Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

I've just given in and migrated to Virgin 360, using my old V6 box.
I know that the new product does not allow wishlists to be set up and I can only schedule recordings if there is an episode in the TV guide under the correct channel.

However, I had a go at doing this: where there are no 'new' episodes scheduled but where there are repeats still airing, I selected one of those and changed the criteria to 'new' episodes only. I got the message that there are no new episodes currently scheduled, but it indicated that these would be recorded when they became available.

Job done, or so I thought, but when I go into 'planned recordings' I cannot see those series links listed as they used to be with the V6 box.

My question is, is there a way to see what series links are in place for programmes where there is no upcoming episode in the guide?
If the answer is 'no' then this would also mean that when any current series finishes there will be no indication in the guide that an ongoing series link is in place. That seems nuts to me and I hope I am missing something!

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

The answer is NO.

However generally the system works. I've set recordings in the manner you've stated and they have all recorded perfectly.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

So how do you amend or even delete them?

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Why would you want to if a series isn't even in the schedule?

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

If there's no list of "series links" how can you amend them or delete them if no longer wanted in the future?

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

When the future series appears and you no longer want it,delete it. Easy enough.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Under planned recordings when the series next shows up in the schedule, there is delete series recording option (bin icon)

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

But only when it is in the current schedule. When a series has ended for the time being or forever or simply not wanted, it's not available to amend or delete.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

You are really selling it:D

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

What if there are no future series. The list just forever builds up ? Seems like a poor design to me.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Isn't Sky the same ?

Can Only delete a series link when the program is in 7 TV Guide

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Really weird

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Exactly. I never used that ability on the TiVo

---------- Post added at 10:43 ---------- Previous post was at 10:36 ----------

But so what? And how often would you even need to do this? I've never had the need, even during the golden age of TV dramas a few years ago when it was not unusual to have up to four or five programmes being shown at the same time that appealed to me.

I think these features tend to appeal to people who are more technically minded and want to mess around with the system I just use my box to watch the programmes.

---------- Post added at 10:45 ---------- Previous post was at 10:43 ----------

But so what if there's a series record for programmes you don't want to see again? There's no limit on the system.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Thanks for clarifying - it still seems nuts to me that you can't review what series links you have in place.
I did what I originally suggested by locating repeats and changing the options to 'new only'. Of course you have to make sure that the repeats are being shown on the channel that new episodes will shown. However, having loaded a couple of dozen shows like that I was exploring other options and saw 'high contrast mode'. As I was finding the guide screen a bit washed out I decided to give that a go and I saw that this would require a restart, so I did that.
After rebooting all my currently scheduled recording disappeared! I had to inout them again and, because I couldn't review the 'future' ones, I felt I had to input those again too!
This morning my wife found that the box froze every time she accessed a certain menu, though everything else was OK. Eventually a message appeared suggesting a reboot, so I did this again and I now can't turn the box on! It's running, I can hear it, but the red light stays on. A message appears on the screen saying I need to turn the box on but I can't. It doesn't respond to either the on screen button via the remote, nor the button on the box. Strangley, the on screen button DOES respond to my old TV remote (it blips) - but still nothing actually happens.
If I ever get it working I suspect I'll have to load up my recordings again, and will again be faced with the dilemma that I won't be able to see all of them. For now I've given up as I haven't got the time to spend on it. I have unplugged the box so it doesn't overheat and I'm just using freeview on the TV for now.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

My lord what a disaster, time to get the tec out:shocked:

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

How is that relevant ? its not what I said.
Seems you totally missed the point again.

Of course there is a limit, we just dont know what it is.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Does the 360 incorporate VOD like TiVo does? Can you search for a particular programme?

---------- Post added at 01:33 ---------- Previous post was at 01:25 ----------

On Tivo the maximum it can show is 999, but it will accept more than this figure. Then, when you delete those no longer needed, it begins to show them in the 999 list.

As you say, there must be a finite limit, but we don't know what it is. Having more information stored than is necessary seems a bad idea to me as, if you remember when the first TiVo boxes started to go really slow, this was resolved by deleting all thumbs up/down entries. It stands to reason that such things must use up box resources and, as not being able to cancel series links that are no longer needed, means that the box will perpetually be looking for series that are never going to appear (or will when they aren't required).

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

That's a broken box and needs to be replaced. When you phone up say it is losing recordings, and they should send you a new one

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Interesting call with Virgin tech dept today.
Following previous issues I did a full reinstall of the new software, once again wiping all my scheduled recordings in the process. That improved things a bit - even the picture quality was a bit closer to what I'd been used to with the TiVo software. A recording was made overnight which I watched this morning.
So far so good, but when my wife tried to watch an on demand programme it wouldn't play. We tried Netfix and iPlayer, both of which no longer recognised me and forced me to sign in again. iPlayer then worked but Netflix stiil wouldn't. Even though it's working, every time I exit iPlayer it forces me to sign in again even if I've not turned the box off.
I re-booted and re-set the router and swapped out the cables - still no joy which is when I called Virgin.
The automated test I ran said there was no connection with the hub but Virgin confirmed there is. After some time on the call they had to escalate the issue, and I will have to wait up to 5 days for a resolution.
The interesting point is that when I queried the fact that every time I rebooted the box I lost all my recordings and scheduled recordings, he confirmed that this is correct! The only way to avoid this (he said) was to do a factory reset via the remote control which will give the option to keep recordings and scheduled recordings.
This seems nuts as it means that every time there is a simple power cut all recordings and scheduled recordings will be deleted! I almost can't believe that what he told me is true, except for the fact that is what happened to me every time I restarted!

---------- Post added at 17:01 ---------- Previous post was at 16:57 ----------

I've just realised that the reason I finally gave in and agreed to switch to V360 was because Virgin warned that streaming services and apps would no longer be supported under the TiVo software so I could lose access to these.
It's ironic that this is exactly what has happened as a result of accepting the change!

PS I am deliberately not using the word 'upgrade' as it sure ain't that!

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

So basically it's a load of junk . Come on Vince , defend this

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Its just the fast channels that nobody watches that won't be available on tivo/v6. All streaming apps continue to work fine on the V6. Beware of VM and the word 'upgrade', whether its tv or land line, it means the opposite. What they mean is that its an upgrade to their profits (i.e no tivo licence for them to pay).

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

The usual made up nonsense from them, a reboot should not delete recordings, be it planned or made.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Well, I assumed your response was in some way related to the original query on series links. Silly me.

As for the supposed ‘limit’ on series links, by the time I dispensed with my TiVo software, I had thousands of series recordings. I had never deleted any since the start, so if there’s a limit, it would be jolly difficult to reach it.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

I'm sure this has been asked before a few times elsewhere so here goes again, apologies if I missed the answer...

How does 360 manage more than 6 recordings at a time? How does it prioritise which to ditch (or hopefully the next available recording at least)

This is one of the main features of a series link page on the V6, you choose which to prioritise. Not a vanity thing of how many series links I have or a 'who cares if an old show still has a series link'
Could be a TiVo only feature?

If this list doesn't exist on 360 then I'm interested to know what happens.
From what I've seen/read, the 360 just pushes on demand instead of classic PVR use.

On a separate note, I read an article recently that DVD's/Blu Rays are having a small resurgence as people are getting annoyed the streamers remove content with little notice.

Thanks

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Yes, of course.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Totally accept your answer, but given the lack of other features which I guess are copyrighted by TiVo ,it seems a reasonable question,

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Well, what you’re experiencing simply isn’t right. Virgin needs to fix it for you.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

This is going to happen more and more because, instead of supplying new boxes as they have in the past, they are simply dropping new software onto boxes that are years old.

---------- Post added at 22:48 ---------- Previous post was at 22:45 ----------

An interesting question about something I hadn't thought about. Surely something as basic as organising series links can't be TiVo patented. Pretty sure the V+ had this facility.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Not really, Richard. I don’t think there’s a demand for it. Would your world really be crashing down without it? How would it affect your life?

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Series links are on several devices - but the TiVo software was the only one I know went across channels.
And TiVo was the only thing with anything like the excellent 'Wishlists'

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

The one thing I really like is the series link.:erm:

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Thats a pretty poor argument, few peoples worlds would "be crashing down" without TV at all.
Once again it seems more like a case of just because YOU dont think its useful, no one should.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Wow, the V+, that takes me back :)

It appears no one can answer the series link management question - I'll have to assume this is a flaw in the 360 which adds to the not 'upgrading' argument

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

I don't think it did

It is patented

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Just looked at the old V+ details. You could manage series links, for example, to resolve recording clashes, but couldn't move them up and down the list to set higher/lower priorities- I think that it's this function that must be TiVo patented.

I see no reason why Virgin couldn't deploy this system again for the 360.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

That would be a step in the right direction

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Why must you turn posts into personal tirades? I said there is little demand for such features. I am aware that some people value them.

---------- Post added at 20:34 ---------- Previous post was at 20:32 ----------

You can record whole series on the 360, of course. What aspect of that were you referring to?

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

No, you didnt, you said "I don’t think there’s a demand for it."

The fact you dont think there is a demand doesnt actually make it true, what is your evidence for this ?

Plus of course, the additional nonsense about peoples worlds crashing down. :sleep:

Again, not what you actually posted. ;)

"personal tirades" ? Wow, get a grip back on reality.

If you dont like people picking you up on things you post, then maybe dont post them. :dozey:

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

I really do not what to track when something comes back , which I understand perhaps incorrectly the 360 can't do. As it is when a new series starts it records. Sorted :erm:

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Oh my God, Paul, you are really something else! Find something else to worry about instead of nitpicking over every little thing.

I have no intention of wasting a whole thread on this, and people certainly don’t want to read it. We can disagree with one another without going into a strop or deep mood about it.

We all have different opinions and surely we should all respect the opinions others hold. If you think they are wrong, discuss it instead and explain why you differ instead of trying to belittle them. Isn’t that what a forum is all about?

I stand by my view that there is little demand for this feature. Most people use their boxes to watch TV, not to tinker about with the ‘features’.

---------- Post added at 20:23 ---------- Previous post was at 20:20 ----------

No, it just comes back on its own if you set it as a series link in the first place. If it pops up with a new season and you no longer want to watch it, just cancel the series link at that stage.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

The only person "worrying" about it seems to be you as you keep on responding :erm:
Well guess what, I can do that as well. :cool: Its funny how people who disagree with you are "nitpicking". ;)

You can stand by it all you want, that is your right - but its just your opinion, you have nothing to actually back it up.
You seem far more worried that I disagree with you, and asked for evidence (which I guess you dont have since you skipped right over that bit). :sleep:

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

That's good to know .

No, it just comes back on its own if you set it as a series link in the first place. If it pops up with a new season and you no longer want to watch it, just cancel the series link at that stage.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Deleted.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Exactly.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Thanks so much for this info, it’s really helpful. I’ve just had to breakdown and upgrade my V6 to 360 software since they’ve stopped supporting it and this hack is wonderful thank you. It’s also a relief to know that once you set a serious recording it will continue to pick it up. I was worried that I was gonna have to remember each time the series came back to reprogram it.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Same here:dozey:

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

I know they're trying to manipulate people into moving to the 360 by not showing Sky Atlantic on the V6 EPG & removing those FAST channels from it's EPG (I suspect that premium movies will be next), but as far as I know they haven't stopped supporting the V6??

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Based on what? Just randomly picking something to stir people?

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

You know him so well:)

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Poorly worded on my part. Basically they’ve stopped supporting any streaming so things that I would record but occasionally miss the odd episode and use on demand for I could no longer get the on demand. I was trying to catch up on some seasons of something I just started watching and the on demand was no longer supported so I bet the bullet and swapped. Mostly because actually it was a convenient time as I only had a few things I hadn’t watched and managed to catch up on them in the five days between the upgrade being ordered and the actual switch over. I didn’t switch for Atlantic as I was already subscribing to now entertainment package at a cheap price for a year.

I would’ve held on to the end of time for so much of it but I figured at some point they were gonna force me over and since I’ve only got about three or four things recording at the moment I was just as easy to do it now. I don’t hate it. I don’t like it as much as the TiVo version but I don’t hate it as much as I thought I would

but it did bring me back to cable forum which I haven’t visited in a few years. Interesting to see some of the same conversations are still happening with some of the same people after all this time.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Similar situations in the past, your assumption is way off the mark.

In the past it's usually premium movies-->premium sport-->some of the basic pay entertainment channels-->all of the basic entertainment channels apart from channels 1 to 5-->Everything.



---------- Post added at 16:14 ---------- Previous post was at 16:12 ----------
[/COLOR]
Thanks for explaining and, yes, some of the conversations do go round and round like a tumble drier.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

But they haven't.

The "FAST" channels have been removed from the V6 EPG, but streaming itself is alive & kicking, fully supported.

OnDemand & the various streaming apps (free & subscription) still work on the V6. and are supported.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

Or just use a smart TV or the many other "cheap" tools to get them , Virgin isn't the only way for that it's probably the simplest way to go.

Re: Virgin 360 Recordings question
 

I bit the bullet and switched because the on demand was still bookmarking the shows but the shows didn’t play anymore literally from the day they said streaming would stop.

There are things about the TiVo that I will always be ticked that I had to give up, but I’m surprisingly not hating it as much as I thought. I would switch back in a heartbeat though if it ever reappeared. I think if I’d switched a few years ago I would have hated it a lot more.