Vodafone TV retirement plan: September 2022

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231 posts

Master Geek

#2831185 13-Dec-2021 09:07

sansom:

GSVNoFixedAbode:

@Sansom

Hamish, can we appeal to your/Vodafone's Corporate Responsibility, and beg for the option to be able to re-flash these* for those who did not purchase them? At our own risk, naturally. There will be a lot of these units that were bundled with the service provision like mine, that will end up as e-waste otherwise. That would be a good way to keep the otherwise-solid hardware living on.

[Edit] *Or provide enough information on the hardware for the community to come up with a solution.

Okay, plea heard. I'll investigate. Can't promise anything, mind, as the operating system bootloader is owned and controlled by Vodafone Group. The bootloader is the very short piece of code that loads the operating system and shows the large grey Vodafone logo very briefly before the red Vodafone logo swoosh and start up tune. I know they will be pretty hard to shift on allowing anyone to change the bootloader, but I'll try.

.... boxed coming up EoL.

Can this issue be revisited for more general purpose use?

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#2831322 13-Dec-2021 11:59

freakalad:

.... boxed coming up EoL.

Can this issue be revisited for more general purpose use?

It's all covered in this thread.

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invisibleman18

1341 posts

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#2831323 13-Dec-2021 12:00

sbiddle:

100% disagree.

Android TV has full support for IPTV channels through the live channels app which is already used for live TV. If you have an Android TV powered TV and don't have an aerial connection and want FTA channels I could talk anybody with no technical knowledge though setting this up in under 10 mins - I know that because I've done precisely that over the phone before. You only need to install a single app from the Play store and enter a single URL to configure everything. Watching live TV and using the EPG is exactly the same as it would be if you had plugged the TV into an aerial so the WAF is identical, and it's as reliable as your internet connection.

An Android TV STB might take slightly longer because not all have the Google Live Channels app installed by default.

Of course for people who want to fiddle the opportunities are endless, but to suggest that an Android TV powered TV (or a reputable Android TV box) does not deliver a simple easy to use solution for viewing FTA channels via streaming is simply not true, and I can only assume both of you only have this view because you've never actually done this.

Of course there is a lot more you can do that requires a lot more knowledge where the opportunities become limitless, and it is disappointing that Freeview don't publish their own Android app to allow streaming but have chosen to partner with Dish TV.

Slightly off topic maybe, but are there any particular Android TV boxes you would recommend for this option - don't have an Android TV so I assume a box would be the cheaper/easier option to get past my wife rather than replace the perfectly good TV. Waiting to see what the Sky offering is to replace VTV since I have gen 1 bundled with my broadband, but keen to research this option a bit further in the mean time to see if it would work for us. I should be able to set everything up, but it would need to be something my wife can just switch on and it works.

blackjack17

1695 posts

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#2831378 13-Dec-2021 12:15

invisibleman18:

sbiddle:

100% disagree.

Android TV has full support for IPTV channels through the live channels app which is already used for live TV. If you have an Android TV powered TV and don't have an aerial connection and want FTA channels I could talk anybody with no technical knowledge though setting this up in under 10 mins - I know that because I've done precisely that over the phone before. You only need to install a single app from the Play store and enter a single URL to configure everything. Watching live TV and using the EPG is exactly the same as it would be if you had plugged the TV into an aerial so the WAF is identical, and it's as reliable as your internet connection.

An Android TV STB might take slightly longer because not all have the Google Live Channels app installed by default.

Of course for people who want to fiddle the opportunities are endless, but to suggest that an Android TV powered TV (or a reputable Android TV box) does not deliver a simple easy to use solution for viewing FTA channels via streaming is simply not true, and I can only assume both of you only have this view because you've never actually done this.

Of course there is a lot more you can do that requires a lot more knowledge where the opportunities become limitless, and it is disappointing that Freeview don't publish their own Android app to allow streaming but have chosen to partner with Dish TV.

Slightly off topic maybe, but are there any particular Android TV boxes you would recommend for this option - don't have an Android TV so I assume a box would be the cheaper/easier option to get past my wife rather than replace the perfectly good TV. Waiting to see what the Sky offering is to replace VTV since I have gen 1 bundled with my broadband, but keen to research this option a bit further in the mean time to see if it would work for us. I should be able to set everything up, but it would need to be something my wife can just switch on and it works.

I have an older version of one of these - mibox

It just works, Netflix/apple tv/amazon prime work great, plex keeps changing their interface but when it works it works fine.

Kodi if you have a large library will need extra storage (for the library database), you can add a usb stick and configure as onboard storage, otherwise it slows it right down..

Youtube works great.

Plus it is tiny and has Chromecast built in.

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SteveC

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#2831833 14-Dec-2021 07:59

@blackjack17:
I have an older version of one of these - mibox

It just works, Netflix/apple tv/amazon prime work great, plex keeps changing their interface but when it works it works fine.

Kodi if you have a large library will need extra storage (for the library database), you can add a usb stick and configure as onboard storage, otherwise it slows it right down..

Youtube works great.

Plus it is tiny and has Chromecast built in.

Does look good - rave reviews on PBTech. Does your one run Freeview? From the comments it appears they couldn't last year, but can now.
@invisibleman18 - seems to me that the big thing you lose with any of the 'easy to use' options is recording. Pain if you like recording movies to watch later, as they are seldom available on demand. (Vodafone currently do the recording for us!)
We would also miss being able to record then watch Newshub 6pm news starting between 6:15 and 7pm or so. It's only available on demand after it has been broadcast on +1 (8pm).
Here is an old review.
That reviewer also says this rather expensive device is the best - Nvidia Shield.

invisibleman18

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#2831866 14-Dec-2021 09:00

That does look good, can it also run the live FTA channels as per VTV?

Also the page lists a method for sideloading Spark Sport (not sure why the app can't be installed the regular away as it looks to have Google Play access) but some of the recent reviews say that method no longer works. Can Spark Sport still be installed on it?

01EG

602 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2831872 14-Dec-2021 09:09

invisibleman18:

That does look good, can it also run the live FTA channels as per VTV?

I don't think so.

But probably if someone can explain how this device works https://www.dishtv.co.nz/A7070 , according to spec this device has FreeviewTV and LAN/WiFi but I'm not if it can access the FreeviewTV through the internet connection or it works only through Satellite/Terrestrial

freitasm

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#2831882 14-Dec-2021 09:45

Yes, you can - read @sbiddle's post in previous pages. He thinks it's easy 🙄

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Rickles

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#2831884 14-Dec-2021 09:55

>But probably if someone can explain how this device works https://www.dishtv.co.nz/A7070 , according to spec this device has FreeviewTV and LAN/WiFi but I'm not if it can access the FreeviewTV through the internet connection or it works only through Satellite/Terrestrial<

That device does seem to be the closest equivalent of the VFTV right now.

freitasm

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#2831887 14-Dec-2021 09:59

@01EG:

But probably if someone can explain how this device works https://www.dishtv.co.nz/A7070 , according to spec this device has FreeviewTV and LAN/WiFi but I'm not if it can access the FreeviewTV through the internet connection or it works only through Satellite/Terrestrial

Just scroll down on that page:

"The SmartVU+ is a Freeview Certified Receiver for use with a UHF Aerial, OR Satellite Dish. Access a great range of channels broadcast nationwide. So that no matter where you are, you can enjoy quality TV and Radio. Freeview Live TV channels are also streamed to you through the SmartVU+ so you can enjoy them without a UHF Aerial or Satellite Dish."

Basically, it covers terrestrial, satellite and streaming.

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floydbloke

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#2831940 14-Dec-2021 10:15

Rickles:

>But probably if someone can explain how this device works https://www.dishtv.co.nz/A7070 ... if it can access the FreeviewTV through the internet connection ...<

@Rickles

Yes you can. It's also an Android box and it comes with the Netflix, TVNZ and Freeview apps pre-installed (at least mine did) and it's a Chromecast as well.

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allan

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#2831986 14-Dec-2021 11:34

Rickles:

>But probably if someone can explain how this device works https://www.dishtv.co.nz/A7070 , according to spec this device has FreeviewTV and LAN/WiFi but I'm not if it can access the FreeviewTV through the internet connection or it works only through Satellite/Terrestrial<

That device does seem to be the closest equivalent of the VFTV right now.

As others have said, yes it does both. We have one installed in a holiday home (connected to an old analogue channel only TV - such cast-offs always end up there), with terrestrial local TV and Android TV apps for Netflix, Acorn TV, TVNZ On Demand, Sport, YouTube etc etc. We find it works quite okay.

Never tried it, but there is this thread detailing how to record from it using an undocumented pre-installed app -

https://www.geekzone.co.nz/forums.asp?forumid=83&topicid=282696

sansom

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#2832016 14-Dec-2021 12:06

kg1:

@sansom

Hi Hamish

Please determine when this message first appeared on my TBox:

If you are unable to find a record of this message please provide your best guess.

Kevin Gordon

Hi Kevin,

So that it doesn't confuse others, I should note that this thread relates to the VTV transfer to Sky and retirement, not T-box.

But in answer to your challenge: the Tbox closure message first appeared on 24 May. There were a number of other closure direct communications prior and post this date. Happy to discuss the specifics and exact dates of all our communications as they relate to your service directly if you contact me at hamish.sansom1@vodafone.com.

Regards

Hamish

01EG

602 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2832019 14-Dec-2021 12:19

freitasm:

Just scroll down on that page:

"The SmartVU+ is a Freeview Certified Receiver for use with a UHF Aerial, OR Satellite Dish. Access a great range of channels broadcast nationwide. So that no matter where you are, you can enjoy quality TV and Radio. Freeview Live TV channels are also streamed to you through the SmartVU+ so you can enjoy them without a UHF Aerial or Satellite Dish."

Basically, it covers terrestrial, satellite and streaming.

Yeah, its confusing description, why not just to say

"The SmartVU+ is a Freeview Certified Receiver for use with a UHF Aerial OR Satellite Dish OR streamed to you through the SmartVU+"

or something like that

Apsattv

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#2832978 15-Dec-2021 16:53

The smartvu in NO way whatsoever compares to Vodafones TV unit

Interesting just saw this, totally agree. Please keep the box operating as a basic linear tv unit! I dont need the cloud recording or the app support or anything else. Though the 3 day rewind is handy.

https://thespinoff.co.nz/tv/15-12-2021/a-plea-to-vodafones-corporate-overlords-please-dont-kill-your-little-black-box

Can we have a a new thread here ? maybe title it Vodafone TV project.

For those exploring options of moving the box towards something community based?

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