UPC Horizon Set Top Box trial

who_me · 17-06-2013 4:17pm

D'oh! I think the biggest problem I've been having with the Horizon box (green screen, or video with no audio every morning, rebooting the box required), may be due to my AV receiver. I tried plugging the Horizon directly into the TV, and the first time it had no audio, but just turning it off and on again via the remote fixed it.

It's weird that both the old UPC HD box and the Horizon box have problems starting up every single day; but none of my other devices (AppleTV, Xbox 360, PS3) have any issues.

Unless UPC can fix this incompatibility, I guess I need a new AV receiver.

ciaran75 · 17-06-2013 4:52pm

i use my harmony remote as main remote and the horizon remote if need to type anything in youtube etc. so wouldn't use it that often.

over the weekend the back keyboard just didn't work, if i flipped the remote around i could use the up / down/ left / right keys to type in search

Has anyone else noticed this?

Regarding horizon, i quite like the box, was expecting it to be a little faster in moving between screens etc.

For youtube, if you could put in a recently searched section that would be great to save re-typing stuff.

Main gripe, is the wifi distance, have practically no coverage in bedroom (from GS4 and laptop), previoulsy on my tplink router this was way better, never excellent though.

paulboland · 17-06-2013 8:22pm

ciaran75 wrote: »

i use my harmony remote as main remote and the horizon remote if need to type anything in youtube etc. so wouldn't use it that often.

over the weekend the back keyboard just didn't work, if i flipped the remote around i could use the up / down/ left / right keys to type in search

Has anyone else noticed this?

Regarding horizon, i quite like the box, was expecting it to be a little faster in moving between screens etc.

For youtube, if you could put in a recently searched section that would be great to save re-typing stuff.

Main gripe, is the wifi distance, have practically no coverage in bedroom (from GS4 and laptop), previoulsy on my tplink router this was way better, never excellent though.

Put your tplink router in wireless access mode that way you can use it to connect by wireless if your router supports access mode should do as most wireless routers can
If you need help setting that up message me

Hootanany · 17-06-2013 10:01pm

Just flicking channels Film 4 saying locked programme
On my Free sat its Die Hard WTF not a happy camper why is this locked.
Did anyone do the survey..

Synode · 17-06-2013 10:13pm

Do you have to pay for Setanta HD? Mine says contact UPC to subscribe.

nialldinho · 17-06-2013 10:15pm

Hootanany wrote: »

Just flicking channels Film 4 saying locked programme
On my Free sat its Die Hard WTF not a happy camper why is this locked.
Did anyone do the survey..

I think default parent controls are set to 15s. Check the settings and you can disable it

Hootanany · 17-06-2013 10:43pm

nialldinho wrote: »

I think default parent controls are set to 15s. Check the settings and you can disable it

Will do thanks

paulboland · 17-06-2013 10:51pm

Synode wrote: »

Do you have to pay for Setanta HD? Mine says contact UPC to subscribe.

you should have it what TV package you on value/select/max

Synode · 17-06-2013 10:56pm

Complete 100

who_me · 17-06-2013 11:31pm

who_me wrote: »

D'oh! I think the biggest problem I've been having with the Horizon box (green screen, or video with no audio every morning, rebooting the box required), may be due to my AV receiver. I tried plugging the Horizon directly into the TV, and the first time it had no audio, but just turning it off and on again via the remote fixed it.

It's weird that both the old UPC HD box and the Horizon box have problems starting up every single day; but none of my other devices (AppleTV, Xbox 360, PS3) have any issues.

Unless UPC can fix this incompatibility, I guess I need a new AV receiver.

Ok, after a considerable amount of wrestling with the cable-octopus behind my TV, I've realised the problem is with the HDMI switch, not with the AV receiver.

If I plug:
Horizon box -> AV Receiver -> TV - no problems

But if I plug:
Horizon box -> HDMI switch -> TV - no audio, or green screen with no image or audio.

Odd that it effects both UPC boxes, but not the AppleTV or games consoles. I guess I'll try a different HDMI switch. Is anyone else using one?

Technoprisoner · 17-06-2013 11:33pm

who_me wrote: »

Ok, after a considerable amount of wrestling with the cable-octopus behind my TV, I've realised the problem is with the HDMI switch, not with the AV receiver.

If I plug:
Horizon box -> AV Receiver -> TV - no problems

But if I plug:
Horizon box -> HDMI switch -> TV - no audio, or green screen with no image or audio.

Odd that it effects both UPC boxes, but not the AppleTV or games consoles. I guess I'll try a different HDMI switch. Is anyone else using one?

have you got a philips tv?

Davy · 17-06-2013 11:39pm

Hootanany wrote: »

Just flicking channels Film 4 saying locked programme
On my Free sat its Die Hard WTF not a happy camper why is this locked.

Film4 +1 wasn't locked for some reason even though die hard had already started. Default code is 0000

who_me · 18-06-2013 12:00am

Technoprisoner wrote: »

have you got a philips tv?

No, Panasonic. Thanks. I heard alright that there are problems with Philips tvs.

Fairly sure it's the HDMI switch, as if I plug the Horizon directly into the TV it's fine.

Technoprisoner · 18-06-2013 12:28am

who_me wrote: »

No, Panasonic. Thanks. I heard alright that there are problems with Philips tvs.

Fairly sure it's the HDMI switch, as if I plug the Horizon directly into the TV it's fine.

it sounds very similar to the problems with philips tv's

MrVestek · 18-06-2013 12:45am

who_me wrote: »

Ok, after a considerable amount of wrestling with the cable-octopus behind my TV, I've realised the problem is with the HDMI switch, not with the AV receiver.

If I plug:
Horizon box -> AV Receiver -> TV - no problems

But if I plug:
Horizon box -> HDMI switch -> TV - no audio, or green screen with no image or audio.

Odd that it effects both UPC boxes, but not the AppleTV or games consoles. I guess I'll try a different HDMI switch. Is anyone else using one?

My Horizon box has issues with my HDMI auto switcher too. It's very odd. The picture will work fine but then the Horizon box will tell me that it's lost connection to the TV.

KenH · 18-06-2013 1:58am

Got a text last night from horizon asking if any problems getting box out of standby since Saturday. Must have been an update. Hadn't noticed anything different.

totallegend · 18-06-2013 8:37am

KenH wrote: »

Got a text last night from horizon asking if any problems getting box out of standby since Saturday. Must have been an update. Hadn't noticed anything different.

Yeah, there was a 'major' software update on Thursday night/Friday morning, I didn't notice anything different but the box does seem to be more stable since, it hasn't frozen and needed to be re-started at all.

(You can check whether you received the update by going to menu > Settings > Horizon box, the date and time of the last update should be visible there)

lapua20grain · 18-06-2013 8:40am

Achilles wrote: »

My Horizon box has issues with my HDMI auto switcher too. It's very odd. The picture will work fine but then the Horizon box will tell me that it's lost connection to the TV.

i had the same problem contacted upc on this the tech told me to turn tv off unplug HDMI cable turn off box for 30 secs plug everything back in turn on box and tv and this should solve problem have only had to do it once seems to have solved my issues apparently it resolves an issue whereby the box and tv are not communicating correctly

Technoprisoner · 18-06-2013 9:08am

lapua20grain wrote: »

i had the same problem contacted upc on this the tech told me to turn tv off unplug HDMI cable turn off box for 30 secs plug everything back in turn on box and tv and this should solve problem have only had to do it once seems to have solved my issues apparently it resolves an issue whereby the box and tv are not communicating correctly

its the handshake between the box and the tv

ciaran75 · 18-06-2013 9:32am

it is just me or do the SD channels look better, was watching RTE1 last night and it was almost like HD quality, other channels looked clearer also.

also RTE2 HD is now at 102

Professey Chin · 18-06-2013 9:35am

ciaran75 wrote: »

it is just me or do the SD channels look better, was watching RTE1 last night and it was almost like HD quality, other channels looked clearer also.

also RTE2 HD is now at 102

I noticed that Sunday I think. A few of the hd versions of channels like rte2 have become the standard option instead of a separate channel

ciaran75 · 18-06-2013 9:50am

paulboland wrote: »

Put your tplink router in wireless access mode that way you can use it to connect by wireless if your router supports access mode should do as most wireless routers can
If you need help setting that up message me

Thanks Paul,

My knowledge of networks / routers is pretty crap so wouldn't have a clue how to do this.

When i look at the manual of my router i don't see "wireless access mode" mentioned, could it be called something else.

http://www.tp-link.com/Resources/document/TL-WR1043ND_V1_User_Guide.pdf

If my horizon network is UPC123, if i setup this "wireless access mode" would i still be connecting to UPC123 or would it now be UPC124 etc.

Cheers,
Ciaran

paulboland · 18-06-2013 10:34am

ciaran75 wrote: »

Thanks Paul,

My knowledge of networks / routers is pretty crap so wouldn't have a clue how to do this.

When i look at the manual of my router i don't see "wireless access mode" mentioned, could it be called something else.

http://www.tp-link.com/Resources/document/TL-WR1043ND_V1_User_Guide.pdf

If my horizon network is UPC123, if i setup this "wireless access mode" would i still be connecting to UPC123 or would it now be UPC124 etc.

Cheers,
Ciaran

I had a look yes its a not a function with this router but it can be done if its flashed with DD-WRT firmware but I would not use that option
You can buy a Belkin or Netgear Wireless Router both have easy mode to set up as wireless access mode
horizon network is UPC123, if i setup this "wireless access mode" would i still be connecting to UPC123 or would it now be UPC124 etc
answer to that would be no the name of the wireless access point would be anything you name it with its own wireless security you would have 2 wireless connections to choose from and you would choose the one that best for your device
But Your router don't have this option
There is another way but I would have to look in more detail at your router to see it it can be set up that way

who_me · 18-06-2013 11:13am

lapua20grain wrote: »

i had the same problem contacted upc on this the tech told me to turn tv off unplug HDMI cable turn off box for 30 secs plug everything back in turn on box and tv and this should solve problem have only had to do it once seems to have solved my issues apparently it resolves an issue whereby the box and tv are not communicating correctly

That's what I've been doing, and it just fixes it for a day. Well, I've been turning the box off via the power switch, instead of pulling the plug and leaving it out for 30 seconds; I'd have thought once the box is off, it's off. I guess I can try that. Thanks.

Dravokivich · 18-06-2013 11:27am

who_me wrote: »

That's what I've been doing, and it just fixes it for a day. Well, I've been turning the box off via the power switch, instead of pulling the plug and leaving it out for 30 seconds; I'd have thought once the box is off, it's off. I guess I can try that. Thanks.

Off or standby? I've had issues with on demand availability on the HD Box and it seems, completely unplugging it was what was needed to reset the connection.

Technoprisoner · 18-06-2013 11:47am

did anyone else receive a letter prior to the trial saying that their bill would increase but that there internet speeds would also increase as well as receiving more minutes for the phone?

ciaran75 · 18-06-2013 12:27pm

Technoprisoner wrote: »

did anyone else receive a letter prior to the trial saying that their bill would increase but that there internet speeds would also increase as well as receiving more minutes for the phone?

Yeah, before i got accepted to horizon trial i got a letter to say my bill was going up from €59 to €64.50
with horizon i'm now paying €63.50 so still cheaper than it was going to be and got 50Mb instead of 30Mb it was going to be and also have new horizon with no installation fee and the €102

Technoprisoner · 18-06-2013 12:47pm

ciaran75 wrote: »

Yeah, before i got accepted to horizon trial i got a letter to say my bill was going up from €59 to €64.50
with horizon i'm now paying €63.50 so still cheaper than it was going to be and got 50Mb instead of 30Mb it was going to be and also have new horizon with no installation fee and the €102

i got a similar letter...except mine was being increased from 60mb to 100mb. now ive just been informed that this wont be happening because im on the trial and that if i want to keep the horizon i will either have to take a speed decrease or pay extra for a speed increase :mad:

who_me · 18-06-2013 12:55pm

Dravokivich wrote: »

Off or standby? I've had issues with on demand availability on the HD Box and it seems, completely unplugging it was what was needed to reset the connection.

I mean once you flick the switch on the back of the box there's no power going to it - I'd have thought. So there would be no added benefit in pulling the cable, or leaving it out for 30 seconds. No harm in trying, I suppose.

who_me · 18-06-2013 12:57pm

Technoprisoner wrote: »

did anyone else receive a letter prior to the trial saying that their bill would increase but that there internet speeds would also increase as well as receiving more minutes for the phone?

I don't think I received additional minutes, but I was promised an upgrade from 120 -> 150; with the price going up about 5 euros. However to go on the Horizon trial, I had to go on a 100 package. So, weirdly I was upgraded from 120 to 150 on the same day I received the Horizon box and downgraded back to 100.

No idea what my bill is going to be now. Will I still have to pay the 5 euro increase even though I no longer have the speed upgrade?

Technoprisoner · 18-06-2013 1:00pm

who_me wrote: »

I don't think I received additional minutes, but I was promised an upgrade from 120 -> 150; with the price going up about 5 euros. However to go on the Horizon trial, I had to go on a 100 package. So, weirdly I was upgraded from 120 to 150 on the same day I received the Horizon box and downgraded back to 100.

No idea what my bill is going to be now. Will I still have to pay the 5 euro increase even though I no longer have the speed upgrade?

i wasnt told that there was 2 packages available for the horizon...the only thing i was told was that it wouldnt cost me any extra to have the horizon

GHOST MGG · 18-06-2013 4:26pm

I was told the same thing as you technoprisoner..yet my bill today has gone up by 26 euros..they can shove that where the sun dont shine..
waiting for billing to get back to me..cheeky chancers

fergie087 · 18-06-2013 4:32pm

find these boards very helpfuk:D

Technoprisoner · 18-06-2013 4:34pm

GHOST MGG wrote: »

I was told the same thing as you technoprisoner..yet my bill today has gone up by 26 euros..they can shove that where the sun dont shine..
waiting for billing to get back to me..cheeky chancers

ah its after leaving a very bitter taste in my mouth....just thinking back to the conversation i had when setting up the horizon he went through what package i was on and said 60mb broadband and i said to be upgraded during may to 100mb and he agreed. now im told i cant invoke my back out clause because i am outside the 30 days

Inquitus · 18-06-2013 4:37pm

My Wifi and internet has gone to shíte since the code "upgrade" on Friday

TCP/IP · 18-06-2013 4:44pm

I handed my Horizon box back whilst a great idea the box is a disaster from a usability point of view.
I was really hoping that I could move from Sky to UPC but my god what a missed opportunity.
Problems I was having were the following:

1) Box Freezing at least three times a day
2) Phone not working most of the time with people sounding very distant
3) Channel layout a mess makes no sense at all half the time
4) Very slow EPG
5) Crap channel selection compared to Sky

I really liked the idea of the box and it certainly has potential but as they say lots done more to do.

apope8 · 18-06-2013 4:57pm

I must be one of the lucky ones. Little to no problems with the box. Granted the epg can be a bit sluggish at times but in all honesty how quickly do you want to change channels? Bit of a first world problem ha! But mind you I do find that pressing the channel up or down button is nearly instant!
My main problem with the box is the wifi range but hopefully that can be fixed in time.
I applied for this knowing full well that I was trialing a new product. So I guess I was just expecting to have some problems with it.
Hooked a phone up to it the other day and have had no problems at all.
I personally love this box. I don't think I could go back to the normal UPC. I would miss the graphics too much haha.
The free HD channels and the stream of free credit definitely makes up for any small problems I have had so far. I can only see this thing getting better.

kippy · 18-06-2013 5:03pm

apope8 wrote: »

I must be one of the lucky ones. Little to no problems with the box. Granted the epg can be a bit sluggish at times but in all honesty how quickly do you want to change channels? Bit of a first world problem ha! But mind you I do find that pressing the channel up or down button is nearly instant!
My main problem with the box is the wifi range but hopefully that can be fixed in time.
I applied for this knowing full well that I was trialing a new product. So I guess I was just expecting to have some problems with it.
Hooked a phone up to it the other day and have had no problems at all.
I personally love this box. I don't think I could go back to the normal UPC. I would miss the graphics too much haha.
The free HD channels and the stream of free credit definitely makes up for any small problems I have had so far. I can only see this thing getting better.

The problem for me, as I've said before, is that this isn't a "New" product per se.
New to the Irish market but it's been around 18 months or longer in Europe and if you look at a few other fora the issues most of us are having have been had in that period all across the userbase.
I would have expected a relatively stable device but the amount of hanging and unresponsiveness, which has a direct impact on internet connectivity is barely acceptable.
The credit is about the only thing keeping me using it as well.

For a trial theres very little interaction from UPC or no communication as to when updates are coming and what they do.........

Granted, it has lots of potential and I am gonna give it another 6 weeks or so but the stability HAS to improve and the interaction with UPC has to improve.

dunworth1 · 18-06-2013 5:15pm

kippy wrote: »

For a trial theres very little interaction from UPC or no communication as to when updates are coming and what they do.........

Granted, it has lots of potential and I am gonna give it another 6 weeks or so but the stability HAS to improve and the interaction with UPC has to improve.

i have been getting text message and emails asking me to complete surveys almost on a weekly basis?

normally its just a quick something like "have you experienced and issues while taking the box on of standby"

but the odd time its a full blown survy that take 5-10min to complete

Technoprisoner · 18-06-2013 5:20pm

dunworth1 wrote: »

i have been getting text message and emails asking me to complete surveys almost on a weekly basis?

normally its just a quick something like "have you experienced and issues while taking the box on of standby"

but the odd time its a full blown survy that take 5-10min to complete

ive only ever got 2 emails asking to do a survey

kippy · 18-06-2013 5:48pm

dunworth1 wrote: »

i have been getting text message and emails asking me to complete surveys almost on a weekly basis?

normally its just a quick something like "have you experienced and issues while taking the box on of standby"

but the odd time its a full blown survy that take 5-10min to complete

One text message, Yesterday. I have to be honest, I doubt very much anyone else got any more than that one text message yesterday to be honest.....

The only time I found out about a survey was via this forum. No invite from UPC.......
No details on ANY site as to what the updates contain, when one is due........
And the box has been on the continent for a good number of months now, yet we still have "teething problems"

Gitb1 · 18-06-2013 6:34pm

All my channels are stuck in 4:3 all day no matter what i do with the settings, even HD channels

The_Valeyard · 18-06-2013 6:45pm

My menus still are freezing since the 'upgrade'...... Not happy.

kippy · 18-06-2013 7:15pm

One further issue I have. On almost any episode of fireman sam or thomas the tank engine the sound starts fine then cuts out a minute into the program. This happens even after a restart however the first episode after a restart is generally fine. ......
My two year old is not happy.

MiamiMice · 18-06-2013 7:34pm

Hi reps. Any idea how i can get refunded for two streamed films that suffered glitchy playback and an 8182 error?

gar · 18-06-2013 8:36pm

My box has been generally fine. I have had to restart the box once in last month.
My complaints would be the ordeal of deleting programs and series!
Also the page up and down in the guide is badly needed as guide has a mind of it's own by holding the up or down buttons

Gar

paulboland · 18-06-2013 9:17pm

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this new code. So could you please complete the online survey below? In return we’ll put a €12 credit on your account which you can use to enjoy two On Demand movies with our compliments.

Anyone get this credit to there account yet

Also using my phone I have noticed talking to a friend every now and then I cant hear him for a few seconds its as if call been disconnected but its not and after a few seconds I can hear other person note he can hear me still
Not sure if its at his end buts its strange as I have never had this happen before only been happening after Horizon was installed
Its ok if its a short call but if its a long call over 10-15 min it happens
It a normal standard phone I am using not a wireless phone

Also I noticed my wireless phone extenders no longer work as before
there ok if close to each other but don't work if upstairs and other downstairs
before horizon installed was working ok
This is a problem as use wireless phone extender for sky HD boxes downstairs with base station upstairs connected to horizon phone connection as I have already said was working fine before horizon replaced my UPC modem

totallegend · 18-06-2013 9:37pm

MiamiMice wrote: »

Hi reps. Any idea how i can get refunded for two streamed films that suffered glitchy playback and an 8182 error?

Wrong forum, you need to be in:

boards.ie > Biz > Talk to > UPC

ciaran75 · 18-06-2013 10:44pm

Have a harmony one remote but can't get the guide or info buttons to work.

They are not in the database and when tried to get this using the learn new command its not picking up the signal.

Anyone manage to get these working?

teresa.keogh7 · 18-06-2013 10:49pm

It was all going so well until that update on Friday. Lost all my recording settings, but even worse I keep getting periods where I have sound dropout and occasionally blocky pictures. Can happen on any channel at various times and can last for minutes or hours. Have tried rebooting with no effect, factory reset keeping recordings and as a last resort factory reset deleting everything. I realise it's a beta, so I just have to hope that there's a new update very soon. The strange thing is my TV Signal has gone from just touching medium before the update to well into high after the update!

UPC Horizon Set Top Box trial

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