NTL or SKY - Help please!

Originally Posted by simpsonsFAN

I am telling you that the signal that reaches your NTL set top box is exactly the same as would be recived with a satalite reciver or freeview set top box, if you *could* dump the raw digital video to your hard drive and look at the ones and zeros there would be *no* inconsistancys. Therefore, if you are saying that one platform gives a "better picture" than another - you must have something incorrectly configured at your end.Im telling you how it works and you are dismissing it, possibly because your paying more for sky than you would be with NTL for an equivalant service and are still trying to find ways to justifiy it to your self - its a mind thing

-Chris

It is not a mind thing at all, it is a fact as I see it, regardless of the tech speak, if the end product does not do it for me then I do not take cost in to consideration, as far as I am aware the ntl stb was set up correctly, but it was extremely slow, which is a fault in ntl anyway, but as for picture quality, the end product regardless of the tech spiel, it is crap imo compared to sky+, and even picture quality issues aside, sky+ still blows anything ntl can offer right now out the water.
You dont need to look for reasons why I dont agree with what you say is the gospel truth, my eyes tell me the truth, not what is written down on a specification sheet.
Being a hifi enthusiast I know to pay some attention to the tech details, but at the end of the day its how I hear the results, for comparing visual differences you just do the reverse, use your own eyes, its amazing the senses we were given, and given that I had an eye test a few months ago, specsavers is one place I dont need to visit use that time to take in a footy game on sky interactive with fantastic picture quality, did I mention interactive? oh yes I did

[SMHarman]

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

how do you know how much ntl compress the signal?

Except you can't it is already compressed to be digitised and transmitted (MP2), you cannot compress a M/JPEG

[Sherlock614]

Hmm one other thing to throw in the little mix from me...

I am having a 32" LCD High Definition compatible tv - delivered Wednesday.

Christmas soon init?

I think the old scales just tipped SKY's way again

[gimpymoo]

I HAVE JUST FOUR WORDS:

SEVEN DAY TV GUIDE

I just switched from NTL TV to Sky+ and to be honest, Sky+ For The Win !!!

As a Digital TV platform, Sky+ is currently light years ahead of the NTL product in terms of sound and picture quality (Mine allways looked blocky and over compressed). Sky+ Is awesome.

If your getting Sky, get Sky+.

Im still with NTL for my Broadband as their internet service is very good and reliable... but there TV service is not in the Same league as Sky+.

Having been in the camp of "Im staying with NTL as theye soon going to release something amazing" - Ive given up as they are taking forever.

All in all broadband seems to be the saving grace for ntl, while out today I noticed two sales stands, one was ntl the other sky, both within a walk of one another.

Putting myself in the position of being a new customer, sky + box with working interactive against ntl would be a no brainer, no matter how snazzy the samsung box looks, its whats under the bonnet that counts.
With regard tv I think ntl will always be playing catch up.

[SMHarman]

If NTL and Telewest don't get too distracted by the merger, get VOD and PVR rolled out, have more of a national footprint and put up an advertising spend to go with it then end of 2006 could be an interesting place. Sky may be the ones catching up with their LLU unbundling, inability to offer true VOD, speed limited and less consistency of speed on the BB offering, and the need for the BB offering to be of a certain level just to be able to offer homechoice type products.

We will also start to find more customers with ally or fibre in their path to the exchange so suddenly unable to get the latest Sky offering, hardware failiures in local exchanges meaning sky customers lose phone, tv, vod, internet. The next step for sky will be as challenging as the roll out of VOD and PVR for NTL and TW, perhaps more, as NTL/TW are rolling out hardware that in a previous varient has a multimillion person user base in the US.

NTL and telewest dont seem able to organise a party in a brewery, so at the moment I dont see sky looking over their shoulders, I think its a handicap thats just not fair in a nice way, a bit like a sunday morning footy team facing chelsea.
Why would I want VOD? somebody with ntl who is happy where they're may be, I can record all the films I want, box office included, then dump them to my panasonic dvd recorder to later burn to dvd if I so wish.
comparing ntl to sky could be compared to the school report, " Lots of promise, but could do better "

[Sherlock614]

From reading a lot of posts on this subject over the last week or so, I get the following impression....

Right now, SKY is well ahead of NTL in terms of their television service.

But I never realised the BB / phone/ tv deals meant so much to either company... Seems like the "jewel in the crown" as it were... I think in the long run, NTL will wipe the floor with SKY, it's only a matter of time (and frustration for some). NTL's BB and phone services are long established and at the forefront of speed and quality. They only need to sort their TV delivery and SKY will be the ones playing catchup in terms of an ageing BT service.

Come on NTL, make me switch from SKY for TV. In a perfect world, paying just one provider for all 3 services is a nice option, of course enabling discounts. This is where peeps with NTL BB and phone lose out by renting SKY.

Tis a shame. I would like the discount from NTL but above all else, quality > cost unfortunately.

Originally Posted by Sherlock614

From reading a lot of posts on this subject over the last week or so, I get the following impression....

Right now, SKY is well ahead of NTL in terms of their television service.

But I never realised the BB / phone/ tv deals meant so much to either company... Seems like the "jewel in the crown" as it were... I think in the long run, NTL will wipe the floor with SKY, it's only a matter of time (and frustration for some). NTL's BB and phone services are long established and at the forefront of speed and quality. They only need to sort their TV delivery and SKY will be the ones playing catchup in terms of an ageing BT service.

Come on NTL, make me switch from for TV. In a perfect world, paying just one provider for all 3 services is a nice option, of course enabling discounts. This is where peeps with NTL BB and phone lose out by renting SKY.

Tis a shame.

No one can make you switch, you take a look at what is on offer from all options and go for the one for you.
I have suggested the 7 day trial idea, you have nothing to lose.
By having sky you dont have to lose out, you can move your telephone provider if you can find a cheaper call plan, the line rental still needs paying, whoever youre with.
Unless things get really aggresive and either ntl or bt offer free line rental for life, a bit like the gas and utility no standing charge idea.
If you need a phone and you want tv I would say get your tv from sky and telephone from another provider, I just dont see the sense in paying for the tv from ntl when you also have to pay a line rental for a none existing item, sorry to say it but its a con, and one they're getting away with until joe and joanne public wake up to the scam.
Let us know what you decide, but I know what way I'd go, I'd give the 7 day trial a go.

[Sherlock614]

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

Let us know what you decide, but I know what way I'd go, I'd give the 7 day trial a go.

I'll phone NTL CS about this tomorrow. As it stands I still have an install date, but can cancel at any time.

A 7 day trial of both systems is a nice idea though

[nfs6600]

Well everyone else has given their 2 pence worth so I figure I will to!

I for one have never been happier with my ntl services. The introduction of VOD in my area, something I doubt sky will have the capabilites for a long time! My sister, who lives a couple of doors away chose sky when she moved in. In my view, ntl offer the better picture quality by far. Less pixellation, faster channel changes, EPG etc (with the samsung which you will get being a new customer) Sky's only selling point (for the standard service) is the interactve features for the footy. Which I agree, knocks the socks off ntls interactive. But I am yet to meet anyone who mentions they love the interactive features, on both sy or ntl.

I have been with cable TV since it was first installed in Teesside, back in the day it was Comcast. Never had any problems, then went over to digital about 3 years back and still never a problem. and the boradband is the best around without a doubt.

[Sherlock614]

The only think we use the red button for is CBEEBIES for the lil lad

We don't watch sport and don't currently have movies with SKY either. Just the basic £19 p/m package.

[nfs6600]

Originally Posted by Sherlock614

The only think we use the red button for is CBEEBIES for the lil lad

We don't watch sport and don't currently have movies with SKY either. Just the basic £19 p/m package.

Then in that case i would say you have nothing at all to lose, just gain! imo. VOD (kids programmes whenever you want etc) Also sky only mention HDTV "next year" no stating when. NTL's new PVR is in nextyear also and comes PVR ready. There are lots of pros and cons on both sides. People here are mentioning sky + for the sport etc. but as yuo have said, you're not a sports fan. so why go for a service that you wont use.

[pak470]

Had phone service from NTL for years no problem so i tried the TV service
never again it was removed within three weeks,the Pace convertors are total crap they crash and lock up,what ever you do don't use the RED button that caused my stupid box to freeze and lock.
Oh and first bill was £80+ this was normal i was told they bill you two months
on the first bill.

Originally Posted by nfs6600

Well everyone else has given their 2 pence worth so I figure I will to!

I for one have never been happier with my ntl services. The introduction of VOD in my area, something I doubt sky will have the capabilites for a long time! My sister, who lives a couple of doors away chose sky when she moved in. In my view, ntl offer the better picture quality by far. Less pixellation, faster channel changes, EPG etc (with the samsung which you will get being a new customer) Sky's only selling point (for the standard service) is the interactve features for the footy. Which I agree, knocks the socks off ntls interactive. But I am yet to meet anyone who mentions they love the interactive features, on both sy or ntl.

I have been with cable TV since it was first installed in Teesside, back in the day it was Comcast. Never had any problems, then went over to digital about 3 years back and still never a problem. and the boradband is the best around without a doubt.

Why would i want ntl's vod when I have sky+ ? my experience of picture quality is the reverse, all I can say is that ntl must have done one botch up of a job on the install, because all i hear from some people is that there is no difference in what is put out by both broadcasters, but even my brother who has ntl tv has said our pic knocks the socks off what he has with ntl, so a matter of opinion i guess, imo i wouldnt go back, the ability to record to a hd, then transfer to dvd if i so wish is a no brainer.