Virgin V+ box

Admiral Huddy · 16-10-2007, 11:46

I've notice an Ethernet and USB port on the back.

I take it then I can down/up load stuff from the box to and from the PC.

Any details on how this is done?

leowyatt · 16-10-2007, 12:08

Don't think you can mate, well I've never tried that is

Q: So what can I do with the Ethernet, USB and eSATA ports?
A: Absolutely nothing at the moment. All three are disabled. Some people have reported that USB keyboards work, but it's not a supported feature. Others have also powered a PC cooling fan off the USB, but that really isn't necessary. Just keep it well ventilated and it'll be fine.

Admiral Huddy · 16-10-2007, 12:14

weird then.

Desmo · 16-10-2007, 12:26

You get things like this on boxes all the time and they never seem to get used.

Admiral Huddy · 16-10-2007, 14:12

I know how it feels not to have your gadgets used or played with

LeperousDust · 16-10-2007, 14:59

On some of the old telewest boxes (maybe NTL) the box itself could be used as a modem, thus the ethernet port, it may still be there from those days? The box modems where only good for 1mb though (this is how long ago it was!) and i think they just started disabling them and leaving it. In the future it maybe for something like linking two V+ boxes up for some reason or other?

As Desmo says you get ports on these boxes like this all the time they're just never used but there in case they are needed in the future and can be activated with a firmware update...

Mark · 16-10-2007, 15:33

The other possibility is that they're used for engineering purposes (testing the box/diagnosing faults etc.). Though often claims like that are just shorthand for 'we haven't thought of a use for them yet'.

Del Lardo · 16-10-2007, 16:46

Ethernet port is incase Virgin want to use the STB if/when they launch an IPTV service over DOCSIS 3.0 though it is more likely they will use a new STB.

USB is in case they add photo viewing functionality or the ability to add an external HDD in the future. I wouldn't hold your breath.

Fayshun · 16-10-2007, 21:20

Sky+ boxes have 2 usb ports and an RS232 port (I think). All disabled, and useless.

LeperousDust · 17-10-2007, 13:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fayshun

Sky+ boxes have 2 usb ports and an RS232 port (I think). All disabled, and useless.

RS232 is for some STB fault finding afaik with their own software

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark

The other possibility is that they're used for engineering purposes (testing the box/diagnosing faults etc.). Though often claims like that are just shorthand for 'we haven't thought of a use for them yet'.

See above, they'd use RS232 for engineering instead of ethernet

16-10-2007, 11:46	#1
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	Virgin V+ box I've notice an Ethernet and USB port on the back. I take it then I can down/up load stuff from the box to and from the PC. Any details on how this is done? __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

16-10-2007, 12:08	#2
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	Don't think you can mate, well I've never tried that is Q: So what can I do with the Ethernet, USB and eSATA ports? A: Absolutely nothing at the moment. All three are disabled. Some people have reported that USB keyboards work, but it's not a supported feature. Others have also powered a PC cooling fan off the USB, but that really isn't necessary. Just keep it well ventilated and it'll be fine. __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!" Last edited by leowyatt; 16-10-2007 at 12:12.

16-10-2007, 12:14	#3
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	weird then. __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

16-10-2007, 12:26	#4
Desmo The Last Airbender Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Pigmopad Posts: 11,915	You get things like this on boxes all the time and they never seem to get used. __________________

16-10-2007, 14:12	#5
Admiral Huddy HOMO-Sapien Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Chelmsford Posts: 6,692	I know how it feels not to have your gadgets used or played with __________________ I just got lost in thought.. It was very unfamiliar territory. Techie Talk \| My gaming Blog \| PC spec \| The Admirals log

16-10-2007, 14:59	#6
LeperousDust Bananaman Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Liverpool/Edinburgh Posts: 4,817	On some of the old telewest boxes (maybe NTL) the box itself could be used as a modem, thus the ethernet port, it may still be there from those days? The box modems where only good for 1mb though (this is how long ago it was!) and i think they just started disabling them and leaving it. In the future it maybe for something like linking two V+ boxes up for some reason or other? As Desmo says you get ports on these boxes like this all the time they're just never used but there in case they are needed in the future and can be activated with a firmware update... __________________

16-10-2007, 15:33	#7
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	The other possibility is that they're used for engineering purposes (testing the box/diagnosing faults etc.). Though often claims like that are just shorthand for 'we haven't thought of a use for them yet'.

16-10-2007, 16:46	#8
Del Lardo Absinthe Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Cambridge Posts: 2,539	Ethernet port is incase Virgin want to use the STB if/when they launch an IPTV service over DOCSIS 3.0 though it is more likely they will use a new STB. USB is in case they add photo viewing functionality or the ability to add an external HDD in the future. I wouldn't hold your breath.

16-10-2007, 21:20	#9
Fayshun Rocket Fuel Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Adrift in the Orca Posts: 6,845	Sky+ boxes have 2 usb ports and an RS232 port (I think). All disabled, and useless. __________________ We must move forward not backward, upwards not forward, and always twirling, twirling, twirling... Last edited by Fayshun; 16-10-2007 at 21:25. Reason: carp speeling