Moving to Virgin?

[terryeden]

Afternoon.

I'm going to be moving to a cabled area. I'm not interested in Pay TV, but it looks like I'll get a Virgin Basic pack with my broadband. This looks to have a few more channels than the FreeView box I currently use with my TiVo.

A few question,
1) Are the new Virgin boxes more reliable than they used to be - or will I be rebooting it every day?
2) Will I lose all my season passes if I migrate?
3) Are there any better ways of controlling the boxes than using the wands?

Or, should I save my sanity and stay with DTT?

Thanks

T

[mikeyp]

I've got the (fairly) new Samsung smt-2110C (from memory anyway so might not be exactly right there) and it's completely stable for me. Just make sure there's good ventilation :)

Season passes stayed on mine but as some channels moved numbers I didn't wholly trust it and redid all my season passes myself. Couldn't really comment there other than that.

Wands seem the best way. Make sure to find the best place for them on the front panel to ensure reliable channel change. I get 100% success so check my old post here from a while back. http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=349355 read posts 1 2 and 3 in particular.

[RichardJH]

I find that my cable has a more stable picture than the DTT which I find suffers a bit with noise/breakup caused by traffic. I have 2 Tivos.

If you are taking Broadband and phone I guess its a no brainer re TV as on their specials at the moment you can get 2 for £20 (Broadband & Phone with free TV) http://allyours.virginmedia.com/websales/product.do?id=11021

[cwaring]

Hi Terry!

I can only agree with the other two posters in this thread.
1) Are the new Virgin boxes more reliable than they used to be - or will I be rebooting it every day?
I haven't had to re-boot my Sammy (see sig) for ages now.
2) Will I lose all my season passes if I migrate?
If the channel exists and (and this is the important bit) has the same callsign (ie ITV1LON or BBC1NTH) then yes, the SP will remain.
3) Are there any better ways of controlling the boxes than using the wands?
No.

[terryeden]

Great - thanks guys. Now I need to convince Virgin to give me their 20Mb broadband with the basic TV package for a sensible price :-)

[RichardJH]

Virgin to give me their 20Mb broadband with the basic TV package for a sensible price

A quick peek at the website shows that if you order online you get £30 discount which equates to free installation. And for twelve months for 20mb broadband basic phone and basic TV will cost £34.50 per month.

[RichardJH]

On a value for money basis you can't beat the VIP package for £85 PM.
BUT before I get beaten up by others on the forum I know that not all can afford it.

[ColinYounger]

Richard - I'm not here to beat up, but to be curious.

Why is the VIP package better than - say - the XL in your opinion?

[RichardJH]

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/bundles/vip.html

It includes everything. See link for full details.
However if you do not need Sports,Movies, extra 3 tuner V+ box, free UK phone calls, cheaper international calls, cheaper calls to mobiles it may not be for you.

BTW I am retired and do not and have never worked for any cable company just in case anybody thought I was a salesman. Just a very satisfied customer

[cwaring]

Richard - I'm not here to beat up, but to be curious. Why is the VIP package better than - say - the XL in your opinion?
As you will see from the link provided, the VIP package is, basically, the top tier of every service that VM offer for £85 which, individually, would cost around £120. Not a bad saving if you both have the money and need everything it offers :)