Virgin Media Starter Collection

Virgin Media Starter Collection

Aimed at the budget conscious consumer, the Virgin Media Starter Collection is the latest addition to the cable giant’s range of prebuilt broadband, TV and phone bundles. Featuring a basic level of each service and yet still powered by TiVo, the Starter Collection is perfect for those who put value for money ahead of frivolous extras.

Digital TV

The Starter Collection features the basic TV M channel pack, with 61 TV channels, 7 of which are in HD. There are none of the usual subscription-only channels that are included in other Virgin Collections, with the focus here being on free-to-air TV.

Fortunately Virgin hasn’t scrimped on the set-top box, and still provides a TiVo with the Starter Collection. The TiVo can record up to three channels at a time onto a 500GB internal hard drive, which can store up to 250 hours of Standard Definition TV, or up to 50 hours in HD.

TiVo can keep an eye out for your favourite actors and directors and record anything new that comes along that they feature in. Plus, to help you discover new programmes, the TiVo will learn what you like and then automatically record recommendations for you. You can then give feedback by giving each recording a ‘thumbs up’ or ‘thumbs down’ to help fine-tune future recommendations.

You’ll also get a second chance to see the biggest shows from the past week thanks to the inclusive Catch Up TV service. With this you can stream Virgin’s pick of the top shows from the past week including the biggest soaps and primetime favourites.

Fibre broadband & calls

When you sign up for the Starter Collection you’ll also get Virgin Media’s entry-level fibre optic broadband service. With a download speed of up to 30Mbps, it’s fast enough to download an iTunes album in less than 20 seconds, a TV programme in under 2 minutes and a full HD movie in around 20 minutes.

You’ll also be allowed to download as many movies and MP3s as you like each month thanks to an unlimited monthly usage allowance with no hidden charges, although the speed of some activities such as P2P filesharing are capped during the busiest times of the day.

Included in the cost is a Virgin Media Super Hub. This is a combined broadband modem and router that can wirelessly connect up to 20 devices to your broadband at any one time, so you can browse in the lounge while the kids play Xbox Live games upstairs.

To keep you all online and secure the Super Hub uses ‘N’ technology for the strongest possible signal, and the latest encryption technology to ensure no unauthorised access to your home broadband network. Free internet security will keep your hardware and data safe from spyware and viruses, while the inclusion of parental controls enables you to decide what your kids can and cannot do online.

Rounding off the Virgin Media Starter Collection is the Talk Weekends inclusive calls package. With Talk Weekends you’re free to make as many calls of 60 minutes or less as you like to UK landlines and Virgin mobiles from midnight on Friday to midnight Sunday. And if you ever need to chat for longer, just hang up and redial before the hour is up.

If you’re looking for a basic and affordable cable broadband, TV and phone bundle that comes backed with a TiVo digital TV recorder and unlimited superfast downloads then the Virgin Media Starter Collection may well prove to be the perfect addition to your home.