Telewest Users please help in here!

sid · 18 Sep 2006 at 00:35

OK

Since I don't have a BT line in my new flat. It has to be telewest. I am temtped with their 2 for £20 offer where you get 2mbit connection and digital TV starter package.

1) For the installation, do you need a TV or a computer there? Cos in a empty flat theres neither. (although a pc might be avaliable)

2) Is there just one box combining TV and modem?

3) Sky needs a phone line which i've mentioned above I don't have, does Telewest need on as well for activation or anything else.

4) Are there any caps what so ever on the 2mbit line? Is anything blocked or throttled like p2p or newsgroups? Any problems with usages upto 50gb per month or more?

5) Will the installers put the box where you want it? and will they route the cable properly? The sky installers did this?

6) Is there anything else I should know about the serivice and the installation procedure.

Thanks a lot

sid

hsp70 · 18 Sep 2006 at 00:58

!) i'm not sure, they probably can install both but can't test it for you obviously because you don't have a tv/pc. Nowadays you don't need to register your mac id, the cable guy comes and installs, phones head quarters to register the cable modem mac then tests the connection is working.

2)They do both a combine tv/internet box and separately. I'd go for a separate cable modem as the tv ones can't be upgraded to the 10mbit service i believe and come only with a usb connection

3)You won't need a phone line, things like buying a movie from their service etc is done via the box and cable.

4)at the moment there are no caps or traffic shaping

5)Yes they will install it in a room of your choice. As far as routing the cable i'm not sure, usually the pc/tv are close to the socket on the wall where they install it. At my house it's just a socket with a cable connecting it to the modem, it's not hidden really.

sparkymark75 · 18 Sep 2006 at 12:01

5) They will route it within reason, e.g. they won't life carpets etc to hide the cable, they'll put it along the top of the skirting. If there are no carpets fitted yet then the guy can run it on the floor along the skirting so that it will be hidden by the carpet.

Avalon · 18 Sep 2006 at 12:27

1) For the installation, do you need a TV or a computer there? Cos in a empty flat theres neither. (although a pc might be avaliable)

You neeed a TV even if it's not staying at the property, you don't need a PC though it is advisable.

2) Is there just one box combining TV and modem?

Yes but you don't want it, the Set Top Box (STB) modems are limited to roughly 1.5mbit where as the modems can operate up to the maximum service on offer of 10mbit if you choose to have that (they can operate a lot quicker but that depends on TW offering faster speeds).

3) Sky needs a phone line which i've mentioned above I don't have, does Telewest need on as well for activation or anything else.

No, TW doesn't require a phone line for anything, the cable connection has a return path that is used to poll the box's etc.

4) Are there any caps what so ever on the 2mbit line? Is anything blocked or throttled like p2p or newsgroups? Any problems with usages upto 50gb per month or more?

No limits actually is no limits, maxing out the 10mbit connection takes a little work but i've seen one running flat out for days at a time quite happily.

5) Will the installers put the box where you want it? and will they route the cable properly? The sky installers did this?

Yes within reason, one customer requested the box in the loft, another in a cellar, this isn't going to get done due to health and safety. If you want the cable run under floor boards then expect to have them lifter before install and put them back down yourself.

6) Is there anything else I should know about the serivice and the installation procedure.

Give them a mobile number for contact, understand it's a 12 month contract (if you are a student this may be worth thinking about but you have options - pm me if it's an issue). Make sure that you have a TV and preferably the PC to confirm the service is working before the engineer departs, not doing this is asking for grief not to mention a waste of your time as you then have to wait for the fault tech to return unless it's within 24hours. Make sure your PC is working and preferably that you have a NIC or free USB port. The engineer doesn't officially install the modem onto the PC now, they just have it activated so it's worth you checking !

sid · 18 Sep 2006 at 14:39

OK lame about the TV,

Where the hell am I supposed to get a TV now lol, may be the neighbours will lend it.

More questions then

1)How do I make sure I get seperate set top boxes? Do I pay extra?

2) Will the modem just plug into the router yer? I have a netgear wireless cable/dsl router which I am planning to use.

sid

Avalon · 18 Sep 2006 at 15:09

You will automatically get a seperate modem and STB unless you specifically asked for the STB BBI kit (one off charge is applied for it - as it becomes your property - then normal rental).

The modem has both RJ45 and USB so yea the RJ45 on the back of it will go into the WAN port on your router no problem at all.

It's worth pointing out that the tech may actually refuse the job if you don't have a TV, it's unlikley but officially without you having the Tv available he can't verify everything is working so beg, borrow or .. er .. well i'm sure you can see where I was going with that

sid · 18 Sep 2006 at 15:32

I got a 14" jobby here.

Since you seem to know what you're talking about avalon. Would it be too much effort to tell me what sort of ports are avaliable on the back on the STB. I will be using 5.1 sound from a AV amp. I doubt the box will have any digital connections so standard 2 phonos yer? What about video, is it a standard Scart cable again? I am going to be buying a 32" HDTV so i'll make sure it has a couple of scart slots.

sid

Avalon · 18 Sep 2006 at 16:02

Honest answer is it depends on the box sadly. TW do 5 types of box (last I knew), Pace 1000, 2000 and 4000, Scientific Atlanta (SA) (newer and smaller) and the new SA TV Drive (TVD) Imagine a High Def Sky+ box with 3 tuners, 160GB. The only Pace worth having was the 4000 and it came with a faster cpu, more ram and phono as standard, thing is because they would never officially support phono out when those box's come back in to the depot they are reworked and have the phono's removed and a blanking plate put over them :rolleyes:

All box's have dual scart out (split it if you need phono) and RF out, the prog's are normally macro free *cough* even ppv. I can't remember if the newer SA's have phone or not. If you are getting HDTV the new SA TVD box is the box for you here Sadly it will cost you a tenner extra a month (if you are on Supreme or £15 on any lower package) but the combination of HDTV, good PVR features etc make it worth it imho. It's either that or pay Sky something stupid like £300 for SKY+ HD.

sid · 18 Sep 2006 at 16:27

Hmm thats pretty lame on the boxes, lets hope they have phased out the old ones now cos i don't want to waste few more quid on a converter.

I don't think we can afford Telewest HD anytime soon here because we are students after all.

thanks a lot avalon for your help

sid