remember is that ntl bundle a phone line with all their DTV packages, so you may well have to cancel your existing line if you don't want 2 phone lines (there is no discount/option of not taking it)

http://www.home.ntl.com/icat/television

Re: Switch from sky?
 

I can't see how you can save £10 a month by moving from Sky to NTL for DTV. TV package prices are roughly the same on both platforms. :confused:

Re: Switch from sky?
 

I forgot about this, and BBC gave good interactive for oplymics, my mistake, but generally other channels have interactive on sky that ntl do not have.

ik

Re: Switch from sky?
 

I got a flyer through as an existing telephone subscriber if I pay £9 a month I get free evening and weekend landline calls (with the 60 min redial catch!) and the basic £10 DTV package. Plus the extra £10 for the family pack I will be getting the same service for the same price but will be saving on the calls... Saving £10 to £15 a month on the phone bill...

Hope that makes sense!

Re: Switch from sky?
 

promo offer :shrug:

personally i would stick with sky having sampled both side by side for a while :)

Re: Switch from sky?
 

It depends on the box, to be honest. A new subscriber should get a new box, and they tend to be quite reliable, especially with the newer software.

Depends on the kit you've got from Sky - if it's the engineer/self-installed tvLINK, where it plugs into the 2nd RF Out from the Digibox, no it won't. You can still use the same cabling though - just plug it straight into the RF out from the ntl DSTB. You can get a remote extender from Argos for around £15, I think.

EDIT: This one looks good: http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/st...lickfrom=image

Re: Switch from sky?
 

I had the Talk Unlimited plan which gave free calls evening and weekend to geographic numbers but found that switching to the 5p per hour plan worked out cheaper for me. many of my calls were to mobiles and non geographic numbers which are charged under both plans and you have to make a hell of a lot of evening and weekend calls for the £9 TU plan to work out cheaper than the £1 5p per hour. Over 160 such calls a month to be exact.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Ah, but then you don't get the free telly ;)

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Also the street cabinet if that is overheating in hot weather.


You could always use a digisender, Aldi have a special offer on them from next Thursday (£24.99 ).
Channel switching in the room away from the STB depends on the type of STB as some use non standard codes.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

AFAIK, that's more likely to cause blanking pics and freezing (if it occurs) than loss of guide data. I'm willing to be proven wrong however!

Very true - I hadn't thought of that! mr_baz, where in the country are you? What's the first half of your postcode?

Re: Switch from sky?
 

I am in CO4 neck of the woods! :)

Re: Switch from sky?
 

You haven't said whether you need 2 phone lines or not?

Re: Switch from sky?
 

no only one line... I can add this deal to my existing package....

Re: Switch from sky?
 

But that "deal" includes another phone line, is that what you want?

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Having done the same, I would definately switch to ntl :D

Re: Switch from sky?
 

I imagine you can cancel you existing phoneline and get a new one.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Much like Sky depends on which Digibox you are using.

And whether your dish or house is in a position where the elements will cause a loss of signal, be it wind, rain, snow, ice, fog or heavy cloud all of which i did suffer.

Guess we cant generalise though :)

Re: Switch from sky?
 

That means you're on what's known as the Langley network, so any STB you get will use standard IR for the remote control, and any remote extender will work. :)

I think you've mis-read, Neil. The deal mr_baz seems to be talking about would mean adding Talk Unlimited to his existing ntl phone line, from what I can gather.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

But he wants to switch from Sky, so that means getting an ntl DTV package, & that surely means another ntl phone line (or at least getting rid of the current one)? :shrug:

Or am I going ever so slightly bonkers.....? :spin:

Re: Switch from sky?
 

*calls men in white coats* ;)

Re: Switch from sky?
 

:bigcry:

I knew it wasn't me! :Peace:

Or have I missed something....? :erm:

Re: Switch from sky?
 

As I read it, he currently has NTL phone and BB, and Sky TV, and is looking to switch to NTL DTV.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

That's how I read it... :erm:

Re: Switch from sky?
 

It would appear that NTL in considering him a new DTV customer will provide the free line rental for 12 months on his current line.

So one phone line, one STB and one BB

Re: Switch from sky?
 

The promo is for changes to my existing line... Its not a new customer offer and the operator I spoke to also seemed to think it was for my current line.....

Re: Switch from sky?
 

The deal is pay £9 'upgrade' on my line to get free evening and weekend calls and they also supply £10 DTV package included in the price.....

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Something doesn't sound quite right there.....:erm:

Maybe it's just me? :confused:

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Sounds about right, my parents signed up to NTL BB and telco and got the Telco line rental free for the first year (saving £9.50).

So DTV and Telco for £19 a month (which is the price before you add the compulsory line rental of £9.50 making the normal total £28.50) is about right.

(these numbers may be £1 or so out but you should see what I mean.

Here's the deal...

http://www.home.ntl.com/page/bundles

Talk Unlimited - with FREE DTV
Make unlimited national evening and weekend landline calls for just £18.50 per month and get FREE Digital TV for a year.

Family Pack - with FREE line rental
Watch over 100 digital TV channels for just £19.50 per month and get 12 months FREE telephone line rental.

Broadband - With FREE line rental
Take one of our Broadband products from just £17.99 per month and get 12 months FREE telephone line rental.

Sounds like he's getting bundle one. My parents took bundle 3. £17.99 being only £2 a month more than they were paying for unlimited dial up and of course now saving a £9.50 a month payment to BT.

If you know an NTL customer and say they referred you that customer gets a £30 credit on thier account after 3 months custom. So i'll be keeping an eye out for that on my bill.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

I'm still not convinced! :D

Re: Switch from sky?
 

See my edit above, they are waiving the "* Available to new customers only." it would seem, but by doing so should be improving the long term ARPU.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

I,ve just switched to Sky after 7 years with NTL tv, and i must say to myself why the heck i didnt do it sooner. Interactive works, picture doesnt pixelate, dont need to re-boot my STB everyday to get the channel listings and there are more channels. No longer will i have to go to the pub when i want to watch the Champions League, can now get the 8 screens up and choose what 1 i want to watch..Still have the NTL BB and phone line and im happy with both of them so i will be keepin them. My advice m8 is to stick with Sky for the tv side of things. I just recently started working for Sky (3 months ago) and part of my job is speaking to customers who cancel their Sky accounts, i call them and ask them why. Most leave to go to a cable company i.e NTL because of the BB, and phone line packages and they get their dtv cheaper..I,ve lost count of the amount that re-sign back up with Sky after the 12month cable contract expires and customers constantly moaning to me on the phone that they were stupid in changing from Sky is not uncommon. Yes if u take the full package with cable it can be cheaper but IMHO your getting an inferior product....As Cilla Black would say on blind date "The decision is yours.." :D

Re: Switch from sky?
 

But the OP mentioned an 'upgrade' figure of £9.50 for the free evening & weekend calls package. :confused:

The plot thickens...! :D

@ mr_baz-Can you please tell us exactly what it is you have currently, & what you have been offered from ntl, & what costs are involved please?

Ta.: )

Re: Switch from sky?
 

I believe he as 750k BB and Telephone (though not sure what service)

So they are saying for an extra £9, they will put him on

Talk Unlimited - with FREE DTV
Make unlimited national evening and weekend landline calls for just £18.50 per month and get FREE Digital TV for a year.

Paying £9.50 a month for phone line rental already, a £9 upgrade fee to (making £18.50) gives him the talk unlimited and DTV.

Re: Switch from sky?
 

SMHarman's got it in one!

Although after reading all the posts I am now seriously having my doubts about NTL DTV!

Re: Switch from sky?
 

My advice would be DON'TI have just eventually decided to turn my back on NTL cable TV---my own experience with NTL would put you off giving them any of your business.

I have just had sky+ installed--- what a relief to have a system that just works!-- compared to ntl that, constantly locked up, unable to gain any interactive text functions 50% of the time-unable to order films due to locking up. If you've nothing else better to do and wait upto 50mins on the telephone to get them to answer--- then this could indeed be the service for you.

sky may cost slightly more-- but it's worth every penny.

Hope this helps-- but as you can see i have become slightly biased by the consistently poor service from NTL.
Regards

Re: Switch from sky?
 

Baring in mind lots of snow is predicted this winter...lovely jubbly for the Sky viewers :D

I was so damn glad to leave them and still am........enough said........most know the reasons.