ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

We were staying with friends last week and they were singing the praises of Sky Plus. After a quick check of the Sky site I can see what they mean; 40 hours of recorded programmes, pause and then restart, record while watching etc. So, before I start seriously looking into ditching ntl TV and moving to Sky Plus, can anyone tell me if it is possible to get a similar performance on ntl and, if so, how?

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

The nearest you can get with NTL is to use a service like Tivo with it. Tivo is an external hard drive based video recorder that has what (IMO) is probably the best programme guide in the business.

I compared Tivo and Sky + at http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...4&postcount=40.

Tivo has two disadvantages now though. One is that since Tivo stopped marketing it in this country, it's almost impossible to buy one. The other one is that NTL's recent software update prevents Tivo working reliably (on Samsung boxes anyway, don't know about Paces).

NTL are launching their own SKY + style service at some point in 2006 though.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Thanks. Very interesting. Is there anywhere on the ntl site where they're providing any public information on this?

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Sadly, NTL don't seem to be saying an awful lot about it at the moment. All I have heard is rumours.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

What makes you think 2006? I had heard rumours of a much closed time although no dates. Considering Telewest seem to be gearing up to launch one.....

http://www.internet-guide.co.uk/news/Telewest-PVR.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4194357.stm

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

TiVo is brilliant, I bought mine refurbed from Dixons a couple of years back now I think (post TiVo stopping selling them in the UK), and it's always worked a dream. Until... the new software upgrade buggered it all up. I'm thinking of switching to Sky+ now. The Sky+ box does have more features (record two programs at one time being a biggie, since it has seperate tuners, something you won't get with any NTL solution), and also, since it's still being actively marketed they may develop the software further to add more goodies (this record two channels at once option was added in a software upgrade (last year I think)).

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

I did say I heard a rumour. The rumour I heard did say Late 2005/Early 2006.

IIRC one of the financial presentations given by Simon Duffy actually said Autumn 2005, but NTL do seem to be late with these things..

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Would I be correct in saying that without breaking into the box and doing some (illegal?) tinkering, there is no way of transferring recorded material from a Sky Plus box to a DVD disk for permanent storage?

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

The only way I know of is to hook a DVD recorder up to the Sky + box in the same way you would a Video recorder.

This will not give you a nice digital transfer though. You can get combined DVD recorders and HDD recorders. I believe that Liteon, Pioneer and Sony do these. They are limited to a 7 day guide though.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Life is getting complicated, methinks. :) What exactly do you mean by a 7 day guide? Is this the numbers that you see in the weekly TV guides and use for video recorders.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

What I mean by "7 day guide" is how far ahead you can pick programmes. NTL use a 3 day guide (you can pick programmes three days in advance). Tivo uses a 30 day guide (you can pick programme up to a month, or a month and half ahead).

Not sure how long the guide on Sky + is.

When I say "Guide", I am referring to the Electronic Programme Guide.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Thanks for all the info. I think I will go away and mull this over.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Just 2 things here:

1. You can record 2 channels at once using SKY+ but you must be watching 1 of the channels you're recording otherwise it asks you to cancel a recording. IE: Lets say I wanted to record Corry + The Match but want to watch Most Haunted. Wont let you do it unless you cancel the recording of either Corry or The Match before switching to Livingtv to watch Most Haunted.

2. SKY+ will let you record a whole series with the series link option in the SKY+ options.

There are pros and cons to SKY+ alas more cons than pros. However I have been happy with their service as I only watch it for the football mainly and Trailer Park Boys on Paramount. Oh & Most Haunted Live.:p:

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

When I decided to ditch the NTL television service the customer service guy who dealt with the formalities asked what swayed me into ditching their tv service, when I mentioned the 3 months half price tv offer and the offer of the sky plus box for £89 he seemed to understand why.

I have yet to see any cons more than pros with the sky plus over what I had with NTL, when the drive of the sky plus gets a bit congested I can migrate the recordings to my panasonic dvd recorder, from which I can if I want transfer to dvd disc.
An offer that I did not take up with sky, which someone else may find useful is the multi room system, where there is a complete seperate feed to another room, and the person or people in that other room have their own choice of programes to watch.

I just think in all respect NTL are having to play catch up in the digital television game, and so would recommend the sky plus system.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Recently gave up with Sky and sky+ The amount of rubbish served up day in day out, the endless repeats, then the failed recordings, the sky+ box switching itself off for no reason. Whenever it rains heavily there is a loss of transmission. :td:
Got rid of the Sky+ box and gone over to Freeview. ;) The freeview boxes are now starting to appear with the capabilities of a sky+ box if you really need that sort of thing. :tu:

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

I've just moved from NTL to Sky+. IMHO, Sky+ is miles better.

First there is the recording feature as described in previous posts and the ability to pause live TV. In fact, after a tip from the installation engineer, I've taken to pausing anything on Sky One etc. at the start, then playing it back 10 mins after it has started. Every time adverts start, I fast forward through them. By the end of the program, I've then caught up with real time, without sitting through endless adverts. This is great as the amount of breaks on Sky is a real pain normally.

Then there's Dolby Digital on the new films etc. Also, the programme guide is much faster than NTL's and you can find what you want more easily.

The only backward step, is the reminder. I used to be able to set reminders to switch channels automatically on NTL. Unfortunately, Sky's reminders do just that. They do not swap channel automatically.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

I am considering getting sky+ (with multiroom) and was wondering what sort of cable is used to send the other feed, is it normal coax with the usual tv aerial connectors? Or if it's a different connector, is it possible to use normal coax cable and then put new connectors on the ends? I ask these questions because we would be wanting one box downstairs, and one in the bedroom (which is in the loft and getting new cables installed is a big effort). I wouldn't mind staying with ntl for digital tv, but you seem to get more with sky, for less.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

I like that tip about the pausing the programme at the start, learn something every day :)
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As far as I am aware, they just take the multi room fit from the second output on the dish, and pipe the wire through the wall into your second location.
From where I am I can see the home opposite has multi room fitted, can see the second cables branching off into the outside wall of that room ;)

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Am becoming more and more disillusioned with NTL especially after recently enquiring as to the availability in Leeds of the much vaunted On Demand. Firstly I was informed that I indeed had access to the service but after 10 minutes of going through on screen menus was informed by an uncomfortable 'advisor' that it was not yet available and that there was no information available as to when it would be. I was also informed that OD is the NTL version of Sky Plus which we know it not to be.
Having spoken to Sky, £49 for a Sky Plus box plus free installation seems very appealing. Also my preferred package on Sky would cost £50.50 per month for multiroom as opposed to £67.50 with NTL including extra STB.
Over to you NTL!

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Not sure how multiroom works. My Sky+ has a twin coax cable from the LNB to 2 inputs on the box.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

" As far as I am aware, they just take the multi room fit from the second output on the dish, and pipe the wire through the wall into your second location.
From where I am I can see the home opposite has multi room fitted, can see the second cables branching off into the outside wall of that room ;) "


;) ;)

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

When you have Sky+ installed they fit a quad LNB to the satellite dish. Two of the feeds from this go to your Sky+ box to allow the recording of two channels at once leaving two spare. These two spares can be used to connect either a further Sky+ box or one or two standard Sky digiboxes. The wiring for multiroom goes from one of these spare connectors on the LNB directly to your second box location.

There is also a second RF feed on all Sky digiboxes which you can use to connect to a second TV elsewhere in the house. You can use a magic eye with this to control the digibox from the second location. Going down this route you can only watch the same channel on your second TV as on the main TV. With multiroom you can watch any channel in your chosen pack on either TV independent of what the other TV is showing.

Sky+ records the original broadcast stream unmodified meaning that you watch the replay in broadcast quality. When you are watching a recording you can exit that to watch something else and return to the exact point that you last watched when you want to resume watching. You can choose wether to watch a recording from the start, from the last viewed position or from any point during the programme. This is handy if you want to watch say a F1 Grand Prix where you can select to start say 50 minutes into the programme to cut out all the pre race section. You can fast forward and rewind at up to 30x normal speed and still see the picture clearly for skipping through parts (or adverts) you don't want to watch. You can also watch in slow motion if their is some benefit in doing so.

Getting rid of NTL DTV and replacing it with Sky+ was the best decision I have ever made in the home entertainment field, only wish that I had taken the decision earlier.

One earlier post suggested that a NTL PVR system would only have the option to record one channel at once but I doubt that will be the case. The PVR box that Telewest was considering actually has three tuners which would mean possibly having the option to record two programmes at once whilst watching a third programme live. With Sky+ you can only watch one of the two programmes being recorded simultaneously or a previously recorded programme, not a further live programme.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

I think you need a quad lnb as each box needs 2x feeds.

edit- as he said^^^

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

That sums it up basically :tu: ;)

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Yep, I saw your earlier post, but I couldn't see how a 2nd feed from the dish could go to the 2nd digibox, as this would leave only one feed for the Sky+ box.

ian@huth has now cleared this up with the quad LNB. I didn't know such a thing existed.........I learn something new every day!:)

Re: Sky Plus
 

I have a Sky + box, which feeds from the satellite dish with a double rather than a single cable. Can I take a cable from the Sky + box to a second TV in another room? If so, which terminal(s) on the box do I connect the feeder cable to? Can I then use a TV link to change the Sky + programme in another room using the feeder cable connection?

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/st...4174217&EDATE=

Things are moving forward. They seem to have at least selected a supplier for the PVR.

Is this the same model as the TW one?

Re: Sky Plus
 

I do not have multi room, but my limited thought is that you need two sky plus boxes to take advantage of the multi room facility, that way both rooms have their own channel selections.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Well I went and had sky+ installed on Monday (without a hitch, I kinda expected one being with NTL for about 12 years ;)) and not sure how I lived without it. Seems to either always be something on to watch, or something which has been recorded. Glad I chose this now instead of regular sky or ntl digital.

Re: Sky Plus
 

You can take a coax cable from the RF2 out connector on the back of your Sky+ box to the TV elsewhere in the house. You will have to turn the RF2 connection power supply to on in the services menu to allow control from the remote location. This is done by going into the Services menu and then into the hidden installer setup menu. Once in Services press 4 then 0 then 1 then select (don't look at the screen as you may think that pressing 0 hasn't done anything but it has). Select option 4 for RF outlets and turn RF Outlet Power Supply to ON. You will need a magic eye and another remote (unless you keep moving your remote between locations) which you can get from places like Maplin (Google "Sky magic eye" for other sellers).

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

You can,there is a download facility on Sky+(i now work for Sky)
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You can run 4 X normal Sky STB's.....2 X Sky+ STB's.....1 X Sky+ & 2 normal STB's from the one quad LNB.


Just a thought,you need to have all the Sky STB's connected to a operational 2 way (in/out calling) phone line OTHERWISE you will have to pay full price for the packages & STB.Reason is the STB's are subsidised by B I B. (British Interactive Broardcasting)

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Getting Sky+ is the best thing you could ever do, i wont be without it now. I have had both Cable and Sky in the past and have worked for both companies and i can say that Sky is the best package all round without a doubt.

Most things have been covered with the Sky+ system so wont go over that again. You can make the reminders change the channel automatically, if you go to the planner and select the reminder to Autoview then it will switch over when the programme starts.

When your Sky+ box is out of warranty (or before if you dont care) then you can open it up and replace the hard drive with a bigger one if you want and you can then record more onto it, the only problem with this is, it buggers ya warranty up and the little bar at the top of the planner that tells you how much space is left doesnt work properly, other than that there are no problems with it.

As has previously been said you can have a combination of the following sky box's running from one quad LNB

2x Sky+, 4x normal Sky, 1 Sky+ and upto 3 normal sky box's.

If you want to spread the Sky signal round the house then you need to take a RF feed from one of the RF output sockets on the back of the Sky box, doesnt matter which one, but if you want to use a Magic Eye then it will need to be Output 2 and turn on the +9v feed as described above, but note if you do this then the Magic Eye will not work if the cable has been run through another device before it reaches the Magic Eye, ie a splitter or ampliefier.

Unlike cable box's the feeds into the Sky box's can not be split off and run to another box to get that working, as each Sky box needs an independant feed from the LNB, splitting the feed cable to another box will cause problems and may damage some of the equipment installed, its all to do with the way in which the channels are transmitted.

If you want to have more than the number of box's you can have on one quad LNB you either need to have another dish installed on a seperate subscription or run a quattro LNB and multi switch gear, which then in theory gives you an unlimited number of feeds to run Sky box's from.

I believe you can now get a Sky+ box from £49.99 but not 100% on that, and if you know someone who has already got Sky and get them to recomend you then they can have a normal Sky box upgraded to Sky+ for free of some vouchers and you get 1/2 price package for 3 months.

If you are thinking about it do it, i wouldnt be without my Sky+ now its brilliant and it will only be getting better next year when HD comes out and i can enjoy it on my nice 42" Plasma that will be arriving soon.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

To me one of the areas ntl are lagging behind Sky is the ability of devices such as the more modern VCRs to diectly control the channel that the STB is tuned to for recording. Why shoud you need to set two different devices to swap and record channels.

Ntl's three day EPG is, in this day and age, absolutely pants. when 10 years ago VCRs could be programmed up to28 days in advance.

I dunno exactly how Sky compares, but I frequently see specifications of devices that say they will directly control the Sky box channel.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

The Sky+ built in EPG has seven days of content, the only annoying thing is that if you have a programme set up for Series Link and it skips a week or one episode gets cancelled (eg if BBC 2 sticks on sports instead) you lose the Series Link.

BTW someone mentioned about reminders not changing channels, I don't bother using the reminder feature, I just set the programme up to record which means that even if I miss the reminder, I can still watch it! :)

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

With Regards to PVR functionality Sky+ is very limited (still better than NTL no PVR at all).

There is no favorites function (series link is not a favorites function), no importing programs, no networking capablity.

The best system at the moment is a PC based PVR, loads of functionality, expandable and you can have networked clients. I admit it's not for everyone but compared to Sky+ its amazing.

It will be interesting to see what functionality NTL put into their PVR with regards to favorites. I think there are some IP problems around this, with Tivo having patents.

JJ

Re: Sky Plus
 

my husband is a satellite and tv engineer he does a lot of broadcasting work for sky and said the reson sky+ receivers have dropped down to 49 pounds is that sky want to get rid of them as the new sky HDTV receiver is coming out within the next few months and it will have a hard disc (sky+) built in to it so if i was any one wanting to buy a sky plus box id wait for the hdtv receiver to come out

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

If by no favourites you mean favourite channels then there is, you just have to go through all the channels in a list and select 20 of them as your favourites this cant be done from the info banner. if you mean favourite programmes then, whats wrong with reminders and series link, it tells you everytime the programme is on so cant think what more you would want from this to be honest.


Sky are meant to be bringing out there first HD box in March i think it is if i remember correctly, but from what i have heard i wouldnt bother with the first lot that come out, as they are likely to be Thomson ones and crap, the second batch onwards that come out should be a lot better, thats the ones i will be waiting for.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

[QUOTE=Acropolis]If by no favourites you mean favourite channels then there is, you just have to go through all the channels in a list and select 20 of them as your favourites this cant be done from the info banner. if you mean favourite programmes then, whats wrong with reminders and series link, it tells you everytime the programme is on so cant think what more you would want from this to be honest./QUOTE]

For true PVR functionality favorites means recording programs based upon series / keywords such as actors, genres etc plus a true inteligent recording functionality that monitors your viewing history and records programs automatically.

JJ

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

Just a Quick one

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Windows XP media center edition, when combined with either Sky or NTL it blows the alternatives out the window, it does everything you could want and then some and has none of the limitations of sky+, you can even use it in addition to sky+. It has too many features to talk about here (not least control over web browser from anywhere in the world). Check it out I know its an mSoft product, but credit whre credits due, they done a good job on it

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

We're planning on getting Sky+ when we move this month....can I ask you a question since you work for them?....

This 10 quid subscription: I've heard mumblings that it might disappear in the not too distant future...can you shed any light on it. As we don't take the movies nor sports, I'm a bit grumpy about having to pay 120 quid a year...but it does seem like a cool gadget, so I'll stomach it for a while...but if they're planning to drop the sub then I'll be happy!

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

I just looked on the Sky website and it shows £36 for all packages with movies, INCLUDING Sky+ subscription.

That's just £5 more than ntl (including the mandatory phone line rental).

Sounds unbeatable to me!

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

That's correct - as the Sky+ subscription is free with the movie package....plus right now you get the first three month's line rental at hald price. It's certainly a tempting offer.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

On the whole I really like Sky+. There are a few niggles but the one that is the most annoying is when you come to delete a recorded program. To do this you click the yellow button. There is sometimes a delay and if you are not careful you end up deleting the next program as it remembers the two key presses. There really should be a confirmation before deleting anything.

Re: ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus
 

If you set all your recordings to "Keep" - Blue button, then it will ask you to confirm before it deletes them.