andsome Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 I am perfectly happy with NTL broadband and telephone service. However, I am getting more and more frustrated with the digital TV boxes. I had a third one installed two weeks ago, because the others had been faulty, and have had to reboot the damned thing three times already. Yesterday they sent yet another signal down the cable, which was supposed to fix it, but the picture froze again last night when I tried to access programme information, after pressing the guide button. I have asked SKY TV to send me details of their service in the post. Has anyone had similar problems with Sky digital boxes, or are they superior to those supplied by NTL. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scuzzman Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Are you being sent the same model box every time? If so, and I don't know if NTL will do it or not, but you might request a different make/model/manufacturer of box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Got ours from Tesco - no probs at all. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 The one from Tesco will only supply a limited number of channels. The NTL one is designed to work with their cable network, and I can subscribe to different packages according to how many and which channels I require. Unfortunately the NTL boxes are all supplied by a company called PACE, and it is my belief that they are made DOWN to a price. The box comes with the service and I cannot ask for a different make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artist Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 I see. We haven't got cable in our road.......we didn't have channel 5 without the digi box either - The forgotten few - that's us. :( Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expertec Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 You're not alone andsome: http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=201989 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 You're not alone andsome: http://forum.digitalspy.co.uk/board/showthread.php?t=201989Not looking very good is it? What I am really after though is to hear from some Sky customers, as to what their service is like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expertec Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Sorry... can't help there, we have Telewest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pwp Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 had sky digital for 5 years and havn't had a problem. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Thanks, any more?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gandalph Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Thanks, any more??Well andsome I can only echo pwp's comment. I have been with Sky now since 1991 and have never had any problems with them or their equipment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Agent Smith Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 The one from Tesco will only supply a limited number of channels. The NTL one is designed to work with their cable network, and I can subscribe to different packages according to how many and which channels I require. Unfortunately the NTL boxes are all supplied by a company called PACE, and it is my belief that they are made DOWN to a price. The box comes with the service and I cannot ask for a different make.Actually, this is no longer correct. Due to trying to get my broadband upgraded to the 2mb connection they have been promising, I have been informed that they need to replace my pace box with a new samsung one.They are using a Samsung SMT-2100C now, which I need to get some reports on, but apparently, it is far superior to the terrible Pace units. I have 3 Pace stb's at home, and they are all useless, in fact none of them are the originals and one has been replaced 4 times.Perhaps it is worth your while trying to pester them for one of these, especially if you are seriously considering a change of service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
expertec Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Actually yes, threatening them with changing service can be very effective... my brother got free installation from Telewest when he moved by doing that. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohn Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 I'm direct with Sky through their satellite dish, hundreds of channels and not one single problem in 4 years. Panasonic decoder. Sorry andsome. :([Edit] B-in-L lives five minutes away and he was with NTL, same problems as yourself, constant freezing of TV and rebooting of Pace decoder. Changed to a Panasonic direct from Sky 18 months back and same as me, no problems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Thanks for the replies. The jury is still out. I do not get broadband from the set top box, but from a separate cable modem, which sits on top of the computer. I telephoned NTL again today, when the picture disappeared altogether, and I had to reboot yet again. An engineer called this afternoon, and after running various tests, he said that the new box was fine, but that the isolator through which the signal enters the house had become faulty. He has replaced this, so I will wait a few days and see what happens now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Damo Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Been with Sky since early 1990's, First with their Analogue service, till about 1998, no problems whatsoever, the same box for 8 years!Then in 1998 got Sky Digital - still got it, not a single problem and the same box since it was installed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester1 Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 Been with Sky since early 1990's, First with their Analogue service, till about 1998, no problems whatsoever, the same box for 8 years!Then in 1998 got Sky Digital - still got it, not a single problem and the same box since it was installed!Me too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted March 23, 2005 Report Share Posted March 23, 2005 I have had a Pace sky digi box for over 5 years now and have never had a problem with it, i have only had to reset the thing half a dozen times and that was software updates.Tony Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted March 23, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 23, 2005 Many thanks to all. I will see how things go now with the replacement isolator fitted. If I get any more bother, I will have the confidence to use Sky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 8, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 8, 2005 Well, we are still getting trouble, and have had to reboot the new box several times. I had another word with Sky today, and they tell me that I do not need to revert to BT, as they can connect the digital box to an NTL telephone line. I have now ordered Sky for installation on 26th May, and given NTL the sack as far as TV is concerned. Thanks again for all the input, you all gave me the confidence to go ahead. :D :D :D :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted April 9, 2005 Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 Thanks, any more??It's a bit late for me to reply as you seem to have already gone ahead and ordered Sky, but just for the record: I no longer have Sky but in the 7 years that I did use them, I suffered no problems with their analogue or Sky digital boxes. I had a few minor software problems which were cured with a reboot! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 Thanks, any more??It's a bit late for me to reply as you seem to have already gone ahead and ordered Sky, but just for the record: I no longer have Sky but in the 7 years that I did use them, I suffered no problems with their analogue or Sky digital boxes. I had a few minor software problems which were cured with a reboot! :DThe overall impression seems to be good, this is why I have gone ahead. You mention reboots, I bet you did not need to do this several times a week. I have had more than enough of a totally crappy service. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted April 9, 2005 Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 The overall impression seems to be good, this is why I have gone ahead. You mention reboots, I bet you did not need to do this several times a week. I have had more than enough of a totally crappy service.No, I never had to do reboots that often :o Usually every few months or when a software update was downloaded and installed.Very little hassle really compared to your NTL situation! It's a wonder that NTL aren't losing customers or perhaps more people are doing what you are doing and changing to Sky! :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andsome Posted April 9, 2005 Author Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 After we had gone through all the procedures. I was told that the operator had only worked for Sky for a couple of weeks and had been surprised at how many NTL TV customers were changing over. I was the third that day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CurlyWhirly Posted April 9, 2005 Report Share Posted April 9, 2005 After we had gone through all the procedures. I was told that the operator had only worked for Sky for a couple of weeks and had been surprised at how many NTL TV customers were changing over. I was the third that day.I'm not surprised having read your post! I can see that Sky must be on to a winner here :rolleyes: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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