Voom Reviews- Is it worth it?

[Horsnuts]

I would like to challenge you folks who take the plunge on October 15th, to come back to this thread and give your opinions about the service(ie; installation, STB Performance, Pic Quality, etc.). I'm with Dish and am waiting for the 811, but i'm considering switching over. So please, come on back and give us a thumbs up, or a thumbs down once ya'll get installed.


Horsnuts

[Sonnie Parker]

It will be interesting to see who takes a chance early on. It's very tempting. I think I'll at least give it a few months.

[tahoerob]

It will be interesting to see who takes a chance early on. It's very tempting. I think I'll at least give it a few months.

IF the local Sears can muster a working display with all the channels running, I will check it out & consider adding it soon!

HOWEVER, I am about to spend $999 for a 921!!!!!

Since I can use the DVR for premium channels on Dish I would not get the movie channels with Voom. Besides the movie channels are cheaper via Dish.

Robert

[atmosfera]

IF the local Sears can muster a working display with all the channels running, I will check it out & consider adding it soon!

HOWEVER, I am about to spend $999 for a 921!!!!!

Since I can use the DVR for premium channels on Dish I would not get the movie channels with Voom. Besides the movie channels are cheaper via Dish.

Robert


Robert, 921 is not even close to release.... people have been waiting for it as long as 2.5 years already to see the release date pushed away by Dish.

I am currently with Dish and to me next switch will be to company which will give me the ability to record to DVHS (IEEE1394 output) and reasonable HDTV programming variety. I do not like cable but heard that motorola has released STB with firewire ... currently in Beta testing.

[tahoerob]

Robert, 921 is not even close to release.... people have been waiting for it as long as 2.5 years already to see the release date pushed away by Dish.

I am currently with Dish and to me next switch will be to company which will give me the ability to record to DVHS (IEEE1394 output) and reasonable HDTV programming variety. I do not like cable but heard that motorola has released STB with firewire ... currently in Beta testing.

Of course my last post was in October when we were more optimistic!

I did end up getting the $149 6000 deal for HD now & planning on selling it when the 921 finally arrives. If you already have a D-VHS, then you have less incentive for a 921!

Right now my only DVR is the 501.

Robert

[rudolpht]

FW is coming for Voom STBS, but I am using the Dish 5000 HD modulator for archiving in the mean time.

The DBS industry has matured and few remember the rockier ride the DTC-100 had in coming out with the first HD channel. Most don't care.

With a money back guarantee through end of March anfd free programming, the only bad thing would be the hassle of install though mine went GREAT.

If you really weant HD I would get Voom to be a main or augmenting service. I'll need to keep a minimal dish in the mean time. My DirecTV 127/mo was canceled today.

Tim :)

[ChrisPC]

I saw Voom at Sears the other day and it's finally in working order. The menus were fast, the receiver didn't freeze, and all the channels were working. Newsbytes, Inside Voom, and all the SD channels were unlocked (their PQ was at least as good as E* or D*), while all the premium channels displayed "Call 1-800-GET-VOOM to subscribe." There was only one problem, the store had the HDTV connected to the RF output! :(

[Mike Richardson]

Why the hell do places and people connect STBs to TVs using damned RF outputs? RF SUCKS! They should take RF off of those boxes and MAKE people use at least RCA! RF doesn't even give you STEREO! How can you compare cable to DBS when the DBS receiver is going to show analog sparklies AND MPEG artifacts due to the damn RF output???

[Richssat]

Because there are thousands of old sets out there that don't have anything other then RF inputs on them. Even scarier, I carry baluns to adapt coax to the antenna screwdown terminals on REALLY old tvs. I use two or three of them a year.

Oh yeah, rf outputs are also handy for running backfeeds for other tv sets.

Rich

[chrjd12]

Hello all, I used to be an installer and now I currently work for Voom's tech support. I was advised by a customer to take a look at this site. I have seen some of the comments about Voom and I can understand where each individuals perspective is. Voom has made drastic improvements since it was first launched. The problem that some Sears stores are having are a direct result that the stores power is cut off every night. This happens is about 90% of all the Sears stores nation wide. The problem with this is that a large majority of the updates and downloads occur at the late hours of the night. If the receiver is not powered up, this download or update would not allways occur when power was returned to the receiver in the morning. This would cause havoc on the receiver thus would need to be replaced. Also people have had issues with signal levels. The Sat is actually pointed over Puerto Rico co the farther north west you live, the lower the elevation of the dish. Signal values are different in different areas. I have had a system operate completely functional on a signal value of 13. I also have seen a signal of 35 that was not functioning. These values are not porportional to Direct TV or DIsh network signal. Here is a question in which I hope you respond...With any new system, there will be problems etc direct tv, and dish network had there share. When these peoblems are all resolved, which high def system will be superior?

[benjaminmarle]

We don't know, the jury is still out on that question.

[jgoggan]

If the receiver is not powered up, this download or update would not allways occur when power was returned to the receiver in the morning. This would cause havoc on the receiver thus would need to be replaced.

Just so I am clear, you are saying that units that happened to miss some updates had to be REPLACED? Were these beta units? It does not at all sound impressive to explain that things looked bad at Sears because missing a few updates meant a hardware replacement...

- John...

[chrjd12]

Yes, I should have been more clear. The models that were installed in Sears are Beta Test models. The EPG on the models that were orginally installed were set to 1.68 or 1.72. When this occured, The system was fully functional. Later updates for VOOM were EPG 1.86A and now the latest 1.87. When these models were turned off, the prior versions were not updating themselves when power resumed.

[Stranger Monsoon]

As a consumer, let me tell you how rotten VOOM is. I ordered VOOM. I saw you could get extra receivers for $200 each and ordered an extra two receivers. I was told that VOOM wouldn't charge my credit card until the unit was installed. The installer could not obtain a line of sight to the VOOM satellite. I was not able to install VOOM. Now comes the credit card bill from VOOM, the one they said wouldn't be generated until install. Now I'm fighting with VOOM to credit my credit card account. This battle has only waged for about three weeks now. I'm about to call the credit card wolves on VOOM and work with the credit card people to have my VOOM charges removed. I guess this is better than being poked in the eye though!