Sky Digital Installed Today

[themelon]

Originally Posted by ianathuth

Do you think that your experiences with Sky are typical as you appear to think that most customers have problems with Sky every time it rains, snows, the wind blows, the No 33 bus passes, etc.

How long have you had NTL DTV and what STB do you have?

I have had ntl for 2 years now, I have a Pace 4010 Set Top Box on the Bromley netwrok with cr3. Maybe I live in a good area but i was amazed how much better ntl was than Sky when Sky is allegedly the dogs danglys!

Some people dont have problems with Sky, but I do know a number of people who have, some who live outside cabled areas and only wish they could have a esrvice as reliable as mine, they are having similar problems to what I had before, only a few weeks back when it snowed I was at my girlfriends watching TV off it went and it didnt come back on until the snow melted. Numerous people had problems in that spell because of the thick cloud cover, it was well documented on digitalspy. Sometimes people get lucky. Undoubtably Sky has the market cornered in many parts of the country they are the only Pay TV Provider.

Each to their own I guess!!

[ian@huth]

I have had Sky since it was first introduced as BSB in 1990 switching to Digital in 1998 when it was launched. During that time I have lived in Nottinghamshire, Devon, Essex, Yorkshire and back to Nottinghamshire. In all those locations I have had very few problems with the service and never have had to have a digibox repaired or replaced, the same goes for the remotes which you claim to have gone through 18 in ten years. The most that I ever lost Sky service was ten minutes or so during very heavy snow that built up on the dish. I did use to get sparklies on Sky analogue in Essex when there was very heavy rain but not bad enough to affect viewing to any extent. I have only ever had to phone Sky for support once in twelve years.

In Essex I also had Telewest analogue cable which was acceptable but had a few problems with their telephone line when there was prolonged rain. I have had NTL digital cable for a couple of years here in Nottinghamshire and was not impressed with the quality of this service. I went through 5 or 6 different STBs and never received an acceptable quality of service for more than a few weeks. The biggest problem was the picture freezing and stuttering, particularly in hot weather. This combined with frequent blackouts of a second or two, frequent picture breakup and pixallation and loss of sound solved by changing channel and then going back to the channel I was watching were important factors in getting rid of NTL DTV completely. Change in Sky+ subscription charges was the final nail in NTLs coffin.

I am no lover or hater of either company but do want to get a decent service for my monthly payments. To be honest I would love NTL to get its act together and give a service at least equal to that of Sky as cable has much more potential in the long run.

[themelon]

I myself was with Sky since 1990 formerly BSB and I was forced to change over when they brough out BSB. I had few problems until things went digital it got worse from then on really.

I guess there are good and bad experiences with both companies, this is what I like to point out the grass isnt always greener on the other side.

I have had ntl for 2 years and had absolutely no trouble at all, except once when a workman dug up the cable (British Gas or Murphys?!) Broadband is a lot more reliable than the ADSL we use at work with the phone there is little difference.

[Montoya]

I'm considering swapping over to Sky, but the website says the extra box is £15 a month, not £10, as kRAyZZed said, which makes it more expensive than NTL overall...

[gazzae]

Originally Posted by Montoya

I'm considering swapping over to Sky, but the website says the extra box is £15 a month, not £10, as kRAyZZed said, which makes it more expensive than NTL overall...

I believe that its £10 a month, if you have Sky+, £15 a month if you don't.

[carthage]

Originally Posted by skyblueheroes

I've had Sky for about a year (NTL for a couple before that). And getting Sky+ soon.

I would never go back to NTL. Just my opinion, but it sometimes only takes small things which set in peoples minds.

Even when I worked for ntl - I would not have it in the house even though it was free to us staff - I have had sky since 1999 and no probs at all

[mdean]

Originally Posted by skyblueheroes

I've had Sky for about a year (NTL for a couple before that). And getting Sky+ soon.

I would never go back to NTL. Just my opinion, but it sometimes only takes small things which set in peoples minds.

If you can put up with $kys horrible red button and the higher price fair enough, but wtf is the attraction of $ky+ It is propriatary and ties you into $ky why not by one of the many alternatives which will work with any provider

[mdean]

Originally Posted by Semi On

Never had NTL, but we've had Sky for ages and cannot fault them. In fact I can't remember the last time anything went wrong. .

So the stupid red dot does not come on after every commercial break in your house ??

[theman]

in these the sky box blew down never happened with ntl i wish iwas back with them warts and all also cant get bbc 1 no give me back ntl

[paulyoung666]

Originally Posted by theman

in these the sky box blew down never happened with ntl i wish iwas back with them warts and all also cant get bbc 1 no give me back ntl

sorry but i dont get this cant get bbc1 bit , i assume you have been on to sky and asked them why , havent you

[themelon]

In my experience they Sky will probably just say,

'Thats nice Mr such and such, if you want us to do anything else you will have to pay £65 for call out, We have 5 million customer who are unable to recive another service so it doesnt really matter what we do to them! other than that we couldnt give a rats ass goodbye'

[gazzae]

Originally Posted by mdean

If you can put up with $kys horrible red button

I don't see why the red dot on the screen annoys so many people.

I barely notice it, and if I do I just hit the back-up button and its gone.

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by mdean

If you can put up with $kys horrible red button and the higher price fair enough, but wtf is the attraction of $ky+ It is propriatary and ties you into $ky why not by one of the many alternatives which will work with any provider

The red button is there because Sky have a decent interactive (eTV) service. What do you think will be appearing on NTL screens when they eventually get their eTV service working as good as Skys?

Sky may be slightly dearer at the moment but NTL will no doubt raise their prices soon. You do get a bit more for your money with Sky though.

Sky+ gives you the ability to easily record future programs and series in the quality that it was originally broadcast in. You can also record one digital channel whilst you watch another or record two different digital channels at the same time. What alternative gives you that ability? Try it for a while before you knock it.

I don't mind constructive criticism of a product if there is a cheaper, better alternative product on the market, but is there?

Some people will prefer Sky, some Freeview and some NTL or Telewest. If their chosen provider gives them what they want at a price that is acceptable then to them it is a good decision. Problems with a provider will tarnish your image of that provider, but not all people have problems with their chosen provider even if it is NTL, or in your case, Sky.

[carthage]

I have had sky since 1999 and no probs with them at all - From 1999 to 2004 I was an ntl employee and worked in faults for a period - would not have ntl in the house even when it was free to staff - I saw all the problems with the stb and was glad that I did not have it

[mdean]

and by the same token i cant understand anyone staying with ntl if they can get out of it [/QUOTE]

Why tho'

You like the red dot ?

See those who explain why it is useless http://www.whatvideotv.com/frame.htm...n/petition.php


You want to pay more for BT + $ky than NTL for any phone package and tv package (WHY!!)

You want to sell your TV soul to Murdoch by buying a $ky + box that does not work with any other platform !!! when you could buy any number of DVd r or hard disk machines that don't happen to be being pushed like made on $ky adverts but will work with NTL, freeview or FTA sat boxes

Make the case cos it makes no sense

On every score NTL wins.