Need help upgrading to V+ as an existing virgin media owner!!

[oc1994]

hi,
my grandparents got Telewest's cable tv service quite a few years ago now, and when telewest went they got changed to Virgin. its been a few years since that happened, and they still have the original Telewest set-top box. unfortunately they just bought a new HD ready tv, and the picture from the box is terrible! we have tried everything to fix it for them but the only way we can think to help is to get the new V+ HD box. they dont have internet connection or a computer by the way. looking through the website i cant find a way to upgrade their box but keep their existing subscription and monthly payments. can anyone help? thanks

[paulntia]

call them up and ask them

[oc1994]

well i thought that, obviously
im just trying to find an answer for free before being put on hold for 20 mins when they charge you loads per minute anyway! haha thanks anyway

[paulntia]

I think or at least i had to pay an install fee when i had my V+ box installed and then depending on package box rental is £5 i belive also if you have a virgin phone call is free.

[dante01]

Originally Posted by oc1994

well i thought that, obviously
im just trying to find an answer for free before being put on hold for 20 mins when they charge you loads per minute anyway! haha thanks anyway

Use the telephone numbers 151 or 150 and it is free to call Virgin Media on Virgin Media phone lines.

[oc1994]

ok thanks, il give them a ring. I just had a look on website and the only way i can see to get the box is by takin out another subscription? If its the same one as they are on then thats fine .↲Do they have to pay extra for the HD channels?

[dante01]

Originally Posted by oc1994

ok thanks, il give them a ring. I just had a look on website and the only way i can see to get the box is by takin out another subscription? If its the same one as they are on then thats fine .↲Do they have to pay extra for the HD channels?

There is only one HD TV channel, the BBC HD channel and that is free. There is some additional VoD HD content which is free with the XL TV package and there are HD encoded films which you pay for regardless of TV package.

Anyone can get a V+ box regardless of which package or bundle they have. There are obviously better deals depending on which services you have or take when you get the V+ box. If yu take the XL TV package or already have it, you only pay a one off payment for the box and you are not expected to pay a monthly rental for the V+ box.

[oc1994]

ok thanks, i just found something saying that if they kept the existing box (which they dont want to) they would only pay half price, but if they want to get rid of the existing box, its and extra £5 per month on top? and they would have to pay the full £150 as well? i might just get try to get them freesat, its a lot less fuss! (we have it and would reccomend it)

[Ernie_C]

Here is the answer. Anyone with an ordinary V box can have it replaced for an install charge of £99. You may be able to get this reduced if you ask nicely but no promises. You do not have to retain your existing V box to get this price.

There is also a question of ongoing charges. If you are on TV XL there is no change in monthly charges. If you are on TV M or TV L there is an extra £5 per month charge.

All documented here:

V+ HD - Digital TV - Virgin Media

[oc1994]

ok thanks for that, u really cleared things up
does that include at least 8 year old telewest boxes?

[Fred Fish]

Originally Posted by dante01

There is only one HD TV channel, the BBC HD channel and that is free. There is some additional VoD HD content which is free with the XL TV package and there are HD encoded films which you pay for regardless of TV package.

Anyone can get a V+ box regardless of which package or bundle they have. There are obviously better deals depending on which services you have or take when you get the V+ box. If yu take the XL TV package or already have it, you only pay a one off payment for the box and you are not expected to pay a monthly rental for the V+ box.

Dante is absolutly right about there being only 1 HD channel (although there is talk about new ones coming - but the talk has been going on for ages).

Couple of things. Although there is only 1 HD channel I found that the V+ box does and execllent job of "upscaling" standard definition (SD) pictures so even on the main channels they would get a better picture.

Freesat HD will (I believe - dont have it myself so cant confirm) give you more HD channels at the moment, but I would guess that as time goes on VM will have signifacntly more HD channels than Freesat - for the forseable future Sky HD will have, by far and away, the largest HD content.

And they would have the significant benefit of the multiple decoders in the same box, meaning they could record 2 channels whilst watching a third.

[dante01]

Yes there are benefits other than HD. The V+ box has an inbuilt PVR and three tuners. You can watch one channel while recording two additional channels. THe box is very good at upscaling with a maximum output of 1080i for all channels and not just HD content. It beats SKY HD with its upscaling abilities.

Freeview is planning on becoming the primary source of HD content. It is directly targeting SKY and aims to have at least 30 HD channels within the next twelve months.

[oc1994]

okay thanks for all your help, but we have decided to get them Tiscali TV. we have that as well ( =freesat is built into the TV) and even though we get tv talk and broadband for just over 30quid, they are paying over £36 for just tv and talk! this way grandad can get a laptop now as well with broadband. it might not be as good as picture quality but its definately better than the picture they are currently getting. thanks everyone!

[oc1994]

actually we have changed our minds. my grandparents are now buying skys HD package, which should be great. now can anyone help me to close the thread? i dunno how :P

[Boostrail]

Originally Posted by dante01

Yes there are benefits other than HD. The V+ box has an inbuilt PVR and three tuners. You can watch one channel while recording two additional channels. THe box is very good at upscaling with a maximum output of 1080i for all channels and not just HD content. It beats SKY HD with its upscaling abilities.

Freeview is planning on becoming the primary source of HD content. It is directly targeting SKY and aims to have at least 30 HD channels within the next twelve months.

I agree with your V+ benefits in addition to which you can replay a fourth prerecorded programm to another TV at the same time!

However Freeview will NEVER have 30 SD channels in the far foreseeable future as it does not have enough bandwidth even if all channels were DVB-2! However today I understand that they have said that due to satisfactory tests they will deliver 5 HD channels by 2013 ( Even then have my doubts that they are restricting bandwidth to a reduced quality that they think Joe Public will accept).

To the OP:-

For older folks Sky is defo the wrong choice. What do they watch? I bet mostly BBC1/2 with C4 ITV and C5 following a fair way behind in that order. Apart from the odd programme these channels are available only in SD. Sky +HD SD is awful, V+HD SD is fantastic.