Virgin Tivo Box

[chokkie]

Hi Abers, would be grateful for some advice. We're thinking about getting a Tivo box for our Virgin TV package. Two questions ..... how many days in advance can you record things - we seem to believe that you can record up to 14 days in advance with a Tivo box. And apparently you get a whole load of films you can watch (loads and loads apparently) - do you have to pay for these films, as you do with the regular Virgin package?

And are there any other pros? And the cons?

Hope you can help, many thanks, Chox.

[mazie]

How long have you been with Virgin chokkie?.. The reason I ask is I wanted the Tivo box. I rang Virgin (I've been with them forever) and said I was looking to change providers but would consider staying with them if they upgraded my Box to the Tivo at no charge....And they did... That might be worth a try initially..I wasn't quite that direct :o) We love it, I think we got Netflix free for 6 months as well

[bhg481]

TiVo box is one of the best I've come across. We're not into films, so I don't know much about that side of it, but there are a couple of free film channels, most are subscription.
It's a clever box, in that you can tell it what you like and it will record it for you even if you haven't set it up. eg, my wife likes tennis, so it finds live tennis events and (usually) records them. You can set a search so, it will look for programmes containing "midsomer" and record them. You can also record a series by just finding any episode and "catch-up" is also available.
Normal programme guide is at least a week in advance but the "search" facility helps to extend this.
One bit of advice, think about a 1TB box if you like to watch in HD; the recording time available is only about 1/4 of that for SD. If you find the 500GB box too small it will cost you £80 to upgrade it.

[Bathsheba]

Yes Chokkie, it is possible to set a Tivo to record up to 2 weeks in advance..I thought it was more but I've just gone to check + it seems that is the max.
Another pro is that you can record 3 programmes at a time whilst watching a recording from an earlier time.
As for the films....plenty of them to choose from, but the decent ones are pay to view, ranging from £2.99-£4.99.
Like Mazie, I managed to upgrade to a Tivo without any extra to pay,....in fact I negotiated a completely new package with them, so it's well worth a phone call to tell them you're thinking of leaving.
We got Netflix free for 1 month, but didn't continue with it, bit if you are into watching box sets, then it's ideal.

[chokkie]

Hmmm, thanks for your help, everyone. Looks very tempting. I think we will go for it and maybe go for the bigger of the two boxes. If you just want to record one-off programme, for example, do you how long in advance you can record. We're always frustrated when we go on holiday and, with the present Virgin package we can only record up to 7 days (well, it's actually 6). So 14 days in advance would be a godsend to us. Hope you can help. Cheers, Chox.

PS: in answer to Mazie's question, we have been with Virgin for quite a number of years now, I think it's at least 5 years now. It's not that cheap of course, but we get a lot of enjoyment out of it ....

[Bathsheba]

Yes Chox,....recording a one-off programme 14 days in advance will be no problem.
x

[Bathsheba]

Forgot to mention....we have the XL TV package.....don't know if that makes a difference or not.

[chokkie]

Thanks to everyone for their responses and help re this. I think we're going to go for this, but will sleep on it for another couple of days and ring them over the weekend. Cheers for all your help, Chox.

[hc4361]

You can set your tivo to record from your holiday destination via an app on your smartphone or from a computer/laptop.

It works for me - I use it a lot.

[mazie]

Good luck with it Chox.....Don't pay for the upgrade though x

[MargoTester]

If you have a virgin landline ring 151, it's free. We have a problem recording 3 things at once if we try and do it all in HD apart from that it's excellent and easy to use. I rang to complain about a phone bill and they upgraded my old box to TiVo for free, we had been with them for years.

[MargoTester]

Meant to say that we had the old box put upstairs into my son's room so that he can record etc up there too! This costs an extra £10 per month

[dannyk13]

Margo, I think that number is 150

[MargoTester]

I thought it was 150 but asked him indoors and he said 151 for TV but I guess if you rang either they would transfer you. Think they both have those horrible menu things where you press 1,2 etc etc.

[Bathsheba]

...just remembered......during phone conversation (on 150 or 151, it doesn't matter), they mentioned a £65 "installation fee". That's when I asked them to transfer me to correct department for me to cancel.....+ that sealed the freebie deal for me!
Good luck.

[fbg40]

Hi Chokkie
Had a Tivo for a couple of years now. As far as recording 3 programs at once is concerned, it works if you either watch one of the programs you are recording or watch a program you have previously recorded. You cannot watch a 4th Channel while recordinganother 3 i.e. record BBC1, BBC2, ITV, then you can't watch Channel 4 (or another channel). We only use ours for recording as we don't think there is enough decent programs on the channels available. Seriously considering ditching the Tivo and buying a Humax freeview box.
FBG40

[tezmand]

anything you want to record while on holiday just do a series link then you will deffo get it recorded no matter how far in advance you want it

[Bathsheba]

@ tezmand.......Chox said it is a one-off programme x

[tezmand]

doesnt matter if its a one off can still do series link then no matter how far ahead will be recorded

[mccfluff]

you just need the app as hc mentioned (assuming you have a smart phone) and you can set to record from there, i use it all the time to set recordings, cancel & amend series links

love my tivo, hate virgin but love my tivo

don't know about movies as i have xl package & you have to pay for the films so i only get the odd one or two

[Bathsheba]

Well I never knew that, tezmand! So even if a prog isn't part of a series, is it possible to series link that particular day + time?