VMS1100 very buggy
fzammetti
Newbie

Hi,

I'm experiencing a lot of little problems with the VMS1100 that I got roughly a month ago that is making the overall experience very poor.  I'm looking to see if (a) these are common issues to a lot of customers and (b) when/if Verizon plans to address these with firmware updates.  For reference, I have a single VMS1100 with one satellite IP box in the house.  Problems I'm seeing:

  • The user interface is very slow in most places.  Flipping through the guide is slow, as is moving through menus.  It sometimes multiple a seconds for keypresses to register.  I've tried the remote for the box as well as my usual universal remote and it's the same thing.  Distance isn't an issue either, nor is direction, as I've moved all over the living room trying it, and there's no obstructions between the remote and the box so it's definitely the UI itself being slow.  Navigating the UI is an incredibly frustrating experience overall because of this and it sometimes causes errors when you press a key twice thinking it didn't register the first time but it actually did.
  • The guide is often not accurate.  I've even missed a few shows because things show up as not new when they actually are, even at the time they are actually broadcast.
  • Sometimes, the guide will flip from my Favorites view to including all channels randomly.
  • It has randomly rebooted a few times, usually while fast-forwarding through recorded programs.
  • Probably every fourth time I stop a recording, or sometimes just flipping channels, the sound will cut out.  The only remedy is to turn off and on my sound processor.  I'd be inclined to think this was a problem outside of the VMS1100, however, this NEVER ONCE happened with my previous Motorola DVR, so whether it's the fault of the VMS1100 of not it's a big annoyance that only started happening with the VMS1100.
  • Sometimes, even though I can record six programs at once, it will tell me I can't record another program even though there's not that many currently taping.  I've checked to be sure the programs don't overlap, there is definitely a tuner available, but it seems to think there's not.  This one is rare, and only happens when I have 4 programs at least taping, so it's not as bad as the others, but it's still annoying when it does.

I think the bottom line here is that this DVR is just very buggy all-around and I'm not happy with the experience.  I previously had two Motorla DVRs in the house and the experience was MUCH better... aside from being able to record more programs simultaneously in fact (something which comes up for us a lot on Sunday nights) I'd much rather NOT have this box.

So, Verizon, are you aware of these issues?  Am I the only one experiencing them?  Do you have an ETA on when these will be fixed?  Or, if on the off chance they won't be, what are you going to do to make things right for your customers? (I'm assuming they CAN and WILL be fixed though).

Thanks,

Frank

0 Likes
Re: VMS1100 very buggy
jfalk1
Enthusiast - Level 3

Well, I've only been a FiOS customer for 3 days, but I haven't noticed any of this yet, with one exception.  My standard of comparison is a DirecTV box, so maybe it's just a matter of expectations.  The one exception is that the OK key seemed, on a couple of occasions to take a few presses to register.  

A suggestion when the sound stops.... this used to happen to me on DTV box with a Yamaha sound processor.  The solution was to pause for a second or two.  As long as the box wasn't working completely live, the sound would resync.  Since I haven't had that problem yet on this box, I don't know if it will work here.  I think it's an HDMI handshaking issue.

0 Likes
Re: VMS1100 very buggy
SinCara
Specialist - Level 2

Just an fyi these are peer to peer forums so Verizon wont respond directly to you. If you want to contact them via forums visit the Verizon Direct forum at dslreports.com which is where they will respond to you.

In my opinion it sounds to me you need to replace the box. Although they are new some do fail like any electronic device. The only bugs I have is a slow guide at times and only twice did my channels freeze. Its been smooth otherwise.

The guide is uploaded through your router  to the box so the box has nothing to do with the guide. It is possible the box is defective and isnt receiving the correct information it should though.

I would exchange the box for a new one.

0 Likes
Re: VMS1100 very buggy
fzammetti
Newbie

Hmm, interesting, I'll give the pause trick a try.  Thanks!

0 Likes
Re: VMS1100 very buggy
fzammetti
Newbie

Oh ok thanks, I didn't realize these were peer-only forums.

You may well be right about needing an exchange... if this keeps up for much longer I may well go that route.  Thanks!

0 Likes
Re: VMS1100 very buggy
CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

Couple of comments:

1) I would assume that guide data is the same for VMS as it is for regular STBs. Can't imagine that source/content would come from a different source.

2) Do you have any IPCs? If so, each one takes one of the 6 tuners. So if you have 4 IPCs (max/vms) running, then you only have 2 tuners left for recording.

3) I just got my VMS, but thought I was seeing the same thing about selecting subscribed channels and then having it go back to all.

There is a rumored update to ahppen the end of this month. Maybe some of these issues will be addressed.

0 Likes
Re: VMS1100 very buggy
Annabud
Newbie

I agree...I'm having the same issue with the slow response time from the remote to the box......very frustrating in an age where speed is king. I've tried new batteries, differant remote, no luck. I tried to return the quantum but they said they cannot give me my old boxes back.

0 Likes
Re: VMS1100 very buggy
fzammetti
Newbie

Thanks for that note on #2, I do have one IPC and I didn't realize that takes up a slot.  Makes sense.

I'll hang tight for that update, hopefully it's soon and fixes things... as a software dev myself I can usually tell when something it a software fix or fundamentally flawed hardware and this definitely stinks of software issues, which is the good news I guess 🙂

0 Likes
Re: VMS1100 very buggy
vespir
Enthusiast - Level 2

Hey fzammetti,

I too have been experiencing all of these problems such as the slow reaction on the remote. However, my VMS1100 has an issue with the picture sometimes flickering in and out as well as just flat out shutting down. When we go to turn it back on it goes through the whole startup process each time. I've had Verizon out twice and they actually fixed the ONT as well as putting a new power plug on the VMS1100 as they said it has a tendency to overheat. However, it's still doing it. 

Also, one of the IPC1100's has an issue with sound cutting in and out.

I'm going to try to get a replacement VMS1100 and see if it resolves the issue. It's been pretty frustrating since we just moved and were forced to upgrade the equipment from the Motorola multi-room DVR's and they worked like a charm!

Let me know how things turn out for you if you find any way to resolve it otherwise, though!

Thanks,

James

0 Likes
Re: VMS1100 very buggy
Jojojojo1
Newbie

I am have MANY ANNOYING issues with this D*mn thing.

  • B Search - can no longer set dvr from this section 
  • every single time I set dvr to record from the menu, (If I have already previously recorded on a different day) it FREEZES on Error          -    AND   -   
  • every single time I set dvr to record from the menu, it FREEZES on success.   I have turn the power off for a minute to get back to the tv.
  • I can no longer record from one DVR to another.  I have to physically go to the other DVR now to record, or use the very unuser friendly ONLINE program dvr.
  • Changing channels is horrifically slow  - same as if I am in the menu to exit it.  sloooooooow

What is going on??????????

0 Likes