Vodafone TV - new Gen2 box

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#2337404 15-Oct-2019 13:35

eracode:

I bought a VTV today, intending to use it to replace our Sky box (and cancel Sky). The Sky box is in a cupboard about 4m from our TV and is connected by an in-wall HDMI cable and it works fine.

I set up the VTV in the cupboard, Ethernet to router, unplugged the Sky HDMI and plugged the VTV HDMI into the wall socket. On the TV, I got a black and white Vodafone boot logo for a few seconds, which then disappeared - then nothing. Repeated tries and nothing different.

Then I put the VTV near the TV and plugged its HDMI directly into the TV (bypassing the in-wall HDMI). VTV started and I went through set-up, registration etc - all good.

Returned the VTV to the cupboard set-up and same old problem. Tried different HDMI cables between VTV and the wall socket - no change. It appears the VTV doesn’t like our in-wall cabling - even though Sky has no problem with it. TBH the actual length of HDMI cable is quite a bit longer than 4m due to down wall > under floor> back up wall.

This is a major disappointment for us because I really do want to ditch Sky - but we have no aerial and can only get FTA TV via Sky or IPTV. I will have to take the VTV back for a refund - very frustrating because this box is perfect for what we need. There is no practical way for us to have the VTV closer to the TV.

I’d be grateful for any suggestions before I take it back.

Have you tried unplugging the power to the VTV Gen2 STB waiting 5 seconds plugging it in again and waiting 60 seconds and then trying the remote again.? Also try the remote with nothing between the remote and VTV. It could be that Bluetooth is having trouble getting to the box, and it could also be the restart problems with this firmware. 57.11 could be better and more stable we hope when that comes out. Also are you sure that you have paired the Bluetooth of the remote to the Set Top Box? This can be determined in the settings if you can look at those on a TV were it works. Also are you sure you are trying it with a 4K capable cable like what came in the box, which may be the issue with longer standard (not premium or high speed) cables (see: 4K cables nonsense??)?

Ivan Piacun CITPNZ

sittingduckz

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#2337406 15-Oct-2019 13:35

eracode:

This is a major disappointment for us because I really do want to ditch Sky - but we have no aerial and can only get FTA TV via Sky or IPTV. I will have to take the VTV back for a refund - very frustrating because this box is perfect for what we need. There is no practical way for us to have the VTV closer to the TV.

I’d be grateful for any suggestions before I take it back.

The remote is bluetooth so you set it up hidden behind the tv (if space & power allows) and then connect it via wifi. Unless I missed a detail in your post this should work :)

I'm not a complete idiot, I still have some parts missing.

olof

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#2337431 15-Oct-2019 14:21

eracode:

I bought a VTV today, intending to use it to replace our Sky box (and cancel Sky). The Sky box is in a cupboard about 4m from our TV and is connected by an in-wall HDMI cable and it works fine.

I set up the VTV in the cupboard, Ethernet to router, unplugged the Sky HDMI and plugged the VTV HDMI into the wall socket. On the TV, I got a black and white Vodafone boot logo for a few seconds, which then disappeared - then nothing. Repeated tries and nothing different.

Then I put the VTV near the TV and plugged its HDMI directly into the TV (bypassing the in-wall HDMI). VTV started and I went through set-up, registration etc - all good.

Returned the VTV to the cupboard set-up and same old problem. Tried different HDMI cables between VTV and the wall socket - no change. It appears the VTV doesn’t like our in-wall cabling - even though Sky has no problem with it. TBH the actual length of HDMI cable is quite a bit longer than 4m due to down wall > under floor> back up wall.

This is a major disappointment for us because I really do want to ditch Sky - but we have no aerial and can only get FTA TV via Sky or IPTV. I will have to take the VTV back for a refund - very frustrating because this box is perfect for what we need. There is no practical way for us to have the VTV closer to the TV.

I’d be grateful for any suggestions before I take it back.

Interesting. The issue here is probably not the length of the HDMI cable, but the type. Is this a Standard, High Speed, or Premium HDMI cable? Noting that as per spec, Standard HDMI cables officially only supports up to 1080i, and High Speed or Premium are required for 1080p and 4K. Noting that SKY broadcasts in 1080i, and VodafoneTV streams in 1080p50 and 1080p25. If you can let us know what brand and type of cable you use, we can test in the lab and validate what the issue is.

Also, do you really need to put the VodafoneTV box in the cupboard? (I have my own VodafoneTV velcro-ed to the back of my TV. Works well with a small box that supports Bluetooth remote.) Understand of course, that if you have an AV receiver, this may not be an option for you.

Olof Olsson - my views are my own.

eracode

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#2337440 15-Oct-2019 14:36

rugrat:

eracode:

This is a major disappointment for us because I really do want to ditch Sky - but we have no aerial and can only get FTA TV via Sky or IPTV. I will have to take the VTV back for a refund - very frustrating because this box is perfect for what we need. There is no practical way for us to have the VTV closer to the TV.

I’d be grateful for any suggestions before I take it back.

Can try and change picture resolution to 1080p.

Think 4K uses a higher copy protection, hopefully changing it to 1080p goes to the lower one. Don’t know if it will work.

Haven’t tried yet but I want to run it through an HDMI splitter and may run into same issue, just if I move box between TV’s don’t want to do wear and tear on TV’s HDMI plug. Sky box runs through them fine.

Thanks. I have now tried that and did get it to run - but with sparkly ‘snow‘ all over the screen. When I turned VTV off, the snow continued to be visible. Didn’t get that with Sky. Very odd. Pretty clearly a cable issue.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

eracode

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#2337442 15-Oct-2019 14:39

IvanPiacun:

eracode:

I bought a VTV today, intending to use it to replace our Sky box (and cancel Sky). The Sky box is in a cupboard about 4m from our TV and is connected by an in-wall HDMI cable and it works fine.

I set up the VTV in the cupboard, Ethernet to router, unplugged the Sky HDMI and plugged the VTV HDMI into the wall socket. On the TV, I got a black and white Vodafone boot logo for a few seconds, which then disappeared - then nothing. Repeated tries and nothing different.

Then I put the VTV near the TV and plugged its HDMI directly into the TV (bypassing the in-wall HDMI). VTV started and I went through set-up, registration etc - all good.

Returned the VTV to the cupboard set-up and same old problem. Tried different HDMI cables between VTV and the wall socket - no change. It appears the VTV doesn’t like our in-wall cabling - even though Sky has no problem with it. TBH the actual length of HDMI cable is quite a bit longer than 4m due to down wall > under floor> back up wall.

This is a major disappointment for us because I really do want to ditch Sky - but we have no aerial and can only get FTA TV via Sky or IPTV. I will have to take the VTV back for a refund - very frustrating because this box is perfect for what we need. There is no practical way for us to have the VTV closer to the TV.

I’d be grateful for any suggestions before I take it back.

Have you tried unplugging the power to the VTV Gen2 STB waiting 5 seconds plugging it in again and waiting 60 seconds and then trying the remote again.? Also try the remote with nothing between the remote and VTV. It could be that Bluetooth is having trouble getting to the box, and it could also be the restart problems with this firmware. 57.11 could be better and more stable we hope when that comes out. Also are you sure that you have paired the Bluetooth of the remote to the Set Top Box? This can be determined in the settings if you can look at those on a TV were it works. Also are you sure you are trying it with a 4K capable cable like what came in the box, which may be the issue with longer standard (not premium or high speed) cables (see: 4K cables nonsense??)?

Thanks. Answers are ‘yes have tried that’ to all your suggestions - except I don’t know the spec of the in-wall cable. I think that’s my issue.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

eracode

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#2337444 15-Oct-2019 14:40

sittingduckz:

eracode:

This is a major disappointment for us because I really do want to ditch Sky - but we have no aerial and can only get FTA TV via Sky or IPTV. I will have to take the VTV back for a refund - very frustrating because this box is perfect for what we need. There is no practical way for us to have the VTV closer to the TV.

I’d be grateful for any suggestions before I take it back.

The remote is bluetooth so you set it up hidden behind the tv (if space & power allows) and then connect it via wifi. Unless I missed a detail in your post this should work :)

Thanks but it’s not a remote issue.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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eracode

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#2337446 15-Oct-2019 14:48

olof:

eracode:

I bought a VTV today, intending to use it to replace our Sky box (and cancel Sky). The Sky box is in a cupboard about 4m from our TV and is connected by an in-wall HDMI cable and it works fine.

I set up the VTV in the cupboard, Ethernet to router, unplugged the Sky HDMI and plugged the VTV HDMI into the wall socket. On the TV, I got a black and white Vodafone boot logo for a few seconds, which then disappeared - then nothing. Repeated tries and nothing different.

Then I put the VTV near the TV and plugged its HDMI directly into the TV (bypassing the in-wall HDMI). VTV started and I went through set-up, registration etc - all good.

Returned the VTV to the cupboard set-up and same old problem. Tried different HDMI cables between VTV and the wall socket - no change. It appears the VTV doesn’t like our in-wall cabling - even though Sky has no problem with it. TBH the actual length of HDMI cable is quite a bit longer than 4m due to down wall > under floor> back up wall.

This is a major disappointment for us because I really do want to ditch Sky - but we have no aerial and can only get FTA TV via Sky or IPTV. I will have to take the VTV back for a refund - very frustrating because this box is perfect for what we need. There is no practical way for us to have the VTV closer to the TV.

I’d be grateful for any suggestions before I take it back.

Interesting. The issue here is probably not the length of the HDMI cable, but the type. Is this a Standard, High Speed, or Premium HDMI cable? Noting that as per spec, Standard HDMI cables officially only supports up to 1080i, and High Speed or Premium are required for 1080p and 4K. Noting that SKY broadcasts in 1080i, and VodafoneTV streams in 1080p50 and 1080p25. If you can let us know what brand and type of cable you use, we can test in the lab and validate what the issue is.

Also, do you really need to put the VodafoneTV box in the cupboard? (I have my own VodafoneTV velcro-ed to the back of my TV. Works well with a small box that supports Bluetooth remote.) Understand of course, that if you have an AV receiver, this may not be an option for you.

Thanks. I have no idea of the type/spec of the HDMI cable - it was already in the house when we bought the house new four years ago. But I’m now pretty sure a too-low spec cable is the problem.

Although I originally said no way to put the VTV closer to the TV, I have now figured a way that I can do that (similar to your own solution). This means I will need to run VTV on WiFi rather than Ethernet but it should be OK. Thankfully a BT remote.

This now means that I can keep the VTV - not take it back.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

DjShadow

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#2337447 15-Oct-2019 14:51

Further to the Sound issue I was having yesterday, I think its mainly the Netflix app causing it as I can't hear any skipping watching broadcast TV.

Given the Soundbar kept flicking up the HDMI port number I thought it could of been a faulty cable but its new and the plugs are secure.

olof

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#2337455 15-Oct-2019 14:55

eracode:

Thanks. I have no idea of the type/spec of the HDMI cable - it was already in the house when we bought the house new four years ago. But I’m now pretty sure a too-low spec cable is the problem.

Although I originally said no way to put the VTV closer to the TV, I have now figured a way that I can do that (similar to your own solution). This means I will need to run VTV on WiFi rather than Ethernet but it should be OK. Thankfully a BT remote.

This now means that I can keep the VTV - not take it back.

Excellent and very happy to hear that you have found a solution! WiFi should work just as well as Ethernet, as long as you have decent WiFi signal.

Olof Olsson - my views are my own.

cyril7

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#2337457 15-Oct-2019 14:59

Hi, @eracode HDMI is constructed of four 100ohm transmission line pairs, why not put a female-female adaptor on each end then cut a 1m HDMI cable in half and by whatever means hook up a couple of pairs to give you a 100Mb/s ethernet circuit from the cupboard to the back of the TV, once done report back as to how it went.

Cyril

eracode

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#2337459 15-Oct-2019 15:05

I’m a little underwhelmed with the Guide that came with VTV. Having trouble with the interface because it doesn’t seem very intuitive and the instructions say very little about the UI. Eg how does MyTV work? I can’t see a way to add something to it. Is it meant to operate automatically if you don’t finish watching something?

Edit: Found MyTV works with On Demand. Was looking trying to do something on FTA channels. VTV came with a set-up guide - is there a UI Guide?

Also, if we turn the TV off without doing anything with VTV, when we turn the TV back on, the VTV video is frozen on the FTA channel we were watching previously but the audio is running in the background - and it’s not obvious how to get the video running again. Are you meant to turn VTV off before turning the TV off? I don’t understand this because the VTV and TV are connected only by HDMI and I don’t think there’s any CEC in play here.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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Apsattv

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#2337463 15-Oct-2019 15:11

Watching parliament tv via gen 1 box at this moment,

The sound is out of sync even thought ive unplugged and repowered it.

as previously noted

cyril7

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#2337467 15-Oct-2019 15:14

Apsattv:

Watching parliament tv via gen 1 box at this moment,

The sound is out of sync even thought ive unplugged and repowered it.

as previously noted

Possibly the source material is out of sync at a nationwide level???

Cyril

DjShadow

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#2337468 15-Oct-2019 15:15

I'm looking at Parliament TV now and it's very notable the sound is out of sync, maybe around 0.25 seconds?

eracode

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#2337469 15-Oct-2019 15:18

Apsattv:

Watching parliament tv via gen 1 box at this moment,

The sound is out of sync even thought ive unplugged and repowered it.

as previously noted

Just took a look to check and sync is fine on our Gen2.

Sometimes I just sit and think. Other times I just sit.

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