Samsung V+ box...V disappointing!

smudge-r · 13-11-2009, 5:25 PM

Just had the SA box replaced (freezing, slow to react) today and they've installed the Samsung box.
Having read lots of positive comments about the Samsung box on this forum I was looking forward to an improved viewing experience. But, I must've got unlucky with this one because since it was installed 5 hrs ago it has rebooted itself 14 times. Keeps showing LD30, LD40 and PL70 on the display too.
My Samsung is utter poo, and I shall be placing my chocolate teapot next to it as an expression of empathy!

metalguru · 14-11-2009, 9:56 PM

I too have just had a SA V+ box replaced with a Samsung box. Everything works well and a lot faster, also the remote works better, on the SA you had to be very precise at pointing it at the box.

Just trying to work out if the PQ is as good. Its very close but just maybe the SA is slightly better. But its not much to complain about.

telecom69 · 15-11-2009, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smudge-r

Just had the SA box replaced (freezing, slow to react) today and they've installed the Samsung box.
Having read lots of positive comments about the Samsung box on this forum I was looking forward to an improved viewing experience. But, I must've got unlucky with this one because since it was installed 5 hrs ago it has rebooted itself 14 times. Keeps showing LD30, LD40 and PL70 on the display too.
My Samsung is utter poo, and I shall be placing my chocolate teapot next to it as an expression of empathy!

Usually a sign of a bad connection somewhere in my experience,are all your connections tight?

smudge-r · 15-11-2009, 5:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by telecom69

Usually a sign of a bad connection somewhere in my experience,are all your connections tight?

Thanks for the tip. Just undone and reinserted the cable connection, but it was already a tight connection, and its till the same.

Am I the only one whose had a duff samsung??!!

They're coming Thursday to sort it.

Only a 6 day wait from when I told them it was playing up.
I can't last 6 days without Roadwars, I know it...HELP!!!!

bazonix · 15-11-2009, 7:09 PM

just had my SA replaced.... wow!! not to rub salt in ur wound.... but its a revelation cf the old one! i dont think it will have many heat issues either... no vents on the top, smaller form, looks much more modern... SOOO much quicker, both box and remote.... the back optical has a dolby sign on it.... 5.1

also to say thankyou to virgin, rang tuesday, an engineer was able to replace fri morn.... top service

smudge-r · 15-11-2009, 7:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bazonix

just had my SA replaced.... wow!! not to rub salt in ur wound.... but its a revelation

Ouch! Salt hurts!
Glad you're enjoying your box

smudge-r · 03-12-2009, 12:36 PM

Well, box #2 has been playing up. This is another samsung replacement.
VM engineer coming today.
Same as the last samsung, its rebooting itself, and keeps getting that momentary pixelated image/spitting noise you get with digital signal interference.
VeryMediocre.

Sorry folks, can't recommend this at the moment.

Vicarious_Eyes · 03-12-2009, 6:52 PM

I think you've just had a bit of bad luck smudge!

My V+ box is the dogs danglies, very pleased with the SD upscaling, HD, speed and usability of the menus. It also looks very swish in gloss black.

Persevere and you should be fine! Sorry to hear of your bad experience.

smudge-r · 03-12-2009, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicarious_Eyes

I think you've just had a bit of bad luck smudge!

Hmmm, I'd say it was a little more than 'a bit' mate. VM engineer has replaced the box again.
4 hours in, and samsung box #3 is also rebooting itself every couple of hours.
Am I missing something here. He checked the signal strength, and said it was fine. He also confirmed the one he took away as faulty as it was showing a figure in one of the frequency menu's that it shouldn't have.
Its getting a bit monotonous now, though I have been patient. And as I type this, its just rebooted itself again and is stuck with Ld40 on the display! Lucky me, huh

rn143 · 04-12-2009, 1:19 AM

It does sound like a signal issue, possibly damaged cable. Try emailing the CEO's office with your problems neil.berkett@virginmedia.co.uk and you should get a better response.

telecom69 · 04-12-2009, 2:29 AM

I take it that the incoming feed cable is connected directly into the box from the way you are posting ? with no splitters etc in between ? if so,then no matter how good the signal strength is,there has to be a dodgy connection somewhere,possibly in the connection point outside your property,the engineer should well know that although they appear ok (the connections) they should be remade as a matter of course, it doesn't take much to upset these boxes ....almost looking forward to a satifactory conclusion as you are now

all these boxes cannot possibly be faulty,the solution has to lie elsewhere ....

Just as an aside I have had the same problem with box being stuck on Ld 40 but I have several splitters on my set up,and it was after quite a while of headaches etc found to be faulty splitter,nothing obvious,but replacing the splitter cured the problem ....

STAINFREE · 04-12-2009, 12:09 PM

Sorry to hear about your troubles with the V+HD BOX smudge-r. I had one fitted a couple of weeks ago and generally I am delighted with the service. (No mention of salt smudge-r) I am responding to this page because the writers have experience of the V+HD BOX and may be able to answer my question.
Why can't I get the old teletext as I used too with the is it just the set up? On the Input Selection I have:
AV1. AV2/S. AV3/S.COMPONENT. PC. HDMI1.HDMI2.(which is in use)HDMI3. and TV. None of which I can get teletext.
My STB is a Samsung.

Regards

WGLOVER · 04-12-2009, 1:48 PM

Isn't Teletext only on the old analogue transmissions?
Mine's gone now because of the anologue shutdown.

gerbilly · 04-12-2009, 2:17 PM

I had my box changed today due to a fault and I now have a Samsung V+.
The speed of channel change is the same now as my old Sky HD box and I am very happy with it.

smudge-r · 08-12-2009, 5:50 PM

This darn box is still playing up. This is the third samsung now.
Resetting itself every couple hours, and then getting stuck with pl70 on the display sometimes.
Last night it told me I didn't have permission to access V+.
I mentioned to them whether it could be a problem with the smart card. The fella over in the mean streets of bangalore said its impossible to be a smartcard issue. Whatever,I dunno.
Its pants. They're coming again thursday to sort it, a SENIOR engineer no less, apparently. Hope they enjoy their last shot of blowing smoke up my a.rse, as I'm cancelling all services with them if they don't fix it this time.

Boostrail · 08-12-2009, 8:22 PM

I do hope the "Senior Engineer" sorts things out. The opinion on the Samsung V+ seems to be very mixed.

If he fails then ask for a new SA box. Mine is 20 months old. Yes the remote acceptance angle is poor ( point it down below box helps). I have had a few freezes but this occasionally seems to be a glitch where I have tried to do something involving epg whilst it is updating, just wait. (notably around 00.30 a.m.)
..
Otherwise I have found no response problems are related to the remote not the box...take batteries out ...put them back ...OK for a month or so...repeat excercise....eventually months down the line does not cure ....replace batteries. Originally I thought the remote was eating batteries and replaced them frequently but of course this reset remote anyway.

gerbilly · 08-12-2009, 9:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smudge-r

This darn box is still playing up. This is the third samsung now.
Resetting itself every couple hours, and then getting stuck with pl70 on the display sometimes.
Last night it told me I didn't have permission to access V+.
I mentioned to them whether it could be a problem with the smart card. The fella over in the mean streets of bangalore said its impossible to be a smartcard issue. Whatever,I dunno.
Its pants. They're coming again thursday to sort it, a SENIOR engineer no less, apparently. Hope they enjoy their last shot of blowing smoke up my a.rse, as I'm cancelling all services with them if they don't fix it this time.

the problem cant be the box it must be your connection that is faulty.
My samsung box is top class and better than the SA box's and so much faster. I even prefer it to my old Sky HD Box.

rn143 · 09-12-2009, 1:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gerbilly

the problem cant be the box it must be your connection that is faulty.
My samsung box is top class and better than the SA box's and so much faster. I even prefer it to my old Sky HD Box.

I second that. I'm quite sure it's the cabling that is giving you these problems, you may need a re-pull (new cabling) from the street cabinet.

smudge-r · 09-12-2009, 6:21 PM

I've had three replacement boxes in under a month. You'd think it might occur to an engineer, "hey,it might not be the box!" For goodness sakes, have they not heard of fault finding?

nickfrog · 09-12-2009, 8:49 PM

It clearly is NOT the box. Sometimes, the "engineer" needs to be told the obvious.

Owen824 · 09-12-2009, 9:35 PM

yeh, i have to say it sounds like some other issue. i have the sammy and it is brilliant. much better than the SA box i had while ago. Much nicer looking as well. But overall, a lot faster and does not lock up like my old one. So I am very happy with the box and the picture quality is top notch as wel.

t11rmh · 10-12-2009, 9:24 PM

Maybe they have had a supply of dodgy boxes and you're going through them all....

smudge-r · 11-12-2009, 8:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smudge-r

I mentioned to them whether it could be a problem with the smart card. The fella over in the mean streets of bangalore said its impossible to be a smartcard issue....

Following on from the above from my post #15, guess what? It was the smart card

They replaced that and all is well again.

Overall, not impressed with their fault finding ability. It shouldn't have taken cancellation threats to force them to put extra effort into tracing the problem. They should have been as thorough on the 2nd visit as they were on this last (4th) visit.
Thanks for all the helpful input from the above posters. It was very much appreciated. Cheers.