BT Vision is in the box (BT Vision)

Member Name: davomrmac

Product:	BT Vision
Date:	09/03/09 (167 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good picture, good sound, easy to set up

Disadvantages: Takes a while to get going, menus annoying

I ordered BT Vision after being given a special offer, free delivery, free box, free install, no subscription. So I only faced having to pay for any programmes or movies on demand. The first order went missing, but second time the delivery arrived, so after a bit of annoyance I had my box.

Install was easy. I plugged into the mains, into my network via ethernet, aerial in, then into my TV via HDMI and switched on. It seemed to take a long time to initially start up, so my advice is to be patient. I suppose it is verifying your network settings, speed, and BT Vision account, so it starts, turns off, restarts a few times (three I seem to remember). Then it goes into the screen to scan for channels. Once this is done, you are ready to go.

In use the picture is very very good. You can set up recordings very easily, pressing once for just one programme to record, or twice for a series recording so that every episode of the particular programme records. Playback is just as easy and the picture quality of recorded material very good indeed. The on-demand is also pretty decent. There is a lot of standard films to choose from, but only a limited selection of HD (high definition) films. Once you select the film, you can watch a trailer, or rent it straight away. Once you confirm, you wait about 30 seconds, then you can start watching. The system gives you 24 hours to watch your rental as many times as you want. Again, picture quality for on-demand films is very good, you even get 5.1 surround sound on most of the titles.

The menu system is a little annoying, in the way tou end up going right out of the section you are navigating if you press the wrong button. In fact, even when I am certain that the right button has been pressed it jumps you out too far. Other than that, I have been very happy. However, if I was paying a subscription, I would be equally as happy with Freeview or Freesat, with no monthly fee, that is just my opinion though, your value of paying for a larger selection of channels may differ from mine.

Summary: Is paying monthly really worth it?