Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

If they are available on demand, there’s nothing to worry about.

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Guess it's typical virgin, make a bit of a song and dance about what is a cheap selection of old that.

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

If you really want to keep the FAST channels, they are available elsewhere for free, no need to lose the TiVo software if you don't want to.

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Wonder what the viewing figures are for these channels, I thought at the time they were brought to virgin to inflate the number of channels they carry. :shocked:

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

There's 2 types of FAST channels. There's the non-VM ones, eg Rakuten TV, Wedo Movies and the VM ones. Both types are going.
The non-VM ones are available elsewhere, and the VM ones are just bundling of on-demand content and is available anyway.

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Exactly right. They don't cost Virgin anything to carry and are there to make it look like there are more channels than there actually is, as more and more proper channels are removed for various reasons.

Virgin 360 - how much of a downgrade is it from the V6?
 

Starting to resign myself to the fact that downgrading to the 360 is going to have to happen at some point when Virgin finally lose their licence to operate the TiVo software. This will no doubt reduce their licencing costs - which presumably they will be passing on to customers via lower bills? Or maybe not. :( Is there any final date known for when this might finally be forced?

Meanwhile, back in the real world, the recordings on our V6 box are minimal at the moment so this might be the best time to bite the bullet if we are really going to have to do it. I'm fully aware any existing recordings (and sadly Series Links too) will definitely be lost, but that has been the case for a long time ever since Virgin broke the very handy Series Link backup facility on their website. I also know that I won't be able to recreate all 200+ of our current historical Series Links until such time as each programme in turn becomes available again in the upcoming Channel Guide. Grrr.

I know the downgrade will unavoidably lose the undelete functionality, the lovely reaction-time rollback when exiting from FFwd or Rewind (which is a TiVo copyright functionality), older Series Link reviewing/editing, ability to switch to a different tuner that you know already has an hour's delay cached on a different channel, single-button access to things like My Shows/Recordings, subtitles, delete item, etc. Hence my statement about it being mostly a functional downgrade not an upgrade.

I've been having play with a friend's 360, and a few questions arose, although there will probably be more. To preface, I'm not in the slightest bit interested in silly voice commands, pretty icons/graphical interfaces, or streaming channels. At all. This is just about using the box for watching and recording broadcast TV, while using a tactile remote control. We rarely use On-Demand/Catchup services if we can help it, as apart from the BBC iPlayer (which itself has an annoying added BBC logo in the upper-left) it is not possible to spool through adverts.

1. When Fast-Forwarding or Rewinding though a long programme, how do you jump by 15 minute increments to quickly get to (for example) the last quarter-of-an-hour of a two or three hour show? On the V6 you just tap the ">|" or "|<" buttons while winding.
   
2. Is there any way to stop the incredibly annoying action when pressing the >> or << buttons multiple times that it incrementally speeds up but then reverts back to slow winding? Currently to get to the fastest speed I just rapidly jab the >> button several times, and I certainly don't expect the scrubbing speed to drop back to very slow again if I press the button once too often. I found this dreadful logic really annoying when testing our friend's 360 remote.
   
3. When you are spooled back to watching an earlier point in a live program, how do we get back to the live broadcast again with a single action? I can't see a Stop button. In fact, the transport controls seem rather lacking all round.
   
4. Is there now any simple way to get to Shows/Recordings using a single button on the supplied remote (not some silly voice command nonsense) as that is probably the single most used operation for us?
   
5. When we have multiple episodes of a show recorded, we only ever list the show as a simple flat scrollable text list, ordered by original broadcast order (such as s01e01, s01e02, etc), with the oldest seasons/episodes at the bottom of the list and newest at the top (not by recent recording date, but broadcast series order - with the original first-broadcast date available in the info details). Can this be done with the 360, as I could only see a cumbersome list with the series numbers shown down the left hand side, and oldest stuff at the top.
   
6. We use two remote controls for our V6. My wife uses the supplied Virgin one, while I use a programmable universal IR remote with macros - the excellent XSight Touch, which hasn't been available for years but still hasn't been bettered in the meantime. My remote also controls my local file-streaming box, surround amp, BluRay player, TV, and even some room lighting, etc. I would absolutely need to program this remote with complete IR codes to control the 360, has anyone successfully done this themselves (e.g. using a "Ziggo" codeset I believe?) such as the advice in this thread https://www.avforums.com/threads/vir...-them.2347467/ . That thread also seems to imply that Recordings could be available via a single learned IR code, which would be a bonus. What about discrete power-on and power-off IR codes, which are immensely useful when programming universal macros which cannot know the current state of the equipment (everything else I own has hidden discrete on/off IR codes available).
   
7. Finally, I don't think there's a video "pass-through" option which would avoid deinterlacing 1080i or SD material, thus allowing my rather better 4K TV to do the job itself? Do Virgin actually broadcast anything in native 1080p anyway? Other than perhaps Sports or Movie channels, neither of which we watch.

Anyway, that's quite enough for now! Hopefully someone can comment on at least some of the above. Thanks.

Andre

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

I don't know if they will work for you or not, but the attached picture shows Harmony codes that were posted on the Ziggo forums. See thread https://community.vodafoneziggo.nl/t...to/td-p/114252 which needs translating to English.

I use my LG Smart remote (set up as Ziggo Media box next) and also the 'One for All' 1240 which has 4 selects (tv/sat/amp/dvd) as an additional remote. The 1240 recognises the code 1582 to control the box. It need direct line of sight when setting it up.

The 'OneForAll' URC7125 also works using the SimpleSet setup process and Ziggo as the manufacturer.

I realise you aren't "interested in silly voice commands", but I prefer the voice control as I find it to be the easiest method of controlling the 360.

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

I won't copy Andrews post but with the exception of the remote, l totally think he sums up the question \ concerns l have. Thank you for taking the time to write them .

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

When you are spooled back to watching an earlier point in a live program, how do we get back to the live broadcast again with a single action?
Press the TV button

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Thanks for the confirmation, that's roughly what I'd gathered from Google searches but the results were a bit old. I'm sure my remote will be able to accept the Ziggo codes, there's good community support for an excellent third-party code editor package for it. I think I'll program Ziggo into a spare slot and take it round to our friend's house to try it out.

I expect a lot of people like using voice commands, but the only time I think they are sensible is for in-car use where your hands are occupied, or for a phone while you are using a headset. Disturbing other people by constantly talking to the TV seems a bit counter-productive to me. But then I also turn off any confirmation beeps etc, and would be much happier if turning the TV volume up or down didn't bring up unnecessary flashy indicator overlays on the screen, so it's probably just me. :)

Andre

---------- Post added at 09:17 ---------- Previous post was at 09:07 ----------

Thanks, I guess that's obvious when you think about it.

Andre

Re: Virgin 360 - how much of a downgrade is it from the V6?
 

Hi again Andre.

Dave

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Regarding subtitles, just set up a profile with subs permanently on for convenience

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Well that's an idea I guess, but I'm not sure whether that's any easier than pressing one button labelled "Subtitles" to quickly toggle them on and off in order to check an odd line of dialogue that you can't quite catch. :)

Andre

---------- Post added at 16:52 ---------- Previous post was at 16:44 ----------

Thanks, I realise you can change the spooling speed, but still not pleased about the way it illogically jumps back from x64 down to x2 again when you press the >> button one too many times - it should stick on the max speed once you get there, regardless of how many extra button jabs, and only be reduced via the << button or returning to Play.

Still not quite sure how you quickly jump to, for example, 2h30 in a 3 hour movie using the buttons only. Very easy on the V6 as you can increment 15 extra minutes with one press during spooling. Does the long-press feature move very quickly through the whole timeline to allow really fast access into long programmes?

Thanks too for the -10/+30 tip with the D-pad arrows; I had manged find that one myself after a lot of messing around with the remote. Otherwise that would have been on my list of missing features too.

Andre

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Hi again Andre,

Keep your finger on the >> fast forward button to bring up the time bar and release it when it reaches your desired time.

See the youtube video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTCc0oVXUOQ around the 50 second mark.

Dave

Re: Virgin 360 - how much of a downgrade is it from the V6?
 

Why downgrade to 360 till you have to, which may or may not happen ?

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Thanks for everyone's help, at least there seem to be partial workarounds for some of the issues I'm anticipating.

One other quicky has just come to mind. I know you can't create Series Links for programmes that are not currently in the Guide, and you can only assign a Series Link for one specific channel not for any channel. But can you change that defined channel later?

For example, when I try to set everything up again, if I find a 2010 "Doctor Who" repeat on BBC4, can I create a Series Link using that broadcast and then adjust it so in future it only looks for New Episodes on BBC1? Or switch a "Midsomer Murders" Series Link created on ITV3 over to fetch only New Episodes that are broadcast on ITV1. That would make restoring some of our historical Series Links a bit less painful than Virgin want to make it.

At the moment, our V6 has almost no recordings on it, so if an enforced switchover is coming relatively soon due to expiring licences, it would make sense to bite the bullet and do it when it's convenient for us rather than for Virgin.

Andre

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

To be honest that was the reason I decided to change recently. Nothing to do with Apps or channels. It was simply just a convenient time for me to do it.

Do I regret it - no. I can still watch - live or on demand - and record. Took a bit of getting used to the remote - probably would have helped if I read all the info that came with it as it took a while before I noticed the go back 10 seconds / fast forward 30 seconds buttons :) :)

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Who's said that it is?

How SL are prioritised when more than 6 programmes are scheduled to record at the same time, is something I've never seen an answer to.

One obvious point from your list is that one-touch-key-access between recordings & live TV, is not available on TV360. You can voice-control it, but if memory serves me correctly, it's about 6 or 7 keypresses.

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Just be sure that you're happy to lose the extra functionality of tivo, as there's no way back.

I'm not so sure there will be an 'enforced switchover'. More likely they'll do what they have already, withdrawing certain channels. Currently Sky Atlantic and fast channels, neither of which bother me. The risk for VM is that they lose customers, thats why they are treading gently, and desperately to get the punters to 'opt in'. Anything 'enforced' might mean customers opt out of VM entirely.

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

I took my temporarily reprogrammed Universal Remote round to our friend's house for testing, and can confirm that the "Ziggo" codeset does work perfectly on the 360 - including some extra hidden/extended IR codes which provide one-press access to Recordings, Help/Settings, and a few other things that the Virgin-supplied RF remote does not. That'll work fine for me.

I also tested the Series Link editing, and it's even more basic than I was expecting. :( Once you've set up a Series Link for a programme from the current Guide you cannot even edit the channel that it is assigned to (e.g. change it from a BBC4 repeat to the main BBC1 broadcast). Nor (as far as I can tell) can you even see that a Series Link exists at all, or what channel it will record from, once that programme is no longer showing in the active upcoming list.

While I was at it, I tried to find the radio stations in the Guide (the ones normally in channels 900-960) and noticed they've completely screwed that up too. You can only see generic icons to listen live to any given radio station, with no programme information or schedule details, and no way to record, rewind, series link, etc. Another mess that I hadn't even considered would have been broken.

Our V6 currently has zero recorded shows (it's not been that way since it was first installed!) so it would be the perfect time to switch, but I think holding out to the bitter end would be a better option. I simply cannot see one single practical "feature" that is better on the 360 - unless you count a voice-command button or more convenient access to streaming services with non-skippable adverts (all of which I have on my TV anyway). Are there actually any pros to the thing at all, apart from it costing Virgin less in licencing fees?

Andre

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Thank for doing this ,you have confirmed what I thought. I will also hold out as long as l can. Can not see one reason to change. Have voice control on other things , hate it. Sky Atlantic have via virgin TV go. Don't bother with it , have couple of part watched shows, so boring. I repeat show me the money :shocked:

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

So the review you thanked, which you admitted showed no real negatives with the 360 box, has convinced you to… hold out as long as possible, use workaround methods for exclusive 360 content, ignore the upgrade savings, and then call the tv box which only shows tv shows boring anyway? That’s quite the sales pitch against your own argument

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

I was referring to sky Atlantic,as boring tried it via TV go. Yes on my main TV not a phone or tablet. What upgrade saving ? Repeat have voice control on TV and tablet, I hate it on both. I assume you refer to the crazy way you have do what is a simple adjustment on TiVo as exclusive to it. some upgrade. :shocked: when force l will wait out end of contract and get a freely tv + now TV if that is still around. Or even if I am:D l am so glad you are happy, I repeat l can see no reason to change . If it ain't broke and it's not , don't fix it.

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

I recently renewed my VM contract, got a great deal in my eyes anyway.

I asked if the renewal meant I had to move to 360 software, I was told no but given the sales pitch of the benefits (Atlantic) and we'd rather you sign up to 360 but not forced to. I politely declined but said I'd keep an eye out for any updates that might persuade me to switch to 360.

To be fair, the CS representative was the best I'd spoken to in a long time. Not pushy, just took his time to find the best deal for me. So, on the off chance he reads this then a hat tip to Scott (with a Geordie accent) :)

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

I think most people use their TV programmes to watch programmes, not to obsess about functions you don’t really need.

However, those that prefer the TiVo don’t need to worry at this stage. While the TV channels continue to be broadcast as now, I believe the Virgin will allow people to keep their TiVos. However, when the channels move to IPTV (probably on demand), everyone will be migrated to Virgin Flex boxes.

At least that’s what I think, I haven’t seen anything from VM to confirm that.

Re: TV360 - pro and cons
 

Pretty sure Channels on a EPG will still exist

TV channels on Virgin Stream/Flex EPG are streamed over broadband.