Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

First cable tv in the UK was in 1938, apparently, bet some mug somewhere is paying VM for the same equipment still :D
http://www.digitalspy.com/tech/cable...-tv-in-the-uk/

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

We had the pace 4000 STB until a software upgrade bricked it. Then the Samsung which is in a cupboard somewhere as when we got the Cisco VHD box VM said they'd collect it and never did.

Guess I can safely send it for recycling now.

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

Thanks spider,the problem was that i could not change my bundle without having the V+ removed. Is this correct?.:confused: As per admars it is used by a older person who knows how to use it and doesn`t like changing things. I dont want to lumber her with a old slow TIVO.

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

All current bundle deals require the primary box to be either a TiVo or V6 box.

If the account doesn't already have one of those they will be required to change to one - no matter what type of box they currently have. But if the V+ HD box is an additional box, there is no current requirement to swap it.

That's been the case for around 2 years now, so it's not connected to this direct, but is part of the overall aim of getting rid of all V / V HD and V+ HD boxes from the network eventually.

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

Thanks Ben, i have had the V+ and TIVO since i could and added a V6 last year. I just wanted to remove the TIVO but keep the V+, but the agent said i had to remove V+ for the change of bundle to go through.

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

@CheekyAngus
thanks - as you suggested, keeping it simple worked, he suggested removing one VCR to make it simple :)

TIVO box to TV via HDMI
TIVO to VCR Via Scart
VCR (DVD combi) to TV VIA scart

so he can watch videos and DVDs and Virgin TV
most importantly for him he can record from the TIVO to VCR!

I recorded the Pompei programmes the other day for him, and he had told me he knew it was recording as he had noticed the red light come on on the tivo box. so went through watching them with him, so he's going to give it a go tomorrow, and put them on a 3hr tape :) I did tell him again he has plenty of room so can keep them on the box.

I must have been getting the V+ and TIVO boxes confused where you had to do a special menu option to backup to tape. i'll have to look at backing up some of the kids' tv shows i've got on my tivo.

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

Great. :) And he must have noticed the HD picture quality now he had HDMI on his LCD?

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

I used to work for Rediffusion.Their cable service ended in 1985ish when Granada bought them out.

Robert Maxwell bought the cable network to start his own cable company. Luckily he didn't get his hands on the pension scheme as well.

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

In Oxford, Radio Oxford was on Redifusion Channel A - it was mentioned in their jingle at the time.

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

I'm all for updates on your neighbour's experience. I love stories like this :)

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe Vt Boxes from August
 

if you've got enough time you're welcome to go round to his and listen to him :)

he caught me this morning, and says he can't remember how to watch things on the TIVO box, but not to worry as he's happy watching them on video, which means he's probably doing what he did before, watching the tv set to the AV the VCR is on, which is set to the cable box, rather than using the shiny new HDMI lead!

you can't teach a dog new tricks, main thing is, as I said before he's happy, and I bet next time I go round there, and put it on HDMI for him he won't notice the difference, and will be confused why the video plays but he can't see it ;)

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

So, just to be clear, the only boxes left on the network after August will be the:

V+
Tivo
V6

Is this correct?

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

Add the Cisco Vbox HD (non recording) and you're correct.

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

Surprised that they're not getting rid of the Cisco, given that the boxes that are being removed are also non recording.

Is it just because the Cisco is HD?

Re: Virgin Media UK to axe V Boxes from August
 

It's not so much that it's HD but that it supports the MPEG4 streams that VM is switching all the channels over to eventually. The better codec (H264 I Think) will allow for more content and/or better PQ.

It also has the incidental advantage of a down scaled SCART socket output so I can used my DVD/HDD recorder and the modulator.

We never seem to need to record much content so a TIVO or V6 is of limited interest.