Sky+ or V+???

topher · 16 Nov 2007 at 10:35

I have sky+ and v+ (in different rooms) I prefer sky+ because using the v+ box its just unbelievably slow at doing anything, for instance changing channels is instant on sky, but on v+ it's far from instant.
The planner on v+ is also just too slow. ondemand on the v+ is great when and I mean WHEN its actually working!

Topher

Joebob · 17 Nov 2007 at 13:25

Ok, I have V+ installed today and it all seems pretty decent. I have few questions though.

I can only find one HD channel and it seems to be a preview channel from the BBC - anyone know if there are more HD channels due out anytime soon?

Also, I found a whole list of 4 digit codes for tuning the V+ remote to my TV for volume, but non of them seem to work! Anyone else had this problem and found a solution? I have a Samsung 32" TFT

Begbie · 17 Nov 2007 at 13:31

Bah good luck getting HD with Virgin.

The sky+ boxes are having a major revamp in the EPG in Feb so all the wee bits that are missing i.e pressing the info button on another program, i find this very annoying, will be implemented along with watching a mini tv in the tv guid.

Try 0628 or 0065 and 0646 dude.

There for the sky remote bur should work with the virgin box too i believe.

Joebob · 17 Nov 2007 at 13:39

Begbie said:
Bah good luck getting HD with Virgin.

The sky+ boxes are having a major revamp in the EPG in Feb so all the wee bits that are missing i.e pressing the info button on another program, i find this very annoying, will be implemented along with watching a mini tv in the tv guid.

Try 0628 or 0065 and 0646 dude.

There for the sky remote bur should work with the virgin box too i believe.

I'm not too fussed about having HD channels tbh. The picture quality is already noticably different using component from V+ over using scart on Sky+.

Tried those remote codes and they didn't work either!!! It really annoys me having too many remotes about too!

One more question I have - With Sky+ I have a standard coax cable running up to my bedroom and have an attachment up there with a remote control receiver which will change the Sky channels via the coax.... will this work on V+? especially being as though i'm using HD output?

Begbie · 17 Nov 2007 at 14:05

Yep not sure which rf on the V+ you would use though but in theory it will.

A quick google will get you the codes dude.

Invest in a RGB scart cable for the Sky+ the picture quality will be on par with the V+ box.

Joebob · 17 Nov 2007 at 20:14

I seem to be getting a low humming noise from the V+ box and it's quite annoying... it's very quiet but still quite noticable! I'm sure it's from the HDD's but it could be to do with the acoustics of my cabinet which it's sitting in

Joebob · 17 Nov 2007 at 20:29

Begbie said:
Try 0628 or 0065 and 0646 dude.

Just did a quick scan on DigitalSpy's forums and 0079 seems to work a treat on Samsung TV's

Robert · 17 Nov 2007 at 20:46

MrLOL said:
sorry but no

dont care how much stuff there is to watch on the "on demand" service, its only whats available at some point in the scheduling. It sometimes get lucky and lets you watch something you may have missed or not noticed in the schedule

but that in no way makes up for the shoddy EPG and confusing layout as other users have agreed with me on.

and sky have a decent ammount of on demand content anyway.

you dont need it. You press the status button to see whats on know, and can use the up/down arrows to cycle through the other channels.

To shorten the process, just set all the channels that you watch to favourites. Then use the blue button to cycle through them. Never once have i felt the need for an EPG and the TV on at the same time.

How the frig is the V+ menu confusing...are you 3 or something?

:/

Paul -C- · 18 Nov 2007 at 14:54

Joebob said:
I seem to be getting a low humming noise from the V+ box and it's quite annoying... it's very quiet but still quite noticable! I'm sure it's from the HDD's but it could be to do with the acoustics of my cabinet which it's sitting in

I had that too - it's the vibration from the hard drive.

To solve it just pick it up a little and find out which part of the underside of the box you need to apply pressure to to get rid of the noise. For me it was the front centre underside of the box. Then just put something under that point so that it applies pressure when the box is laid down. Use some card or blutac or whatever.

Joebob · 19 Nov 2007 at 18:04

Paul -C- said:
I had that too - it's the vibration from the hard drive.

To solve it just pick it up a little and find out which part of the underside of the box you need to apply pressure to to get rid of the noise. For me it was the front centre underside of the box. Then just put something under that point so that it applies pressure when the box is laid down. Use some card or blutac or whatever.

I already tried putting some padding under the feet but that did nothing, I will give your method a go tonight.. Thanks

Fr0dders · 19 Nov 2007 at 21:04

Robert said:
How the frig is the V+ menu confusing...are you 3 or something?

:/

channel layout

eg having say Discovery on channel 600

then having discovery turbo on 200

they never group them by category on cable. on Sky all of the music channels are together etc.. so if you fancy watching music, you can just go up and down the music channels untill you find a song you like, without having to hop all over the EPG.

alle · 19 Nov 2007 at 21:34

...If its an outstanding EPG and great functionality you want then Keep Sky for the channels but get a second hand TiVo for the programming. Way better than Sky+ or V+

SDK^ · 26 Nov 2007 at 15:20

There are so many misinformed comments here.

MrLOL said:
channel layout

eg having say Discovery on channel 600

then having discovery turbo on 200

they never group them by category on cable. on Sky all of the music channels are together etc.. so if you fancy watching music, you can just go up and down the music channels untill you find a song you like, without having to hop all over the EPG.

You've clearly not used V+.
Channels from 600 are News. Other categories; Music (300), factual (200), general (100), children's etc are all grouped together.

Begbie said:
The epg on the V+ boxes are terrible though, got Sky HD myself altough I barly ever use it, the epg is so much quicker than the V+ boxes are.

Could never use one.

The ability to watch tv whilst browsing is coming the the pvr sky+ boxes in February.

The EPG on V+ is slower than Sky+ but that doesn't mean it's terrible.
The Sky+ update in February brings it on par with the V+ features that have been available since Feb 2006, two years previous (Feb 08).

If you need the Sky channels then Sky is the only option.
If you want a wide range of On Demand choice and the ability to record two separate programs whilst watching a third then V+ is the way to go.

The other point worth mentioning is Sky+ HD costs significantly more than V+

farooqm · 26 Nov 2007 at 17:15

If you want V+ they are doing this for £75 at the moment with no fee if you take out their XL pack or £5/month if you take out one of the lower packs.

I've had the V+ for over 6months and think that the ability to record 2 and watch one is not enough

, not sure how Sky cope...

On the other hand I really do wish there was more HD content which is where Sky win hands down... Sky also has a fair few other channels which VM do not carry

Depends on what you want... more content or record multiple channels without clashes.

BTW.... V+ channel changing is slooow compared to Sky. This is the one thing that really annoys me about my V+