Virgin Media v+

[imthejoker]

Hello all, iv had V+ since december gone and since then iv had 2modems , 2wireless routers - all ok now but im now on my 3rd v+ box , it keeps freezing,screen goes blank,reboots whenever,and now when changing channel the screen goes blank -sounds still there- the page id appears on the screen goes blank again then finally the programme comes on , so from selecting a channel to seeing it on screen takes around 15secs - anyone else had agro with theirs - cos im close to getting rid and going back to sky !!
Joker

 

[Dogspods]

Sky HD for £39 installation and £30 a month is far better.

 

[riccimouse]

Were with virgin meda For ages and we have just upgraded to 20meg boradband and that frezes but really wanna get the v+ box

 

[Ffoxy]

This box behaviour is known about on an intermittent basis, the box suppliers (Cisco) are keen to get hold of examples for tests. Essentiually it is described as slow performance and is not common as VM are having difficulty getting to "live" examples.

I have 2 examples, one original early TVdrive and a new Samsung example currently in test which is amazingly fast by comparison, even when compared to the lower spec Sky+ box.

 

[Stu DemonD]

I don't have any issues with my V+ box.

 

[vikerina19]

Folks I know haven't had any issues (yet!) but I don't think the issues you're having are uncommon. I'd go back to Sky personally, the HD box is on a cracking deal at the mo

 

[Ffoxy]

Folks I know haven't had any issues (yet!) but I don't think the issues you're having are uncommon. I'd go back to Sky personally, the HD box is on a cracking deal at the mo

I KNOW they are not common, I dont THINK they are.... trust me

£49 for a Sky+ box is a good deal but look out for the extras, like insurance on the box once past guarantee or the cost of a replacement, then the HD extras... it all adds up.

Anyhow, the OP Posted about a Fault, not package value

 

[dannygp]

Sky is history. It's all about Virgin Media. Unfortunately mate your just having a bad experience :hug:

 

[vikerina19]

I KNOW they are not common, I dont THINK they are.... trust me

£49 for a Sky+ box is a good deal but look out for the extras, like insurance on the box once past guarantee or the cost of a replacement, then the HD extras... it all adds up.

Anyhow, the OP Posted about a Fault, not package value

He asked if anyone else had had agro... so I was commenting on that?
The company I work for sells Sky... I know about the extras... I was just stating the HD box (not the Sky+ Box) being good value cause it's on offer just now. Someone else said that too... so don't just pick on me

 

[Ffoxy]

He asked if anyone else had had agro... so I was commenting on that?
The company I work for sells Sky... I know about the extras... I was just stating the HD box (not the Sky+ Box) being good value cause it's on offer just now. Someone else said that too... so don't just pick on me

Not picking on anyone lol!
But you did say "I know haven't had any issues (yet!)"... but compare apples with apples I say, you're not really best placed to judge on what issues VM have are common or not really working for Sky, that might be viewed as a special kind of a "selling pitch".....

Anyhow...

Which Sky box has HD if not the Sky+ box? That is a great idea to be fair.

 

[vikerina19]

Not picking on anyone lol!
But you did say "I know haven't had any issues (yet!)"... but compare apples with apples I say, you're not really best placed to judge on what issues VM have are common or not really working for Sky, that might be viewed as a special kind of a "selling pitch".....

I don't work FOR Sky - so I am in a place to judge cause it's not a "selling pitch" as you put it.

as for the (yet!)... well I am aware VM have issues, but the boxes my family have haven't developed any faults as of yet - which was a direct response so the original thread question of - has anyone else had any agro?

This Forum ain't such a friendly place after all...

 

[Ffoxy]

I don't work FOR Sky - so I am in a place to judge cause it's not a "selling pitch" as you put it.

as for the (yet!)... well I am aware VM have issues, but the boxes my family have haven't developed any faults as of yet - which was a direct response so the original thread question of - has anyone else had any agro?

This Forum ain't such a friendly place after all...

Aaaw dont be so touchy for gawds sake... but the Company you work for sells Sky... same difference? OK you are right I am wrong (pat on the head and rub of your tummy)

And of course some people have faults with VM, however that is different from aggro. I used to install and service Sky, now I could tell you about Sky faults AND aggro lol!

There there now hope thats better

 

[imthejoker]

Thanks to all the replies-pls keep em coming . With regards to 'living examples' of dodgy v+ boxes i keep being told that there is nothing dodgy/funny being lodged by any of the 3v+ boxes we've had-they hold a fault file internally-even tho their eng has seen things happen , so unless we'v just had dodgy boxes( thats about rite for me) or we're all having 'group phycosis' and all seeing things - me thinks not. I have spoken to sky and will see how things go this time as their 'senior' eng will be at my hse on mon.
Joker

 

[Ffoxy]

Thanks to all the replies-pls keep em coming . With regards to 'living examples' of dodgy v+ boxes i keep being told that there is nothing dodgy/funny being lodged by any of the 3v+ boxes we've had-they hold a fault file internally-even tho their eng has seen things happen , so unless we'v just had dodgy boxes( thats about rite for me) or we're all having 'group phycosis' and all seeing things - me thinks not. I have spoken to sky and will see how things go this time as their 'senior' eng will be at my hse on mon.
Joker

Its "In-life" examples of slow boxes needed, they work fine when transported back to Winnersh. So that would indicate a local (in-house) or Network related issue (unlikely) No log is held for slow performance either within the box or the UBR's, however the latter can run slow at high user periods that would not affect remote control performance. What is needed is the Principle Tech for the area, and for him to work through the issue with you. Do you keep your HD as empty as possible? Switching the box off at the mains at night can help, and save money too lol! (obv when nothing is set to record) Also, review your Planned and Series recordings frequently as out of date stuff is of no value but gets looked at by the box all the time, if all that fails, archive your recorded content you wish tokeep to DVD then do a HD re-format.

 

[powered_up_pac_man]

We had quite a few issues with our V+ box and it ended up getting sorted after the 2nd replacement. Turned out that the wiring coming into our house from outside was in poor nick and goit replaced. No bother since then.

 

[pooroldcodger]

Its "In-life" examples of slow boxes needed, they work fine when transported back to Winnersh. So that would indicate a local (in-house) or Network related issue (unlikely) No log is held for slow performance either within the box or the UBR's, however the latter can run slow at high user periods that would not affect remote control performance. What is needed is the Principle Tech for the area, and for him to work through the issue with you. Do you keep your HD as empty as possible? Switching the box off at the mains at night can help, and save money too lol! (obv when nothing is set to record) Also, review your Planned and Series recordings frequently as out of date stuff is of no value but gets looked at by the box all the time, if all that fails, archive your recorded content you wish tokeep to DVD then do a HD re-format.

We have had 3 in 2 years. Generally it works well. Sometimes it's slow to respond, but I think that's the network rather than the box. One thing I would advise though, is that if you have programmes you have recorded and want to keep, then you should transfer them on to DVD. My daughter was very upset to lose her Dr Who collection when one of our boxes just packed up and lost everything for no apparent reason.
Generally though it's a great thing to have.

 

[Ffoxy]

We have had 3 in 2 years. Generally it works well. Sometimes it's slow to respond, but I think that's the network rather than the box. One thing I would advise though, is that if you have programmes you have recorded and want to keep, then you should transfer them on to DVD. My daughter was very upset to lose her Dr Who collection when one of our boxes just packed up and lost everything for no apparent reason.
Generally though it's a great thing to have.

Good advice, there is also an issue with Infra Red radiation from some flat panel TV types, these can affect remote functionality. The test for that is to try the buttons on the box itself, if they respond immediately its could be a TV radiation issue. Sky suffer it too by the way, its not a remote control issue as VM use internationally agreed remote protocols.

 

[danhans115]

I have had one for about 3 weeks now. We pay an extra fiver a month on top of our XL braodband package and get the v+ and the phone.

The box itself is a bit unresponsive compared to the Samsung 2100 box we have in the bedroom, especially flicking through channels (but this isnt their box if you know what I mean). But other than that im very happy, and having never been a legit virgin subscriber before I now have on demand which is excellent. The only thing that lets it down is its so damn ugly!

I have read on forums where people do illegal things with the 8300/V+ and such , that they are seriously slow when the talkback(or upstream) is not present or disabled.

Its just daft though, the processing power of these stb's these days and they still cant make them flick through channels quick. Virgin should sort their three networks out properly and make the software platform better.

Dan

 

[imthejoker]

oldcodger,pacman,Ffoxy - the v+ hd is virtually empty (60gb left),we dont unplug it from the s/o at night i would but im not always the last to use it. as for busy periods it can start its tricks at any time really mate itsjust as twitchy at 8am or 8pm , the tv's a sharp aquaus and worked spot on when we had sky,my sons v box works perfect with no issues on his lcd tv-its just the v+ ??
Joker

 

[Ffoxy]

I have had one for about 3 weeks now. We pay an extra fiver a month on top of our XL braodband package and get the v+ and the phone.

The box itself is a bit unresponsive compared to the Samsung 2100 box we have in the bedroom, especially flicking through channels (but this isnt their box if you know what I mean). But other than that im very happy, and having never been a legit virgin subscriber before I now have on demand which is excellent. The only thing that lets it down is its so damn ugly!

I have read on forums where people do illegal things with the 8300/V+ and such , that they are seriously slow when the talkback(or upstream) is not present or disabled.

Its just daft though, the processing power of these stb's these days and they still cant make them flick through channels quick. Virgin should sort their three networks out properly and make the software platform better.

Dan

The 3 networks rationalisation is in hand Dan, trouble is it costs money... lots of it and times are hard.

The 8300 has 3 tuners which doesnt help speed but does give it useful functionality, I have seen simialr Posts to yours on digitalspy about "sort out the software" but truly you wouldnt believe the complex interactions of the various systems which all have to handshake happily. It is very much multi-layered multiple platform software and firmware, there is no easy, quick and cheap fix. The new Samsung V+ box currently in trials is a treasure though!