New STB fixes UI ?

algae105 · 12-10-2004, 16:12

Hi,

I've had the same Pace STB for the last 3 years and all was well until NTL "upgraded" the STB software in about May. (I'm not sure which software version I've now got but it looks pretty close to Langley CR3). If it's any use, I'm in the Guildford area.

The new version is pretty awful - slow, buggy as hell etc. Now, my question is this : I'm about to move to another house in the same cable area. If I get another contract with NTL, will I get a newer (i.e. more powerful) STB and if so, will this make the STB software usable ?

Are the problems with the software down to my current box just not being up to it or are they just bugs in the software. If it's the latter case, is NTL planning to roll out a fixed version of the software or am I just supposed to live with it ?

I know you're going to ask me what the bugs are so here's a brief selection :

slow to scroll through mini guide programs
mini guide randomly closes while scrolling
mini guide jumps 2 programmes when scrolling down a channel
STB seems to ignore remote control input or is very slow to respond

Cheers,
Andrew

**Paul** · 13-10-2004, 12:53

There will be newer versions of the software eventually. They are beta testing later versions already for the Bromley platform, and langley tests start next week.

algae105 · 13-10-2004, 13:04

Well, that's good to know - I don't suppose you know what sort of timescale they're talking about ?

I've read posts (admittedly a while ago) that speculated the UI was so slow because the older STBs just weren't up to the job. Is that the case ? Are STBs issued these days any different from the ones being issued 3 years ago ?

Staying with NTL when I move would make life so much easier but if I've got to put up with it for another 6 months, sod it. I'd rather pay a bit more to Sky and get a box that actually does the job.

13-10-2004, 13:28

I have a Samsung box now and i can honestly say i have not noticed any improvement in the speed of the UI.

What makes you think its the UI thats slow and not the response to requests for information that the STB is making?

algae105 · 13-10-2004, 14:07

Because I would have thought that the mini-guide (now & next or whatever it's now called) *should* respond almost instantaneously when you browse from one channel to the next. Assuming the box does at least some caching, I can't believe it requests new program information every time I browse to the next channel.

It's even slow to respond when I just enter a new channel number using the remote. It takes about 8 seconds to enter a 3 digit code (I have to wait for at least 2 seconds between entering each digit before it updates the display and is ready to accept the next one). That sounds to me like a CPU that just can't cope.

SMHarman · 13-10-2004, 14:22

I'd agree, its also when it says press guide for information or no program info availible it is not cached on the STB, you see this when you reboot it and it is collating it off the network.

andrew_wallasey · 13-10-2004, 22:13

I think the Samsung boxes are much quicker they are dual processor.

algae105 · 14-10-2004, 07:29

So are new customers given Samsung boxes now ? Or does it depend on region or something like that ?

Cheers

SMHarman · 14-10-2004, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by algae105

So are new customers given Samsung boxes now ? Or does it depend on region or something like that ?

Cheers

Samsung boxes only exist on the Bromley head end network.
Langley is all Pace and uses SACM for all Broadband.