UPC Horizon Set Top Box trial

redman wrote: »

Well Im not deep technical but I need to have the Horizon disable its own DHCP and IP allocation so that does not intefer with my main router that is controlling the ip range. I have devices such as security cameras that feed data and they go through the router and I use settings in the router to update dyndns to ensure that as my IP allocation by UPC changes, that my devices are still recognised by the external sites and can continuously feed them 24x7. I would imagine there are quite a few people that would need this.

You don't need bridging to do any of that I would have thought.

DHCP can be disabled on the Horizon box, I would assume, as can the wireless network.
Dyndns might be more of an issue alright. I've never had to use it and havent gotten my hands on the horizon yet, but I do believe you don't need to have it set up on any router, you can install a client on a PC from what I am aware of.
http://dyn.com/support/clients/
Im not sure if every service has such a client mind.

unklerosco wrote: »

Have to agree... My folks have sky HD and the new sky boxes are great, simple to use and fast.. Even my mam can use it!! The horizon box isn't a patch on it for ease of use, speed or reliability (although I know this is a trial) I think UPC have made a huge error and tried to make it look slick but in the process have made it a pain to use.. I find it takes ages to get to what you want and then when you get there it either takes ages to respond or crashes.

My missus hates the box, so much so that she stopped using it after two days and went back to using netflix etc. via the xbox... I'll prob be sending it back next week.

My experience is totally the opposiste - LOL! Was on the verge of quitting UPC to go to Sky even went to my mate's house where he has the SKY HD box and was well impressed. This Horzon box has changed my mind, Even my Sky friend thinks Horizon has a much nicer look and feel to his relatively new sky box. My wife who was constantly moaning about the old HD+ box really likes the menus and new features - particularly the fact it can record 4 progs at once that Sky can't do. I also find it amusing that some are complaining about it being convoluted because my six and eight year old boys can use it and access their progs and apps without any fuss.
And rememberr this is just a beta version.

Have to say that trying to record programmes in the future is a disaster...

I would like to be able to got the day , select the channel, see all programmes on the channe that day and then select the one I want

Right now its very complex

The handiest way I can see to record future programmes is to use the search function.

The space key on the remote doesn't seem to work at the moment so that hinders it a bit(I think someone else noted this at some stage in the thread) but once you start typing it gives you a list of suggestions to select from.

Meesared wrote: »

I wouldn't say complex, more time consuming than it should be maybe. You can just go to the single channel view, select the channel, and scroll through till you find what you're looking for.

yeah..but am trying to use the horizon planner app, you have to selct the channel, you have to select the day and you need to know the time

Would be good if you can select the channel, day and then it shows you all programmes on that channel on that day

so far issues with the new box:

- wi-fi drops every now and again (about once every 4-5hours)
- one time it didn't record the shows I setup
- yesterday instead of recording a 109min film it recorded 509min - basically it "forgot" to stop recording
- few times it didn't switch back on from the remote - I had to reset it by flicking the power button
- a reminder function didn't work few times
- apps are pretty much useless and youtube doesn't work!
- the guide doesn't allow to change days

that's pretty much it from the bad sides so far...

anybody else receive a faulty remote? mine wont work whatsoever with the batter cover on and i have to keep popping the batteries out and back in again every few presses

Man you can only get one Horizon box per subscription
I NOT ASKING ABOUT 2 separate BOX
READ WHAT I ASKED
You can set up Horizon in 2 ways
1 is using its built in router
2 is using your own router and just have horizon in client mode
read again what I have asked
Box using its built in router
OR when your using your own router
not 2 boxes its does not say that
You can Have Horizon box SET UP using its built in router
or you can use own router if you tell UPC to not disable the cisco modem or cisco router
It has 2 options
Create Network which uses its built in router Wired or wireless
Join Network which uses Cisco router or Modem connected to UPC and with any other Wireless/Router

IF YOU DONT WANT TO USE HORIZON BUILT IN ROUTER let UPC know and if you still have your UPC cisco modem or Wireless/Router you can use this instead of Horizon built in router

Paul sorry i read it as 2 horizon... not as 2) horizon..

Either way i have 2 seperate networks because i have my wireless printer hooked up on my ASUS router and that runs fine.

ChrisSmets wrote: »

Have you tried with different batteries?

Yeah I tried 4 or 5 different brands and the same thing over and over

Just got the box today, setup was pretty much painless (I've gone for the unconsolidated option as it suits my setup better). As for the UI and the box itself, I'm still not sure what to make of it. It's certainly more responsive then the previous box but still nowhere near the level of Sky, and I'm comparing this to the older white Sky+ box before they changed their interface.

The interface is very busy, there's just too much going on graphics wise and the space available is being used on fancy 3D type graphics and pictures when it could be used to give us simple and easy to read info.

Channel browsing while continuing to watch the same channel is pretty poor and you're better off going into the guide to browse and in both cases the PIP view of whats going on on the other channel, while fancy, is completely pointless and actually detrimental to the interface imo. As well as this, using channel logos instead of plain text was a poor choice as it just makes it harder to quickly identify channels, there really should be a setting to turn this off, as well as the PIP view. I'm also getting the bug quite a bit of the box getting confused and putting the wrong logos on channels when highlighted. That will definitely cause a lot of confusion i fear. It seems to happen when trying to scroll fast through the guide (which in itself is completely broken as others have pointed out here).

Using thumbnails as opposed to lists for on demand and recorded programmes is another poor design choice also imo and just makes things more cumbersome, there should be an option in preferences to change this.

Only recorded 1 thing today and it went without a hitch and hope that this will at the very least fix the restrictive and buggy recording behavior of the old box but time will tell.

The media streaming worked no problem and the apps worked pretty much fine but can't see them being used much in the long run.

It's still very buggy and a bit laggy and this is after only a few hours use. Haven't come across any deal breaking bugs that would make me want the old box back but there's still a lot of work to be done (and hopefully being done) before they start selling and marketing this thing to regular customers although I'm doubtful that it'll happen in time.

My horizon box cant access on demand services, suggestions and remote record not working......any ideas

Hi, I just finished installing the box, and I have to say at first glance the UI is smooth, useful and intuitive. It is a pity you can't browse the next and previous channel or what's on next as easy as the old box, or sky for that matter. HD channels don't seem to have the same picture quality either. I do have a question; has anyone had any drop in sound quality? I have a 5.1 home theatre set up, and the new box doesn't seem to be putting the same 5.1 on some HD programming...anyone else with this problem, or have a solution? All n all very happy though, a country mile better than the old box, might be even scratching on the door of Sky's UI!! Cheers UPC.

Deep Thought wrote: »

yeah..but am trying to use the horizon planner app, you have to selct the channel, you have to select the day and you need to know the time

Would be good if you can select the channel, day and then it shows you all programmes on that channel on that day

Use the guide, hold down the tight button and it quickly skips forward to get you to the day you want

Conehead33 wrote: »

Hi, I just finished installing the box, and I have to say at first glance the UI is smooth, useful and intuitive. It is a pity you can't browse the next and previous channel or what's on next as easy as the old box, or sky for that matter. HD channels don't seem to have the same picture quality either. I do have a question; has anyone had any drop in sound quality? I have a 5.1 home theatre set up, and the new box doesn't seem to be putting the same 5.1 on some HD programming...anyone else with this problem, or have a solution? All n all very happy though, a country mile better than the old box, might be even scratching on the door of Sky's UI!! Cheers UPC.

Not all the HD channels carry 5.1, for example RTE2HD.