[Stuart]

Originally Posted by tisdalj

Hello all.

First post here. I've just exchanged contracts on my first house and I'm thinking of signing up to NTL or Sky and I'm looking for some opinions and advice.

to the forum.

With NTL I'm looking at the 3 for £30 option of TV, Phone and 2mb internet. With Sky I'm looking at similar, but you need to have a BT line. Monthly cost for Sky is £31 including BT.

With Sky they promise a wireless router, but many people have been complaining about the router and it's apparent problems with Xbox Live.

The main use for the internet connection will be XBox Live, with occasional web browsing from a PC. The TV will get used all the time, but the phoneline very little.

So here are a few questions:

What equipement will I get with NTL? Is the modem wireless? And if not can I buy a wireless one (Sky restrict you to their own modem)?

You do have to use whatever modem NTL supply, and they don't currently supply a wireless one. However, you can buy (relatively cheaply) a wireless router or access point. You just need to make sure it is Cable compatible (generally, if it doesn't come with an ADSL modem built in, it is compatible). Many people on this site (myself included) use one of the Linksys WRT54G series routers..

Is the NTL Modem compatible with XBox Live? What is connection speed like? Any lag?

That seems to be a little variable. I've always had fine connections on XBox lLive, but a few people don't.

Do I get a phone with the phone line?

TBH, I don't know. You didn't when I joined, but then it was Cable and Wireless when I joined. Things may have changed.

NTL Is available in my area, but how do I determine where the cable comes into my house?

Usually, there is a little grey or brown box a couple of feet up from the ground.

Does the Set-Top-Box need to be plugged into a phone line?

No. Anything it needs to send back to NTL, it just sends back up the cable.

I plan to put my TV in a place where there is currently no TV aerial or phone sockets. Will the installer run cables to the correct position for me?

They should do.

What are peoples general feelings about NTL and their service?

Hard to say really. I personally have found NTL to be generally reliable, but sometimes a little reluctant to fix things if they go wrong.

Sorry for the long post. I Look forward to your replies.

No Problem.