Is there an NTL PVR?

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by popper

stuart, does a TiVo exist that can do Mpeg-4/AVC Decoding yet?, and can you also Encode the incomeing composit signal to that format at atleast CD/DVD screen sizes?.

No, it doesn't handle MPEG 4. However, neither does the standard Sky + box, to which I am comparing it.

Just one other minor correction. If wired correctly, Tivo isn't limited to Composite. It can handle RGB. It also works with MPEG 2 at full DVD resolution.

Originally Posted by Neil

That's the funniest thing I've heard ever!

An ntl DTV box that outperforms a Sky + box....

Sky have pretty got the PVR market sewn up, the Sky + box has been out for about 4 & 1/2 years now & there's no way that ntl could ever hope to market anything to even rival it, let alone out perform it.

Grow up

---------- Post added at 15:42 ---------- Previous post was at 15:35 ----------

Originally Posted by gazzae

Any clues to what it will offer?

How does it compare to the next gen Sky+ box?

Sorry no can do was told in confidence. Anyway whats the point when the owner of this site has such a hatred of NTL you only have to say something nice about NTL and out he pops from under the bridge and has a go. I honestly don't see the point in posting here unless its to the owners specification and has at least 3 digs at NTL and 1 full abusive remark.

[popper]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

No, it doesn't handle MPEG 4. However, neither does the standard Sky + box, to which I am comparing it.

Just one other minor correction. If wired correctly, Tivo isn't limited to Composite. It can handle RGB. It also works with MPEG 2 at full DVD resolution.

thats good, and by 'wired correctly' am i to assume it means the right scart pins having the correct loads to auto switch TiVo into RGB mode (I.E a fully wired scart lead) such as you would do in the samsung options screen to force RGB to your scart connected tv?.

[Stephen]

Just look at the specs and also the cost of the Telewest box as its the same box and the price should be the same or similar.

[Hom3r]

I'll wait for their HD box.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by popper

thats good, and by 'wired correctly' am i to assume it means the right scart pins having the correct loads to auto switch TiVo into RGB mode (I.E a fully wired scart lead) such as you would do in the samsung options screen to force RGB to your scart connected tv?.

Yep.

[handyman]

Originally Posted by popper

your sky+ ,as in the old SD (Standard-Def), mpeg-2 box?, its interesting that everyone keeps forgetting to mention the ntl:TW high-def TV is using an old and outdated format instead of the far more advanced mpeg-4/AVC format that the current sky HD and several other EU places will or are useing.

Mpeg4 is a higher compression method. Gives reduced size files.

Mpeg2 is just as good and you will not be able to tell the difference, sky have greater bandwidth restrictions than ntl/telewest so need better compression.

@neil - Whilst the basic specs of sky plus sound good it's not the best thing on the planet, for a start is an amstrad box underneath and the lastest software release is murdering our box, takes a second to respond to any button press.

The ntl box will be better spec though not having trialled it I cannot comment on how well it will work.

[Toto]

Originally Posted by handyman

Mpeg4 is a higher compression method. Gives reduced size files.

Mpeg2 is just as good and you will not be able to tell the difference, sky have greater bandwidth restrictions than ntl/telewest so need better compression.

@neil - Whilst the basic specs of sky plus sound good it's not the best thing on the planet, for a start is an amstrad box underneath and the lastest software release is murdering our box, takes a second to respond to any button press.

The ntl box will be better spec though not having trialled it I cannot comment on how well it will work.

From what a friend of mine tells me on the TW network, the box is great, he sees no reason to go to Sky, and as you say, the bandwidth on the ntl/Telewest network negates the need for better compression standard.

[Sunglasses Ron]

Originally Posted by handyman

Mpeg4 is a higher compression method. Gives reduced size files.

Mpeg2 is just as good and you will not be able to tell the difference, sky have greater bandwidth restrictions than ntl/telewest so need better compression.

@neil - Whilst the basic specs of sky plus sound good it's not the best thing on the planet, for a start is an amstrad box underneath and the lastest software release is murdering our box, takes a second to respond to any button press.

The ntl box will be better spec though not having trialled it I cannot comment on how well it will work.

AMSTRAD !!!!

Originally Posted by handyman

Mpeg4 is a higher compression method. Gives reduced size files.

Mpeg2 is just as good and you will not be able to tell the difference, sky have greater bandwidth restrictions than ntl/telewest so need better compression.

@neil - Whilst the basic specs of sky plus sound good it's not the best thing on the planet, for a start is an amstrad box underneath and the lastest software release is murdering our box, takes a second to respond to any button press.

The ntl box will be better spec though not having trialled it I cannot comment on how well it will work.

It's so nice to see a proper response instead of

NTL are crap move to Sky
NTL are **** move to Sky
NTL can do nothing right move to Sky

[Toto]

Originally Posted by unlimited

It's so nice to see a proper response instead of

NTL are crap move to Sky
NTL are **** move to Sky
NTL can do nothing right move to Sky

Yeh, William Hill won't give me even money on his responses anymore

Originally Posted by Toto

Yeh, William Hill won't give me even money on his responses anymore

[popper]

Originally Posted by handyman

Mpeg4 is a higher compression method. Gives reduced size files.

Mpeg2 is just as good and you will not be able to tell the difference, sky have greater bandwidth restrictions than ntl/telewest so need better compression.

@neil - Whilst the basic specs of sky plus sound good it's not the best thing on the planet, for a start is an amstrad box underneath and the lastest software release is murdering our box, takes a second to respond to any button press.

The ntl box will be better spec though not having trialled it I cannot comment on how well it will work.

well some might not be able to tell the difference, many more will, as many, many people that have taken the time and trouble to to get the current BBC/ITV/etc AVC HD broadcasts and compare the real DVB streams have said so in many places over the net etc.

as always it depends on how one will display it etc, also Mpeg4 means nothing, other than a collection of standards , please everyone, be more clear AVC or ASP , hence my bolding, for instance ASP and AVC are both covered, but as many now know, Mpeg-4/ASP aka divX/Xvid is old and less advanced than the Mpeg-4/AVC aka H.264.

if you need even more convincing AVC is a good thing keep in mind MPEG-4 AVC/H.264 on Hardware - HD-DVD/Blu-ray is a confirmed standard for the future, ASP is not found on all hardware players.

to try and make it clearer to everyone, heres Bond's doom9 thread http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=96059
and table
as you can clearly see, the old ASP has far less options
than the better compression codec AVC so its not just about compression but options such as the lossless mode of Mpeg-4/AVC etc.

i do take your point about bandwidth and how NTL/tw are able to ignore that aspect, and indeed thats a plus as it means they wast more if needs be, theres always the headend downstream points UL and others know a lot about, i just wish NTL would inovate......


---------- Post added at 20:49 ---------- Previous post was at 20:16 ----------

Originally Posted by foreverwar

DirecTV HR20-250 is out in the US, that does Mpeg-4 - it is based on the Tivo. http://uk.gear.ign.com/articles/679/679224p1.html

thanks for the link, it would appear that new box is infact using the older Mpeg-4/ASP aka DivX codec rather than the newer Mpeg-4/AVC aka H.264 , its easy to spot once you know that the ASP gives on average .5 better compression compared to standard Mpeg2 codec, were as the far better AVC gives around 2.0 to 2.5 better compression compared to mpeg2.

this gives it away
"The HR20 is able to record about 30 hours of MPEG-2 streamed HD content. However, it is able to store more than 50 hours of MPEG-4 HD broadcasts"
it would be far higher hours for the real AVC.

its no wonder people are saying mpeg4 instead of AVC as these marketeers keep refering to it that way, makes you wonder if their trying to confuse the punters to buy/clear the old Mpeg-4/ASP stock.

[skyblueheroes]

Originally Posted by unlimited

It's so nice to see a proper response instead of

NTL are crap move to Sky
NTL are **** move to Sky
NTL can do nothing right move to Sky

Well said.

Originally Posted by skyblueheroes

Well said.

Thank you