ntl/chorus or sky!!

cairnrua · 19-09-2009 01:54PM #1

Am currently getting chorus. Located - city centre Limerick. Was thinking of switching. My question is - have a new Samsung 26" lcd -HD ready, but find quality of pic while ok for most stations, varies so much. Rep was in yesterday and says it's due to: 50hz signal but TV is 100hz!!! Adverts are perfect, but little hazy with programmes. Have tried all tuning, contrasts etc. Any ideas of problem and would it benefit to switch to Sky. Can I get the freeview stations via sky if they (as suggested) download via landline, or do have to put up dish?
Thanks a lot for a great site.

200motels · 19-09-2009 03:04PM

cairnrua wrote: »

Am currently getting chorus. Located - city centre Limerick. Was thinking of switching. My question is - have a new Samsung 26" lcd -HD ready, but find quality of pic while ok for most stations, varies so much. Rep was in yesterday and says it's due to: 50hz signal but TV is 100hz!!! Adverts are perfect, but little hazy with programmes. Have tried all tuning, contrasts etc. Any ideas of problem and would it benefit to switch to Sky. Can I get the freeview stations via sky if they (as suggested) download via landline, or do have to put up dish?
Thanks a lot for a great site.

Get Sky HD and you'll need a dish and even if you don't get HD, SD is much better on Sky than Chorus.

zilog_jones · 19-09-2009 09:17PM

On your TV, try turning off Motion Plus and any noise redutcion options, they make it look even worse IMO.

steveon · 19-09-2009 11:23PM

Sky picture is much better than of chorus...and Sky HD is about the best there is out there at present however the monthly cost is a little higher.

I install sky in the city as an independant installer so u if u want to ask any questions feel free to pm me...or I can call to you and give u your options...

hightower1 · 20-09-2009 01:06AM

And the install is a LOT higher.... as are any extras i.e sports, movies.... and service calls....and their customer service is all the way in Scotland.... and you need to bolt a nasty lookin dish to your house or apartment... and that is if your allowed.

cairnrua · 20-09-2009 12:45PM

Thanks for all info. Will check costs of sky. Have to say, it seems that ntl/chorus signal has improved, if you run stations on "Movie" - but had expected a sharper pic for all, am receiving "Digital" via box and scart lead to TV. Advice seems that it all depends on what we are getting as each programme varies, visa via - quality, camera used, analogue/etc. I've viewed several TV makes - tried same here, and they vary so much.
Agree too, that Sky isn't so cheap. The idea of dish on top of roof - well that won't be an issue, as well hidden and good angle.
Will check with earlier Post - (Limerick installer) - see what he says.
but just to say thanks for information - great to see people out there willing to help!

Mossy Monk · 20-09-2009 02:23PM

hightower1 wrote: »

And the install is a LOT higher.... as are any extras i.e sports, movies.... and service calls....and their customer service is all the way in Scotland.... and you need to bolt a nasty lookin dish to your house or apartment... and that is if your allowed.

Oh no, not a big nasty ugly dish. They don't need to be bolted to your house btw. Best have one of those beautiful MMDS ariels instead. They have a call center in Cork too and besides what difference does it make. As long as they speak English and understandable.

steveon · 20-09-2009 03:05PM

Thats why independant installers are far better than using sky directly as your getting a local installer. Plus sky have opened an office in an office in cork earlier this year.

beer enigma · 20-09-2009 08:45PM

cairnrua wrote: »

Am currently getting chorus. Located - city centre Limerick. Was thinking of switching. My question is - have a new Samsung 26" lcd -HD ready, but find quality of pic while ok for most stations, varies so much. Rep was in yesterday and says it's due to: 50hz signal but TV is 100hz!!! Adverts are perfect, but little hazy with programmes. Have tried all tuning, contrasts etc. Any ideas of problem and would it benefit to switch to Sky. Can I get the freeview stations via sky if they (as suggested) download via landline, or do have to put up dish?
Thanks a lot for a great site.

NOT Chorus !!! - switched from Sky & three weeks later - 4 engineers & 13 phone calls later & I hate it.....I've already given notice to quit !

Max Power1 · 20-09-2009 08:47PM

SKY is infinity better than chorus/ntl

/thread

com7 · 21-09-2009 12:52PM

i do nt agree i have chorus broadband and hd tv and have no problems with it , when i was with sky i had terrible trouble with them , they re customer service is nt what its cracked up to and they know how to charge if you have to get them out to the house , which you could probably live with if they would fix the problem so think long and hard !

steveon · 21-09-2009 01:00PM

com7 wrote: »

i do nt agree i have chorus broadband and hd tv and have no problems with it , when i was with sky i had terrible trouble with them , they re customer service is nt what its cracked up to and they know how to charge if you have to get them out to the house , which you could probably live with if they would fix the problem so think long and hard !

Upc has a callout charge now unless the fault lies with the equipment, any splits or cables going to other rooms not installed by them will be removed and blamed for the cause of bad signal etc.

Upc may be perfect for people on a cabling system but in the country where MMDS is used and in many appartment blocks their service is limited to just tv and is no where near the quality of sky.

Cupart · 21-09-2009 02:04PM

hightower1 wrote: »

.... and service calls....and their customer service is all the way in Scotland.....

OMG... All the way over in Scotland :eek: Take cover all :eek:

Why is that a bad thing? At least you get an answer from SKY when you ask them something. UPC, in many cases, won't bother to send you and answer. 8 of 10 mails I have sent them was NEVER replied to, and when calling them the answers are usually nonsense or they don't have a clue!

To the original poster, go with SKY. You'll have a much better selection of channels compared to UPC and it IS cheaper.

All the mixes are EUR 31 pr month I believe (including the national Irish channels), SKY+ is free (don't know if UPC charges the EUR 5 any longer, I still pay for it) and you get hundreds of channels and their time shifts as well as interactive etc etc etc...

com7 · 21-09-2009 06:25PM

Upc has a callout charge now unless the fault lies with the equipment, any splits or cables going to other rooms not installed by them will be removed and blamed for the cause of bad signal etc

that is speculation ,the last time i had a technician out to the house he did nt remove the splitter i had or try to blame it for the fault , unlike when i had sky and they could nt sort out the problem and i had to get rid of it , as you are a sky installer you are hardly going to be impartial ! everyone has different experiences but sometimes reading these forums you d swear sky never had a problem ,:cool:

Jev/N · 21-09-2009 10:08PM

Sky HD for a 26" TV, are you serious??

Sitting here watching NTL digital on a 40" Sammy, it's grand - just need the settings changed and some of the extra bells and whistles turned off

hightower1 · 21-09-2009 10:38PM

lol, I have had such a laugh at this. I mean a sky installer saying sky are better, shortly followed with a... btw PM me and I will give you a quote for an install! lol.

If Sky are so great why not post up that total amount for an install? 100 for a service all if anything goes wrong then!!!:eek:

No wonder there are sky installers on here praising it to high heaven! @ 100 service call and at least 150 per install I'd be on here too! lol. Surprised he wont call to install in a continental GT.

I have UPC hd for a month now along with their broadband and aside from one or two minor complaints I find it excellent. I have friends and relatives with sky and I have one or two complaints with them too but at least I know UPC have my back in a sense because I can always rely on getting someone out if its needed without having to pay at least the equivalent of TWO MONTHS subscription to get it fixed.

bk · 22-09-2009 10:17AM

steveon wrote: »

Sky picture is much better than of chorus...and Sky HD is about the best there is out there at present however the monthly cost is a little higher.

I install sky in the city as an independant installer so u if u want to ask any questions feel free to pm me...or I can call to you and give u your options...

FYI, for any other installers reading this thread, coming onto the cable forum like this, bad mouthing your competitor and touting for business is a big no, no.

steveon has been warned, it can and will lead to being banned.

BTW I've no problem any person, including installers coming on here and giving a fair and factual break down of the pros and cons of Sky versus UPC and yes there are many pros too for UPC over Sky.

ntl/chorus or sky!!

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