[scaasiboi]

This is what you need to do.

Ring Customer Services.
Tell them that your not happy with the standard of the Scientific Atlanta V+ Box and that you have seen them advertising a new box.
Ask them what your chances are of getting on and listen to what they say.
If they offer you one straight up then its a bonus.
Otherwise continue reading.

Now, if they did not offer you one you need to do the following.

Say to the CSr that if you do not get a new samsung box then you will be leaving Virgin Media and will be changing to Sky HD where you can actually get an HD box that works Fast, Reliably and doesn't crash.

If they still don't give you one, then try another approach.

See how it goes, it worked for me (In Nottingham) and im getting one Tomorrow (Thursday 6th) :P enjoy :P

[BenMcr77]

Please do let us know if it actually works or if they just said it did

[pHo]

The Samsung box runs the same crappy software as the SA, so I can't say I'm particularly bothered.

[Ryrazzer]

Originally Posted by pHo

The Samsung box runs the same crappy software as the SA, so I can't say I'm particularly bothered.

Apart from its about half the size and twice as fast.

[Ryrazzer]

Originally Posted by scaasiboi

This is what you need to do.

Ring Customer Services.
Tell them that your not happy with the standard of the Scientific Atlanta V+ Box and that you have seen them advertising a new box.
Ask them what your chances are of getting on and listen to what they say.
If they offer you one straight up then its a bonus.
Otherwise continue reading.

Now, if they did not offer you one you need to do the following.

Say to the CSr that if you do not get a new samsung box then you will be leaving Virgin Media and will be changing to Sky HD where you can actually get an HD box that works Fast, Reliably and doesn't crash.

If they still don't give you one, then try another approach.

See how it goes, it worked for me (In Nottingham) and im getting one Tomorrow (Thursday 6th) :P enjoy :P

Thats all very well if they are available in your area. Not all sites have them yet.
Ill be very interested to read what happens later.
Please keep us updated.

[roddydogs]

1/2 the size? U sure? Dosent look it, you will of course have to watch all you "recorded" stuff as well

[goomba]

I am not sure that this is a swindle. Seems a perfectly honest opinion of the V+ to me!

[johnboy726]

does anybody happen to have any Pictures of the new Samsung V+ HD Box !!! ???

[BenMcr77]

Its the one at http://www.virginmedia.com/v+

[Ryrazzer]

Originally Posted by roddydogs

1/2 the size? U sure? Dosent look it, you will of course have to watch all you "recorded" stuff as well

Yes im sure. We have one in the office. Its about the same size at the standard V samsung box (the small one).

[nick.king]

Originally Posted by scaasiboi

This is what you need to do.

Ring Customer Services.
Tell them that your not happy with the standard of the Scientific Atlanta V+ Box and that you have seen them advertising a new box.
Ask them what your chances are of getting on and listen to what they say.
If they offer you one straight up then its a bonus.
Otherwise continue reading.

Now, if they did not offer you one you need to do the following.

Say to the CSr that if you do not get a new samsung box then you will be leaving Virgin Media and will be changing to Sky HD where you can actually get an HD box that works Fast, Reliably and doesn't crash.

If they still don't give you one, then try another approach.

See how it goes, it worked for me (In Nottingham) and im getting one Tomorrow (Thursday 6th) :P enjoy :P

The Sky box is rubbish.

[pHo]

Originally Posted by Ryrazzer

Apart from its about half the size and twice as fast.

The size of the V+ isn't a concern to me anyway, it sits under a 50" TV so there's plenty of space. The speed is a factor, but it's the software as a whole that's just so damned awful it being twice as quick to respond wouldn't be really change my opinion of the service. I'm just glad I rarely use it for anything more than changing channel.

[boyzie]

Reckon this thread has now put the block on getting the new stb early now........

[Scotty12]

Originally Posted by scaasiboi

This is what you need to do.

Ring Customer Services.
Tell them that your not happy with the standard of the Scientific Atlanta V+ Box and that you have seen them advertising a new box.
Ask them what your chances are of getting on and listen to what they say.
If they offer you one straight up then its a bonus.
Otherwise continue reading.

Now, if they did not offer you one you need to do the following.

Say to the CSr that if you do not get a new samsung box then you will be leaving Virgin Media and will be changing to Sky HD where you can actually get an HD box that works Fast, Reliably and doesn't crash.

If they still don't give you one, then try another approach.

See how it goes, it worked for me (In Nottingham) and im getting one Tomorrow (Thursday 6th) :P enjoy :P

Why would you want to do this. Is your present box faulty?

[nick.king]

Originally Posted by Scotty12

Why would you want to do this. Is your present box faulty?

Because it's new and everybody wants something new.

[roddydogs]

Could you give us the Dimensions please (the new box)? ta

[cy_bones]

Apart from size and possibly speed, are there any benefits at the moment?

Old box:

Scientific-Atlanta Explorer 8300DVB
The Explorer 8300DVB set top box from Scientific-Atlanta, uses two 250 MIPS 32-bit RISC processors, 4 tuners (3 video, 1 data), a DOCSIS 1.x cable modem, a full graphics engine, 2 HD and SD video decoders, dual audio decoders and contains one Western Digital or Maxtor 160GB PATA hard disk, capable of storing up to 20 hours of HD Content or up to 80 hours of SD content.
For connectivity the Explorer 8300DVB box has 1 HDMI output, 1 YPbPr HD Component output, 2 Scart Outputs, 1 optical audio output, 1 dual channel analogue phono output and an RF input and output. There is also an Ethernet socket for Internet access, a powered USB port and an eSATA port which are currently disabled but may be enabled in the future for external storage.

New Box:

Samsung SMT-H3110
The SMT-H3110 set top box from Samsung Electronics, has 1 HDMI output, 2 Scart Outputs and 1 optical audio output. There is also an Ethernet socket for Internet access, a powered USB port, an exhaust fan at the rear and a 160GB SATA hard disk, capable of storing up to 20 hours of HD Content or up to 80 hours of SD content.
Unlike the Explorer 8300DVB, the on-screen display and subtitles are outputted on the VCR Scart, when set to standard definition it is impossible to watch another channel during the archiving process and there is also the ability to record radio. MPEG-4 compatibility has also been included for future use.

(Source: wikipedia.org/V+)

[cakespace]

The old 'I'm moving to sky' trick stopped working long ago (if it ever did) it might work every now and then but now they are much more likely to call your bluff, put a mark on your account and put you down to not receive any future offers! Plus atm they might be grateful for some of the old boxes to give to the new customers coming from Sky for ESPN hd!

[Ryrazzer]

Originally Posted by nick.king

The Sky box is rubbish.

Are you joking? The skyHD box knocks the socks of the v+ box.
Well, imo it does.

[TAZMANUK]

Originally Posted by Ryrazzer

Are you joking? The skyHD box knocks the socks of the v+ box.
Well, imo it does.

Laughable, try recording 2 channels and then watching a third my friend, oh but wait you cant its a sky hd box with only 12 month warranty, if it goes you have to shell out cash for another 1

[Deacon1972]

Originally Posted by TAZMANUK

Laughable, try recording 2 channels and then watching a third my friend, oh but wait you cant its a sky hd box with only 12 month warranty, if it goes you have to shell out cash for another 1

I can record two programmes and watch a pre-recorded - as I rarely watch live TV, recording two programmes and watching a third live would not have any benefits here.

How's your disk space doing for your re-encoded MPEG2 HD recordings?

As for reliability - Sky HD box is over three years old and not one single call out needed.

My wife has had VM out twice.

Each box has it's pros and cons - down to the customer to sign up to which one they prefer which will give them the service they require.

[Ryrazzer]

Originally Posted by TAZMANUK

Laughable, try recording 2 channels and then watching a third my friend, oh but wait you cant its a sky hd box with only 12 month warranty, if it goes you have to shell out cash for another 1

Never a problem. Had SkyHD for around 6 months now and never been a problem not being able to watch a third. And you can still watch something you`ve recorded while recording 2.
Tell me something, can you link your V+ to another tv and control it with the remote so you can watch all your recorded programmes? I think not
As for the warrenty, Its a small sacrifice im willing to make to not have an over sized, sloooowww pvr.

[Ryrazzer]

Still no word from the op. Any news on the shiny new Samsung?

[Roz]

There's a flyer in with this weeks Radio Times. Not a bad ad for Virgin, but they still don't mention Music OD!

[nick.king]

Originally Posted by Ryrazzer

Are you joking? The skyHD box knocks the socks of the v+ box.
Well, imo it does.

I've got both and I don't agree.

Looks good but can't do as much as the V+.