My son wants cable... - Cable

kathplatform · 04-11-2009, 14:28

Is cable television worth it? My son wants cable TV for Christmas, and I've been looking into it.

Is sky better?

My husband works as an engineer. Is there anyway of running a cable from the junction box into our TV and getting the channels for free?

Also, how do I make sure he doesn't sit watching telly when he should be doing his homework?

Ryrazzer · 04-11-2009, 14:39

Deleted

Ryrazzer · 04-11-2009, 14:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathplatform

Is cable television worth it? My son wants cable TV for Christmas, and I've been looking into it.

Is sky better?

That's a matter of opinion. I'd give cable a go. Are you on cable at the moment?
If not why not go the whole hog and have phone and broadband too. Save yourself some money.

Quote:

My husband works as an engineer. Is there anyway of running a cable from the junction box into our TV and getting the channels for free?

No.

Quote:

Also, how do I make sure he doesn't sit watching telly when he should be doing his homework?

Tell him not to??!
There are different parental controls for the stb. You'll be able to lock him out with a pin number.

TheBigM · 04-11-2009, 14:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathplatform

Is cable television worth it? My son wants cable TV for Christmas, and I've been looking into it.

My husband works as an engineer. Is there anyway of running a cable from the junction box into our TV and getting the channels for free?

Also, how do I make sure he doesn't sit watching telly when he should be doing his homework?

Great parental example right there

richard1960 · 04-11-2009, 14:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathplatform

Is cable television worth it? My son wants cable TV for Christmas, and I've been looking into it.

Is sky better?

My husband works as an engineer. Is there anyway of running a cable from the junction box into our TV and getting the channels for free?

Also, how do I make sure he doesn't sit watching telly when he should be doing his homework?

Is sky better then cable well it depends on what you want out of your service they are both different,you already have sky i see, go to the virgin media website and you can see what cable tv offers,if you are serious that is.

To the second paragraph no you need a cable box!and even if you could it would not be legal.

If you are worried your son might watch too much tv it might be best not to let him have any tv sky or cable, and if you do i am sure you could think of ways of limiting his viewing.

droogiefret · 04-11-2009, 23:33

Isn't this thread a Simpsons episode

Winston_1 · 05-11-2009, 00:00

Basically the cable companies relay SOME of the channels available from Sky. Their pay per view film choice is their own but generally films that have already been on Sky Box Office.
There is and always has been insufficient bandwidth on cable to carry as many channels as Sky can carry by satellite.

The price is much the same, in fact some free to air channels on Sky are charged for as stand alones on cable. There is also a very much better choice of radio on Sky.

So in answer to your question cable is not worth it. Sky is better if you are willing to pay for your TV.

bananaman_007 · 05-11-2009, 00:09

You already have sky, so a £10 multiroom sub and a cheap box from ebay (£20) is all you need, that will be much cheaper than getting cable in. Though don't forget the installation costs, i am not sure if sky will do this for free, since you have the dish they may do. If not phone a guy out the yellow pages if you do not want to do it yourself should cost no more than £20.

As stated cable offers something different to sky and is great for the right people. If you do opt for either you will have to make sure to block out the babestation type content if you do not deem your lad old enough.

richard1960 · 05-11-2009, 11:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winston_1

Basically the cable companies relay SOME of the channels available from Sky. Their pay per view film choice is their own but generally films that have already been on Sky Box Office.
There is and always has been insufficient bandwidth on cable to carry as many channels as Sky can carry by satellite.

The price is much the same, in fact some free to air channels on Sky are charged for as stand alones on cable. There is also a very much better choice of radio on Sky.

So in answer to your question cable is not worth it. Sky is better if you are willing to pay for your TV.

Well when annologue is finally switched off there will be plenty of bandwidth on cable.

By the way the price can be very different bearing in mind if you want ESPN on sky it will be £9.99 extra plus the £10 if you want HD,my cable bundle is way cheaper for me then the quivelent from sky would be,ESPN is charged for as a standalone channel by sky on any package whereas with TVXL its free with the package.

Are you also suggesting cable customers do not pay for their tv.? When you say sky customers do,suggesting you know full well that prices vary from package to package and on certain ones sky is dearer. By the way sky also relay SOME of the channels from virgin media living,bravo,virgin 1 ect so it works both ways.

Cable tv can be very cost effective i find

Anyway looking at the ops opening post i do not think they were that serious anyway.

rpjmartin · 05-11-2009, 13:12

OP, if you're looking to get quantity of channels, go for Sky. I say that as VM cable customer. VM charge for channels that are aired for free on Sky.

No you can't run a cable for free.

Don't put a TV in his bedroom if you don't want him distracted.

Skylover4life · 05-11-2009, 13:17

When I was a kid, and my parents wanted me to do stuff other than watch TV, they used to confiscate the Telewest Active Digital smart card, used to only get like a few channels without it (like BBC1 and ITV).

Winston_1 · 05-11-2009, 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard1960

Well when annologue is finally switched off there will be plenty of bandwidth on cable.

Are you also suggesting cable customers do not pay for their tv.? When you say sky customers do,suggesting you know full well that prices vary from package to package and on certain ones sky is dearer. By the way sky also relay SOME of the channels from virgin media living,bravo,virgin 1 ect so it works both ways.

.

Cable companies generally use 120 to about 750MHz which is a bandwidth of 630MHz. This allows 79 8MHz channels assuming no analogue and no prohibited channels. Even if they used 48 to 860MHz there would only be 812MHz allowing 101 channels. In practice the lower frequencies are used for the return path and some frequencies can't be used eg those in the aircraft comms band.
The 28E cluster on the other hand has around 130 transponders available almost double the 79 channels available to the cable companies even without analogue.

Of couse I know cable customers pay for their TV. In fact these days they can't even get the basic five channels for free. They may not officially be charged for but Virgin won't supply a box for fta channels only.

Virgin Media get their signals including the Virgin channels by fibre optic feed from Sky at Osterley except for BBC/ITV which they get by fibre optic from elsewhere, and the Front Row channels which are sourced from Langley.

Tom Joad · 05-11-2009, 17:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winston_1

Virgin Media get their signals including the Virgin channels by fibre optic feed from Sky at Osterley except for BBC/ITV which they get by fibre optic from elsewhere, and the Front Row channels which are sourced from Langley.

Suspicions confirmed. The CIA are spying on us all! Darn Langley.

aclivity · 05-11-2009, 17:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winston_1

<snip>
Virgin Media get their signals including the Virgin channels by fibre optic feed from Sky at Osterley except for BBC/ITV which they get by fibre optic from elsewhere, and the Front Row channels which are sourced from Langley.

2004 called and wants it's fact back

The only source for "front row" channels would be time travel. Cable is good, but it's not that good.

Chparmar · 05-11-2009, 18:13

Great quantity of channels @ lower price per channel = Sky

Selection of "main stuff" @ a reasonable price = Virgin

coopermanyorks · 05-11-2009, 18:29

The Op is a well known WUM

essjay21271 · 05-11-2009, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winston_1

Virgin Media get their signals including the Virgin channels by fibre optic feed from Sky at Osterley except for BBC/ITV which they get by fibre optic from elsewhere, and the Front Row channels which are sourced from Langley.

Just to correct your post.

All of the premium channels are supplied on a dual fibre link from Mediacenter Betzdorf in Luxembourg.

Other channels are received by satellite and DTT into Langley (ex NTL) and also Knowsley (ex Telewest).

BBC and ITV are received from DTT within each region.

None of the channels are fed from Osterley.

daveyfs · 05-11-2009, 22:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by essjay21271

Just to correct your post.

All of the premium channels are supplied on a dual fibre link from Mediacenter Betzdorf in Luxembourg.

Other channels are received by satellite and DTT into Langley (ex NTL) and also Knowsley (ex Telewest).

BBC and ITV are received from DTT within each region.

None of the channels are fed from Osterley.

Out of interest. seeing as you obviously know about this stuff (and sorry to the OP about temporarily hijacking the thread), what happened to Bromley, the ex C&W hub?

And having read the original post, remember your kid is most likely reacting to games of oneupmanship at school ("Well I've got *insert name of expensive cable/satellite package* in my bedroom. What have YOU got?). Don't give into it - he doesn't need it, especially if, as you say, he's got homework to do.
Which is more important?

essjay21271 · 06-11-2009, 00:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveyfs

Out of interest. seeing as you obviously know about this stuff (and sorry to the OP about temporarily hijacking the thread), what happened to Bromley, the ex C&W hub?

That has pretty much gone !!!!

It is mostly fed from Langley

coopermanyorks · 06-11-2009, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by droogiefret

Isn't this thread a Simpsons episode

I don't recall Marge getting up the duff by Barts friend ?

Winston_1 · 06-11-2009, 22:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by essjay21271

Just to correct your post.

All of the premium channels are supplied on a dual fibre link from Mediacenter Betzdorf in Luxembourg.

None of the channels are fed from Osterley.

I find this difficult to believe. I've seen the 3 racks in Osterley, all be it a few years ago, labelled NTL, Cable and Wireless, and Telewest.

Since the channels originate in Osterley why send them to Luxembourg and then fibre back to UK cable companies? I know bureaucrats are idiots but surely not that much.

NewBuilder · 06-11-2009, 22:58

Mediacenter Betzdorf is the command centre for the ASTRA satellite fleet. Most European land fed cable content and low level terrestrial distribution comes from this location.

http://www.virginmediaentertainment.com/

Virgin Media Entertainment distribute all its premium content from this location now, the 2 remaining broadcast headends are Langley and Knowsley. As far as I know Bromley doesnt have a direct feed to its hubsite anymore and is fed from Langley. Sky also provide a new direct fiber feed for its content (hence the increase in picture quality since the Sky basics returned to our viewing screens).

Lots of good stuff going on behind the scenes to make our service better!

04-11-2009, 14:28	#1
kathplatform Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Bridge over troubled waters Services: Sky Posts: 52	My son wants cable... Is cable television worth it? My son wants cable TV for Christmas, and I've been looking into it. Is sky better? My husband works as an engineer. Is there anyway of running a cable from the junction box into our TV and getting the channels for free? Also, how do I make sure he doesn't sit watching telly when he should be doing his homework?

04-11-2009, 14:39	#2
Ryrazzer Forum Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Services: Sky HD, VM 20MB , Talk Unlimited Posts: 1,488	Deleted

04-11-2009, 23:33	#6
droogiefret Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Gender: Male Location: neither here nor there Services: there's a man going roun' takin' names Posts: 3,264 Blog Entries: 4	Isn't this thread a Simpsons episode

05-11-2009, 00:00	#7
Winston_1 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 551	Basically the cable companies relay SOME of the channels available from Sky. Their pay per view film choice is their own but generally films that have already been on Sky Box Office. There is and always has been insufficient bandwidth on cable to carry as many channels as Sky can carry by satellite. The price is much the same, in fact some free to air channels on Sky are charged for as stand alones on cable. There is also a very much better choice of radio on Sky. So in answer to your question cable is not worth it. Sky is better if you are willing to pay for your TV.

05-11-2009, 00:09	#8
bananaman_007 Forum Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Newcastle Upon Tyne Services: Freeview, Sky, Sky Broadband, Wii, 360, DS, PSP Posts: 5,904	You already have sky, so a £10 multiroom sub and a cheap box from ebay (£20) is all you need, that will be much cheaper than getting cable in. Though don't forget the installation costs, i am not sure if sky will do this for free, since you have the dish they may do. If not phone a guy out the yellow pages if you do not want to do it yourself should cost no more than £20. As stated cable offers something different to sky and is great for the right people. If you do opt for either you will have to make sure to block out the babestation type content if you do not deem your lad old enough.

05-11-2009, 13:12	#10
rpjmartin Forum Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Essex, UK Services: Virgin Media Posts: 29	OP, if you're looking to get quantity of channels, go for Sky. I say that as VM cable customer. VM charge for channels that are aired for free on Sky. No you can't run a cable for free. Don't put a TV in his bedroom if you don't want him distracted.

05-11-2009, 13:17	#11
Skylover4life Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Services: VIP Virgin, V+ x2, V Box, 20Mb Broadband, Talk Unlimited. Freesat by Sky x2 Posts: 831	When I was a kid, and my parents wanted me to do stuff other than watch TV, they used to confiscate the Telewest Active Digital smart card, used to only get like a few channels without it (like BBC1 and ITV).

05-11-2009, 18:13	#15
Chparmar Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: London Services: SKY + HD, SKY + (Sky World, 6 Mixes), VM BB (10MB) Posts: 4,430	Great quantity of channels @ lower price per channel = Sky Selection of "main stuff" @ a reasonable price = Virgin

05-11-2009, 18:29	#16
coopermanyorks Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Gender: Male Location: Pontefract -In Gods Own County Services: Pace HD & Pvr3's in Multiroom-Sky 4 mix & Sports - BE BB Posts: 16,850 Blog Entries: 1	The Op is a well known WUM

06-11-2009, 22:58	#22
NewBuilder Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Scotland Services: 50Mb, XL TV, V+, XL Telco Posts: 31	Mediacenter Betzdorf is the command centre for the ASTRA satellite fleet. Most European land fed cable content and low level terrestrial distribution comes from this location. http://www.virginmediaentertainment.com/ Virgin Media Entertainment distribute all its premium content from this location now, the 2 remaining broadcast headends are Langley and Knowsley. As far as I know Bromley doesnt have a direct feed to its hubsite anymore and is fed from Langley. Sky also provide a new direct fiber feed for its content (hence the increase in picture quality since the Sky basics returned to our viewing screens). Lots of good stuff going on behind the scenes to make our service better!