Some NTL Digital Qs

[russellelly]

I'm considering getting the NTL Digital Family pack. I'm in an ex-CableTel area, so I think that's Bromley

A couple of Qs:
Am I likely to get the Samsung or Pace box?
I've heard the EPG is, erm a bit rubbish. Is this for all channels, or will Now and Next be OK usually?
Will they replace my SACM with the Digital STB, or leave both?
Is there likely to be an EPG shakeup anytime soon (UK History is still in the middle of music!!!), and how effective is the favourites list? Can the EPG be set to display favourites only?
Is there a 14:9 option on the output?
What's the latest date for a PVR, and would it be worth waiting on? I've already got a Pace Twin, but it only records Freeview

Sorry, that was a bit over a few, but any answers appreciated

[Neil]

Originally Posted by russellelly

I'm considering getting the NTL Digital Family pack. I'm in an ex-CableTel area, so I think that's Bromley

It's a 'Langley' area.

Originally Posted by russellelly

Am I likely to get the Samsung or Pace box?

Pace.

Originally Posted by russellelly

I've heard the EPG is, erm a bit rubbish. Is this for all channels, or will Now and Next be OK usually?

In my experience it's been totally poor & the only thing that you can rely on it to do is lock up the STB.

Originally Posted by russellelly

Will they replace my SACM with the Digital STB, or leave both?

You'll get an STB for your DTV.

Originally Posted by russellelly

Is there likely to be an EPG shakeup anytime soon (UK History is still in the middle of music!!!)

"Soon" apparently...

Originally Posted by russellelly

and how effective is the favourites list?

Can't honestly remember, sorry.

Originally Posted by russellelly

Can the EPG be set to display favourites only?

I think so, yes.

Originally Posted by russellelly

Is there a 14:9 option on the output?

Again, I think so.

Originally Posted by russellelly

What's the latest date for a PVR, and would it be worth waiting on? I've already got a Pace Twin, but it only records Freeview

Get Sky + if you want a reliable PVR.

Originally Posted by russellelly

Sorry, that was a bit over a few, but any answers appreciated

HTH.

[russellelly]

Thanks for the swift reply.

The EPG is the most worring thing, as I find it very useful on my Freeview, and that's only 20 channels, with 100 a working EPG seems pretty essential. i would go down the Sky+ route were it not for the dish and extra £10/month for nothing if you're only on the family pack.

And I meant would they take away my SACM and replace it with the digibox (which I believe can be used for broadband), or would they leave the SACM and have the digibox for DTV only?

Cheers

[Neil]

Originally Posted by russellelly

Thanks for the swift reply.

The EPG is the most worring thing, as I find it very useful on my Freeview, and that's only 20 channels, with 100 a working EPG seems pretty essential. i would go down the Sky+ route were it not for the dish and extra £10/month for nothing if you're only on the family pack.

And I meant would they take away my SACM and replace it with the digibox (which I believe can be used for broadband), or would they leave the SACM and have the digibox for DTV only?

Cheers

You will get a seperate Set Top Box for your DTV.

[spiderplant]

Neil's experience isn't necessarily relevant here. As you are in the Glasgow area you'll get the latest EPG which is reportedly much more reliable than earlier versions.

Yes, you will get a Pace if you order now. Samsung's aren't available in Glasgow at the moment.

There is no user-selectable 14:9 option, but the STB will output 14:9 (formatted appropriately for a 4:3 or 16:9 screen) when the broadcaster tells it to.

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by russellelly

I'm considering getting the NTL Digital Family pack. I'm in an ex-CableTel area, so I think that's Bromley

A couple of Qs:
Am I likely to get the Samsung or Pace box?
I've heard the EPG is, erm a bit rubbish. Is this for all channels, or will Now and Next be OK usually?
Will they replace my SACM with the Digital STB, or leave both?
Is there likely to be an EPG shakeup anytime soon (UK History is still in the middle of music!!!), and how effective is the favourites list? Can the EPG be set to display favourites only?
Is there a 14:9 option on the output?
What's the latest date for a PVR, and would it be worth waiting on? I've already got a Pace Twin, but it only records Freeview

Sorry, that was a bit over a few, but any answers appreciated

You will get a Pace, as Samsungs aren't being given out in Scotland yet.

In the 3.1 software, the TV Guide can be pretty shakey. From what I've read, the 3.2 update (which has gone out to Glasgow and Cardiff) improves the speed and stability a great deal. The Now & Next bar is vastly superior to the Sky version -- I rarely use the full Guide on NTL.

You will have a SACM for internet and a digital STB for TV.

NTL have said that they will rearrange the channels in the second half of 2005, presumably after everyone's got the 3.2 software.

The way Favourites works on NTL is a bit different to Sky. Rather than just picking a list of channels, it lets you rearrange *all* the channels into any order you like. So, for example, you could have BBC1 followed by E4 followed by Discovery. When you pressed channel up, you'd flick in that order; it's also the order they'd be listed in the Guide. It's a very good and very flexible system (although it does take a long time to set 200 or so channels in the order you want them).

There is no 14:9 option.

Again, NTL have said the second half of 2005 for a PVR. We don't know any more than that though.

[Neil]

Originally Posted by spiderplant

Neil's experience isn't necessarily relevant here.

What??

Originally Posted by spiderplant

As you are in the Glasgow area you'll get the latest EPG which is reportedly much more reliable than earlier versions.

Is there more of a difference than just VOD then?

[Tristan]

Originally Posted by Neil

Is there more of a difference than just VOD then?

The first fruits of the Beta programme, one would have thought.

Certainly the reports from Glasgow and Cardiff (on here and DS) seem positive, regarding the speed and stability.