Weird message "your analogue tv service has come to an end"

fcbruno · 20-11-2009, 22:47

Hi guys

Have been using my standard Virgin Media set-top box for years and have encountered a problem.

Any idea why I might be getting the Virgin Media message "your analogue tv service has come to an end" on-screen and what action I should take to get rid of it?

The message in full is:

"Virgin tv - Your analogue TV service has come to an end. That means you won't be charged for your analogue Virgin TV service any more.

Want to carry on getting TV from Virgin Media? To find out how to get digital TV from us, just take a look at the letter we sent, or visit our website at www.virginmedia.com"

Thing is, I never received a letter, so have no idea what they mean!

Any thoughts or tips would be really appreciated.

Update: Noticed something about 'analogue switch off' in Belfast that's been happening. I'm guessing that channels 1-5 are no longer available via Virgin Media???

The problem I had was when trying to record the standard channels 1-5 to my DVD recorder - I wasn't recording them via my Virgin Media box i.e. I wasn't recording them by selecting channels 1-5 from 'favourites' or 'guide'...I was just setting my DVD recorder to record channels 1-5, as opposed to setting it to record 'line 3' (on which I would have all my other Virgin Media digital channels such as UK History etc)

Is there a way I might still be able to record channels 1-5 to my DVD recorder please?

**Kymmy** · 20-11-2009, 22:52

All analogue services are coming to an end within the next 2 years, that means that your current service will eventually be turned off and your box will be useless.

If you still want to get VM TV then ring up customer services and see what the options are. In the mean time it sounds as though you won't be charged for analogue anymore

JayJay · 20-11-2009, 23:26

Sounds like your taking a RF bypass to your dvd recorder.

Only way to record is to get a V+ or take a feed from the back of the box and record basically what your watching!

spiderplant · 20-11-2009, 23:32

I take it your are already a digital TV customer of VM, fcbruno? It sounds like you have been using the analogue bypass that's built into some digital STBs. This gave you access to channels 1-5 from the VM analogue service as a bonus, as well as the digital programmes.

The analogue cable service has now been turned off in your area. (The message is intended for paying analogue TV customers who have been sent letters). You'd have to an get an aerial to continue recording 1-5, but even this won't last much longer.

fcbruno · 21-11-2009, 00:05

Thanks for your valuable feedback guys.

Yep I'm already a subscriber of a Virgin Media TV and Broadband bundle. It's been so long since I set the box up I couldn't remember the analogue bypass.

Okay I checked channels 1-5 via my 'digital channels' using my Virgin TV guide and they are all there - happy days.

So far only 2 of my analogue channels have got the message - but it makes sense now, that the analogue versions of channels 1-5 are an entirely different kettle of fish from the digital versions of channels 1-5 available via 'Guide'.

So long as my Virgin TV 'digital' channels 1-5 continue to work I'll be happy enough! Just a bit fiddly having to set the timer-thing on Virgin TV for it to change channel in order to record a variety of programmes across channels 1-5 in the course of an evening.

No doubt, once the analogue channels go completely, there'll be a lot of pensioners wondering why their metal coathanger aerial is no longer working for them when they sit to watch the latest episode of Emmerdale!

Thanks again!

telecom69 · 22-11-2009, 03:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by fcbruno

No doubt, once the analogue channels go completely, there'll be a lot of pensioners wondering why their metal coathanger aerial is no longer working for them when they sit to watch the latest episode of Emmerdale!

Thanks again!

Well hopefully it won't come to that because its being highly publicised now and will be till all is switched off, in some cases help will be given to aid the purchase of digital boxes in some form,for those who cannot afford either Sky or Cable ....

I can see a picture in my mind now that in the future there will be kids out walking with Moms/Dads and asking "Whats that funny thing hanging from the chimney".....Mom/Dad will smile wisely and say " Thats how we used to get our tv pictures" ....another era will have passed ....

fcbruno · 22-11-2009, 03:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecom69

Well hopefully it won't come to that because its being highly publicised now and will be till all is switched off, in some cases help will be given to aid the purchase of digital boxes in some form,for those who cannot afford either Sky or Cable ....

I can see a picture in my mind now that in the future there will be kids out walking with Moms/Dads and asking "Whats that funny thing hanging from the chimney".....Mom/Dad will smile wisely and say " Thats how we used to get our tv pictures" ....another era will have passed ....

It's frightening how fast entertainment technology is moving. I genuinely wasn't aware that analogue was being phased out until I noticed a couple of channels had gone missing! I do miss the old days of using a coathanger to get a reception on our tele - there was immense satisfaction when, after at least 5 minutes of "move it this way...put it there...move it back again...", you would absolutely nail the reception...and then the coathanger would slip or fall from where you had it positioned, and you'd be back to square one!

telecom69 · 22-11-2009, 03:54

Ah yes,I remember it well, (from the lyrics of the song Gigi) happy days they were because we got satisfaction from managing to get that picture right but we always knew that coat hanger would slip eventually

and we would have to start all over again ...I have seen so many changes in tv over the years,but todays High Definition was never even thought about,we were just happy to have that magic box with pictures even though (in my case) it was the early fifties,one black and white channel, nine inch screen, only on for a few hours a day,and every few weeks the telly would break down,needing a new EHT Rectifier ....

fireman328 · 22-11-2009, 15:39

Happy days !

Flyboy · 22-11-2009, 22:19

I have just today installed a new nineteen inch LCD televison set, on a wall bracket, on to the kitchen wall. I commented to Mrs Flyboy, "who would have thought when we were kids that, a) we could afford more than one television, b) we could record/pause/playback live televison, c) have hundreds of channels and still complain there's nothing on and d) I could be able to lift a nineteen inch television onto the wall with one hand?"