Watch on analogue cable

Willc0 · 19-03-2006, 16:00

Just been reading an interesting site http://www.ukfree.tv/helpme.php?faqid=6655

Quote:

Watch on analogue cable

Quote:

From Free: If you have ever had a cable TV service (analogue or digital), the law requires that itv-1, Channel 4 and five are kept available as an analogue service, even if you have stopped a subscription many years ago.

Most systems now use a digital TV receiver to produce the analogue picture for these channels, so the quality is good. However, it is not widescreen.

You will need a cable to connect the TV Out socket on the cable box using a suitable cable (made from parts 16-0605 and 16-0445 from www.rapidelectronics.co.uk) and you will have to retune your TV or video.

Because of the way that digital TV is carried on cable systems, you must connect the video and TV by a SCART cable, and tune in the video only.

Can anone tell me if this is correct?
How would you have the decoder box if you wernt subscibing for one!!

I AM an NTL customer and pay for all 3 servieces, befor anyone thinks im up to somthing odd!!

Can I conect my PC TV card to the cable with the conect adapeter? or is this a region specific function (Im in RG12 ex-C&W area)

sollp · 19-03-2006, 16:28

Well i don't know where the law will say that you can do this, but you need to subcsribe to the service to recieve any service from NTL. When you disconnect the service the STB is sent back whether it is Digi or Analogue STB. So you won't be able to recieve these channels anyway.

Now i know that STB's haven't been collected and the cable hasn't been disconnected from the cabinet so when you have discontinued the service you will be able to recieve these channels.

But where this law that you will be able to recieve these channels i would like to see, and would it aply to cable comapanys?

And it will say on your TC's that you are not to tamper with installation,(and yes there is the debate as to whether the TC's still apply when you discontinue the service). What you have to remember is that you effectively rent the STB from NTL so this would be sent back and the service would be terminated in the cabinet in the street. This they have failed to do in the past, but they do collect and do now also disconnect in the street as well.

As for the law thing, i don't think so.

Willc0 · 19-03-2006, 16:33

Who knows! Thats what Im trying to find out.

Im in an ex-Council flat, so I dont know if it all links back to that as there are no ariales unless the person has put one up them selves.

MovedGoalPosts · 19-03-2006, 16:38

I'm not convinced about all of that, and especially if you have legal entitlement. In some areas, where the cable co took over a communal aerial there will be an entitlement for the terrestrial signals to remain.

As far as I know all the analogue STBs from the UK cable cos have been hired rather than sold. Thus when a contract ends the STB should return to the cableco. Not that sure that ntl have been that efficient in collecting them though.

Even when you had a STB connected via analogue, you needed a bypass fitted to the back of the STB to enable channels 1-5 to be received independent of the STB decoding. However those signals are transmitted unscrambled.

Other posts on CF have indicated confusion as to whether with the STB disconnected, it is better to have the cable left disconnected from anything (i.e. unterminated) or indeed plugged into something. If you follow the plugged in theory, then simply getting a short length of coaxial with a satellite end plug and RF end plug enables you to connect direct to the TV.

Of course, if your cable has been disconnected at the street cabinet, then you'll get nothing. Additionally, if in messing around with the cable you do affect your own or your neighbour's signal, be prepared for the consequences.

Willc0 · 19-03-2006, 16:42

So next time I have an NTL: Tech over can I ask him for an analoge bypass?
(Were moving house but in the same area, I have a samsung 2100 box)

sollp · 19-03-2006, 18:50

I have just E-mailed and got a reply regarding this basically certain areas mainly EX BT areas that had the system installed and the residents had to use this system as they are not allowed to install external areas, this rule or law applies only to these areas to enable the residents to have at least these 1-5 channels.

Do not think this also applies to a subscription service.

---------- Post added at 18:50 ---------- Previous post was at 18:47 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Willc0

So next time I have an NTL: Tech over can I ask him for an analoge bypass?
(Were moving house but in the same area, I have a samsung 2100 box)

Well yes, you can have these fitted, normally they ask you when installing as to whether you need these. They are convienently not put in due to the fact it is a pain to have to re-tune the TV, video, ect and enable these to record.
This will give you channels 1-5 as long as you are a subscriber.

DaggaDagga · 19-03-2006, 21:01

I think that quote is talking about the analogue passthrough. The cable box is doing precisely nothing, other than feeding what's in the cable straight through it. The thing about SCART sounds like a load of waffle to me. It's an aerial feed, that's all it is.

I had my cable box after my subscription died, as NTL didn't bother collecting it. On the day after my subscription ended, I could only watch BBC1, BBC2, ITV etc. A few days after that, I couldn't watch anything.

However, if you plug NTL's cable into the aerial port of any TV (e.g. a telly or an analogue PC TV card) you will be able to watch channels 1-5 and a couple of others (News 24 I think). It's 4:3 ratio, and the picture quality isn't brilliant but it's better than most aerials.

If you do this then you may stuff a load of noise back up the cable. In theory, this may possibly wipe out the universe or something. In practice, nothing bad happens.

sollp · 19-03-2006, 23:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaggaDagga

I think that quote is talking about the analogue passthrough. The cable box is doing precisely nothing, other than feeding what's in the cable straight through it. The thing about SCART sounds like a load of waffle to me. It's an aerial feed, that's all it is.

I had my cable box after my subscription died, as NTL didn't bother collecting it. On the day after my subscription ended, I could only watch BBC1, BBC2, ITV etc. A few days after that, I couldn't watch anything.

However, if you plug NTL's cable into the aerial port of any TV (e.g. a telly or an analogue PC TV card) you will be able to watch channels 1-5 and a couple of others (News 24 I think). It's 4:3 ratio, and the picture quality isn't brilliant but it's better than most aerials.

If you do this then you may stuff a load of noise back up the cable. In theory, this may possibly wipe out the universe or something. In practice, nothing bad happens.

In practice it does affect the network by doing this

Graham M · 20-03-2006, 07:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by sollp

In practice it does affect the network by doing this

In THEORY it does, it may have absolutely no affect on the network, it depends entirely on the circumstances. But it's best to be safe and filter it by some means.

Willc0 · 20-03-2006, 08:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaggaDagga

However, if you plug NTL's cable into the aerial port of any TV (e.g. a telly or an analogue PC TV card) you will be able to watch channels 1-5 and a couple of others (News 24 I think). It's 4:3 ratio, and the picture quality isn't brilliant but it's better than most aerials.

OK

But whats the legality of doing this?

Graham M · 20-03-2006, 08:53

There is nothing "Illegal" about doing it, you just run the risk of introducing interference into NTL's network and may get a bill if you are found to be causing problems. Then again, they called always disconnect your feed at the street cab which they are completely entitled to do.

sollp · 20-03-2006, 21:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

In THEORY it does, it may have absolutely no affect on the network, it depends entirely on the circumstances. But it's best to be safe and filter it by some means.

As i said before it does has an impact on the network fact.

DaggaDagga · 21-03-2006, 11:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by sollp

As i said before it does has an impact on the network fact.

...just as pouring a pint of water into the sea does actually raise global sea levels. Fact.

Filtering is a very good idea to be safe, as mentioned above. You can buy small off the shelf filtering units with F-type connectors. You also need an F-type splitter and an F-type to aerial plug converter. I know that Maplins have the splitter and converter, not sure about the filter. Try ebay.

sollp · 21-03-2006, 22:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaggaDagga

...just as pouring a pint of water into the sea does actually raise global sea levels. Fact.

Filtering is a very good idea to be safe, as mentioned above. You can buy small off the shelf filtering units with F-type connectors. You also need an F-type splitter and an F-type to aerial plug converter. I know that Maplins have the splitter and converter, not sure about the filter. Try ebay.

Hello DaggaDagga, i'm well aware of the issues, and i know exactly what does and doesn't cause these problems. What your suggesting is against the TC's.

DaggaDagga · 21-03-2006, 23:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by sollp

Hello DaggaDagga, i'm well aware of the issues, and i know exactly what does and doesn't cause these problems. What your suggesting is against the TC's.

Did I say it wasn't?

Just try going at 31mph in a 30 zone tomorrow. Live life in the danger zone.

Rules are for the obeyance of fools and the observance of the wise.