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Basic question on Digital v Analogue

  • 10-05-2008 9:58am
    #1
    katecarbery
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭


    Hi
    I'm not as technical as everyone else in this forum seems to be, so my question's prob a bit basic - but anyway..! Want to sign up for cable/digital/whateverucallit as we are using rabbit's ears..We live in D2 and are naturally suspicious about UPC...! But we dont have a choice as we can't use a dish on the apartment wall and magnet don't serve this area.

    I suppose my question is:

    Is there any reason to go for analogue instead of digital? it's only a few euro difference...What problems might I have?

    K


Comments

  • #2
    paulm17781
    Closed Accounts Posts: 4,858 ✭✭✭paulm17781


    There's a lot more channels on digital. I'm not even sure they offer analogue anymore.


  • #3
    Solair
    Closed Accounts Posts: 7,230 ✭✭✭Solair


    You'll get both if you subscribe to Digital on UPC in Dublin.

    The analogue service carries around 18 channels 'in the clear' that you can pick up simply by connecting your television directly to the cable line. The digital channels are carried on the same cable but require a set top, much like sky digital, to decode them.

    The difference in price is only a few quid to 'go digital' and it does provide a huge number of extra channels and generally better quality picture and sound.
    You can also add a DVR box for another small fee which provides functionality like Sky+ or TiVo.

    The only downside at the moment is that series linking which allows you to record a whole series of programmes is currently missing from the UPC DVR box, although they've been saying it's on its way 'soon' for quite a while now.

    The current setup on the UPC network in Dublin will give you the digital channels on any UPC digital box and the 18 analogue services from any other cable point in the house. So, you can use a second or third TV without having to get a second digital box although limited to just those analogue channels.

    Also, unlike satellite, you can simply move the box from room to room to any TV with a cable connection. It's a lot more hassle to have Sky Digital fed to multiple points around your house, particularly with Sky+ as it requires 2 coax cables.

    The UPC Digital EPG (on screen programme guide) has improved drastically since they've rolled out the new UPC branded boxes. It's a drastic improvement on the old NTL and Chorus software and the boxes, at least the DVR, seem to be much more sophisticated than the digital receivers used by NTL. It's quite comparable to a sky digibox in terms of the user interface etc.

    HDTV is also in the pipeline although even the best fortune teller couldn't give you a date on when it will launch. I suspect it will depend on cable bandwidth etc so you'll see it in Dublin and Cork first (possible Cork as there is no more analogue TV there which frees up a lot of space on the network)

    Also, if you connect up to cable you've potentially got access to high speed broadband and telephone service too and can avoid eircom line rental completely.

    So overall, it's a decent enough package.

    UPC customer care comes from a long tradition of NTL and Chorus customer 'care'. So, be ware they're not the most helpful bunch at the best of times. However, if you don't have any problems the service is pretty good. I have found the main thing is not to bother to try and phone them at peak times i.e. just before 5:30pm or at lunch time.


  • #4
    the-ging
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 326 ✭✭the-ging


    Right I recently got the digital box from NTL, and want to get a DVD recorder, and pref a hard disk one. But I am not sure how it'll work with the digital.

    As if I am recording something on the digital do I have to keep watching it on the TV. And I know they have a DVR, but I want a new dvd player that up scales.

    So if someone can give me more info it would be great! Thanks guys!

    J


  • #5
    katecarbery
    Closed Accounts Posts: 23 ✭katecarbery


    Thanks for the great answer - am happy to go with the digital so.
    Cheers
    k


  • #6
    bk
    Moderators, Motoring & Transport Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 23,276 Mod ✭✭✭✭bk


    the-ging wrote: »
    Right I recently got the digital box from NTL, and want to get a DVD recorder, and pref a hard disk one. But I am not sure how it'll work with the digital.

    As if I am recording something on the digital do I have to keep watching it on the TV. And I know they have a DVR, but I want a new dvd player that up scales.

    I highly recommend you get the NTL DVR, you can always buy a cheap upconverting DVD player as well.

    A DVD recorder will work with digital, BUT yes, you have to watch what you are recording, well not strictly true, you can flick over to one of the 17 analogue channels, but you can't change the digital channel being recorded.

    The NTL DVR would be vastly superior to this. Firstly you can record one channel while watching another, second it records the signal in it's native format, therefore much better picture quality. Finally you get a one week EPG, allowing you to pick and and easily record your favourite TV shows.

    Trust me it is way better then any DVD recorder.


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