New cable boxes?

ailean · 28-01-2004, 14:47

In theory if I was to ask NTL for a 2nd digi box would they supply a Pace 4000 now (did the 2nd supplier thing fall thru?)?

If so does the 4000 use different remote codes then the 2000 that I have at the moment?

I was thinking of being able to record from one channel while watching another but realised the remotes would clash all the time.

Just to complicate things I'm about to start using the RedEye IR converter with my 2000 box so I can reduce the remote pile a bit.

Neil · 28-01-2004, 15:06

Hi, & Welcome to nthw.

Basically they will give you whatever is closest to the 'goods out' door when they load up the boxes for the day I would suspect.

Mike Harrison · 28-01-2004, 22:47

As far as I know there is no 'A/B' code capability in the NTL IRDA remote system, to allow 2 remotes to control 2 STBs independently. There is a colour coding system but this is for multiplayer games, and every colour will operate both STBs.
NTL could in principle have an 'only respond to remote colour x' user-settable option, but I think this is one of the many desirable software improvements I doubt we'll ever see happen.

However, if you are using Red-Eye on one STB, then as long as you can shield that STB from the IRDA remote, then you can have independent control of the STBs - one from the Red-Eye compatible remote, and one from the original NTL one.
The STB will need quite a lot of shielding as the IRDA remote is rather powerful. I would recommend using some aluminium foil tape (paper is surprisingly transparent to infra-red) over the left-hand side of the STB window, covering the area from the left side to the first digit, and to the full height of the window. You need to make a small hole (3mm) in the tape, near the STB's IR Receiver (shine a torch into the window to see where it is), and place the Red-Eye so that its emitter is over this hole.

If you really want to cut remotes to a minimum, you could place one Red-Eye on each STB. Red-Eye does support dual code sets - it will 'learn' which code to use by the first code it sees after switch-on. See the question "I have a Philips DTX6370/1 receiver...." on page www.redremote.co.uk/faqs.html for more details. Pronto CCF files for both codesets are available.

ailean · 29-01-2004, 10:36

Thanks for the detailed reply Mike! Hmmm I might just change to Sky+.

Tristan · 29-01-2004, 20:43

Ask the engineer for a 4000 box, and explain to him why you want one. Then buy an original NTL 'shark' remote from eBay -- these are able to operate 4000 boxes, but not 1000s or 2000s.

Mike Harrison · 30-01-2004, 00:53

This will not help, as the IRDA remote will operate both STBs.

magpie · 30-01-2004, 02:06

You could point the 2nd box a different way!

Mike Harrison · 30-01-2004, 09:40

..but you could do that with any box.

ailean · 30-01-2004, 11:01

Hmmmmm....

I think it's probably rare enuff that there's more then one (good) thing on, which doesn't get repeated 20 times in the week, that it's not worth the hassle.

Are NTL planing on doing anything sky+ like, they gave up on the tivo deal I think.

My BB has been sucky for a couple of months anyway so I may just jump ship and dump the whole NTL phone/tv/bb package like I've been threatening to customer support. :pp

seaneeboy · 30-01-2004, 12:09

I had a new installation recently when I moved house, and wanted audio out from the box, so when I was offered a 4000 I asked them nicely, they had a rummage in their van and I got a 2000 instead. Works well enough for broadband, and joes the audio out job.

They'll usually have either a 2000 or a 4000 in the van, just be nice and offer a cup of tea etc