New ChorusNTL Digital Video Recorder?!

[sticker]

Hey all,

Quick question! - I'm using regular NTL atm (no movies/sports), I was gonna switch to Sky to get the sky+ but I got a flyer in the door today for the €5 a month Digital Video Recorder - with free installation included.

Anyone using it? / would it rate as good as Sky+?

I believe the Sky+ box can record 40 hours whereas the NTL box can record 80 hours.

Just wondering what you guys would recommend!

Thanks in advance!

[Rosser]

The 'DVR' is good and well worth the €5 p/m, I'd recommend it for sure. Not quite up to Sky+ but does the job none the less.

[sticker]

Originally Posted by Rosser

The 'DVR' is good and well worth the €5 p/m, I'd recommend it for sure. Not quite up to Sky+ but does the job none the less.

Thanks Rosser

[bryanw]

I can't really recommend the "DVR" part.

We decided a couple of weeks ago to get the DVR after already having the normal digital Pace box. Of course it took several attempts to even get them to come out. They finally came (late) and we got the DVR set up. Surprise, surprise it didn't record, pause, FF or RW.

My Dad rang 'em up the next (working) day and was on hold/hung up on etc. for 2 hours.

Sky are coming today to give us a Sky+ box and multiroom with normal Sky box for the same monthly price!

UPC need to get their customer service in order to be able to compete - we've been with them for YEARS (since they started as Cablelink even, I think) - not anymore.

[sticker]

Originally Posted by bryanw

I can't really recommend the "DVR" part.

We decided a couple of weeks ago to get the DVR after already having the normal digital Pace box. Of course it took several attempts to even get them to come out. They finally came (late) and we got the DVR set up. Surprise, surprise it didn't record, pause, FF or RW.

My Dad rang 'em up the next (working) day and was on hold/hung up on etc. for 2 hours.

Sky are coming today to give us a Sky+ box and multiroom with normal Sky box for the same monthly price!

UPC need to get their customer service in order to be able to compete - we've been with them for YEARS (since they started as Cablelink even, I think) - not anymore.

I've heard a lot of other horror stories about them myself - It was just an easy sell seeing as NTL say Sky charge €150 for the kit and €45 for installation of Sky+. Compared to an easy €5 a month on the bill and free installation, I was gonna just go for the NTL option. But if the kit doesn't work, then thats a different story!

I was just concerned with the hardware comparison.

As a matter of interest *probably dumbass question* do these machines have the capacity to burn onto DVDR/RW discs?!

[Appleblossom42]

Highly recommend the dvr, would be lost without it now. I've had it since before christmas and (touch wood) have had no problems. It records 80 hrs, only thing is you can't record 2 programmes at once like you can with sky. Hopefully in time this will be possible.

[Deedsie]

I was just wondering if anyone has heard when UPC intend to roll out the DVR Box in MMDS areas or if it has been already in some areas. I rang UPC in January, to try order a DVR box for North Tipperary. But they said its not available yet.

And also does anyone know if i could get a new chorus box, we recently got a new TV and with the old Sagem "12 Inch?" box there isnt enough room on the shelf, would UPC swap this box for us? I actually have two boxes, one small one in the kitchen & the old bigger box in the living room.

Thanks in advance for any help.

[RangeR]

The UPC DVR's don't have Series Link, so you can't tell it to record every episode in a season of a particular tv program. I believe that the feature is planned but not available yet.

Originally Posted by Deedsie

And also does anyone know if i could get a new chorus box, we recently got a new TV and with the old Sagem "12 Inch?" box there isnt enough room on the shelf, would UPC swap this box for us? I actually have two boxes, one small one in the kitchen & the old bigger box in the living room.

As far as I know, you are "renting" the boxes from UPC. If a box was to .... break .... I'm sure UPC would replace it for you. If they replace it, I'm pretty sure you would get a small unit. Might want to clarify that with them to make sure that there is no charge for a replacement box. They may also want to take the broken box back.

[watty]

The boxes are UPC property.
ex-Chorus MMDS uses a different system. ex-NTL MMDS, NTL cable and chorus cable basically use the same system. The cable head end needs features/signals to support the Cable DVR usage.

[The tax man]

Originally Posted by bryanw

I can't really recommend the "DVR" part.

We decided a couple of weeks ago to get the DVR after already having the normal digital Pace box. Of course it took several attempts to even get them to come out. They finally came (late) and we got the DVR set up. Surprise, surprise it didn't record, pause, FF or RW.

My Dad rang 'em up the next (working) day and was on hold/hung up on etc. for 2 hours.

Sky are coming today to give us a Sky+ box and multiroom with normal Sky box for the same monthly price!

UPC need to get their customer service in order to be able to compete - we've been with them for YEARS (since they started as Cablelink even, I think) - not anymore.

What box did you get....

Box A
or
Box B

[PauloMN]

Originally Posted by sticker

Hey all,

Quick question! - I'm using regular NTL atm (no movies/sports), I was gonna switch to Sky to get the sky+ but I got a flyer in the door today for the €5 a month Digital Video Recorder - with free installation included.

Anyone using it? / would it rate as good as Sky+?

I believe the Sky+ box can record 40 hours whereas the NTL box can record 80 hours.

Just wondering what you guys would recommend!

Thanks in advance!

I'm also in Clonee and I got the DVR a few months back, works fine for me so far. Wouldn't be without it now, great being able to record something and watch something else - especially when there's kids in the house!

No series link is the biggest downside IMO, not sure if that something they will address, hopefully so. Capacity is big, I've only ever used around 10% of the capacity with hours upon hours of stuff recorded, but I do clear out the recordings frequently enough.

I'd like a way to download programs onto a PC though - not sure if this is something that Sky+ supports or not. Maybe it's something that they don't want people to be able to do as it would make illegal sharing of programs much easier I guess.

I'd recommend that you investigate the phone and internet packages also. If I just used UPC for TV, I'd probably be inclined to look at Sky+ as an alternative, but when you add the 12Mb broadband and the phone line into the mix, it makes much more sense pricewise.

[sticker]

Originally Posted by PauloMN

I'm also in Clonee and I got the DVR a few months back, works fine for me so far. Wouldn't be without it now, great being able to record something and watch something else - especially when there's kids in the house!

No series link is the biggest downside IMO, not sure if that something they will address, hopefully so. Capacity is big, I've only ever used around 10% of the capacity with hours upon hours of stuff recorded, but I do clear out the recordings frequently enough.

I'd like a way to download programs onto a PC though - not sure if this is something that Sky+ supports or not. Maybe it's something that they don't want people to be able to do as it would make illegal sharing of programs much easier I guess.

I'd recommend that you investigate the phone and internet packages also. If I just used UPC for TV, I'd probably be inclined to look at Sky+ as an alternative, but when you add the 12Mb broadband and the phone line into the mix, it makes much more sense pricewise.

Do you have the 12meg broadband here in Clonee?

How do you find it?!

I'd be concerned that my main NTL point is two floors away from my PC (in converted attic) - does the wireless aspect detract from the speed?

[RangeR]

Originally Posted by sticker

Do you have the 12meg broadband here in Clonee?

How do you find it?!

I'd be concerned that my main NTL point is two floors away from my PC (in converted attic) - does the wireless aspect detract from the speed?

Generally, they will run a cable to your PC and put the modem there too. Shouldn't be a problem.

[jedistev]

Hi


i'm in new area with it, cos in last 7 years i have using SKY, Since I moving new house in Remote village in Valley of wicklow, and just found out i cannot get Sky at all..cos Forest in top of valley is blocking Signal at all, unless i get more than 20 feets poles but can't due to healty and saftey, and sore eye as well

so i just found out that UPC DVR is avaible on my area..so i was planing going order this ..but i need know if they can provided Subtitles..cos i have hear story way back in Chorus and NTL are not great with subtitles..

so i wonder how good is subtitles and can Subtitles record in DVR with movie ?!?!?

your answers would be great

[watty]

Who said you can't get Sky?
The elevation is about 22 degrees. It would need to nearly be a cliff beside your house. Or a valley like a East / West trench.

You can even get Sky with a dish just above gutter with your own roof in the way!

A 60ft tree about 150 ft away would be cleared. Direction is also to South East.