Christopher,

As far as I know, NTL does not control any Telewest areas. Telewest is currently a seperate company and totally independant of NTL (joint advertising contacts aside). Telewest areas currently use the Pace DiTV1000 and DiTV2000 STBs which use IrDA.

As I understand it original NTL areas use the Pace DiTV4000 based boxes and NTL/ex CWC areas use the DiTV1000 or DiTV2000 boxes which NTL are standardising on.

Guy,
Thanks for your comments re TiVo and NTL I will look into them both.

Cummon everyone else - any more comments before I send the letter ?
C

TWO MONTHS UNTIL THIS THREAD CAN END>
I have just spoken to AEI security, the manufacturers of the digisender. They have cracked the IRDA problem and are going into production in 3 weeks. Production should take 2-3 weeks. The unit will be like the digisender with a scart splitter on the back so you wont have to use up any precious scart sockets. It will cost £80.00. All can rest.

Christopher,

I wonder if it would be worth mentioning that the cutting edge NTL handset won't control volume (even though the fuction is there) and that the Teletext buttons don't work either. Using the Pronto would allow us to combine these functions and overcome the NTL handset shortcomings.

MAC

warren,

Wow, this is interesting news and a break through. Howver, I do feel a bit narked that when/if the digisender is made it will cost £80 rather than being an ntl 'service'. Keep us posted on the progress and the release date. ([email protected]).
I will still send the letter next week though, as, as of yet there is no gadget that we can use.

MAC,
The lack of volume is deliberate. People were recording from their cable box with the sound turned down low. When playing back the tape people found that they didn't have any sound. I believe that NTL thought it better to remove this problem by making users control volume from the amplifier end rather than the source.
Yes, there is not any teletext but U guess we have the super-dooper internet to provide that service instead.
Your right, if only we can combine *all* remotes, we will have the posibility to conyrol EVERYTHING (ish).

Christopher,

Yes, and we all know how fast the interactive services are ;)

MAC

[Link: digisender.com]

Anyone,

Could someone supply me with the name of a top man a Telewest, so I can contact them directly? For some reason...customer services won't give this kind of information!

Many thanks

Jon

Warren
So the digi-sender wil be able to transmit and relay the IRDA code, but it won't translate from normal IR into IRDA will it ? So you will still have to use the remote that comes with the set top box, rather than be able to use a Pronto.

Adam Singer - Group CE Telewest

There is a guy above him, but he is a 'non'-exec chairman (probably hands off)

[Link: telewest.co.uk]

C

Mike,

If you are right, then they won't be getting many pronto customers ... hmmm, Sky dish or Tivo, Sky dish or Tivo, Sky dish or Tivo ...

Christopher,

Good letter, why not include the link to this forum so that he can look up the comments himself?

Warren, am I to believe that AEI are building this box specifically to solve this problem? Or is Mike's assertion that it will be of little use correct?

80 quid! I'd pay double that if it works!

Mike and David

To be honest youve got got a point and a good one at that. I'll call them on Monday to find out if this is the case. Im a bit fearful of the outcome to be honest.
I'll post my findings when I know.

Hi guys... I've also been following this thred, since I was forced to give up my SKY box, and go for cable (planning restrictions)....

Has anyone thought of using a PC as the converter for the signal ?... I have an extra problem, as all of my kit is in a Wiring closet... and the (very expensive) IR Sender kit I use is very flaky with the NTL remote !

I hope that NTL / C&W may agree to a code update.. but would we all have to explain what we want to NTLs fantastic (not) Customer Service staff ?

Oh joy... I'll not bother then... !

I can't see why this problem can't be resolved... I don't want a TIVO !

Am I right in thinking that it's the TIVO that does the code transformation or is it the Cable attachment thingy ?

I work in telecoms, and am very disheartened (though not suprised) by the Cable companies general attitude to their customers !

Hope the letter is sucessfull, or that this AEI gadget will work !

The Pace Di4001N uses standard RC5 IR not IrDa.