Vodafone TV - new Gen2 box

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378 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2384397 2-Jan-2020 21:45

Tats:

Hi Ivan and liquidcore,

Thanks for your replies. The satellite is upstairs and the router downstairs both have the latest firmware - as does the VFTV. I don't have a long enough ethernet cable to really make any difference with connecting them up. We're in a rental with no structured wiring.

The Orbi is set up for 5GHz channel 48 (out of the choice of 36, 40, 44 48). Checked with Netspot to ensure it is a clear channel locally. Nearest in use is 44. Now also changed the 2.4GHz channel to a clear one, so will see what happens now.

Cheers

Hi @Tats You can't change the backhaul channels as they are assigned automatically and Gen2 VFTV can only use the 5GHz fronthaul channels.

Ivan Piacun CITPNZ

Tats

4 posts

Wannabe Geek

#2384399 2-Jan-2020 22:04

We're based in Auckland and looks like the 5GHz radars aren't used up here but what 5GHz channels normally get affected by Rain radar?

rogercruse

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#2384400 2-Jan-2020 22:05

Linux: ...Why would you even need to record it? Just select and play it from the planner...

We normally record most programs especially the 6pm news... and only start watching the recording after 15 or 20 minutes has been recorded...

We then start at the beginning and fast forward over the adverts and the boring stuff (e.g. all sports that aren't rugby or football).

IvanPiacun

378 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2384445 2-Jan-2020 22:21

Tats:

We're based in Auckland and looks like the 5GHz radars aren't used up here but what 5GHz channels normally get affected by Rain radar?

Ground weather radar, covering channels 114 (5570MHz), 118 (5590MHz), 120 (5600MHz), 122 (5610MHz), 124 (5620MHz), 126 (5630MHz) and 128 (5640MHz), operates at nine locations across New Zealand. These being Kaeo, Tamahunga, Mamaku, New Plymouth airport, Mahia, Outlook Hill (Wellington), Rakaia Trig, Blue Spur Range (Hokitika) and Invercargill Airport. If 5GHz Wi-Fi equipment is to be deployed in the vicinity of these 9 locations, it is highly recommended that these channels be avoided, as the weather radar is licenced for protection from interference. If your equipment causes any problems to these licenced services, compliance action may be taken against you.

Thus channels 36, 40, 44 and 48 are unlikely to be affected by ground weather radar.

Ivan Piacun CITPNZ

Rickles

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#2384457 2-Jan-2020 23:08

Here's a thought ...

The Vodafone TV device started out as a one-off purchase at $179, now reduced to $149, and available on special with several retails for $95.

As per this thread, the thing is flakey at best … almost unusable at worst. Presumably Vodafone receives a fee or portion of the retailers sales.

Also noted is that there is a Vodafone TV App available for free, BUT can only be used by those that have registered their Vodafone TV device.

Considering both the devices' recorded difficulties, and that a significant number of people like to watch TV using phones and tablets, why can't the Vodafone TV App be made available to Vodafone customers, even if for a small one-off, or inclusive in their not insubstantial monthly, fee?

alasta

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#2384478 3-Jan-2020 07:25

Rickles:

Considering both the devices' recorded difficulties, and that a significant number of people like to watch TV using phones and tablets, why can't the Vodafone TV App be made available to Vodafone customers, even if for a small one-off, or inclusive in their not insubstantial monthly, fee?

It sounds like most of the problems with the Vodafone TV box are actually related to the software and content cataloguing, so I'm not convinced that an app for a third party device would be any more reliable.

In an ideal world I would have preferred it if Vodafone had developed an Apple TV app rather than bastardising some standalone hardware from their overseas counterparts because then I would only need one device, but again, I don't know if the product delivery would have been any better in that scenario.

sbiddle

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#2384484 3-Jan-2020 08:16

Rickles:

Here's a thought ...

The Vodafone TV device started out as a one-off purchase at $179, now reduced to $149, and available on special with several retails for $95.

As per this thread, the thing is flakey at best … almost unusable at worst. Presumably Vodafone receives a fee or portion of the retailers sales.

Of course VF receive a portion of the sale - it's their product the retailer is selling.

I have to totally disagree about the product being flakey at best. I know a number of people who use this box and have zero problems with it.

Yes there are some software issues still and nobody denies that, and likewise their are issues with show recordings, but lots of the issues people are having are with their own setup and WiFi which is one of the unfortunate issues if you're going to try and run a device over WiFi that should not really be run over WiFi.

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MikeB4

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#2384485 3-Jan-2020 08:28

sbiddle:

Rickles:

Here's a thought ...

The Vodafone TV device started out as a one-off purchase at $179, now reduced to $149, and available on special with several retails for $95.

As per this thread, the thing is flakey at best … almost unusable at worst. Presumably Vodafone receives a fee or portion of the retailers sales.

Of course VF receive a portion of the sale - it's their product the retailer is selling.

I have to totally disagree about the product being flakey at best. I know a number of people who use this box and have zero problems with it.

Yes there are some software issues still and nobody denies that, and likewise their are issues with show recordings, but lots of the issues people are having are with their own setup and WiFi which is one of the unfortunate issues if you're going to try and run a device over WiFi that should not really be run over WiFi.

At the risk of being attacked again, not by you @sbiddle "flakey" is about the best and most polite term I could use to describe Vodafone TV based on my experience.

michaelmurfy

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#2384580 3-Jan-2020 13:21

To be perfectly honest I only have praise for what Vodafone are doing here. My VTV's have been rock solid (and so have my parents ones).

Parents are on VDSL (130/30Mbit sync mind you) and their 2 VTV devices have been great. Dad did mention that he had to reboot one of them a few times on an earlier firmware release but in general they've been great.

My experience just doesn't match up with what others are saying on here - I run a UniFi Wireless network at both my place and at my parents place, with Edgerouters doing the routing and one of my VTV's on Ethernet. Never once had stuttering, drop-offs or anything. Same with my parents - their experience has been much more reliable than the Satellite Freeview they replaced.

My lounge VTV device is on the Beta firmware and has been rock solid - stability has indeed improved over the last firmware releases.

I honestly think the majority of the problems are because people have crappy WiFi, are using DFS channels on their 5GHz networks or just rubbish internet. One of my AP's was using DFS channels (I live very close to the airport) and was channel swapping causing the VTV that was closest to this AP (before it was on Ethernet) to drop - this seriously sounds like what @MikeB4 is going through.

I know I am not the only one without major problems - many other people I know have had great success with them but most of those other people have either "real" wireless networks or are running them on Ethernet. I really do recommend them.

Michael Murphy | https://murfy.nz
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Apsattv

2388 posts

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#2384617 3-Jan-2020 14:26

I've had no issues with my Gen 1 unit connected via network cable.

MikeB4 you havn't followed up on my question. Is your device also having issues when using the netflix application?

Linux

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#2384620 3-Jan-2020 14:40

Rock solid Gen2 units for me and my parents

MikeB4

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#2384624 3-Jan-2020 14:47

@michaelmurfy please note, I am not using WiFi my VTV is connected via wired Ethernet to a gigabit port on the Orcon router. My internet is a contract speed and Rock solid.

Stu

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#2384656 3-Jan-2020 16:12

@MikeB4 I think you have the VTV I should've ended up with. I quite often end up with the one-in-a-million fizzer unit! Thankfully, other than a couple of occasional glitches, the two I have here are pretty rock solid (knocks on wood). If a factory reset doesn't fix things for you, I'd be requesting a replacement.

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alasta

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#2384698 3-Jan-2020 17:47

My network consists of a Vodafone Ultra Hub plugged into the ONT, and no other networking devices. If that is incompatible with the Vodafone TV in its out-of-the-box configuration then I would need a technician to come over and set it up for me. Vodafone is promoting this as a plug and play product, which seems like another example of computer nerds assuming that everyone has the same IT knowledge that they do.

Anyway, today I boxed up the Vodafone TV and put it in the storage shed. Maybe I'll have another go with it when I have more time, but in the meantime I'm using an Apple TV which seems to be much more reliable.

Benoire

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#2384704 3-Jan-2020 17:55

The whole vodafone TV thing seems like a great idea but why could it not be an app for an already existing device such as Android TVs or Apple tvOS etc. I would be happy to buy an app equiavelent to the price of the unit but my nVidia Shield has all the apps it needs and having a different box would just make things worse overall... Now if the vodafone TV box will get Disney+, Spark Sport, Youtube Kids etc. then it becomes more worthwhile as I could then ditch the Android TVs.

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