NTL 250 modem

02-11-2006, 19:03

Hi, apologies if this has been asked before.
Just had a cable modem(NTL 250) put in today, previously had broadband through set top box.
Very simple question, is there an on/off switch on this modem. I tried to press the power button but nothing seems to be happening !

Thanks

Chris W · 02-11-2006, 19:25

there isn't- if you wish to switch it off, simply unplug the power.

there is no issue with leaving it running 24/7 though

02-11-2006, 21:36

Except the electric bill !

Thanks for your reply Chris.
Cheers

jaycee · 08-11-2006, 22:21

The cost of this unit using electricity is negligible... a table lamp would use about 3 times the power of the cable modem. It would be more efficient still if they used switchmode power supplies instead of the normal "wall warts" the NTL:250 and so on use.

dannyboi2003 · 10-11-2006, 00:23

I had my old TJ 210 modem changed for a new ntl 250 a few months ago as it had failed and the engineer simply reused the psu from my old TJ 210 unit which is a tiny little electronic one which isnt a walwart but is fed via a "figure of 8" power cable. The ntl 250 he had was in a small box without a psu which i assume is for when they swap out failed modems like mine.

Just wondered if anyone else had seen this done?

All the best
Dan

jaycee · 10-11-2006, 11:17

I have not heard of it being done but it does not surprise me. The wall wart puts out something like 10V, and inside the modem this is regulated down to the various voltages needed by the circuits. A 9-12V supply would probably work too. Of course I don't recommend you try this...

samsungdude · 10-11-2006, 20:50

polo, may i ask why u got a stand alone modem instead of it being thru the set top box? because iv been having terrible speeds for god knows how long, ntl are now sending out the 4th person, but this time to install a stand alone modem as CS said that it will solve the problem, but i dont think it will.

Paul K · 10-11-2006, 20:58

SACMs are fitted when STBs are present if there are problems with the connection or if a higher tier level is in use as some STBs cannot handle the higher speed levels.

mmm · 10-11-2006, 21:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyboi2003

I had my old TJ 210 modem changed for a new ntl 250 a few months ago as it had failed and the engineer simply reused the psu from my old TJ 210 unit which is a tiny little electronic one which isnt a walwart but is fed via a "figure of 8" power cable. The ntl 250 he had was in a small box without a psu which i assume is for when they swap out failed modems like mine.

Just wondered if anyone else had seen this done?

All the best
Dan

That's crazy - the psu is just as old as the failed modem and is sure to be past its best - a number of people have reported failed psus on the TJ210 after only a couple of years.

I reckon the installer just fancied a new 12V 1A psu for his own use, and stole yours!

FireFoxx80 · 17-11-2006, 13:04

My engineer yesterday did this. Swapped out the old TJ and put in a ntl250, but used the old TJ PSU.

Heedyheed · 17-11-2006, 15:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by FireFoxx80

My engineer yesterday did this. Swapped out the old TJ and put in a ntl250, but used the old TJ PSU.

I had a TJ210 swapped out for an NTL 250 yesterday. I'd read these posts about some engineers using the old 210 psu on the new modem and it struck me as an odd thing to do.

My old 210 psu was quite a small unit that had a normal 2-core mains cable feeding into it. Consequently it was possible to hide it out of the way. It was labelled as having a 12 volt 1 amp output.

My new NTL 250 modem came in a box complete with a psu and stand. Unfortunately the psu is one of those block things built around a mains plug, so it's not as tidy as the old 210 unit. The new supply is rated at 10 volt 1.3 amp.

The output of these supplies is almost certainly unregulated so I suppose using a psu with a nominal 12 volt output instead of the 'proper' one that's rated at 10 volt is OK-ish, but hardly best practice. It all depends on the capabilities of any additional regulation circuitry in the NTL 250.

I'd imagine it's luck of the draw as to whether you get a brand-new complete unit or one that's maybe been used previously and has parted company with its psu and stand.

Mike

FireFoxx80 · 17-11-2006, 15:59

Mine were just being lazy, the modem sits under the stairs and it's a bit of a rat's nest of cables. I said they could unplug anything they liked in order to test the new modem, but they just used the old one.

Toto · 17-11-2006, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmm

That's crazy - the psu is just as old as the failed modem and is sure to be past its best - a number of people have reported failed psus on the TJ210 after only a couple of years.

I reckon the installer just fancied a new 12V 1A psu for his own use, and stole yours!

Don't think he stole the PSU.

19-11-2006, 11:56

Hi samsungdude,

When I called NTL to tell them that my pace box only has a speed upto 1mb, I was advised that they would install me a stand alone cable modem. There was no mention of just upgrading the set top box.
Also, I had previously had a samsung box and I noticed that as soon as you select the RGB option, the picture would darken up !
Hope this helps