Virgin Media - Good time to sign up?

RedLichtie_2

Hi Folks,

I've just moved house and moved into a Virgia Media area. I've never had their digital TV service before, but think it would be good to have to get the most out of my HDTV.

My question is: is now a particularly good time to sign up to Virgin Media or is it worth waiting off for a month or two (November/December) to see what deals they have? Do they tend to follow a certain pattern? Are there any rumours on new offers?

I tried to sign up to their deal with the £165 cashback from Quidco last month, but missed it by a couple of hours. So, I'm sort of reluctant to sign up until I can get something similar. I realise I can get £65 cashback now and £50 credit (essentially a free HD box) this month, but wonder if it's worth waiting.

If I signed up, could I cancel within 14 days then rejoin?!

Thanks for any advice!:beer:

Kurtis_Blue

Check with a neighbour on the quality of the Virgin feed in your location, its very poor quality around here on both HD and SD.

jb66

Kurtis_Blue wrote: »

Check with a neighbour on the quality of the Virgin feed in your location, its very poor quality around here on both HD and SD.

That doesn't make sense, is a digital signal, its either on or off, there is no variables in the quality of the image

Kurtis_Blue

jb66 wrote: »

That doesn't make sense, is a digital signal, its either on or off, there is no variables in the quality of the image

No that's not the case and a common misconception with digital TV, each individual part of a packet of data is either on or off not the whole data stream.

The VM picture quality around here is dire, utterly dire.

jb66

Kurtis_Blue wrote: »

No that's not the case and a common misconception with digital TV, each individual part of a packet of data is either on or off not the whole data stream.

The VM picture quality around here is dire, utterly dire.

Agree to disagree

lozzaman

It depends if there is a fallback, to a lower rate when the error rate is too high. Either that or in certain ex-franchise areas there is limited bandwidth (i.e. lower than normal) on the HFC network and therefore they are running at a lower bitrate (for the whole area) I'm not sure if this is something Virgin do though.

Kurtis_Blue

jb66 wrote: »

Agree to disagree

Er no, not really, the technical facts are out there if you wish to research. they also use different encoding V Sky and freeview, mpeg2 V mpeg 4 with different bitrates.

Although that is not the issue locally as I have seen much better Virgin picture quality in other areas.

RedLichtie_2

Don't suppose anyone has any idea with regard to the original post?

Thanks for the advice on picture qual. I think I should be ok.

Kurtis_Blue

RedLichtie wrote: »

Thanks for the advice on picture qual. I think I should be ok.

Why?

But on a more focused attempt at the original questions, you have 28 days from installation to cancel with virgin.

http://shop.virginmedia.com/help/why-choose-us.html

jb66

Kurtis_Blue wrote: »

Er no, not really, the technical facts are out there if you wish to research. they also use different encoding V Sky and freeview, mpeg2 V mpeg 4 with different bitrates.

Although that is not the issue locally as I have seen much better Virgin picture quality in other areas.

I am aware of sky vs virgin but I don't accept that virgins picture quality varies as per location. Ive worked in many areas and have never came across this issue. It may be down to the way the TV upscaled in your location.

Kurtis_Blue

jb66 wrote: »

I am aware of sky vs virgin but I don't accept that virgins picture quality varies as per location. Ive worked in many areas and have never came across this issue. It may be down to the way the TV upscaled in your location.

Oh well if you haven't come across it then I and the technology must be wrong.

And it probably is that every one round here has purchased the same poor TVs, good lord.



If any one else wishes to research before purchasing:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=virgin+media+artifacting#hl=en&expIds=17259,17315,23628,25646,26637,26761,26849,26869,26992,27183&xhr=t&q=virgin+media+artifacting+picture+quality&cp=40&pf=p&sclient=psy&safe=off&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=virgin+media+artifacting+picture+quality&gs_rfai=&pbx=1&fp=e609312a83e2354c