I spoke to a CSR and she told me that they pushed it back until Dec or Jan. this sucks I was hoping that it would be out soon. :(

I would have to agree with this...based on the facts, of course. The software needed to support DVR and PPV was rolled-back after three weeks trying to correct its problems. It's almost 1 November and you can rest assured there are still a number of significant software problems needing to be resolved prior to the introduction of the DVR. Of course, this assumes the DVR is in production and no significant hardware anomalies have been discovered. I still say mid-January, but who knows?

will they also charge us 199.00 to install it or can we self install it ourselves?

will they also charge us 199.00 to install it or can we self install it ourselves?I'm sorry, but only a qualified VOOM Installer has the prerequisite knowledge & skills required to professionally install and maintain your equipment. :rolleyes:

I spoke to a manager today, about some other things that I am working out with Voom. He infomred me that they will try and get the software fixed with in the next month or two. It may be out in Jan or Feb. I am so tired of waiting. I may by Tivo, or I will make my owen like Myth TV it can do HD or Sage TV it can not do HD and they will control the Voom box. :eek:

I spoke to a CSR and she told me that they pushed it back until Dec or Jan. this sucks I was hoping that it would be out soon. :(

If you've ever worked in a computer programming environment, you know that its next to impossible to give definate dates as to when problems can be found and fixed.

December or January basically sounds like they don't really know. They will get it, just not as soon as we'd like to have it. That being said, I'd rather wait and get one that works mostly right than to swap out boxes a couple of times and go through endless months of problematic software.

;)

If you've ever worked in a computer programming environment, you know that its next to impossible to give definate dates as to when problems can be found and fixed.

December or January basically sounds like they don't really know. They will get it, just not as soon as we'd like to have it. That being said, I'd rather wait and get one that works mostly right than to swap out boxes a couple of times and go through endless months of problematic software.

;)
Very True...but this is the problem with a JAN release date....all of us grandfathered in prices go up. Without a DVR , without any new HD CH's, without any PPV , how will they intice people to stick around? I really think they have to roll out the DVR before they increase prices. They dont need to give their most valued and truted subs a reason to jump ship.

Yet, they still have more HD than anybody else.

Should they loose that advantage by taking too long to bring out a DVR, there really won't be must reason to stay with them.

Unless its a foregone conclusion that they're being absorbed by another provider, I'd double my efforts to bring out the PVR sooner, rather than later. Its reasonable to believe that the same people that would prefer HD (geeks and semi geeks) would also want the PVR.

Why do you assume that any software to support DVR will be included in releases for the current hardware? Are the current boxes field upgradable for a HDD?

Why do you assume that any software to support DVR will be included in releases for the current hardware?At minimum, changes have to be made to the EPG and Middleware to support upcoming PPV and DVR features.
Are the current boxes field upgradable for a HDD?I asked that questions a few weeks and received very little feedback. The consensus is Yes, these boxes could be turned into a DVR, but I doubt that will happen since the hardware may be outdated and, more likely, the install techs (same lame Installs Inc. installers) won't be capable of performing the upgrade.

I am assuming the new DVR will be a Motorola DSR-580 or DVR-580. If so, the chassis will probably be identical to the current VOOM STB (DSR-550). Customers ordering the DVR will have the STBs returned to VOOM/Motorola for factory refurbishing and reissue to new subscribers. Of course, this is just my opinion.

yeah, I can totally envision your super-competent Voom installer coming out to put a HDD into the STB :)

It sounds like you are viewing this in the same lines as a PC system where the software has to support multiple platforms and any number of unknown components plugged in to it and has a much more memory than your standard STB. In an embedded system such as this, your available code size is limited plus you know exactly what you need to talk to. If the box isn't field upgradable and a totally new box will come out to support DVR, it doesn't make sense to add software (and new bugs) to a box that would never use these additions.

>>>If you've ever worked in a computer programming environment, you know that its next to impossible to give definate dates as to when problems can be found and fixed.

As a computer programmer who works in a TEAM of programmers, I can ditto that statement. The product we are working on today was supposed to be released 6 weeks ago. When you have a program that consists of hundreds of thousands of lines of code and a host of beta testers, it is damn near impossible to find every single little issue. You only hope to find the ones that interfere with the masses. I don't recall off hand, but how long did it take for Directv to get all their issues resolved before and after their very first release? A longer than most know I'm sure..

has anyone taken one of the current boxes apart?

>>>If you've ever worked in a computer programming environment, you know that its next to impossible to give definate dates as to when problems can be found and fixed.

As a computer programmer who works in a TEAM of programmers, I can ditto that statement. The product we are working on today was supposed to be released 6 weeks ago. When you have a program that consists of hundreds of thousands of lines of code and a host of beta testers, it is damn near impossible to find every single little issue. You only hope to find the ones that interfere with the masses.
I work in tech support, so I field the technical problems, and deal with both developers and testers on a daily basis myself. With new software releases, not only do you have to test every little tiny aspect of the new features that are being added, you have to make sure that nothing that is currently functioning properly gets broken. It is very common for existing features to get 'broken' with a new release, even though they weren't supposed to change. Depending on the software release, this regression testing can be just as thorough. as the testing of the new features.

I can only imagine the testing on these kinds of systems. And of course, when you're talking about software that is going to be used by the masses, there's going to be something that no one thinks to test. Some scenario that you would never think would take place, but it WILL! :yes

I don't envy developers and testers of software that is used so widely. Some silly little mistake or oversight can affect millions of users.

While I vouch for the painful development and testing process, of course I still want my DVR tomorrow... :rolleyes:

1 more reason.....

has anyone taken one of the current boxes apart?

I just bought one on EBAY for $35

I know it cannot be subscribed, but it can be taken apart and looked at! :)

Is there a note in it that says "enjoy your Cracker Jack prize?"

Hey, if someone wants my two boxes for $35 they can have them ;). I keep them with the sole hope that Voom will loosen up and let people do self installs. Then maybe they'll be worth something. I've often wondered if someone who owns the boxes right now tried to get another one activated would have success. I bet you could pull it off.

I'm giving VOOM until March, 2005. I think they have put all their chips into UCentric. I wonder why they didn't just use the Tivo HD PVR and just plugged and chugged!?

I'm giving VOOM until March, 2005. I think they have put all their chips into UCentric. I wonder why they didn't just use the Tivo HD PVR and just plugged and chugged!?

That would have made me very happy. I'm using Tivo SD now time shift. It sucks watching HD shows in sd, but if its a case of missing it cause I couldn't be there live vs, watching a low def version, I'm watching the lo def version. We could have had an HD tivo by now. We're never going to get a UCentric HD DVR. Voom will go under before that thing comes out.

Yet, they still have more HD than anybody else.
No big deal to me since I hardly watch it anyway. The $549 for a Dish 921 PVR looks real tempting now since I watch mostly Dish anyway. :D

Hey, if someone wants my two boxes for $35 they can have them ;). I keep them with the sole hope that Voom will loosen up and let people do self installs. Then maybe they'll be worth something. I've often wondered if someone who owns the boxes right now tried to get another one activated would have success. I bet you could pull it off.


Nope.

I tried, for grins. Called the number, gave them the box id and they said that it does not show installation at my address and there has been no installer there for 30+ days, although they said the box is 'new', whatever that means.

has anyone taken one of the current boxes apart?

I have.

I managed to short out the power bar that all my HT equipment was plugged into. It blew the fuses in my receiver and the Voom STB. I did not want to wait around for a tech to come out when I knew it was a simple fuse so I opened it up and threw a new one in. I'm renting the equipment so I hope that if the STB ever has to be sent back Voom does not throw a fit because I was in there. While I had it opened up I was looking at the main board and chassis. The board itself does not look as if it has any type of support for a hard drive. There is a ribbon cable that runs from the main board to a daughter board which has the connection for the WM/MPEG-4 decoder modules if they ever come, but no support for a hard drive. There was no area on the board for an IDE or SATA connection. The power supply did not have any lines that would be used to power a hard drive so I guess that will change too. The chassis looked as though there was plenty of room for a standard 3 1/2" hard drive to be mounted with a bracket. The empty space is in the bottom left section if you are looking down at the open STB with the front facing you. I'd be willing to believe theories that they will use the same chassis for the DVR but it will have a totally different main board. There are spaces for another set of receiving components, one OTA and one satellite that are present on the chassis as well.

Just my two cents worth.

For what its worth (and that is probably not the electrons that this is taking up) I called to cancel my voom service today since I just bought an hdtivo the csr said the voom dvr is due out next month...they are picking up my equipment next tuesday...but that is another story.

-paddy hannon

For what its worth (and that is probably not the electrons that this is taking up) I called to cancel my voom service today since I just bought an hdtivo the csr said the voom dvr is due out next month...they are picking up my equipment next tuesday...but that is another story.

-paddy hannonI have the DirecTivo and I love it BUT I really can not see spending $999.00 to record such little that is offered right now by D*. I hope the VOOM DVR is really coming as soon as some think though... :yes

I have the DirecTivo and I love it BUT I really can not see spending $999.00 to record such little that is offered right now by D*. I hope the VOOM DVR is really coming as soon as some think though... :yes


Even through,D* offers so little HD :eek: ,remember it will record OTA also,which is the main reason I would want a HD-DVR. :yes

Even through,D* offers so little HD :eek: ,remember it will record OTA also,which is the main reason I would want a HD-DVR. :yesYes I realize that but even for that I can not see spending that much. I feel D* is just ripping pople off for what they can get in that for now. Just think that all the other HD stuff you wont be able to record cause D* don't carry those channels. I also have D* HD STB so I can compare and I am well aware of what D* can and can not do.

I mean I was an really early Tivo guy. I got it when it first came out and payed $$$ only to see the price drop and better models come out real quick... I really am looking forward to the VOOM DVR if even half of what they say it will do is true.

How much will there DVR cost D* has there DVR for 999.99 i can't afford that i wish Voom will give there DVR for free for new customers but hell will freeze over before Voom gives there DVR for free.

D* has the HD Tivo and it retails for $999, but you can get it at Value Electronics (see link in blue box above) for $899.

E* has the 921, and the price recently dropped to $549. Their new DVR is the 942, but I haven't seen a definitive date on when it will be available.

Voom's DVR won't be free, you can count on that. I'd speculate that it will be at least $549 to purchase, and nobody knows what it would cost on a lease.

Voom's DVR won't be free, you can count on that. I'd speculate that it will be at least $549 to purchase, and nobody knows what it would cost on a lease.The local Cable Co. charges $7.95 to rent their HD DVR w/120Mb hard drive. I would be willing to rent the HD DVR for $9.95 - we should be provided with free thin-clients ($5 mirror fee) in exchange for a 1 year committment.

Assuming VOOM adds HD/SD channels, PPV and more competitive pricing, I would be willing to pay $399 for the HD DVR and $99 for each thin-client with a 1 year committment...just as long as they change their Equipment Activation Policy.

Although I normally would buy equipment like this PVR, considering that Voom might not be around in a couple of years , I think the prudent thing to do would be to lease their PVR.

I would also want to be careful that I'm not liable for lease fees beyond the time that Voom is the provider. Consider this situation. Dish buys out Voom and your monthly subscription goes from $79 a month to $110 a month. By then, your local cable company can provide substantially the same programming for $95 a month. Would you want to continue a lease with Dish or whoever then owns what use to be Voom? probably not,

Lease would be a good idea i rather lease it then buy it God knows i don't have the money to buy a PVR. :D