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andrewjameshowar · 12-06-2015, 14:34

I have a Virgin cable TV and phone subscription - basic VBox, not HD. Not an avid TV fan and very happy with this basic service, particularly the catch-up facility. Have broadband from BT (part of a business package which includes a separate phone line).

Someone gave me a Virgin Samsung 500GB Tivo they didn't want and I thought I'd have a play with it. Connected it in place of my VBox. It works. I can play BBC1 through it and play things already recorded on it. It won't do much else though. Says it has no network connection and won't give itself one through "Settings". Reading up on the net about them, it says they get all their connection through the cable connector, don't need an ethernet connection. So why won't this work? Is it that (i) they only work properly if you have Virgin Broadband (ii) there are some unique codes at play and the Virgin network won't connect to a device unless it is one they have supplied directly to me or (iii) something else?

No piracy intended here -just wanted to try it out - if Tivo'ing requires buying/renting one direct and I decide it suits me, I've no problem paying them, it's not very much money. Just curious is all.

12-06-2015, 14:34	#1
andrewjameshowar Inactive Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 4	Basic Tivo question I have a Virgin cable TV and phone subscription - basic VBox, not HD. Not an avid TV fan and very happy with this basic service, particularly the catch-up facility. Have broadband from BT (part of a business package which includes a separate phone line). Someone gave me a Virgin Samsung 500GB Tivo they didn't want and I thought I'd have a play with it. Connected it in place of my VBox. It works. I can play BBC1 through it and play things already recorded on it. It won't do much else though. Says it has no network connection and won't give itself one through "Settings". Reading up on the net about them, it says they get all their connection through the cable connector, don't need an ethernet connection. So why won't this work? Is it that (i) they only work properly if you have Virgin Broadband (ii) there are some unique codes at play and the Virgin network won't connect to a device unless it is one they have supplied directly to me or (iii) something else? No piracy intended here -just wanted to try it out - if Tivo'ing requires buying/renting one direct and I decide it suits me, I've no problem paying them, it's not very much money. Just curious is all.