iPlayer buffering on Tivo box

[smchugh1]

Have been watching a bit of Glastonbury using the red button for the first time in ages. But it's desperately slow to launch, and constantly buffers. To be honest I assumed this was just how it is (the iPlayer and other apps on the stick are also just about unwatchable, but always assumed that was our wifi - also Virgin, have been trying to get a pod for ages but to no avail, fed up calling tbh).

Anyway, looking on the forum, some people have mentioned getting a V6 box upgrade, but I can't see anything in my account suggesting we're entitled to one (Volt M200, MaxitTV). Does anyone know if these are "standard" for customers and if so how you go about getting one? Thanks.

[japitts · Accepted solution]

The TiVo has never been great for apps or streaming, your experience comes as no surprise. The TiVo has its own inbuilt internet connection and doesn't have WiFi, this is purely down to the TiVo being a very old box with old hardware - it was first launched in 2010, so is 13+ years old now.

There's no proactive replacement programme for TiVo >  V6, but when you're out of contract and negotiating a new package for 18month chunks, that's always a good time. You could take a couple of approaches here

1: If your TiVo has a service fault, it's now replaced with a V6 as a matter of course.

2: You could contact VM and request a box-swap, be fully prepared for a sales pitch on the TV360 system which is substantially different and is not TiVo. Think of Apple vs Android and you're on the right lines.

3: Whenever you are next out of contract, make sure you include a TiVo > V6 upgrade in the negotiations. Again, be prepared for a sales pitch on an "upgrade" to a TV360.

[smchugh1]

Thanks, useful info. The box froze twice after I'd posted this and had to be rebooted at the mains so I think I need to brave the Virgin helpline again... 

Hadn't realised that (if I understand correctly) the 360 is basically a V6 box but with a software 'upgrade' - quotes since I can't find anyone with a good word to say about it. Though it would *probably* still be an improvement...

[japitts]

The 360 is absolutely not a V6 with a software upgrade, it uses the same hardware but the software is totally different.

A V6 uses TiVo software, a TV360 uses Horizon software and they are very substantially different. Apple vs Android would be a good comparison.

Opinions on TV360 vary, but converting from TiVo/V6 to TV360 is totally voluntary. From the sounds, you'd do very well to upgrade to a V6, whereas you should do some research before accepting a conversion to TV360.

[smchugh1]

Thanks - the amount of conflicting information kicking around on this subject is pretty staggering - including 'official' VM info describing it as an 'upgrade' - but as you say, if it's replacing Tivo with Horizon, it's rather more than that. (Have also seen people listing what 360 won't do, including pausing and rewinding - that one's clearly nonsense). 

To be honest I was hoping posting here might prompt someone at VM to chip in and send me a private message as seems to happen for everyone else - even the guy whose comment agreeing with me was moved to a new thread! Oh well, I have some holidays to use up, I hear the hotline is lovely this time of year... 

[Sabrina_B]

Hi @smchugh1 👋.

Apologies to hear that you are still facing buffering issues with your Tivo box. We would need to bring you in for a private message to discuss this and resolve. Please look out for the envelope on the top right of your web browser or if you are using a mobile device it will be located under your profile icon.

Thanks.

Sabrina

[newapollo]

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@smchugh1 wrote:

To be honest I assumed this was just how it is (the iPlayer and other apps on the stick are also just about unwatchable, but always assumed that was our wifi - also Virgin, have been trying to get a pod for ages but to no avail, fed up calling tbh).

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Hi @smchugh1 

Regarding the iPlayer and other apps on the stick being just about unwatchable, and you  so far being unable to order a wifi pod. 

Is that a streaming stick such as an Amazon Firestick that you are referring to? Or did you mean the apps on the Tivo box?

Since you are a Volt customer you do qualify for up to 3 free WiFi pods (depending upon wifi coverage) as part of WiFi Max

In order to receive the WiFi Max service you will need either a Virgin Media Hub version 3, 4 or 5 with enhanced firmware features. Which VM hub do you have?  If you have the older hub 2 or hub 2a then VM would need to upgrade your hub to a hub3 to match the speeds you receive.

You can request your first WiFi Pod by performing a scan using the Virgin Media Connect app, or by heading to VM's  online help page https://www.virginmedia.com/support/help/check-services

Hopefully the help page will perform the same tests as the Connect app which fine tunes your wifi and if it finds your wifi speeds are too low (less than 20Mbps in each room) orders the first pod for you.

[smchugh1]

Thanks Newapollo, I have had a msg from a Virgin rep who is arranging for an engineering visit, so it could be that the hub version questions turn out to be irrelevant in the end (I think it's 3.0 though).

The apps are on a Firestick - problem is that we have a bit of a wifi 'dead zone' in the lounge, the app has recorded very low wifi strength scores including the odd zero. Problem was that there has been engineering work in the same postcode area for many months - well, that's what the system believes anyway - so the techs on the hotline are blocked from ordering up a pod until that has cleared. Literally "computer says no". Anyway, I should wait and see if the engineer can supply a V6 - I believe it has wifi, which will be interesting...

[newapollo]

Hi again @smchugh1 

The V6 can work using either wifi or ethernet cable.

<this post>  might be useful for fine tuning and hopefully improving your wifi signal.

Is your firestick powered by usb from the TV? If so try powering it via the mains.

Also are you using the firestick's hdmi extender? If not then try connecting it as it helps cut out interference.

If possible connect it to the 2.4GHz  band, although it's slower it gives a stronger connection.