3 Month old STB Replaced...

RileyM · 11-01-2007, 22:16

We are fairly new to ntl:digital TV, after joining on there 2 for ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£20 deal (we already had 2MB Broadband) in October.

Today, our Pace 4001 STB was replaced after calling them about VOD images pausing every couple of seconds. The techie said that the signals are at a good level and decent quality, so there must be something wrong with the box, and that he'd replace it.

He then went to the van and came back with another "new" STB, another Pace (which i later discovered was a 4010). After 40 minutes of the install everything was working, incl. VOD just as he'd said. And all seemed well, however, know the box has started freezing again. Not responding to remote commands, box freezing while trying to access some BBCi things (like the extra Darts coverage). So, called them again and made my disappointment clear. I told them that we've had STB problems previously, in fact since day one, and that we are very unhappy that a supposed NEW STB is freezing just as much (if not more) than the first one.

We were told that they would try and fix it, and asked about when to send a techie out. We then asked about the possibility of getting one of the new Silver Samsung boxes (knowing fully well we probably won't be able to get one vis request over the phone, but to the chance anyway), saying that we are aware that the Pace ones are re-conditioned ones, and are sick of these supposed NEW Pace ones that are just giving us the same problems as we've had before. They then apologised and said that they would not charge us for the TV service until it is all sorted (not fully sure how much difference this would make to our bill as the TV is only ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£2.01/month [ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£20-ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£17.99 for Broadband]), but we'll see how things go.

Another things, a mate of ours who also lives in the Cambridge CB1 area (in fact about a block away from us) also had there STB replaced yesterday.
They were told that there full TV would be back up in 24 hours, but our techie said 40 minutes. After well over 24 hours, they still don't have all there Select TV channels (only the Free TV ones), whereas after the 40mins all our channels were up and running. What's the deal with this?

Any help please

RileyM

**Rob** · 11-01-2007, 22:32

By now there are probably a few reconditioned Samsungs in operation - they've been around for a while

Your mate needs to contact faults as well.

RileyM · 12-01-2007, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

By now there are probably a few reconditioned Samsungs in operation - they've been around for a while

Your mate needs to contact faults as well.

Yeh, i'm sure there are some reconditioned Samsungs, but i mean they are newer than the Pace's so therefore should work/cope better with the current ntl:tv network.

Yeh, i told him to last night, he said he has and had to give them a whole bunch of details (like smart card no etc.). Will find out from him if things are fixed yet.

Mick Fisher · 12-01-2007, 09:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by RileyM

know the box has started freezing again. Not responding to remote commands, box freezing while trying to access some BBCi things (like the extra Darts coverage).

Erm.. I'm afraid this is a feature of Ntl DTV.

If you wanna be pressing red buttons and or zooming through EPG's without crashing the STB then you will have to get Sky.
If, like me,

you have line of sight problems with mounting a dish, then you'll just have to put up with it I'm afraid.

Samsung STB's are faster and can go longer without a re-boot.
Pressing red however still usually crashes them.
They are also prone to quite long, seemingly inexplicable, periods of non-response. This can be up to 2 minutes on times.

Generally the DTV can only be described as "clunky" and is rarely without issues of some kind or another.
_

Nikesh · 12-01-2007, 11:28

The new Samsung box is the best - never had a problem with it. Sometimes it can be just a bit slow though. Hopefully the new firmware will be better.

Slyder · 13-01-2007, 08:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nikesh

The new Samsung box is the best - never had a problem with it. Sometimes it can be just a bit slow though. Hopefully the new firmware will be better.

Any news on when we can expect the new firmware ?

Nikesh · 13-01-2007, 09:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slyder

Any news on when we can expect the new firmware ?

Nope, I'm guessing we will get the new firmware when they rebrand to Virgin Media. So hopefully in the next month or so...

PS1 · 13-01-2007, 09:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rob

By now there are probably a few reconditioned Samsungs in operation - they've been around for a while

Exactly what i was about to say(doh).

RileyM · 13-01-2007, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick Fisher

Erm.. I'm afraid this is a feature of Ntl DTV.

If you wanna be pressing red buttons and or zooming through EPG's without crashing the STB then you will have to get Sky.
If, like me,

you have line of sight problems with mounting a dish, then you'll just have to put up with it I'm afraid.

Samsung STB's are faster and can go longer without a re-boot.
Pressing red however still usually crashes them.
They are also prone to quite long, seemingly inexplicable, periods of non-response. This can be up to 2 minutes on times.

Generally the DTV can only be described as "clunky" and is rarely without issues of some kind or another.
_

Personally, i've never had any problems with the ntl Press Red for BBCi. I think it's this new box they gave. The previous one has no problems with BBCi, including the "extra" streams.

RileyM