Switch from sky?

[mr_baz]

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been covered already, however, I am considering switching from Sky to NTL as it will save a bit of cash (just received one of their promo flyers). But I have a couple of questions that maybe you lovely people can help with!

1) Is going from Sky to NTL considered a backward step (I have a nice quick digibox and am quite happy with the service - I have never seen an NTL box before)?

2) Does NTL support the remote eye type service that Sky does (not multi room as such, but watching the same channel in both rooms and being able to change channels in both rooms)?

3) Anything else I should watch out for?

Thanks in advance all!

Baz

[SMHarman]

1.
You may well find that NTLs EPG is slower in use than the Sky one and has missing data at times, it also only goes 3 days forward, not 7. However while it is in use, you still see a mini screen of what you are watching, so overall a drawer IMHO.
Channel changing is about the same.
You will lose a few channels Living 2, some of the Sky Sports

Interactive is not as good, this is where many see it as a backward step, but personally I see the loss of teletext on the digital platforms a backward step (where's my flight arrivals page).

2.
Remote Eye. Well NTLs boxes put out the signal on a coax as well as scart, so you can distribute that coax signal and most boxes use standard IR so this should work. Supported? Well NTL won't come install and support this if thats what you mean. Like sky they would prefer you got a second STB.

3.
I assume you are going for DTV, Telco and BB? Telco select services (CLID, Voicemail etc) vary across the country so make sure you will be getting any / all the services you currently use.
Also if you have a discount dial 18nnn plan this may not work on NTL.

NTL and TW BB (if correctly configured, installed and maintained) outshines ADSL anyday, TW are now offering 4MB across their network, NTL intend to be offering 3MB next year. NTL also have plans for video on demand and a Sky+ type box during 2005 and are activly working on upgrading the software and UI on the platform. Many think the NTL phone lines have greater clarity that their BT line and, though not many suffer from it, you will get no weather degredation in your tv picture. The NTL digibox is owned by NTL, so if it goes wrong they fix it, forever.

(waits for Neil to come along)

[scrotnig]

Regards Sky Sports, you actually won't lose any of the actual channels, only the interactive stuff.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by SMHarman

snip<
you will get no weather degredation in your tv picture.
>snip

That is one of the main reasons that I dropped NTL DTV and went all Sky, having both services side by side for a couple of years. In hot weather my NTL picture used to pixallate, judder and freeze despite several engineer visits and box swaps. This was really bad on low bandwidth channels. The STB was well ventilated so that was not the cause. A couple of the engineers said that this was a common problem during the summer months.

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by ianathuth

That is one of the main reasons that I dropped NTL DTV and went all Sky, having both services side by side for a couple of years. In hot weather my NTL picture used to pixallate, judder and freeze despite several engineer visits and box swaps. This was really bad on low bandwidth channels. The STB was well ventilated so that was not the cause. A couple of the engineers said that this was a common problem during the summer months.

Aaah yes, the green cabinets getting to hot, rather than sleet / snow blocking the signal to the sat.
Thats a wash then +/-ve for both suppliers, though probably more of a problem for NTL as you said, all that extra equipment being crammed into cabs for more services.

[ikthius]

mr_baz,

in sky sports you lose the interactive 8 games and only have the main game on that channel with NTL, this goes for any other interactive channel.

The NTL digibox as said earlier only has 3 days of listings, if it shows you that far.....very slow, do you need 7 days?

It has a now and next feature which is ok, you can watch one channel (a bit small in my opinion) and search other channels which is on now and next through your range.

You can arrange channels in order of preference, but this take you ages not just the box.

You will probably have to reboot the system every couple of days to get all information on your STB, not unless you buy a plug timer that will cut the electricity to the STB and then restart it about 10-20 secs later.

I have not found any weather derteriation on my NTL, but some people might.

you don't have to have a seperate ariel for 1-5 as it comes with NTL (1-5 and on your *101-105 (so in a sense you get them twice))

Broadband is good, I have had better service on BB than on tv, but that is just my case, lots of people will be differenet, like many other people have different opinions about sky.

NTL is a wee bit cheaper, but it is not at the forefront of the technology stakes, so we are a bit behind the times, hence no interactive sky sports (many see this as a sky monopolising issue, while other say it is NTL not paying for it) no VOD or PVR, but they will be coming.

I have had no probs with the phone either,

although some of my points here may suggest I would take sky, I probably would not, but if NTL got their finger out and gave us a system to rival/compete (not be an underdog to them) sky I would be a much happier man.

ik

[scrotnig]

Originally Posted by ikthius

mr_baz,

in sky sports you lose the interactive 8 games and only have the main game on that channel with NTL, this goes for any other interactive channel.

That last bit is not quite true.

During Euro 2004, matches shown on the BBC had a choice of other matches available (where other matches were on at the same time), and also various commentary options, goal views and highlights. In other words, full interactive.

There's also been full interactive for Wimbledon.

[quadplay]

One advantage of the mini-guide (ntl's equivalent of the Search & Scan banner) is that you can get programme information for anything showing over the next 6 hours on any channel - not just the current programme as is the case with Sky.

[mr_baz]

Thanks ever so for the replies... Got some good tips and more to think about.

I only want the family pack so am not worried about Sky Sports or indeed the Movie channels to that end.

I rarely look 7 days ahead, so thats no problem.

It seems the main points for me are:

1. Reliability of the boxes - do they really need rebooting every couple of days, thats shocking!

2. Remote control and viewing from another room without another STB. Is there a good kit that can be used? Dont suppose the Sky kit works!!!!?

Thanks again

Baz

[mr_baz]

Oh and forgot to mention I am already phone subscriber and 750 BB user - happy with both products. Just dont want to ditch sky and jump into a 12 month DTV contract and regret it to save a tenner a month!

[Neil]

Originally Posted by mr_baz

Oh and forgot to mention I am already phone subscriber and 750 BB user - happy with both products. Just dont want to ditch sky and jump into a 12 month DTV contract and regret it to save a tenner a month!

The other thing to remember is that ntl bundle a phone line with all their DTV packages, so you may well have to cancel your existing line if you don't want 2 phone lines (there is no discount/option of not taking it)

http://www.home.ntl.com/icat/television

Originally Posted by ntl

*Price excludes your telephone line rental which must be purchased with your TV package.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by mr_baz

Oh and forgot to mention I am already phone subscriber and 750 BB user - happy with both products. Just dont want to ditch sky and jump into a 12 month DTV contract and regret it to save a tenner a month!

I can't see how you can save £10 a month by moving from Sky to NTL for DTV. TV package prices are roughly the same on both platforms.

[ikthius]

Originally Posted by Mark B

That last bit is not quite true.

During Euro 2004, matches shown on the BBC had a choice of other matches available (where other matches were on at the same time), and also various commentary options, goal views and highlights. In other words, full interactive.

There's also been full interactive for Wimbledon.

I forgot about this, and BBC gave good interactive for oplymics, my mistake, but generally other channels have interactive on sky that ntl do not have.

ik

[mr_baz]

I got a flyer through as an existing telephone subscriber if I pay £9 a month I get free evening and weekend landline calls (with the 60 min redial catch!) and the basic £10 DTV package. Plus the extra £10 for the family pack I will be getting the same service for the same price but will be saving on the calls... Saving £10 to £15 a month on the phone bill...

Hope that makes sense!

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by ianathuth

I can't see how you can save £10 a month by moving from Sky to NTL for DTV. TV package prices are roughly the same on both platforms.

promo offer

personally i would stick with sky having sampled both side by side for a while