Ian, thanks -- I had read some of the thread, but only saw the latest answer after I had posted.

Has anyone convinced Telewest to re-install the old software on their box? Has anyone tried? Or is such a thing impossible?

Ron

Many have complained and spoken to people in Telewest at variuous levels about this and I beleive the latest is that it will be reinstated at the next software update, whenever that may be ?

I know its bad form to reply to ones self, but much of the NTL / Telewest info is present at [Link: digitalspy.co.uk] which is a direct link to the info detailed above.

dan_flower

Sorry it's been a while to reply to your question.

As far as I know all Pace built-in-box cable modems use a standard RJ45 socket. The only difference is how it is wired internally, determining whether tou need a Xover adaptor or cable. Anyone?

A computer network engineer friend of mine is going to install standard solid core Cat5 UTP cable down the side of my house from the living room (ground floor at the front) to my spare bedroom where my computer is (first floor right at the rear, probably 20 metres away for length of cable required). This will be connected in the standard wiring colour scheme way for Cat5 to a surface mounted wall outlet box in each room. All I then need is to have is a standard patch cable to my computer and a cross over patch cable to my Pace box (1000 series) as the socket is a Xover socket. If not another standard patch cable can be used (on 4000 series?) The RJ45 socket on the back of the box should tell you what type of socket it is. My 1000 box socket is labelled for Xover.

I do have to say that I don't understand the specifics (have you got any mates who know what they're doing who you can bribe using beer for helping you?!)

All this all hinges on whether NTL will/can change my box to a 4000 series otherwise I'm going back to BT and getting Sky.

I haven't subscribed to broadband yet as I'm not prepared to commit to 12 months minimum unless the box can be controlled by my Pronto!

Does anyone know the power on/off discrete code, or the info button code for the PACE 4000 NTL Cable box?

RichardMorgan
No worries about the delay, I'm not ordered anything until I've finished decorating anyway. I can do the cabling myself (I'm a tech for IBM, so I'll bribe myself with some beer!), it's just that after reading on these pages about some of the nonsense that NTL/TW etc have rolled out, I wasn't sure what to expect, I was thinking a piece of string connected to 2 empty cans of beans...

cheers,
Dan.

I have e-mailed Adam Singer at Telewest to try and get some solid answers on when the software upgrade will happen, seeing how he owes me for all the other problems I have experience with his company, and his personal promise to get things sorted out, I hope to have a reply shortly. When I do I'll post it, for all to see. Let's hope they finally decide to put their customers first.

Ta

Jon

[ slightly off topic ] I thought to get "broadband" you need a separate cable modem, the ethernet from the back of a pace box is only good for ~64kb/s and is intended for a lower cost "always on" internet connection, rather than a full blown 256kb/s+ broadband connection.

Hello again everybody

Well I've tried to get NTL to swap my box for a 4000 series unsuccessfully.

1. Over the past week or so I have been reporting several faults such as programme guide problems, intermittent sound and intermittent picture.

2. The first guy I spoke to at the fault centre made a note on my account that any replacement box should be a 4000 series. (promising, I thought)

3. I was advised by the second fault centre person that 4000 boxes are not available at all! (not so promising)

4. "Oh, the new software download due very soon will cure all your problems" (Mmmmmm....?)

5. Then I was told NTL are changing box suppliers from Pace to Samsung! but this is only likely to be available to existing customers who have a terminal box fault.

6. A different story from the engineer who called last night. He said that they have a very small supply of 4000 series boxes and pallet loads of 1000 series boxes at the NTL warehouses. If my box needs to be changed I would get another 1000 series despite the note on my account, as the 4000 series boxes are for "emergency use only". Wouldn't tell me what an "emergency" was though!!

7. "Most of the 1000 series boxes will be going back to Pace at some time in the future"

8. He tightened the drop connections for my house in the switch box on the road. The box is about 160m away from the boundary of my house ("outside of the NTL spec of 145m - just"), changed all the internal cabling and ran a full diagnostic on my 1000 series box.

9. The settings of the box were way out on a few things which he has done (Oh, Gee Thanks!) but he still left me with with an attenuator connected to the back of the box, because "I've had to push your signal level at the switch box so much you'll get interference from the analogue system" (!!?!!).

10. With all this I question the quality of the original installation which has not been changed for at least 2 years.

11. The price of the basic package is going up to about £17, and the programme guide is being reduced to only 3 days.

12. Still got my original box C&W badged 100 series.

Totally hacked off and very disillusioned with NTL, seriously considering cancelling the TV subscription alltogehter and going to SKY+. Forgetting broadband and spending the money I'll save in total on something else.

Sorry this post has been a bit long-winded. I hope all of you have better luck with your problems........

Richard,

Sky+ is really cool. If you look about 6 months earlier in this post you will see that I fought ntl: and got to the man just below the chairman. I was told that there was no business case for looking after us Pronto users.

This was a mistake by ntl: as, I changed to Sky+ and now that I have 'seen the light' I am converted to satellite.

I always knew that cable was better than satellite as there was a possibility of two-way communications, of course broadband technology and basically a much bigger pipe to fit information down than the already busy airwaves.

But what good is all this opportunity if ntl: is vertually bankrupt and does not have the latest hard or software?

The Sky+ programme guide (EPG) is much faster than cable - you will wonder how you ever coped with the re-drawing time when you move to sky. There is a whole load of extras and the interactive stuff is exploited professionally at every opportunity (i.e. SkyNews)

Now for the + (plus) bit. I must admit that this is pricy. At 15quid a month on top of the normal sky subscription. Then there is an extra 50quid for installation (i.e. it's not free) and finally the unit has an initial cost of 300 quid. But it will change the way you watch TV.

No more rushing to get home on time, hurrying dinner or missing the beginning of the programme as programmes are auotomatically recorded. No problems if you miss the beginning of a programme you can watch it from the beginning and Sky+ records as you watch. No scrabbling around for blank tapes and 'ffwd' or 'frew' them to find spare tape, the programmes don't cut out when the tape ends leaving you wondering who did it. And no learning how to programme it to record as you simply select what you want up to 7 days in advance and press record.
Admittedly, the Sky+ lacks a bit behind the TiVo as it doesn't have the constant cache (allowing you to always rewind time 10 seconds) and doesn't learn your likes and dislikes. But Pace and Sky+ are (surprise surprise) very linked to Sky so although TiVo is the Betamax or the Netscape (ie higher quaility initially) the links with the big guy (Sky that is, not God!) will mean that the Pace/Sky+ box will always have a insiders advantage over the TiVo to become the VHS/Explorer of the future.

Don't hesitate, buy it today.
big£ but big fun.

Christopher

PS> If you say I recommended you we can share the 50 quid recommend a friend gift !?????

Was thinking about getting a pronto but read this thread and decided to wait until this whole sorry saga is sorted out!!!

You may be interested to know that NTL in the North East have pallet loads of Pace 4000 boxes. (saw them during a recent site visit)

I'm in the North East but are supplied by Telewest and have the incompatible 1000 series. My advice to any NTL customers trying to get a 4000 is - don't let them fob you off - I've seen pallets full of them - you'll just have to wait for the new software update though - has anyone heard anything lately on when this wil happen?

Hello again everybody!

I've changed my mind about getting Sky+ straight away!
a) I'd better save up for the box rather than letting my credit card take the strain.
b) I'll wait for the promised software updates enabling recording of the radio channels and a PDC feature.

With the old NTL chestnut the latest situation is they are going to be changing my cabling from the street to the highest grade cable to try and solve my distance problems. I'm getting £10 compensation on my next bill (I had to argue for this as they tried to tell me "that document was from C&W" but only has NTL all over it!) as I booked an engineers visit, took the afternoon off work, and guess what, in traditional NTL customer service fashion when I rang 15mins before the end of the allocated time slot I was told "there is no engineer booked and the faults are down as being fixed successfully" What a load of b*****cks!!

New customer service guy has booked me a Saturday engineer call for 12 to 4pm. "You're lucky to get that as the engineers try to have easy days on Saturday!!"

He says "I'll tell the engineer to bring a 4000 series box with him to replace yours" (trying not too get too excited)

The saga continues..........

I'll let you know.

iwannapronto - which NTL centre did you see all the 4000 boxes at?
I can then tell them they ARE available and where to TRANSFER a box from.

Richard

The 4000 Pace boxes are on pallets at the NTL Sunderland Store.

I had Telewest install tv for me this week. After the usual round of mix-ups and confusion over why I wanted the newer box, they eventually told me that all the boxes they supply will be 4000 series starting last Thursday (09-May-2002). Sure enough they turned up on Thursday and I have the new box.

Hi all

iwannapronto - thanks for the info. Hopefully I can use this to batter NTL customer services and fault centres with the truth about 4000 series box availability!

Nigel.Barrett - does your Telewest 4000 series box work OK with your pronto? I understood from earlier posts the IR compatibility/functionality had been removed with the last Telewest software update. (Praying that if I ever persuade NTL to give me a 4000 series box they wont follow suit)

My NTL faults engineer turned up at 09:30 Saturday. Seemed to be totally oblivious to previous fault issues
(don't they give engineers a log of fault and service calls?). Didn't do much did a full check on the box (Again) and said "You should be OK from now on". Didn't have a 4000 box in his van to swap with my 1000 box. "We haven't got any" (not according to the previous engineer) and wasn't impressed when I demonstrated the Pronto (brain dead obviously!) and had an "I don't care look" on his face.

Going to try getting a box transferred from Sunderland.

I'll post again when I have more news......