Best HD Cable Reciever

[mcfc4eva]

Hi,

I have Virgin Media XL HD+ in my lounge and I am interested in getting an additional set-top box in my bedroom. I spoke to VM and they offored an additional HD+ box for around £50/installation and £10/month, but this was a couple of months ago and prices may have changed by now (infact I heard they reduced it back down to £5/month?)!

Do I have an alternative option in terms of third party cable recievers? I would like some of the features the HD+ box offers such as; HD output, recording of programmes, rewind/pause live TV.

I had a little look on the internet and found a few cable recievers with the above features, but they all come in at a modest £200+. I just can't justify spending that much when I can get an official VM box for just £60/year + installation!

Are there any other perks a third party box has over VM's? Or any cheaper box's that are available that offer the same features?

Thanks,
mcfc4eva

[Ernie_C]

Originally Posted by mcfc4eva

Hi,

I have Virgin Media XL HD+ in my lounge and I am interested in getting an additional set-top box in my bedroom. I spoke to VM and they offored an additional HD+ box for around £50/installation and £10/month, but this was a couple of months ago and prices may have changed by now (infact I heard they reduced it back down to £5/month?)!

Do I have an alternative option in terms of third party cable recievers? I would like some of the features the HD+ box offers such as; HD output, recording of programmes, rewind/pause live TV.

I had a little look on the internet and found a few cable recievers with the above features, but they all come in at a modest £200+. I just can't justify spending that much when I can get an official VM box for just £60/year + installation!

Are there any other perks a third party box has over VM's? Or any cheaper box's that are available that offer the same features?

Thanks,
mcfc4eva

Only equipment supplied by Virgin Media can be connected to their network.

You, therefore, have two options:

1. V+ HD which is a PVR;
2. V HD which is not a PVR.

[mcfc4eva]

Originally Posted by Ernie_C

Only equipment supplied by Virgin Media can be connected to their network.

You, therefore, have two options:

1. V+ HD which is a PVR;
2. V HD which is not a PVR.

I'm sure I've seen threads and websites boasting the use of Eurovox Cable Receivers with Virgin Media? Have they changed how the network works? Or are you just referring to my LEGAL options?

[parricull]

they have started to roll out a new encryption named Nagra3 which renderd the use of Eurovox box's obsolete, you would be paying dead money....

[mcfc4eva]

Originally Posted by parricull

they have started to roll out a new encryption named Nagra3 which renderd the use of Eurovox box's obsolete, you would be paying dead money....

Thanks parricull, is there any other receivers that can decode Nagra3? Or is there any sign of one coming to market?

mcfc4eva

[parricull]

theres a couple which involves card sharing,but you need the box krytpview A780/A750 with i connector both over 150 quid mark,plus internet connection plus cable connection..and then it needs to be set up right with firmware etc...

[mcfc4eva]

Originally Posted by parricull

theres a couple which involves card sharing,but you need the box krytpview A780/A750 with i connector both over 150 quid mark,plus internet connection plus cable connection..and then it needs to be set up right with firmware etc...

Well I'm keeping my XL HD+ subscription in the lounge as it is and I have XL broadband too. What would you suggest for an additional box? It seems like getting another HD+ box from VM is the best option both financially and legally, would you agree?

[boomer39]

Originally Posted by mcfc4eva

Well I'm keeping my XL HD+ subscription in the lounge as it is and I have XL broadband too. What would you suggest for an additional box? It seems like getting another HD+ box from VM is the best option both financially and legally, would you agree?

thats what i am doing....

[mcfc4eva]

I'm currently on the VIP package, so I decided to call Virgin Media sales to see how much an additional V+ box would cost, here's how it went;

One-time fee: £110 (I think this is made up of £75 Installation + £35 Setup)
Monthly fee: -£4.50, I don't know why, but for some reason the woman said my monthly bill would be reduced by £4.50 if I got an additional V+ box!

Anyway, I decided to call customer retentions to see if I could get a reduction on this, here's what he offered;

One-time fee: £49 (instead of £110, which is great)
Monthly fee: £10, so instead of getting a £4.50 reduction, I pay an extra £10/month. This is quite bizarre and it seems to me that rather than giving me a better offer, they have just restructured the cost so I am paying my one-time fee "savings" over my subscription!

I didn't expect to pay much less than the £10/month anyway, so that plus £49 one-time fee seems quite reasonable. I didn't take them up on the offer straight away. I'll be calling back to renegotiate this offer, but if they won't budge I'll probably accept it!

[Ernie_C]

Originally Posted by mcfc4eva

I'm currently on the VIP package, so I decided to call Virgin Media sales to see how much an additional V+ box would cost, here's how it went;

One-time fee: £110 (I think this is made up of £75 Installation + £35 Setup)
Monthly fee: -£4.50, I don't know why, but for some reason the woman said my monthly bill would be reduced by £4.50 if I got an additional V+ box!

Anyway, I decided to call customer retentions to see if I could get a reduction on this, here's what he offered;

One-time fee: £49 (instead of £110, which is great)
Monthly fee: £10, so instead of getting a £4.50 reduction, I pay an extra £10/month. This is quite bizarre and it seems to me that rather than giving me a better offer, they have just restructured the cost so I am paying my one-time fee "savings" over my subscription!

I didn't expect to pay much less than the £10/month anyway, so that plus £49 one-time fee seems quite reasonable. I didn't take them up on the offer straight away. I'll be calling back to renegotiate this offer, but if they won't budge I'll probably accept it!

In fact, if you are a VIP customer, none of the information you have been given is correct.

An additional (3rd box in total) V+ costs £35 install and then an extra £15.50 per month.