Installation Date

[Ignitionnet]

Quick question for those who might know, moving home at the end of the month, is it possible to arrange for a VM install on the Monday following the move so that I can work from home on the Tuesday, or will I have to wait until I actually move into the property.

It already has cable points and is already wired and ready to go, just need a nice chap with an STB and a cable modem to come over and do the necessary there and jumper the telco.

Thanks in advance to the VM peeps who might know!

[chickendippers]

Well as long as you own the property and will be there to let them in, then yea!

[Ignitionnet]

Well as long as you own the property and will be there to let them in, then yea!

Query is more to make sure that I can choose an installation date and can book it in advance of move which I've never done before really.

[jungleguy]

you can choose your instal date if its available. Book now to avoid disappointment.

[BenMcr]

Yes you can choose an install date, and book it up to two months away from the move date. However, you can only arrange it if the place you are moving to either doesn't have active cable services, or the account at the new address has scheduled for disconnection. Otherwise, they have to arrange that first.

If the cable points are all where you want them already, and you have the equipment from the previous address (and as long as you are not moving networks), then you should be able to do the moving house as a self install, which can be arranged at shorter notice and gives more options for activation dates than getting a Install Engineer to do it

[Ignitionnet]

Not on cable at the moment Ben so will have to arrange a new install. The place does not have active cable services.

Thanks for the assistance, I'll be nicer to you on DigitalSpy next time we clash ;)

[Ignitionnet]

Argh, requested the 1st as both 1st and 2nd preference, and just received an email saying engineer would be around 27/08 AM.

Not useful! :p

[Ignitionnet]

Swift update - installation date changed semi-painlessly having called the number on the email and gotten through to the wrong department.

Contracts and letter confirming change all received, so yep seems good! Hopefully the rest of the process will continue this reasonable course and of course the service deliver as advertised.

[BenMcr]

Definately let us know what happens

Especially would like to know if/make sure that

1) The engineer shows you how the TV works including the Red Button
2) The engineer asks you to hook up the Broadband to your PC and then directs you to a specific Tech install page (which verifies that the engineer hasn't run off without making sure the PC can talk the the modem, and the modem to Virgin ;) )

[Ignitionnet]

Not a problem, you can imagine I'll be a quite discerning customer ;)

[Ignitionnet]

All done. No interactive yet due to an IT problem apparently, but speeds are fine:

Download Speed: 19699 kbps (2462.4 KB/sec ) Upload Speed: 726 kbps (90.8 KB/sec )

[Ignitionnet]

Hmm still no red button functionality, the issue was reported by the installer....

Just as well I still have a Sky sub running ;)

[BenMcr]

If you go into the settings menu and Technical Stuff, is the return path on?

[Ignitionnet]

STB obtains return path, then when I try and use red button I get a message telling me I cannot use it, and STB then drops the return path.

I would guess the box needs a further hit or a system at VM is denying me access :(

[BenMcr]

Can you access anything through the on-demand menus?

[Ignitionnet]

No sir.

---------- Post added at 10:29 ---------- Previous post was at 08:56 ----------

Ben, rebooted the box this morning, after a while doing ranging it registered and on demand is working.

I'm seeing pre and post-RS errors and some pixellation however. I'll persue this if it becomes 'an issue'. Box is also very sluggish during channel changes (SA Explorer 4200).

Hmmms.

[Ignitionnet]

SNR to box 30dB, to cable modem it's 42.

Received power at modem +7dBmV, to STB -18dBmV.

I'm surprised I have DTV at all, no surprise I have an intermittent, and now dead, return path.

Not happy or impressed.

[BenMcr]

Nor am I

The techs are supposed to make sure the signal level is right before the close the job is closed

Although tbh I have no idea if those levels are good or bad lol

[Ignitionnet]

Nor am I

The techs are supposed to make sure the signal level is right before the close the job is closed

Although tbh I have no idea if those levels are good or bad lol

-18dBmV = 'Just how the hell are you actually working'

If I were in a network area that weren't so clean I'd have no linear DTV let alone on demand.

Amusingly I've fixed it (for now) by unscrewing and screwing back in the coax feed to the box...

[BenMcr]

Ah yes, see what you mean. Box here is 47dBmV

[Ignitionnet]

Ah Ben that'll be return path transmit power, +47dBmV on forward path would be 'melt down' ;)

Anyway, fixed. I traced the route and there was a cable bend at the back of the box that was too tight. Unscrewed and reseated cable, moved cable so it didn't have such a tight bend in it and now Rx power +1dBmV, Tx power 49dBmV. Pre and Post RS errors have stopped, SNR now 34dB.

Silly installer.
*sighs*

[BenMcr]

Told ya I wasn't technical lol

[Ignitionnet]

Told ya I wasn't technical lol

Me neither I'm just good at making out I am ;)

[Ignitionnet]

And my impressedness continues to drop.

Lost forward path as well earlier. Had to reboot box and reseat cable. Now have a *marginal* return path - 61dBmV Tx power, and a marginal forward path, -12dBmV receive.

Phoned 'support' and of course got nowhere. Was told that as it was working right now they could not assist me.

Now where's that 28 day guarantee...

[joglynne]

C. Why don't you try VM newsgroups? virginmedia.support.broadband.cable At least you can post your readings as evidence of what is happening. You are guaranteed UK tech support that way.

[Ignitionnet]

I have the 28 day guarantee to use so I'm mulling over whether or not to persue that avenue.

[joglynne]

You wouldn't loose the chance to cancel and at least using the newsgroup option you would feel more in control as everything that you are told is in public view.

The guys on there sorted out my problems in the past when I was getting frustrated with the apparent lack of continuity when trying to sort it out on the phone and I kept being given the run around by the offshore people.

[Ignitionnet]

God I'm living a blessed life, now a broadband fault...

[joglynne]

God I'm living a blessed life, now a broadband fault...

What's going wrong? You must be getting close to your 28 days.

[Ignitionnet]

I am close to it indeed, was a brief issue.

TV is going bye bye, it sucks, telephone and broadbandings remain by the looks.

[joglynne]

Going bye bye. I haven't heard that phrase for years. :D

[Ignitionnet]

Showing my age :)

[Ignitionnet]

Got rid of VM TV, have gone back to Sky, one phone call and viewing card and Sky+ back online.

Better picture, better sound, better subtitles, more responsive box.