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View Full Version : I Will Be Va Va Va Vooming 3-13-04

RickyMac
03-07-04, 06:38 PM
I just finished ordering the "0" up front, 9.50 per month rental, 79.00 per month for everything. I will be installed on Saturday. The ordering was easy and the lady was very helpful. I will keep everyone posted with updates.
Scott Greczkowski
03-07-04, 06:57 PM
I just finished ordering the "0" up front, 9.50 per month rental, 79.00 per month for everything. I will be installed on Saturday. The ordering was easy and the lady was very helpful. I will keep everyone posted with updates.

I am getting mine installed on Tuesday and can't wait. :) This is a good deal.
PSB
03-07-04, 07:27 PM
I am just back from the VOOM installation training and certification course, seems the product has come along leaps and bounds since it was first rolled out! I like it!
DarrellP
03-08-04, 04:45 PM
I get mine Saturday between 8 & 12. Bring on the HD!!!!
MNADC
03-10-04, 04:57 PM
I get mine Saturday between 8 & 12. Bring on the HD!!!!

My VOOM will be installed on March 17th. I was just pondering on one question. Does VOOM offer the HD channels such as HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ on SD too. This would be great since I don't have an HDTV in my bedroom.
Capmeister
03-10-04, 05:06 PM
Mine will be installed March 20th. :)
Chris Freeland
03-10-04, 05:14 PM
I am getting mine installed on Tuesday and can't wait. :) This is a good deal.

Out of curiosity, are you getting V* to replace E* or to supliment E* :) ?
DarrellP
03-10-04, 05:15 PM
My VOOM will be installed on March 17th. I was just pondering on one question. Does VOOM offer the HD channels such as HBO, SHOWTIME, STARZ on SD too. This would be great since I don't have an HDTV in my bedroom.
Yes they do. But you can have to use a VOOM STB to downconvert to a regular TV if you wish, all the outputs are hot at the same time so you can watch HD & or record SD while you watch. Better yet, use a modulator and run the signal from your primary box back to your bedroom. Only problem is, these are not UHF so you could not change channels.
Capmeister
03-10-04, 05:18 PM
Out of curiosity, are you getting V* to replace E* or to supliment E* :) ?
While this wasn't asked of me, I'll answer anyway. :)

I'm keeping DISH, and adding VOOM.
DarrellP
03-10-04, 05:42 PM
I'm keeping the HD Pack on Dish.
Nick
03-10-04, 06:22 PM
...Only problem is, these are not UHF so you could not change channels.Just get an IR extender. I have two currently in use.
Torvald78
03-14-04, 12:52 AM
Well today was the day, what do you think?
DarrellP
03-14-04, 01:10 PM
I'm a happy camper, how about you RickyMac?
RickyMac
03-14-04, 03:57 PM
My install could not have went any better. My installer, Robert (Bob) Newman, Emerald Coast Broadband Communications, arrived at 1:00 PM, in a nice little work truck with his extension ladder on top. Bob introduced himself (very friendly) and immediately went to work. I showed him my plan and then he made several recommendations that were better than my plan, so we did it his way. Bob had no problem with running two lines.

Bob was organized and very professional. He cleaned as he worked and the way he ran his cable and fitting could have been pictured in a text book. When he drilled into my house he used rubber fitting on each side to prevent water getting into my house. We went through the activation process that took about 15 minutes and we had a picture. Then Bob setup the Stealth on a teloscoping (20') mast that I had previously mounted. I helped Bob raise the mast after he had put together the antenna. We went inside and within a few minutes I had picture on ABC, NBC, FOX & UPN. We do not have WB. The PG shows channel 3-1 for CBS, but no picture. All the other OTA channels look great. I have guide info everywhere except the OTAs. By the way, the OTAs look better than the SD on Dish Networkl. I am very pleased about that. Also, my CBS & ABC are 20.6 miles away on the same tower at 126 degrees. My Fox and NBC are 12 miles away at 101 degrees and 103 degrees. My UPN is 14 miles away at 322 degrees. All these stations are digital.

Again, I can't say enough good things about my installer. He even showed me a card trick before he left at 5:00 PM. He wants and deserves a VOOM hat (I want one too).

Also, I did a factory reboot but it did not affect my OTAs.

Problems:
Missing OTA info in the PG.
CBS channel not coming in.
Bob_Roth
03-14-04, 04:56 PM
I'm a happy camper, how about you RickyMac?

Usually "happy campers" are more effusive with their praise of a good service in their amazement at what they got...
Bob_Roth
03-14-04, 05:04 PM
My CBS & ABC are 20.6 miles away on the same tower at 126 degrees. My Fox and NBC are 12 miles away at 101 degrees and 103 degrees. My UPN is 14 miles away at 322 degrees. All these stations are digital.

ONE antenna pointing in ONE direction may not get all of these channels simultaneously. With UHF stations, as little as a few degrees may make the difference in getting a channel or not. You may get a channel to the exclusion of another if the antenna is pointed in the direction of that specific channel.

In a lot of situations, installers don't bother supplying the client with that info and instead put up one antenna. Then later the client thinks that he just can't get all of the channels even though "somehow" the installer did a "good job".

But a person could get most of the channels in one of the following ways:

A rotor may be required to move the antenna in the precise direction of the station's broadcast tower for that specific time & program.

Or put up multiple antennas (pointing in different directions) and either joining them or running separate coaxes into a selector.

I have yet to see a lot of so-called "professional installers" who know very much about antenna placement and reception. They put an antenna on the roof, test to get a small percentage of channels and walk away, leaving a customer thinking that that is just about what he can get. In most cases, people who learn about the fundamentals of antennas and spend some time placing them do a much better job than the guy who shows up to do this for you in an hour or so.

This happened to a friend when an installer put up an antenna for him, got a measly two channels (at about 60% signal) and charged him $200. After a year neither channel was coming in above 35% and the receiver could barely lock the signal in for more than a few minutes. Pixelation and dropouts by the ton.

Then we went to work together - analyzing the best antenna locations on the house (height and angle), the best antenna types (yagi, bow tie) and got all 6 local channels to come in consistently at 80-100% (at a distance of 30 miles from the broadcast towers). It took a few days (not hours).

Could have saved himself $200... Of course, we never saw that installer again who probably went on to get another measly two channels for another client at $200.
generalpatton78
03-16-04, 05:07 AM
I was called to confirm my install on friday. The installers are making a long drive from what I can tell. I've never heard of them and they don't even have the same area code. I live in a Rural area and there isn't any other area code that isn't 100 miles away. I'll let you guys know how it went.
Nick
03-16-04, 06:31 AM
I was called to confirm my install on friday. The installers are making a long drive from what I can tell. I've never heard of them and they don't even have the same area code. I live in a Rural area and there isn't any other area code that isn't 100 miles away. I'll let you guys know how it went.General, What is your location?

<added> The DNSC installer that did my 811 install drove over 100 miles, from well south of Jax to the Golden Isles. He said they cluster their out-of-town installs. Just another day for him, but not for me. :)

Gosh, I just love the pretty pictures, don't you?
generalpatton78
03-18-04, 11:16 AM
I'm in Southern IL area code 618. My university is getting ready to play Alabama in the big tourney!!!! Does anybody know if the Stealth Antenna they put up will come with a amplifier? I have a nice indoor antenna that picks up all my locals with it's amplifier if I move it around some.
Macmorn
03-18-04, 02:21 PM
The Stealth Ant installed with my system did include an optional amplifier. The Tech installer said he didnt think I would need it where I live, since all the OTA Towers where within 8-10 miles but since Voom had sent it he installed it in the Stealth.

I hope that answers your question, since it seems they may or may not come with amplifier..I expect Voom can tell you if they are sending the amp with your antenna.

Macmorn