Advice/Opinons sought: "ntl TV or Sky TV?" & "What STB?"

[JoshGrey]

Hi all.
I'm looking for advice and opinions (within reason) on a couple of areas.

Firstly, I have a Pace 2000 stb and I believe there are newer/better (?) ntl STB (with the modem built in) out there. I've asked ntl and 2 weeks later all I have found out is that ntl have a Samsung stb. What I wanted to know is what the differences are between the Pace and the latest (??) Samsung stb and what if anything can be done to upgrade? Is it worth the hassle? I'm happy to download and read specs if they exist anywhere.

Secondly recently I have very seriously been looking at Sky to replace my ntl TV. I'm interested in people's experience with Sky TV (including Sky+) especially if you previously had ntl TV.

Using the Sky package builder (that's a trick ntl would be well advised to use) I can get most of the same channels I get from ntl at present (I'm on the Family pack) plus their Sky+ PVR service for the same or less than the ntl package. If I add one of the premium packages the cost is only marginally higher...but the inclusion of the PVR service makes it much more valuable. The real choice to shift to HD (when the prices come down a little) is also a real and tangible bonus. I'm not interested in VOD or Email on the TV, etc....

BTW I know that I might need to go back to BT for a phone line but even that initial investment is not significant since that would also open up other broadband provider options as well. That's another area where alternative providers are offering more for the same from providers that I trust...

I look forward to a blizzard of advice, opinions and anything else... Thank in advance.

[Stuart]

Originally Posted by JoshGrey

Firstly, I have a Pace 2000 stb and I believe there are newer/better (?) ntl STB (with the modem built in) out there. I've asked ntl and 2 weeks later all I have found out is that ntl have a Samsung stb. What I wanted to know is what the differences are between the Pace and the latest (??) Samsung stb and what if anything can be done to upgrade? Is it worth the hassle? I'm happy to download and read specs if they exist anywhere.

All NTL boxes have the modem built in. Whether you can use it or not depends on whether you are in a "Langley" or "Bromley" area. If you get BBC 1 on channel 101, you are in a Langley area and (AFAIK) cannot use the modem in the Set Top Box. If you get BBC 1 on channel 1, you can, but you need to ask NTL to enable it.

As for the differences between the Samsung boxes and the Pace boxes? Well, the Samsung 2100 has a faster modem built in (the Pace boxes can go up to 1 Meg, the Samsungs up to 7), more memory and a faster CPU. So, what (little) interactive you do get on NTL is faster and more responsive.

The newer box, the 2110 is (I believe) smaller, and adds a digital optical out connection, so you can hook it up to a home cinema system more easily, and (in theory - NTL have not announced they will be enabling this) get Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. But, as I have said, NTL have announced no plans to carry 5.1 channels.

[JoshGrey]

Originally Posted by Stuart C

All NTL boxes have the modem built in. Whether you can use it or not depends on whether you are in a "Langley" or "Bromley" area. If you get BBC 1 on channel 101, you are in a Langley area and (AFAIK) cannot use the modem in the Set Top Box. If you get BBC 1 on channel 1, you can, but you need to ask NTL to enable it.

As for the differences between the Samsung boxes and the Pace boxes? Well, the Samsung 2100 has a faster modem built in (the Pace boxes can go up to 1 Meg, the Samsungs up to 7), more memory and a faster CPU. So, what (little) interactive you do get on NTL is faster and more responsive.

The newer box, the 2110 is (I believe) smaller, and adds a digital optical out connection, so you can hook it up to a home cinema system more easily, and (in theory - NTL have not announced they will be enabling this) get Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound. But, as I have said, NTL have announced no plans to carry 5.1 channels.

Thanks Stuart C! Great info. I'd never really gotten into the "Bromley and Langley" thing ...now I guess I'll need to pay more attention . I think BBC1 is actually on channel 1 for me so perhaps I'm in Bromley..never thought I'd hear myself saying that . If I've read you correctly it looks the newer Samsung stbs gets a small thumbs from you. If I upgraded my BB package to the 2MB service would that mean they would have to upgrade my stb to cope...?

[jem]

If I upgraded my BB package to the 2MB service would that mean they would have to upgrade my stb to cope...?

Yes they would, which is exactly what happened to me. It's a bit of a tricky question though. If you go for the Samsung box then the TV and interactive (such as it is) is somewhat more stable, on the other hand you wouldn't get the full 10Meg speed if you decided to upgrade in the future. If you tired to pursuade them to give you a separate cable modem then you would be fairly 'future proof' as regard to internet speed but would be stuck with the Pace box for TV.

I really can't see NTL rolling out a PVR generally until about this time next year so personally I'd go with the Samsung.

[Musicman]

Originally Posted by JoshGrey

Hi all.
Secondly recently I have very seriously been looking at Sky to replace my ntl TV. I'm interested in people's experience with Sky TV (including Sky+) especially if you previously had ntl TV.

Using the Sky package builder (that's a trick ntl would be well advised to use) I can get most of the same channels I get from ntl at present (I'm on the Family pack) plus their Sky+ PVR service for the same or less than the ntl package. If I add one of the premium packages the cost is only marginally higher...but the inclusion of the PVR service makes it much more valuable. The real choice to shift to HD (when the prices come down a little) is also a real and tangible bonus. I'm not interested in VOD or Email on the TV, etc....

Well I had cable TV, before I switched to Sky and then Sky+. There are problems with Sky, like loosing signal, during extreamly bad weather, which is rare (at the present time, once maube twice a year for 5 mins) I would not switch back to NTL, as I find Sky very good, very good interactive TV service, I also do not use e-mail on the TV.

Sky+ is excellent, and I have only had missed programs, about a month after we had it installed, which I know believe was down to not understanding the system and manual recordings, which caused the system to wipe some programs it had recorded whilst I was away for 10 days.

I would recommend it and would not switch back, as the ability to record 2 programs and watch another previously recorded program is really helpful.

I have NTL as my phone and broadband supplier, so there is no need to go back to BT, unless you want to!

Hope this helps.

[JoshGrey]

Originally Posted by Musicman

Well I had cable TV, before I switched to Sky and then Sky+. There are problems with Sky, like loosing signal, during extreamly bad weather, which is rare (at the present time, once maube twice a year for 5 mins) I would not switch back to NTL, as I find Sky very good, very good interactive TV service, I also do not use e-mail on the TV.

Sky+ is excellent, and I have only had missed programs, about a month after we had it installed, which I know believe was down to not understanding the system and manual recordings, which caused the system to wipe some programs it had recorded whilst I was away for 10 days.

I would recommend it and would not switch back, as the ability to record 2 programs and watch another previously recorded program is really helpful.

I have NTL as my phone and broadband supplier, so there is no need to go back to BT, unless you want to!

Hope this helps.

Thanks very much Musicman. Do you use the series link feature on SKy+ much? I have an aging TiVo at present and the series link in there is invaluable to me.

---------- Post added at 14:39 ---------- Previous post was at 14:35 ----------

Originally Posted by jem

Yes they would, which is exactly what happened to me. It's a bit of a tricky question though. If you go for the Samsung box then the TV and interactive (such as it is) is somewhat more stable, on the other hand you wouldn't get the full 10Meg speed if you decided to upgrade in the future. If you tired to pursuade them to give you a separate cable modem then you would be fairly 'future proof' as regard to internet speed but would be stuck with the Pace box for TV.

I really can't see NTL rolling out a PVR generally until about this time next year so personally I'd go with the Samsung.

Thanks Jem. I finally got through to ntl customer service and was told that (at least for the time being) when stbs are replaced or upgraded the "new" device is simply whatever the engineer has in the van That's more than a little annoying..although I don't know if the same is true for Sky devices.

Anyway it looks like two positive votes for a Samsung. ...and you say it can make the interminable ntl interactive service quicker for that alone I might consider buying one!!