New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

Hello, for the last week i've been trying to get one of those new samsung stb's as the current pace boxes are rubbish. Im also getting the broadband speed from 750k to 2mb :), so the stb swap should be free right?

The problem is NTL staff no nothing about it, well here in Belfast. I phoned CS, and the lady said the form was currently down so i phone a while later and another advisor says they know nothing about it.

Anyway, my pace box was acting up again so i called in an engineer, and asked him while he was there, and he has heard nothing either.

Does anybody know the situation for Belfast? are we getting them in any time soon?

AArgh!, damn pace box froze again! at least the net is working :)

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

I had similar problems with 6 different pace boxes then the last time i had an engineer out he swapped it for a samsung stb.
Now ive heard and seen all this talk about them being better but i gota say i aint convinced, my tv stutters on a regular basis, it freezes, basicaly all the problems of the pace are present in the samsung too.
samsung stb i have now is a smt-2100c
on a plus it does look nicer under my telly than the pace did. :p:

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

Belfast customers have the connection via a Cable Modem not STB so you won't be getting upgraded to a Samsung for the broadband. If you are having difficulties and need a new box it will be a case of whatever box the engineer has in his van is the one you get.

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

I'm a NTL engineer here in Belfast and I'm sorry to tell you that you have NO HOPE WHATSOEVER of getting a Samsung STB!!!!
We have not had any Samsung STB's for around 5 months & we are not likely too in the near future!!All of the Samsung boxes are going to the Bromley network as their Pace boxes,from what i understand,cant cope with the High speeds on the Broard Band (They run their P.C'S off the cable boxes)
Even those who already have a Samsung STB will not get a Samsung box if it has to be replaced or they order another one.
Sorry,But thats the gogs honest truth about it.
Spike

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

Ah, thanks for the reply. At least now i know why no-one knows anything about it.

Well, turns out im getting a bigger line put in my garden to cope with the internet and tv, cause appaerently the tv is getting low power and thats why its not working properly.

I would have liked a nice new samsung with its dashing good looks, but i guess ill have to wait.

Thanks, Slickire

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

Which means it's not the STB at fault. If you have a signal level problem then your picture will freeze not matter what STB you have.

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

You dont have a problem with your set top box, that was ruled out when you got the new box. Dident you consider calling ntl to report a problem with the picture jerking after you got the new box? You clearly have low signal levels / some other more complecated problem and you should consider getting it fixed!
-Chris

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

Maybe i should get you to phone ntl or even be here when the engineers says the levels are perfect, lol :D tis not my place to argue with him.
As for not having a problem with the box as its a samsung, ive read posts in this forum about problems with the samsung, as well as on 3rd party reviews.
As it stands rite now ive 2 boxs, a pace upstairs it works perfectly and has done since it was installed, down stairs is the samsung which stutters, screen ratios dont work, it freezes. if it was signal problem wouldnt both be affected including my bb? :confused:

Anyways, Ntl says its fine im not in a position to argue with them, but you feel free too ;)

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

ok ok, yes calling ntl is a chore, we get the whole family to draw straws whenever the pace goes tits up, which is surprisingly often, even in ntl terms here.
The sammys are perfect in every way, problems with the samsungs on these boards are useally the fault of signal levels / noise / abnormalitites / the odd faulty box, but when everything is fine, people keep quiet, and when it goes wrong they make a whole load of fuss.
well, kinda, broadband and set top boxs are different systems altogether though for a start. There are other things that can affect the performance of the box's, the cable lenghts will be different between the two box's (meaning different signal levels), the set top boxs need alot of ventalation, i have found that just putting a vcr on top of a set top box can destroy the signal, and putting my xbox on top causes it to get slightly warm which throws the decoding completly off and the picture turns into a pixillation nightmare, it is also possible to have a "dud box", eg, tuner fried, etc. And if you are trying to suggest that a pace box is better than a samsung then you seriously have problems:)
-Chris

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

As a tech,i can honestly say that Samsung are MILES better than Pace!Having to go thru 2 or 3 to get one to work on a fault,swap out or install does leave the punter with a negative feeling....and a p***** off tech !!!!!!!!!!!
Spike

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

At no point did i say either was better or worse than the other. I simply pointed out that the samsungs arent problem free as the original poster was saying he wanted one to replace his anoying pace stb. But to clarify the point for those who read to much into it, i personally find the few problems that have come about since the installation of the samsung box less anoying than the ones experienced with the pace. This does not mean its better or worse.

As for what may or may not be wrong with my set up, ntl have been at my home no less than 23 times in 5 yrs and in the words of the engineer "signal levels are perfect".
As ive said im in no place to argue with them as i am not quailfied to do so other than what i have experienced with my own setup.
so i have to ask myself, who do i listen too NTLs own engineers or you lot, lol not much choice there. If Ntl employies using this forum wish to say its engineers are wrong an come an sort it then great, when can i expect ya?

now maybe you would focus on the orginal posters questions instead of reading too much into a passing comment.

lol ;)

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

Sure. No Belfast customours have ntl broadband via set top box, only by cable modem. All the cable modems that were ever used in belfast support all the current broadband teirs of use, thus no updates are required. Also samsungs on langley are still rare, they are very much bromley teritory and have only ventured into langley in the big "problem areas" (aka, manchester:rolleyes:).

The origional poster wont get a sammy because he dosent need it and thus wont experience the wonderfull joy of "working interactive". Just not gonna happen im afraid.
-Chris

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

Thought Manchester was Bromley? (rolls eyes back:) )

Re: New Samsung STB in Belfast
 

I've recently had my STB changed from a Pace to a Samsung and I must say that so far there has been a marked improvement. The EPG is nearly always up to date, accessing programme guide and other menus is fast and reliable (a liberating experience after using a Pace box for so many years), and interactive actually works. I have only had to reboot the box once in about a month due to everything freezing up whereas with the Pace rebooting was a daily occurence. The only slight issue I have found thus far is that lip synching can occasionally be out but other than that full marks for the Samsung :tu: .