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Software Update |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 2,270
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Software Update
I am a TalkTalk subscriber, but I have been using a BT-branded Humax box for a couple of years now. If given a software update on installation, this delivers the normal TalkTalk service, but at Humax speed instead of Huawei lethargy.
The software updated automatically a couple of days ago. It is now no. 26.40.0. There don't seem to be any new features that I have noticed so far, but the Internet performance appears to have improved significantly. Previously, I could not watch an Internet channel for an hour without the picture breaking up and an error message appearing at least once. This despite my router being connected to the box via an ethernet cable. The only exception to this was Netflix, which was always stable. I assume that this was down to a difference in the way that TalkTalk and Netflix stream material. Since the update, however, all my Internet reception seems fine, regardless of source. I have just watched two episodes of 'Game of Thrones', back to back and am currently tuned to Sky 2. No break-ups. Obviously, this is a Humax update, but I expect it will be rolled out to Huawei boxes soon enough. |
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#2 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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On the BT Youview G4 box made by Humax it has now made the BBC red button + service as default and its a much faster and better service. On the older style BT Youview box also made by Humax the update is the same but I find the older style BT Youview box sometimes seems to go back to the older version of the BBCi red button service.
I use the newer G4 Youview box for BT TV and Freeview and the older style box just as a Freeview PVR in another room. Never had Talk Talk but from what I have heard the Talk Talk Youveiw boxes always seem to be the last to get any updates and that the Humax made boxes are far better than the Huawei made Youview boxes but I'm just going from what I have heard. Netflix needs at lest 3mb speeds for HD streaming. It's far more for Internet IPTV channels via Youview. Darren |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 2,270
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You are right about the boxes. Out of interest, I dug my old Huawei box out of mothballs last week, treated it to a software update, and compared it directly with my Humax box. It wasn't as slow as I remembered (possibly due to the update), but still could not match the Humax when it came to changing channels. Its speed was tolerable, though. The Humax, however, has a bigger hard drive (500Gb as compared with 320) and a far better remote, which can also be configured to control a soundbar (don't know whether TalkTalk's can or not). Bearing in mind that the BT box is now available at retail from Currys for only £133, it is excellent value.
I am on TalkTalk's 38Mbps fibre optic service (and it usually delivers around 30) so the minimum connection speed requirement is academic to me. The Internet-based services still used to break up on me at least once an hour. Since the update, however, they have been stable. |
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#4 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Scotland, Dunfermline Area
Posts: 10,698
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I'm on BT Infinity 76mb unlimited and that usually delivers me 68.7mb 97% of the time. I have never had much problems with the internet based channels breaking up via BT TV.
Theres always a 1.5mb/2mb drop in speed when waiting a channels this via BT TV depending if it's an SD or HD Internet channel. I don't know why Talk Talk never brought out a 500gb version of there Youview box. BT has always. had a 500gb box. There is now even a 1tb Humax branded Youview box going about. That I had looked at getting my sister for her birthday. Darren |
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#5 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 2,270
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Considering that TalkTalk used the original Humax box when they started their YouView service (back in 2012, if I remember correctly), I think that they shot themselves in the foot by signing a big deal with Huawei. Its lower price enabled them to take an early market lead over rivals, BT, by being cheaper. Also, they provided almost all of the Sky channels (Atlantic being a notable absentee) as reasonably priced options.
That, however, came at a price. The Huawei box soon acquired a poor reputation, which may have been exaggerated in these forums, but is not entirely underserved. On top of that, the optional Sky channels are all in SD. This left the HD complement of TalkTalk's material as what was available on Freeview, iPlayer, Netflix and the pay-per-view stuff in the TalkTalk Player. Now it seems that a reaction has set in. Some of the channels in the Sky Entertainment pack have gone, replaced by the TalkTalk Film Club, which is nothing if not cheap - in every sense of the word. I read last week that TalkTalk have lost 300000 customers since they were hacked last year, which is an alarming churn rate, if it is true. BT now have the bigger customer base. I also read that BT was in discussions with TalkTalk over buying their YouView business. How true this is, I have no idea. It was several months ago, and I have heard nothing more since. The fact that BT are to revamp the user interface may be telling, however. It looks like they want to develop the platform so that it can compete with SkyQ, and I expect that they will need many more customers to achieve that. Nothing is set in stone, of course, but I would not be at all surprised to find my YouView service being transferred to BT without my intervention at some point in the future. Actually, I would go now, except that I am still under contract to TalkTalk and it would cost me an arm and a leg. I would also miss out on Sky Arts, which I rather like, but I daresay I could live with that. |
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#6 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,738
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Quote:
The fact that BT are to revamp the user interface may be telling,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5cY2TGExhgg |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2000
Location: UK
Posts: 2,270
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In that interview, she said, "We are developing a whole new interface for YouView". She is the boss of BT TV. That suggests to me that BT is doing it. I may be wrong, but it seems to me that BT wants to move their version of YouView to an altogether higher plane (to compete with SkyQ, obviously) and that they intend to go it alone. They have already introduced 4K on the platform and there has been no equivalent action from TalkTalk, whose services have, in fact, been cut back a little.
Reading the runes, it seems to me that the writing is on the wall for TalkTalk TV and that BT is gearing up to take Sky and Virgin on directly. I think that the next few months might be interesting. |
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#8 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 11,679
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Quote:
Actually, I would go now, except that I am still under contract to TalkTalk and it would cost me an arm and a leg. I would also miss out on Sky Arts, which I rather like, but I daresay I could live with that.
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