Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Why doesn't that surprise me lol :)

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

:p:

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

The apps are coming in now.

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Yes we just need a few more that are of more use to us and don't cost us anything more.:)

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Disagree, need to get the Tivo box up to par at least with the HD box. Can't get over the omissions of red button on sky sports and reminders:td:

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Henke my point was just about the apps section and nothing to do with the above mentioned as thats another issue in itself.:)

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

There is a very good reason for the delays in certain aspects of VM's UK Tivo. This was posted over on DS yesterday.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

You've got to love this

An enhanced remote to add a button like stop PMSL :D:D

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Okay, but that wasn't the point. :rolleyes: What about the other things on the list? Like I said, also the 'red button' which I don't think (but also don't know for sure) they have over there.

The point being that these things take time to add.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

No, it gets it to as many customers as possible as quickly as possible. See my earlier reply here.

Have you noticed how VM have been letting customers keep their V+ for free when upgrading to TiVo? Is that to the detriment of the customer?

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Yes well that seems to be the case but its somewhat strange how other platforms seem to add things much quicker then Virgin do on most things and perhaps you can give me your answer to that carl. :)

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I could if I worked for VM and knew the reasons why. Of course, I actually probably couldn't due to the conditions of my employment, but you know what I mean :)

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These features need to be designed, implemented, tested, tweaked and tested again, tweaked and tested yet again before it can be rolled out to the public. It takes time, trust me! :angel:

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

So basically we're paying for a beta product ;)

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Should have been done before launch. Rushed release has meant that the box is getting very mixed reviews, a lot if them not good. Sadly mud sticks, so people will be put off TiVo as many who have taken up the offer are less than impressed by it.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

I guess that this is the problem when VM buy into a product not designed for their market .

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And had the product delayed for more than another year? (Remember, it was nnounced a year before it arrived!). No thanks! The basics work (ie it records TV shows). So that's fine. Everything else they are now working on.

As it was around a year from announcement to launch (more, actually, if you only count the offical, generall release) then your comment makes no sense.

Mixed, maybe, but mostly positive from the ones I've read. Over on the AV Forums, they gave it their highest-possible award; Reference Standard.

---------- Post added at 13:19 ---------- Previous post was at 13:16 ----------

Other than the fact that the original Tivo launched here in 2000, you mean? :rolleyes:

Yes, it has limited success but that was only because Sky were in charge of it over here, and they screwed-it over in favour of their own Sky+.

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When VM offered both Tivo and V+, there wasn't a problem. People who had to have red button and reminders could have a V+ and those that these features weren't a must have item, could choose the advanced functionality of Tivo.

Both groups were happy and delaying Tivo until everything was there, served no purpose. It would only have frustrated people who wanted tivo functionality and weren't fussed over lack of red button etc. but wouldn't have brought a fully functioning Tivo to the other people any sooner.

We're now in a greyer area as V+ is no longer a box option for new customers. From one perspective, that makes sense, because the sooner the old boxes are gone, the sooner VM can move to Mpeg4, giving us more recording capacity and presumably other advantages. But it also brings frustration to those who have to have tivo if they join VM and probably expect red button as a given.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Thanks Passingbat, but isn't that a massive og? New customers will be put off by the lack of these functions, ah well why worry, some are satisfied by a big recording box:D

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Its all very good having a big recording box but the TiVo can do far more then that but the trouble is there seems a long wait to get these other functions in which the TiVo is so damn capable of doing so thats why people are getting impatient at waiting for these other functions to arrive.:)

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Don't brush all customers with the same brush. I have no idea what's on this red button that people going on about as I never used it in the V+ days.

My boss at work got a TiVo recently and she is a very non techy person and has been raving about the TiVo. If these functions are that important why get one in the first place?

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But thats not the point as the point is why are we still waiting for


Virgin’s TiVo's iPad app
OTT apps like Netflix and Lovefilm
Multiroom streaming
Other useful apps
Reminders
The full red button functionality
And several other things a year on from launch

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

The TiVo was designed for the US market and that is why it does not have the functions that people are used to in this country.:rolleyes:

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sky movies collection on tivo is £21.50/ vm website £19.50 ? or are my eyes playing tricks on me ? lol can anyone confirm this or i might be wrong ? can any virgin media staff or anyone answer this pls ? thanks.

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Never used it myself and people know my views on reminders :D

I got Tivo as soon as I could after release, so was in favour of them releasing it with 'bits missing' and I've loved it ever since. But people had the option to stay with V+ if they needed missing functionality.

But a year on, VM still haven't added the features available on V+ but have discontinued the V+.

As I've said in other posts, Sky are soon launching fibre broadband and VM's biggest and massively significant USP, will be gone.

They need to implement those things on Den's list very quickly to compensate for that, because I think Tivo, as it is now, especially with core functionality missing, won't be a big enough USP.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Something wrong with that statement? :confused:

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Do explain I am sure you are dying too.

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Sky+ is just the name of Sky's implementation of the PVR software , the software is XTV DVR technology and belongs to NDS. The software is already deployed in more than 40 million homes and called many different things Sky+ , DirecTV plus , Foxtel IQ , Viasat so as you see it's not their own software.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

You were the one querying it, not me.

---------- Post added at 17:09 ---------- Previous post was at 17:08 ----------

Which, again, was not the point.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Clearly it was your point as you said

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Got to love SKY, the new iPad SKY Sports News app you have got to sign in with your SKY ID or pay £5 per month:mad:

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Sorry. You mis-understood because I didn't explain myself fully. :blush: (Though my point would have been clearer to anyone who had read the article I linked to.)

Sky were in charge of Customer Service and advertising of the original Tivo; the latter of which they failed at miserably; possibly deliberately in favour of their own machine which, whilst technically superior, was only of use to it's own subscribers.

Compare and contrast this original UK Tivo ad from 2000 with this current one.

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That's probably because they are an extra for Sky subscribers. Why should they give them away for free , it's simple subscribe to Sky and you can use them :)

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At the point where Virgin Media said to TiVo "Look we want to make your product available on our system and make it the best way to watch TV ever" shouldn't someone in VM have insisted that a dedicated UK technical team be sent here to work on and evolve the system for British use. It's what other big company's do, for example You don't think some guy sit's in Japan and design's a TV to work in Germany AND the Uk where Germany doesn't have Red Button services, but the UK does... no Panasonic have a dedicated UK team to make sure that stuff works, or can be fixed quickly if there is a problem. As usual with VM it is amateur hour.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Before it was a simple free app to find the latest sport headlines, not sure but certain levels of SKY subscription get this as part of their package?

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Hmm... Which is the bigger company; Panasonic (worldwide leading TV brand) or Virgin Media (small, UK only firm only covering half the country.)?

I take your point, and I agree with it, but there might be an "economy of scale" thing to consider.

That said, although we know all coding has to be done by the US Tivo team, we don't know that there isn't some sort of team over here anyway. I'm sure VM does have a dedicated Tivo team. (In fact, you can call them if you like on 0800 052 2184 for fault reports, etc.)

Not that one is needed nowadays with teleconferencing and the internet, of course ;)



(Side note. So annoying when I don't bother quoting as my reply is "next" then find that someone's sneaked one in whilst I'm composing mine. So I end up going back and having to quote :()

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

That's because the Sky Sports News app for iPad has now become the Sky Sports app which includes such things as F1 Companion (multiple video feeds , social updates , highlights , The Masters Companion app with all the same goodies?

To get back on topic , Carl what was wrong with that original TIVO ad in 2000 :D:D

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

They do have a team in the UK, permanently based in a VM office, as do Cisco, Pace, Samsung and Seachange (ex-Liberate). They even do some of the coding.

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I do hope you weren't being serious :bigcry::eeek::banghead::sniper:

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Is the TiVO still having a 3D EPG?

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

A what-now? :confused:

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The iPad app seems to be an anomaly as they could release a it in its current form but for some bizarre reason they want to hold on and add more features these seems more a Virgin thing then Tivo;

They have never said Lovefilm or Netflix is coming so stop waiting;

Multiroom streaming as I am sure you are aware is being held up by rights issues, most broadcasters are clinging to a old model and are afraid to try anything new;

They only announced reminders in Feb so at least give them time to code and test the next firmware these things take time, we have had far better software updates then we ever had under Liberate;

red button has already launched for Sky Sports, for all we know the hold up could be the BBC or maybe they want to make sure they can handle all 24 Olympic streams before launching?

A year in software design is a very short space of time, in fact there are things that we have in our Tivio that Tivo have now ported over to the US like the mini guide. all these things will come, if Virgin rush all this to market they would then have people complaining here that they can't do anything right and have rushed a unfinished SW update that doesn't work.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

They were apprently going to release a 3D EPG for the TiVo.

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I hope not, unless it's optional :D

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Seriously? Oh good grief :rolleyes:

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VM have anounced they are in talks with netflix and lovefilm and I doubt they would do that if it wasn't going to happen.

Still, we'll just settle for the other 100s of apps Cindy Rose promised we'd have by now, if that suits you better?

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

They have said they are in talks, that is all. Until they announce an app and deal has been struck then they are not confirmed and might as well not be coming.

They are also in talks about ITV HD and Sky Atlantic and have been for a long time.

As for Cindy Rose she is just a marketing person, you should never take a quote seriously when a marketing person boast that they will have 100s of something to market in 12 months.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

To be fair, she is Director of Digital Entertainment @ VM, but she has made a gaff about the amount of Apps being available! :D

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Yes DF she should have kept her mouth as many people listen to these comments and expect Virgin to deliver them and to be fair in some things they have but in other areas they have not at the present moment and thats why there is some constructive criticisms at this present time.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

People say things and the things change. If Virgin never said anything people would Complain and when people do say things about the future and they don't pan out people complain.

I think we can safely assume that the 100s of apps will come eventually but a year was ver optimistic. I am looking forward to seeing the reaction to when Birkets timeframe passes for his 80 HD channels gaff hat ones going to go nuclear.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

l am sure someone will press that nuclear button but its certainly not going to be me.:)

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

They have also stated connectivity issues; i.e. making it simple for everyone. I don't see why there is a delay to wait for that. Sure, develop things to make it easier for people but at the same time, let those who want to, simply hook each tivo to the router get on with it. So much equipment comes with core functionality but also has extras if you connect it to the internet; TVs, Blueray players and games consoles etc.. People know (or the instructions tell them) that if you want that extra functionality you have to connect that equipment to a router. Why is Tivo any different? Multiroom streaming is extra to the core tivo functionality.

Anyway, VM have known about both these issues from the very start of tivo development, so they really should have been resolved by now.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Which is my point exactly, if VM's UK TiVo team should contain people who can, and are authorised to write and release firmware exclusivly for the Uk market, if this was the case i'm sure the product would me much further down the line, look at the problems with the bottom field first giving poor pictures on some TV sets, the entire software should have been wriiten from scratch, in the Uk for the UK by the UK, you can't defend by saying that VM are a small company, they are a potentially massive customer and TiVo should have been prepared to treat them as such straight from the off.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Why can't people just wait?

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Yes people don't mind waiting when there is a concrete end date but at the moment we seemed to have waited a eternity for a good many things and we still don't know when they are coming.:)

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Just wait? It will not be long now mate;)

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Its already pretty simply plug it into your router and that is it. For anyone that finds that too difficult you can never make it simple enough.

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It's hardly that simple is it , the majority of people are not conversant in home networking however I agree with passingbat it seems inexcusable to deny those with the proficiency the opportunity to set it up and educate others in the options available to them.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

eternity*?

A little over-exaggerated, mayhaps?



*time without beginning or end.

---------- Post added at 18:34 ---------- Previous post was at 18:32 ----------

not sure what could be more simple using a cable to connect two devices...

You know, like a TV aerial, or a kettle plug, or an Ethernet cable......

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

I was referring to multiroom streaming which I'm sure your fully aware isn't just as easy as connecting a wire , sure I like many on here am fully acquainted with the options available in setting this up , but I'm pretty sure were the minority and not the majority.

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Perhaps not the best example. That bug was in hardware-specific code written from scratch for the VM TiVo. :)

But anyway, it was fixed long since.

---------- Post added at 20:14 ---------- Previous post was at 19:05 ----------

Which would be fine if they used an Ethernet cable.

But in reality they'll try to use wireless from one end of the house to the other through 5 brick walls and with all sorts of interference. Or that old 10baseT hub they have lying around. Or they'll decide the Ethernet cable isn't quite long enough, buy another from Poundland, and knot them together.

And when it doesn't work they'll ring up VM, shouting "Your TiVo is crap, give me a discount or I'll write to Watchdog!"


"I'm sorry Mr Muppet, you've failed the VM networking exam, we won't let you connect your TiVos".

Can't see that going down too well.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

I have enough things to worry about without wondering when the next app/channel/whatever will appear. It'll happen when it happens.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

So in your expert opinion the answer is what ? ;) I have two Sky+HD boxes networked with 200mbps Homeplugs one in the front room one at the back end of the house nowhere near each other , the whole process was setup in under 5 minutes with both boxes using Anytime+ and ready for the shared planner feature.



Sir Muppet to you ;)

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Wish I knew!

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I wish I know 5% of what you know mate:)

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Can someone answer me a question, what is the difference between the two Tivo boxes

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And if everyone was as technically proficient as you (or I) then there wouldn't be a problem. But they're not so there is. And no, I don't know what the answer is either. I assume Tivo/VM are working on one though :)

---------- Post added at 22:05 ---------- Previous post was at 22:04 ----------

Other than the size of the hard drive and possibly a different manufacturer - Cisco or Samsung -, nothing at all.

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Personally I don't think Virgin credit their customers with much nouse. And probably rightly so. What's particularly disappointing is that they don't appear to credit their call centre staff with the ability to help out their stupid customers.

As far as I'm concerned it's a potentially exciting feature, and one I would consider myself capable of implementing without having to call for help. I posted here some time ago now that as soon as this feature was up and running I'd be replacing the v+ upstairs with my second TiVo. That was so long ago now that the monthly cost of this has since increased from nothing to firstly £3 and now £5. And so, despite wanting to use the feature, and despite being able to use it without overwhelming Virgin's call centre, I find myself struggling to justify paying a charge that wouldn't have applied had they simply let those that can, do.

I would suggest that those that can't probably aren't amongst those that are bothered.

Shame.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Setting up wireless is far more difficult then simply plugging in two ethernet cables. You don't really need any networking know how to do this, they only way Virgin are going to make it easier is if they use a MOCA type protocol on their own coax that is already in the customers home.

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Except when it doesn't work first time; which is always a possibility.

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morning..
question for u..
how lomg u been on virgin media?
i wanted to change to that new collection package..
virgin media said no to any of those new packages..
wat a con..

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

'ey up sithee.
Okay.
Since it was Telewest 14 years ago.
Okay
No, they really won't have.
What an idiot :(

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cheers mate.. thanx

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The feature should be made available with no support till they work out how to implement it, i quite envy SKY users at the moment, especially now many are set to get fibre optic broadband as well :o:

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i asked about that.. not in my area

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p.s. Carl, why do you doubt that VM cs wouldn't let him take one of the new packages? They are extremly difficult people to deal with, not everybody has the energy to go to rententions and pretend they are leaving, All packages should be available to all customers not currently on a contracted deal.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

u on sky or virgin media? or both?
me.. on both

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And as far as I know - and according to their TV ads and web site - they are.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Just seen this article on DS forums posted by martine93

Furious BBC tells Virgin to pull 'Dr Who advert' and accuse Branson of trying to cash in

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...=feeds-newsxml

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

A storm in a teacup one suspects.

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Not exactly true. All they were doing was modifying the epg to display correctly while watching 3D content. ie the time bar when playing VOD content.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

I'm sure there may be a grain of truth to it as, let's face it, the ad wouldn't necessarily work if DT hadn't been in DW. But I don't for one second think the BBC are in any way as bothered about it as the Daily Wail makes-up... I mean... makes-out.

This is the "news"-paper with the clear anti-BBC agenda, don't forget!

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

I have just worked this one out, and found that VM have been a bit sneaky in the way they run Tivo. And for weeks l have been having an argument with my wife that we can get Tivo for free.

Just seen the small print in the deal, If you want Tivo 250 hours, it is free to install but you pay £49.95 for activation WHY, if you have cable already, all it is just to connect etc.

If you want the 1TB box You pay £49.95 for install and then £5.00 per month the same as the 250 hour one.

Whatever one you get you still have to pay £49.95 for the install, yet IF you are joining VM its Free altogether, VM have a good way to make money, you just make the customer confused. If you look at the page it tells you the above, but in the small print (which people quite often DON'T read it tells you the cost).

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Please explain yourself Arthur?.

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And for weeks we have been telling you you can't.

http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/11...-our-time.html

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No. They really haven't :rolleyes:

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I finally admit defeat.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Shock horror

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:cleader::cleader:

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good morning

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'I don't believe it' l like that, what l should have said was 500BG 250 hours and 1TB 500 hours.

I always thought that there were very good brainers on this forum that would have sussed it when l said Tivo boxes at 250 hours etc.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

I was at my brothers last night and he was asking me about TiVo and Virgins new Collections. He has been on the VIP package for 4 years and out of contract for sometime.

Basically does anyone know for sure how long needs to pass between leaving Virgin and re-joining them before they class you as a new customer and give you new customer deals. He is interested in the VIP Collection which is half price for 6 months plus free TiVo 1Tb.

He's been with Virgin without contract for 3 years and has no plans of leaving. He has no problem entering into a 12 or 18 month contract. As he stands currently he'll have to pay £49.95 activation fee and £49.95 installation fee for TiVo 1Tb. He is just wondering if there is a way to get it free plus his package half price for 6 months to boot.

Surely it can't be as easy as leaving and re-joining pretty much straight away as everyone out of contract would be doing it? Any info would be great.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Its either 3 months or 6 can't remember which.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Really, that long?

So hypothetically if my brother cancels his subscription with Virgin and tells them he is joining SKY, but then calls Virgin back 48 hours later to advise he is no longer joining SKY and would like to recommence services with Virgin they wouldn't try to re-contract him as a new customer for 12 months? He would be able to "re-join" and continue on as he is just now out of contract free to cancel whenever?

My brother is on the old VIP package with 20mb broadband, the old style V+ box and a standard V box in his bedroom that doesn't have a HDMI output. My brother also doesn't have SKY Sports or SKY Movies in HD. So if my brother cancels with Virgin, as stated above, but then calls Virgin back 48 hours later to re-join on the VIP Collection what would Virgin do? He has left them as a provider and now wishes to return but with entirely new services. Pretty much all of his equipment would need to be changed / upgraded i.e. the modem is too old to handle 100mb and his V box doesn't carry HD. Would Virgin charge him for the TiVo 1TB, the V HD box and the new modem?

Alternatively how long after cancelling do Virgin ask for their boxes to be returned? If my brother cancels, returns the equipment, and then asks to re-join what would happen?

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

Instead of trying to play the system, just call VM's retentions dept. and talk to them. Yeah. Radical I know :D

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

I suppose he could but that would ruin all the fun:)

My brother mentioned this the other night which made me curious. Now it's becoming an obsession:)

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

That's also playing the system as he "has no plans of leaving". He should speak to Customer Services.

But if he really does choose to disconnect, he would have to give 30 days' notice (see here). He can rejoin at any time, but won't be eligible for new customer offers until 6(?) months have passed.

Re: General TiVo Discussion Part 3
 

I never have any plans to leave but always call retentions because they are the ones that have latest customer offers, etc. CS only know what's on the website.