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Cardiffman282's avatar
Cardiffman282
Trouble shooter
2 years ago
Solved

TV: Where's it going?

I ditched VM TV many moons ago and use Freeview via a rooftop aerial and a vintage Humax box plus apps (BBC, Now, Disney) on my 6 year old smart TV.

I admit to being behind the curve on where TV is going. My decade old aerial seems a bit knackered as the Humax signal strength now maxes at about 3/10. The Humax box has seen better days and takes a good minute to boot up. The Samsung TV is okay but is now 6 years old. My street is also imminently being upgraded to Xgs-pon (with OR probably 2 years off). 

So what should I be looking at for the next 5-10 years? Just replace old with new? Consider streaming sticks like Amazon /VM? Are cloud TV boxes a thing? Just stick with premium TV apps? 

Cheers. 

 

  • Pay TV works for me as I watch the premium stuff, but if you're happy enough with Freeview (no UHD or HDR) and some apps then here's what I think. Get a decent recorder, it seems as if the Humax Aura ticks all the boxes. Should there be a problem with the aerial, which should show up with a new box, then get it fixed. If you've got the budget then upgrade to a UHD TV which has the apps you want but, even if it doesn't have all of them, then I can recommend the Fire TV Stick 4K Max which has all the apps you'd want and it supports all versions of HDR as well.

    However if you want Pay TV again then VM should work well for you. A word of warning: XGS-PON means currently no TV and when it comes it will probably be like the limited Sky Stream, so get your 360 box now.

  • Roger_Gooner's avatar
    Roger_Gooner
    Alessandro Volta

    Pay TV works for me as I watch the premium stuff, but if you're happy enough with Freeview (no UHD or HDR) and some apps then here's what I think. Get a decent recorder, it seems as if the Humax Aura ticks all the boxes. Should there be a problem with the aerial, which should show up with a new box, then get it fixed. If you've got the budget then upgrade to a UHD TV which has the apps you want but, even if it doesn't have all of them, then I can recommend the Fire TV Stick 4K Max which has all the apps you'd want and it supports all versions of HDR as well.

    However if you want Pay TV again then VM should work well for you. A word of warning: XGS-PON means currently no TV and when it comes it will probably be like the limited Sky Stream, so get your 360 box now.

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person

    Cardiffman282   I dropped VM TV a long time ago and have used a Humax 4000T Freeview box ever since.  Can record up to 4 channels whilst watching a 5th.  I also have an Apple TV box for streaming when needed.  I usually only dip in and out of things like Now, Netflix etc. when they are showing something I want to watch.  So it's good you can do this and not be tied into long contracts.  I used to use a Fire stick but had trouble with some of the apps, so dumped it.

    I intend to keep my "old school" TV aerial viewing for as long as it is in existence ....  🙂

    • Cardiffman282's avatar
      Cardiffman282
      Trouble shooter

      Thanks Adduxi. Yeah we do something similar and dip in and out of the various streaming services depending on offers and what's on. We have Now Entertainment for £1/ 9 months which is difficult to beat. We also like reading so TV isn't everything. 👍📖📺

      • unisoft's avatar
        unisoft
        Knows their stuff

        For non-subscription services, "FREELY" coming out this year can be likened to Freesat + Freeview but delivered by IP for core channels at launch and others coming on board over time. The TVs boot into Freely middleware by default (so not an app), and have a familiar EPG for linear channels as well as catchup services integrated.

        The TVs coming out from Hisense this year followed by other manufacturers later (2025), will be hybrid, in that they will support IP Only, IP + Freesat, IP + Freeview depending on TV model purchased. It can transparently use existing Sat or Aerial if the service isn't yet delivered by IP or broadband is not working and the service exists on the other platform.

        Other TV makes will come on board later in the year, and set top boxes will no doubt be available but probably not until 2025. Catch up services are integrated into Freely without need for apps. The TV itself will support apps so likes of subscription services like Disney, Netflix and Now will still be available (although NOW TV itself may be discontinued by Sky as they want to push Sky Stream now and will depend upon the numbers).

        Eventually after 2030 (and TBA, but Ofcom issuing license renewals operating until 2034) Freesat will go, Sky will want rid of Satellite due to cost, and then Freeview. A lot depends on FTTP rollout before Freeview can go. Before then though, I can imagine a migration where HD channels that exist will have their SD part turned off to save on costs. Potentially, when a number go this may open up a few more HD channels until switch off but all depends on how things go.

        The World Radiocommunications Conference (WRC-23) confirmed this year, that frequencies will continue to be available for DTT (Freeview) beyond 2030. The ongoing use of 600MHz frequencies will be reviewed in 2031, which could affect DTT use by 2040.

        For those on Virgin, the Stream box is good unless you absolutely need the ability to do your own recordings and not rely on catchup services. TV over IP will also be VM's ultimate goal at some point (and is required anyway on new XGS-PON network as DVB-C is not carried for v6/TV360). Depending on VM's strategy, recording may be added at some stage to the current VM Stream box or a future model or even not at all like today.

  • Adduxi's avatar
    Adduxi
    Very Insightful Person

    That Manhattan looks good, however can only record 2 channels and watch one. 

  • Isn't Freely going to be the same as VM's Pay TV over XGS-PON, i.e. there will be very limited recording facility with a lot of channels directing you to their apps (like BBC iPlayer) and several channels with neither apps nor being recordable. As a techie I understand why everyone is going towards IPTV but not being able to record all channels as we've been able to do for decades will be a drawback for many.

  • A bit doom mode; the answer to the question being nowhere.

    So it's a lot of faffing about and a new TV (cash grab) for no real reason (why bother with the digital switchover in the 1st place?).  Old TV's/monitors (both flatpanels and CRT's) and computers in landfill (not very green; not to mention all the old Freeview sets that are still in the shops/ebay etc) and the whole leccy grid destroyed by solar flares.  No good if you can't watch anything and your CBDC fails.  The next two decades are gonna be fun!

    • Cardiffman282's avatar
      Cardiffman282
      Trouble shooter

      Yeah it's a fair point rarely made on here. We do try and physically exhaust the kit we have including a "mend and make do" approach to most of our things. Few things frustrate me more than the increasingly pervasive obsolescence by design. 

  • I know what you mean and I'd had my kit for ages but when my plasma TV suddenly gave up the ghost in 2021 I went on a spending spree to get myself up-to-date: TV, AV receiver and blu-ray player which all supported UHD and all flavours of HDR plus 5.1.2 (meaning surround sound with Dolby Atmos speakers). I was lucky enough to afford this and won't be doing any more upgrades for a long time.

  • Coming back to an old thread given that my current TV aerial is definitely on its last legs now.

    Trying to vaguely keep an open mind towards the VM 360 box (yes I have read the threads bemoaning it) I can get it with the basic Mixit for £35 activation plus £5/m. I assume that this is standard existing customer pricing. My query is, in weighing it up among my other options already mentioned in the thread, do these fees cover off the likely need for a new cable to be run to my living room where the main TV is please? Would the engineer do some sort of spur arrangement with a new coax cable coming from the Omnibox to the living room wall? I am well out of date on how VM TV works.

    Thanks. 

    • newapollo's avatar
      newapollo
      Very Insightful Person

      Hi again Cardiffman282 

      If you do decide to go for the TV360 with Mixit TV then if you don't currently have a TV service with VM it will be classed as an upgrade and should be a free installation, and you would agree with the engineer/tech where you want the cabling to run.  I 'upgraded' from V6 to TV360 and prefer the 360, unlike a number of people on the forums that miss some of the Tivo registered functions that aren't on the 360. I didn't use all the bells and whistles available on the V6 so didn't miss them. 

      Since your current TV aerial is on it's last legs then depending on what the freeview signal is like where you live it might be an idea to try out an indoor TV aerial. They don't have to be expensive, and if you buy one from Amazon you should be able to return it and get a refund if it isn't suitable.

      An indoor aerial should also work with the soon to be released (end of April/begiining of May) /manhattan-t4r-tv-recorder  if you are still wanting to record programs.

      What is the signal strength like on your Samsung TV? It might be better than your Humax?

      In your original post on this thread you mentioned that your street is imminently being upgraded to Xgs-pon so it might be worthwhile also looking at VM's Stream offering. OK, it's TV over IP and has no direct recording facilities, but it has most of the apps and catch up services needed, and also has cloud recording. It's currently only one box per household and doesn't need the coaxial so it can be moved from room to room. 

      You can compare the TV channels available on the Stream box <here> (the ones in column 2 are for the Essential TV addon which is currently £15 per month (less 10% bill credit) with the Mixit tier, column 1 <here> 

      The Stream box runs the same Horizon software and interface as the TV360 except for the recording function, but also offers at least 10% credit back on selected entertainment subscriptions that you add to Stream - see /virginmedia.com/tv/stream 

      It might be an idea to "test" the Stream box for a month or so as you aren't tied into an 18 month contract with it, and see what you think of the Horizon interface before deciding whether to go with the 360.

       

      • Cardiffman282's avatar
        Cardiffman282
        Trouble shooter

        Blimey Dave you don't do things by half with your replies. Excellent as usual. Will do some further research. Cheers 👍

    • Cardiffman282's avatar
      Cardiffman282
      Trouble shooter

      Good spot. Our aerial was replaced yesterday so just need the snazzy, but delayed, Manhattan box to finally launch. 

      • newapollo's avatar
        newapollo
        Very Insightful Person

        There's currently a (limited) /tv-prize-competition-from-freely/  but it's probably of no use to members on this thread as it's restricted to 3 locations, London, Birmingham and Manchester.

        Freely’s new advertising campaign and tagline ‘Set Yourself Freely’ nods to the ease of the new service by showing people they can set themselves free from TV bills, boxes, dishes, and other subscriptions, and that there’s a new and exciting way to do free TV.

        To highlight the free service, the Freely taxi will be driving around some of the most famous attractions in London (Monday May 20th ), Birmingham (Tuesday May 21st ) and Manchester (Wednesday May 22nd ).

        Residents in the three cities are encouraged to try and locate the taxi to be in with a chance to win one of multiple brand-new Freely Hisense TVs. They can either hail the cab and watch the new TV advert with free snacks and drinks or, if the taxi is occupied or on the move, scan the QR code on the side of the vehicle.

  • Manhattan T4 & T4•R now shipping to retailers

    Hi [Cardiffman282],

    It’s time! We’re thrilled to announce that our new T4 Freeview TV Box and T4•R Freeview Recorder are now shipping to retailers, just in time for you to enjoy an incredible summer of telly.

    Our boxes are listed on Argos and Amazon, with Currys, John Lewis and Richer Sounds coming soon. Please visit our T4 and T4•R pages for direct links to our retailers.

    • Adduxi's avatar
      Adduxi
      Very Insightful Person

      Nice looking box but "With the ability to record two programmes while you watch a third", it's lacking on the old Humax.  We do a lot of recording so this may not be enough at times.  It's always nice to watch things when it suits etc.  Still if my old box goes on the blink, the new T4R may be worth a punt.