New software questions

[Rillington]

I apoolgise if these have been answered but I returned from time away to find the new software and I have a few questions if I may please.

1. I know they have removed the ability to rearrange channels, something I liked, and I curse VM for doing this. However, this favourites function has appeared in its place but it only appears to be for EPG information. When I scrolled up and down the channels I expected it to only go through the favourites channels, as it does with Sky. However I found to my horror it it goes through every channel and can't even bypass channels I would have no interest in and the only way to find certain channels is to meomorise the EPG number or go through every single channel and the favourites only seems to be about EPG information. Maybe I'm missing something but have they even not bothered with a facility to be able to scroll the favourite channels or would I be forced to go through every channel in order when browsing?

2. To my horror the EPG only seems to go a few hours in advance, up to 6am tomorrow morning. The old ntl software allowed me to go up to 72 hours in advance but this only seems to allow me to go up to 24 hours in advance, like the old Telewest days (and as of tirhg now only8 horus in advance as I am typing this at just after 10pm). Is this the case and have they removed the ability to look at programmes (and set 'reminders') beyond 6am the following morning? Because how would I be able to 'set' the box to change to channels if I was, say, away tomorrow?

3. I noticed the STB no longer tries to charge me for TV Hits as part of my package which the old box used to. However, with regard to catch-up it appears to be day to day rather than programme type - ie news/documentaries/comedy etc. Again am I missing something?

Given what they have taken away I think this is really poor by Virgin Media as all they seem to have done is remove things such as channel reordering and a days ahead EPG guide. I was expecting improvements but I seem to have got regression.

Anyway, any help with these queries would be appreiated.

[Chris W]

1 from the miniguide press red- this will then display the list of your favourites, you can scroll up and down your favourites from here.

2 i am not 100% sure but i think the mini guide only goes a few hours, iirc the guide should show the the next 24.

3 you can browse catch up tv by day or channel number. afaik there isn't a way to view it by category- presumably because if you are trying to "catch up" with a programme you missed you either know when it was on, or which channel it was on.

[Rillington]

Thank you for a speedy reply ChrisW.

I suppose I can get that scrolling method to an extent by doing that. Not quite what it was and the fact I cannot reorder channels annoys me and it takes a lot longer to do rather whereas before it was just form a press of a single button.

The mini guide always used to go up to 6am the following day but this was reduced to 6 horus in advance and then finally to now and next only. Now it appears top be back to till 6am netx day.

[Mr K]

Have to say the new software does seem to be a lot quicker on my Pace box. Did prefer it though when you could set your own channel order.

[Rillington]

That is true but they've removed many functions haven't they such as reordering channels and more most of the EPG information by seemingly only allowing you to get hours worht of EPG info ratherr than days worth as you do with Sky and Freeview. Therefore obviously it's going to go more quickly.

[Instincts]

I think the same thing, all these features have been removed to make the software quicker, i think though hopefully they will add them later agin when they can like optimise them to work well on the boxes. But i dont think the old paces will handle it so it might be a while!

[Rillington]

The old Pace boxes won't handle anything. I bet they bought them on the cheap to try to save money but they have bene nothing but a pile of rubbish.

Apparently, the Virgin-branded service in non-cabled areas has an eight-day EPG guide.

[Instincts]

WTH!!!??? They get 8 days and dont even subscribe to anything. That makes you feel let down by VM. I hope its not true!

[GuestUK]

Apparently, it's a Virgin re-branded freeview box, which comes with the software featuring an 8 day EPG. Plus Sky three, sky news and sky sports news (as Virgin are boasting) which subscription customers don't get either. A little salt in the wound, perhaps.

What I can't understand is why Virgin's older pace boxes seem so unable to handle anything, especially when some of my friends on Sky Digital have some ancient pace boxes, which are perfectly fast and smooth with the latest software (and are more featureful, barring the VOD menus)

[sstainer]

well the new software dont have favourits as before that you could re-arrange only ones you can select like you can on sky

as for reminders yep 24hrs max allowed sometimes near to 12am you cant even go any further


and tv hits tv on demand tv choice what ever its name lol
is not free [well most of it is BAR lost ]
for them that are on the xl package i so belive ?

as for the sky pace boxes dont forget software differences virgin has its own & sky does also just cause it says pace dont mean a thing

[GuestUK]

as for the sky pace boxes dont forget software differences virgin has its own & sky does also just cause it says pace dont mean a thing

It was the software differences I was trying to highlight. If Sky software on similar boxes can work fine, and still provide similar serviecs to the Virgin software, yet the Virgin software really struggles, perhaps some optimisation would really help improve the Virgin software while still offering good features yet running smoothly. Apparently the latest software has helped, but I'm sure there is room for more improvements which would be much appreciated by many.

[sstainer]

i agree but i think there is more to it than what we know