NicholsonSatellite
01-15-04, 12:32 AM
Greetings all , At first I would like to say I had thought that this new VOOM idea was something fresh and new.
After the install I would have to say I'm never doing another on unless I get payed ALOT more.
Most of us installers get pay as peace work by dish and amount of IRD's installed but this setup that Voom has will make us bankrupt. I will try to explain what and how the install took place. If anyone wants to see any of the pictures from this install I would be happy to email the lot of them.
Voom has choosen that all the 3rd party dealers or Voom Direct will assign "Install Inc" to find qualified techs for there work. A box then is mailed to the installer that is assigned for the specific job site.
Voom's idea of shipping to installer instead of customers house just makes no sence what so ever but heck Voom needs to work the bugs out still.
The contents are shipped in packing peanuts with the reflector,bracket support, mount arm, parts bag and LNB not secured and allowed to shift around in the static mess ( which was a real pain to clean off ) . Also in the box depending how many IRD's is a grey reqtangle cartrige plus a Diplexer(unique) for special mounting on IRD. Also contains Dual Input w/ VHF,UHF Diplexer, Channel Master Stealth Ant(why Channel Master? they in bankruptcy currently), Channel Master Pre AMP PCB upgrade kit for Stealth Module, IRD (boxed), Remote (polybaged) ,batteries (polybaged),1 official VOOM goodie box (Includes 4 postcards, Owner Manual,Cheater remote guide,channel disclaimer,and greeting letter), one 38" 1 5/8" angle mount ( for ant) , cables for IRD(polybaged); (pair RCA red/wht audio,RCA gold Blu/grn/red comp shielded),25' tele wire . NO DVI CABLES!? What the?? This Is HDTV why is VOOM skimping on the DVI?
Install prep:
Dish reflector bracket had to be assembled (no nuts on this piece)
Stealth Ant had to be partialy assembled , Existing PCB had to be removed and the pre amp kit PCB installed into unit before the rest of Ant could be put together.
Dish assembly for most part the same as a standard single LNB Direct TV unit.
Mast mount for dish does not include bubble installed it on roof
Mast Mount for Ant placed six feet from Voom Dish
Pre Amp block mounted in basement and pluged into outlet
Dual diplexer mounted next to preamp block
Ran normal procedure for lines in house and from dish to basement but had to run one more line for damned Ant .
Since my customer already has Direct TV ,and Cable which he plans on keeping I choose to run wires direct to inside basement for ground block,pre amp block and dual diplexer unit.
Install:
Mounted and connected Stealth Ant
Mounted dish,connected to only two outputs (one I made into a jumper/service line for peaking) ; ( peaked@ 27 degrees elv and around 160 azm)
Connected lines in basement as follows 2 Sat LNB to LNB inputs on dual diplexer,Ant input to Amp block amp block out to ant input on diplexer module.then 2 outputs to each room to IRD's
The VOOM IRD's have a access port or slot card bay in back of unit the cartrige has to be inserted till it snaps into place then the uniqe diplexer pushes ontop of cartrige and one more coax port then diplexer must be locked into place by turning built in key. Then Sat coax input can be connected.
Ird connections:
As with most DBS Irds you may choose what method you connect your components Voom supplys component cable for video why they dont supply DVI like most other Companies who knows ??
For VCR connections I would guess most methods would be the same yet connecting to a standard VCR makes no sence I would think you would have to go with SVHS or DVDR?? Would like so Input on that.
I used component Video cable and rca audio for my customer to a sony reciever to a sharp and sony plasma WS . I prefer DVI but hey i blame VOOM for that one!
VOOM Activation :
Pain In the Butt!!
On power up of unit boot process takes about 2 mins all four light pipes will flash on front right side of unit. the left side has a dish Icon If it is Red (means dish is peaked on wrong bird) If Green It means all is good (pat yourself on the back matey! Arg! ) Push big VOOM button then push green button for options, select installation, then select system status and scroll down the text lines til you find the software revision code. Why do this?? Well it seems the first units manufactured have buggy software you need to determin what rev. you have to proceed. If rev. is higher than 4.8 you are clear for activation . Well if you are not well the is a @#$% load of directions I'm not going to go into typing I will fax the data to you :) .
Use back button to get back to Install menu and select #2 Reportback (do not select start) at this point I called a 800 number and spent 28 mins on hold for an available operator. You need to provide them with the smart card number, UA number, and Serial Number all which should be on back and underside of box. In my case i had one IRD load up and everything worked fine but IRD number 2 locked up 4 times during activation and the unit refused to access any of the local HDTV like its brother in the bedroom. Of course Operator had to add this to the current buggy glitch list which is ever growing for this rev. 5.8 . They told me to tell customer to wait for 3 hours to see if the VOOM box would heal thy self (In other words just an excuss to rid of me and let me to fend for myself with customer.
Paperwork:
No removable labels
all barcodes had to be recorded for me that was 7 different barcodes on each unit :(
my companys form
the company's company's form
and the clients copy
OUCH my hands hurt!! and i thought Dish Network was bad sheesh
Remotes are required to be programed by installer the program much like the RCA remotes
Customer Orientation:
Since it was my first unit install it was crash and burn I wanted to run from this install
On the whole the VOOM Idea has got its Perks but to an Installer not paid hourly this system will burn up daylight hours and your paycheck.
My company I got this contract for wanted to know if It was worth our time to do and I have to say no It is not! I got 65.00 for dish,15.00 for additional IRD,15.00 for ant install,and one time 20.00 bonus to figure out this messy system. After 8 man hours of unboxeing unit and final install I see only a major nightmare. Until VOOM decides to pay ALOT more those VOOM hourly tech can have there jollys with this Va Va VOOM of a system.
Done , Dennis ( Subcontracter Installer)
Sorry about all the typos and spelling I wanted to get this all out before i forgot what i did.
After the install I would have to say I'm never doing another on unless I get payed ALOT more.
Most of us installers get pay as peace work by dish and amount of IRD's installed but this setup that Voom has will make us bankrupt. I will try to explain what and how the install took place. If anyone wants to see any of the pictures from this install I would be happy to email the lot of them.
Voom has choosen that all the 3rd party dealers or Voom Direct will assign "Install Inc" to find qualified techs for there work. A box then is mailed to the installer that is assigned for the specific job site.
Voom's idea of shipping to installer instead of customers house just makes no sence what so ever but heck Voom needs to work the bugs out still.
The contents are shipped in packing peanuts with the reflector,bracket support, mount arm, parts bag and LNB not secured and allowed to shift around in the static mess ( which was a real pain to clean off ) . Also in the box depending how many IRD's is a grey reqtangle cartrige plus a Diplexer(unique) for special mounting on IRD. Also contains Dual Input w/ VHF,UHF Diplexer, Channel Master Stealth Ant(why Channel Master? they in bankruptcy currently), Channel Master Pre AMP PCB upgrade kit for Stealth Module, IRD (boxed), Remote (polybaged) ,batteries (polybaged),1 official VOOM goodie box (Includes 4 postcards, Owner Manual,Cheater remote guide,channel disclaimer,and greeting letter), one 38" 1 5/8" angle mount ( for ant) , cables for IRD(polybaged); (pair RCA red/wht audio,RCA gold Blu/grn/red comp shielded),25' tele wire . NO DVI CABLES!? What the?? This Is HDTV why is VOOM skimping on the DVI?
Install prep:
Dish reflector bracket had to be assembled (no nuts on this piece)
Stealth Ant had to be partialy assembled , Existing PCB had to be removed and the pre amp kit PCB installed into unit before the rest of Ant could be put together.
Dish assembly for most part the same as a standard single LNB Direct TV unit.
Mast mount for dish does not include bubble installed it on roof
Mast Mount for Ant placed six feet from Voom Dish
Pre Amp block mounted in basement and pluged into outlet
Dual diplexer mounted next to preamp block
Ran normal procedure for lines in house and from dish to basement but had to run one more line for damned Ant .
Since my customer already has Direct TV ,and Cable which he plans on keeping I choose to run wires direct to inside basement for ground block,pre amp block and dual diplexer unit.
Install:
Mounted and connected Stealth Ant
Mounted dish,connected to only two outputs (one I made into a jumper/service line for peaking) ; ( peaked@ 27 degrees elv and around 160 azm)
Connected lines in basement as follows 2 Sat LNB to LNB inputs on dual diplexer,Ant input to Amp block amp block out to ant input on diplexer module.then 2 outputs to each room to IRD's
The VOOM IRD's have a access port or slot card bay in back of unit the cartrige has to be inserted till it snaps into place then the uniqe diplexer pushes ontop of cartrige and one more coax port then diplexer must be locked into place by turning built in key. Then Sat coax input can be connected.
Ird connections:
As with most DBS Irds you may choose what method you connect your components Voom supplys component cable for video why they dont supply DVI like most other Companies who knows ??
For VCR connections I would guess most methods would be the same yet connecting to a standard VCR makes no sence I would think you would have to go with SVHS or DVDR?? Would like so Input on that.
I used component Video cable and rca audio for my customer to a sony reciever to a sharp and sony plasma WS . I prefer DVI but hey i blame VOOM for that one!
VOOM Activation :
Pain In the Butt!!
On power up of unit boot process takes about 2 mins all four light pipes will flash on front right side of unit. the left side has a dish Icon If it is Red (means dish is peaked on wrong bird) If Green It means all is good (pat yourself on the back matey! Arg! ) Push big VOOM button then push green button for options, select installation, then select system status and scroll down the text lines til you find the software revision code. Why do this?? Well it seems the first units manufactured have buggy software you need to determin what rev. you have to proceed. If rev. is higher than 4.8 you are clear for activation . Well if you are not well the is a @#$% load of directions I'm not going to go into typing I will fax the data to you :) .
Use back button to get back to Install menu and select #2 Reportback (do not select start) at this point I called a 800 number and spent 28 mins on hold for an available operator. You need to provide them with the smart card number, UA number, and Serial Number all which should be on back and underside of box. In my case i had one IRD load up and everything worked fine but IRD number 2 locked up 4 times during activation and the unit refused to access any of the local HDTV like its brother in the bedroom. Of course Operator had to add this to the current buggy glitch list which is ever growing for this rev. 5.8 . They told me to tell customer to wait for 3 hours to see if the VOOM box would heal thy self (In other words just an excuss to rid of me and let me to fend for myself with customer.
Paperwork:
No removable labels
all barcodes had to be recorded for me that was 7 different barcodes on each unit :(
my companys form
the company's company's form
and the clients copy
OUCH my hands hurt!! and i thought Dish Network was bad sheesh
Remotes are required to be programed by installer the program much like the RCA remotes
Customer Orientation:
Since it was my first unit install it was crash and burn I wanted to run from this install
On the whole the VOOM Idea has got its Perks but to an Installer not paid hourly this system will burn up daylight hours and your paycheck.
My company I got this contract for wanted to know if It was worth our time to do and I have to say no It is not! I got 65.00 for dish,15.00 for additional IRD,15.00 for ant install,and one time 20.00 bonus to figure out this messy system. After 8 man hours of unboxeing unit and final install I see only a major nightmare. Until VOOM decides to pay ALOT more those VOOM hourly tech can have there jollys with this Va Va VOOM of a system.
Done , Dennis ( Subcontracter Installer)
Sorry about all the typos and spelling I wanted to get this all out before i forgot what i did.