leerose
04-09-04, 10:52 AM
Well I got a new Panasonic LCD Projection set last week and after checking the number of HD channels on D* and Time Warner cable, I decided to give Voom a try. It was the $0 down, $0 activation, $9.50/month equipment that convinced me if was worth the try.
I called on Fri. 4/2 and was scheduled for install on Thur. 4/8 btwn 8a-12p. I did some prewiring to make the install easier. (ran the Component Video/Audio to the receiver and added the RG6 from the attic to the jack panel on the wall) The installer showed up at 9:45a (sub from Installs Inc.) and told me that he didn't have a chimney mount, that it would be extra to get one, and I'd have to re-schedule the install appointment. He offered to drill into the brick on the chimney, but as I'm just trying it out, I didn't want to make holes in the chimney. After some discussion he agreed to mount the dish and the OTA on the roof facia board. I did show him where to drill the hole for the access of the RG6 to the attic. (He didn't drill there) I also showed him the RG6 from the attic to the jack plate. (He ran the cable directly down to from the attic beams across the accessway to the attic)
He set up the receiver but didn't go into the operation. He said that he couldn't show me much as it would take 4-6 hours to download the system.
I've been looking at it for a day now. The HD channels look very good on a 60" panny from 11' away. The SD channels are better than analog cable and comparable, if not slightly better than D*. The selection of non-HD channels is thin. No Scifi (Voom, what are you thinking), no Discovery Wings/Science/Times. The system is thin in features. Accessing the program grid is not really easy. The "Program Planner" still says "Feature not available, will be downloaded from satellite when available" The OTA stations integrated ok and look slightly better than the tuner in the Panny. The V* remote is ok but not intuitive. (Pls let me know if anyone has the "Installer Codes" for additional setup features.)
I'm going to give it a month and see how it plays out. I'll report back with more observations on it next week.
I called on Fri. 4/2 and was scheduled for install on Thur. 4/8 btwn 8a-12p. I did some prewiring to make the install easier. (ran the Component Video/Audio to the receiver and added the RG6 from the attic to the jack panel on the wall) The installer showed up at 9:45a (sub from Installs Inc.) and told me that he didn't have a chimney mount, that it would be extra to get one, and I'd have to re-schedule the install appointment. He offered to drill into the brick on the chimney, but as I'm just trying it out, I didn't want to make holes in the chimney. After some discussion he agreed to mount the dish and the OTA on the roof facia board. I did show him where to drill the hole for the access of the RG6 to the attic. (He didn't drill there) I also showed him the RG6 from the attic to the jack plate. (He ran the cable directly down to from the attic beams across the accessway to the attic)
He set up the receiver but didn't go into the operation. He said that he couldn't show me much as it would take 4-6 hours to download the system.
I've been looking at it for a day now. The HD channels look very good on a 60" panny from 11' away. The SD channels are better than analog cable and comparable, if not slightly better than D*. The selection of non-HD channels is thin. No Scifi (Voom, what are you thinking), no Discovery Wings/Science/Times. The system is thin in features. Accessing the program grid is not really easy. The "Program Planner" still says "Feature not available, will be downloaded from satellite when available" The OTA stations integrated ok and look slightly better than the tuner in the Panny. The V* remote is ok but not intuitive. (Pls let me know if anyone has the "Installer Codes" for additional setup features.)
I'm going to give it a month and see how it plays out. I'll report back with more observations on it next week.