Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Do NTL have a PVR equivalent of Sky+ ? I' m trying to decide between buying a PVR or an HDD/DVD recorder although as I've got a DVD player already maybe it's not so crucial to go for the latter. Anyone else had this dilemma and what did you opt for in the end?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Depends on your area. If you are in an old Telewest area, then you can get the Tvdrive now. If your in an NTL area (non telewest), then there is one coming, probably at the end of this year or early next.

:welcome: to the forum, BTW.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

When NTL release their PVR it will be the same hardware as the Telewest TVdrive and should be out be the ned of this year.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

thanks darthyoda - any idea about pricing and will it do exactly the same as a Sky+ box?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

@ Starby-according to your IP address you are in an original ntl area (I.E. not a Telewest area), which means that you are currently out of luck.

ntl have stated that their PVR should arrive "Early 2007", so in true ntl style it's "Coming Soon" so don't hold your breath.....

:welcome: to the site tho. :)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

NTL are trialling a PVR, the same ones as telewest's so its the "TV Drive" box. Which on paper is better than the Sky+ box!
It should be only £10 per month if you have the Family Pack. Base and Select are probably going to be £15 per month for the HD PVR.
At the moment with Telewest you will get free installation of TVDrive when you keep your existing set top box in another room for an additional £5 a month. If you're an existing digital TV customer to swap out your existing standard box for TVDrive a £75 installation fee will apply. I don't know if the same will apply when NTL launch its HD PVR.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

looking forward to this :)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

hmmmm thanks guys - I'm not sure I'd want a rental option but I suppose I'll just have to wait and see in what sort of timeframe this pans out. What do you guys have by way of VCR replacements these days anyway?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Just a DVD recorder at the moment....patiently awaiting NTL's PVR though. ;)

Renting from NTL has a lot of advantages when it comes to STB failures/repairs. If you owned a Sky HD box, once you are out of your warranty agreement its down to you to pay for repairs/replacements.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

If its as good as the brief i had from an insider then my Sky+ will be gone as soon as the NTL box is available.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Any clues to what it will offer?

How does it compare to the next gen Sky+ box?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

That's the funniest thing I've heard ever!

An ntl DTV box that outperforms a Sky + box....:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

Sky have pretty got the PVR market sewn up, the Sky + box has been out for about 4 & 1/2 years now & there's no way that ntl could ever hope to market anything to even rival it, let alone out perform it.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Neil, you are knocking something without even trying it..

The Sky + box, while nice, is not the be all and end all box. TBH, apart from the lack of a second tuner, my Tivo out performs Sky + by a considerable margin.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

your sky+ ,as in the old SD (Standard-Def), mpeg-2 box?, its interesting that everyone keeps forgetting to mention the ntl:TW high-def TV is using an old and outdated format instead of the far more advanced mpeg-4/AVC format that the current sky HD and several other EU places will or are useing.

---------- Post added at 13:22 ---------- Previous post was at 13:16 ----------

stuart, does a TiVo exist that can do Mpeg-4/AVC Decoding yet?, and can you also Encode the incomeing composit signal to that format at atleast CD/DVD screen sizes?.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

DirecTV HR20-250 is out in the US, that does Mpeg-4 - it is based on the Tivo. http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/679/679224p1.html

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

No, it doesn't handle MPEG 4. However, neither does the standard Sky + box, to which I am comparing it.

Just one other minor correction. If wired correctly, Tivo isn't limited to Composite. It can handle RGB. It also works with MPEG 2 at full DVD resolution.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Grow up

---------- Post added at 15:42 ---------- Previous post was at 15:35 ----------

Sorry no can do was told in confidence. Anyway whats the point when the owner of this site has such a hatred of NTL you only have to say something nice about NTL and out he pops from under the bridge and has a go. I honestly don't see the point in posting here unless its to the owners specification and has at least 3 digs at NTL and 1 full abusive remark.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

thats good, and by 'wired correctly' am i to assume it means the right scart pins having the correct loads to auto switch TiVo into RGB mode (I.E a fully wired scart lead) such as you would do in the samsung options screen to force RGB to your scart connected tv?.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Just look at the specs and also the cost of the Telewest box as its the same box and the price should be the same or similar.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I'll wait for their HD box.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Yep.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Mpeg4 is a higher compression method. Gives reduced size files.

Mpeg2 is just as good and you will not be able to tell the difference, sky have greater bandwidth restrictions than ntl/telewest so need better compression.

@neil - Whilst the basic specs of sky plus sound good it's not the best thing on the planet, for a start is an amstrad box underneath and the lastest software release is murdering our box, takes a second to respond to any button press.

The ntl box will be better spec though not having trialled it I cannot comment on how well it will work.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

:clap:

From what a friend of mine tells me on the TW network, the box is great, he sees no reason to go to Sky, and as you say, the bandwidth on the ntl/Telewest network negates the need for better compression standard.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

AMSTRAD !!!! :disturbd:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

It's so nice to see a proper response instead of

NTL are crap move to Sky
NTL are **** move to Sky
NTL can do nothing right move to Sky



:blah::blah::blah:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Yeh, William Hill won't give me even money on his responses anymore :):):):)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

:LOL:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

well some might not be able to tell the difference, many more will, as many, many people that have taken the time and trouble to to get the current BBC/ITV/etc AVC HD broadcasts and compare the real DVB streams have said so in many places over the net etc.

as always it depends on how one will display it etc, also Mpeg4 means nothing, other than a collection of standards , please everyone, be more clear AVC or ASP , hence my bolding, for instance ASP and AVC are both covered, but as many now know, Mpeg-4/ASP aka divX/Xvid is old and less advanced than the Mpeg-4/AVC aka H.264.

if you need even more convincing AVC is a good thing keep in mind MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 on Hardware - HD-DVD/Blu-ray is a confirmed standard for the future, ASP is not found on all hardware players.

to try and make it clearer to everyone, heres Bond's doom9 thread http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=96059
and table
as you can clearly see, the old ASP has far less options
than the better compression codec AVC so its not just about compression but options such as the lossless mode of Mpeg-4/AVC etc.

i do take your point about bandwidth and how NTL/tw are able to ignore that aspect, and indeed thats a plus as it means they wast more if needs be, theres always the headend downstream points UL and others know a lot about, i just wish NTL would inovate......
https://www.cableforum.co.uk/images/...2008/02/54.png

---------- Post added at 20:49 ---------- Previous post was at 20:16 ----------

thanks for the link, it would appear that new box is infact using the older Mpeg-4/ASP aka DivX codec rather than the newer Mpeg-4/AVC aka H.264 , its easy to spot once you know that the ASP gives on average .5 better compression compared to standard Mpeg2 codec, were as the far better AVC gives around 2.0 to 2.5 better compression compared to mpeg2.

this gives it away
"The HR20 is able to record about 30 hours of MPEG-2 streamed HD content. However, it is able to store more than 50 hours of MPEG-4 HD broadcasts"
it would be far higher hours for the real AVC.

its no wonder people are saying mpeg4 instead of AVC as these marketeers keep refering to it that way, makes you wonder if their trying to confuse the punters to buy/clear the old Mpeg-4/ASP stock.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

:clap:

Well said.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

:blush: Thank you

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

So let me get this straight.....

ntl launch a PVR some 5 years after Sky & I'm meant to be impressed?

When have ntl ever led the product market?

You may think I'm anti ntl, but when they do something market leading & truly technically impressive I'll say so, until that point.....

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I think the 10Mbit broadband I've been getting consistently and constantly since I was upgraded is technically impressive - and I'll say so. I ain't no NTL fan boy, but I'll admit that they're ahead of the game when it comes to their broadband service.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Are Sky doing VOD yet? (and I don't mean being able to record on Sky+, or programmes repeating on another channel 1 hour later).

Leeds just got activated on VOD, and it looks pretty cool.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

popper. your average punter in the street will not care about the compression system used. They probably wouldn't even know about it. They just care that the box works, doesn't cost too much to rent, and can be used to watch and/or record TV.

However, that is all off topic (as is compression). I would like to remind you that the topic is "Is there an NTL PVR?". Not "What compression are NTL planning to use?"

---------- Post added at 09:51 ---------- Previous post was at 09:47 ----------

Neil, I never said you should be impressed. I've said all along that there is NO REASON why NTL should not have had a PVR for years.

However, I did make a point that you should try the box before concluding that it is worse than Sky +.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

That's all good m8, but ntl have never released a DTV product to even rival Sky, let alone out perform them.

As I've said before-ntl are followers not leaders, by the time that this PVR comes out Sky+ will have been out for 5 years, so what are the chances that ntl's box will out perform Sky's? (none IMO)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

The next gen Sky+ box is supposed to have a ethernet port which will allow VOD over broadband.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

So that's a "No", then?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Dunno, lets wait and see if it's impressive......:D

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Based on Hardware specs, it outperforms it quite considerably (even the newer Sky+ 160, and possibly the HD box).

NTL not leading the market? Well, they may not be the first, but they are currently rolling out the largest VOD system in the country, and one that DOESN'T need a PC. Can Sky beat (or even match) that?

My point still stands. Wait for the box to become available before you decide if it's crap or not. I am.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

To bring things back on topic, yes ntl do have a pvr and have had for years. I can think of 2 forum members that will have one on their desk at ntl.

They had a pvr almost ready to go when I was ther 2 years+ back and the project got shelved through lack of funds.

The original planned pvr was of a much higher spec than the current one AFAIK. What ntl are now doing is re planning the pvr launch since they are now intergrated with telewest who already have a launched pvr.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

OK, I'll rephrase my post..

" I've said all along that there is NO REASON why NTL should not have had a PVR available to the public for years."

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Well for a start the NTL box will allow you to record 2 channels and watch a 3rd which the sky box can't do. I haven't tried it of course but I am sure it will out perform the Sky+ box. Just look at the specs of the Telewest TV drive and its cleary better than any of the Sky+ boxes.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Of course it should and probably will be better than the current Sky+ boxes, it would be worrying if NTL's PVR was worse than one released 5 years ago.

It will be interesting how it compares to the next gen Sky+ which is supposed to offer things like wireless streaming of multiple programs to multiple TVs.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

So what does that tell you about ntl's forward thinking?

They scrapped a project to launch a PVR several years after Sky launched Sky +.....

How can you really expect me to take this company seriously?

As I have already said, ntl's PVR box/service will be inferior to Sky's.

It's a Mini Adventure.

The end.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

wow......thats negative! :erm:

Have you considered that it might actually work/be better than sky+ ?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Have you considered that ntl have never released a DTV product that even comes close to Sky/Sky +?

What makes you think that they're going to get it right this time?

Even if they do, there won't be any HDTV content showing on it, so it will still be behind Sky in terms of what you can watch.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

How can you be so negative about something you have never seen or used. I do know for a fact that it is the same the Telewest TVDrive so as long as it works with the NTL software properly it will be vastly superior to the Sky+ service.

There will be some HD content on the VOD and I think the BBC HD channel and some others will launch at sometime in 2007(early I hope)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

How can you be so positive about something that you have never seen or used?

By the time that arrives Sky's HD Premiership Football/rugby/cricket/movies/Nat Geo/Discovery HD/Sky One channels will all have been out for a year-so how exactly is that "vastly superior"?

As usual ntl are last out of the traps-they are followers, not leaders & for this reason ntl will never be superior to Sky DTV product.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

All this bickering about who has and who has not got a PVR, what spec these are and how they perform in the customers home is pointless.

Sky have a PVR.

NTL do not have a PVR except in areas that were run by Telewest.

When NTL eventually get round to marketing a PVR in areas that were not run by Telewest how will it perform? It is one thing having a PVR and another thing having one that works to customers satisfaction. It is hard to believe that NTL will not have performance issues with its PVR when it at last launches.

The launch date for the NTL PVR is some time in the future which gives Sky a lot of time to enhance their PVR service. What have they up their sleeve that may persuade customers to go with them rather than cable. Remember that Sky+ boxes have had a proportion of their hard drives reserved for future use by Sky. There have been several guesses as to what the future use may be but which of them is correct.

NTL have VOD (in some areas) but realistically what is so good about it other than it letting you watch a limited number of programmes that you had forgotten to watch when broadcast live. Is there anything available on NTL VOD that a Sky+ user couldn't have recorded when broadcast?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

And you expect us to take you seriously when

A. you have not seen the box but you say it will be not as good as sky.
B. Don't know what the box is like so you say its not as good as Sky.
C. Anything with NTL in it you slag off and pull apart while you expect us to listen to your BT and Sky are better rants.

For your information i now have VOD which works and works well. Tell me how when and where i can get the SAME service from Sky NOW. And i mean like for like not there crappy sky by broadband.

I honestly cannot take anything you say about NTL with any grain of truth anymore because of your complete and utter hatred of NTL which in my eyes makes you unable to comment about them with any sort of composer or sense other than your NTL are crap Sky\Bt are fantastic and never do anything wrong statements.

Ban me suspend do what you want i am just stating a fact.

---------- Post added at 15:50 ---------- Previous post was at 15:46 ----------

I agree. My Sky+ box is the bee's knee's however to slag NTL before anyone has seen the box is very stupid in my eyes. And having paid for a 160 box WHY can i not use the full potential of the drive. It annoys me that Sky can take some of the drive i paid for ?.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Well it's taken NTL long enough to get a PVR box and VOD is crap (IMO) I want a pvr service rather than vod anyway! (But that's just me)

However i will say it's pretty hard to dis something you have not seen let alone used!

Sky by broadband is crap full stop!

And Sky's pvr box's are crap, I mean come on amstrad???
(Say no more)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Not all are amstrad, there are Pace boxes as well

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

They don't only use Amstrad.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I have a thompson box which is very good

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Pace no longer supply sky with any equiptment, well they were in talks with sky about re-supplying them but I do not know if they have started to do so at present!

You can only get amstrad or thompson boxes at present and most get amstrad! No way am I paying £150 for an amstrad!
(Was told so by sky the other day when I called about getting sky+)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

No idea, its still listed on the Pace website - http://www.pace.co.uk/emea/products/...=DSAT-TDS470N#

If you want Sky+ then buy yourself a Pace box off Ebay and stick your own hard drive in it.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

How do you know I haven't seen it or tried it ??

Ok maybe not superior channels but the boxes will be better. Who cares if NTL don't come up with new services first. Well except VOD. Which IMO is fantastic and now I have not got a pace box it works very well.

All you seem to do is slag and slate NTL and at the moment I can see no reason at all why you are doing so in this thread. The thread was started by someone asking about an NTL PVR and we have been giving the info that was requested.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Thats my point. You mention anything on this site about NTL and there products and out pops Neil bang on cue to slag them off. You can set your clocks by him :)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

True, but the amstrad box is crap.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Nice. So a Mod ends a thread which is in the middle of some good discussion.

:rolleyes:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Indeed.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Personally i will wait and look at the NTL product and compere it with the Sky product before i make sweeping statements about how good it will be.

I personally cannot see into the future "wish i could i would win on the lotto" and therefor cannot make the assumptions that some have about the NTL pvr:rolleyes:.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Blimey, there's quite some bickering going on here, isn't there? But let's see if we can establish some common ground.

NTL should have launched a PVR service years ago. I don't think anyone -- even NTL themselves -- would disagree with this.

But NTL *do* have a PVR available in former Telewest areas, and they want to get it launched in former NTL areas as soon as possible (current estimate being early 2007). The specs for this box are very good, directly comparable to Sky Plus HD (it uses MPEG2 rather than MPEG4, although if done correctly this shouldn't make any difference to the viewer).

Sky have a larger number of HD channels available at this moment. There is no technical reason why these couldn't be shown on TVDrive, but will require carriage agreements to be in place. It's highly unlikely that Sky will offer a reasonable price for Sky Sports HD until they feel they've used it to establish themselves as the number one HD provider. I'll leave you to discuss the merits (and legality) of this.

NTL/Telewest have VOD available, whereas Sky do not. VOD has huge potential, although it is not currently being used as such -- witness the number of people on this forum who think it's just for viewing BBC programmes you've missed over the past week. There is no reason NTL couldn't offer a vast library of HD films for example -- there are already some on Telewest's VOD service -- along with entire series of HD shows (such as Lost and Desperate housewives, which are already on there). This means that cable definitely has the potential to offer more HD content, subject of course to agreements being made with the content owners.

(It's technically possible for Sky to offer VOD via ADSL, but it would require equipment to be installed in every exchange in the country. As such, a link-up with BT is more likely, but it's not for certain that the regulator would allow two such powerful companies to work together.)

Does that about cover it?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Excellent post. :tu:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Here Here!

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

See, the thing is that DarthYoda and others are not blindly being positive about something they've yet to try - they're being open minded. You, on the other hand, are yet again being negative about something - apparently because it's NTL who will be offering the product.

If you had said that, based on NTL's prior performance, you don't have any confidence in this product being any good, then fair enough... maybe then you'd find that people wouldn't be so quick to dismiss your comments. But this isn't what you've said - in this thread or others. You just seem content to slag off anything NTL do simply because it's NTL.

Why exactly do you have a vendetta against NTL? Lots of people, including myself, have been messed around by them in the past, others have even been made redundant by NTL, yet none of us come close to being as spiteful as you constantly do. In fact, it makes me wonder why you devote any time to a forum dedicated to the UK cable market, when you clearly despise the company so much.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

If you'd read my previous posts in this thread, you would know that I have made the point several times that ntl have never launched a DTV product that comes close to Sky/Sky+/Sky HD, so what faith should I have exactly that they are about to do it?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

VOD?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

A few questions...

1) How long since VOD was launched?

2) Is VOD available to every ntl customer (in the same way that all of Sky's products are available for upgrade to Sky customers?

3) What is shown on VOD that can't be watched/recorded by Sky customers?

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Don't know. :D

No, but this is like comparing apples and pears. Sky broadcasts from a single satellite to digiboxes that are all of the same technical specification.

NTL:Telewest broadcasts in dozens of different franchises, over infrastructure of varying quality, adhering to at least three distinct technical specifications.

It could be said that this is NTL's fault for expanding too fast or not investing enough in upgrades, but that's a little spurious - if the Cable industry had not consolidated, there still would be no common standard, and so no universally available PVR.

Under the circumstances, and given NTL:Telewest's still none-too-rosy finances, I think it's a miracle they have a PVR out at all.

Anything that the sky customer has forgotten to watch and forgotten to record, or has not recorded due to a STB crash or power failure. It does happen!

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

the on demand films?

anyway does it matter that ntl dont launch its products first?
that way they get the benefit of skys advertising. everyone knows what sky+ is.
they can learn from skys mistakes,
and save a hell of a lot of money too

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I am pretty sure that the full speed Sky Broadband ISN'T available to every Sky customer.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I'm pretty sure it isn't available to the overwhelming majority of Sky customers - only those on exchanges that are already LLU'd and that Sky have installed their gear in.

For most of us Sky slaves, the best we can hope for is to get conned into putting our names on their marketing lists or signing up for the rather less attractive option of taking their services over a BT line, which is both slower and, needless to say, not free.

These 'free broadband*' ads really are driving a horse and cart through the rules on accurate advertising at the moment. I wish the ASA could do something to force companies like Sky to qualify more clearly exactly how few people can actually get what's being advertised.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Yeah it would have been handy for me at the weekend.

Not enough to make me consider moving back to NTL for though.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

:LOL:

Don't forget Sky is forward thinking and invents everything first. Should NTL follow Sky on this as well :D

On another point i cannot wait for Sky's telephone service, how many will not be able to get that as well. Very forward thinking of Sky :rolleyes:.
:LOL:


Sky should stick to what they do best TV.


Here is a example of a COMING SOON email from SKY after they messed up the first one

Important information about Sky Broadband

We recently sent you an email with news about Sky Broadband. Unfortunately there was a bit of a mix up and you may have received incorrect information about what's available in your area. You will find the correct information in the table below. We would like to apologise for any confusion our earlier email may have caused.

If you have registered for Sky Broadband, you will already have been given the correct information about what is available in your area as part of the registration process.

If you haven't already registered, your area is planned to go live on our Sky Broadband network within the next six months. This means you'll be able to choose from a range of products including our Base product with Free subscription through to our top of the range Unlimited* Max product. In the meantime, you can register for Sky Broadband Connect now, which costs less than the equivalent BT package. We'll then switch you over to Sky Broadband Mid when our network reaches you.

Please see below for confirmation of our products:

[img]Download Failed (1)[/img]

With all Sky Broadband products, you will receive:
- Free wireless Sky Broadband Box (router) worth over £50
- Free 12 months' McAfee Internet Security Suite worth £49.98 **
- Easy self-installation pack or we can come and install it for you

Once again, we are sorry for any confusion caused by our original email. If you haven't already registered for Sky Broadband, and would like to do so, please click here

Thank you.

3 times they have phoned me now to say i can have upto 16 meg and then 3 times they have had to retract it.

My son wants the 16 meg and is willing to have our crappy BT line enabled to get it, But Sky keep messing it up.


Me i am staying on 10 meg broadband at least i can get that now.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Neil, no-one has said you should have faith. But writing it off as crap before it's even been released is a little foolish. I'd hate to think of the all the 'i told you so' posts heading your way to bite you on the ass if it does get released successfully :erm:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I look forward to pulling my trousers down only to not get bitten. :)

I haven't 'written it off as crap' either, what I said was that:

1) ntl are at least 5 years behind Sky in launching their PVR-imagine if their broadband was the same & was 5 years behind? :erm:

2) ntl have never launched a DTV product to even rival (let alone outshine) Sky's offerings.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Yes they have Neil - VOD. Which has been repeatedly stated several times now.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

OK then.

I think you're foolish to write it off as inferior/sub standard etc etc etc.

I have Sky+ at home. It's handy. Not super, or raging technology, or a mindblowing addition to my life, just handy. And even then, it buggers up. Stopped recording for no reason whatsoever half way through a film I wanted to watch. At least with VOD I'd have been able to watch it again.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I don't think I could get on without Sky+ now. Its become one the essential bills I need to pay. Its superb.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Think this is you writing it off

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Is it available to every ntl customer in exactly the same way that Sky + (for example) is available to a Sky customer?

---------- Post added at 13:54 ---------- Previous post was at 13:51 ----------

Why?

I'm not saying it's fault free, so let's not split hairs, but my point is that you have been able to get a PVR from Sky for nearly 5 years now & ntl still are yet to launch one.

Only if

A) You are "lucky" enough to live in a VOD enabled area.

b) The VOD service did not suffer a fault like the Sky + one you described above.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

No Sky are 5 years behind NTL on Broadband, And for once you cannot say Sky where forward thinking on that. Plus If Sky has 5 years of learning from NTL why are they now making a complete hash of it by phoning up customers ,telling them they can have 16 meg broadband and then a couple of days later saying you cannot.


:LOL:


Now you can have it


http://content3.rm04.net/ra/2006/08/...89/Cont_10.jpg http://content3.rm04.net/ra/2006/08/...89/Cont_11.jpg http://content3.rm04.net/ra/2006/08/...89/Cont_12.gif http://content3.rm04.net/ra/2006/08/...89/Cont_13.jpg Free Sky Broadband
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And now you cannot



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We recently sent you an email with news about Sky Broadband. Unfortunately there was a bit of a mix up and you may have received incorrect information about what's available in your area. You will find the correct information in the table below. We would like to apologise for any confusion our earlier email may have caused.

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- Free wireless Sky Broadband Box (router) worth over £50
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Thank you.


* Subject to fair usage policy. ** Mac users will receive 12 months FREE McAfee Virex, worth £29.99. Minimum subscription to your chosen Sky Broadband product is 12 months. You must be a UK active residential Sky TV subscriber throughout your Sky Broadband subscription. Availability and speeds are subject to your location, a compatible line and equipment and survey. Home installation free if you take Max; otherwise £50. Prices subject to change. Eligibility and other terms apply. Information correct at 23 August 2006.

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5 years watching others and they still cannot get it right

Three times they have done this to me. :rolleyes:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I'm in an NTL area and have already got PVR... It's called the VCR!!! ;)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

:LOL:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

while it not clear that that was the intention of his post,it does appear the mods are becoming far to strict by imposing their personal view that the original poster did not want to encurage 'some good discussion'

it appears in this case, the original poster starby, is not complaining about this discussion, so perhaps he's happy about it.

perhaps he/she should edit the OP to include 'and anything you feel related/interesting' to cover the future posts, indeed perhaps everyone should include such text in all their OP posts so the Mods dont feel the need to impose their personal view of how a thread is progressing or in what direction it finally takes?.

keeping in mind the original question was "Do NTL have a PVR equivalent of Sky+ ?" the rest being why the question was put, so the thread would have been very short as the answer is ' NTl do not currently supply a PVR thats the equivalent of Sky+', but the mods allowed it to continue anyway, and i assume some readers weather posting or not have learned something interesting because of that?.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

:confused:

Neil was quoting a humourous series of TV adverts that were screened to support the original launch of the new BMW Mini. Not signalling the thread was about to close.

In fact, re-reading his post, I am at a total loss to understand how you interpreted his post as a signal that he was closing the thread.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

No one has ended the discussion. Neil is entitled to his own opinion, as is everyone on this forum.

We do have rules that state that a thread should remain on topic. Inevitably, it is often a judgement call whether a thread is on or off topic, That is, logically, a personal view.

The mods only get involved (in a moderating capacity) when a thread starts to wander widely from that subject. We, however, can still post without it being a moderating decision.

Now, any discussion of the style of the moderation on this site is clearly off topic in a thread about NTL's PVR, so if you have any further queries, please PM them.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

rofl, yes sir, perhaps he will now edit his OP and make it more clear, im not having a go stuart, infact reading some of your own personal POV posts such as on this related thread http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...ad.php?t=49628
its clear you understand and would rather have the far better speced NTL AVC STB given the choice
http://www.cableforum.co.uk/article/...tas-mpeg-4-pvr

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Nope - but that is irrelevant Neil - This is not what your statement is about below:

They have launched a DTV product to outshine and to a degree, rival Sky's offering's - its called VOD. Every parameter of your statement, is about ntl not having launched anything decent enough to match or rival Sky. Who hasn't got VOD yet is somewhat irrelevant within the confines of your above quoted statement.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

When you look at PVR's being marketed by BSkyB and NTL:Telewest three things spring to mind

1. BSkyB have over 4 years experience of marketing PVR's but still have had several issues during this time with software updates not performing as anticipated.

2. Telewest have only had a PVR on the market for a few months and some issues have been found with their service.

3 NTL have not as yet marketed a PVR in areas which were not under Telewest control.

When NTL eventually get round to supplying PVR's across their whole customer base what issues will there be? The spec of the NTL PVR may be superior to the spec of the Sky+ boxes but that doesn't mean that NTL customers will get a PVR that does everything that it is supposed to do and have no quality of service issues. Remember that NTL STB's have had a red button service available for years but what happened when you pressed that button?

What I am saying is that we will have to wait and see how NTL's PVR performs when they eventually get it on the market in large volumes.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

And another thing with VOD. It is available to everybody who can receive it for free, no matter what package you are on. Is this possible with Sky+???

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

it sounds like theres a few problems there just like the poor chap with his ntl:TW TVDrive Blog here http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...9#post34107709 and many other places.

---------- Post added at 18:49 ---------- Previous post was at 18:43 ----------

wow, cool NTL:tw are rebadging VCR's, whats the spec BETAMAX ? 8) .

(you might ask yourself :is that a trick question 8)

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

It would rival/outshine Sky's if it was available everywhere like Sky is, as it stands not all ntl customers can yet 'upgrade' to VOD, so hence it is an inferior product.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Maybe on your terms Neil - but not mine. Besides - you don't actually measure how good something is, just because you cannot get it in certain areas (yet).

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Also you don't measure something on the grounds you just hate NTL and love sky/bt :rolleyes:

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

I think Neil is measuring quality in terms of availability whereas everyone seems to measure it in useability.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

ntl Telewest launches free Digital TV with home phone services

# 1. September 2006 by Mick
As we reported back in July, ntl Telewest, as from today, is allowing any customer, new or existing, free digital tv with any of their home phone services taken out, starting from £11 per month which includes line rental and unlimited local and national weekend calls.

The Free digital service package will consist of 36 TV Channels, including, Sky One, BBC’s digital line-up, E4 and Film4, music, news and entertainment. On Demand, will also be available.
ntl Telewest say customers can upgrade their TV packages and add premium movie and sports channels and a PVR (Personal Video Recorder) and high definition TV. Note that these are only available to Telewest customers,
but ntl state that they plan to release the PVR and high definition TV services, to their customers by the end of 2006.

Neil Berkett, chief operating officer at ntl Telewest, said:

But don't hold your breath!

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

Thank you Russ. :banghead:

There's no point in having a great service if only a certain amount of your customers can get it.

When ntl can start getting product launches right, I'll start to believe that maybe, just maybe they may be able to offer a decent PVR product/service.

Re: Is there an NTL PVR?
 

So perhaps on the same basis you'd say Sky's bb service isn't up to much, seeing as (I believe) only about 40% can get it?