[merged] Broadband Plus

Originally Posted by Chrysalis

is the trial CM nationwide trial?

Yes. It got a brief mention in the forum somewhere as I recall.

[Pea-Pod]

Okay, so I used the VideoZone on Broadband plus and despite having a 600k connection the Britney Spears Video (and other's too) Everytime kept stuttering and stalling like Gareth Gates with a bad hair day! Incidently I also use the VideoZone on Realplayer Plus and it's fine on there. I notice that the Video Songs are encoded at a 600kbps bit rate on NTL but only a 250Kbps rate on Realplayer. Hence why NTL's VidZone keeps stalling because I haven't got enough bandwidth from my 600k connection. NTL keep saying though that Broadband Plus is suitable for 600K to 1MB connections. So what are they playing at, encoded Video's at too high a bit rate, I can't downstream them!!!

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by Pea-Pod

Okay, so I used the VideoZone on Broadband plus and despite having a 600k connection the Britney Spears Video (and other's too) Everytime kept stuttering and stalling like Gareth Gates with a bad hair day! Incidently I also use the VideoZone on Realplayer Plus and it's fine on there. I notice that the Video Songs are encoded at a 600kbps bit rate on NTL but only a 250Kbps rate on Realplayer. Hence why NTL's VidZone keeps stalling because I haven't got enough bandwidth from my 600k connection. NTL keep saying though that Broadband Plus is suitable for 600K to 1MB connections. So what are they playing at, encoded Video's at too high a bit rate, I can't downstream them!!!

have you tried increasing the receive buffer?

Originally Posted by Pea-Pod

So what are they playing at, encoded Video's at too high a bit rate, I can't downstream them!!!

I doubt they are encoded by NTL

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by Pem

I doubt they are encoded by NTL

correct indeed... all done by the content provider... so it is Videozone that have done it

[Pea-Pod]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

have you tried increasing the receive buffer?

Do you know how I can do that?

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by Pea-Pod

Do you know how I can do that?

which client is it using? does it use windows media player or realone?

[Pea-Pod]

Originally Posted by monkeybreath

which client is it using? does it use windows media player or realone?

NTL Broadband Plus (Vidzone) uses Windows Media Player however the same song that was 650kbs earlier this afternoon was now playing @ 476kbs bit rate?? This allowed a smoother, uninterupted playback than perviously.

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by Pea-Pod

NTL Broadband Plus (Vidzone) uses Windows Media Player however the same song that was 650kbs earlier this afternoon was now playing @ 476kbs bit rate?? This allowed a smoother, uninterupted playback than perviously.

ok well for future reference...
tools -> options-> performance -> buffer

[Pea-Pod]

Many thanks

Well I got this today ;

Dear Paul,

Your free trial of Broadband Plus has now expired.

To continue accessing the service and your downloads*, simply add Broadband Plus to your ntl bill.

No credit cards or long contracts, simply click this email to visit Broadband Plus and follow the prompts to add the £3.99 monthly subscription to your ntl bill. You can cancel your subscription at any time.

So I guess no more BB+ for me - not that I will miss it much.

Funny that, considering I never even accepted the trial.
Or are they " fishing "?
How many other people in my situation have received the same message from NTL.?

[Neil]

I received it!!

(Thread moved to 'Broadband' Discussion Forum)

[1701-e]

I received a free web-cam last week from marketing for upgrading my BB- thing is I didn't & I haven't been billed either!!

[zovat]

Originally Posted by arcamalpha2004

Funny that, considering I never even accepted the trial.
Or are they " fishing "?
How many other people in my situation have received the same message from NTL.?

Got the message, but then I did sign up for the free trial..