[jem]

This post does span queries about broadband and tv installations so firstly my appologies if it's in the wrong section. I've been with ntl for about eight years (I think it may have been C&W when I joined) and I have to say I've never experienced any of the problems with their service that others have maybe I was just lucky. Anyway I've arranged to have a V+ box installed in mid-march and at the moment I have the 4meg broadband through a Samsung STB (ex- Bromley area). Realising that the V+ box can't supply the BB connection I also arranged for an engineer to fit a cable modem, ideally earlier so if not without connection but as it turns out they are coming on the same day.

So I have two queries;
1) My broadband is connected to a cable router which has one PC attached to it along with a wireless access point. The router is doing NAT and DHCP for my home network. Will it literally be a case of swopping the cat5 cable from the STB to the SACM and bouncing both the modem and router? And if not what will I need to be looking out for? Also do I need to arrange for my old email address to be migrated to the new account. I guess (from reading other posts) that getting a SACM involves getting a new account and hence email setup etc. If so will I get the new details before the modem is installed or at the same time.

2) I have a Samsung HD ready TV (and very nice it is too). It has only one HDMI socket which currently is occupied by an up-scalling DVD player. So I intend to connect the V+ box to my TV via component. Now I've checked the specs for the old Telewest TV-Drive and it does support HD output over component although some 'protected content may not be seen'. Fair enough component doesn't support HDCP, what I'd like to know is is there currently any protected content on VoD? If so I'll need to think again and in the future I'll see about getting an HDMI switcher.

Many thanks in advance.

John