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stereohaven · 02-12-2011, 11:46

I had TiVo (as well as VM Broadband and a VHD box) installed last Tuesday and I just thought I would share my initial thoughts on the service and equipment, although I want to concentrate mainly on the TiVo.

Please bear in mind I am coming from Sky and had no issues over the two years I was with them, so that it is the service I am comparing VM too.

First impressions...

The service from the installation team was very good. They arrived in the specified window, did a very tidy install and put things exactly where I wanted them. Let's just say my Sky install wasn't as satisfactory...

The VHD box is fine and is essentially the same as my parents V+ box so it has a familiar interface and is easy to use. Still think it's weird it has the V+ remote though!

The TiVo fired up first time and downloaded the latest software and so far I haven't had the "lights of death", but...

...it has needed resetting twice. Once when it just completely froze and the other when it stopped showing the TV window in the top right hand corner when you are in the Home menu. That's about has many times as I had to reset the SKy+ box in the last year.

iPlayer seems to work well, although it's search facility is pants so it's easier to go backwards in the EPG than try and find a show from within it.

I'm not keen on the remote. For a start, because of it's shape you can't tell which end you are pointing at the TV without looking at it! I rarely had to look at the Sky remote.

I put down 5 episodes of "Peppa Pig" to record for the kids and it recorded "Ben & Holly" instead. This may have been a late change by the broadcaster (which I find unlikely), which just shows why the EPG data and updates are all important, but I am more inclined to think the box just messed up.

I don't think either the SD or HD picture quality is as good as my Sky+ box, which I still have plugged in so I can make a direct comparison between channels.

I don't like the secondary menus which are a bit like SD compared to the HD look of the main Home screen. That's just laziness.

So far (apart from Peppagate...), it has recorded as promised and hasn't missed any programmes.

The Wife thinks it's too complicated (e.g. there are too many button presses to complete simple tasks), which just confirms to me why Sky+ is so popular, and I can understand why some people simply won't want what TiVo can offer.

The search works well although when you delve in deeper you quickly run out of decent info on shows and actors if they are not really mainstream.

I haven't tried the YouTube app.

I won't be trying Millionaire as I think I have to pay for it.

I won't be trying Spotify as it doesn't interest me.

At certain times of the day it is much slower at changing channel and we often get the little info box pop up saying "This channel is not available..." or words to that effect before it eventually comes on. In all the rain, wind, sleet and snow I have never had that issue with Sky.

The Suggestions it has recorded are fairly obvious things but it is still early days.

I have set up a Wishlist for the keywords (Treasure Island) hoping to catch the new Sky 1 show when it launches. Time will tell if this works as so far it only wants to record an episode of Dora the Explorer, but I assume this is because it relies on the EPG data and there is no broadcast info for this new show yet.

The Superhub was easy to set up although it's actual speeds have fluctuated between 10MB and 26MB. I'm paying for 30MB which the hub seems to sync at but never deliver.

Overall I would say as a package it's OK and I am relatively happy but I need to get a better router and VM will need to work hard to continue tweaking the TiVo to make it better still.

"The best way to watch TV, ever...". Not yet it isn't, but it's a reasonable start.

02-12-2011, 11:46	#1
stereohaven Inactive Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Surrey Age: 51 Services: Virgin Media TiVo, V HD Box, TV XL, Broadband XL, Phone M Posts: 112	1 week in, my initial thoughts... I had TiVo (as well as VM Broadband and a VHD box) installed last Tuesday and I just thought I would share my initial thoughts on the service and equipment, although I want to concentrate mainly on the TiVo. Please bear in mind I am coming from Sky and had no issues over the two years I was with them, so that it is the service I am comparing VM too. First impressions... The service from the installation team was very good. They arrived in the specified window, did a very tidy install and put things exactly where I wanted them. Let's just say my Sky install wasn't as satisfactory... The VHD box is fine and is essentially the same as my parents V+ box so it has a familiar interface and is easy to use. Still think it's weird it has the V+ remote though! The TiVo fired up first time and downloaded the latest software and so far I haven't had the "lights of death", but... ...it has needed resetting twice. Once when it just completely froze and the other when it stopped showing the TV window in the top right hand corner when you are in the Home menu. That's about has many times as I had to reset the SKy+ box in the last year. iPlayer seems to work well, although it's search facility is pants so it's easier to go backwards in the EPG than try and find a show from within it. I'm not keen on the remote. For a start, because of it's shape you can't tell which end you are pointing at the TV without looking at it! I rarely had to look at the Sky remote. I put down 5 episodes of "Peppa Pig" to record for the kids and it recorded "Ben & Holly" instead. This may have been a late change by the broadcaster (which I find unlikely), which just shows why the EPG data and updates are all important, but I am more inclined to think the box just messed up. I don't think either the SD or HD picture quality is as good as my Sky+ box, which I still have plugged in so I can make a direct comparison between channels. I don't like the secondary menus which are a bit like SD compared to the HD look of the main Home screen. That's just laziness. So far (apart from Peppagate...), it has recorded as promised and hasn't missed any programmes. The Wife thinks it's too complicated (e.g. there are too many button presses to complete simple tasks), which just confirms to me why Sky+ is so popular, and I can understand why some people simply won't want what TiVo can offer. The search works well although when you delve in deeper you quickly run out of decent info on shows and actors if they are not really mainstream. I haven't tried the YouTube app. I won't be trying Millionaire as I think I have to pay for it. I won't be trying Spotify as it doesn't interest me. At certain times of the day it is much slower at changing channel and we often get the little info box pop up saying "This channel is not available..." or words to that effect before it eventually comes on. In all the rain, wind, sleet and snow I have never had that issue with Sky. The Suggestions it has recorded are fairly obvious things but it is still early days. I have set up a Wishlist for the keywords (Treasure Island) hoping to catch the new Sky 1 show when it launches. Time will tell if this works as so far it only wants to record an episode of Dora the Explorer, but I assume this is because it relies on the EPG data and there is no broadcast info for this new show yet. The Superhub was easy to set up although it's actual speeds have fluctuated between 10MB and 26MB. I'm paying for 30MB which the hub seems to sync at but never deliver. Overall I would say as a package it's OK and I am relatively happy but I need to get a better router and VM will need to work hard to continue tweaking the TiVo to make it better still. "The best way to watch TV, ever...". Not yet it isn't, but it's a reasonable start.