Vodafone TV - new Gen2 box

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#2292245 8-Aug-2019 12:52

Has anyone compared this with the Apple TV?

They seem very similar with the only obvious difference being the ability to record live TV, but who still does that these days?

myfullflavour

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#2292286 8-Aug-2019 13:47

ZollyMonsta:
Apsattv:

My main question are they using VODAFONES own restreaming for Freeview channels or going with Freeviews half baked app with its missmash of streams provided by the channels themselves.

Existing. VF dedicated IP streams. Not Freeviews.

Looking forward to running a packet capture and seeing where those video bits are coming from :)

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#2292358 8-Aug-2019 14:49

myfullflavour:
ZollyMonsta:

Apsattv:

My main question are they using VODAFONES own restreaming for Freeview channels or going with Freeviews half baked app with its missmash of streams provided by the channels themselves.

Existing. VF dedicated IP streams. Not Freeviews.

Looking forward to running a packet capture and seeing where those video bits are coming from :)

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sansom

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#2292774 9-Aug-2019 09:05

freitasm:

I have collected all the questions here and sent to Vodafone. I will post when I know more.

Thanks Mauricio, I'll answer now directly to speed things up given I wasn't able to get to the list yesterday!

Hamish

sansom

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#2292777 9-Aug-2019 09:15

kiwifidget:

Does the definition of "soft launch" mean "light on details"?

I am already a Sky subscriber, and I have 2 decoders in my house. So I pay the monthly multiroom fee.

If you buy one of these new devices, can you can just watch Sky using your current sub, or do you have to pay for another sub?

Ideally, I would like 2 of the new devices in my house, and 1 of the MySky boxes for the bach (no internet, no phone, no cellular, no terrestrial freeview, just satellite). And even more ideally, watch all the Sky I can eat on any of them for just one sub.

Or is this wishful thinking just pie in the Sky?? :)

Soft launch means we're only releasing via a limited number of channels initially without any above the line advertising. As someone else has commented, Vodafone is being careful to make sure this is a rock solid experience with this new box, new provisioning and new payment system.

Vodafone TV is a separate/stand alone subscription from Sky. The Sky content is all there, but with Vodafone TV you are paying Vodafone for the box and service. The payment is online/credit card subscription only.

For a bach with only satellite coverage then Sky is your best (only!?) option.

Hamish

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#2292779 9-Aug-2019 09:21

sansom:

kiwifidget:

Does the definition of "soft launch" mean "light on details"?

I am already a Sky subscriber, and I have 2 decoders in my house. So I pay the monthly multiroom fee.

If you buy one of these new devices, can you can just watch Sky using your current sub, or do you have to pay for another sub?

Ideally, I would like 2 of the new devices in my house, and 1 of the MySky boxes for the bach (no internet, no phone, no cellular, no terrestrial freeview, just satellite). And even more ideally, watch all the Sky I can eat on any of them for just one sub.

Or is this wishful thinking just pie in the Sky?? :)

Soft launch means we're only releasing via a limited number of channels initially without any above the line advertising. As someone else has commented, Vodafone is being careful to make sure this is a rock solid experience with this new box, new provisioning and new payment system.

Vodafone TV is a separate/stand alone subscription from Sky. The Sky content is all there, but with Vodafone TV you are paying Vodafone for the box and service. The payment is online/credit card subscription only.

For a bach with only satellite coverage then Sky is your best (only!?) option.

Hi @sansom Thanks for the answers to my questions. There is unfortunately no way I am going to pay for 2 Sky subscriptions so I will stick with the MySky boxes. :(

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sansom

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#2292781 9-Aug-2019 09:26

Apsattv:

It sounds like newer hardware from the same manufacturer Vodafone is currently using. Plus increased memory capacity for extra preloaded apps.

My main question are they using VODAFONES own restreaming for Freeview channels or going with Freeviews half baked app with its missmash of streams provided by the channels themselves.

Cloud dvr is interesting when Vodafone TV started didn't they offer increased cloud recording capacity for extra $

Correct, this is again a Sagemcom box.

As @ZollyMonsta has correctly stated (he should know!), the streams are our own.

And, yes, Cloud DVR storage is now the same for everyone at 500 hours (UHD/SD - no difference). Previously it was 200hours for a single STB and 500hours if the household had mulitroom. The soft launch is with a single STB only with 500 hours of Cloud DVR. We've also applied this to all existing Vodafone TV customers.

Hamish

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#2292808 9-Aug-2019 10:37

sansom:

Soft launch means we're only releasing via a limited number of channels initially without any above the line advertising. As someone else has commented, Vodafone is being careful to make sure this is a rock solid experience with this new box, new provisioning and new payment system.

Are you allowed to say who is selling the unit currently? I'd be keen to go for a look.

sansom

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#2292810 9-Aug-2019 10:42

rogercruse:

freitasm:...The Vodafone TV is a standalone device available for a one-off cost of $179....

This statement needs further explanation:

Is the new Vodafone TV device a replacement for the existing Vodafone TV device?
It sounds like a replacement.
I can't imagine that Vodafone will want to support both versions for too long.
What happens to those customers who have signed up for the existing Vodafone TV & Broadband packages?
Do that have to pay the early termination fee if they want swap to the newer device
Or will Vodafone give customers of the existing device the option to swap / upgrade to the newer device?
The original article mentions a soft launch for the new device...

Has anyone got the newer device yet?
What do you have to do to get the new device as part of the soft launch?
Is the new device actually better than the existing device?
When will the new device support the Sparks-Sport app for the Rugby World Cup?

1. We will continue to to support all Vodafone TV devices for some time. We currently have 4 different boxes : Vodafone TV (VTV as just soft launched), Vodafone TV On Account (VTV OA available free with Vodafone's Ultimate Home unlimited broadband), Legacy Vodafone TV (T-box), and we also resell Sky's satellite decoder. We did recently retire the MPEG2 "ADB" box, however this was after 15 years of service.

2. Existing customers originally received the Gen 1 Vodafone TV box for no cost (a $179 saving), and Vodafone retains ownership of those boxes. The Gen1 boxes are largely functionally the same as Gen 2, with the exception of the 4*4 Wi-Fi, and Gen1 will be receiving a major firmware update soon so that they will be running the same firmware release. In saying that, we are looking at whether we can create a Gen1 to Gen2 swap process, however this is likely to come at a cost to the user. The fault replacement approach is that any faulty Gen1 will be swapped with a new Gen1 (we have plenty for this).

3.1. & 3.2. yes, but I will need to check details for you. If you want to buy it DM me with where you are in NZ and I'll let you know where you can get it from.

3.3 the main difference is that it comes with 4*4 802.11ac built in and a Bluetooth/BLE remote.

4. We don't have a date for this, but won't have it for the RWC . Naturally we will be supporting TVNZ's live feeds of the key RWC games.

Hamish

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#2292811 9-Aug-2019 10:42

Hi Sansom, so where does this leave the recent VodaTV box that has been in the market for the past year or so, is it the same box? does it get pulled from market or does it get a firmware change to match the new box. If it is in anyway the same what has been done to improve the functionality and performance, as that box has had some issues for sure.

Cyril

sansom

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#2292812 9-Aug-2019 10:45

cyril7:

Hi Sansom, so where does this leave the recent VodaTV box that has been in the market for the past year or so, is it the same box? does it get pulled from market or does it get a firmware change to match the new box. If it is in anyway the same what has been done to improve the functionality and performance, as that box has had some issues for sure.

Cyril

I posted just as you sent this. Refer my post just made.. we continue to support Gen 1 and it will be getting a major firmware update very soon.

Hamish

djtOtago

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#2292816 9-Aug-2019 11:02

@sansom A couple of questions.
1) This there a timeline for the release of the Lightbox and Amazon Prime Video apps for it?
2) Are there plans to add the Spark Sport app?
3) Can it, or will it support Chrome casting?
4) Will all Sky channels be available for purchasing?

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#2292819 9-Aug-2019 11:07

Sorry if this has been answered previously (or in one of the other threads) but I haven't looked at VFTV since the previous launch (Apr 18 was it). The things that put me off straight away back then were:

inability to record all channels
screen goes black when fast forwarding

Are these features still crippled in the latest iteration?

Did Eric Clapton really think she looked wonderful...or was it after the 15th outfit she tried on and he just wanted to get to the party and get a drink?

sansom

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#2292830 9-Aug-2019 11:21

djtOtago:
@sansom A couple of questions.
1) This there a timeline for the release of the Lightbox and Amazon Prime Video apps for it?
2) Are there plans to add the Spark Sport app?
3) Can it, or will it support Chrome casting?
4) Will all Sky channels be available for purchasing?

1. it all depends on how dev & test plays out. Amazon Prime has launched on Vodafone TV in other markets.
2. We’ve made some comments on this in the media recently: We’re focusing on other sporting offerings for now.
3. Not right now, (noting you can use your mobile to “cast” from the Netflix, VodafoneTV and YouTube mobile apps to VTV STB right now). However it’s being considered for a future release..
4. Yes, all Sky subscription channels are available..

Hamish

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#2292834 9-Aug-2019 11:30

@sansom I forgot to mention that my current Sky sub is through Vodafone. Does that make any difference?

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