O Canada! → Canadian → Canadian Broadband > VMedia - Real-World experiences?

Re: VMedia - Real-World experiences?

I'd like to see a change to the TV guide. That's about my only grievance. The line up is a tad confusing

I use a usb keyboard and mouse without a problem.

I personally have not had service, yet I have a good friend who has had DSL/IPTV service with Vmedia.

There were some hiccups getting started, but George Burger was most accommodating and helpful during that period of time. He certainly impressed me with his concern for the situation.

Once the service was set up, picture quality was good. Unfortunately the connection wasn't very good (I think it was the DSL connection - Bell had some issues finding a decent line - for third party access of course - so I think it was probably something to do with a poor connection), and the TV would freeze frequently. There were also issues with subscribed channels not working all the time. Support tried to help, but as she was not very technical, she got frustrated and eventually gave up.

Vmedia returned all that she paid within the 30 day window. She's moved to another provider who promised her the channels she really wanted (and got through an add on with Vmedia), but that hasn't happened. She's not too happy with that and kinda regrets dumping Vmedia.

If they partnered with my ISP (Ebox), I'm sure I'd give them a shot. I know I have decent internet at my place, then I'd be able to determine who's end the problem really was on. Their basic plus sports looks pretty good for what I would want.

I just have one other question - can the Vbox be used as a media centre even if you've not signed up for IPTV? That is, could you still use it to access Netflix and Youtube or take advantage of XBMC?

This is probably a silly question, but I don't know much about this kinda stuff.

But I restored my router's setting to default and noticed that upon visiting speedtest the IP in the bottom left had changed. It used to be 130.88 (something; can't at all remember, which is frustrating). Now it's showing 209.141.129.246.

Is that supposed to happen? My IP changing? Also, is there a way I could get it back to the 130.(something)? Don't know if that had any bearing, but when I had that my speeds were rock solid all day long these past couple of days. Now, not so much. Course, it's peak now; but peak yesterday showed advertised speeds on that 130.(something).

Would it be as simple as unplugging and plugging back in my router? Or the modem? I'm kicking myself for having touched anything. :S

EDIT: Okay, so an IP doesn't affect speed, after doing a bit of Googling, so I guess there's no need to try and change it back to whatever it was. And this varied or dynamic IP assignation is a result of the router, apparently...? DHCP, actually. Okay.

This past weekend I went into my local Canada computers to get a hands on demo of Vmedia's tv service and I have some comments.

Overall, Great product.. Channels change very fast (faster than ROGERS Digital in some cases, or Bell Dish.) and seems to be solid, as normal cable would be. I was very impressed!

What issues I have are more to do with how the service is setup.

First off, some channels, like CNN. CNN is just AWFUL! You are taking an HD feed, making it SD then compressing it to the point the quality is awful.

This was the case with some other channels, but not to the extreme CNN was.

I found some locals, like CITY, although in HD, the compression used made the picture less than HD.

I found it's very inconsistent, depending on who owns the channels. If Bell owns the channel, they look good for the most part, If ROGERS owns the channel, it's just ok, and others are a mix of AWFUL to reasonable. Movie channels seem to have much better quality/different compression as well.

I think VMedia can today correct some of these issues by using the same compression on all channels. CFTO, Global, CITY etc should not be compressed differently, although it appears they are. There needs to be a standard quality level set for all channels, if you have any hope in hell of getting loyal customers. The quality would be noticeable by non TECH people as well, and just isn't acceptable.

To be clear, I verified how the tv was hooked up on the demo, and it was an HDMI cable to a HD tv. There is no reason for quality to have any degrade.

I also feel you need to partner with more ISP's to help make the service more attractive. I think being a service all about choice, you need to ensure that choice is fully there not just a choice of a few channels.

I am trying to stop the IPTV and I am running into issues. Originally I took advantage of their '1 month free' Premium Basic. It was ordered on Aug 27 and Rogers set up the internet on Aug 30. As of Sept 17 My Services is showing $39.95 and 'active'.

That doesn't bother me as much as the fact I told Live Chat Support I was cancelling the Canadian Premium Basic and the renting of the Vbox (even discussed sending it back) just a few days before. I am not sure why My Services is showing $39.95 and 'active'. Whether it is because I canceled or VMedia operates on a 3 week month. Either way, I told Vmedia Live Chat I wanted to cancel the Premium Basic while it was still free. If I get charged this $39.95 despite cancelling, I am going to be very disappointed with Vmedia.

Hi koreyb, thanks for your feedback. A couple of comments. First, CNN is SD at the source. We wish we could easily get it in HD but transport is very complicated for the HD version of that channel...and HLN and TCM as well...and we don't have the resources currently to circumvent those issues. To be clear every channel that looks SD, is. We only supply HD where it is available to us through satellite transport, or OTA.
With respect to CFTO, Global, CITY, the Canadian OTAs, we are actually pretty pleased with the signals, as we do pull them directly via our own antenna. That is not the case with OMNIs but we are remedying that. We have also transitioned some US networks on to satellite, because when we put them on antenna they looked great, but unfortunately buildings have gone up around us and have blocked or impaired some of the signals. As you can see from my comments we are continually implementing improvements as needed and in fact are in the process of doubling up our satellite dish capacity to further improve quality, and that should be online in a matter of weeks.

I would like to know which store you visited because I would like to check out the experience there. Best regards George.

Hi Voltage, I think what you are seeing is our monthly billing rate, which is linked to the service our subscribers take. When there is a promotion of any kind, our billing program credits the monthly payment by the remaining amount of the credit. Part or all of your free month was used to offset your first billing period, which from the sound of it would have been billed on September 1. The key is what were you billed then.

Please check and if the Premium Basic fee was not offset by the promotion, let me know. As it stands, if you stopped your service tomorrow you would not receive another bill from us because the services are prepaid either on sign up or the first of the month. Hope that makes sense.

You can also PM me your order number an details and I will look into it. Best regards George.

I have been looking at VMedia for a while now but I don't want to do anything until Rogers sorts out all of their issues with cable internet for third parties.

Just one question - in terms of real world experiences, how is the tv service affected when there are other people at home using the connection for other things?

For example, let's say one person is playing games online or doing heavy downloading, and there are two TVs in different rooms watching HD channels - would the TV quality become choppy?

How much bandwidth does an HD channel actually use up?

bitorrents which like to use 100% of speed. do cause issues, similar to netflix. but if you force everyone to set a limit on the max speed you are ok.

Or in router set a speed limit using QOS. and prioritize the VBOX's or any game consoles then you are fine.

Vbox uses very little speed comparatively. I typically set 6mbps a side for Vbox or netflix. which should allow 1 netflix or 2 vbox seasons active if not mistaken.

I decided to reply publicly so that it doesnt leave my issue open ended.

As I understand, the cancellation request is put in and my 1 Free Month expires on Sept 30. 'My Services' showed $39.95 in the middle of the month when it used to be 'free' is what confused me. Either way it doesnt matter to me anymore. The service will be canceled, I will return the Vbox and get my deposit back. Everything should be fine by Sept 30.

George Burger was very helpful and responsive, as was the Vmedia Live Chat.

koreyb I am intrigued by your comparison of VMedia's service with Zazeen's...which is what I assume you meant, as there is no Acanac BDU. To my knowledge they have not launched. How did you have a chance to experience their service?

Okay, now that I've realized my frequent disconnects were due to the router being too far away, and not because of faulty drivers on my laptop, shoddiness on the part of ASUS or a fuck-up on VMedia's, I'm really happy.

I'm getting advertised speeds, and pretty much all day long, too.

Without hesitation or snark or guilt, I can say VMedia is worth every goddamn penny for their internet service. (Well, except for peak on the weekends...)

I'm happy. And I wish everyone at VMedia the very best going forward. Here's to hoping that for all that's been said, some of which has put the company in a bad light, customers aren't put off and are willing to give you guys a try.

(I still don't care for the VBox, largely because I very, very rarely use it. Like, honestly, maybe two or three times since my July 30th transfer from Rogers to VMedia have I watched any IPTV. So I really can't endorse or belittle the service.)

Hey,

I thought this would be the right place to ask. Does VMedia throttle connections? I am having fairly good service with everything, except YouTube. I notice that buffering is extremely slow between 6PM and maybe 10ish.

Is it VMedia or? Because it's weird that it's really only YouTube I am having issues with.

I doubt they're throttling; however, it could be the traffic at peak times slowing down your streaming.

Just a thought! It's happened to me before.

Yea but I never noticed that before, I was with distributel before. Aren't they the same lines and all...same everything?

i 3 when stupid people flock back to robellus and the other three big companies (shaw/videotron/cogeco).... stupidity at maximum...

korey I don't know what your relationship is with Zazeen, or if you are unrelated to them but a fan and think you are trying to help, but we at VMedia have refrained from commenting on Zazeen because we do not want to be embroiled in a mudslinging match with a fellow ISP IPTV provider. But when you start suggesting that an unlaunched service which has not operated in the real world but has provided its service, if at all, through a controlled environment, is remotely comparable to ours, we have to speak up. I am sure Zazeen did not put you up to this, but the fact is we are up and running, and Zazeen is not. When it is, and the market can compare its quality with ours and judge for itself, we will consider your comments. Until then, they are ridiculous. Just saying.

not really sure what you mean by "ridiculous"

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the fact is we are up and running, and Zazeen is not. When it is, and the market can compare its quality with ours and judge for itself, we will consider your comments. Until then, they are ridiculous. Just saying.

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Glad you are monitoring this thread, Fergless, and thanks for your concern for my tooth, which is much better though the problem has not gone away and has to be dealt with. Be happy to share the details on IM.

Good luck on your launch.

Thank you.

That IP belongs to CIKTel also, along with the 135 block of addresses.