2nd STB - can these be purchased outright?

[Metsfan]

Does anyone know if there is any precedent to purchase the STB's outrright - I have second box for 3 years now and at £15/month feels a bit expensive given the fact they only cost about $85?

[bmxbandit]

um, you're paying for the tv service as well as the box... at least it's less than if you had two separate tv connections.

to the site btw

You are paying for mtce as well.

[hutchy]

I think the only problem you would find if you did (or could for that matter) purchase your 2nd STB is if it stops working, then you'd be up the creek.

[Metsfan]

valid point, but at least (assuming I could purchase outright, as you say) I'd be able to throw the box away and get a new one every 3-4 months based on cost of the boxes to to ntl versus the monthly fee ! Cheers anyway.
__________________

Thanks bmxbandit, I agree that I'm paying for services etc as well, but assumed these were mainly covered by the fee for the first box, (especially since I mainly only have the second box for its location in the house rather than the ability to watch different channels on the 2 TV's). I had therefore assumed the cost of the additional box was mainly for the outlay that ntl have on the box rather than the cost for them to provide two services as well as the two sets of hardware. Thanks anyway, just a thought - trying to find way of saving against the £180 per year for the additional box.

To answer your question ... no you can't. NTL won't allow you to connect any equipment to their network that they don't own.

[bmxbandit]

you could split the signal after the ntl box, run a length of coax to the second tv. you could obviously only watch the same channel on both at once, and it could be a pain to change channels (though i'm sure i saw a thread somewhere here on ir repeaters...), but it may well be your best and cheapest option

[sweaty]

Try ebay but they won't work much. you are paying for rental. Its amazing how many people think they own the boxes after 12 months, like SKY

[Stuart]

The other thing the bear in mind is that if NTL detect multiple failed connection attempts by the box, the Acceptable use team may get in touch. You would also risk your account being terminated.

[poolking]

Originally Posted by sweaty

Try ebay but they won't work much. you are paying for rental. Its amazing how many people think they own the boxes after 12 months, like SKY

I was under the impression that the SKY box is your's from the outset?

[sweaty]

It is in theory but if you don't subscribe etc, then you have to pay the full cost, unless you get one of the free sat deals. i had problems with my phone line not being connected as I was decorating and ripped them out to re-cable. Sky sent me letters that i was in breach of contract so i had to quickly get my staple gun out and re-cable fast!

Originally Posted by poolking

I was under the impression that the SKY box is your's from the outset?

Yes, you do own the box immediately. There's no theory about it. They do compel you to keep it connected to a phone line for a year as a condition of them giving it to you for nothing, but that doesn't affect the ownership of the box during that first year.

$ky phoned me up the other week trying to sell me extended warranty for it.

[marky]

ive had 3 boxes in 12 months so i'm sure i wouldnt like to own one

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by Chris T

Yes, you do own the box immediately. There's no theory about it. They do compel you to keep it connected to a phone line for a year as a condition of them giving it to you for nothing, but that doesn't affect the ownership of the box during that first year.

$ky phoned me up the other week trying to sell me extended warranty for it.

Are you sure that it was Sky? I have had calls on a number of occasions from a company who appeared to claim that they were part of Sky and offering extended warranties on my Sky+ box. I contacted Sky and got this response:

Originally Posted by Sky

Regrettably, we have no knowledge of Nationwide Digital Warranty Service and I am unable to confirm how they got your details. That said, I can confirm that your Sky+ digibox is covered with a twelve month warranty and additional cover is available through Sky if required. Alternatively, Sky will provide a service call at 65.00 (GBP) for digiboxes outwith their warranty where we will guarantee to repair or replace your digibox, providing a 90 day warranty on any repair or replacement product.

With my original digiboxes still going strong after five years and never needing an engineer visit I will rely on the £65 call out and repair or replace (usually replace I am told but few people seem to have problems).

[orangebird]

Originally Posted by Metsfan

Does anyone know if there is any precedent to purchase the STB's outrright - I have second box for 3 years now and at £15/month feels a bit expensive given the fact they only cost about $85?

Not quite - 3 years ago ntl were approx £190 for an stb.