Is it worth coming back yet?
 

I left VM over a year ago and switched to Sky as they offered me a lot more for a lot less.

I'm just mulling over a telephone call to Virgin to see if they can entice me back.

Is it worth coming home, yet?

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

If HD is your only concern I'd have to day no. VM aren't missing that many channels but it depends if the few it doesn't have are worth keeping Sky for.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Depends what you are looking for, Twig.

The position is the same in that Sky can offer a lot more channels, but the choice of programmes is still better on Virgin Media with their video on demand. We now have Sky Anytime on there as well.

We still haven't got Sky Atlantic, but that may change in September or thereabouts (mainly speculation). The TIVO box functionality is well worth having although some who are not so technically minded don't like it.

For me, VM is better, but as I say, it depends what floats your boat.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

I understand how it works well enough. I have no use for a lot of the bells & whistles . It is, in my mind over hyped. With basics not YET up to scratch. Red button BBC is the biggie . I understand its a known fault. Sorry how long has it taken so far ?:cool:. That said if the deal is good and you do not want Atlantic, its a good PVR:D

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

People keep saying this but "the basics" on a Tivo are Series Links, Wishlists and Suggestions and they all (mostly) work fine.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

I thought the basics were that it worked:erm:

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Indeed. And it does :D

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Well, for all the complaints about the TIVO, it is miles better than the V+, and I for one wouldn't be without it.

Most of the complaints are on trivial issues - trivial when compared with all the advantages over the other STBs.

The more problematical areas such as the red button, reminders and the automatically set series link buffers are all set to be resolved by the autumn.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

As someone who moved from Sky to Virgin Tivo in December last year I can say that whilst I do prefer Tivo (the series links, search and on demand content are the best bar none) it does have some minor annoyances, such as having to go through a million+1 screens to watch a piece of on demand content...for example:

(lets say you want to watch an on demand episode of 'Ice Road Truckers':
1. Home
2. Down to 'On Demand'
3. Across
4. Down to 'TV For XL'
5. Press ok
6. Go all the way down to Nat Geo (or Discovery...cant remember which one its on)
7. Press ok
8. Go into the correct channel sub-menu (E.g Discovery HD, Discovery RealTime, etc)
9. Press ok
10. Go down to the program you want
11. Press ok
12. Go to the episode you want
13. Press ok
14. Press play
15. Press play again
16. (depending on content) Enter pin

This could be simplified a lot. Obviously you can use search which cuts out steps 2 - 9 but you've still got to type it out, go to the program info, go to on demand content, etc.

Tivo does feel old when you use it, and its not really surprising, its a very old system. But it is damn powerful! That being said, I personally prefer the overall UI of the older 'Liberty' system used on the VHD and V+HD boxes. We've got a VHD box in another room and its so much faster to browse around menus.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

I agree.

If it ain't broke... ;)

Well yeah. Things can be simpler if the box does nothing :p:

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Like other posters have said, it all depends on what services you require and whether or not VM can do them for a price you're willing to pay.

Post back with what you want and I'm sure we'll all be able to give you some advice as to whether it'll be worth it for you.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

In my opinion, the lack of real time updating of programmes is a very major drawback on Tivo. Last Saturday 55 minutes of tennis was recorded when Casualty was due. When that episode is finally broadcast, will Tivo record it or will it think it has already recorded it so not bother?

Apparently this is to be rectified but even VM say this will be a long time in the future. I do not see how it can be called advanced without a real time programme guide.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

And how often does that happen? Once a year during Wimbledon? Occasionally when any Live sport is shown?

Yes, I agree it shouldn't happen but I wouldn't call it a "major" drawback given how irregularly it happens.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

But if you do not want them :cool:

" People keep saying this but "the basics" on a Tivo are Series Links, Wishlists and Suggestions and they all (mostly) work fine. "

Sorry these in my view are bells and whistles. I have no idea if they mostly work fine - that in its self is worrying. :rolleyes: As I have no want, need or use for them. How ever a BBC Red button that works :shocked:

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Then you would be wrong. Those are the original functions of the Tivo. And, in the case of Series Links, an essential basic function of any DVR.

If you don't need then, don't get a Tivo and save yourself some money and just get a standard VHD box which (AFAIK) includes a full 'red button' service.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

How ever often it may or may not happen its a problem ( Is it common to all PVRs, I have no idea hence the question). Now if it worked in these cases that would be good (ADD TO MY WISH LIST :D )

---------- Post added at 10:42 ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 ----------

I only "got" a TiVo as Virgin were GIVING them away , and offering a bribe every month to take one :p:
Personally I feel that any one paying good money of one ,felt they have to defend a poor decision. yet again I say Emperors new clothes. This comes from the ex owner of a Laser Disc player !!!

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Which, of course, I agreed with.
Actually no. I think both Sky+ and Freeview have dynamic EPGs. The difference being that the EPG on those platforms are under direct control of the broadcaster whereas VM's (because it's a closed system) is run by a third-party.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

A minus point then if you were thinking of moving to Virgin :shocked:

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

A small minus point, depending on how much you like Sport I suppose.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Dynamic epg is a minus point for Virgin, but what I would say is that it tends to happen on channels which Virgin also operates a catch up service for, and the TiVo box makes it very easy to find repeat showings. I'd like a dynamic epg, I think it's the next thing Virgin should concentrate on, but I consider it a minor irritation rather than a major drawback.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Or conversely the programme dropped/ put back / channel changed because of over run :dozey:

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Indeed, Andy.

Of course, Tivo always when a programme is live (like the Tennis) and so always asks if you want to add an hour (or more or less) to the recording. Of course, this won't help with channel changes but at least it's there.

---------- Post added at 11:35 ---------- Previous post was at 11:34 ----------

Well, like I said, it can add an hours padding if you like. Yes, doesn't allow for every conceivable option but, in the absence of a DEPG it's okay.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

The option to add padding is good, but I think the issue is more for those who don't like sport and come to watch a recorded show only to find they've got the end of something which has overrun rather than the show which they actually wanted to watch. Like I say, this is where catch up and the TiVo features come in.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

OK an example.

Casualty was due to follow the tennis. It was dropped ( As it happens she who must be obeyed) was watch the tennis anyhow. Normally its always a record option. Padding would not help, best hope (if you do not track it your self ) Is is that it all goes back a week ( so being picked up, one hopes)

It is something that if it could be "picked up" would be great. As I say no amount of padding would help in this type of case :rolleyes:

Even I would agree that its not really a TiVo fault,Just a problem that has long existed,that still awaits a solution :cool: Unless D-EPG does solve this. I have no idea by the way,if it does or does not.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Yes, that's what I'm saying, padding wouldn't help the Casualty fan, it would only help the sports fan who's chosen to record the tennis rather than watch it live. Fortunately TiVo allows you to easily see when the episode of Casualty that you missed will be repeated, and also allows you to watch I player on your TV.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

But will TiVo record the postponed episode? I suspect not because the box thinks it has already recorded it. We will see next week.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

I don't think it will either.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

My guess is it will all be the BBC`s fault :dozey: As the TiVo did not understand it & they should have got it right :D

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

A good question. If the episode is postponed will the Tivo record it? If you select only new episodes is Tivo that discerning? I ask simply because I have no idea, given that we don't record live broadcasts.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Hence my comment blame the BBC how ever they list it if TiVo does not pick it up it will be there fault:)

And yes we have "new only" as it appears from time to time on other channels.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

If the episode remains listed in the EPG but gets postponed then Tivo will not record it as it has done its job already in recording the show as listed in the EPG and has therefore recirded something else in its place.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Thanks for that Lex. Clears up an unanswered question (Tivo isn't that clever :)).

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Theres a LOT of live sport this year coming!!
The only thing i have missed so far is Mock the Week thanks to the tennis but could see it happening a lot more.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

If the data is updated correctly then yes it should.

If you like you can make sure they're on it by emailing TivoGuideErrorsATvirginmediaDOTcoDOTuk

---------- Post added at 20:08 ---------- Previous post was at 20:06 ----------

Is this a Series Link or Wishlist? If the former then the setting is irrelevant as only new episodes will ever be shown on BBC1 :)

---------- Post added at 20:09 ---------- Previous post was at 20:08 ----------

Unless someone is on-the-ball in re-setting the OAD of course :)

---------- Post added at 20:09 ---------- Previous post was at 20:09 ----------

No tech. is that clever on it's own. GIGO, etc ;)

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

[QUOTE=carlwaring;35449742]I

---------- Post added at 20:08 ---------- Previous post was at 20:06 ----------


Is this a Series Link or Wishlist? If the former then the setting is irrelevant as only new episodes will ever be shown on BBC1 :)

---------- Post added at 20:09 ---------- Previous post was at 20:08 ----------

Series link - One of few that never get repeats on BBC 1 then !!!

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Wow. I'm shocked TIVO is not smart enough to account for programs over running etc. Literally. I have always had it sold to me as "the future" and "smart" etc. From what I am seeing the only thing it would add to our household is extra storage. I/we would have to learn the new interface/remote, still have sports recordings muck up, lose proper red button support, lose archiving ability and put up with the other niggles I read about.

What does TIVO actually bring to the table that is an advantage other than trying to record stuff you might like?

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Just to let you all know TiVo failed to pick up "Casualty" at all .
Even though it has been set up to record since the day it was put in. Strangely as it had never been cancelled on the V+ it did record it !!!

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

So reliable Series Links and the potential to automatically record shows based on certain criteria not of interest? Then yeah, V+ is fine.
See above comment :)

---------- Post added at 16:33 ---------- Previous post was at 16:31 ----------

Did you report it as I suggested? Yes, you should not have needed to and it was certainly an error that should have been corrected.

That's because it would have recorded it anyway, whether it was an old or new episodes. V+ is kinda dumb that way :p

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

That is not really a Tivo fault. That is an issue for VM as they have chosen not to provide a dynamic epg.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

You don't loose archiving ability.

3 recordable tuners

Series links that you don't have to renew when a show takes a season break or at the begining of each season.

Tivo automatically looks for repeats in the event of a series link recording clash (limited to the same channel unfortunately, but still better than V+)

Whishlists; saves you the time you could spend trying to find out when a future show you want to watch is due to air and on which channel. Tivo whishlits automatically record it for you, no matter how far it is in the future, as well as recording anything by your favourite actress/actor/director/subject/genre.

Series, Season and episode information.

Upcoming episodes of a specific show within the 14 day EPG window.

Backwards EPG for 7 days with direct access to anything on the catchup services.

Intelligent show search with options to set a series link, wishlist, view from On Demand (if available) or view a clip on Youtube.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

True, but you have to do it when you're not watching TV, rather than at the same time. Annoying but not a huge problem. Unless you're always watching TV :D

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

The post said Tivo couldn't archive, and it can. We all know that V+ does it better, but that wasn't the point in question ;)

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

No I did not life's too short. (V+) Or kinda smart :D as it is beyond TiVo :shocked:

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Wow! And people call me pedantic :D

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Series link has failed for at least two shows that my "boss" loves. Luckily she still looks at
(paper) TV guide Which did have them. If you want to know it was Royal Pains & Kate + 8.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Has it failed, or has it been recording other shows which you've afforded a higher priority instead? If it's failed then you really need to report this because it's not working properly, and since mine is you should expect yours to.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Any issues should be reported to TivoGuideErrors@virginmedia.co.uk

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

I take your point but in reality what are they going to do about a random fault which has not been replicated since ?

On another point ( off topic but not worth creating one over) Any idea why for "new only" record it seems that series are not in sync. Not as this but shows what I mean
Series 4 ep 2 1-7-12
Series 4 ep 4 2-7-12
Series 4 ep 3 5-7-12
Ok they are all recorded from the same channel as new only . Just dates do not match episode numbers shown. Is it TiVo or the channel getting them wrong.
(Carl its a case of looking therefore wasting time :shocked: ;) ) sorry could not resist:D

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

I still don't quite get what you mean. If a channel airs a programme in the wrong order but this is reflected in the EPG then there's it's the channels fault.

[/QUOTE]
It takes me around minute to have a quick check of my "upcoming recordings" list to make sure that everything I expect to be recorded in the next day or two is in the list. This "wasted" time is more than made-up for in the fact that I don't have to set up another SL for any returning shows as the Link that is already available picks it up. And saving 15m per hour when skiipping ads, etc.

And other things like that :D

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

What I am saying is the episodes are not recorded in order by date.An earlier episode can appear later in the week or even the following one.

So you are saying that the channel is broadcasting in the wrong order - seems very strange that they would do that. Would they allocate the episode number that TiVo uses. If not were is it generated from ?

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Look into it, see if there are reasons for it, see if they can put them right, improve the end user experience, lighten the mood in the itshim household?

Feedback is really important, you've taken the time to post your issues here, but to be fair to Virgin you should make them aware of your gripes. If they're not given the chance to sort out your problems then you can't really complain if you continue to experience them. I, like Carl, have had a really good experience using TiVo and I can't understand the issues you report, almost to the point where I find some of it hard to believe. You might actually have a faulty product, you're certainly not getting the best experience-there 's no way I'd accept that given the cost of the monthly subs.

---------- Post added at 18:01 ---------- Previous post was at 17:38 ----------

With regards to series being recorded in a funny order, this could possibly be because it's having to find alternative showings of the show to cater for recording clashes ie. it records episode 2 first, and then picks up a repeat of episode 1 after dropping the original showing because three other things were recording, so they appear in "my shows" in the wrong order.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

That's the channel-in-question's scheduler's fault then :)

Tivo only uses the information it is given. However, yes, sometimes the production order does differ from the "aired" order.EpGuides.com is a great resource for episode details, including production numbers, etc.

---------- Post added at 19:41 ---------- Previous post was at 19:40 ----------

Or this... :)

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

I am sure its not,why There have been times when it has recorded two shows on the same day even after each other ie 8 to 8.30 & 8.30 to 9 . Yet still not in order. As I say not a problem just strange.Also set to new only if that was the case would they not be repeats, and remember it missed the missing causality

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

That has to be a broadcaster showing different, non-sequential eps.

Give me an example and I'll check with DigiGuide :)

"New Only" is based on the OAD so (for example) "Las Vegas" on SonyTV will not be recorded with a "new only" SL as the OADs are 2003.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Sorry can not give "real" date/ time . However it was Discovery Home & Health
-Show "19 kids & counting" and it has happen over the last week to ten days.
It may have happened before it was just that so many seem to be recorded last week the "BOSS" looked at episode numbers then she saw they were all over the place !

Good luck :D

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

I keep a year's-worth of DigiGuide data for the channels I watch. Unfortunately, that channel isn't one of them :(

However, it certainly does sound like it's the channel not airing eps in the right order rather than a data issue.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

According to TiVo, on Fri 06/07 they showed Ser 7 Ep 7 then Ser 7 Ep 3, and the descriptions match http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1307083/episodes?season=7

But http://www.discoveryuk.com/tv-guide/...&date=06072012 calls these Season 5 Episode 17 and 18.

So I think Tivo is showing the US series and episode numbers, but Discovery UK have decided to show them in a different order and renumber them..

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Sure. When I said "lose archiving ability" I was refering to the ability to archive things in the background like with V+ HD boxes. i.e. V+ box has a proper solution and I was even told on the phone earlier that you can archive off using the USB port (rep from CS told me that), but I always thought that the USB port was disabled.

Anyway... getting a TIVO now as part of a new deal, which I thought would happen as I got put onto a new deal. I'll be sure to come on here to praise/moan accordingly. :)

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

That was an excellent feature. I'm happy to be corected, but I think V+ was the only STB able to do that, due to having an extra decoder.

I love tivo and could never go back to V+, but I've always been happy to admit that there are a couple of things V+ does better.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

With regards to the original post about is it worth coming back, i would say if you live in SM6 or any where near it then the answer is a resounding no. We cancelled our TV services with virgin yesterday after some absoloute shockers. Dont get me wrong the TiVo box in itself is a fantastic piece of kit that in my oppinion and lots of others is far better than the set top box sky currently offer.

The problems we had were terrible SD picture qaulity, around every 30 seconds we get what i can only describe as what looks like mosaic tiles on the SD channels making a "blocky" image, this lasts anywhere between 2 seconds to 20 seconds and clears up again. I know it wasnt my TV because is happened on my other TV in the bedroom which was on a VHD box, i tried using different HDMI leads and connecting with a Scart for SD picture, i even tried an old CRT television to make sure it wasnt an issue with a flat screen. We had problems on the catch up ranging from god awful picture qaulity, artifacts on screen when fast moving, lip sync being out all the way up to it just completely failing with an error message. We had lip sync issues on pretty much every HD channel the the audio sometimes being half a second to up to 2 seconds behind the picture. Other little bug bears such as the red button, the box being a little slow, and the epg being wrong for a lot of the sports especially ESPN i know arent fully virgins fault.

This isn't a slag off virgin, im off to sky post, this is just a heads up to anyone in the SM6 area or the neighbouring areas that the area has such pretty hefty network issues right now on its TV service. I was told by the engineer who visisted, and 2 people on the phone that it could take anywhere from 6 months to a year to be resolved which fankly isnt good enough.

Top marks to the girl on the phone though, she completely waived an early termination fee for the TV and tbh im more than happy sticking with the broadband and phone we get around 98mbps speed maximum 3 ms of jitter at peak times and our ping rarely goes above 10-15 at peak times. So as far as broadband and telephone cannot fault them, just something seriously wrong on a local scale with thier television.

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Thanks for the information - do not think it would raise that much interest :p:

Re: Is it worth coming back yet?
 

Did TiVo improve?

I was supposed to switch today, but VM cicked it up, so I am now moving back to VM on the 6th June