Freeview & hard drive recordings on NTL

[M35A2C]

Here's a question (to which I suspect the answer in no)
If a freeview/hard drive recorder box is plugged into the ntl cable (directly or after the analogue box) will it be able to
A/ Get any picture?
B/ Record anything on the hard drive ?


I suspect that NTL dont send out freeview signals but then again as I dont even have the box yet I may save some money.

[Tezcatlipoca]

Originally Posted by M35A2C

Here's a question (to which I suspect the answer in no)
If a freeview/hard drive recorder box is plugged into the ntl cable (directly or after the analogue box) will it be able to
A/ Get any picture?
B/ Record anything on the hard drive ?


I suspect that NTL dont send out freeview signals but then again as I dont even have the box yet I may save some money.

A & B - Nope.


To get the freeview signals, you need an aerial (plus need to be in an area with coverage too)


The ntl cable carries the digital & analogue cable channels - no freeview signal.

Originally Posted by M35A2C

Here's a question (to which I suspect the answer in no)
If a freeview/hard drive recorder box is plugged into the ntl cable (directly or after the analogue box) will it be able to
A/ Get any picture?
B/ Record anything on the hard drive ?


I suspect that NTL dont send out freeview signals but then again as I dont even have the box yet I may save some money.

if you have an analogue box, have you got the aerial combiner dongle?

my record to hard disc experiments remain that, so far

[M35A2C]

Aerial combiner ? The part that sort of "bridges" the in & out ports of the analogue box ? or an external connection box ?

Sorry but maybe I havent got it as Im still not with you

Originally Posted by M35A2C

Aerial combiner ? The part that sort of "bridges" the in & out ports of the analogue box ? or an external connection box ?

Sorry but maybe I havent got it as Im still not with you

ex diamond cable, now ntl wallplate, to scientific atlanta box, which has a 'technetix" dongle which combines a tv/vcr 'f' connector and an rf 'ant' input. (CCW120-2)

- this is not the same as the 'bypass' people have mentioned

[Skippy81]

Not sure if this will help you, but in my setup at home I use my NTL cable line as my TV arial. Not only does this give a crisp picture, but I recieve a few of the freeview channels on a normal TV! (Sky Sports news etc, this is due to the TV having a wider tuning range than most, and the fact some "freeview" channels are broadcast by NTL in an analog format I assume.)

To do this I used a splitter which I bought from Maplin's and an adapter to convert the NTL type co-ax connector into a co-axial suitable for the TV. Together they came to under £10. You are spliting the NTL cable line after it comes out of the wall socket, but before it enters the cable modem/STB. This does cause a reduction in signal strength, but providing you only split the cable once between the wall and STB, you should be fine.

The guy in Maplin told me that this signal would also work with a digital terrestrial tv tuner (ie a freeview box) although I never got to put this to the test, and MattD is no doubt right. I can't really see NTL transmitting all the freeview channels in digital(mpeg2) format, especially when a few are already present in analog format. Still, it makes for a good analog arial though.

As for modifying your freeview box to record NTL only channels, It can't be done. You could always buy a PVR card for your PC .

[bob_builder]

Originally Posted by Skippy81

The guy in Maplin told me that this signal would also work with a digital terrestrial tv tuner (ie a freeview box) although I never got to put this to the test, and MattD is no doubt right. I can't really see NTL transmitting all the freeview channels in digital(mpeg2) format, especially when a few are already present in analog format. Still, it makes for a good analog arial though.

Correct NTL do not transmit Freeview digital MUX signals down the cable.
You will need a real aerial to pick up these signals.

[M35A2C]

Originally Posted by bob_builder

You will need a real aerial to pick up these signals.

Bum. (excuse my french)

What I cant have in a flat is an aerial. Maybe it'll just have to be a hard drive recorder then. Its just that the same video goes round again & again doing time shift recording so a hd recorder would make more sense with the freeview bit just a few extra quids.

Cheers guys for the help

[ZrByte]

Originally Posted by M35A2C

Bum. (excuse my french)

What I cant have in a flat is an aerial. Maybe it'll just have to be a hard drive recorder then. Its just that the same video goes round again & again doing time shift recording so a hd recorder would make more sense with the freeview bit just a few extra quids.

Cheers guys for the help

Indoor aerial will do the job just as well as a full sized aerial. though that does depend on your area.