SteveC:
I'd noticed, but the UI has so many other problems that resolution was not worth getting bugged by. I'm pretty confident that even with a high-res interface, it would still be very hard to use. :-p
It doesn't allow me to 'record' or catch-up with 90% of what I watch, which is the implication of the advertising. :-(
Very pleased we didn't pay the $150 street price, or $170 retail for it.

prevaljo: ...It strikes me that the collective Geekzone wisdom has identified the following features or lack of for the VTV:...

 

4. Sky programs currently aren't HD and may never be, I don't know about the Freeview programs.

Just to avoid confusion for anyone considering the VTV, that's not correct.

Tech used: Broadlink RM3, Android app Broadlink Universal Remote version 23 June 2020, VTV 2nd Gen.

I read elsewhere someone was not able to get their Broadlink RM3 to learn or use the IR codes for the VTV 2nd Gen remote. I've had the same issue. So far:

Disabled the VTV Remote bluetooth so that it only operates using infrared. Then went through the procedure for the RM3 to learn the codes. While the RM3 appears to learn the codes. None of them work. Tested the same with the learning remote for an Onkyo amp. Codes all learnt and work OK.

I rang Broadlink in Australia. They wanted to know what the IR frequency range was for the VTV. I've logged a call with Vodafone NZ to find this out as haven't found it in the VTV system information nor anywhere online. Once I have this Broadlink Australia said to forward this info on and they'll have a look at what the issue is and what might resolve it.

I suspect from the above that it's going to be that the RM3 doesn't cover the IR frequency range used by the VTV. Will post again once I have a response from Broadlink.

perplu:

 

Tech used: Broadlink RM3, Android app Broadlink Universal Remote version 23 June 2020, VTV 2nd Gen.

 

I read elsewhere someone was not able to get their Broadlink RM3 to learn or use the IR codes for the VTV 2nd Gen remote. I've had the same issue. So far:

 

Disabled the VTV Remote bluetooth so that it only operates using infrared. Then went through the procedure for the RM3 to learn the codes. While the RM3 appears to learn the codes. None of them work. Tested the same with the learning remote for an Onkyo amp. Codes all learnt and work OK.

 

I rang Broadlink in Australia. They wanted to know what the IR frequency range was for the VTV. I've logged a call with Vodafone NZ to find this out as haven't found it in the VTV system information nor anywhere online. Once I have this Broadlink Australia said to forward this info on and they'll have a look at what the issue is and what might resolve it.

 

I suspect from the above that it's going to be that the RM3 doesn't cover the IR frequency range used by the VTV. Will post again once I have a response from Broadlink.

 

@perplu @sansom Might be able to answer this and I am sure it's was covered in this thread already

All Sky channels simply aren't HD so not possible to see them in HD, check the bitrate. Also, of those that Sky stream in HD, Comedy Central, MTV, BBC UKTV, BBC Earth, Nat Geo and MTV Music are being streamed on VTV in SD, 576i at 2.559 Mbps. Check the bitrate.

MikeB4:

@freitasm I just tested it watching Grand Tour Mongolia special and it reports that it is in HDR Ultra HD and the same with Jack Ryan

Spyware:

 

All Sky channels simply aren't HD so not possible to see them in HD, check the bitrate. Also, of those that Sky stream in HD, Comedy Central, MTV, BBC UKTV, BBC Earth, Nat Geo and MTV Music are being streamed on VTV in SD, 576i at 2.559 Mbps. Check the bitrate.

 

@sansom can you provide any indication when the above channels will be upgraded to HD on VTV?

DjShadow:

 

Spyware:

 

All Sky channels simply aren't HD so not possible to see them in HD, check the bitrate. Also, of those that Sky stream in HD, Comedy Central, MTV, BBC UKTV, BBC Earth, Nat Geo and MTV Music are being streamed on VTV in SD, 576i at 2.559 Mbps. Check the bitrate.

 

 

@sansom can you provide any indication when the above channels will be upgraded to HD on VTV?

 

Hi @DjShadow, no timeline yet. 

Regarding the discussion on technicalities around HD v SD, I'd like to also discuss perceived picture quality.  VTV receives very high average user scores for picture quality, with many users reporting, unprompted, just how clear/crisp they find the picture with no rain fade or atmospheric interference.

In terms of channel streaming rates: VTV streams the most popular channels (TV1, 2, 3 etc, Sky Sports etc) at 6Mbps, and the average bit rate for all streams across all channels is just below 6Mbps.  This is because the channels that are watched by the majority of users the majority of the time are streamed at a very good 6Mbps quality.  The lower bit rate streams just aren't nearly as popular, and so the average stream rate stays close to 6Mbps.  However, we will upgrade the less watched channels as soon as we can justify this relative to other priorities. 

@Spyware, if you're getting lower than 6Mbps on TV1 or Sky Sports 1, for example, then there must be an issue with your VTV/setup?  Or are you saying you don't believe 6Mbps is good enough? 

Linux:

 

perplu:

 

Tech used: Broadlink RM3, Android app Broadlink Universal Remote version 23 June 2020, VTV 2nd Gen.

 

I read elsewhere someone was not able to get their Broadlink RM3 to learn or use the IR codes for the VTV 2nd Gen remote. I've had the same issue. So far:

 

Disabled the VTV Remote bluetooth so that it only operates using infrared. Then went through the procedure for the RM3 to learn the codes. While the RM3 appears to learn the codes. None of them work. Tested the same with the learning remote for an Onkyo amp. Codes all learnt and work OK.

 

I rang Broadlink in Australia. They wanted to know what the IR frequency range was for the VTV. I've logged a call with Vodafone NZ to find this out as haven't found it in the VTV system information nor anywhere online. Once I have this Broadlink Australia said to forward this info on and they'll have a look at what the issue is and what might resolve it.

 

I suspect from the above that it's going to be that the RM3 doesn't cover the IR frequency range used by the VTV. Will post again once I have a response from Broadlink.

 

 

@perplu @sansom Might be able to answer this and I am sure it's was covered in this thread already

 

@Olof created the VTV profile for the Logitec Harmony remote so can supply all the codes and maybe some other information on frequencies etc. 

freitasm:

MikeB4:

 

@freitasm I just tested it watching Grand Tour Mongolia special and it reports that it is in HDR Ultra HD and the same with Jack Ryan

 

Just to confirm, I have replaced my Fire TV gen 1 with a new Fire TV Cube and videos play in 4K (tested with John Wick on Prime and a Netflix series) so I think it must be something with the Vodafone TV.

 

Never mind - today it's playing in 4K... Strange.

 

Hi @DjShadow, no timeline yet. 

 

Must admit, I would be much more inclined to watch Nat Geo and BBC Earth etc if they were in HD. I avoid them because there is a significant difference in picture quality on a OLED tv. Focus most of my viewing to Discovery and Discovery Turbo, not just because of the programming and content, but also for the mere fact that the viewing experience is far superior in HD.

I just wonder how many other VTV users are in the same boat, hence your figures are skewed by the fact that we are all avoiding watching non HD channels?

Same here, I simply avoid the SD channels. BBC Earth and BBC UKTV could be my favorite channels. Channels like Jones, in the days of Sky's mpeg2 doolally, were so atrocious re: quality I'm not sure how they, Sky, even considered them fit to broadcast. Also reminds me of the atrocity of the composite out from Sky decoders being sold as "digital" by TelstraClear. Sadly I've been in the room where this technical debauchery happened.

Spyware:

 

All Sky channels simply aren't HD so not possible to see them in HD, check the bitrate. Also, of those that Sky stream in HD, Comedy Central, MTV, BBC UKTV, BBC Earth, Nat Geo and MTV Music are being streamed on VTV in SD, 576i at 2.559 Mbps. Check the bitrate.

 

@Spyware your right it appears a lot of the Sky Entertainment channels are not broadcast in HD with a reasonable streaming bit rate and that is why we don't look at them as much as we used to and why I didn't realise that was the case. @Sansom Vodafone TV is doing these channels an injustice and I believe people would look at them more if they were in HD at a reasonable streaming  bit rate.