ITV hub app

[rfemblake]

When using the ITV hub app the programmes frequently stop and start. It looks similar to a buffering problem. Our V6 box is wifi connected to the broadband hub. Netflix and iPlayer are fine. Watching the same ITV programme via ITV hub on a laptop using the same wifi works fine as well.

I can see several postings that seem similar but not exactly the same. Any clues?

[japitts]

Reference to "ITV Hub" can mean one of two things on a V6, so whichever one you're meaning, try the other one as the first check...

1: The ITV-hosted streaming app, accessible via Home > Apps > All apps > ITV Hub. VM provide access & connectivity, ITV provide it.

2: ITV On-Demand programmes, branded with "ITV Hub" but being played from VM's in-house OnDemand platform. Accessed directly from the V6 EPG.

Your V6's internet connection is the same for both.

[rfemblake]

Thanks for the extra info. We were attempting to watch via the All apps>ITV hub route not the on demand. So this sounds like some kind of bottleneck between VM and ITV hub. I guess we'll just record any shows we might want to see in the future....

[japitts]

Recording is always a better option, given a free choice - for sure. Having the programme on your hard drive is better than having to rely on external streaming.

But yes, the branding of "My5", "All-4" & "ITV Hub" can confuse.. If the programme you want is available via OnDemand, you can access it directly from the V6 menus/EPG. Just choose "Watch from ITV Hub"

[rfemblake]

I tried going via the EPG. Unsurprisingly it gave the same staccato results as presumably ITV hub gets accessed via the same pipework. I guess there is no real fix here, just the workarounds of either recording or watch via a laptop.  

[japitts]

I would consider OnDemand as the workaround and a recording as always a better idea, but all the same. OnDemand is subject to expiry times and sometimes limited ability to skip past adverts - recordings are stored on your box. Better all-round.

I know you've said that other streaming apps are ok, but... perhaps check your V6's underlying internet connection. There's a couple of ways.

Firstly follow Home > Help & Settings > Settings > Network, and if you're using wireless, what's the signal strength reported in the top-right?

Secondly, follow Home > Help & Settings > Help > (top of screen) > TV Speed test... what's the result?

And are non-ITV programmes via OnDemand similarly affected? Try something from either C4 or C5 if you're not sure. BBC uses the iPlayer app so is another test.

[LittleMick73]

Hi is it possible you can connect your hub to the V6 with an ethernet cable, this will provide a more stable connection. Regards Micky

[rfemblake]

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried this but it made no difference. The wifi connection we have is reliable and we've plenty of bandwidth for the house. We don't have any issues with multiple laptops/tablets streaming and as previously mentioned Netflix and iPlayer work fine on the V6 box; these are the two apps that we make most use of. I might try some of the other apps (All4, CH5,...) to see what happens. The ITV hub app is pretty much unwatchable for us. Not a big deal but irritating none the less. We've also tried the app at different times of the day but, again, no difference. 

[japitts]

ITV, C4 & C5 all have a similar setup.

In other words, a branded app & also programmes accessible directly from the EPG/menu "OnDemand"

Check the connection quality using the methods I previously mentioned. But if you know you'll want to watch a particular programme, recording it and then having it on your box's hard drive is by far the easier method 

Then use OnDemand as an insurance-policy.

[rfemblake]

I completed the tests you suggested. The wifi signal strength is 100% (the distance between the hub and the V6 is ~3 metres. The TV speed test gave me an "A-OK, let's go! Connection suitable for TV services".  So, all looks well on these fronts.