Duff info or is the FAQ incorrect?

[Scotty]

I expect I'm being fed duff info by VM.

I put in a complaint about my V+ installation and have had a call back from the subcontractors company that did it. Whilst talking to him I mentioned that "I guess I need to talk to someone else about the lack of BBC HD".

Since I only have a SD TV, he suggested that I won't get BBC HD. On the V_ box it suggests I'm not subscribed to it. Since I am on XL package with V+ shouldn't I get it?

The FAQ says :

"Q: Can I watch HD content if I don't have a HDTV?
A: You can watch BBC HD (downscaled to SD, of course). You can't watch HD On Demand content. "

so this is what I'm expecting.

You may ask why do I want BBC HD if I have a SD TV. There's two reasons. [1] I won't always have an HD TV and I think my account needs sorting out in preparation for this.
[2] If I understand it correctly then I'll sometimes get proper 5.1 from BBC HD whereas I'll only be able to get my amp to apply ProLogic2 to the other channels. (My amp is connected optically and shows a PCM connection)

Can someone clarify for this for me please?

Whilst I'm asking questions ....

[1] Assumming the FAQ is correct (I have more faith in it than VM!), why is it different for BBC HD and HD On Demand?

[2] I get On Demand and also Interactive so it's fundamentally working. However not all the interactive choices do. Is this the same for everyone or do I have a problem.

Thanks in advance.

Scotty

[JG3870]

I have a V+ box with a Standard Definition LCD TV and if i select BBC HD I just get an info box appear on screen telling me it's an HD channel and i close the info box and I can watch BBC HD with no problems.

[Stuart C]

Originally Posted by Scotty

I expect I'm being fed duff info by VM.

I put in a complaint about my V+ installation and have had a call back from the subcontractors company that did it. Whilst talking to him I mentioned that "I guess I need to talk to someone else about the lack of BBC HD".

Since I only have a SD TV, he suggested that I won't get BBC HD. On the V_ box it suggests I'm not subscribed to it. Since I am on XL package with V+ shouldn't I get it?

Yes, you should. All the BBC channels, along with ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 are required to be made available to everyone. VM also offer the other ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 channels to all their customers. In short, everyone who has a v+ should get BBC HD. You do get a warning from the V+ that you really should be watching on an HD telly though.

The FAQ says :

"Q: Can I watch HD content if I don't have a HDTV?
A: You can watch BBC HD (downscaled to SD, of course). You can't watch HD On Demand content. "

This is true.

so this is what I'm expecting.

You may ask why do I want BBC HD if I have a SD TV. There's two reasons. [1] I won't always have an HD TV and I think my account needs sorting out in preparation for this.
[2] If I understand it correctly then I'll sometimes get proper 5.1 from BBC HD whereas I'll only be able to get my amp to apply ProLogic2 to the other channels. (My amp is connected optically and shows a PCM connection)

Can someone clarify for this for me please?

Yep, although you may only get prologic on the other channels.

Whilst I'm asking questions ....

[1] Assumming the FAQ is correct (I have more faith in it than VM!), why is it different for BBC HD and HD On Demand?

Simple: Stuff shown on BBC HD isn't necessarily available elsewhere (they sometimes show programmes that finished a while ago on BBC TV). Where stuff is available in HD on On Demand, it's usually available in SD as well.

[2] I get On Demand and also Interactive so it's fundamentally working. However not all the interactive choices do. Is this the same for everyone or do I have a problem.

Thanks in advance.

Scotty

There might be a problem with your connection. Which parts are you having problems with?

[Scotty]

A helpful forum member has been assisting me. I'll reboot my box when I get home and see what effect there's been and then I'll post accordingly.

Thanks guys!

[Scotty]

I won't mention his forum alias in case he doesn't want me to but I've now got the BBC HD channel.

Apparently my box simply hadn't picked up all the settings correctly. It's now working as expected and coming through to my amp in Dolby Digital. It seems I need to educate someone in the installations team that you really can get BBC HD via an SD TV !

So the only thing I mentioned in this thread that isn't 100% is my Interactive.

A lot works but a lot doesn't. In many cases it shows "application unavailable" and then when you exit it says "Do you want to exit 2 way TV ?"

I get this problem on :
Games zone / New releases
TV Extras / Cartoon Network (Hangs on loading screen)
TV Extras / Challenge
Play to win cash - They all do nothing and when you press Home it asks "do you want to exist 2 way tv"
Email & Chat / Chatbox - application unavailable
Email & Chat / Telemessenger - "technical problems so currently removed"
Email & Chat / Email - unavailable code IS002
Mobile zone
Crystal Coloumns works but I said "no way" to the 60p charge and it still took me in!

All other interactive works fine. Now admittedly I'm not going to use many of the above but it seems to point to something being wrong if none of the above work.