Can you still get new V6 installations?

[Tom41]

We have decided to upgrade from a single TiVo box to a newer box, and also get a second box in a bedroom. Both rooms have coaxial cable, and reading about how the V6 and 360 boxes work, I think that a pair of V6 boxes would be the best bet.

Thing is, can you still get new V6 boxes like that? Or will we be forced to get 360 instead? I don't want the master/slave arrangement of 360 since the living room will be on a relatively weak wi-fi connection.

[Tom41]

Our TiVo box is on its last legs, so we have decided to upgrade to a new V6/360 box. I’ve heard that they require a connection to your Hub in order to function. Problem is, our Hub is in one of the upstairs bedrooms and there is no wired network connection in the living room.

Moving the Hub is also not an option, as then all the devices upstairs that use a wired connection would stop working.

Apparently the V6 also supports wi-fi. However, I frequently change the wi-fi password for security. Can the box be set up using WPS or by plugging in a USB keyboard to type the password, or does it have to be done letter by letter with the remote?

[newapollo]

Both the V6 and the TV360 boxes can be connected using WPS providing you haven't got an ethernet cable connected to VM's tv set top. 

[japitts]

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@Tom41 wrote:

Our TiVo box is on its last legs, so we have decided to upgrade to a new V6/360 box.

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Which do you have? V6 runs TiVo-software, TV360 runs Horizon software. Thus although the hardware is the same, a lot of advice is SW-based.

[japitts]

Existing TiVo customers can upgrade to V6 installs.

TV360 is compulsory for new TV customers, and optional - but frequently encouraged by VM - for TiVo users. In fairness, the connectivity requirements are identical for both platforms, the differences are entirely in software interaction & functionality.

You are correct in that V6 all have their own on-board hard drive with multiroom streaming available between each.

[Mr_K]

Insist on a V6, you know what youll be getting. Your current box/functions a lot quicker. 2 V6s is double the recording space of a 360/slave. If you want to change to 360 later  then it can be done. But once you are in  '360land' there's no going back. (re your weak wifi, is it possible to go wired with ethernet/home plugs, it would be more reliable)...

[Tom41]

As I mentioned on the other topic, there is no network port in the living room and we don't want to have to run a new wire through the ceiling/floor to reach the Hub. Likewise, moving the Hub is not an option either as then all the wired stuff upstairs would stop working. I don't fancy having to redesign the whole network!

[Tom41]

I would like to speak with a VM support agent about upgrading our existing TiVo to a newer box. I wish to discuss the pros and cons of V6 vs 360, and also about getting a second TV box for the bedroom - preferably a self-start arrangement so there is no need for a technician visit. Both rooms already have VM coaxial cable and broadband access.

There does not seem to be any option on the website for swapping, upgrading or adding a new TV box except for the quick option to swap the TiVo for a 360. I have been going round in circles on the help topics getting nowhere. I think the best solution would be to telephone VM when they open, but I am not sure which menu options to go through on the phone for this. Can anyone advise me what options I should pick on the phone menus for this situation? Or can one of the forum team call us directly?

It would be nice if I could go into a physical Virgin Media store in the shopping centre and have a face-to-face consultation with staff there, but I don’t believe such stores exist any more. Unless you can do it in an O2 store?

[Tom_W1]

Hi @Tom41 thanks for your post here in the Community - we hope you're well.

We'd firstly recommend visiting here for a nice guide on the TV360, and then following this if you search in the Community Forums for TV360, you'll then see lots of Forums threads about the comparisons between the two types of software (V6/TiVo and TV360).

As you've mentioned, we unfortunately don't have Virgin Media stores in the UK anymore and as we're solely online based here in the Community our staff don't action phone calls sadly.

However, if there's anything specific you'd like to raise here we'd be more than happy to help?

Ultimately it is your decision and we want to make sure you've made the right one that suits you, so please don't be shy to come back with any further questions 😊

Many thanks

[Mr_K]

It must be near a plug though , in which case you could use that as the network connection with a homeplug/powerline set up. I used to get occasional streaming issues between boxes but none since I went wired instead of WiFi.