ntl cable tv vs Sky Plus

[Theodoric]

We were staying with friends last week and they were singing the praises of Sky Plus. After a quick check of the Sky site I can see what they mean; 40 hours of recorded programmes, pause and then restart, record while watching etc. So, before I start seriously looking into ditching ntl TV and moving to Sky Plus, can anyone tell me if it is possible to get a similar performance on ntl and, if so, how?

[Stuart]

The nearest you can get with NTL is to use a service like Tivo with it. Tivo is an external hard drive based video recorder that has what (IMO) is probably the best programme guide in the business.

I compared Tivo and Sky + at http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/sh...4&postcount=40.

Tivo has two disadvantages now though. One is that since Tivo stopped marketing it in this country, it's almost impossible to buy one. The other one is that NTL's recent software update prevents Tivo working reliably (on Samsung boxes anyway, don't know about Paces).

NTL are launching their own SKY + style service at some point in 2006 though.

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

<Snip>
NTL are launching their own SKY + style service at some point in 2006 though.

Thanks. Very interesting. Is there anywhere on the ntl site where they're providing any public information on this?

[Stuart]

Sadly, NTL don't seem to be saying an awful lot about it at the moment. All I have heard is rumours.

[Salu]

What makes you think 2006? I had heard rumours of a much closed time although no dates. Considering Telewest seem to be gearing up to launch one.....

http://www.internet-guide.co.uk/news/Telewest-PVR.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4194357.stm

[Chris_1013]

TiVo is brilliant, I bought mine refurbed from Dixons a couple of years back now I think (post TiVo stopping selling them in the UK), and it's always worked a dream. Until... the new software upgrade buggered it all up. I'm thinking of switching to Sky+ now. The Sky+ box does have more features (record two programs at one time being a biggie, since it has seperate tuners, something you won't get with any NTL solution), and also, since it's still being actively marketed they may develop the software further to add more goodies (this record two channels at once option was added in a software upgrade (last year I think)).

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by Salu

What makes you think 2006? I had heard rumours of a much closed time although no dates. Considering Telewest seem to be gearing up to launch one.....

http://www.internet-guide.co.uk/news/Telewest-PVR.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4194357.stm

I did say I heard a rumour. The rumour I heard did say Late 2005/Early 2006.

IIRC one of the financial presentations given by Simon Duffy actually said Autumn 2005, but NTL do seem to be late with these things..

[Theodoric]

Would I be correct in saying that without breaking into the box and doing some (illegal?) tinkering, there is no way of transferring recorded material from a Sky Plus box to a DVD disk for permanent storage?

[Stuart]

The only way I know of is to hook a DVD recorder up to the Sky + box in the same way you would a Video recorder.

This will not give you a nice digital transfer though. You can get combined DVD recorders and HDD recorders. I believe that Liteon, Pioneer and Sony do these. They are limited to a 7 day guide though.

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

The only way I know of is to hook a DVD recorder up to the Sky + box in the same way you would a Video recorder.

This will not give you a nice digital transfer though. You can get combined DVD recorders and HDD recorders. I believe that Liteon, Pioneer and Sony do these. They are limited to a 7 day guide though.

Life is getting complicated, methinks. What exactly do you mean by a 7 day guide? Is this the numbers that you see in the weekly TV guides and use for video recorders.

[Stuart]

What I mean by "7 day guide" is how far ahead you can pick programmes. NTL use a 3 day guide (you can pick programmes three days in advance). Tivo uses a 30 day guide (you can pick programme up to a month, or a month and half ahead).

Not sure how long the guide on Sky + is.

When I say "Guide", I am referring to the Electronic Programme Guide.

[Theodoric]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

What I mean by "7 day guide" is how far ahead you can pick programmes. NTL use a 3 day guide (you can pick programmes three days in advance). Tivo uses a 30 day guide (you can pick programme up to a month, or a month and half ahead).

Not sure how long the guide on Sky + is.

When I say "Guide", I am referring to the Electronic Programme Guide.

Thanks for all the info. I think I will go away and mull this over.

[Cerberus]

Just 2 things here:

1. You can record 2 channels at once using SKY+ but you must be watching 1 of the channels you're recording otherwise it asks you to cancel a recording. IE: Lets say I wanted to record Corry + The Match but want to watch Most Haunted. Wont let you do it unless you cancel the recording of either Corry or The Match before switching to Livingtv to watch Most Haunted.

2. SKY+ will let you record a whole series with the series link option in the SKY+ options.

There are pros and cons to SKY+ alas more cons than pros. However I have been happy with their service as I only watch it for the football mainly and Trailer Park Boys on Paramount. Oh & Most Haunted Live.

When I decided to ditch the NTL television service the customer service guy who dealt with the formalities asked what swayed me into ditching their tv service, when I mentioned the 3 months half price tv offer and the offer of the sky plus box for £89 he seemed to understand why.

I have yet to see any cons more than pros with the sky plus over what I had with NTL, when the drive of the sky plus gets a bit congested I can migrate the recordings to my panasonic dvd recorder, from which I can if I want transfer to dvd disc.
An offer that I did not take up with sky, which someone else may find useful is the multi room system, where there is a complete seperate feed to another room, and the person or people in that other room have their own choice of programes to watch.

I just think in all respect NTL are having to play catch up in the digital television game, and so would recommend the sky plus system.

Recently gave up with Sky and sky+ The amount of rubbish served up day in day out, the endless repeats, then the failed recordings, the sky+ box switching itself off for no reason. Whenever it rains heavily there is a loss of transmission.
Got rid of the Sky+ box and gone over to Freeview. The freeview boxes are now starting to appear with the capabilities of a sky+ box if you really need that sort of thing.