Voom web site up and running!

[Chris Blount]

The Voom web site is fully up and running with all programming information and options.

http://www.voom.com

[Chris Blount]

Here are a couple of pics of the receiver, remote and dish.

[Chris Blount]

...and lots more information in pdf format showing the features of the equipment:


HD Receiver including connections on the back (http://www.voom.com/images0/pdf/VOOM_Viewers_Guide_HDReceiver.pdf)

Remote Control (http://www.voom.com/images0/pdf/VOOM_Viewers_Guide_Remote.pdf)

On screen menu (http://www.voom.com/images0/pdf/VOOM_Viewers_Guide_OnscreenMenu.pdf)

The Full Viewers Guide (http://www.voom.com/images0/pdf/VOOM_Viewers_Guide.pdf)

[Chris Blount]

Okay, one more. Here is the full channel lineup

Voom Channel Lineup (http://www.voom.com/use_it/program_guide.html)

[Sonnie Parker]

I had to take one of our recliners to the furniture store in Montgomery, Alabama today and decided I'd stop by Sears and check out VOOM.

The salesman said they actually got it up and running yesterday but he stated he probably didn't know any more about it than I did. No rep has been by their store to prep them on the system.

They had the VOOM receiver connected to a Sony 51" RPTV via component cables. They apparently didn't have an HDTV with DVI inputs. The picture was no better than an SD channel IMO. The salesman claims VOOM is sending them a low resolution signal.... maybe so but I would think their demo channel would be one of their best HD channels. He was rather disappointed himself with the picture quality. Needless to say I was not impressed in the least bit by what I saw.

I was surprised to see that in order to get their full compliment of HD channels I would have to spend $99.50 per month plus as they add more HD PlusPacks they will cost $14.90 each . Ouch!

And no ESPN HD or SD anywhere in sight.

[tbfu2000@hotmail.com]

Prediction:

No HBO and Voom goes BOOM!

[Sonnie Parker]

As of 2/1/04 VOOM will be offering HBO as a PlusPack for $14.90 although you can include it in with your $39.90 package as your free PlusPack choice.

[Tulsa1]

Hello gang,
I am new here, been monitoring and learning recently.
Looks like a great site!
I am having VOOM installed a week from today
I already have Directv 3node dish on a Zenith SATHD200
Samsung HLN617 RP HDTV
Zenith HDR230 OTA tuner
Integra DTR-7 receiver
Denon 2900 DVD
Samsung HD931 DVD
Monstercable 5100 pwrctr
Zektor HDS4 switcher
M&K 7.1 THX speakers

I am curious to compare VOOM pic qual to Directv
Can share some learnings of my own if anyone has any questions.

I look forward to learning more here.

[Sonnie Parker]

Nice setup Techtoys. How are you liking the Denon 2900? I got mine in about a week ago and love it so far.

I'll be looking forward to your comments regarding picture quality.

[Chris Blount]

I'm still not sure if Voom is something that I would want. After looking over the literature and the programming lineup I wonder if it's really worth the money. Let's face it, their channel lineup is great for HD but the rest has a lot to be desired.

I guess the jury is still out.

Hey Tulsa1, welcome to DBSTalk! :welcome_s

I'm really looking forward to reading your opinion of Voom.

[Chris Freeland]

I'm still not sure if Voom is something that I would want. After looking over the literature and the programming lineup I wonder if it's really worth the money. Let's face it, their channel lineup is great for HD but the rest has a lot to be desired.

I guess the jury is still out.

Hey Techtoys, welcome to DBSTalk! :welcome_s

I'm really looking forward to reading your opinion of Voom.

Thats the way I feel too, I stopped by Sears today myself and picked up a brochure, it appears in the brochure that the HBO, Cinamax, Showtime, Marquie (Discovery HD, INHD,INHD2 and Starz) and Sports HD Plus Paks are available now, however the V* web site seams to show a slightly different line up with no HD Plus paks ready and Discovery HD and Tennis being available for Free at this time.

[Sonnie Parker]

I agree as well. I can't see spending $29.80 just to have SHO-HD and HBO-HD when I have them plus a few more for $9.95 with Dish. Those PlusPacks are expensive.

I think I'd end up trying to justify VOOM being a supplement to Dish and spending only $39.90 per month with the Marquee PlusPack as my freebie. This would give me ~25 new HD channels. Then maybe some of the SD channels would be better quality than Dish as an added bonus.

First and foremost though it will depend on picture quality. It's gonna have to be really good to get off that intitial expense and spend the extra each month.

[Tulsa1]

Nice setup Techtoys. How are you liking the Denon 2900? I got mine in about a week ago and love it so far.

I'll be looking forward to your comments regarding picture quality.

I've had my Denon 2900 for about 4 months and wouldn't trade for anything.
I originally looked at it because of its hybrid capability with DVD-A and SACD
then I read its review in the DVD shootout. It has superior picture quality
compared to any other units I have seen. I have the Samsung 931 DVD with
the scalable DVI output feed to my DLP HDTV. It has a great picture set at
1080i and but the 2900 produces a consistant sharp image on just about
every DVD not to mention the stunning sound from the multi-channel output
of the DVD-A and SACD. I especially like the option to bump the black level
for those movies shot in the darker settings. The Superbit DVDs like Vertical
Limit are near HD quality when played on the 2900. Hope you have the same
satisfation Sonnie.

I am really nervous about trying this VOOM but sometimes you have to try
the bad to find the good. I am scheduled to have it installed this Wed.
I will be able to compare the Directv and VOOM with both on Discovery HD.
I have been very pleased with the Zenith SATHD520 receiver.
We' see how Motorola does with theirs on VOOM.

[Chris Freeland]

I agree as well. I can't see spending $29.80 just to have SHO-HD and HBO-HD when I have them plus a few more for $9.95 with Dish. Those PlusPacks are expensive.

I think I'd end up trying to justify VOOM being a supplement to Dish and spending only $39.90 per month with the Marquee PlusPack as my freebie. This would give me ~25 new HD channels. Then maybe some of the SD channels would be better quality than Dish as an added bonus.

First and foremost though it will depend on picture quality. It's gonna have to be really good to get off that intitial expense and spend the extra each month.

I was thinking along these lines too, not really for my self because I do not have HD yet, however for someone who does and has the discretionary income, it seams like this could supplement E* very well. If one was to get AT50 from E* to get the majority of their SD channels and V* for the majority of HDTV, only 11 of the V* SD channels duplicate what is in AT50, the other 11 are channels that require AT100 or AT150 or not available on E* and the MC music channels are not on E*. If one wanted HDTV from both providers and added the HD Theater Pak from E*, one would gain ESPN-HD, HDNet and HDNetMovies which V* does not currently have, if you selected the MarqueHD as your free Plus Pak and would gain INHD and INHD2, which E* does not currently have and only duplicate DiscoveryHD. If one wanted HBO-HD and or Showtime-HD, one could save a little buy getting these from E*, however currently, E* only has East feeds of the HBO-HD and Showtime-HD while V* has both East and West feeds, but E* has 1-3 more SD versions of these channels.

As stated above at this time V* could supplement E* and or D* very well currently without a whole lot of duplication, however we do not know about the future, in the next few months with the SuperDish E* will be adding new HD and ED channels to their line-up and who knows what D* has in the cards for the future as well as new additions to V*. It is a distinct possibility that by or soon after 2/1/04 when V* starts charging for their service E* and D* will have all of the non-exclusive HDTV channels that V* has plus the possibility of some exclusives from E* and D*.

[Chris Blount]

The equipment equation is also bothering me. With E* or D*, you could have only 1 set top box to receive everything. If you buy V* to supplement you HD programming, that means another dish plus another receiver and more wires.

It just seems like if you buy into V* now, you will still need another program provider via D*, E* or cable. And then there's the DVR situation.

[Sonnie Parker]

Yep, I have been running 4 receivers (5000, 508, 6000 in my A/V cabinet + a 3000 in our daughters TV room). I was finally able to eliminate the 5000 from the A/V cabinet the other day. It took me a day or so to figure out how to get my setup worked out to use the 6000 via component and s-video and enable switching through one button macros on my MX-700 remote. SD is not a pretty sight via components on the 6000 so I had to have s-video for those.

The 921 or VOOM's future DVR can replace the 508 and 6000 and give me the dual tuner functions, but to add VOOM now would carry me back to 3 receivers in my A/V cabinet, which I have room for and the wires are already ran... so maybe it's not a real issue for me space wise. The extra dish on the roof I suppose would be okay for now.

The real issue with me is deciding when and what route to take. It could get really expensive with the unknowns. I keep running things through my head and they keep coming out all mumble jumbled.

We really don't know how many and how soon Dish will have more HD channels... that's another kicker. And how much will they increase their price once they start offering more? I can't see them staying with $9.95 when they add Cinemax HD, Starz HD, TMC-HD and others.

I ask myself should I spend $1000 for the 921 and $749 for VOOM and again spend no telling how much more when VOOM comes out with their DVR.

I'd like to hang with Dish but I also want more HD and would like it now.... maybe I'm too impatient.

[rtt2]

I'm going to bet E* tells us what it plans to add channel wise by Christmas. There seems to be a lot going on with all providers now especially E* & V*. I mean in the comming month E* has so much stuff comming out things will be getting exciting again. New receivers & new channels. It is probably more prudent to wait and see whats offered before switching providers.

[Sam Spade2]

Pictures and news from the voom launch party yesterday

http://www.satelliteguys.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1531

[tahoerob]

As usual, I knew more about the Voom service than the 2 dweebs at the local Sears. They at least had a display up but no service. The box locked up trying to navigate the menus that were showing!. The dweebs said that they tried to contact Voom themselves for an install but got hung up on by Voom!!!!

Get this, the demo showing was from a DVD run through a Samsung HD931 DVD player!
The dweebs even admitted that what they know about Voom was from the DVD demo loop.

The remote looked like it came from a Clown branded TV! Lots of perty colors!

So far a waste of time. It does have potential. The brochure available stated that the 28 channels are available but the web site states only 23 incl. the 21 Voom channels & DiscoveryHD & an Intro Voom are available now. The rest later (after 2/1/04).

Thus there are NO add on packages now.

I am still tempted to sign up for the 23 channels. However, once I get a Dish 921, I would not need any addon channels with Voom due to the Dish HD pack & HD DVR!!

Robert

[Mark Holtz]

Pictures and news from the voom launch party yesterday

http://www.satelliteguys.us/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1531

Interesting stuff.