V+ : Is the SA V+ box really that bad?

[Coax]

I'm on my third SA V+ box in 4 years, the first cause the screen to flash red every few seconds. Reboot the box and it would be ok for a couple of days.

The second the HDD drive slowly died, it started when I put my centre speaker from surround sound system on top. I did remove it and it did improve but eventually it died! Failed recordings initially and then wouldn't play back recorded programs. I should have bought a shielded speaker but I'm tight

The third is fine, but they had to boost the signal at the distribution box up the road from me to get VOD to work reliably!

But on the whole it’s not a bad box!

[mrm1]

Had my TV drive (V+) from day one of it being available in Swindon, It has only recently died (faulty HDMI socket) after all these years. Had a black SA V+ installed. Other than the origanal needing replacing after a few years, not had any major issues with SA boxes at all (except the midnight slow down bug)

[scotmac]

I`ve had the same SA V+ box since they were introduced still giving no problems which is why i have kept as my second box even after being offered new box

[Deserthead47]

Got TiVo box 10 days ago,no problems with that one,they also replaced our second box,SA V+,with a Samsung V+,telling me it was a better box and because we were changing contract because of a bereavement,they had to swap it out.....

Since then have had 2 replacement Samsungs and today I have had to arrange for another 'engineer' to come and try to get it working,it will be another 2 days at least before anything gets sorted out....

Box in question is for my 80 y.o. mother,I am disabled and have a few problems getting to the back of the box when it freezes up to reboot it for her and now wish I had kept the old box...

Originally I thought about 2 Tivo boxes to replace the V+ ones,but the extra cost for installation is prohibitive....In the end it would have been cheaper for Virgin to give us a second TiVo box (installed free) than the cost of at least 4 'engineers' visits....

Will just have to see what happens next !!!

[spiderplant]

If it helps, you can reset a Samsung V+ by holding the standby button on the front panel for 5 seconds (until the display says "STOP"). Should be easier than reaching round the back.

[Deserthead47]

Thanks for reply....

Unfortunatly box 'freezes up' completely,no lights on front and no buttons work exept on/off

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Deserthead47

Thanks for reply.... Unfortunatly box 'freezes up' completely,no lights on front and no buttons work exept on/off

You could buy a remote controlled mains socket and reboot it that way. They are usually RF so it doesn't matter where it's plugged in. This method works for me both on Tivo and my previous V+ boxes.

[Deserthead47]

Have got remote sockets throughout house - a good short term fix,thanks - but that just hides my original problem with all the boxes tried (present box even freezes up when attempting to change channel),it's impossible to watch or record anything....

When rebooting box it just stops loading at 'ld40' or 'pl30' and I have to fire it up again,it can take up to 20 min to get it going,usually short term...sometimes getting message about 'services not available,call 150'... tried that on a few occasions,everyone has had that experience at some time...will have to see what they say on Wed...

[passingbat]

Originally Posted by Deserthead47

Have got remote sockets throughout house ..

Maybe you could also get one for your mother's house?

Originally Posted by Deserthead47

Box in question is for my 80 y.o. mother,I am disabled and have a few problems getting to the back of the box when it freezes up to reboot it for her

[Deserthead47]

She lives downstairs in same house......problem machine in her living room.

[Deserthead47]

Update - All ok box up and running....

Seems we were just unlucky with boxes...the 6th one in 2 1/2 weeks works...