360 box, v5 upgrade query and Channel 4

[amsingleton82]

Hi All

I received an email from Virgin the other day saying I could have an upgrade, it was not detailed, it just had a link which said do you want a remote and a software upgrade. Me being me just clicked yes and the remote is arriving today.

Having read up on this 360 thing I'm having second thoughts.

For a start Virgin seem to think I have a V6 box when I have only have a V5. Is it even possible to upgrade this box? I cant find anywhere that says it can. 

Next, on the email it says you will loose the Channel 4 app but browsing this forum it seems people may have it. Is the Channel 4 app on or not?

I'm also umming and arring about the series link functionality loss and knowing when something was first broadcast. I've read up on this and don't really like what people say. 

The thing about TiVo is that other than not having Disney, it works well. 

Thanks

Andrew

P.S. I find it really frustrating that I can not find an easy way to chat to a Virgin Media representative and find myself in a forum where my questions are probably asked over and over again. I really don't have the time to be checking every post. 

[Tavis75 · Accepted solution]

There is no V5 box, there is a Hub 5, which is the internet router. The three TV boxes currently in use are the TiVo, V6 and 360. The TiVo and V6 have very similar software but different hardware, easy way to tell them apart is that the TiVo has a curved top, the V6 is flat.

The TiVo cannot be changed to 360, the V6 can.

As you have spotted though, it is not an upgrade but a change, and you lose a lot more than you gain. Unfortunately, it's probably too late to stop the change now as it is triggered shortly after you receive the remote (assuming you have a V6 not a TiVo, if you do have a TiVo then I guess a mistake has been made by VM and I assume the change will not happen). You could maybe try calling and going through to the "thinking of leaving us option", but suspect you wont have any luck stopping it.

Everyone will be switched to the 360 eventually though.

[newapollo]

Hi Andrew,

There isn't a V5 box. You will either have a V6 box which runs on Tivo, or the older Tivo which doesn't have the Amazon Prime app.

/which-tv-box do you have?

If it's the older Tivo then you will need a manned install and the tech will swap out the boxes. You also need broadband with VM to have either the V6 or the 360 box.

I'm afraid that once you switch/convert to the 360 you cannot go back to the previous box(es).

If you don't manually update your box then be advised that the box will update automatically around 5 days after you receive the 360 remote.

Also you need to be aware that as part of the update process the hard drive on your current box will be formatted so you will lose all your recordings and series links.

The https://www.virginmedia.com/help/tv/virgin-tv-360 page has lot's of info on using the 360,box. It also explains how to update your current box, along with a link to video showing how to update the box.

The 360 has the All4 app - it was renamed from 4OD in 2015.

The current list of apps on the 360 are:-  Al Jazeera, All 4, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, Britbox, Deutsche Welle, Disney +, Fireplace, France 24, ITVX,  My5, Netflix, Prime Video, Radio Line, STV Player, UK TV Play, Upgrade, VEVO, VM Store, WSJ, You Tube and You Tube Kids

[japitts]

Also if you have a TiVo, then you can upgrade to a V6 if you wanted. Much newer and quicker hardware using the same software.

VM are unlikely to suggest this, and are proactively offering conversions to TV360.

TV360 uses the same hardware as the V6 but on different software. Think of TV360 vs V6 as an Apple vs Android comparison.

[amsingleton82]

OK thanks, as I have Amazon Prime I must be on a V6 box.

I tried going into the help on the Virgin box I have and it said I was on v5.xx.xx.xx but that must have been the version of the OS running on that box and not the hardware. 

I'm glad All4 is on there. I guess it seems I am now going to get upgraded. 

[japitts]

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@amsingleton82 wrote:

I'm glad All4 is on there. I guess it seems I am now going to get upgraded. 

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If you've requested the conversion, then start blitzing your recordings and noting your series links now.

Both get lost when you convert, and while TV360 has SL functionality, you can only set them for programmes currently in the guide.

If a programme isn't scheduled for broadcast in the next fortnight, TV360 can't series link them like V6 can.