UPC Horizon Set Top Box trial

coylemj

belmulletman wrote: »

I self installed... unplugged the old one, and plugged in the new one.
I kept my old Thompson modem so just a network cable from the Horizon box to my network and it sees the content.
Took about 30 mins for the box to activate and all the channels to become available.

So self-install is an option for the new box? Did a courier deliver it and how did you return the old box - they came back later the same day or you dropped it to the courier's local depot?

Evilbart

belmulletman wrote: »

I self installed... unplugged the old one, and plugged in the new one.
I kept my old Thompson modem so just a network cable from the Horizon box to my network and it sees the content.
Took about 30 mins for the box to activate and all the channels to become available.

So with the trial they give you the option of a self-install?
That would be great as I won't have time to meet/wait for installers.

One last question did you get the email last Friday to say you we're accepted
then a phone call yesterday/today?

Thanks

belmulletman

In this case, because I was so advanced in the trial, I had to organise things with UPC, but i believe you have to give the courier the current box when they deliver the new one. There's an envelop (with relevant tracking sticker) in the box they deliver, so just open it when they get there, and pop in the existing box (but not your smart card)

dam099

belmulletman wrote: »

I'm not using the remote from the box, I have a logitech harmony remote

Do they have a setup for it in the software and what is it called? I found a UPC Horizon DVR but it has very few buttons mapped (haven't got my box yet as only got the email a few days ago but was just checking to see if it's there as hoping I can continue to use my Harmony).

belmulletman

dam099 wrote: »

Do they have a setup for it in the software and what is it called? I found a UPC Horizon DVR but it has very few buttons mapped (haven't got my box yet as only got the email a few days ago but was just checking to see if it's there as hoping I can continue to use my Harmony).

I noted a few pages back... you need to set it up as brand 'Samsung' and device 'Horizon'. All the buttons on the existing remote are there.

Remember, there's no 'Info' button the existing remote, so that function won't be on the Harmony.
I found mine works well and hoping when they release the new remote (UPC that is), that the Harmony software will update pretty quickly after.

zg3409

Just comparing the "Live" offerings of the hardware horizon box Vs the web only version.

I noticed on sky "on demand" the offerings are far less than via a box. The same seems true for UPC.

Via a PC or tablet without having the horizon hardware box you cannot access:

Sky 1
Sky 2
Channel 4
E4
Dave
UK Gold
Fox TV
Universal TV
Sky Living
Comedy Central
SyFy
Pick TV
Sky Arts
Alibi
Gold
Discovery Travel and Living
National Geographic
National Geo Wild
Crime and Investigation Network
Bloomberg TV
All Sky Movie Channels
Film 4
TCM
True Movies
Setanta
All Sky Sports
ESPN
Sky Sports News
Racing UK
At the Races
E!
Fashion TV
Discovery Home
Nickelodeon
MTV (all)
VH1
Euronews
All Adult Channels
Pay per view Channel

They say "up to" 45 channels depending on your package, so presumably no matter how much you pay you still would not get access to the above channels on a laptop etc unless you install the hardware box and access them directly locally.

Many of the above channels are quite normal, often used, which would be missed, often included in basic packs and even on analogue cable (which only carries 17 channels)

To be fair Sky's version also has similar limitations, and their hardware box does not give the option to stream direct from the box, like the horizon box does.

Of course the offerings could change, but it may be that Sky is playing hard ball and not offering some channels no matter what price.

Looking at the movies currently offered
110 total movies, with many very old classics and 23 of which are from "true movies", so probably only 40 movies less than 10 years old.

As with any offering content it king. Not having common channels and shows and movies actually worth renting/watching may still make alternatives practical.

belmulletman

tom_Ore wrote: »

V2.1.0.929

Have a look at this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1JVZYYg0lQ

That is pretty much how my menu system looks. My 'Now' and 'Next' are side by side and I can't see the 'Next' show until i press right.
Looking at your pic, you can see the next show underneath what's playing now, right?

I just went into Settings and Horizon TV HD+ Box and in there Software. Checking for updates says it's up to date.

belmulletman

So, this page (in dutch) is saying that UPC over there has said it will be June before the next software update.
So just wondering then what software 'tom_ore' has?! Hummmm...

http://digimind.nl/2013/04/upc-belooft-beterschap-met-de-horizon/

Will the new set top box work with my existing configuration of having the EPC3925 in bridge mode and everything connected to my netgear router (which allows open NAT for my 3 XBOXes)?
Have been accepted on the trial but waiting to hear from UPC.

Carter P Fly

This was asked a few pages back, If you look at the help on the swiss site it gives the info

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showpost.php?p=84155924&postcount=433

StaticNoise

I have to ask it. I have a HD box and a standard box. I've now gone off and stuck the standard (older box) in the upstairs room, and connected it to a TV. The reason that I did this was so that I can keep the Horizon downstairs.

Then I read that an installer will come and take the old box back. Is there anyway that we can keep the old one? Or, do I need to start fibbing?

Meesared

StaticNoise wrote: »

I have to ask it. I have a HD box and a standard box. I've now gone off and stuck the standard (older box) in the upstairs room, and connected it to a TV. The reason that I did this was so that I can keep the Horizon downstairs.

Then I read that an installer will come and take the old box back. Is there anyway that we can keep the old one? Or, do I need to start fibbing?

UPC own the box, so you can't really keep it, plus if you say you don't have it anymore they will deactivate the subscription card in it, meaning it will no longer work!

StaticNoise

Feckers! I couldn't get away with saying that I had already sent it back?

Meesared

Nope they will deactivate the card, rendering it useless, you might as well send it back to them!

FreudianSlippers

Not happy i missed out on the trial sign up. When are they expecting the service to properly roll out?

ciaran75

FreudianSlippers wrote: »

Not happy i missed out on the trial sign up. When are they expecting the service to properly roll out?

They haven't announced any timeframe yet but i've heard a couple of people mention June, all speculation though. There is a major software upgrade going into the horizon box in holland in June/July so i reckon they would probably wait until after that before releasing here. no point releasing a new product with bugs that will be fixed in a month and pis*ing people off.

thefishone

Anyone on the trial should hold on to their old box, at least until the trail period ends.
The Horizon box can be used as an access point or can connect your existing wifi.
If used as your main access point your upc phone has to be connected to it for them to
work.

ciaran75

thefishone wrote: »

Anyone on the trial should hold on to their old box, at least until the trail period ends.
The Horizon box can be used as an access point or can connect your existing wifi.
If used as your main access point your upc phone has to be connected to it for them to
work.

yeah, hopefully they will allow us to hold onto my old HD box as could put in spare room

belmulletman

ciaran75 wrote: »

yeah, hopefully they will allow us to hold onto my old HD box as could put in spare room

But it won't work as you need the card from it for the Horizon box.

WoodenShoe

belmulletman wrote: »

But it won't work as you need the card from it for the Horizon box.

No, you will receive a Horizonbox WITH a new smartcard in it.
Your old box will stay working until the end of the trialperiod and you (as customer) decides what to keep.

belmulletman

WoodenShoe wrote: »

No, you will receive a Horizonbox WITH a new smartcard in it.
Your old box will stay working until the end of the trialperiod and you (as customer) decides what to keep.

Well... that's not what happened when I got mine! I got the Horizon box with NO smartcard. I took the one out of my HD box and popped it into the Horizon unit and it just worked.
So there was no card for the HD box to continue working!

Wabbit Ears

Horizon box doesnt use a smartcard like the old boxes, if you've put one into the back of your horizon box take it out as its doing nothing.

belmulletman

Wabbit Ears wrote: »

Horizon box doesnt use a smartcard like the old boxes, if you've put one into the back of your horizon box take it out as its doing nothing.

Where did you see that? I set mine up initially without it and it wouldn't work!

coylemj

You can pre-register for the Horizon box here though I'm aware from reading other posts that some people who signed up on the basis of the Facebook offer have been declined.

I'd say if you didn't make it on to the next trial, it would be no harm to pre-register here anyway....

http://www.upc.ie/horizonoffer/

swampy353

belmulletman wrote: »

Where did you see that? I set mine up initially without it and it wouldn't work!

It's mentioned in the manual, couple pages in where it lists all the elements at the back. Says card slot not currently in use

Mountjoy Mugger

coylemj wrote: »

You can pre-register for the Horizon box here though I'm aware from reading other posts that some people who signed up on the basis of the Facebook offer have been declined.

I'd say if you didn't make it on to the next trial, it would be no harm to pre-register here anyway....

http://www.upc.ie/horizonoffer/

Blank page for me.

StaticNoise

Working fine, I can see it now.

The link normally has some characters after it that links your account number, but it makes no difference.

Cushie Butterfield

Mountjoy Mugger wrote: »

Blank page for me.

It was blank for me too until I remembered to allow on NoScript, maybe you have something blocking it too?

bob11

coylemj wrote: »

You can pre-register for the Horizon box here though I'm aware from reading other posts that some people who signed up on the basis of the Facebook offer have been declined.

I'd say if you didn't make it on to the next trial, it would be no harm to pre-register here anyway....

http://www.upc.ie/horizonoffer/

I got an email from them this morning, with 3 summer treats,

1. INTRODUCING THE WONDERS OF
UPC HORIZON TV APP & HORIZON TV ONLINE

2. This Summer we are upgrading all our customers to 50Mb or more as standard where possible.

3. INTRODUCING THE AMAZING
HORIZON TV HD+ BOX WITH FREE INSTALLATION

with the option to pre-register for horizon tv

coldcake

I've been selected for the trial, but I'm not too sure that I'll sign up.

I really don't turn on the box I have now as I tend to watch most TV online and now with the horizon app I forecast that I will be turning it on less.

Also after the trail will I get to keep the box and then will it cost more than the 2.50 that's the cost during the trial period.

I'm trying to cut costs and this seems by the end of the trial I'll end up paying more. I don't have HD, which would be nice and I wonder if this is going to become standard or will I end up paying for this too.

I can't see the benefit of the new box for someone with my viewing habits, I wish I could find 4 things that I wanted to record at once.

I feel people with sports and movie packs would get more out of this than me. Can I seek opinions please?

Cheers

Coldcake

JKGT

Its all beginning to look like a big promotional run than an actual beta test... I've never had to pay extra for any beta test I was doing before.. The only thing being beta tested here is the customers..

JKGT

When they call just say your not interested Simples!!!

coldcake wrote: »

I've been selected for the trial, but I'm not too sure that I'll sign up.

I really don't turn on the box I have now as I tend to watch most TV online and now with the horizon app I forecast that I will be turning it on less.

Also after the trail will I get to keep the box and then will it cost more than the 2.50 that's the cost during the trial period.

I'm trying to cut costs and this seems by the end of the trial I'll end up paying more. I don't have HD, which would be nice and I wonder if this is going to become standard or will I end up paying for this too.

I can't see the benefit of the new box for someone with my viewing habits, I wish I could find 4 things that I wanted to record at once.

I feel people with sports and movie packs would get more out of this than me. Can I seek opinions please?

Cheers

Coldcake

Cushie Butterfield

coldcake wrote: »

I'm trying to cut costs and this seems by the end of the trial I'll end up paying more.

If the reward is a €102 credit to your account, allowing for the extra €2.50 for three months you'd be €94.50 up (less whatever increase from June on). Why not do the trial, cancel without penalty, go back to what you had to begin with & use the €94.50 you'll be saving to pay another bill.

PeteK*

Looks like I'm being charged for my Horizon already in another way!

flanna

PeteK* wrote: »

Looks like I'm being charged for my Horizon already in another way!

If you are out of contract ring customer loyalty and threaten to cancel they won't be long changing their tune, do you mind me asking what your bill is at the moment?

who_me

12.50 increase? Yikes. Are you a broadband customer as well?

flanna

just got the email for the trial

Meesared

I got one too today, not sure why, as I got the same email a few days ago

granturismo

I rang UPC sales to ask for an upgrade in my broadband but I'd have to pay extra.

I got an email last week saying I'd been accepted for the Horizon trial and the sales person today thought the trial was over???

Mister Gooey

flanna wrote: »

just got the email for the trial

Me too, yippee!!!!

zero19

And me.

RQ2013

Me too..

breeno

RQ2013 wrote: »

Me too..

Another here today too. Interesting to see how long it takes to get it.

Del2005

breeno wrote: »

Another here today too. Interesting to see how long it takes to get it.

Got the email also. Hopefully it'll be quicker than Eurosport2 HD and C4 HD

GHOST MGG

dont hold your breath..got my email on the 10th of april..no phone call yet..

coylemj

granturismo wrote: »

I rang UPC sales to ask for an upgrade in my broadband but I'd have to pay extra.

I got an email last week saying I'd been accepted for the Horizon trial and the sales person today thought the trial was over???

The sales person was afraid that you'd kick to touch and wait for the trial, telling you it was over was a way of getting rid of that obstacle in the hope that you'd then go ahead and sign up for the BB upgrade.

The trial is not over, there are people posting here who are on phase I and lots more (including me) who have been informed that they will be on phase II and who will get a phone call in the next few weeks.

Sales people are trained to deal with obstacles and objections, the more successful ones are given to telling lies to get around them. Treat everything they tell you with a large dose of scepticism.

seamey beag84

They were fairly quick getting back to me. Got the email wed, got a phone call yesterday and they're installing it Monday. Sweet!

zAbbo

Clever way to get people to upgrade. Tell them it's a free trial, give them 3 months with shiny stuff, charge them and then bank on them not downgrading.

coylemj

seamey beag84 wrote: »

They were fairly quick getting back to me. Got the email wed, got a phone call yesterday and they're installing it Monday. Sweet!

Did they mention an option of self-install?

seamey beag84

coylemj wrote: »

Did they mention an option of self-install?

No, it was an automated call that rang me just to confirm the installation. Nothing about self install in the email either..