Cable Forum - High Definition on Virgin Media: FAQ

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High Definition on Virgin Media: FAQ

V1.3 of the HD on Virgin Media FAQ

A) Equipment
A.1) What do I need?
A.2) 720? 720 Wide? 1080!! What????
A.3) Connections
A.4) What are all these sockets on the back for?
A.5) The new Samsung V+

B) Content
B.1) Channels
B.2) On Demand
B.3) 5.1 Audio
B.4) Size

C) Costs
C.1) Monthly charges

D) The Future
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A.1) What do I need to receive High Definition programming with Virgin Media?

You need a V+ box. Like most other broadcasters, VM have decided to include HD with a PVR service. So the only way to receive HD content is with V+, VM's hard drive recorder. This box has both HDMI and component connections. The HDMI can be adapted to DVI with the relevant adaptor although be aware that DVI does not carry audio so seperate audio cables will be required either to your TV, amp or both. Component video has issues with some content (see B.2). There is no non-pvr HD STB nor are we aware of any plans for one.

Obviously you also need a HD television, one with minimum 720 lines of pictures resolution and preferable HDMI, or DVI with HDCP.

A.2) 720? 720 Wide? 1080!! What????

Calm down dear, it's only a FAQ. This tells the box what type of HD signal to output. Try both 720 and 1080 to see which you think gives you a better picture - it's your TV and your eyes. Note that the menus may look fuzzy/rubbish on 1080 - this is an issue (not quite a bug) with V+ as it stands. The 'Wide' options are there due to the way most TV's currently handle HDMI signals - they are unable to apply any of their 'stretch' or 'stretch and crop' modes to the signal, so 4:3 programs will sit in the middle of the screen and you can't do owt about it. The 'Wide' options apply a stretch but then you end up with fat face syndrome. Experiment to find your preferred setting.

A.3) Connections

As a bit of a final 'gotcha', V+'s analogue outputs (SCART & RF) are mostly disabled when you are using HDMI or component. So you can't use a HD TV and a distribution amp to pump the signal round your house. Sorry. The VCR SCART is now active all the time, but is only composite and has no graphics overlay - so no menus.

A.4) What are all these sockets on the back for?

V+ has Ethernet, USB and SATA sockets on the back that DO NOT DO ANYTHING USEFUL. You cannot connect V+ up to a network and access the recordings. You cannnot connect it over USB and access the recordings. You cannot add an external hard drive via SATA. It's all possible, but VM don't want us to do it. However, the USB port does output power - some people use a USB powered laptop cooler to chill the box. Other people have reported success plugging a USB keyboard in to navigate menus, but that's it.

A.5) The new Samsung V+ box.

VM are currently trialling a new V+ box in some areas. This is mostly a cost cutting excercise - the box has fewer connections and is presumably cheaper to produce than the old SA 8300. There's a few gotchas - component video has gone, as have the esata, USB and network ports. Apparently the box doesn't suffer with the blurry menus at 1080i and also lets you record radio stations (although the latter functionality is supposed to be coming to the 8300). The box may also have more versatility to do with outputting HD over HDMI and SD over SCART although there's no concrete reports yet. VM *WILL NOT* swap your 8300 for the Samsung - it's purely for new installs at the moment, so don't waste your breath. Finally, the Samsung apparently also supports MPEG4 but there are 'no plans' to encode any channels in MPEG4 on the network at the moment.

B.1) Channels

VM currently broadcast only one HD channel - BBC HD. Channel 4HD is not currently being broadcast. Supposedly, VM have the 'rights' to do this, but appear unwilling/are unable to do anything about it. We were promised C4HD content on On Demand, but this has not appeared. ITV HD is currently exclusive to Freesat, and not available on V+ (despite the old ITVHD trial being made available on V+). Neil Burkett stated towards the end of 2008 that we would have extra HD channels 'within three months', a date that has since passed. There is strong speculations that ITVHD and C4HD and maybe one more HD channel will be with us at some point in 2009 but yet again it's smoke and mirrors.

B.2) On Demand Content

There is an fluctuating small selection of HD content available On Demand - mostly from the BBC. Some series of 'Lost' and some documentaries have also been randomly available. There were some HD music concerts but they seem to have been MIA for a while now. The quantity of HD movies has improved to three pages now, which might not seem much but is a significant improvement. HD FilmFlex movies are subject to HDMI content protection (HDCP) and cannot be viewed over component. They will work over DVI if your TV supports it. There are occasionally some issues with the classification of HD content - it's sometimes only listed next to the SD version. Apparently, V+ cannot classify an item in more than one category.

B.3) 5.1 Audio

V+ features 5.1 output - both by optical and HDMI. When connected to a compatible amplifier and the HDMI Audio Override option is turned on, the system is 5.1 enabled. Some BBC HD content and all FilmFlex HD movies are in 5.1. A good way to test is the BBC HD 'barker' reel which broadcasts during the day - this is always in 5.1.

B.4) Size

HD recordings take up roughly 4 times the space on the hard drive than SD recordings. The
estimated recording time left bar is for SD content, so be careful when recording HD films from BBC HD.

C.1) Charges

VM do not currently charge a premium for viewing HD channels. HD movies are usually a pound
more expensive than their SD counterpart. The V+ box has its own charges which are not detailed here.

D) The Future

It's been over a year since I first wrote this FAQ, and not a lot has changed. Still only one HD channel. Still empty promises that more HD content is 'coming soon'. VM have stated in investors presentations that after the 2008 'year of broadband' which brought us 50meg, 2009 is the TV platforms turn for some attention.