Vodafone TV Intro

Forums › One NZ (including Farmside) › Vodafone TV Intro

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5

2460 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 727

#2040180 19-Jun-2018 08:46

MikeHales: Linux not Android

Interesting I would of thought it would be android o.s based like other stb "puck" units allowing for easy porting of Android version apks

chiefie

I iz your trusted friend
5877 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 151

Retired Mod

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

#2040924 20-Jun-2018 10:53

So... any reason why Vodafone TV isn't on FibreX Max?!

Internet is my backyard...

«Geekzone blog: Tech 'n Chips Takeaway» «Personal blog: And then...»

Please read the Geekzone's FUG

TG09

244 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 16

#2045347 28-Jun-2018 11:51

I've been considering going for this, getting the basic is it really worth it over normal FreeView TV?

WyleECoyoteNZ

1055 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 372

#2045452 28-Jun-2018 12:38

I looked into the idea of Vodafone TV yesterday, and I'd be worse off Financially each month, e.g. it would cost me more each money to switch to Vodafone TV.

I currently have the old Vodafone T-Box, in fact mines so old it still has the TelstraClear logo on it. Ok, the T-Box isn't brilliant, but it still works.

The Package I currently have and pay for is the FibreX200 internet, via the cable, Sky Basic (old basic, which was your base less Sport, movies, etc) and landline.

I spoke with one of the staff at Vodafone on Lambton Quay yesterday, and to get the same channels as I have now, I'd need to buy the Vodafone TV Premium package, normally $189.99, and not have the Sky movie, which would save me $10 a month. That is still more, by about $10 than what i pay now.

To the salesperson's credit, i was informed I could save another $10 a month off the above package, if i took up one of the Vodafone on account packages starting a $39.95. Doing so, would then double with monthly mobile charges.

Things then got less attractive by being informed that now Vodafone TV does away with the 'Christmas Tree' modem that is attached to the T-box, but the Vodafone TV box then needs to be connected to the Vodafone supplied modem\router. Ok, the new one is better (so I'm told) than the Huawei HG659 I'm currently using, but as the T-Box and Christmas tree are split off the cable it's and existing plug coming through the floor.

As I rent, and where the main internet traffic modem\router is located is across the lounge from the T-box & Christmas tree cable, the proposal from Vodafone isn't very attractive. Ok, this isn't Vodafone's problem, but mine, but is serious factor to be considered.

The final thing is with my T box, I can record whatever channel i have access to that I want, but recording on Vodafone is not available on all content. Again, this isn't Vodafone's doing, but the content provider.

So in summary moving to Vodafone TV from the old T-box:

1) It will cost me more

2) I'll get less usability\functionality

So it's a no brainer to stay on my current plan until such time as I have to change.

In my way of thinking, Vodafone should be doing all they can, and making it as attractive as they can to the customer to change. It's better for them as then they're only supporting 1 way of delivering there services, not 2.

Oh well.

quickymart

14964 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 14003

ID Verified

#2045692 28-Jun-2018 17:22

They don't supply the old Saturn boxes anymore eh? I had one of those in 2001 and it just received TV channels. No recording capability and it worked perfectly.

mclean

584 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 182

Subscriber

#2046031 29-Jun-2018 13:50

WyleECoyoteNZ: ….So in summary moving to Vodafone TV from the old T-box:

1) It will cost me more

2) I'll get less usability\functionality

So it's a no brainer to stay on my current plan until such time as I have to change.

I've just switched to Vodafone TV. It can do more than a T-Box, but if you're a seasoned T-Box user there's some things that will really annoy you, like:

You can't bring up the programme guide with a single key - on the Vodafone TV it's 6 key presses to get to the guide as you know it on the T-Box.

The guide always opens at channel 1, instead of at the channel you are watching. So if you're watching a sports channel and you want to quickly check what's happening on the other sports channels it's a full navigation exercise.

There's no "favourites" filter to hide channels you never watch. To get to high-numbered channels you have to scroll down through every channel. There's a page-down key but a page is only 5 channels. So to bring up say the Discovery Turbo (channel 305) on the guide takes 22 key presses! There are some pre-defined guide filters, but you have you memorise which filter your channel is in - OK for sports and movies, but not so easy for the others.

The "back" key doesn't take you to your previous channel. On the T-Box, if you detest ads you can flick to an alternate channel while the ads are on then back again. Not possible on the Vodafone TV.

This is a big one for me - you can't fast-forward with pictures. To skip an add break you have to guess how long it will be, which never quite works. For something like an F1 race where the race start might be an hour into the recording there's just no easy way to fast-forward directly to the start, like you can on the T-Box.

You can't simply click on a future program to set a reminder notification like you can on the T-Box. You can record it but there's no reminder.

If you use a Harmony remote, the Vodafone TV box isn't in the Logitech database, so it seems you have to resort to key-by-key learning to program it.

There's some good things like being able to watch catch-up programmes. The Netflix app is usable and handy. The YouTube app is fine, but not quite as good as a browser. Overall, I miss my old T-Box.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

MikeHales

615 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 213

Trusted

#2046040 29-Jun-2018 14:09

@mclean

Thanks for that considered feedback, fair points throughout and shame that overall you miss the T-Box. Apart from visual scrubbing what would change that for you?

floydbloke

3649 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 4557

ID Verified

#2046063 29-Jun-2018 15:17

mclean:...

This is a big one for me - you can't fast-forward with pictures. To skip an add break you have to guess how long it will be, which never quite works. For something like an F1 race where the race start might be an hour into the recording there's just no easy way to fast-forward directly to the start, like you can on the T-Box.

...

I can't help but believe that this, together without having the ability to record TV 1 & 2 (thus having to use the TVNZ app), is purely by design to force the viewer to watch poxy ads. I'll stick with my MySky for as long as I can.

Sometimes I use big words I don't always fully understand in an effort to make myself sound more photosynthesis.

Wiggum

1199 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 472
Inactive user

#2046074 29-Jun-2018 15:30

floydbloke:

mclean:...

This is a big one for me - you can't fast-forward with pictures. To skip an add break you have to guess how long it will be, which never quite works. For something like an F1 race where the race start might be an hour into the recording there's just no easy way to fast-forward directly to the start, like you can on the T-Box.

...

I can't help but believe that this, together without having the ability to record TV 1 & 2 (thus having to use the TVNZ app), is purely by design to force the viewer to watch poxy ads. I'll stick with my MySky for as long as I can.

Agree, thats part of the reason we have not yet thrown out the faithful old Tivo (recently upgraded to a 2TB Disk). We have used the TV3/TVNZ apps on occasion when a recording is missed. What a pain it is to be forced to sit through those adverts..

MikeB4

MikeB4
18777 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 12769

ID Verified

Trusted

Subscriber

#2046096 29-Jun-2018 16:02

@chiefie I too have wondered why Vodafone TV is not available with the Fibre X max service. It seems odd to limit those on Fibre X who want the TV to a maximum of 200gb service. Maybe @MikeHales could throw some light on this?

Here is a crazy notion, lets give peace a chance.

mclean

584 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 182

Subscriber

#2046117 29-Jun-2018 16:58

MikeHales: Thanks for that considered feedback, fair points throughout and shame that overall you miss the T-Box. Apart from visual scrubbing what would change that for you?

If you're asking what would it take for me to prefer the Vodafone TV then I suppose the "video scrubbing" and the ability to simplify the navigation by hiding unwatched channels would do it. The other things I would still miss, but that would probably swing it for me.

I really think the main page should be more guide-centric, but I realise that's a personal preference and would be quite a change to the interface.

The reason I changed to the Vodafone TV (in ignorance of the other things) was that my T-Box was crapping out again - probably my 5th one I think - so a technology upgrade seemed a good thing to do. If it proves to be reliable that will be a very big plus - so far so good. Also like the router very much.

Dell

Shop now for Dell laptops and other devices (affiliate link).

TG09

244 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 16

#2047180 2-Jul-2018 08:11

mclean:

WyleECoyoteNZ: ….So in summary moving to Vodafone TV from the old T-box:

1) It will cost me more

2) I'll get less usability\functionality

So it's a no brainer to stay on my current plan until such time as I have to change.

I've just switched to Vodafone TV. It can do more than a T-Box, but if you're a seasoned T-Box user there's some things that will really annoy you, like:

You can't bring up the programme guide with a single key - on the Vodafone TV it's 6 key presses to get to the guide as you know it on the T-Box.

The guide always opens at channel 1, instead of at the channel you are watching. So if you're watching a sports channel and you want to quickly check what's happening on the other sports channels it's a full navigation exercise.

There's no "favourites" filter to hide channels you never watch. To get to high-numbered channels you have to scroll down through every channel. There's a page-down key but a page is only 5 channels. So to bring up say the Discovery Turbo (channel 305) on the guide takes 22 key presses! There are some pre-defined guide filters, but you have you memorise which filter your channel is in - OK for sports and movies, but not so easy for the others.

The "back" key doesn't take you to your previous channel. On the T-Box, if you detest ads you can flick to an alternate channel while the ads are on then back again. Not possible on the Vodafone TV.

This is a big one for me - you can't fast-forward with pictures. To skip an add break you have to guess how long it will be, which never quite works. For something like an F1 race where the race start might be an hour into the recording there's just no easy way to fast-forward directly to the start, like you can on the T-Box.

You can't simply click on a future program to set a reminder notification like you can on the T-Box. You can record it but there's no reminder.

If you use a Harmony remote, the Vodafone TV box isn't in the Logitech database, so it seems you have to resort to key-by-key learning to program it.

There's some good things like being able to watch catch-up programmes. The Netflix app is usable and handy. The YouTube app is fine, but not quite as good as a browser. Overall, I miss my old T-Box.

Good summary, i wont get Vodafone TV for the time being. At lot of what you have said regarding the navigation and the amount of key presses to get to a channel seems very lazy programming in making Vodafone TV.

In this day you would think making switching channels and using apps would be easier.

Grunta47

97 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 41

#2047764 2-Jul-2018 18:20

Hi McLean

There are a couple of shortcuts you can use.

'You can't bring up the programme guide with a single key - on the Vodafone TV it's 6 key presses to get to the guide as you know it on the T-Box' - by hitting the down or up button (around the OK) it takes you straight into a basic type of guide and shows the channels and next 3 shows.

'There's no "favourites" filter to hide channels you never watch. To get to high-numbered channels you have to scroll down through every channel. There's a page-down key but a page is only 5 channels. So to bring up say the Discovery Turbo (channel 305) on the guide takes 22 key presses! There are some pre-defined guide filters, but you have you memorise which filter your channel is in - OK for sports and movies, but not so easy for the others.' - when you go into the guide, or the up/down button you can go to whatever channel you want, eg I may be watching sport on 100, hit the down button and the guide opens at 100. Push 3 and the guide goes to channel 3, but the TV channel itself doesnt change unless I hit OK.

While it takes a few button pushes to get to the guide (counted 4, not 6) I dont ever use it as its easier just to hit the up/down buttons around the OK.

I agree that the Back button and fast forward are a pain. Reminders would be good, though not something Ive used as I just record and watch when I want to, or with a lot of shows you can timeslip watch even though you havent been on that channel.

Hopefully those tips makes your experience a bit better.

Cheers

psychnurse

329 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 37

ID Verified

Trusted

#2049136 4-Jul-2018 16:44

How does the box compare to a Mysky box with regards speed of channel changing?

invisibleman18

1420 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 427

#2050400 6-Jul-2018 11:56

Also interested comparisons to MySky. Am b Vodafone fibre with MySky and my 12 month deal is up this month so they called me yesterday with a new offer of Vodafone TV with the same channels I currently get (basic plus sport) plus Soho for cheaper than I pay now, with sport free for the first 6 months too. Sounded a good deal but wondering whether it's worth changing from MySky.

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5