As Promised, back to give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxes
 

Hi

As I promised on my last thread..(bye bye Virgin hello sky)

Had Sky HD box installed today..I'm not just saying this but instantly it's noticable that the picture quality is better on sky than Virgin


Comments.

1)..As a percentage I'd say 100% for Sky and 90% for Virgin...Both good

2)..Sky box is loads faster changing from channel too channel..Virgin is dreadfully slow.

3)..Theres loads more HD channels and choice on Sky and HD quality better on sky...Enhancment of picture on none HD channels exactly the same on both.

4)..There's not as much on Demand choice on Sky but what I saw on Virgin didn't interest me personally..Might others. I personally found the 119 channel a load of rubbish.

5).. Record and FF...RW...Pause etc live TV..same on both.

6).. Virgin has catch up demand...go back too other days too see programs you missed...(Virgin choosing what's there) Sky does not have that..Not that I find I'd us it...I'd record everything I would need too see.


Overall...(pros and cons)

A) Pros

I'm glad I changed too Sky...

1)...I have loads more channels too choose from, both HD and normal. Plus I have sky one etc bnack again...Best channels on TV

2).. Picture quality on HD is better than Virgin

3)..Swapping from channel too channel is loads faster on Sky..

4)..One Remote for everything...Even volume and it can be coded too use on all your other boixs..Video and DVD

B)...Cons

1)...Virgin has catch up Demand Sky dosent.


Hope that helps anyone thinking of changing from Virgin too Sky...I would say...Change.

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

You haven't got (or had) V+ at all have you? Why no mention of TV Choice on demand? HD on demand? How do you say Sky is better for HD? You must be comparing BBC HD between the two, they are both the same feed from the BBC so how can there be a difference?

EDIT Looks like you did have it - for a week! I prefered your last review:

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

Or the box costs.

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

Its not different with HDTV's. You buy a cheap HD tv, you get poorer quality screens, you get a free V+ stb with cheaper technology, and you get the same thing.

Face it, you pay the money for better quality.

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

bikerjoe, I am pleased for you that you are happy with your Sky HD box.

You missed a few things off your comparison list -
1) Sky can only save 60 minutes of the channel you were on, rather than 90 minutes on V+ (live rewind/pause/etc).
2) Sky has only 2 tuners, versus the 3 on V+
3) You didn't mention if you paid the £299 for the box, and if there was an installation fee
4) Did you have to have a telco line fitted?

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

He's also forgot to mention that some of the HD channels show the same dam content as the non HD channel. just up scaled as the programme isn't in a HD source. and hes also paying twice for that show.

Hes not used the RED button yet as its available on all channels that what to use it, including Sky Sports Extra, Sky movies HD (Vigin realy, realy, need this but as they rejected Sky one and Sky one HD it looks unlikely Virgin will get the red button functions) he's also missed the Green button out but then he's a new user.

Yes its -£300 quid for the box but then he's not renting it, like virgin users do. he can always sell it after 12/24 months if he needs to when Sky HD V2 is released. ( yes its on the way )

Hes still a new user so doesn,t have the legal download off the net access yet that other Sky users have. But that does required Higher levels of PC use as its just like other on demand internet content thats crippled by Windows media DRM.

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

Its not the same feed. On Sky its MPEG4, on Virgin its MPEG2.
The CTO idiot from Telewest decided not to step into the future, prefering to stick to the age old cable way of doing it as cheaply as possible. Short term savings, meaning in a few years they will still be playing catchup.

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

Wow, Virgin has 3 tuners, but...

It can only record 20 hours of HD content. When more goes to HD, this seems like a big downside. Especially when the SKY HD stb can record more than 3 times that amount HD or standard.

Plus, he forgot to mention that you can also plan a recording through your mobile.

(There's also an offer for free installation at the mo)

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

Having seen the quality of display in my local dixons, I can honestly say that I would be thoroughly unimpressed if my TV picture was as "good" as that.

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

I don't have HD, but I've seen an excellent quality demo of Sky's HD.

Saying that, it was on an extremely good Samsung panel. There are a lot of 'HD Ready' TVs that are not capable of displaying high quality images at all.

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

LOL!!!:p:

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

I had sky this am and now i have v+ and well happy.

The box didnt come with Manual and the chap didnt know how to set it to HD out, but 30 seconds with the remote sorted that.

I rang sky wanting to upgrade from standard digital and they couldnt do anything about paying £99 for sky + and £60 installation + multiroom cost , or £299 for the HD box.

Rang virgin pay £55 for 4mb BB, phone , XL tv , v+. No installation or box fee!!

Ive got it set up via my TV which is DVI -HD and the picture is not as good as standard sky on normal channels, BUT HD on demand from BBC with walking with beasts - amazing.

RAng to cancel sky and got a 10 min sales pitch trying to tell me to use by 14 day cooling off with virgin and if i cancelled i could have sky + for £49 free install.!! why couldnt they do that up front !, plus i here for that you get a recon 40gb sky +.

4 hours into v+ and well happy, only thing i think needs an upgrade is the speed to switch channels and the EPG still looks like a BBC computer lol!

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

SKY+ is £49, you just had to look for it. er you can get it totaly free if you are a friend of another Sky user. its up to the freelance installers Sky use to decide which box you get. If hes out of stock of Sky+ boxes and dishes you may get a brand new one.
SKY HD is different due to the HD content and new Mpeg4 tech in side.

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

The delay in switching channels is no more than we used to have on the old Pace box anyway! I understand that it's primarily to allow the hard drive to switch over to the new programme as it starts to record Live TV immediately.

Re: As Promised, back too give comparison between sky HD and Virgin HD boxs
 

Extra extra
Current subscribers to Sky have allready had up to £500 discounted from the equipment so are not allowed more discount. BOOO