Choice of new set-top box?

graham.ward · 21-07-2004, 14:56

My old Pace 4001 seems to have started playing up within the past week. It crashes, often with "Er20" on display. I have had it about 3 years. It has always run very hot, even in standby, despite the fact that it is on its own shelf so that there is nothing hot underneath it and an air gap above.

If I contact NTL Customer Services to request an engineer visit, I would really like it sorted out in one go (even if it means paying call-out charge). So does anyone know if I can actually request a new set-top box? In other words, is there any way to avoid "nothing wrong with it" syndrome?

And does anyone know what the current NTL set-top box is? Is there more than one? Any recommendations? Do any of them have audio out on phonos? Or (even better) digital audio out? And one that understands the widescreen flags on Film Four? My Pace one often goes into letterboxed 4:3 mode instead of 16:9 mode, even though the programme is definitely not 4:3.

seaneeboy · 21-07-2004, 16:01

Hey graham, welcome to the site!

You'll probably get whatever is in the engineers van, but there are several versions about.

1000 - pretty darned good, the bogstandard, phono out box.
2000 - updated on the 1000, more reliable, phono outs as well, I've got one and the intreractive can be ropey, but it's a very stable box.
4000 - you got one of them! No phono out, generally.
Samsung - Oooh, shiney! it's silver, it;s got all you want, but in short supply.

The engineer who did my installation was good enough to swap what he was going to use for a 2000 so I could have phono out... they'll have two or three in there so it depends on what's available!

None of them are particularly bad though.

Good luck, let us know how you get on.

paulyoung666 · 21-07-2004, 16:04

i reckon seaneeboy nailed it , you will get what you are given , unless it is a nice installer who will give you a chioce of what he has got on the van , btw , tea and choccie bikkies always helps

hope you enjoy your stay here , just watch out for the odd lurking shark

spiderplant · 21-07-2004, 16:59

Graham has a 4001, so is a Langley customer. The replacement will either be some sort of 4001 or a 4010.

Most replacement boxes don't have phonos, and none of them have digital audio out.

The widescreen thing is probably a software problem, so a replacement will also do it. Going into & out of the guide is said to correct it. (Haven't seen it myself)

paulyoung666 · 21-07-2004, 17:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Graham has a 4001, so is a Langley customer. The replacement will either be some sort of 4001 or a 4010.

Most replacement boxes don't have phonos, and none of them have digital audio out.

The widescreen thing is probably a software problem, so a replacement will also do it. Going into & out of the guide is said to correct it. (Haven't seen it myself)

so to get phono out he would need a scart cable with phono breakouts built in

altis · 21-07-2004, 17:36

I can forsee one possible problem. Graham do you ever record one channel while simultaneously watching another? Do you have (and use) an external terrestrial aerial?

If the answers are yes and no then make sure you get an identical box or get the installer to fit a bypass otherwise you will lose this facility.

graham.ward · 21-07-2004, 17:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by altis

Graham do you ever record one channel while simultaneously watching another? Do you have (and use) an external terrestrial aerial?

"No" on both counts, thanks. By the way, I should have said what area I'm in: it's Woking in Surrey.

graham.ward · 22-07-2004, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by seaneeboy

None of them are particularly bad though.

Thanks for your reply. Do all NTL set-top boxes run at blistering temperatures all the time (even in standby)?

Derek · 22-07-2004, 19:11

They do tend to run a bit hot (the pace ones anyway) but shouldn't be that bad. Normally as long as they have a bit of space round them they should be fine.

If you feel it is too hot or a fire risk I'd call faults to double check.

Hom3r · 22-07-2004, 20:10

My STBs (PACE 4001) also run hot, so I make sure there is plenty of room around it.

I am also thinking of turning it off when i go on holiday, Is this wise?

andrew_wallasey · 23-07-2004, 09:46

I got 2x 4000s and a Samsung. The Samsung is by far the best. I have also have a 1000 and 2000 box.

seaneeboy · 23-07-2004, 09:53

Yea, they do tend to run quite hot - as long as you follow the usual rules of ventalation you'll be fine.

David - you might as well turn it off while you're on holiday - you won't lose anything, and it'll save you a few pennies on the old leccy

graham.ward · 28-07-2004, 13:48

What video output options do the various boxes have?

My Pace 4001 has 2 SCARTs. One ("to TV") can output either composite or RGB, and the other ("to VCR") I'm not sure about (but probably composite only if it's intended for VHS). There are no non-SCART video outputs (apart from RF "aerial through" socket).

It also has analogue audio output (stereo) on a pair of phono sockets.