Purchase a PVR for NTL

Dopey

Is it possible to purchase a PVR for NTL digital?

I want to buy one as a gift so the NTL/UPC DVR is not an option as it's subscription based.

I've found some that are MPEG-2 and MPEG-4. What does NTL/UPC use?

Thanks in advance

dunworth1

No its against their terms

BuffyBot

You can only use UPC provided equipment on their network.

Dopey

Are you sure?

It is permitted to use a bog standard analogue tuner PVR over NTL. It's just like using a video recorder.

I would have thought that once you had a digital subscription already and the viewing card (do they have these on NTL?) then it would be ok once the PVR supports the viewing card.

Forgive me if I'm talking through my ass here.

Ranicand

Dopey wrote: »

Are you sure?

It is permitted to use a bog standard analogue tuner PVR over NTL. It's just like using a video recorder.

I would have thought that once you had a digital subscription already and the viewing card (do they have these on NTL?) then it would be ok once the PVR supports the viewing card.

Forgive me if I'm talking through my ass here.

No the terms and conditions say you are not allowed to use any other equipment except there's to decode the signal.

As regards analogue the signal is not encrypted and you are just viewing the signal not decrypting it.

Dopey

Fair enough. Thanks gents.

Can any of you recommend an analogue PVR that will work with MPEG4 when DTT finally arrives?

I guess it will need a dual tuner. One with analogue and one for DTT.

No such thing as an analouge PVR, even if there was its still against UPC`s rules to connect a 3rd party box to there network.

And as for DTT i wouldnt hold my breath. DTT is going nowhere fast.

Dopey

cisk wrote: »

No such thing as an analouge PVR, even if there was its still against UPC`s rules to connect a 3rd party box to there network.

And as for DTT i wouldnt hold my breath. DTT is going nowhere fast.

Thanks for that. Is DTT still being broadcast in Dublin?

paulm17781

cisk wrote: »

No such thing as an analouge PVR, even if there was its still against UPC`s rules to connect a 3rd party box to there network.

Yes there is. You can buy stand alone DVRs. They don't decode signal (which is what is illegal) but can record an analogue or SCART signal. You are not allowed attach any third party equipment which is capable of decoding signal to UPCs network.

Yakuza

You could get a media centre PC with an IR Blaster (so it can change the channel on the NTL digital box), and use that to capture the SCART output from the digital box. Nothing illegal as you're capturing the decrypted signal, just as if you were videoing it. All you would need is a scart-to-component cable as most media centre PCs use component inputs (so you're capturing the video and stereo sound). If you already have a PC, you could look at getting a video capture card (Hauppage is a good brand) and some freebie software that can download tv schedules etc. Google "build a media center" (use american spelling of centre for more hits:))

Jev/N

Dopey wrote: »

I guess it will need a dual tuner. One with analogue and one for DTT.

A dual tuner means you can watch one digital channel while recording another