NOW CLOSED: MNers needed to try a YouView box (RRP £299) and share their thoughts on site

[AnnMumsnet]

We've been asked by the team at YouView to find 20 UK Mumsnetters to try out a YouView box and to share their feedback on Mumsnet.

We're looking for folks who are keen to switch from their current TV provider or who want to add this box to another TV in their home. Testers should be in the UK and have at least one child at home.

YouView say "YouView is a subscription-free television service which seamlessly combines live and catch-up television. The service offers over 70 free to air channels and radio stations via a TV aerial and also connects to any broadband service to bring catch-up and on demand programmes directly to your TV. The TV service, which launched in July 2012, is backed by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, BT, TalkTalk and Arqiva"

You can get YouView free as part of a broadband subscription from BT or TalkTalk (activation / installation fees may apply) or to buy from all major retailers and many independent electrical stores - RRP from £299.

There are some technical requirements for this product test:

~ To set up a YouView set-top box you need to connect it to your TV via a HDMI cable or SCART lead, to your TV aerial and to your broadband router via an Ethernet cable

~ If your router is more than 2 metres from your box you'll need a longer Ethernet cable than provided or will need to use a powerline adapter.

~ A minimum broadband speed of 3Mb/s and an unlimited data allowance from your broadband supplier is recommended.

YouView also say "The service has pause, rewind, fast-forward and record functionality for live TV giving you more flexibility when enjoying your favourite TV programmes. We also offer the option to record one show while watching another, gives reminders to let you know a programme is about to start and has up to 300 hours (500GB) of storage space for your programme recordings in MyView"

Please read all about YouView here

Before you apply please ensure you check your details here - checker.youview.com/ to ensure you can receive the YouView service at home and check you have unlimited broadband as this is recommended.

If you're selected to take part you will be sent a YouView Humax DTR T1000 box worth c£299 - you'll be asked to install it at home, try it and add feedback at least twice to a thread on Mumsnet. You'll be asked to add your first impressions and then to add extra feedback a week or two later to share what you've been watching, recording, pausing and how you and your family are finding YouView. We'll also ask you to add a review to the reviews area on Mumsnet.

If you'd like to take part please add your details here

So long as you add feedback as required you will be able to keep the box.

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

[AwkwardAnnie]

Just tried plugging it back in the telly. It's the aerial. Usually we only lose reception when it rains, but it must be objecting to the cold now too.

Maybe I'll get it a blanket and a brolly.

[AwkwardAnnie]

Has anyone else lost half their channels? We've lost all the ITV, Channel 4, & Channel 5 ones.
The online help says to check signal strength, which was weak. I've tried retuning and now the channels are totally gone. :(

I suspect it's our dodgy aerial. But I can't afford a new one for a few months.

[AnnMumsnet]

ta da - feedback thread as if by magic

[AnnMumsnet]

hello - feedback will start tomorrow and I will email you all a link

[Chocolateporridge]

Thanks indith you've put mind at rest

[Indith]

Usually you get a week or so to try the product out before MN email a link to the feedback thread.

[Chocolateporridge]

Any idea when/how we start to leave feedback? So worried that we might not have received an email or something and will have to return the box!

[shhhgobacktosleep]

hairtwiddler dh called the customer service number re: lack of itv player. Apparently some of the transmitters aren't yet transmitting itv player so they talked him through connecting to another (took only a couple of minutes). We now have itvplayer but 'may' according to the person on the phone no longer get our local news. I guess that's a choice we'll have to make if its the case. Dh isnt too bothered about local news as we are no where near his beloved NE . They suggested that anyone with any such problems get in touch with them as this then raises the issue higher up and they will then look into transmitter issues if enough people are experiencing them with a look to solving them.

[Indith]

Ds2 (12 months old) is in LOVE with the shiny button at the front and just sits there pushing it over and over again which really annoys dd and is especailly annoying when we are watching something on iplayer because then you ahve to start all over again. I would adore a box with a child lock function. Just a button to press on the remote (which you then keep out of reach) to disable the buttons on the box.

However the lovely search button is my best friend in teh world ever.

[InMySpareTime]

The DCs have worked out how to work the box using the buttons on the front (typically at 6am when they get up). I tried foxing them by taking the HDMI cable out, but they sussed that out in about 2 minutes. I want a "go back to bed" setting!

[hairtwiddler]

According to DH the lack of ITV player seems to be a common complaint (he googled it) I'd quite like to have it as DD is a big fan of the Cube but it's on a bit late for her.

[shhhgobacktosleep]

hairtwiddler ours is plugged into the aerial and broadband and we don't get itv player either Is this an issue with everyone? ITV are one of their partners so would have thought it should be there.

[hairtwiddler]

Ours arrived on Thursday. We are having major building work done so set it up upstairs just connected to the broadband thinking the kids could watch players which should be enough to keep them entertained.
Really easy to set up, although DH complained the power cable is too short. I did it in about ten minutes with kids pestering me, 'is it ready'. It couldn't find any channels as not plugged into the aerial so this confused it a bit. We're using a scart connector, as it's on the old telly in the bedroom. Maybe that is an issue too.

Perhaps it's not meant to be used with broadband only but so far we don't seem to have itv player, and it keeps cutting off mid-programme.

When we can get to the telly again next week we'll plug into the aerial and see if that is better.

[Chocolateporridge]

It arrived today (no prior phone call) and then we realized that our TV aerial doesn't work! I called an engineer who ended up installing a new one for us (£80) and now its all working!

DH is well impressed at the "one terrabite" capacity and every single feature do far.

Just wondering, does anyone know when we'te supposed to start leaving feedback, I've had no emails yet.

[shhhgobacktosleep]

So DH set ours up this afternoon and instantly found a very interesting programme on trains on iplayer to keep him happy for an hour. He then went to pick ds from an after school activity and I managed to pause the kick off of the football for their return .
Dh reports it was really simple & quick to set up and certainly wouldn't need an engineer to come round to install it. He's very impressed with the supplied dlan adapters. It seems very easy to use and personally I like that the box itself displays the time and the channel you're watching - which I know sounds a simple thing but I often don't remember what channel I'm watching with the virgin media box we have . Initial thoughts are all positive. Sunday night will be the test of the record tv facility for us as its our 'busy' night for tv viewing .

[northcoastmum]

Have connected pretty easily, but having problems with sound - is fine to start with, but once I change channels it either goes a bit fuzzy or cuts out. Have teiddled the ariel and also retuned but it doesn't seem to work, going to try the old turn it off and on again.

[youviewyahoo]

Ours arrived today - UPS man left it with lovely next door neighbour who brought it around on our arrival home.

It looked very well packaged but whilst I was talking to lovely next door neighbour the DCs had whisked it away, opened it and set it up. DS1 said it took him about 15 minutes but he is very good at gadgets and is 16. He said it was quite simple and even myself or DH could have done it eventually! (He could have been being kind, I'm not sure!)

It is aesthetically pleasing - nice, compact, shiny and black with a big glowing blue button. Batteries for the remote were included. Youview booklet also provided which tells us what it will do.

DS1 has one comment - all channels are listed even ones that you have to pay for. He wondered if there was somehow you could switch the 'pay for' channel listing off (DS3 aged 8 was getting very excited at certain channels showing but we can't get them as we haven't got any paid for TV).

DS2 was delighted to look up the youview box in the Argos Catalogue and see how much it costs!

DS1 commented that they can watch Tracy Beaker over and over again (I think he probably said that because the programme annoys me immensely and not because he has a secret crush on Dani Harmer!) Lots of programmes are listed and you can watch about 20 previous episodes.

That's all I can update at the moment (DH and DD have not had a chance to look at it) but from the sons in the family so far it's great!

[ItsallisnowaFeegle]

We've DP set ours up about 10 mins ago.

Easy set up, beautiful picture and I'm excited because we're just about to watch last nights Great British Menu and I've already found Sir Terry Pratchett's Eric on BBC iPlayer radio, so I'm going to indulge in my favourite author tomorrow. So far we LOVE it!

[FrankWippery]

They tried to deliver mine this morning and I must've missed them by literally 3 minutes FFS. Card through door, coming tomorrow now. Bloody typical that I have to go up to the Marsden for my check up tomorrow morning. Going to call and see if I can get them to come in the afternoon sometime or I might cry if I get another delivery card through the door

[Indith]

It works! I think it was actually a problem with the HDMI cable. The screen on my TV kept going blank but then I realised that the box itself was still displaying messages so I switched ot a scart lead and it works.

I hadn't realised I would still get my BT vision with it. I sort of assumed I'd have to get a new box from BT if I wanted to upgrade with them but as if by magic a little BT icon appeared on my menu when the box loaded and hey presto! I am VERY impressed (and a little scared at how it all links together and knows stuff).

All seems very smooth so far, I have been scrolling through things and setting up all my series links and now I've started streaming OBEM from yesterday which I hadn't watched yet and it is streaming no problem yet we gave up using iplayer and stuff on the old BT vision box as it kept freezing.

[IncogKNEEto]

Mine is here just waiting for dh to come home so we can attempt set up! And yes to the overuse of (very sticky) sticky tape! Arrived 8am with UPS, no prior phone call though.

[Indith]

Gosh their helpline is good! No queue, UK call centre. Nice man is sending me e-mail for something to apparently reboot the whole thing to see if it will work.

Oh my goodness there is the e-mail. Very efficient!

[Indith]

Oh great, thanks will try that before hurling it out the window calling the helpline. Taking a break feeding the baby!

[RobotHamster]

tip: if it freezes try a soft restart. Hold the power button down for 10 seconds.

[Indith]

Argh! setup issues.