Really Irritating lack of separation between Virgin TV 360 boxes

[bobr]

I really liked our previous V6 separation between our 2 boxes. Each was separate. However, now with TV 360, there seems to be no way to keep them separate.

1. Virgin should enable the boxes to operate separately or
2. They should at least allow a setting so that each only shows its own recordings or
3. At the very least the 'view recordings' and 'where to record' settings should be set (or be able to be set) as defaulting to the most recently used setting (which would take little or no programming effort) 

Very irrititated.

(ps feared this might be the case, but wanted access to SkySports+)

[japitts]

TiVo-software which drives TiVo & V6 boxes is designed around independent boxes, each with self-sufficient recording capabilities but with full networking between each other.

Horizon-software which drives TV360 is fundamentally different, and is based around one central recording pool - which in other countries is remote-based and not even using a hard drive. In the UK, this is one local hard drive which is shared with multiple slave boxes. You can choose which box to record on, in the advanced settings.

Converting multiple V6 into TV360-masters provides some mitigation, but can't alter the fundamental premise that you have one pool of recordings. Any faults on multiroom TV360-masters will see them swapped out for mini-boxes and the additional storage lost.

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@bobr wrote:

feared this might be the case, but wanted access to SkySports+

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There are pros and cons of both software platforms, but "immediate" access to the HD multiscreen is a current pro of TV360. VM have openly stated plans to bring it to V6, but with no timescale attached.

[bobr]

I understand the choice that Virgin has made, but it still irritates me that it doesn't have the features that I outlined, which would go some way to mitigating the downside.

[japitts]

There's quite a few other features that TV360 is missing, that are present on TiVo/V6! Along with new features that TV360 has, that TiVo/V6 doesn't - you just have to choose which are more valuable.

VM hasn't really made a choice though. Horizon-software is the property of their parent-company Liberty Global, and is being rolled out across all of LG's European cable operations. Whether VM like Horizon or not, is of no relevance to TV360's rollout.

[roy247]

Just to add to japitts reply, your recordings will always be available to view across both boxes due to the way 360 Horizon software works.

If you go to Recordings > Recorded > See all > and click on the Recorded tab you will see a drop down with the following options:-

Recorded, Recorded on this Virgin TV box, Planned, and Planned for this Virgin TV box. - highlighting "Recorded on this Virgin TV box" will just show those programs recorded on that box.

You can make the 360 record programs on predetermined boxes.

Also when one of your converted V6 boxes fails it will be replaced by a mini box with no hard drive so you will only have the one box for all recordings.

When setting up a series link go to Advanced and select which box you want the recording to be made on. It will then be recorded on that box going forward, even if the default recording box is the other one.

[nodrogd · Accepted solution]

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@bobr wrote:

I understand the choice that Virgin has made, but it still irritates me that it doesn't have the features that I outlined, which would go some way to mitigating the downside.

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On the contrary, Virgin has not made this choice. Virgin is now owned by a far bigger international cable operator that has had Horizon in place since 2012. Horizon is now moving to it's 5th Generation, & has been imposed on Virgin as it's new owners do not want to renew the TiVO licence when they already have a system in place.

https://www.libertyglobal.com/blog/celebrating-innovation-with-our-horizon-entertainment-platform/ 

[bobr]

> Also when one of your converted V6 boxes fails it will be replaced by a mini box with no hard drive so you will only have the one box for all recordings.

Oh, that just adds to my irritation!