SKY DIGITAL v NTL DIGITAL

PRman

Hi, can't decide whether to get sky or ntl. anyone faced the same diliema or anything to add to my list below? Also is a phone line required for sky?

Sky

Pro's
More channels
Pause /record live TV
Service Better?
Mre tech advanced

Con's
More expensive.
If have to pay NTL for cable upstairs anyway


NTL

Pro's
Cheaper
You don't have to pay more for cable

Con's
Less Channels
Slow with HD technology?
No pausing, recording live TV
No playercam for sports

cheers

Charlie

Hey,

Around this time last year I was sitting in the exact same position as you. In the end we opted to switch to Sky+, getting two + boxes and keeping ntl basic cable for the rents bedroom (may ditch this soon if we get a magic eye). We haven't looked back since. Sky+ is superb, especially if ( as your post indicates) you subscrube to the sports pack and don't have to pay the €15 month fee.

Similar to you I was looking at sky because of the extra channels and interactive features. However, in the end I rarely use these features (although sky news active is very handy) because I am usually just trying to catch up with watching the programs that I have recorded on my + box.

Sky are cutting edge and the product the provide is far superior (in my view) to ntl's. Their one downfall is customer service. The people they employ to do installs in the dublin area give area a shower of chancers, I beileive the company they subcontract is Sierra. Furthermore, it is quite difficult to get through to their customer care line without waiting 30 mins(+) and even when you do get through they often do not know how to rectify your problem. However, you will only experience this frustration if you actually have a problem and even then it will be sorted in a matter of days.

To conclude, I would recommend switching, particularly if you are opting for Sky+ as it really will change the way you watch and use television.

watty

Satellite you still have gear and 45+ decent TV and 50+ radio if you cancel
NTL you have nothing if you cancel

Satellite if you move it works nearly anywhere.

Cable only works on cable areas

satellite quality much higher/


Cable good bundle deal on TV + broadband + Phone.

jesus_thats_gre

No comparison in my opinion. Had Sky Digital for about 3/4 years when I lived with the parents. Then moved to Dublin and the only option was NTL Digital. I can honestly describe my experience as depressing. Been back with Sky+ now for about 3/4 months and it is an absolute joy.

I would also compare the on screen menus and channel guide - Sky's is vastly superior. The sky remote is also far superior.

Sparky

My opinion is simple

NTL =:( :mad:
Sky =:D

We went to NTL because it was cheaper for multiroom, but we are now considering going back to Sky.

Don't change from Sky unless you really have to

Pal

No contest

SKY

I and many others find that
NTL remote controls don't work.

PRman

Hi, thanks for the replies. Still can't make up my mind!! I'm leaning towards SKY as they seem to be more cutting edge, etc. but we don't have a phone line, so I believe we can't get multi-room because of this??? Wouldn't mind getting the HD box but can't afford it!!!

moododa

Nthell is very bad the picture cuts out and the channels are very blocky.

Sky is not perfect but it's a dream next to NTL.

PRman

hi, is it true that with sky digital u can't get UTV or Channel Four? What about Setanta Sports? cheers

Johnny Storm

You can get UTV but in a slightly fiddly way. Cant get C4 or Setanta AFAIK.

satgirl

If you go with $ky, don't sign up for too long, just in case this story about NTL (UPC) holds true.

Charlie

satgirl wrote:

If you go with $ky, don't sign up for too long, just in case this story about NTL (UPC) holds true.

In fairness, all they are really doing is hoping to catch up with services that Sky have already rolled out (in the case of Sky+ a good 6 years) nothing more (unless you VOD is high on your wish list)

Ntl are great at making promises. type in ntl interactive into google ireland and you will see that they were promising interactive services for ntl digital to be rolled out by 2003!!

Furthermore, whilst they are no longer related, Ntl in the u.k have rolled out a pvr and hi def box which is supposed to be terrible in comparission to Sky's offering.

Their customer care might be billix but, Sky are cutting edge and deliver a fantastic product which in my opinion no one else gets close to.

DS

We had Sky ordered at one point earlier this year but cancelled it when we realised you don't get Channel 4. We were actually told by the sales rep who sold it to us that we would get the channel, but this turned out to be bull**** of course.

As far as NTL goes, it's not too bad. Sometimes the service gets choppy and unreliable, sometimes the EPG stops updating, and some of the remotes on the new STBs are unresponsive from my experience, even though mine is fine.

Also I understand that you can't view program information from the onscreen EPG without going into the full TV guide on Sky, unlike NTL, which I use a lot. Someone correct me if I'm wrong on that.

higster

For best "product" its SKY+...but when things go wrong they are an ABSOLUTE disaster.

1hr on hold today as one small example.

Expect to see a lot of postings over the next few weeks re no shows of installers, not getting in time for christmas etc etc

watty

There is a way to get C4 on Sky, easy if you have a UK/ NI postcode address (£21 one off payment to Sky).

The Sky folks never realise they are talking to someone outside UK.

Mossy Monk

watty wrote:

There is a way to get C4 on Sky, easy if you have a UK/ NI postcode address (£21 one off payment to Sky)

or an Irish sub from this Monday if the latest thread about the subject is true

satgirl

charlie mchugh wrote:

In fairness, all they are really doing is hoping to catch up with services that Sky have already rolled out (in the case of Sky+ a good 6 years) nothing more (unless you VOD is high on your wish list)

I'd agree $ky is better.

NTL selling points would be that it can be very cheap and can be installed in premises where a dish cannot. Multi-room service of basic radio and TV channels is quite good value.

That said, the digital box's software is awful, the EPG is unreliable & the program line-up is packed with ho-hum British-oriented channels loaded with advertising. To add insult to injury, they use a lot of compression on some channels and audio quality is thin.

Let's see how they fare next year.

Sparky

Tbh, if ch4 was on sky (as it may be from monday), there would be more uptake of the service. I know a load of people that didn't get sky because of two things.

1. No channel4
2. No setanta on family pack

I'd say if sky had these set the way above, more people would consider it.

LFCFan

Sparky-s wrote:

1. No channel4

I don't understand this reason for not getting Sky. A lot of the shows on CH 4 are on E4 and at the end of the day, there's very little worth watching on Channel 4 outside of what can be seen on other channels.

We had NTL Digital when we first moved into this house because we had no phoneline but once we got that we moved to Sky, then Sky + and there is no comparison. Sky is soooo much better then NTL.

Some posts have mentioned Sky's poor customer service but NTL's is 10 times worse.

In 4 months with NTL, our service went down 14 times. In 4 years with Sky, the service has dropped 3 times and each time it came back within an hour. Mostly due to really bad wind and rain.

The Sky + features are FAR superior then anything NTL have or will have in the near future.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents.

recipio

I'm considering ditching chorus for Sky with HD. The only thing putting me off was that the guy in my local shop said I have to run a phone cable to the main t.v. ( I have two ) I already have Broadband and my house alarm on it so I'm reluctant to mess with it and don't want the look of another cable. Is this actually the case ??

Mossy Monk

it is in the terms & conditions. people have mentioned a clause where you can pay extra to not have the phone line. i am sure someone will give the details

Blaster99

NTL's services, present or future, are not the same everywhere. They can't deliver most of their new services except in limited areas. The quality of the picture depends on where you are and is my experience much better on Sky.

The lack of C4 on Sky is a major problem for me, which is why I'm still on NTL. The whole telephone thing is crap too as I don't have a connected socket anywhere near either of my TV's.

stanley1

installer might insist on it, but all software upgrades are done through Astra satellite, so just unplug it.

watty

Likely C4 on Vaiety pack from Monday and you pay 37.50 extra once off to not have phone, except on Mirror sub which MUCH have both boxes on same line.

quad_red

and it was depressing to be reminded of just how much better Sky digital is. The menu system is fast, crisp and responsive. The program guide WORKS. It's a doddle to order games/movies etc.

To go back to NTL is depressing as hell. We got NTL Digital in October (couldn't get Sky in our building) and we're on our THIRD box. The program guide doesn't work meaning that you've got to search a channels number out of the program guide, then go back to tv and enter the number manually. The box also has to be reset at least once a night. It is slow, unresponsive and unintuitive.

Myself and my gf have taken three half days off for this sh*te to be addressed already.

And as for packages - we're in Dublin 2 and we can't get broadband. Call them asking and they'll tell you our area will be broadband enabled in:
1) Late November
2) Mid - 2007
3) Mid December
4) No idea.

Take your pick.

Furthermore, in regards to the offers/prices etc we were offered when we joined. Slippy, poorly explained and enormously misleading.

NTL does have Setanta and Film 4 as standard. But it's main advantage, Channel 4, is now on Sky.

To finish up - Sky are more expensive, yeah. But you certainly get what you bloody pay for with NTL.

Mossy Monk

quad_red wrote:

NTL does have Setanta and Film 4 as standard

Film 4 is completely free on satellite you know. no subscription is required

quad_red

Mossy Monk wrote:

Film 4 is completely free on satellite you know. no subscription is required

Well, that halves the positives for NTL then!

watty

Mossy Monk wrote:

Film 4 is completely free on satellite you know. no subscription is required

Yep algong with 22 BBCs, 17 ITVs etc you don't even need a Sky Digibox. A satellite Dish, LNB, cable, and DVB-S receiver plus a clear view of sky to south East helps though.

watty

Two Sky Mix packs (say Knowledge and Variety) costs less than my phone line rental. I'm cancelling the phone line this week and keeping Sky on one Digibox. The other 5 satellite receivers get just free channels. Up to 3500 on the Motorised one.