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Virgin Media V HD July 2010
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n www.virginmedia.com/hd n 0845 840 7777 n £49 plus installation
Test cable
Virgin Media V HD Virgin Media continues to get behind high-definition TV with its first HD zapper box Virgin Media’s cable TV service has finally ramped up its HD offering to include 12 linear channels (if you take the top-tier TV XL package, that is) and a fair amount of HD on demand including catch-up from the likes of the BBC and Channel 4. So it was inevitable that its next generation of non-recording receivers would be HD-ready. It’s also suitable for watching stereoscopic 3D – when Virgin Media decides to introduce it. V HD costs £49 for new and existing subscribers plus £35 for installation fee – or, if you’re already a subscriber and are feeling confident you can pay £15 to have it delivered and install it yourself. There are no monthly usage fees to pay other than the TV subscription you choose. Additional V HD boxes also cost £49 each, but without an installation fee. The V HD is Cisco-built and roughly two-thirds the size of a standard Sky+ HD, but curving outward at the sides doesn’t make it the slimmest box around. You’re not likely to be moving it around much, but it is light partly because of its plastic casing and also because, we suspect, most functionality is handled by a limited amount of circuitry. It consumes 14W when on and 11.46W in standby but there’s a useful low-power mode that uses 0.5W. There’s also the option to have the box switch off automatically or go into standby when you haven’t pressed a button for three hours. A bright blue LED display displays the time and the number of the channel you’re watching and is large enough to be helpful to those with eyesight problems. Small operating buttons either side of the display cover most key functions including menu navigation, selection and returning to the main ‘Home menu’. On the rear sit a smart card slot, HDMI output, single (RGB-capable) Scart connector and an optical digital audio output with Dolby 5.1 support. Data ports comprise Ethernet and USB, though the latter currently serves no purpose. The slim, wand-style remote control doesn’t really
compete with Sky’s but it does have tactile, well-placed buttons and quickly becomes intuitive to use. It can be set up to control your TV’s volume using remote codes. The box may be HD-ready but Virgin’s software doesn’t look particularly hi-res on our Panasonic plasma. Navigating the EPG and scrolling through the menus is a generally speedy experience, though with a few exceptions when it comes to accessing VoD. We often experienced a 15-second delay when first trying to access VoD which, according to Virgin, is because ‘the request to go to on demand takes longer as the box has to contact the network interface and then the signal returns to the box.’ A keyword search function – which we came to rely on considering the sheer amount of programming and sub-menus that need to browsed through – often takes a few seconds to load, which again appears to be an issue with the network. The EPG can be browsed as a full-screen grid of programme data for seven channels at a time or you call up the info bar (or ‘mini EPG’) that displays scrollable programme info up to seven days ahead for the current channel and lets you browse what’s on others too while staying on the current channel. Pressing ‘i’ brings up synopses overlaid on the programme you’re watching. The picture quality of HD programming both live and on-demand is as good as watching live channels on our Sky+ HD. Standard-definition programming, sadly, isn’t upscaled but pictures are generally on a par with the better Freeview adapters we’ve tested. Audio performance is clear via Scart and the digital audio output n Grant Rennell
Features EPG support: 7-day Software upgrade: Via broadband AV outputs: HDMI, 1 x Scart (RGB, composite), optical digital audio Data ports: Ethernet, USB HD output modes: 720p, 1080i Dolby Digital: Yes
Ratings PLUS
n HD reception n Easy to use n Low power modes
Minus
n Menus aren’t hi-def n Some menu/network delays n USB port not used
Build Setup Performance Features Value
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Verdict If you’re not tempted by Virgin’s V+ HD PVR, then HD readiness and decent A/V performance makes this a highly competent basic box. But we’re waiting for Virgin Media’s forthcoming TiVo-enhanced recorder before we really break out the fireworks.
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