Topic ID 1011
We are thinking of getting freeview but the website says that our SG14 postcode means we won't have any reception. We are currently emptying out wallets into NTL's bank account every month and keen to escape their clutches. Has anyone used a booster ariel and managed to get a picture? Also has anyone got a recommendation for a broadband provider? Any tips welcome. Thanks
Reply ID 11145
I live in SG14 and receive Freeview. we are on top of the hill though - my friends who live on North Rd are unable to receive it.
Reply ID 11146
I also live in SG14 - in the town centre - and can get Freeview even without a new digital aerial.
Reply ID 11147
What does Freeview allow you to receive in comparison with NTL?
Reply ID 11149
For your broadband Tiscali seem quite ok. We got their 14.99 per month deal, easy to set up though only a month in so the problems might be stacking up!
Reply ID 11150
We live on Sele Farm (SG14) and no problems with freeview.
Reply ID 11151
You can have NTL Broadband on its own without phone or TV. They will be uograding all their customers to 10mbs, starting with customers who have 3mbs, which is faster than most of the competition.
Reply ID 11153
I live in SG14 (bottom of Port Hill area)and can get Freeview with a normal aerial that is pointed towards Crystal Palace (I'm not sure whether the Bengeo transmitter is yet transmitting Freeview). The signal strength is generally 9 out of 10, but I occassionally get "freezing", especially on ITV2/ITV3 for some reason. The BBC web site says such freezing is often down to the box itself rather than strength of the signal.
Reply ID 11154
I would second that recommendation for NTL broadband - been with them for nearly two years now with no problems. I pay £17.99 a month - slightly more than Tiscali - but as Spitfire says they are one of the quickest...
Reply ID 11155
quote:I phoned them and said it was too expensive, they reduced charge to their 'new customers rate of £30 / month
Originally posted by annia
We are thinking of getting freeview but the website says that our SG14 postcode means we won't have any reception. We are currently emptying out wallets into NTL's bank account every month and keen to escape their clutches.
Reply ID 11159
Sky wins hands down every time
Reply ID 11160
I've been with Tiscali Broadband for nearly two years now and never had problem with them. I agree with Victor Sky wins.
Reply ID 11162
The digital TV postcode lookup is fairly conservative; it makes certain assumptions about signal strength, terrain, type of building in the local area and therefore the likely coverage at that postcode. Also it assumes that as Hertford is in the London TV area we need to receive from Crystal Palace which is the main SE transmitter. In our area you can also receive from Sandy Heath - but as that is in Anglia region it is technically outside our area and so doesn't provide coverage. So instead of "London today" TV programmes you get "East Anglia today" programmes - small worry, if you want London switch back to analogue. Number 1 point is that the local Bengeo relay will not have digital TV unitl analogue is switched off in the south east - and that is in 2012. Have a look at what your immediate neighbours are doing - they may be an aerial pointing towards Sandy Heath (north north east - ish). DTV aerial are often quite large with lots of elements, there may be something that looks like three aerials on top of each other. They may be an aerial pointing to the south and Crystal Palace. I live outside the coverage of both Crystal Palace and Sandy Heath - "technically", but I put up a high gain aerial at the back of the house (wouldn't dare go on the roof...) and added a good aerial amplifier atthe aerial, it isn't perfect (some digiboxes are more prone to interference than others). So see what others are doing and ask them if they get digital TV, if you think there is a chance from your neighbours get a TV installer along and see what they think - but there is always the risk you spend money and can't get it. The other point is about a free to air digital satellite service from Sky, they say it will cost £150 for a dish and box, and this will give you the Freeview channels plus a few more shopping and music channels. Have a look at the website http://www.freesatfromsky.com Hope this helps.
Reply ID 11175
Sky does win hands down,especially Sky+ dumped my NTL TV for it, kept the NTL phone as it costs exactly the same as BT, and kept the broadband. Freeview is ideal for those who don't want to pay a monthly fee for more channels.
Reply ID 11189
quote:... and it appears to be gaining critical mass. For example, in the last few months E4 and More 4 have become available, and ITV 4 is due soon (but replacing the existing Men and Motors). Also, one Sky entertainment channel is due to replace the existing Sky Travel in the not too distant future.
Originally posted by spitfire
Sky does win hands down,especially Sky+ dumped my NTL TV for it, kept the NTL phone as it costs exactly the same as BT, and kept the broadband. Freeview is ideal for those who don't want to pay a monthly fee for more channels.
Reply ID 11194
quote:Is this true? Where did you hear about this and do you know when it is happening?[:)]
Originally posted by spitfire
You can have NTL Broadband on its own without phone or TV. They will be uograding all their customers to 10mbs, starting with customers who have 3mbs, which is faster than most of the competition.
Reply ID 11197
Thanks for this everyone, I'm going to moan to NTL tomorrow in the hope of getting a slightly cheaper bill, while I check out my options. May go with Tiscali for broadband just to avoid dealing with NTL!
Reply ID 11199
quote:Various rumours are about, some say it will start in Manchester this year but then general feeling (rumour) is that it will be in 2006. It will be intersting to see what cap they have on downloads - currently about 30GB per month = about 15 hours of "TV" and films.
Is this true? Where did you hear about this and do you know when it is happening?[:)]
Reply ID 11201
NTL issued a press release in August. http://www.ntl.com/mediacentre/press/display.asp?id=797
Reply ID 11208
I have 300k broadband and got an email from NTL saying they would upgrade me sometime in October.# Anna if you are going to moan to NTL be prepared for a lot of long phone calls long waits and moronic call center operators. I used to have my TV, Telephone and Internet with NTL, but every month they would send an extortionate bill and every month I would go through the same rigmarole of spending 30 min + on the phone to sort it out. Eventually, I told them to poke it, but had to stay with them as a internet supplier, as I have had the same email address for several years. Subsequently for the last 8 months or so, they have been not charging me for my broadband, as they say that I have accrued credit. I did not argue. In my honest and humble opinion, NTL are a complete shower and given the choice again, I would rather take a cheese grater to my nether regions, than sign up with them.
Reply ID 11211
Exactly why i went with anyone but NTL
Reply ID 11214
quote:I'm not sure if this link still works as I did this about 6 months ago but NTL had upgraded everyone on 300K to 1MB (about 6 months ago) but didn't activate the new speed for everyone. Anyone can have it activated but they didn't tell anyone how to do it. I found this link on the interweb and it worked for me at the time (ie. upgraded me automatically from 300k to 1MB): https://autoreg.autoregister.net/cgi/cabletier?cust=ntworld_tiermigration
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
I have 300k broadband and got an email from NTL saying they would upgrade me sometime in October.
Reply ID 11224
quote:I phoned them to ask about speeds, packages, etc and was told I should have been automaticaly upgraded from my 300k months before. They did on the phone while I was waiting. There call centre is awful. Without fail you will get a recorded message saying "We are currently receiving a large number of calls and you may experience a delay of up to XX minutes". Well.............employ more staff!
Originally posted by newcomerquote:I'm not sure if this link still works as I did this about 6 months ago but NTL had upgraded everyone on 300K to 1MB (about 6 months ago) but didn't activate the new speed for everyone. Anyone can have it activated but they didn't tell anyone how to do it. I found this link on the interweb and it worked for me at the time (ie. upgraded me automatically from 300k to 1MB): https://autoreg.autoregister.net/cgi/cabletier?cust=ntworld_tiermigration
Originally posted by Victor Meldrew
I have 300k broadband and got an email from NTL saying they would upgrade me sometime in October.
Reply ID 11230
NTL's "customer service" is a subject that could fill many pages and indeed the web is full of postings by disgruntled NTL customers. The best known site is http://www.nthellworld.co.uk. So that this thread does not become a focus for NTL's dissatisfied customers (and consequently growing to many pages) please limit your comments to the merit and demerits of Freeview vs.NTL. Many Thanks
Reply ID 11273
Had nightmare with Tiscali, many problems and never answered a question or complaint 1st time always had to chase it up a few more times. BT is very good for broadband, I think you can still get package deals from them if you get phone as well. Not sure how good their prices compare now.
Reply ID 11294
I've had all the services at some point or other. Freeview is the best, for price and picture quality (if it doesn't freeze). Although I was a sky user for 10 years, I had to get rid of them because their picture quality is so poor. The signal is seriously compressed, and when I upgraded to a 42" plasma, the sky picture was truely terrible. Sky + was great, but I have got myself a better independent hard drive recorder now anyway. So I went to NTl which was a bit better. Roll on 2011, then the bengeo aerial goes digital and I can switch to freeview again (I can't pick it up in the town centre)
Reply ID 11374
We have Freeview in West Street, but because Bengeo is in the way, the reception is C**P. We too have a hard drive recorder, but it doesn't help recording when the reception is so poor. We don't actually get that much time to watch TV and when we do go upstairs after closing the majority of the recorded programmes are useless. Dobbin is not a happy nag when his recordings are unwatchable.