Horizon TV- Awful?

IrlMonk · 09-04-2014 4:03pm

Zascar wrote: »

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

They are to smart indeed.
Robbing people and getting away with it.
Falsely advertising about a new product that has amazing capabilities.
Then when their customers complain they get aggressive and defensive over the phone.
They know exactly what is wrong and they won't be admitting any faults.

IrlMonk · 09-04-2014 4:08pm

danom8 wrote: »

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.

I got an external modem from them. But it did not speed up the box in any way. The UI is still painfully slow.
The internal modems within the box has a dreadful cover range. It drops even when your in the same room.
Bad hardware and software by the looks of things.

Sorry I did not read the original post properly. But I think it's the hardware or software.

Swampy · 09-04-2014 4:09pm

Internal modem is so ****. Is it possible to go back to the external way? Will I still set similar speeds?

IrlMonk · 09-04-2014 4:17pm

Swampy wrote: »

Internal modem is so ****. Is it possible to go back to the external way? Will I still set similar speeds?

The modem I got back off them was the one I gave back.
You will not be able to get the 100 they say you get, although I never could. And my devices need to have the 100gbs network card which non of them do, so I am averaging 40 download speed and the range is better along with better connection with less dropping.

10-04-2014 4:07am

Set up my computer for the first time since we got Horizion in and the internet is just awful. It won't stay connected for more than a few minutes at a time and I spend more time troubleshooting problems than anything else. UPC customer support kept telling me to plug out the box and then plug it back in as "that shouold fix any issue" though they did repeatedly state that "there are no issues that they can see". It really is a joke, download speeds are pitiful, Thief is downloading off of Steam at a healthy 14.8KB/s and maxed out at a stunning 76.4KB/s an hour or so. At this rate I'll be plkaying it some time before I die though most likely not this year. I did a speed test and it just repeatedly timed out and when it did work the results was a download speed of 12.4KB/s and an upload of 3.4KB/s. This is on a computer wired to the box.

Crysis 3 is 2% downloaded after being left on for 7 hours. The customer support told me that the issues are not on their end that that I should contact Steam and Origin. They also made a snide comment about the number of times I've called them to complain and when I asked about getting a seperate router the prick just said "we get your kind all the time. Ringing up with "issues" that we can't detect hoping we'll knock a few euro off the bill". Told him that either they fix the issues or they can collect the box after I've fucked it off the wall a few times. Was told that my agressive and abusive tone was typical of those looking for everything for free and at this stage I just hung up

IrlMonk · 10-04-2014 11:37am

Deleted User wrote: »

Set up my computer for the first time since we got Horizion in and the internet is just awful. It won't stay connected for more than a few minutes at a time and I spend more time troubleshooting problems than anything else. UPC customer support kept telling me to plug out the box and then plug it back in as "that shouold fix any issue" though they did repeatedly state that "there are no issues that they can see". It really is a joke, download speeds are pitiful, Thief is downloading off of Steam at a healthy 14.8KB/s and maxed out at a stunning 76.4KB/s an hour or so. At this rate I'll be plkaying it some time before I die though most likely not this year. I did a speed test and it just repeatedly timed out and when it did work the results was a download speed of 12.4KB/s and an upload of 3.4KB/s. This is on a computer wired to the box.

Crysis 3 is 2% downloaded after being left on for 7 hours. The customer support told me that the issues are not on their end that that I should contact Steam and Origin. They also made a snide comment about the number of times I've called them to complain and when I asked about getting a seperate router the prick just said "we get your kind all the time. Ringing up with "issues" that we can't detect hoping we'll knock a few euro off the bill". Told him that either they fix the issues or they can collect the box after I've fucked it off the wall a few times. Was told that my agressive and abusive tone was typical of those looking for everything for free and at this stage I just hung up

There must be something that can be done with their disgraceful accusations and behaviour! Never witnessed the likes of it before.

10-04-2014 12:03pm

IrlMonk wrote: »

There must be something that can be done with their disgraceful accusations and behaviour! Never witnessed the likes of it before.

I don't think I've ever got so much as an apology for the poor service. Sky customer service isn't great but at least their apologetic and don't insult customers or imply that there's nothing wrong with their service.

SteM · 10-04-2014 1:03pm

This is weird. I've found the opposite since they changed from NTL to UPC. I've think their customer support has improved 100%. I've been contacting them a lot recently with broadband issues and they've never suggested that it was my fault or I was trying to kid them. In fact, they were ultra fast in sending me a new router out - got it the day after I made the complaint.

ted1 · 10-04-2014 1:47pm

Deleted User wrote: »

Set up my computer for the first time since we got Horizion in and the internet is just awful. It won't stay connected for more than a few minutes at a time and I spend more time troubleshooting problems than anything else. UPC customer support kept telling me to plug out the box and then plug it back in as "that shouold fix any issue" though they did repeatedly state that "there are no issues that they can see". It really is a joke, download speeds are pitiful, Thief is downloading off of Steam at a healthy 14.8KB/s and maxed out at a stunning 76.4KB/s an hour or so. At this rate I'll be plkaying it some time before I die though most likely not this year. I did a speed test and it just repeatedly timed out and when it did work the results was a download speed of 12.4KB/s and an upload of 3.4KB/s. This is on a computer wired to the box.

Crysis 3 is 2% downloaded after being left on for 7 hours. The customer support told me that the issues are not on their end that that I should contact Steam and Origin. They also made a snide comment about the number of times I've called them to complain and when I asked about getting a seperate router the prick just said "we get your kind all the time. Ringing up with "issues" that we can't detect hoping we'll knock a few euro off the bill". Told him that either they fix the issues or they can collect the box after I've fucked it off the wall a few times. Was told that my agressive and abusive tone was typical of those looking for everything for free and at this stage I just hung up

Did you run a connection test? they may have a point.

amz10000 · 10-04-2014 1:50pm

I find that Horizion internet speed is very bad it takes me half an hour to load Facebook sometimes, they really need to improve on this.

10-04-2014 1:54pm

ted1 wrote: »

Did you run a connection test? they may have a point.

I plugged in my mobile internet dongle and the speeds blew UPC away. I know how to set everything up to get the best speeds and the Horizion box is just such a piece of crap that it doesn't work properly. Read through the various threads on it and you'll see that I'm not the only one having issues.

ted1 · 10-04-2014 2:30pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I plugged in my mobile internet dongle and the speeds blew UPC away. I know how to set everything up to get the best speeds and the Horizion box is just such a piece of crap that it doesn't work properly. Read through the various threads on it and you'll see that I'm not the only one having issues.

I'm not disagreeing with you. but before I go lambasting some one I would do a simple speed test with an independent site. their could have been a problem with steams servers.

where you contacted by WiFi or wired.

who_me · 10-04-2014 5:01pm

If you avoid the Horizon Wifi, the UPC broadband service can actually be very good. I added a good dual-band N router with MIMO and it made a huge difference. And last week I bought a new (2013 model) iMac and the download speeds I'm getting over Wifi is very impressive - at least 70-80Mbps but often up over 120Mbps. Since the iMac supports AC Wifi too, I'm tempted to buy one of those routers to see if it can go even faster.

And I used to complain about the service a lot, but with a decent dual-band router and 'modern' devices that support 5GHz & MIMO you can get excellent networking speeds.

IrlMonk · 10-04-2014 5:24pm

who_me wrote: »

If you avoid the Horizon Wifi, the UPC broadband service can actually be very good. I added a good dual-band N router with MIMO and it made a huge difference. And last week I bought a new (2013 model) iMac and the download speeds I'm getting over Wifi is very impressive - at least 70-80Mbps but often up over 120Mbps. Since the iMac supports AC Wifi too, I'm tempted to buy one of those routers to see if it can go even faster.

And I used to complain about the service a lot, but with a decent dual-band router and 'modern' devices that support 5GHz & MIMO you can get excellent networking speeds.

So you had to go out and purchase a router yourself!
I had a technician out and he advised me to purchase a wifi booster. As I said to him, why should I have to go out and purchase additional items when I was perfectly happy with the previous box and it is the problems with the new box that is at fault.
The new box wifi is a disaster so why should the customers go out and purchase hardware to make up for what upc know is a known issue! !!

IrlMonk · 10-04-2014 5:29pm

And by the way, the wifi is crap on the box and more importantly the UI is a pain in the back side. So really when you look at it, it is disgraceful how UPC get away with providing a brutal service. Along with their smartarse customer service employee's.

who_me · 10-04-2014 5:48pm

IrlMonk wrote: »

So you had to go out and purchase a router yourself!
I had a technician out and he advised me to purchase a wifi booster. As I said to him, why should I have to go out and purchase additional items when I was perfectly happy with the previous box and it is the problems with the new box that is at fault.
The new box wifi is a disaster so why should the customers go out and purchase hardware to make up for what upc know is a known issue! !!

Yeah, I thought it was a clever idea at the time, having the router & TV box in one meaning one fewer box, less cabling and one more free socket.

But I'd guess it's also part of the problem. The Horizon doesn't have any external antennae (my new one has 3) which probably doesn't help with the reception/speeds as they might not have wanted ugly antenna on a set-top box that might be installed on a tight shelf or cabinet.

It's a pity, but ultimately UPC offer the best broadband out there (up to 500Mbps for some business customers) by some margin, so it was easier to buy a good router and enjoy the speed than leave and go to a slower provider.

10-04-2014 6:23pm

ted1 wrote: »

I'm not disagreeing with you. but before I go lambasting some one I would do a simple speed test with an independent site. their could have been a problem with steams servers.

where you contacted by WiFi or wired.

I already did independent speed tests and when you can use a meteor mobile internet dongle and get faster speeds downloading off of Steam you kinda assume that problem is with UPC.

L1011 · 11-04-2014 3:18pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I plugged in my mobile internet dongle and the speeds blew UPC away. I know how to set everything up to get the best speeds and the Horizion box is just such a piece of crap that it doesn't work properly. Read through the various threads on it and you'll see that I'm not the only one having issues.

Using a mobile dongle != actually checking your wiring to the Horizon box was done properly. One poorly connected pair and a NIC that's insisting on connecting at a gigabit will give those speeds and worse.

Use the PC over a new, molded CAT5e or higher cable for a speed test.

11-04-2014 7:40pm

MYOB wrote: »

Using a mobile dongle != actually checking your wiring to the Horizon box was done properly. One poorly connected pair and a NIC that's insisting on connecting at a gigabit will give those speeds and worse.

Use the PC over a new, molded CAT5e or higher cable for a speed test.

The box is connected properly, it's been checked a dozen times with a variety of different cables and a borrowed router which showed significantly faster speeds. The problem is with the box being a piece of crap/

bronn · 14-04-2014 2:33pm

Forewarned is forearmed, and all that. A big thanks to all of you who spoke about the appalling wifi from the Horizon Box. When ordering Horizon (because we couldn't take the woefully erratic recording from the HD Box anymore) I explained that I had a home office set-up that I was happy with. They said fine, no problem, you can keep your modem and we won't activate the internet on Horizon. So this is our current set up and it works grand, unless the UPC network throws a total wobbler.

Upstairs, in the office, we have the old Thompson UPC modem. Disabled the wifi on that modem and connected it via ethernet to my Apple Time Capsule.
Put the Time Capsule in bridge mode and assigned it a static IP.
Set up the Time Capsule's network to broadcast (hidden) 2.4 GHz and 5GHz.
All devices in the house connect to the Time Capsule and STAY connected, even when out in the garden.
It hasn't been a plain sailing. We got billed for keeping the modem but with one phone call, it was all sorted out, no problem and very pleasantly (much to our total shock).
The house alarm is a monitored system and it works via an ordinary telephone cable splitter into the back of the Thompson, no problem.
Yes, we need two devices for the Internet to work reliably (which is rather ridiculous) but it does work and like I say, it's only when there's a network glitch, that it fails.

As for the telly, we're not all that keen on Horizon but it is fractionally better than the HD box. Recordings are mostly reliable but series link has failed a few times. It can handle recording more than two programmes at once (astonishing, I know). The picture quality is great on HD but some of the SD stuff is just okay.

However, the user interface on Horizon is utterly appalling and counterintuitive.

The menu covers almost half the screen.
It takes forever to see what's on the telly.
The guide is as good as useless as you cannot go to a specific day.
Menu linking to a sub-menu, linking to another sub-menu, linking to another sub-menu etc etc. GAH! I just want the subtitles, ffs!
Delete / Delete everything placed together. When you finally get to delete the programme, it takes forever, so you're not sure if it's doing it or not.
A channel list that you have to go through one by one or engage "super-fast scroll" which zips by and keeps going even though you're not pressing any damn buttons.
The apps that are so bad they're funny. Like the app that loops a picture of a fire burning.

Lastly, maybe we're just being thick but... where do you find the channel numbers on Horizon? I know 101 is RTE 1 HD, 102 is RTE 2 HD er... 108 is BBC1 HD. But what's ITV? Discovery? National Geographic? Sky Living? I don't know where to find the channel numbers so we can write them down and eventually memorise them. We can't keep scrolling through that poxy menu to get to channels. It's driving us nuts and I'm going to be totally embarrassed if this is something v obvious.

dodzy · 14-04-2014 4:05pm

bronn wrote: »

Lastly, maybe we're just being thick but... where do you find the channel numbers on Horizon? I know 101 is RTE 1 HD, 102 is RTE 2 HD er... 108 is BBC1 HD. But what's ITV? Discovery? National Geographic? Sky Living? I don't know where to find the channel numbers so we can write them down and eventually memorise them. We can't keep scrolling through that poxy menu to get to channels. It's driving us nuts and I'm going to be totally embarrassed if this is something v obvious.

UPCs list. Get your channels, add them to Favourites, and they'll stay at the top of the channel list. Basically, everything you add will be above CH.101, in the order you select them. You can rearrange this FAV list in the settings later, should you choose to do so.

Lone Stone · 14-04-2014 4:20pm

Yea my mother got this in the house, im lucky to get 3 bars on my wifi at the front of the house when upstairs and she cant stand the interface on the thing. Its really awfull.

JDxtra · 14-04-2014 4:54pm

Nearly everybody I have spoken to has had frustrations with these boxes, or knows other people who have. Word has spread. Horizon is now a spoiled brand. They are completely undoing all their marketing spend by not getting it right, or even nearly right, from the start.

Companies can spend years getting the user experience right. UPC in this instance seem to have shoehorned it in at the end of development, and haven’t nailed down the many bugs prior to a general release. Pure madness.

I love UPC broadband. But I know this stupidity is going to cost me as a customer. Phone support costs will be up, hardware costs are up, engineer costs up, TV subscriber churn also up too. All means less profit, or more likely – higher prices for customers.

14-04-2014 9:13pm

[Deleted User] wrote: »

I don't think I've ever got so much as an apology for the poor service. Sky customer service isn't great but at least their apologetic and don't insult customers or imply that there's nothing wrong with their service.

Same! Shockingly rude and patronising to me after I legitimately and politely explained that the Horizon boxes were clearly unfit for purpose and that I had no intention of buying my own router when they'd already been paid for wired and wi-fi. Nearly felt embarrassed for of some their tech support peeps given the nonsense they were coming out with.

Plus the TV keeps blacking out (blamed their HDMI, i was asked to buy replacement), the DVR cuts out in the middle of recording stuff and the UI is rubbish. Theres a lag between the remote a and the box that means you'd nearly be faster walking over and changing channel manually too!

Next stop comreg...

IrlMonk · 14-04-2014 9:47pm

UPC are conning people
When i seen their advertisement bragging about this new box, that has so many new features and being able to watch live tv on devices around the house, i was delighted.

I signed up for this new amazing deal of the century!!

As soon as i hooked up the box, my heart bleeding sank.....
I knew straight away that the UI was all wrong in every way.
The Wifi was hopeless.
The Apps a joke and useless...nothing worked properly!!! how can that be??? technology is advancing??

And then when i called them to complain i had to listen to some eejit of an awlone telling me there was nothing wrong with the box, the snappy awl cow. (Terrible customer care.)

I could not believe that UPC are the only company i have ever known that have brought technology backwards!!!

So basically they are conning the public, denying any faults and getting away with it.
Bunch of $%£*&*&,/./><>$$^%$%& just money grabbing £%"^"%£%&£<>?<?::<?> and dont give a dam about THEIR customers.

beauf · 14-04-2014 11:10pm

Lone Stone wrote: »

Yea my mother got this in the house, im lucky to get 3 bars on my wifi at the front of the house when upstairs and she cant stand the interface on the thing. Its really awfull.

For older people we've got UPC to switch them back to the old HD box. Much easier than the Horizon box for them to manage. Even the remote is better.

former legend · 16-04-2014 4:58pm

IrlMonk wrote: »

UPC are conning people
When i seen their advertisement bragging about this new box, that has so many new features and being able to watch live tv on devices around the house, i was delighted.

I signed up for this new amazing deal of the century!!

As soon as i hooked up the box, my heart bleeding sank.....
I knew straight away that the UI was all wrong in every way.
The Wifi was hopeless.
The Apps a joke and useless...nothing worked properly!!! how can that be??? technology is advancing??

And then when i called them to complain i had to listen to some eejit of an awlone telling me there was nothing wrong with the box, the snappy awl cow. (Terrible customer care.)

I could not believe that UPC are the only company i have ever known that have brought technology backwards!!!

So basically they are conning the public, denying any faults and getting away with it.
Bunch of $%£*&*&,/./><>$$^%$%& just money grabbing £%"^"%£%&£<>?<?::<?> and dont give a dam about THEIR customers.

That's very disappointing. And I'm sure you were very polite and articulate when on the phone to their customer service too.

My wifi works fine, the mobile app works fine, the user interface is different but it took, ooooh, about 20 minutes to figure it out.

If it's not for you, just cancel your contract and forget about it.

beauf · 16-04-2014 5:02pm

former legend wrote: »

...just cancel your contract ...

How?

IrlMonk · 16-04-2014 6:01pm

former legend wrote: »

That's very disappointing. And I'm sure you were very polite and articulate when on the phone to their customer service too.

My wifi works fine, the mobile app works fine, the user interface is different but it took, ooooh, about 20 minutes to figure it out.

If it's not for you, just cancel your contract and forget about it.

Your not with it at all.
There is over 10 pages on this thread alone complaining about their service.
And as the previous post said.... You have to pay in some form when you cancel a contact.
You must be part of the 5% that are happy.
So why don't you open a thread saying how wonderful upc are and we'll see how many pages get full with compliments.
I think your posting in the wrong thread.

former legend · 16-04-2014 6:27pm

beauf wrote: »

How?

Via the cooling off period.

beauf · 16-04-2014 6:32pm

Assuming the problem appear in those 7 days. Things like missed recordings, incorrect billing, will most likely not happen in that period.

paulboland · 16-04-2014 6:34pm

I can understand some of the complaints people have with Horizon

Yes the Software of the EPG needs lot of improving and in some houses the Wi-Fi will not be great

There are some who have ok Wi-Fi but yes its not as good as a standalone Wireless Router

Some of the Wi-Fi and Wired Problems are to do with peoples equipment not having the correct specs

Wireless Your Laptop or PC or Phone or Tablet must have Wireless N to get wireless speeds of 40Mb to 70Mb with average speed been in this range depending on distance from router and interference
If any Device is Wireless g and in use all wireless connected devices will be reduced to wireless g speed including wireless N devices

Lot of Older PC's and Cheap Laptops only have Wireless G 20Mb to 25Mb speed and some only have (Wireless B = 5Mb-8Mb speed)

Wired you need to have a Gigabyte Ethernet Connection on your Laptop or PC if you want speeds above 80Mb
100Mb/120Mb/200Mb wired Connection you also must be using a Cat5e or Cat6 Cable

If your PC or Laptop only has 10/100 Fast Ethernet connection you will only get speeds of max 80Mb to 90Mb with average of 70Mb to 80Mb and are using a Cat5e cable
You wont get speeds 100Mb or above

Most of this was not a problem when UPC broadband was only 30Mb or even 50Mb as customers Routers were only capable of this

You also better off posting any problems you have in UPC thread as you have an official UPC Reps there
They do of course check these threads from time to time but will not always have the time as they will as a priority reply to problems in UPC Forum

I'm curious why some here who post comments never post any problems in the UPC Forum
Some do of course post in both forums
To me its a bit strange some of the users here I have never seen post any comments in UPC Forum but only in Cable & MMDS & IPTV
Its good to see users post in both Forums

I have Posted in UPC Forum extensive problems and some solutions which UPC have responded to and others have also to solve problems
I have asked UPC to let Customers know in advance what specs the equipment must have to get the Expected results
You be surprised that a lot of people don't know or understand that's there PC or Laptop or Phone does not have the specs to handle the higher Broadband Packages

The Problems with Horizon yes there are still some big issues that still need fixing but its not as bad as it was when it was first been tested last year by a lot of people in these Forums

What still needs to be improved is
EPG
Series Link
Program Planner have the ability to choose a day using the colour buttons
Better on Demand but it will never be as good as Sky and you be wasting your time expecting that

Some improvements will be solved with software firmware and also new features
The Wi-Fi Problems can be solved by using a separate Router as a Wireless Access Point or by using Wireless Powerline Homeplugs

beauf · 16-04-2014 6:38pm

paulboland wrote: »

...The Wi-Fi Problems can be solved by using a separate Router as a Access Point or by using Wireless Powerline Homeplugs

That not fixing the problem. Its a workaround. It doesn't change the fact that the supplied equipment does not perform to a reasonable level.

Its being sold to non techies. They should not have to do the above.

former legend · 16-04-2014 7:27pm

beauf wrote: »

Assuming the problem appear in those 7 days. Things like missed recordings, incorrect billing, will most likely not happen in that period.

I was responding to IrlMonk who started with "as soon as I hooked up the box".

IrlMonk · 16-04-2014 7:57pm

former legend wrote: »

That's very disappointing. And I'm sure you were very polite and articulate when on the phone to their customer service too.

My wifi works fine, the mobile app works fine, the user interface is different but it took, ooooh, about 20 minutes to figure it out.

If it's not for you, just cancel your contract and forget about it.

Are you happy with how the UI works? The 2 second delay between switching stations!
Are you happy with the very poor wifi coverage as many complain about having?
The YouTube app that does not work properly.

No need to be smart and jumping to conclusions that I was rude to their IT, in fact I wasn't. I simply told her that I was not happy with the performance and their product. and it was then that she got snappy with me.
I made this clear in the post.
Anyway, I am unhappy with their service and product and so are others which is basically what this thread is about.

Wabbit Ears · 16-04-2014 8:21pm

It takes nowhere near 2 seconds to change channels on horizon. I had the horizon and sky HD box running side by side and horizon is actually faster at channel changes then the sky box is, Its also faster then the old UPC boxes and freesat/Freeview boxes. Horizon has its issues but channel change speed is not one of them

IrlMonk · 16-04-2014 8:30pm

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

It takes nowhere near 2 seconds to change channels on horizon. I had the horizon and sky HD box running side by side and horizon is actually faster at channel changes then the sky box is, Its also faster then the old UPC boxes and freesat/Freeview boxes. Horizon has its issues but channel change speed is not one of them

If you use the "Back" button and bring up the menu showing whats on "Now" and then when you scroll through the channels while watching What's on the tv, the changes are very slow.
There are other options to use but that is my preferred option.
Either way the UI is very poor. Badly designed. Maybe the ram is an issue. But something is certainly not right with this box.

Wabbit Ears · 16-04-2014 8:39pm

yea, the screen in screem scrolling is slow, It takes about 2 seconds for it to appear. That's just a weird way to channel surf......

robertxxx · 16-04-2014 8:47pm

This product is pure toxic sh1t.

Im looking to get out of my contract, im over one month into it, have people quit their contracts before and if so did they upc come looking for money.

Im thinking of just deleting their info from my bank account so they don't get another cent from me!

IrlMonk · 16-04-2014 8:50pm

Well the other option is:
1. Select "Menu"
2. One click over to "Tv Guide"
3. Choose either "All Channel View or Single Channel View"
Three or four clicks !!!

Either view covers the whole screen !!!
The channel change is slightly faster but it is also annoying that the menu covers the full screen.

There are dozens of other issues with the UI that other posts have covered.

IrlMonk · 16-04-2014 8:56pm

robertxxx wrote: »

This product is pure toxic sh1t.

Haha..... It gets people aggravated at the best of times.

robertxxx · 16-04-2014 9:09pm

Not sure if this is known, but when scrolling channels and say you want to view bbc1, press and hold ok and it goes straight on, then quickly release ok the press ok again to get rid of "now showing" graphic.

Its still a pathetic black box made by Samsung, which is a little strange as the sky+ box is made by Samsung and is streets ahead.

former legend · 16-04-2014 9:10pm

IrlMonk wrote: »

Are you happy with how the UI works? The 2 second delay between switching stations!
Are you happy with the very poor wifi coverage as many complain about having?
The YouTube app that does not work properly.

No need to be smart and jumping to conclusions that I was rude to their IT, in fact I wasn't. I simply told her that I was not happy with the performance and their product. and it was then that she got snappy with me.
I made this clear in the post.
Anyway, I am unhappy with their service and product and so are others which is basically what this thread is about.

Yeah, that is what it's about. I think it's a good product, you don't and that's fair enough, but why didn't you just cancel the service and send the box back?

IrlMonk · 16-04-2014 9:25pm

former legend wrote: »

Yeah, that is what it's about. I think it's a good product, you don't and that's fair enough, but why didn't you just cancel the service and send the box back?

Because I thought it could be an excellent product and I was expecting them to push out updates (maybe updates will improve it).
Initially I was going to send it back but they said there would be cancellation fees and I was assuming things would get better.

pippip · 17-04-2014 8:52am

I've always had minor problems with all the UPC boxes and modems over the years. They have never been perfect but the horizon box does seem to just be badly thought out and poor build quality.

I had the UPC HD box before and it was pig slow, tv guide never appeared, so the Horizon is an improvement here in speed.

The wifi range I am finding the same as the last UPC modem I had so no change there, not brilliant but covers 75% of my house (solid concrete walls throughout). I picked up this for €25 a few weeks back and its brilliant. Now I know some of you are saying "we shouldn't need to be buying extra bits" but I now have wifi at the end of my garden and all over the house which I couldn't really expect from any modem, UPC or not.

What I would say is there is no way I could justify paying the full price for this service, I am currently on a discount from the last price hike and when that discount runs out I would be looking for another discount unless things drastically improve with the UI.

17-04-2014 4:33pm

Went in to watch Jason and the Argonauts today only to find that it hadn't recorded. Went in and looked at my recordings and noticed that out of about the 15 things I'd set it to record, only one of them actually recorded though it did cut out 30 minutes early.

ted1 · 24-04-2014 2:50pm

robertxxx wrote: »

Not sure if this is known, but when scrolling channels and say you want to view bbc1, press and hold ok and it goes straight on, then quickly release ok the press ok again to get rid of "now showing" graphic.

Its still a pathetic black box made by Samsung, which is a little strange as the sky+ box is made by Samsung and is streets ahead.

Samsung don't make the GUI.

STB · 06-05-2014 9:10pm

Are these boxes really being couriered to subscribers houses with the other box being collected.

Do UPC know that the very people they are sending these boxes to know feck all about setting them up ?

I really couldnt believe that when I heard it. People are worse to give them the money.

steveon · 06-05-2014 9:41pm

STB wrote: »

Are these boxes really being couriered to subscribers houses with the other box being collected.

Do UPC know that the very people they are sending these boxes to know feck all about setting them up ?

I really couldnt believe that when I heard it. People are worse to give them the money.

Yes they are I'm getting tons of calls from people who cannot set them up....and then the majority of people have to get a second router sent out as the coverage on wifi is useless... and so UPC see and understand this they usually contact me when there told they will be waiting 2-3 days for an engineer to be available....especially if the box was delivered on a friday its ridiculous, Ive also had a couple where there wasn't even a drop cable in the room required....or where the previous tenant used the ex upc wire for sky instead...a complete mess....

STB · 06-05-2014 10:18pm

@ Steveon.

Yep thats why I asked, I got a similar phone call from a non techie retired person. I couldnt fathom that people were being asked to set it up themselves by a subscription service company. Dropped in by a feckin courier, give me the old box please! What a joke.

Why isnt the wifi working through the house etc. Lunacy and cheap ass rollout.

Horizon TV- Awful?

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