What I hate about UPC Television

CSU · 02-08-2012 4:36pm #1

So I've had UPC this past 6 months after being a Sky TV customer. Below is a list (not in comparison to Sky) of what really get's on my nerves about the UPC Set Top Box.

Poor Remote-Control Strength - even with new batteries the remote needs to be pointed directly at the box in order to work.
Cheap remote control - almost all I pick up have things broken inside and rattling about and really does look and feel 'cheap'
Layout and ergonomics of Remote control - can't tell if it's up or down or what in the dark and always find myself having to 'look' at the remote to see what's going on, also buttons are really uncomfortable to use and reach.
Slow loading of the TV Guide - three to five seconds is just too long to be waiting around for the guide, when scrolling down the guide the listings are always playing catch-up and leaves for a very slow clunky experience.
'Go To Info Channel' Bug - Sometimes when I hit the 'volume up' button on the Remote it will flash up '5', then hiccup and go to the 'UPC Info Channel'...VERY ANNOYING
'The OMG You Pressed The Guide Button TWICE!' Bug - press it twice, three seconds later the guide begins to load...two seconds later the box thinks about things and knocks the guide off - two seconds later the box has another think and then as if it just realizes that you might actually want to see the guide it brings the Guide BACK UP and begins to load (a mouth-full sorry, but also VERY ANNOYING!)

Im sure if I sat here longer I could list off a million reason why I hate UPC...anyone else this pissed off with this box of clunky indecisive garbage?

Jonny Drama · 02-08-2012 4:45pm

YES!! I am... The remote control is a cheap heap of junk, hense why you have to point it directly in front of the box!

What really pisses me off about UPC is when I'm scrolling through the quick guide, if I scroll say from RTE1 to RTE2 and so on, sometimes the programmes from the 1st channel are then showing for every channel so half the time I don't know what programmes are on!!!

Then there are the times it just freezes for no reason, and then cuts out, and takes about 2 mins for it to reload itself... By the time the guide is loaded you could have ran to the shop, bought the paper and checked the guide in that instead..

Sky is much better, I'm only with UPC for the price!

listermint · 02-08-2012 4:48pm

All valid concerns me thinks. I would say if they charged you for the actual box and didnt take it back after contract is up then they would probably get better equipment.

I used to hate my UPC box tbh.

Boom_Bap · 02-08-2012 4:54pm

The remote blows, the struggle to change a channel or get a response is dismal.

I don't even try to use the guide. Takes way too long to load, and scrolling though it is a challenge due to the poor responsiveness of the button presses on the remote.

And the random power cycles that it goes through as well are a pain. This is the one I have

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CSU · 02-08-2012 4:58pm

listermint wrote: »

All valid concerns me thinks. I would say if they charged you for the actual box and didnt take it back after contract is up then they would probably get better equipment.

I used to hate my UPC box tbh.

...not sure if it is the equipment tbh, it seems more like whoever designed and coded the firmware on the box was fresh out of tha luney bin or playschool:P

@Jonny Drama - it's quicker if you unplug the box when it freezes like that...flucking redonkulious I know...

Whats up with mine anyway - I mean...I went on the website there and seen a lovely black sleek lookin machine, when I opened the box during my 'self installation service < LoL' I saw they sent me a silver VCR...that's not right, is it?

Mellio · 02-08-2012 5:04pm

I have the HD box and low and behold the remote on this also is
a bag of sh*te.

Non responsive isnt the word, I would say an old 1980's tv remote would work quicker, shocking in this day and age.

I have had to change the box twice already so I am on my 3rd box and we are paying money every month for this.

but as previously suggested its the price and content you get for your money thats the key to staying with them.

4 simple reasons why for us:

1 Bill - 1 Direct Debit
HD Content for only €5 a month
ESPN/HD and Setanta/HD without having to get sky sports
Broadband and Calls as well

Sky should consider partnering with Eircom/Vodafone like they do with BT
if they want to corner more of the market, obvioulsy not that bothered about Irish customers even though they are setting up a new call centre here, time will tell.

icdg · 02-08-2012 7:30pm

listermint wrote: »

All valid concerns me thinks. I would say if they charged you for the actual box and didnt take it back after contract is up then they would probably get better equipment.

I used to hate my UPC box tbh.

That'd be a bad move. New customers would be left shouldering the cost of two or three boxes on install (maybe up to €800) and would be left with useless equipment when they cancelled. I'm not sure anyone would really benefit.

I'm not a big fan of the black remote either (though it is better than the small grey remotes NTL were supplying in later days). I don't mind the grey UPC remote. The channel changing bug is extremely annoying, however.

podgeandrodge · 03-08-2012 9:35am

Is this just my hd box - when you are rewinding or forwarding and then press play it jumps forward a few seconds first i.e. never plays exactly from where you stop?

Vunderground · 03-08-2012 2:41pm

podgeandrodge wrote: »

Is this just my hd box - when you are rewinding or forwarding and then press play it jumps forward a few seconds first i.e. never plays exactly from where you stop?

It's not just your box. Ours does the same and it can be very annoying.

SteM · 03-08-2012 7:37pm

Mellio wrote: »

Sky should consider partnering with Eircom/Vodafone like they do with BT
if they want to corner more of the market, obvioulsy not that bothered about Irish customers even though they are setting up a new call centre here, time will tell.

http://siliconrepublic.com/reports/item/28529-sky-broadband-and-sky-talk/

Sky Broadband and Sky Talk will be offering services across Ireland from later this year after the broadcaster struck a wholesale deal with BT Ireland. The move will see employment increase to 900 people at Sky’s operations in Ireland.

The move means thousands of consumers across Ireland will be able to unite their Sky TV services with a range of telecoms and broadband packages from Sky.

johnner09 · 04-08-2012 12:59am

SteM wrote: »

http://siliconrepublic.com/reports/item/28529-sky-broadband-and-sky-talk/

please god let the price wars begin:(

bayou · 06-08-2012 2:28pm

I'm a recent convert to UPC after 20 years of Sky. Initially, I just got the broadband, then added the HD box.

Its very slow to choose channels comparted to Sky and I get frequent picture freezes (one just before the 100m Final last night). But its way cheaper than Sky so I'll put up with it.

One thing that REALLY annoys me is the blanket advertising for 'On Demand' TV, the box sets and so on.

NOTE TO UPC....It DOESN'T work in Navan, and no one can tell me when it does. I'm sure its probably Dublin only at the moment and is bordering on false advertising to keep plugging it as they do.

CSU · 06-08-2012 2:35pm

bayou wrote: »

I'm a recent convert to UPC after 20 years of Sky. Initially, I just got the broadband, then added the HD box.

Its very slow to choose channels comparted to Sky and I get frequent picture freezes (one just before the 100m Final last night). But its way cheaper than Sky so I'll put up with it.

One thing that REALLY annoys me is the blanket advertising for 'On Demand' TV, the box sets and so on.

NOTE TO UPC....It DOESN'T work in Navan, and no one can tell me when it does. I'm sure its probably Dublin only at the moment and is bordering on false advertising to keep plugging it as they do.

...you think the adverts for 'On Demand TV' annoy you! My stupid bloody box keeps going to that stupid 'Info Channel' (the one where On Demand TV is advertised 24/7) 5 out of 10 times I press the volume up button!

...anywho, a little birdie told me Sky are entering the home BB market here in Ireland later this year - as I've no interest in Setanta I'll more than likely burn and dance on the UPC box when that happens

bayou · 06-08-2012 6:24pm

So far today, (its now 6.20pm), I've had 4 picture freezes, mostly during the Olympic coverage.

The latest one has been there for 5 minutes and even unplugging the power lead has not brought back a picture.

Getting really pissed off now, this rarely, if ever, happened with Sky

omerin · 06-08-2012 6:33pm

Have had to change 3 hd boxes so far with a 4th on the horizon (after 2 yrs) The image starts to pixelate, starts to lose channels one by one. Their boxes are crap. There is a lag on their remote, press it a couple of times and you will move passed the channel you want.

aphex™ · 06-08-2012 6:37pm

ALL of those bugs are why I refuse to get UPC. Tried it at a neighbour's place a few times. No way.

bayou · 06-08-2012 7:03pm

Rang UPC. Got nowhere. The guy was not hearing me when I said the house was unoccupied during the day, kept trying to arrange a service visit between 9 and 1 on Wednesday.

I hung up and fiddled with the box/connections myself. I was worried when I got the sound from Sky Sports on RTE 1, but it has eventually sorted itself out ....for now.

No doubt it'll go wallop again during the Olympics later

jimmycrackcorm · 07-08-2012 1:06am

I have one of the box/remotes for my bedroom that only works at night if you turn the room light on...

Eamo71 · 07-08-2012 1:23pm

CSU wrote: »

So I've had UPC this past 6 months after being a Sky TV customer. Below is a list (not in comparison to Sky) of what really get's on my nerves about the UPC Set Top Box.
Poor Remote-Control Strength - even with new batteries the remote needs to be pointed directly at the box in order to work.

Cheap remote control - almost all I pick up have things broken inside and rattling about and really does look and feel 'cheap'

Layout and ergonomics of Remote control - can't tell if it's up or down or what in the dark and always find myself having to 'look' at the remote to see what's going on, also buttons are really uncomfortable to use and reach.

Slow loading of the TV Guide - three to five seconds is just too long to be waiting around for the guide, when scrolling down the guide the listings are always playing catch-up and leaves for a very slow clunky experience.

'Go To Info Channel' Bug - Sometimes when I hit the 'volume up' button on the Remote it will flash up '5', then hiccup and go to the 'UPC Info Channel'...VERY ANNOYING

'The OMG You Pressed The Guide Button TWICE!' Bug - press it twice, three seconds later the guide begins to load...two seconds later the box thinks about things and knocks the guide off - two seconds later the box has another think and then as if it just realizes that you might actually want to see the guide it brings the Guide BACK UP and begins to load (a mouth-full sorry, but also VERY ANNOYING!)

Im sure if I sat here longer I could list off a million reason why I hate UPC...anyone else this pissed off with this box of clunky indecisive garbage?

Yes the remote is junk but I got an all for one/one for all remote in power city and it works a treat.
The new Horizon box coming early next year (fingers crossed) will be a monumental improvement on the current box(es).

bayou · 07-08-2012 10:15pm

Picture froze twice tonight. I missed the Michael Conlon fight as a result, and now its gone wallop again.

Seriously considering telling UPC to come and collect this heap of junk, its just not good enough.

I've had more problems in two months than in 20 years with Sky.

One further gripe. I opted for the HD box, but UPC DONT supply Sky Sports in HD

pm1977x · 07-08-2012 10:26pm

Mine has never frozen once on, but sometimes when I plug in the TV and box in the morning the box refuses to switch on no matter how close you hold the remote to it, mess with various buttons etc... just flat out refuses and usually have to turn it off at the wall and start again

also get the random channel 100 visits and the dreaded '5'

another bug-bear is trying to solve record time overlap conflicts, should be a one button fix but instead you have to go into the guide or 'my tv planner'

still, overall great value with the broadband

starviewadams · 07-08-2012 10:33pm

bayou wrote: »

Picture froze twice tonight. I missed the Michael Conlon fight as a result, and now its gone wallop again.

Seriously considering telling UPC to come and collect this heap of junk, its just not good enough.

I've had more problems in two months than in 20 years with Sky.

One further gripe. I opted for the HD box, but UPC DONT supply Sky Sports in HD

Sky won't let UPC carry their HD channels because it's the main reason a lot of people still subscribe to Sky,if they did a good amount of their customers would switch to UPC because it's cheaper.

It's clear on the UPC site that they don't offer any of the Sky channels in HD,it pays to do your homework when signing up for these services because the sales staff will tell you anything to make a sale.

http://www.upc.ie/television/hd/

bayou · 07-08-2012 10:52pm

OK, UPC, you have had your chance, Two more freezes in the last hour.

Ringing in the morning to cancel the contract. No doubt I'll meet with the '12 month deal' crap, you can't leave.

If that happens, I'm straight onto Comreg, Maybe if they spent some of their advertising budget on equipment that actually works.......

Mearings · 08-08-2012 1:21am

It is very difficult to control the radio channels without having the tv on as the UPC screen indicates 'Radio' only, not channels.
My stb (Cisco 8485) is conected to an amp as I find BBC + RTE Lyric fm
sound better this way compared to using a Roberts internet radio.
If turned off the box defaults to last played tv channel.

ted1 · 10-08-2012 11:29am

johnner09 wrote: »

please god let the price wars begin:(

They'll be using Eircoms Cable, so no competition. Untill they lay there own fibre or Eircom roll out fibre they'll be no where near as good as UPC

Mellio · 10-08-2012 11:52am

SteM wrote: »

http://siliconrepublic.com/reports/item/28529-sky-broadband-and-sky-talk/

Yes will be interesting to see what kind of packages they offer.

Does anyone know what BT Irelands Boradband and phone package is currently like?

B/Band Speed
Telephone offerings

Anyway we shall see in th future I guess.

Still cant see me giving up on UPC purely becuase you cant get ESPN/HD on sky unless you have the sports or pay €16 a month, robbery whne UPC can include as part of some of the basic packages.

Keith186 · 10-08-2012 12:21pm

I've a harmony one remote and it solves the first few issues. Not a cheap solution though.

As said above Sky's TV is better but UPC package is better overall and I think it will stay that way even when sky launch their triple play packages.

fishfortwo · 10-08-2012 2:26pm

starviewadams wrote: »

Sky won't let UPC carry their HD channels because it's the main reason a lot of people still subscribe to Sky,if they did a good amount of their customers would switch to UPC because it's cheaper.

It's clear on the UPC site that they don't offer any of the Sky channels in HD,it pays to do your homework when signing up for these services because the sales staff will tell you anything to make a sale.

http://www.upc.ie/television/hd/

They don't offer them currently.....

mollser · 10-08-2012 9:34pm

I received a marketing call about this.

The mass market package i was asked about was this:

€67.50 for 75 tv channels, 16mb broadband and 300 minutes of national landline calls.

i don't think its great compared to upc who,for an extra few Euro give double the channels, including espn and Setanta Ireland, double the broadband, free analogue multiroom and cheaper hd (albeit pretty crap compared to sky).

i don't know, its a good price point for sky, but not for me anyway.

Myrddin · 11-08-2012 12:46pm

The EPG/Guide is my single biggest problem with me. It's either horrifically unoptimised, or the processing power of the boxes is just farcical.

It's extremely slow, clunky, unresponsive, bug-ridden, & an absolute and total put off to use. I never use the guide because it's unuseable really.

I remember using certain Nokia dvb-c recievers nearly ten years ago which ran on a linux platform & they walked all over the UPC experience. Shocking stuff. The phone & broadband though is matched by nobody else though so what can you do

mike65 · 11-08-2012 1:05pm

I used to be a NTL customer for telly, ditched for an FTV/saorview mix. My sisters family had Sky for years but they've gone UPC mainly for its "triple play" aspect but as a tv service is really is poor stuff even for the price (the remote/EPG would put me off on its own). You'd really need to be a sport fan I think.

Sunny!! · 11-08-2012 1:28pm

Lack of channels (music in particular)
the noise the box makes when it randomly reboots:eek:
the guide takes way too long to come up
people might think this is rubbish but i think the picture quality is worse than sky
Lack of hd
Recording - sometimes the ending of a programme is not recorded
The Remote, just too big and awkward
Since the ondemand has launched nothing seems to be added
randomly reverting back to channel 100 the most annoying thing ever!!!!

However I would not revert back to sky, the multiroom and hd are far too expensive with sky compared to upc!

mike65 · 11-08-2012 11:46pm

Too often UPC has pixelation when anything fast happens on screen (esp if its red). That said some channels seem to have worse PQ than others in any event.

Ally Dick · 15-08-2012 12:10am

I used to have awful problems with pixellation, channels that I couldn't access e.g. temporarily unavailable, and also picture freezes, at least five times a night. That all stopped when I upgraded to the recorder box. Haven't had a bother since. Although I am happy enough with the service, I keep getting phone calls from UPC hounding me into possibly taking broadband and phone off them. I am getting mighty sick of it. I have warned them that if they keep it up, I'm off to Sky. However, with Sky getting into broadband and phone, they will start the hounding if I go over to them !

califano · 15-08-2012 11:35am

Another problem i have that hasnt been mentioned. When i set a programme reminder and the notification box pops up on screen when it becomes time when i press ok to go view the reminder programme and change the channel the screen freezes and i have to plug out and back in again to get back.

blindsider · 15-08-2012 12:47pm

Ally Dick wrote: »

I used to have awful problems with pixellation, channels that I couldn't access e.g. temporarily unavailable, and also picture freezes, at least five times a night. That all stopped when I upgraded to the recorder box. Haven't had a bother since. Although I am happy enough with the service, I keep getting phone calls from UPC hounding me into possibly taking broadband and phone off them. I am getting mighty sick of it. I have warned them that if they keep it up, I'm off to Sky. However, with Sky getting into broadband and phone, they will start the hounding if I go over to them !

I'm sure the pestering/hounding is annoying, but the BB is the best available. When Sky do offer bb, it will still be over eircom's awful, antiquated and unreliable network.

You get very used to having 30Mb BB I have to say.

bayou · 19-08-2012 7:28pm

Another issue with UPC, aside from the fact that I will be having my third engineers visit in 3 weeks on Tuesday morning. Picture still freezing, slow reaction time on remote and when you change channel you get the sound from original channel for 30 seconds.

Anyway, I have the HD box and a Sky Sports subscription. HOWEVER if I want to watch SS1 and 2 in HD, they want another tenner a month. All the other HD channels are seemingly included in the package, but no one told me about the extra for SS. I took it I would be getting it in HD for the price quoted.

If my picture is not sorted on Tuesday, I will look to have my contract cancelled and go cap in hand back to Sky.

Its not nearly good enough

Eamo71 · 21-08-2012 12:29pm

I was looking at some videos of the new UPC box due over her some time next year in Q1 or Q2 and it looks as if you'll be able to use your smartphone such as an iPhone as a remote. I'm also assuming that the remote with this new box will be superior to the current unresponsive one.

bronn · 21-08-2012 2:04pm

CSU wrote: »

'Go To Info Channel' Bug - Sometimes when I hit the 'volume up' button on the Remote it will flash up '5', then hiccup and go to the 'UPC Info Channel'...VERY ANNOYING

I can help you with this one and it works perfectly; lock out the Info Channel and it won't go there again. Even if it tries to, you just get a "this channel is locked" screen. Since I locked the Info Channel out, it never hopped back to it. Since I first did it, the menu may have changed around a bit, but you'll get the general idea from this.

First, set up a PIN which is useful so nobody can unlock channels. Go to;
Menu --> Settings --> PIN Settings --> put in your PIN of choice.

Once you've got your PIN in place, then go to;
Guide --> Settings (press the green button) --> Press OK --> To lock a channel press the yellow button --> Lock channel 100 --> No more irritating Info Channel.

Hope that works for you. It certainly did for me - couldn't tell you the last time I saw Info Channel or channel 3e or whatever is was called.

Wish I could help with the other stuff but I'll just have to add a massive "me too". I hate that stupid guide that takes forever to load and I also really miss the dual record feature.

shane. · 21-08-2012 6:37pm

Eamo71 wrote: »

I was looking at some videos of the new UPC box due over her some time next year in Q1 or Q2 and it looks as if you'll be able to use your smartphone such as an iPhone as a remote. I'm also assuming that the remote with this new box will be superior to the current unresponsive one.

if the rollout for the horizon box is anything like the rollout for the on demand service its gonna be an absolute mess

pm1977x · 21-08-2012 10:36pm

bronn wrote: »

I can help you with this one and it works perfectly; lock out the Info Channel and it won't go there again. Even if it tries to, you just get a "this channel is locked" screen. Since I locked the Info Channel out, it never hopped back to it. Since I first did it, the menu may have changed around a bit, but you'll get the general idea from this.

First, set up a PIN which is useful so nobody can unlock channels. Go to;
Menu --> Settings --> PIN Settings --> put in your PIN of choice.

Once you've got your PIN in place, then go to;
Guide --> Settings (press the green button) --> Press OK --> To lock a channel press the yellow button --> Lock channel 100 --> No more irritating Info Channel.

Hope that works for you. It certainly did for me - couldn't tell you the last time I saw Info Channel or channel 3e or whatever is was called. Wish I could help with the other stuff but I'll just have to add a massive "me too". I hate that stupid guide that takes forever to load and I also really miss the dual record feature.

Great idea, cheers!

theteal · 26-08-2012 1:19pm

I'm back over in the parents house for the weekend. In the time since I was previously here I contacted UPC to upgrade the TV equipment in the house as the folks still had the original NTL equipment from ~7 years ago which didn't have the new fancy features yet was still the same price as their monthly current tariffs. Also the remote controls were showing their age and starting to die.

I fear I may have made a grave error. Browsing the channels now is horrendous on the new boxes, it's sooooo slow. On the old set up, I'd just hit "browse" which gives the on screen channel list pop up and then hit "pg up" or "pg dwn" to get to the different sections i.e. movies, sports, radio etc. That's the way it was for years and it worked quickly and perfectly.

Now I'm finding that it's the painful situation of having to navigate through the channel list 1 by 1, am I doing something wrong? There is no browse button. 1st world problem I know but if worked perfectly why change it to make it a worse experience for users?

Cushie Butterfield · 26-08-2012 1:22pm

theteal wrote: »

There is no browse button. 1st world problem I know but if worked perfectly why change it to make it a worse experience for users?

There should be a Guide button, which has replaced the Browse button.

theteal · 26-08-2012 1:27pm

Cushie Butterfield wrote: »

There should be a Guide button, which has replaced the Browse button.

guide isn't the same, guide takes up the whole screen, the old system had guide too, very rarely used it. browse just brought up a pop up at the bottom of the screen. the page up and down button doesn't skip to the different sections in guide either.

CSU · 26-08-2012 1:28pm

Cushie Butterfield wrote: »

There should be a Guide button, which has replaced the Browse button.

...indeed, but what a load of rubbish it is.

Instead (I find) the best way to browse is to add them to your favourites and use the mini-guide pressing the blue button to access your favs.

...I don't watch more than ~10 channels so this works for me:)

Cushie Butterfield · 26-08-2012 2:04pm

theteal wrote: »

guide isn't the same, guide takes up the whole screen, the old system had guide too, very rarely used it. browse just brought up a pop up at the bottom of the screen. the page up and down button doesn't skip to the different sections in guide either.

Pressing the oK will give the now & next, & arrow down shows more. Arrow left & right for other channels. You can change what the guide shows by using the red search button & the green settings button. Page up & down on full guide skips by the hundred.

Cushie Butterfield · 26-08-2012 2:05pm

CSU wrote: »

...indeed, but what a load of rubbish it is.

Instead (I find) the best way to browse is to add them to your favourites and use the mini-guide pressing the blue button to access your favs.

...I don't watch more than ~10 channels so this works for me:)

Yep, favourites is probably the best option.

jack presley · 26-08-2012 2:08pm

I hate when you enter a channel number that doesn't exist or miss a digit or whatever and it automatically tunes to the Info page with that dick talking.

Why don't they just leave it on the channel you are on or the nearest one to the number you typed?

djimi · 26-08-2012 2:17pm

jack presley wrote: »

I hate when you enter a channel number that doesn't exist or miss a digit or whatever and it automatically tunes to the Info page with that dick talking.

Why don't they just leave it on the channel you are on or the nearest one to the number you typed?

These are the kind of things that annoy me about UPC. Its for the most part simple things that are immediately obvious as annoyances when using the system, but that they make no effort to resolve. The way the guide scrolls is just ridiculous; why on earth would you move the entire page around a bar when it would be simpler to just move the bar? Anyone who used the system for more than a minute would see how bad it is. Its like they dont do any user testing on their equipment/software before sending it out, or if they do its as if they dont listen to any feedback.

Cushie Butterfield · 26-08-2012 2:23pm

jack presley wrote: »

I hate when you enter a channel number that doesn't exist or miss a digit or whatever and it automatically tunes to the Info page with that dick talking.

Why don't they just leave it on the channel you are on or the nearest one to the number you typed?

Yes this really gets on my wick. Though after reading somewhere on boards recently (might even have been on this thread) I locked the info channel so as when it does go to it you just get the 'this channel is locked' screen, which is a lot less annoying than that annoying three tones & Craig Doyle.

Cushie Butterfield · 26-08-2012 2:28pm

Another annoying thing about the info channel: whenever you inadvertently end up there the red message button flashes leading you to believe that there is an important message about new channels or whatever available that you have not read, & then when you press it you find messages over a year old that you have already read.

I wouldn't mind being 'forced' to the info channel if there was a valid reason.

What I hate about UPC Television

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