NTL Digital

falteringstar

Im moving into a new apartment at the end of this month, cant put up a dish and NTL is already in there, so Ive a couple of questions about it, if you would be happy to oblige.

Has there been any improvement in the service, picture quailty, epg etc, since the UPC takeover?

Do they broadcast widescreen content in proper 16:9?

Does anyone know where I would find a list of channels on the packages?

Do the set-top boxes have an audio out put?

How much is multi-room, and is it identical to main box i.e. rtes bbcs plus all the digital?

Any sign of the PVR mentioned on today fm a few weeks back?

Thanks a bunch guys

falteringstar

Also are the Irish and British channels actually analogue I think I heard that somewhere

The tax man

Has there been any improvement in the service, picture quailty, epg etc, since the UPC takeover?

NO

Do they broadcast widescreen content in proper 16:9?

Only certain channels but others here will give the the low down on that front.

Does anyone know where I would find a list of channels on the packages?

http://mygamingladder.com/ntl/ntl.html

Do the set-top boxes have an audio out put?

The new small boxes do. L/R phono out also optical audio out.

How much is multi-room, and is it identical to main box i.e. rtes bbcs plus all the digital?

To forms of multi-room,analogue only or analogue+DTV.All additional stb's are mirrored from your first stb sub. Go to www.upc.ie for current pricing and offers on different platforms and packages.

Any sign of the PVR mentioned on today fm a few weeks back?

LMFAO

satgirl

falteringstar wrote:

Has there been any improvement in the service, picture quailty, epg etc, since the UPC takeover?

No, the audio is still low quality, Dolby Surround does not survive it. Some channels have frequent drop-outs.The channel line-up is biased heavily towards British audiences. For example, instead of offering Eurosport International, we're stuck with the 'British Eurosport'. Many of the extra channels, such as Nat Geo have high concentrations of very long advertising breaks.

Only a few token non-English speaking channels are provided.

The EPG itself is awful. Instead of giving a channel preview as schedules are browsed, it's compulsory to watch 'City Channel' while using it. Worse still, the EPG is slow and unreliable in retrieving listings plus the whole UI of the STB is klunky & sometimes unintuitive. Output is in old-fashioned RGB.

The service is useable and is adequate value for money, but not excellent.

falteringstar wrote:

Any sign of the PVR mentioned on today fm a few weeks back?

No.

icdg

falteringstar wrote:

Also are the Irish and British channels actually analogue I think I heard that somewhere

No, on NTL Digital (and now, I believe, on Chorus Digital cable) the Irish and British channels are proper digital versions. Chorus MMDS is a different story.

satgirl wrote:

The channel line-up is biased heavily towards British audiences. For example, instead of offering Eurosport International, we're stuck with the 'British Eurosport'.

Localised versions is the way Eurosport is heading. I'm not sure Eurosport International English will be around forever. The chances of an "Irish Eurosport" are remote, so making do with the British version is best.

If you want to burn everything British except their coal, you really need either (a) not subscribe to any multi-channel TV or (b) buy a satellite dish and aim it at one of the many satellites showing programming in foreign languages. Most Irish people however, are interested in programming in the English language which the overwhelming majority of the country speaks. And for the most part, English langauge programmes emmenates from Britain. And NTL Digital offers more Irish content than satellite. UPC is a US-owned, Dutch-based company which doesn't operate at all in the United Kingdom so charging it with favouring UK audiences is something which can't really be sustained in the long term.

Many of the extra channels, such as Nat Geo have high concentrations of very long advertising breaks.

Not NTL / UPC's fault - the channel is identical to its satellite version.

The EPG itself is awful. Instead of giving a channel preview as schedules are browsed, it's compulsory to watch 'City Channel' while using it.

That window was originally intended for Front Row PPV previews, though it was never used for that purpose in Ireland. It showed the ITN News Channel for ages.

Worse still, the EPG is slow and unreliable in retrieving listings plus the whole UI of the STB is klunky & sometimes unintuitive.

Completely agree - the Guide interface is awful, slow, and often doesn't give beyond the current day's schedule. This is a major thing UPC need to address. I tend to use Browse (which doesn't interrupt the channel you are currently viewing and gives all the same information) rather than Guide.

falteringstar

Thanks for all your replies guys.

Ive been spoiled with Sky Plus for the last few years, I'm convinced I cant do without it at this stage. I am going to try to get one of those hidden dishes if I can, but I suppose NTL will be an adequate, although far inferior, alternative!

Ive one more question, how does it look on an LCD panel? Sky looks good on mine now, not all channels look great, but the ones I watch most are perfect with no mpeg artifacts. Is this an issue with NTL, how are high are their bit rates and are there artifacts?