Quick Questions about Chorus and NTL

falteringstar

Im moving house in a couple of weeks, and Im not sure but I dont think I can have Sky there, so I want to know a couple of things about NTL and Chorus.

1. Do either have a proper widescreen picture?
> My grandparents have Chorus and I was messing around with their chorus box, and changed the settings from 4:3 to 16:9 and the picture was still a 4:3 one. They have a widescreen tv, which is actually my old one, but no widescreen picture. Very disappointed

2. Do either have an alternative to sky plus?
> I cant live without sky plus, as alot of things i watch are recored while Im not at home, and sometimes they clash with eachother which is where sky plus really comes in handy... so do either have a similar service?

Thanks guys

bk

falteringstar wrote:

Im moving house in a couple of weeks, and Im not sure but I dont think I can have Sky there, so I want to know a couple of things about NTL and Chorus.

1. Do either have a proper widescreen picture?
> My grandparents have Chorus and I was messing around with their chorus box, and changed the settings from 4:3 to 16:9 and the picture was still a 4:3 one. They have a widescreen tv, which is actually my old one, but no widescreen picture. Very disappointed

NTL does, but I can't say for Chorus, but I'd imagine they can.

Remember it depends on what the broadcaster is transmitting.

falteringstar wrote:

2. Do either have an alternative to sky plus?
> I cant live without sky plus, as alot of things i watch are recored while Im not at home, and sometimes they clash with eachother which is where sky plus really comes in handy... so do either have a similar service?

No, UPC (NTL/Chorus owners) are expected to introduce it eventually, but I wouldn't hold my breath.

There are alternatives. I use a hacked TiVo to record from NTL, better then Sky plus but very difficult to set up (need experiences of Linux etc).

An easier solution would be to build a Windows Media Center Edition (MCE) PC or a Linux MythTV PC, all of which can do the same as Sky Plus and far, far more.

watty

A lot of the Chorus feeds are analog so no 16:9
Chorus Digital in some areas has Digital RTE/TV3/TG4 so might have WS when those are transmitting WS.


If anyone knows how to drive a real TV with a builtin SCART on Media PC or Myth TV under 2,000 Euro let me know.

A decent media PC is close to €1500. You can't use a digital input without Chorus permission and a card reader. The quality of analog PVR is poor compared to a Digital PVR.

UPC will introduce a PVR, but who knows when.

Get the Grandparent Satellite. If they mostly interested in ITV/BBC they don't even need a subscription, rental free PVR about 400 Euro, or else Sky+ (recording rental extra).

bk

watty wrote:

If anyone knows how to drive a real TV with a builtin SCART on Media PC or Myth TV under 2,000 Euro let me know.

A decent media PC is close to €1500. You can't use a digital input without Chorus permission and a card reader. The quality of analog PVR is poor compared to a Digital PVR.

Watty, you can easily build a Media PC for a few hundred Euro, really not that difficult. You are right, off the shelf MCE's are expensive, but almost no one actually buy's them, most people build their own.

You are right, it is analogue, not digital, but I can honestly say that I've compared a Sky+ box and a MCE side by side and I couldn't actually notice any difference, so it is fine for 99% of people.

And you have to admit, MCE can do far cooler things then Sky+ and there is no monthly charge, that quickly adds up and would have paid for a media PC.

watty

Yes, I have Linux and Windows boxes with tuners and they are fun.. But for decent 720 x 576 x 25i performance and TV out closer to 800s 1000s rather than 100s to 200s and I wouldn't give one to someone I hated that wasn't computer literate.

The reelbox makes a Media PC look silly. But the current user interface not brilliant. It's really a Linux VDR, with up to 4 tuners.

gerryo

watty wrote:

If anyone knows how to drive a real TV with a builtin SCART on Media PC or Myth TV under 2,000 Euro let me know.

Some old PCI graphics cards can output at TV frequencies, all you need do is hack the monitor modeline settings in XF86Config. I did get an old Chips 'n tech 69000 VGA controller to drive a TV with a SCART, had to make a simple RGB to SCART converter lead. Only cost was time.

For Windows OS, you can write a simple exe to program the VGA sync registers directly on startup. After PC boots, the exe reprograms the VGA sync's to TV friendly frequencies & you can use the TV as the PC monitor.

You need to read the VGA card's controller hardware spec to see if it supports TV. A lot do, but most needed extra H/W to convert to composite, as SCART is unknown in the USA, so it's not done very often, but when it works, it works great.

Linux is better for this than Windows.
That was RBG, not composite btw.

watty

Yes I have a VGA to SCART convertor. But it is hardly high quality nor built in. I did what you suggest about 14 years ago in DOS with Trident VGA card.

You can also get component to RGB & Composite SCART convertors.

If it isn't built in and able to do RGB and Composite, then for Europe it is stupidity. THe USA doesn't have SCART, only RCA composent or component. Most Europe sets only SCART and some only Composite SCART.