VMS1100 reported available to order.
tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader

Seeing posts over at DSLReports that some areas are now showing the VMS1100 available to order in two configurations.

$22 for a box and roughly $10 for other TVS for 6 channel

$32 for a Enhanced (2? VMS1100?) and $10 for other TVS for 12 channel

I cannot verify here in FL as it doesn't show up in my available options.

Reportedly being seen in VHO 5 (NYC and sourounding ares in NY), CA, and PA, with various dates as available. 

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Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
JPL
Enthusiast - Level 3

@tns_2 wrote:

And now some are talking about actually having the equipment.  

Anyone Here have the VMS?  IF so we would all benefit from hearing about your experience and impressions.


Yep, I can give you my take.  I got the VMS 2 weeks ago (main VMS box, and second IP box).  First, general impressions:

1) The boxes are small.  The VMS is probably about 1/2 the size of my old 7232, and the IP box is positively tiny.

2) Installation was insanely easy.  I got a new router with the deal, and the only wrinkle I had was in getting the router to power on.  Other than that, the boxes totally self-activated, and did so cleanly.

3) I wish I would have written down my series.  I relied on the cloud back-up of my series.  Didn't work.

4) The boxes came very quickly - all in a nice neat kit (although there is one deficiency with the installation instructions - they tell you to return your old DVR/STB in the same box.  But there was nothing in the instructions about returning your old router (assuming you got a new one).  I didn't want to get hit with a no-return fee, so I pinged them.  It turns out that you DO have to return your old router.

Now... the good:

1) The specs - 6 tuners on the DVR with 1 TB of internal storage.

2) The DVR functionality (e.g. hit jump back when you're playing a DVR recording) is lightening fast.  On the VMS itself it's darn near instanteous.  On the IP box it's only a hair slower.

3) The integration between VMS and IP box is seamless.  With very few exceptions, you wouldn't be able to tell if you were on the VMS itself or the IP box.

4) The IP box only takes a tuner when it's actually turned on.  This was an issue that plagued the initial roll-out of the TiVo mini - where it would hold on to a tuner even if no one was using the mini.  Thankfully Verizon implemented this the right way off the bat.

5) Even though there's no internal tuner in the IP box, if it disconnects from the VMS, it has access to IP feeds directly from the head end (e.g. the same channels you can currently get from the iPad app).  I haven't tried this yet - the IP box has to be actually disconnected from the VMS to make this work.  Fortunately, there is an option on the IP box to actually disconnect from the network.  Again, I haven't tested this out yet, but others have.

Now, the not so good:

1) While the integration is mostly seamless, one feature that's missing from the IP box - dual live buffer.  I understand why this would be, but still, it would have been nice if they could have made that work.

2) The IMG - it's based off of the prior version of the guide s/w, and it's rough.  I've hit a number of bugs while playing around with it, and the IMG is sluggish.  In some cases, it's excruciatingly slow (e.g. adding channels to your favorites list - it literally takes 5 to 6 seconds after you press OK for the update of a single channel to take).  Channel changes are sluggish.  Basically anything associated with the IMG itself is sluggish.  It feels like I'm beta testing the IMG all over again.  The good news is that it appears to be specific to the IMG itself.  It's not the communication between the boxes that's slow.  Like I said - that integration is really, really quick.  And even when I'm doing stuff locally on the VMS, the response of the IMG is buggy.

3) Many of the features that will make this platform so nice haven't been activated yet.  Heck, even stuff that's available on other platforms haven't been activated yet (e.g. you currently can't access external storage on the VMS).  Stuff like wireless connectivity to the IP boxes, and the ability to stream to third party devices haven't been turned on yet.

Overall impression:

- I'm impressed with the DVR performance, and the integration between VMS and the IP boxes.

- The IMG feels slapped together, and rough (not ready for prime-time).

- Not all the features have been turned on yet.

- The support has been surprisingly good on this - before ordering, I asked at least 3 different reps very detailed questions about the set-up.  While it was clear that they didn't have all the information off the top of their heads, they were clearly trained about the set-up, and were able to get me an answer to all my questions within a minute or two of me asking.

Bottom line - unless you really like cutting edge (and are ok with dealing with some buggy s/w)... or you need the additional tuners... I probably makes sense to wait.  It's also not a set-up that works for everyone.  In our house it was ideal.  It will be even more so when they turn on the streaming functionality.  I also didn't want to wait because I was concerned that they would run short of hardware.

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Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

Link to thread at DSLReports (first post regarding VMS availablity is near the botto of the page linked by user wdbrjr):

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r29044849-STB-When-are-the-new-STB-s-coming-~start=100

Poster (based on displayed location) is in VHO8.

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Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
optivity
Contributor - Level 3

There is no sign of the VMS1100 being offered to Upstate NY FiOS subscribers.

Does anyone have an idea when these media servers will be widely available?

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Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
beetlejuice2
Specialist - Level 1

Good to hear they are finally slowly rolling them out in certain markets. I read an article that said full roll out should be through the summer.

Prices are fair as well especially when you compare what Brighthouse wants for their whole house dvr where I live. $40 a month plus $8 for each tv.

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Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader

And now some are talking about actually having the equipment.  

Anyone Here have the VMS?  IF so we would all benefit from hearing about your experience and impressions.

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Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
hosehead1
Enthusiast - Level 2
Just got mine today. Set up was simple. Haven't had a lot of time to mess around but so far so good. Only issue is with IP boxes. When I was watching the Phillies today on IP1 if I went to IP2 and turned the same channel on, IP1 would freeze. To un-freeze I had to change to another channel on IP2 and then change IP1 to something else and back. Very odd.
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Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
JPL
Enthusiast - Level 3

@tns_2 wrote:

And now some are talking about actually having the equipment.  

Anyone Here have the VMS?  IF so we would all benefit from hearing about your experience and impressions.


Yep, I can give you my take.  I got the VMS 2 weeks ago (main VMS box, and second IP box).  First, general impressions:

1) The boxes are small.  The VMS is probably about 1/2 the size of my old 7232, and the IP box is positively tiny.

2) Installation was insanely easy.  I got a new router with the deal, and the only wrinkle I had was in getting the router to power on.  Other than that, the boxes totally self-activated, and did so cleanly.

3) I wish I would have written down my series.  I relied on the cloud back-up of my series.  Didn't work.

4) The boxes came very quickly - all in a nice neat kit (although there is one deficiency with the installation instructions - they tell you to return your old DVR/STB in the same box.  But there was nothing in the instructions about returning your old router (assuming you got a new one).  I didn't want to get hit with a no-return fee, so I pinged them.  It turns out that you DO have to return your old router.

Now... the good:

1) The specs - 6 tuners on the DVR with 1 TB of internal storage.

2) The DVR functionality (e.g. hit jump back when you're playing a DVR recording) is lightening fast.  On the VMS itself it's darn near instanteous.  On the IP box it's only a hair slower.

3) The integration between VMS and IP box is seamless.  With very few exceptions, you wouldn't be able to tell if you were on the VMS itself or the IP box.

4) The IP box only takes a tuner when it's actually turned on.  This was an issue that plagued the initial roll-out of the TiVo mini - where it would hold on to a tuner even if no one was using the mini.  Thankfully Verizon implemented this the right way off the bat.

5) Even though there's no internal tuner in the IP box, if it disconnects from the VMS, it has access to IP feeds directly from the head end (e.g. the same channels you can currently get from the iPad app).  I haven't tried this yet - the IP box has to be actually disconnected from the VMS to make this work.  Fortunately, there is an option on the IP box to actually disconnect from the network.  Again, I haven't tested this out yet, but others have.

Now, the not so good:

1) While the integration is mostly seamless, one feature that's missing from the IP box - dual live buffer.  I understand why this would be, but still, it would have been nice if they could have made that work.

2) The IMG - it's based off of the prior version of the guide s/w, and it's rough.  I've hit a number of bugs while playing around with it, and the IMG is sluggish.  In some cases, it's excruciatingly slow (e.g. adding channels to your favorites list - it literally takes 5 to 6 seconds after you press OK for the update of a single channel to take).  Channel changes are sluggish.  Basically anything associated with the IMG itself is sluggish.  It feels like I'm beta testing the IMG all over again.  The good news is that it appears to be specific to the IMG itself.  It's not the communication between the boxes that's slow.  Like I said - that integration is really, really quick.  And even when I'm doing stuff locally on the VMS, the response of the IMG is buggy.

3) Many of the features that will make this platform so nice haven't been activated yet.  Heck, even stuff that's available on other platforms haven't been activated yet (e.g. you currently can't access external storage on the VMS).  Stuff like wireless connectivity to the IP boxes, and the ability to stream to third party devices haven't been turned on yet.

Overall impression:

- I'm impressed with the DVR performance, and the integration between VMS and the IP boxes.

- The IMG feels slapped together, and rough (not ready for prime-time).

- Not all the features have been turned on yet.

- The support has been surprisingly good on this - before ordering, I asked at least 3 different reps very detailed questions about the set-up.  While it was clear that they didn't have all the information off the top of their heads, they were clearly trained about the set-up, and were able to get me an answer to all my questions within a minute or two of me asking.

Bottom line - unless you really like cutting edge (and are ok with dealing with some buggy s/w)... or you need the additional tuners... I probably makes sense to wait.  It's also not a set-up that works for everyone.  In our house it was ideal.  It will be even more so when they turn on the streaming functionality.  I also didn't want to wait because I was concerned that they would run short of hardware.

Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
tns2
Community Leader
Community Leader
Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
optivity
Contributor - Level 3

Can anyone speculate when the VMS1100 will be available to order for Upstate NY subscribers?

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Re: VMS1100 reported available to order.
JAH_PGH
Newbie

I received my unit (new router, VMS and IP box) on Tuesday.  As previously stated, it's insanely easy to setup and configure and the instructions are well written.

1. Import of the cloud did not work for either box despite making sure to import the correct "Living Room / Family Room" profile from the cloud.  A call to the Customer Service number revealed that the new VMS cloud uses a different server as opposed to the old MRDVR cloud.  I don't know if I believe this or not, but that's the explanation.

2. Setting up favorites is brutal.  As stated before, it takes 5-6 seconds per channel.  But, it's done now (had to do both boxes) so I won't have to worry about it ever again.

3. IMG is primative, but functional.  I don't mind how it looks, but it is different.

4. Performance is pretty slow compared to my old MRDVR.  What I mean is changing channels, bringing up the guide and selecting items in the "menu".  Searching lags too along with On Demand selecting.  I'm hoping the performance will improve with updates.  Channel changes are relatively quick, but anything to do with the IMG menu is pretty slow; 2-3 seconds sometimes.

5. Biggie for me: The clocks don't display the time when playing back a recording.  The clock functions well when watching live (or buffered) TV (remember the MRDVR would take it a minute to revert back to the clock?  It does it in 1 second now).  When watching a recorded program on either box, the display reads "PLAY".  If you pause the recording, the display reads "PAUS".  The only way to get the front display to show the time is to stop playing the recorded program.

6. I love being able to pause live TV on both boxes.  Before I had the MRDVR and a STB.  I like the pause, rewind and ffw function.

7. No more conflicting recordings on Sunday nights!  I used to have to re-work the Sunday night schedule of recordings every Saturday.

I think in time 3-5 will be resolved, but wanted to give my two cents.

Overall very pleased with it thus far!

JAH

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