Horizon TV- Awful?

25-03-2014 4:17am

Had to stop myself bouncing my horizion box off the wall earlier. It really can be a terrible piece of crap. Recorded The Pope Must Die and during playback the picture froze 27 times, sound dropped out 14 times, the screen had green lines through it on 6 occasions, screen went black 4 times and it was completely out of synch for most of the run time.

Recorded Get Carter last night and after the debacle of The Pope Must Die felt that watching one of my all time favourite films would be a good idea. Sadly it was every bit the horrible experience. Sound repeatedly disappeared, picture froze, etc.

I tried 7 HDMI cables, 2 TVs, 2monitirs and even brought the box over to a friends to try it and each time had the same issues. It really does seem as if UPC rushed the Horizion box and gave us a piece of hardware that at the best of times will function as described and for the other 80% of the time will do it's best to make the viewing experience as painful as possible.

IrlMonk · 25-03-2014 9:37am

Deleted User wrote: »

Had to stop myself bouncing my horizion box off the wall earlier. It really can be a terrible piece of crap. Recorded The Pope Must Die and during playback the picture froze 27 times, sound dropped out 14 times, the screen had green lines through it on 6 occasions, screen went black 4 times and it was completely out of synch for most of the run time.

Jasus that sounds bad, I have issues with the box but nothing as bad as that. I record a lot of programmes for the kids.
It is annoying that so many fundamental issues are what the problems are.

pippip · 25-03-2014 10:28am

Deleted User wrote: »

Had to stop myself bouncing my horizion box off the wall earlier. It really can be a terrible piece of crap. Recorded The Pope Must Die and during playback the picture froze 27 times, sound dropped out 14 times, the screen had green lines through it on 6 occasions, screen went black 4 times and it was completely out of synch for most of the run time.

Recorded Get Carter last night and after the debacle of The Pope Must Die felt that watching one of my all time favourite films would be a good idea. Sadly it was every bit the horrible experience. Sound repeatedly disappeared, picture froze, etc.

I tried 7 HDMI cables, 2 TVs, 2monitirs and even brought the box over to a friends to try it and each time had the same issues. It really does seem as if UPC rushed the Horizion box and gave us a piece of hardware that at the best of times will function as described and for the other 80% of the time will do it's best to make the viewing experience as painful as possible.

I have this sort of messing once in a blue moon. I'd be onto UPC and demand a new box, it does really seem to be a quality issue with the boxes as other have reported such issues and then with a new box all is fine. They must be a poor build quality.

IrlMonk · 25-03-2014 10:53am

They certainly cut too many corners on this one.
The gas thing is they will not admit to any fault of the hardware. They send a technician out to check and rewire. That's about it.
As I said before, UPC have a bad attitude towards their customers.

pippip · 25-03-2014 11:02am

I got a deal with the recent price hike as many others did. In this I "upgraded", I use the term loosely, to the horizon box.

Now I have to say when the 12 months is up and my price goes up again I will be hard pressed to continue with this if they haven't made vast improvements in the firmware of the box.

I know some problems like Darko is having are a bit unique to that box and others don't experience it so bad but there are so so many problems are just down to poor design, like no delete series button, and the number of buttons presses it takes to do so many simple things. And why on gods earth did they put a delete everything option in every menu, that one seems the most bizarre to me.

gufnork · 25-03-2014 11:23am

Every time I see someone post in one of these Horizon tv threads I just have to thank my lucky stars I managed to get rid of my god-awful boxes(plural! I tried more than one). And to make matters worse, when I eventually did manage to get the contract cancelled, they decided they'd continue to dip into my bank account and take money they weren't entitled to anyway. Oh, this didn't just happen once either. When I got my bank to claim the money back from UPC on My behalf, I also had the good sense to put a block on them attempting to take any more in the future, you know, just in case they really were a bunch of low-life pick-pockets. And what do ya know? The very next month they attempted to take yet another payment.

You couldn't pay me enough to ever give custom to UPC ever again.

/rant

Tzardine · 25-03-2014 11:26am

gufnork wrote: »

Every time I see someone post in one of these Horizon tv threads I just have to thank my lucky stars I managed to get rid of my god-awful boxes(plural! I tried more than one). And to make matters worse, when I eventually did manage to get the contract cancelled, they decided they'd continue to dip into my bank account and take money they weren't entitled to anyway. Oh, this didn't just happen once either. When I got my bank to claim the money back from UPC on My behalf, I also had the good sense to put a block on them attempting to take any more in the future, you know, just in case they really were a bunch of low-life pick-pockets. And what do ya know? The very next month they attempted to take yet another payment.

You couldn't pay me enough to ever give custom to UPC ever again.

/rant

Agree with everything. Sky actually covered my UPC cancellation fee when I said I wanted to return to them after a couple of weeks with Horizon. I really can not believe that UPC have not sorted these UI issues yet. I think whoever designed it and the menu layouts was drunk.

IrlMonk · 25-03-2014 11:47am

Tzardine wrote: »

really can not believe that UPC have not sorted these UI issues yet. I think whoever designed it and the menu layouts was drunk

The technicians that do the house calls are subbies and only take care of the wiring and download and upload speeds.
I went through all the issues I had with the UI and he just laughed. "Nothing to do with me mate".
I phoned customer care and some awlone was quiet nasty on the phone saying there is nothing wrong with the UI. Who are they trying to con! !! I'm years working on pc's etc and know a lot more than them eejits put together.

Every time I sit down to watch tv the whole UI interface really bugs me.
Dreadful.

25-03-2014 12:47pm

Threw on Bait which I recorded last night and within the first 8 minutes the sound dropped twice, picture froze three times and it went black for a good 30 seconds. Rang UPC and the cow I was speaking to was as helpful as a kick in the nuts. She repeatedly implied I was pulling done scam looking for a "second box for your bedroom" and when I spoke about the issues called me a liar. According to her the box is perfect and they've never had any complaints

RainyDay · 25-03-2014 1:35pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Threw on Bait which I recorded last night and within the first 8 minutes the sound dropped twice, picture froze three times and it went black for a good 30 seconds. Rang UPC and the cow I was speaking to was as helpful as a kick in the nuts. She repeatedly implied I was pulling done scam looking for a "second box for your bedroom" and when I spoke about the issues called me a liar. According to her the box is perfect and they've never had any complaints

Get out your phone, or better still a digital camera sitting on a tripod or table, and film your experience. I did this to get them to replace a dodgy remote. Send in the video to the CEO, and see what happens.

pippip · 25-03-2014 1:39pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Threw on Bait which I recorded last night and within the first 8 minutes the sound dropped twice, picture froze three times and it went black for a good 30 seconds. Rang UPC and the cow I was speaking to was as helpful as a kick in the nuts. She repeatedly implied I was pulling done scam looking for a "second box for your bedroom" and when I spoke about the issues called me a liar. According to her the box is perfect and they've never had any complaints

Tell them to send out a technician as it is not working and they will replace the box on the spot, happened to me with the older HD box i had with them.

beauf · 25-03-2014 2:03pm

RainyDay wrote: »

Get out your phone, or better still a digital camera sitting on a tripod or table, and film your experience. I did this to get them to replace a dodgy remote. Send in the video to the CEO, and see what happens.

Done this with mobile phones that were having problems. Video the problem and send it in. Or a link to where you've uploaded it on line.

25-03-2014 2:14pm

Way ahead of all of you. Have documented the issues and demanded a new box be sent out. If a new box doesn't sort the issues out then I told them that someone will have to come out and check everything out. Wong be getting a penny for the service till it works as it should.

galtee boy · 26-03-2014 12:49pm

To everyone who has posted on this thread, why the hell don't ye just tell UPC to stick their Horizon Boxes where the sun doesn't shine and move to Sky ?

26-03-2014 12:52pm

galtee boy wrote: »

To everyone who has posted on this thread, why the hell don't ye just tell UPC to stick their Horizon Boxes where the sun doesn't shine and move to Sky ?

Because UPC Internet is superior to Sky.

beauf · 26-03-2014 1:06pm

Its also cheaper to get UPC TV if you are already getting UPC BB.

ted1 · 26-03-2014 1:08pm

galtee boy wrote: »

To everyone who has posted on this thread, why the hell don't ye just tell UPC to stick their Horizon Boxes where the sun doesn't shine and move to Sky ?

By the time you add muti room, HD and broadband Sky are way more expensive

hufpc8w3adnk65 · 26-03-2014 1:37pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Because UPC Internet is superior to Sky.

I have sky tv & UPC bb no problem.

hufpc8w3adnk65 · 26-03-2014 1:39pm

ted1 wrote: »

By the time you add muti room, HD and broadband Sky are way more expensive

Just get 1 sky box. Buy a channel sender in argos for 30 quid and set up sky go on 2 mobile devices all whilst keeping your chorus bb.

pippip · 26-03-2014 1:44pm

MrMac84 wrote: »

Just get 1 sky box. Buy a channel sender in argos for 30 quid and set up sky go on 2 mobile devices all whilst keeping your chorus bb.

To be fair thats an awful setup and comparison.

The sender is no use for when two people want to watch different channels, thats if you get it working without interference.

And your hardly comparing watching mobile devices to a HD 42" connected with HDMI.

Sky is dearer but with UPC's latest price increases their really isn't too much in the difference if like me you don't need super broadband speeds and only one multiroom (which I could probably suffice with a Freeview box instead).

26-03-2014 1:47pm

MrMac84 wrote: »

I have sky tv & UPC bb no problem.

But you're paying far more than the €35 a month I am for phone, Internet and TV

galtee boy · 26-03-2014 3:36pm

Granted, UPC have the best broadband service, but no one can beat Sky for the number of HD channels, their On Demand service, Box Office Movies, best pvr box on the market, absolute fantastic picture quality, good - not excellent I will admit, customer service, but streets ahead of UPC's ( that wouldn't be hard to achieve), user friendly box, Epg, Sky Go etc. Now I know they are expensive and I'm no major fan of Sky, but you have to admit, they give you what you pay for. I don't mind paying for any service, as long as you get what you pay for. But I'm watching these forums for years, and no other service comes in for the criticism that UPC get, so everyone can't be wrong. You'll see criticism about Sky's prices, but never about the quality of their products or service. If people want to keep putting up with the appalling tv service that UPC/Horizon supplies , then go right ahead and part with your hard earned cash to them.

hufpc8w3adnk65 · 26-03-2014 3:37pm

pippip wrote: »

To be fair thats an awful setup and comparison.

The sender is no use for when two people want to watch different channels, thats if you get it working without interference.

And your hardly comparing watching mobile devices to a HD 42" connected with HDMI.

Sky is dearer but with UPC's latest price increases their really isn't too much in the difference if like me you don't need super broadband speeds and only one multiroom (which I could probably suffice with a Freeview box instead).

My sender works without interference from the front room too my bedroom. Me and the Miss's watch this box for either location . We also have a soarview box connected too the tv in our room. Our 9 year old has sky go on her laptop connected via hdmi too her tv so the picture is hd. I also run net flicks via this laptop for her. It works great for us but may not for larger family's I understand

pippip · 26-03-2014 4:12pm

MrMac84 wrote: »

My sender works without interference from the front room too my bedroom. Me and the Miss's watch this box for either location . We also have a soarview box connected too the tv in our room. Our 9 year old has sky go on her laptop connected via hdmi too her tv so the picture is hd. I also run net flicks via this laptop for her. It works great for us but may not for larger family's I understand

I'm open to correction but I dont think SKY Go is broadcast in HD.

As I said your setup works for you and thats fine but it would never work for my house or I'd say many others so you cannot really compare it to a standard setup from upc versus sky.

ted1 · 26-03-2014 5:07pm

MrMac84 wrote: »

Just get 1 sky box. Buy a channel sender in argos for 30 quid and set up sky go on 2 mobile devices all whilst keeping your chorus bb.

Can you watch 2 different channels with a channel sender. I like my technology to work without any messing?

I really couldn't be bothered watching TV on a mobile device. And can't understand those that do.

hufpc8w3adnk65 · 26-03-2014 5:23pm

ted1 wrote: »

Can you watch 2 different channels with a channel sender. I like my technology to work without any messing?

I really couldn't be bothered watching TV on a mobile device. And can't understand those that do.

No the channel sender is only for sending same picture too different rooms. The sky go works from a laptop too tv via hdmi and is like a second box

beauf · 26-03-2014 6:27pm

pippip wrote: »

I'm open to correction but I dont think SKY Go is broadcast in HD.

As I said your setup works for you and thats fine but it would never work for my house or I'd say many others so you cannot really compare it to a standard setup from upc versus sky.

Sky go is 720p AFAIK.

I don't know what the regular Sky or UPC are. Are they 1080?

Of course just because the channel is HD doesn't mean the program is being broadcast in HD.

The Sky Go works ok. I prefer Netflix though. I found the Sky Go slow through the white box they supply (wifi only) so I got an app for my TV that works without the box and its much better as the TV is wired directly to the modem.

Zascar · 26-03-2014 7:10pm

I can't get sky in my building but I doubt I'd have it anyway, there are a lot of really little things about it that bug the crap out me .

Simple little things like when you click guide it goes back to the start and not to the channel you are on, so if you are down in the 600's or whatever you have to go all the way down again each time. Also how all the channels you don't have with your subscription are still listed, and favourites is not default, you have to select it each time. I just prefer the way you scroll through the channels with upc - not the same with sky. Possibly my imagination but there seems to be a whole lot more junk on sky. I know most people would disagree but thats just me.

I just wish they made upc slightly better but for the most part I'm happy enough with the old box. Way better than Horizon which I sent back after 2 weeks.

I think the people who designed Horizon should be named, put in stocks in a town centre to be publicly humiliated.

ted1 · 26-03-2014 7:11pm

MrMac84 wrote: »

No the channel sender is only for sending same picture too different rooms. The sky go works from a laptop too tv via hdmi and is like a second box

So basically the channel sender is useless as regards multi room. You may aswell unplug the other box and bring it with you.

As regards using a laptop, that's messing aswell the screen is to small

ted1 · 26-03-2014 9:34pm

Here's the sound going. press stop and play again and it comes back. pretty pathetic engineering.

27-03-2014 3:12am

The newest thing is recordings stopping mid way and a little note at the bottom telling me that recording failed as I'm not subscribed to the channel.

steveone · 27-03-2014 3:18am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

The newest thing is recordings stopping mid way and a little note at the bottom telling me that recording failed as I'm not subscribed to the channel.

That would really annoy me. I hate that restrictions thing. Itv4 always at it

27-03-2014 3:21am

steveone wrote: »

That would really annoy me. I hate that restrictions thing. Itv4 always at it

It's nothing to do with region restriction. I can understand why certain programmes are blocked but this is just UPC making a balls of it. Films on MGM, TCM, C4 and BBC2 have all stopped after 30 minutes or so with the explanation being that I'm not a subscriber to the channel.

Zascar · 27-03-2014 8:21am

Happened to me with the Moto GP on ITV4 on Monday. Recorded 2 seconds of it. But others said they watched it ok. Whats the deal?

29-03-2014 9:43pm

Set up series record on Mammon last night and went into the planner today to find that it had recorded it in the main channel and on +1. It also has it set up to record episode one again tonight on both the main and +1 and is set up that way for every week. Talk about a ridiculous system.

onform · 29-03-2014 10:04pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Set up series record on Mammon last night and went into the planner today to find that it had recorded it in the main channel and on +1. It also has it set up to record episode one again tonight on both the main and +1 and is set up that way for every week. Talk about a ridiculous system.

In settings, recordings and reminders, recordings, series recordings there's an option to record a series off one or all channels. That may have been what caused this?

29-03-2014 10:12pm

onform wrote: »

In settings, recordings and reminders, recordings, series recordings there's an option to record a series off one or all channels. That may have been what caused this?

Already checked that and everything should record just once. Rang UPC and their answer was that it must be a fault on More4's side.

AlanG · 31-03-2014 4:22pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Set up series record on Mammon last night and went into the planner today to find that it had recorded it in the main channel and on +1. It also has it set up to record episode one again tonight on both the main and +1 and is set up that way for every week. Talk about a ridiculous system.

I had the same problem for lots of shows - almost filled up the box with repeats.

AlanG · 31-03-2014 4:26pm

Does anyone know how to delete a full series or is this no longer an option. Also What is with the "Delete All" option on the menu for all recordings - seems a mad thing to make so easy to select - is there any way of removing this as kids are liable to remove everythign from our box.

beauf · 31-03-2014 5:36pm

AlanG wrote: »

Does anyone know how to delete a full series or is this no longer an option. Also What is with the "Delete All" option on the menu for all recordings - seems a mad thing to make so easy to select - is there any way of removing this as kids are liable to remove everythign from our box.

Love to know this also. Only an idiot would put that option there.

With the box being laggy, you often select it by accident.

I was deleting a load of programs from a series last night and the box hung then when it restart everything that wasn't locked was gone. I'd have thought it was the delete all but I know not do go into that.

Jimmy Conway · 31-03-2014 8:53pm

Here's a horizon gem...

Checked disk space and was almost full. Noticed the box had been recording a 4 hour radio programme every night for past 6 weeks. Never set the box to record it. And couldn't delete it either manually or through the planner so was stuck with this recording eating up disk space.
Tech support never heard of the problem. The engineer who called out ended up doing a factory reset on the box which allowed the recording to be deleted in the planner but I'm still stuck with 40 odd recordings that can't be deleted as the box just won't allow it!?!

Worst piece of crap ever

who_me · 01-04-2014 11:33am

Sound went while watching TG4 HD last night. Luckily I was watching a programme with subtitles so it didn't affect too much, but it's annoying how many glitches you get just watching TV. Turning the TV off and on again didn't fix it. It just came back and dropped out again every 10 minutes or so.

Between that, and the channels going entirely..

SteM · 01-04-2014 1:51pm

AlanG wrote: »

Does anyone know how to delete a full series or is this no longer an option.

Not an option with Horizon. Been told that it will be added but we've been told that since we got the box on trial ages ago. Another one that bothers me is if today is Tuesday and I want to record something on C4 on Saturday I have to load the EPG and scroll through the TV guide for 5 days until I find the program I want to record. No way to just jump to Saturdays programming! Farcical that useful functionality that was available on their old PVR was not transferred across.

AlanG wrote: »

Also What is with the "Delete All" option on the menu for all recordings - seems a mad thing to make so easy to select - is there any way of removing this as kids are liable to remove everythign from our box.

Yup, we've already fallen prey to that one. There should be a prompt to enter the pin code when you select this option. How often do UPC think a person would want to delete EVERYTHING on the box rather a full series? For a newly designed box it's pretty poor. So much potential wasted.

sylphy · 07-04-2014 2:36pm

For a while the "Delete Everything" was listed as "Delete Everything Warning!" so that was a tiny improvement - now it's back to "Delete Everything".

I agree that it makes no sense to be located in this directory, there is a Recording section under the Settings - why is Delete Everything not located there. It's not like it's a choice that will be used regularly. And why would you put it beside "Delete" in the any case. I don't leave my car keys by the cactus because I know, one day, there will be tears.

There should be a way to select Days in the EPG, there should also be a "page down" option.

I'm having a new problem now where the EPG (in single channel or by time view) starts auto-scrolling randomly.

What else ... there should be some feedback for button presses to know that your input has been received.

What angers me the most (at the moment) is that I contacted UPC in December/ January to see if it was possible to view all scheduled reminders/ recordings and was told that they don't. But if you schedule more than 4 programs for recording at the same time you get an error saying you can't record anymore do you want to resolve this? From here you can see all the recording for that time. So they can do it, they just didn't.

"So much potential wasted" - SteM.
Sums it up perfectly - the software is ruining what should be a great piece of tech and UPC don't care.

beauf · 07-04-2014 3:23pm

+1 software seems very poor.
Router seems very poor.

Two major issues right there.

hufpc8w3adnk65 · 07-04-2014 5:12pm

Taken from another forum about wrestling

Dunno if this belongs here or if anyone experienced the same but I'm in Ireland and ordered Mania through UPC (can't get Sky due to apartment rules). Anyway when the show started, the listing stated 'Channel off Air'. Although it was broadcasting mania, half of the screen was covered with 'how to order' details.

Totally ruined the night as a few of us took Monday off work and stayed up to watch it. Rang them this morning and have them hell. They were aware of the problem and have me a full refund. It's up and running properly now so just watching it again with a full screen.

Just wondering if any other Irish fans experienced this. I have a UPC Horizon box FYI.

09-04-2014 2:37pm

Took a few pictures of what happened when I tried to watch Gator which I had recorded to the box. Sent them to UPC and when I spoke to them on the phone they tried to tell mr that my issue was with MGM and not then. They argued that the box works perfectly and the only complaints are from people looking for "freebies.

Throughout the film it repeatedly went black, sound dropped more often than a hookers panties on a Friday night and scenes repeated on a number of occasions.

IrlMonk · 09-04-2014 3:45pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Took a few pictures of what happened when I tried to watch Gator which I had recorded to the box. Sent them to UPC and when I spoke to them on the phone they tried to tell mr that my issue was with MGM and not then. They argued that the box works perfectly and the only complaints are from people looking for "freebies.

That is much the same reply I was given when I had a few issues.
I told them that I was on boards.ie and they said that people on there only want to moan!
That was when I knew there was no point in talking any further

Zascar · 09-04-2014 3:53pm

They sound like very smart and highly trained customer service reps.

danom8 · 09-04-2014 3:57pm

I've had Horizon installed since it was bring trialled. One thing that I will say speeded up my box no end was taking my television of the box. It's almost like as if having any weight at all on the top of the Horizon box renders it almost unusable in terms of speed. Not sure if it's just me but if you do have anything on top of the STB I'd say to take it off.

Horizon TV- Awful?

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