v+ dont think ill bother

[ntl.wotcha]

V+ big thumbs up from me too. OK, initially we had a flakey box and no on-demand, but VM fixed that pretty quick and no trouble since. PVR makes a hell of a difference to how we watch TV. We rarely watch live TV. Just flip through favourites guide and press record on anything we might want to watch that day. Then when we want to watch some TV we just select something previously recorded from the V+ menu. No more ads to sit though either. Win-Win.

[Chorlton]

Had my V+ box for nearly a month now (ordered it on June 1st when the new price came in) and I think it's great. No problems at all. On demand slow at times but it was on my samsung. As far as deals go, I'm not altogether sure what deal I'm on as I was on the old family pack from NTL and getting charged £43 a month for phone (plus free evening & weekend calls), L broadband and XL TV. Waiting for my next bill as the V+ was installed partway through the month and so the bill was odd, but I'm expecting it to be less than £40 going on what they have charged me for last month - and I have never rung up to try to get a special deal from them!
I'd advise anyone to go for the V+, it gives so much more flexibility

Tom

[Begize]

I would say go for it too.

Had ours installed yesterday and would agree the only main problem is speed of channel changing. BUT, I was also quite surprised that Sky + HD suffers from the same issues when I had a go on the brother in laws box plus their supposed faster, more reliable interactive was just as slow as VM's too.

Back to V+, there's also the fact the menus / guide etc look fuzzy if you have the output set to HDMI 1080 / 1080 wide although setting it to 720 solves this.

I've also noticed that it the upscaling of SD programs seems to confuse the auto picture formatting on my Sony LCD. With the V+ output set to Wide RGB, the "smart" setting for programmes broadcast in 4:3 does a good job of filling the screen without it seeming stretched. With it set to HDMI, the same channel makes the TV change to wide and awfuly stretched. Forcing it to smart just massively zooms the centre of the picture. Maybe I just need to play with the settings on the TV though.

[leedrummond]

Originally Posted by on in an hour!

sounds like a resounding for this thread mr drummond

sure does mate, ill giv them a call and see what they offer me

Just to pick up a couple of issues

Originally Posted by Begize

... the only main problem is speed of channel changing..

It has others, the actual 'main one' is that V+ cannot record things from the buffer - you can watch it but you can not keep it - very frustrating - simple task & V+ is the only PVR that can not do this - a monkey with a hammer could fix this so i'm 'hoping' it will be sorted soon.

Originally Posted by Begize

.....there's also the fact the menus / guide etc look fuzzy if you have the output set to HDMI 1080 / 1080 wide ....

unless you have same TV as me (1080 is perfect so it's not a fault) - the P/Q is directly related to the resolutions supported by your display - hence why we have 'a choice' of settings

Originally Posted by Begize

...I've also noticed that it the upscaling of SD programs seems to confuse the auto picture formatting on my Sony LCD..

That's because Auto picture settings are not supported 'at all' by HDMI connection

Originally Posted by Begize

.......With it set to HDMI, the same channel makes the TV change to wide and awfuly stretched....

this is yet 'another' fault with V+ albeit VM have chose not to acknowledge it yet - but enough complaints should hopefully see it sorted


.

[hokkers999]

Originally Posted by spdabbs

There have been a few times where I've had to reboot (no biggie), and other times where On Demand hasn't worked - persistantly selecting the option bringing it up finally, on the whole I'm happy with it.

Overall, I'd say go for it. The software will be upgraded over time, why miss out on the PVR aspect for a couple of minor glitches that currently exist?

You are kidding right? My Sky box NEVER gets rebooted, it just sits there quietly doing it's thing. EPG is always spot on. Would you accept having to go and recycle the power on your mains electricity? Thought not! Buy a Tivo and get a PVR that's been done properly, maybe in about 10 years Sky & VM MAY catch up the functionality.

[gazzzman]

I would not describe my time with sky+ perfect
resetting forgetting series links locking up etc!
all in all sky+ & V+ have been very comparable!
but TIVO is SO much better than any of the other PVR's (including MCE)
it puts them ALL to shame!
wouldnt it be great if TIVO and VM where to do a deal!
V+ at the moment works fine with only minor niggles.. the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages!
I would gofor it

[leedrummond]

well ive been so busy with things not had chance to call

ill be callnig up tommorow to see what they offer me and if i can afford it

[leedrummond]

Well ive struck an amzing deal

the lady at retentions, has upgraded me to tv size XL inc sentanta sports offer, and v+ box, inc installation, also keepingcurrent box and having that installed upstairs.. for a grand total of £1.49 extra per month !!

[Begize]

Originally Posted by JethroUK

Just to pick up a couple of issues
unless you have same TV as me (1080 is perfect so it's not a fault) - the P/Q is directly related to the resolutions supported by your display - hence why we have 'a choice' of settings
.

I think you misunderstand - the actual picture quality is fantastic on 720 and 1080 wide and my TV supports 1080p, it's the boxes menus and guide that appear fuzzy in 1080 (and ever so slightly so in 720). Other people have reported the same problems in other threads so I'm assuming it's a box software issue.

As far as the upscaling and picture size goes, I've done some more testing and the box does a brilliant job on most channels with both 4:3 and 16:9 broadcasts. Those with a lower bandwidth (some of the Discovery channels, Animal Planet etc), seem to really make it go very pixelly (and stretched with 4:3 programmes). With the V+ output on RGB, the same channel is upscalled brilliantly by my TV so I guess it's a software issue Virgin may one day fix.....

[Rik]

Ive been watching these V+ threads very closely and im thinking about taking the plunge, the only thing that puzzles me is why do VM not advertise this fab box anywhere, im a subscriber of the XL TV/BB package and havent received anything telling me that it even exists!

If they had advertised it to me I would perhaps taken the plunge earlier.

ADVERTISE THE BL**DY THING VM

[on in an hour!]

Originally Posted by Rik

Ive been watching these V+ threads very closely and im thinking about taking the plunge, the only thing that puzzles me is why do VM not advertise this fab box anywhere, im a subscriber of the XL TV/BB package and havent received anything telling me that it even exists!

If they had advertised it to me I would perhaps taken the plunge earlier.

ADVERTISE THE BL**DY THING VM

check out pg 999 on your V box

[stelladrinka]

I too have been following with interest the comments on the V+ box and having taken the plunge in to getting a HD TV earlier in the year I would like to start taking advantage of it. However, I'm sure that when I first looked in to getting one a few months back that VM weren't charging £150 to "install" it, now they are. Has anyone else been stung by this amount? Bloody cheek if you ask me seeing as you basically rent the box off them anyway (or has that changed now too?). Puts me off getting one now, as this is now the same tactics as SKY. Anyone know of any deals to avoid this fee?

[Begize]

Originally Posted by stelladrinka

I too have been following with interest the comments on the V+ box and having taken the plunge in to getting a HD TV earlier in the year I would like to start taking advantage of it. However, I'm sure that when I first looked in to getting one a few months back that VM weren't charging £150 to "install" it, now they are. Has anyone else been stung by this amount? Bloody cheek if you ask me seeing as you basically rent the box off them anyway (or has that changed now too?). Puts me off getting one now, as this is now the same tactics as SKY. Anyone know of any deals to avoid this fee?

I tried to avoid it but the nice lady in Mumbai (or wherever) didn't get the gist of what I was trying to ask. I really should have just been brazen and called up wanting to cancel because Sky HD worked out cheaper and took it from there. Except it didn't!

I'm sure I've read threads on here about people getting it vaived but don't forget once installed, it costs nothing extra. Under the old scheme, it was £10 (or £15) per month plus £75 installation (I think).