Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

are you a tester for the 360 then. just tried to order one , they told be it had not been launched yet so it was not general avaiable . they could not tell me anything about it as they had not got any information on it

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

After phoning virgin media they confirmed it is sky q like system, we are on th top packege with two v6 boxes. Was offered a free up grade received them yesterday had a look at them and without any research see what they was doing so while on the Phone with them after they confirmed it is sky q like system i ask to return them.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I guess I am a tester then. I filled the form in which popped up when I logged in to My Virgin Media some weeks ago. Received a call from VM on Sunday and took delivery of 360 box yesterday. I've only got Mixit TV plus Sky Sports and I only have one box (I've noticed others speculating you have to have more than one).

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Something else I was reminded of in another forum is the V6 allows you to create you own ordered and channel selected EPG - per profile too.

So for example, one can set up an EPG of just the 5 main HD terrestrial channels and another can set up just their favourite movie and/or sports channels.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

you mean 360 not v6?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Yes - 360 :)

I was testing if anyone was paying attention.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Noticed on your screenshot that BBC1HD and ITVHD are prominent on channels 1 and 3 instead of the SD version, rather than lower down on 108 and 113 on the TiVo V6. Is this by default or is this just how you reordered these channels in your Profile epg?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

That's regional too as 108 isn't used in NI and it's BBC Scotland in Scotland. Also NI still has ITV HD on 113.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

With Horizon, each profile chooses the channels they want and can order them how you like. They are then numbered 1, 2, 3, .... No need to remember 142 is channel 4 in HD.

Another benefit is no need to press red to get, say, Netflix to work. Say it’s channel 8 then just press 8 and the app starts.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Or even press the voice button and say "Netflix"



---------- Post added at 13:19 ---------- Previous post was at 13:18 ----------

That's how I chose my profiled favourites to list.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

For me, pressing one button, instead of pressing one button and saying something, is better.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I don't like that auto loading an app without it being requested is not good - just tried and and the apps load while scrolling through the EPG.

Needs to be a bit longer delay before the auto-load.

btw: did you notice the profile short-cut button on the side of the remote?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Yes, know that button.
If you don’t have a particular channel in your profile, you have to press it to get to the Shared profile where you get to the channel.
Once you are watching the channel, if you go back to your own profile, you can’t continue watching the channel.
You can only watch channels in your profile.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

haha very good. i am! ;)

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

STV Player app has appeared on 360s

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Don't like this at all.

Pressing the HOME button was bringing up the menu at the bottom of the screen with live TV continuing above.

Today I get what I can only call is a full page advert.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Jeez, that's a scary picture...:D

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

That is indeed not good, hopefully not a sign of things to come.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

It has now gone and is back to live tv - hopefully it will stay that way.

Using button shortcuts and voice - I tend to avoid home menu.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

My Ch4HD is 104 so quite easy to remember;)

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Not for every region. Still 141 up here.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Not here either.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I've heard that some are saying that Red Button doesn't work on 360s.
Red Button works fine on the services I have tried.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

So to be more specific, on the V6 there's
a) Connected Red Button by pressing red on the BBC channels
b) Accessing the apps via the apps menu
c) 991 to access the broadcast SD red button channel

How many of these work on TV360?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

a - does not work but I understand that the service is to close soon. The original closure was delayed. The watch now option on BBC channels gives option of watch live or watch programme from start. BBC News and Sport apps are available but they are due to close to - the live sport is now meant to be a part of iPlayer.
b - there are apps in the apps menu - not sure what you mean here in relation to the red button
c - 991 is Red Button channel in SD

My point was that the Sky Sports and BT Sports Red Button options are available - matching the V6. Hopefully Eurosport will work to this weekend.

You don't use Red Button for Netflix and Amazon from guide - as they auto load from guide.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

You answered what I meant by b) in the 2nd half of your response to a), i.e. any video content people associate with being on Red Button like sport is being integrated into iPlayer.

What I meant by a) isn't the Text Services that are closing, I'm talking about the "bridge" itself that loads when you press red that allows you to launch the TV News and Sport apps, restart the current programme or highlights specific events and programmes. I expect this to continue when the TV News and Sports apps close and simply be redesigned to point to News and Sport video content within iPlayer. The BBC already said News and Sport (not just live) video content would be rehoused within iPlayer. So I'm asking if the "bridge" works on TV360. If Live Restart is working it sounds like it is.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

1. There is no red button service on the 360 with the exception of the sports channels as far as I can tell (i.e. no press red icon on screen on BBC, Sky channels, etc). Pressing red on any channel other than on SKy Sports or BT Sport does nothing (at present).

2. There is no press blue to go to HD - it's not required as the SD variants have been removed for most channels (e.g. E4HD is on 106, no Sky1 SD, no Sky Witness SD etc.). Channel 4 SD is still on 104 though (other than in areas where it's already been swapped).

3. There is no press yellow to go to +1 (you can, however, order channels any way you like - you don't need to stick with the default EPG order)

4. Apps (Netflix etc.) are available via the Apps menu or by going to channel 205 etc. as on the V6. Netfix, Amazon and You Tube auto load from the channel (no need to press red as already noted earlier).

5. BBC red button is on channel 991 as on the V6.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Red Button link is working on Eurosport to load the Roland Garros 4K/HDR feed.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

If you're watching a recording from a series, and you've already recorded the next episode, the next episode auto plays (a la Netflix, etc) unless you override it. Can't see a way to turn this off in settings. Wouldn't be so bad, but it would have cut the earlier episode short if I hadn't stopped it!

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Not good for anything with during or post-credits content.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

News from VM in Ireland.

https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2020...d-tv-platform/

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

isnt that a normal v6 box in the picture?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

They have the same casing

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

The main box looks the same as the V6. The mini is half the height (as it doesn't contain a hard drive).

In fact I think the boxes (V6 and 360) are identical in hardware terms - it's just the firmware that's different (and the remote!).

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

The remote's very different (and much nicer IMO).

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

The old V6 remote is for TiVo and is based on the original US TiVo remotes.

I don't think they would be allowed to use the design for a non-TiVo product.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I agree. The lack of anything remotely (pun intended) TiVo in the new software is also conspicuous, I think (thumbs, suggestions, wishlists, etc.).

Edit: I guess that should be firmware?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Proper series links should follow - thumbs/suggestions I never used - wishlists would be great as they are move reliable than series links.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

It sounds like Virgin 360 is aimed to be very similar to SkyQ.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

360 updated to 4.27 - no idea what's new

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Any dates for a full UK roll out?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I would think it would be very slow, like V+ to TiVo to V6.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Isn't the main box and hardware just the same as the current Arris STB, so it will only be an upgrade to the new Horizon/360 firmware and then the multi-room/mini-box added on either by self-install or an engineer if extra coax is needed? If and when roll out begins.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

There has been, AFAIK, any suggestion that the current V6 hardware can or will receive the Horizon software.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Got this from a friend in Holland who has the Ziggo version of the 360.

What has been changed in 4.27?
Bug fixes

The App Store could sometimes not be opened, this resulted in error code CS2401
The media box sometimes did not respond to the remote control for a short time
The set HDMI resolution on the media box sometimes changed from 4K to 1080p. Sometimes the other way around. All cases where the set resolution changes without any action from the user should be resolved.
When playing a paused live TV session, you briefly got a black screen

Improvement of ease of use and other adjustments:

By simulating the buttons on the remote control with voice control commands, you can now use some voice control commands in Youtube. For example: 'pause', 'play', 'go back'.

I don't know how much applies to the VM version but the You Tube voice control definitely works!

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

May be the same.

The media box does not respond for a short time. I've had this a few times on both boxes - and still have it after the 4.27 upgrade I think. I assumed it was something like a data refresh hodling it up.

Seen the CS2401 twice on mini-box only - not in past week or so.

Never see an HDMI change - set to auto.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Still no fix for odd problem with series recordings - when you watch an episode of a programme for which you have a series link, and then delete it, the box will record the same episode if it is repeated. This has happened twice to me. Once before 4.27 and once since. I read in the VM community forum that they're aware and it should be fixed in a future update, but not yet it seems!

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I’m not so sure. Horizon 360 is already being launched on V6s in Ireland. I would be surprised if adapting this for use over here on the very same boxes would have caused that many problems.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Ireland never had V6 hardware before now.
They are introducing it as TV 360, same as UK.
I see no credible evidence that the uptake of TV 360 in the UK will be other than slow. I don’t see Horizon software being downloaded onto V6 TiVo to make it into a TV 360.

---------- Post added at 20:29 ---------- Previous post was at 20:20 ----------

This is what Ireland had before the very recent announcement of TV 360:

https://www.virginmedia.ie/customer-.../tv/virgin-tv/

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

This post on AVForums seems to suggest they were just sent new remotes and received a software update to Horizon to an existing V6 box

https://www.avforums.com/threads/vir.../post-28419330

Maybe Virgin are trying out 2 approaches, new equipment or upgrade to existing equipment.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

BBC Sounds app is now available on TV360s

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Are there any other apps that are on our V6s but not on the Horizon boxes and vice versa, Ozsat?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

No Pluto TV on 360. I can't remember what was on the V6 TBH but here's the list for the 360 as it stands:

Al Jazeera
BBC iPlayer
BBC News
BBC Sounds
BBC Sport
CNN
Deutsche Welle
France 24
Netflix
Prime Video (Amazon)
Radio Line
STV Player
TV Upgrades
Vevo
VM Store
You Tube

All4, My5 etc are not apps in their own right but content is accessible via the Catch Up menu by selecting from the channel drop down.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Thanks for the up-to-date app list paul0363. :)

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Does the Radioline app actually work on the 360 box? It no longer works on the V6, although it is still displayed for some reason.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Interesting quirk (or I thought so, anyway). I recorded the first ep of Roadkill, watched it, then watched the rest of the series on iPlayer. Yesterday episode 2 had appeared in "Continue Watching" (via catchup). No obvious way to delete it BUT you can delete programmes from "continue watching" using the TV Go app, so that's what I've done.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

There's a message when you try to start it up that they're trying to fix it, so that'll be why it's not removed.

I do wonder if they've rolled out another V6 update, I found all my tuners (excluding the one that tunes to 101 after a restart) on the VM Preview channel this morning.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

It works fine on the 360

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Another interesting feature I noticed re Roadkill is episode 3 was not set to record even though I have series link for it.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Worked for me:

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Probably a problem with the series link or episode data for that region of BBC1.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Looking increasingly likely of the national roll out of Horizon/360 TV before Christams in the UK, according to this article...
https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...ice-looms.html

"The latest results also include an official update on their launch plans for the new TV 360 platform, which they claim is “expected to be launched in the U.K. market during Q4” (i.e. before Christmas). “Our new platform allows customers to access TV entertainment across multiple screens through our 4K-ready Virgin TV 360 set-top box and on-the-move with our Virgin TV Anywhere app. Enhanced features such as voice search and control, an updated user-interface and the ability to create individual profiles enabling personalisation are expected to drive significant improvements,” said the operator."

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I interpret that as they'll start selling it widely on their website rather than offer it to a select number of customers as they currently are.

If updating V6s is part of the plan, they won't do it just before Christmas, it's normal for companies to put a halt on changes before Christmas as it's not a time of year you want to have to deal with anything going wrong.

Thanks for the story link/quote.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

So, does anyone have any idea how much this will cost to the user?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Nothing you'll be able to to point to, it'll be hidden in the annual price increase. :D

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

No doubt.:(

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

It should actually be cheaper for Virgin Media than the current system:

• Same hardware for the main box
• Cheaper hardware for additional boxes
• Only one piece of software to maintain across multiple markets
• No licensing fee to Tivo

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Presumably those on the new system can look forward to a cut in monthly subs then :gpoint:

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I hope VM will permit two main boxes that communicate with each other, like the V6s do. The mini-boxes do not meet my requirements and effectively halve my recording capacity.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

l somehow doubt that will happen.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

So do I. It would be nice to have more content for our money, though.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

As I understand it TiVo owns patents on features that virtually all PVRs use, so even non-Tivo PVRs pay something to TiVo.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

There was a merger of original TiVo and Macrovison/Rovi which both have a set of patents connection to Digital TV

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/TiVo_Corporation

Rovi before the merger sued Virgin Media lots

https://www.theregister.com/2015/06/...n_rovi_patents

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Thanks BenMcr :-)

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Ultimate Ooomph customers to be offered the upgrade:

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.ph...m-and-box.html

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Instead of a licencing fee to Tivo, VM-O2 will presumably pay a licensing fee to Liberty Global. Agree with the other comments though.

Do the small boxes act as a wifi mesh system too?

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

No, the mini boxes must be co-ax connected and also have an Ethernet or WiFi connection to the Virgin Media broadband Hub.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

No, but LG are looking at different options there

https://www.libertyglobal.com/libert...ip-with-plume/

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Gy makes some interesting comments on this link. Points 3, 4 and 7 are serious no-nos for me, together with the lack of recording space:

1. Have been testing TV360 (was not supplied with a ‘mini-box’) and would NOT recommend the current software.

2. Can no longer record Radio programmes as they are not on program list.

3. If you record a TV series, watch an episode and delete that episode before it is repeated then that episode will be re-recorded – what a waste!

4. You cannot recover deleted programmes.

5. TV channel will no longer store 90 minutes in background while you watch a recorded program, although if you pause a live channel it will store up to 3 hours, but this 3 hours will be lost as soon as you watch a recorded program.

6. TV channel list only shows icons of channel, you can longer click on icon, making channels hard to identify.

7. You can only set record for episode or series that is currently on the software i.e. you can no longer set it to record any new series.

And the list goes on.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Virgin Media IS Liberty Global. LG bought the Virgin Media company and brand back in 2013. They opted to continue to use the VM brand only in their UK market under licence from Bransons larger Virgin Group. All domestic PVRs including VMs 360/Horizon, Sky+/Q, Freeview recorders etc still use elements of TiVo/Rovi patented tech in their operating system.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

The only upside to the 360 is having access in a bedroom etc, but this is soon overtaken by the numerous downsides.​

When I had my V6 installed 4 years ago, a senior engineer rang me to see how the installation went. He said that they were working on a system where people could "watch TV in any part of the house". I assumed that this was their failed Telly Tablet venture, but now i'm wondering if he was actually referring to the 360.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Could that senior emgineer be referering to this?...
https://translate.google.com/transla...je/dekoder-4k/

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I have the second V6 in my bedroom, which is the perfect solution for me.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Oh dear, after seeing today's launch I was kinda interested, but I do love my TiVo software... my contract is up too.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

The access in the bedroom is EXACTLY the same as today, by coax connection and additional access to broadband router.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

With the mini-boxes, you can only access the recordings from the one main box. That is the issue. The Horizon offer basically halves my recording capacity. If you have 3 V6s as some have, make that a third of your current recording capacity.

Sorry, but this sucks. I like the new UI, but there are some serious disadvantages with the functionality of the Horizon offer compared with the V6. It seems like a copy of the Sky Q set up to me, which I rejected years ago.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

It does sound like a poor relation of SkyQ - without

the option of a 2Tb recording box
wifi enabled minis
The ability to recover deleted recordings

Etc etc

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Don't forget the Virgin system allows UHD on the mini boxes something the Sky Q Mini doesn't , like most things there's pros and cons to both systems.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

There are definitely pros and cons on both systems but looking at the 360m there are too many cons for my liking.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

My thoughts exactly Den.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Although that con list doesn't read well, surely it is just the price you (currently) pay for being an early adopter.

I know VM can work in mysterious ways but I'm confident all those quirks will be sorted in software updates.

The main issues in my opinion are the 1TB hard drive and the coax for the mini boxes. Those are the glaring issues which could potentially be fixed but with a lot more effort required

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

You may well be right on that; I certainly hope so. I will not move over until these issues are addressed.

If we cannot have two main boxes, increasing the main box to 2 Tb will do the trick for me in terms of having to accept mini-boxes.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

I'm sure they will Old Boy.

I remember enough people complaining about a lack of reminders on TiVo when it came out for VM to add it as a feature.

I'm sure a hell of a lot more people would complain about a lack of deleted show recovery, a more sought after feature than reminders imo. :)

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

What I found most astonishing was that when you delete the programme you have just watched on a series link, it would reappear on the next airing of the programme. That is crazy!

I assume Horizon lets you bookmark on demand shows (including from Netflix and Amazon) under ‘My Shows’.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Bookmarks are achieved using The Watchlist function.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Thanks, Robby, that was also important to me!

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

That's the position today. At some point next year Liberty Global will only own half of the company in the UK - O2 owning the other half.

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

So it's official (from VM staff on the VM Community forums) that 360 software is being trialled on V6 hardware.

https://community.virginmedia.com/t5...4485805/page/2

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

Good find, Mythica, thank you!

Re: Virgin TV 360 users (Horizon)
 

That is very good news IMO.