I talked with "Anthony Plese" a VOOM CSR via live chat. Here's the transcript of the conversation



I am a current VOOM customer that is thinking about switching to DirectTV because they offer a HD DVR. Do you know if VOOM will be offering their DVR solution anytime before the end of the year? If it won't be until next year, will it be before March, 2005? Thanks.




that's a great question...the latest memo we have received indicates that we will have our HD-DVR available in the fiurst(sic) Qtr. of 2005.




Do you know if it will be cheapter than DirectTV's?




I don't have any pricing or actual release date available




OK. Do you know if the HD DVR will be Motorola equipment?




Yest the new unit will be manufactured by Motorola




Alright. Thank you for your time




Do you have any other questioin(sic) I can help you with today?




No.
Thank you :)




I enjoyed chatting with you. Thanks for contacting VOOM.




ok


**** Anthony Plese Has Disconnected

Now we can add this to the growing list of dates when the DVR will be available:

1. Summer 2004
2. September 2004
3. October 2004
4. November 2004 or earlier
5. Q1 2005

Anyone think that the above list might get a few more entries before we see this bad boy?

Now we can add this to the growing list of dates when the DVR will be available:

1. Summer 2004
2. September 2004
3. October 2004
4. November 2004 or earlier
5. Q1 2005

Anyone think that the above list might get a few more entries before we see this bad boy?
If we get the DVR by any of the above dates, I'll be content. :haha

6. Maybe never.

Great News from such a qualified source.
This thread (based on title alone) will get tons of hits for the next 4 months. Lovely.

On Voom's website,it does not even say "Q1 2005",all it says is sometime in 2005,wide range of time frames then.

If you look at the transcript closely, notice that the CSR said "we will have our HD-DVR available in the fiurst(sic) Qtr. of 2005". Maybe he never meant first :D

Quote:
Originally Posted by VOOM CSR
Yest the new unit will be manufactured by Motorola


Please tell me this won't be a unit with the MOXI interface that Motorola has been pushing through so many cable companies lately. This unit has the worst program quide setup I've ever seen.

He meant to say FUTURIST, could be forever.

Please tell me this won't be a unit with the MOXI interface that Motorola has been pushing through so many cable companies lately. This unit has the worst program quide setup I've ever seen.
The software is being develope by Ucentric, not Motorola.

I just spoke with a Customer Rep via Chat at Voom today. She said that they would have the HD-DVR available in the "first half of 2005" ... which could mean beyond Q1 of 2005, of course.

In my mind, it's been pretty clearly demonstrated that NONE of the CSRs in this industry (sat, cable, HDTV, etc) have any accurate information at all, so I don't put any stock in them as a credible source of info. :)

I'd bet you could call 10 times, get 10 different CSRs, and at least 5 different answers, including one that says it's available now :)

Lob

I was told yesterday by a CSR the DVR will be rolled out in January. She said that news was just released to her mangement yesterday. Take it for what it is worth.

I was told yesterday by a CSR the DVR will be rolled out in January. She said that news was just released to her mangement yesterday. Take it for what it is worth.I think the only thing being rolled are whacky cigarettes in the parking lot by this particular this CSR. ;) Having said that, I do hope the DVRs arrival is announced and orders are taken after the New Year. Also, it would be nice if there were a pecking order: original subscribers, those who are grandfathered, current non-grandfathered subs and finally new subscribers.

I think the only thing being rolled are whacky cigarettes in the parking lot by this particular this CSR. ;) Having said that, I do hope the DVRs arrival is announced and orders are taken after the New Year. Also, it would be nice if there were a pecking order: original subscribers, those who are grandfathered, current non-grandfathered subs and finally new subscribers.

If Voom is true to form and does what it does best, the DVR will be offered as enticement to new subs free of charge with a one year commitment and a higher pricing structure for programming. Voom will insist on becoming a "new" customer to participate. This is their present business model and I don't see them changing it in the future. By doing the re install as a new customer they are gradually erasing their promises of past and starting with a clean slate. Their track record proves me right.

I think the only thing being rolled are whacky cigarettes in the parking lot by this particular this CSR. ;) Having said that, I do hope the DVRs arrival is announced and orders are taken after the New Year. Also, it would be nice if there were a pecking order: original subscribers, those who are grandfathered, current non-grandfathered subs and finally new subscribers.

Since the ultimate goal in the satellite industry is to make money, exisiting subscribers will most likely be the lowest priority when it comes to getting the DVR boxes. New subscribers mean new revenue. Giving a new box to an existing customer will only cost them money and deny a potential new sub.

If Voom is true to form and does what it does best, the DVR will be offered as enticement to new subs free of charge with a one year commitment and a higher pricing structure for programming. Voom will insist on becoming a "new" customer to participate. This is their present business model and I don't see them changing it in the future. By doing the re install as a new customer they are gradually erasing their promises of past and starting with a clean slate. Their track record proves me right.
Since the ultimate goal in the satellite industry is to make money, exisiting subscribers will most likely be the lowest priority when it comes to getting the DVR boxes. New subscribers mean new revenue. Giving a new box to an existing customer will only cost them money and deny a potential new sub.I'm afraid you are both correct. My attempt to install two additional receivers this morning was cancelled so I terminated service. In spite of themselves, I really like VOOM and will come back after they offer:

- affordable DVR (probably not 'till March or later)
- affordable whole home solution (new customer offer needs to be extended, in writing, to current subs)
- the elliptical dish required to receive new HD/SD channels

I feel that I have a much better opportunity of VOOM meeting my requirements as an outsider...plus, we're just not getting much use out of VOOM since our single receiver is sub-level in the HT room (too cold and inconvenient on a daily basis), we're both working a lot of hours (in bed at 8:00pm and up at 4:30am). Those hours make it darn near impossible to keep up with certain programming events without a DVR - we became addicted to the cable HD DVR, which was only $7.95 a month. If we had a receiver in the bedroom then perhaps we could keep up with a few shows.

Anyway, add 1 to the churn rate. It's unfortunate because I really enjoy the programming and have had very few problems with the receiver, PQ, etc

P.S. Where is the DMA Megamap that was supposed to be out in October?

I would disagree. I know that they've said lease might be an option, but the loss on leasing these things is going to be huge. I don't think they can do it. And that means you're going to have to buy them. The only people up for that are the early adopters.

-MP

Now we can add this to the growing list of dates when the DVR will be available:

1. Summer 2004
2. September 2004
3. October 2004
4. November 2004 or earlier
5. Q1 2005

Anyone think that the above list might get a few more entries before we see this bad boy?

You ought to just jump ship Stoney, my HR10-250 has been HUGE for watching football this year both on NFL ST and OTA versions. Between NBC, CBS and FOX I have most of the HD I could ever want. However, I am on the sports side of the fence, I am not a fan of most original content ... by any provider.

I always thought I wanted / needed more than sports and movies. I was wrong, I guess I am too mainstream.

Come SpaceWay 1 ... the decision will be quite clear. For now Voom has it by number but I have always thought D* kept the best content.

I'm afraid you are both correct. My attempt to install two additional receivers this morning was cancelled so I terminated service. In spite of themselves, I really like VOOM and will come back after they offer:

- affordable DVR (probably not 'till March or later)
- affordable whole home solution (new customer offer needs to be extended, in writing, to current subs)
- the elliptical dish required to receive new HD/SD channels

I feel that I have a much better opportunity of VOOM meeting my requirements as an outsider...plus, we're just not getting much use out of VOOM since our single receiver is sub-level in the HT room (too cold and inconvenient on a daily basis), we're both working a lot of hours (in bed at 8:00pm and up at 4:30am). Those hours make it darn near impossible to keep up with certain programming events without a DVR - we became addicted to the cable HD DVR, which was only $7.95 a month. If we had a receiver in the bedroom then perhaps we could keep up with a few shows.

Anyway, add 1 to the churn rate. It's unfortunate because I really enjoy the programming and have had very few problems with the receiver, PQ, etc

P.S. Where is the DMA Megamap that was supposed to be out in October?

So you never made it as a mod. I remember you hammering on Red UFO who said the exact same thing about no DVR until march 2005 or later. Now it looks like 2006 in reality. So you wanted more Voom timing didn't work out. So you had a hissy fit and cancelled?

I hope voom makes it and I'll be back if they get their crap together with a decent price.

So you never made it as a mod. I remember you hammering on Red UFO who said the exact same thing about no DVR until march 2005 or later. Now it looks like 2006 in reality. So you wanted more Voom timing didn't work out. So you had a hissy fit and cancelled?

I hope voom makes it and I'll be back if they get their crap together with a decent price.If you look back at just a few of my posts, you will see that I do my best to objectively state the good, the bad and (in some cases) the ugly. It is no secret that VOOM is not at the top of my Christmas Card list. Mod? To be honest, you couldn't pay me enough to be a moderator on this Forum! These guys work-off their collective arse dealing with the likes of Red UFO and others. I can be extremely protective and nurturing toward the 90% who follow the rules and show common courtesy...however, I have little patience and absolutely zero tolerance toward the 10% who continuously open their yaps only to pollute and dilute this Forum. You haven't seen me hammer anyone on this Forum!

Anyway, to answer your absurd comment about my having a "Hissy Fit"...you should probably read my rather lengthy posts over the past few weeks and see how I FINALLY come to this decision. This was a 6+ week evolution and certainly not a hasty, willy-nilly decision to terminate service as you claim. In fact, you will notice that I originally cancelled service on 18 November. So tell me chumly, how can you possible justify any of your psycho-babble? You just can't!

I have been posting this very same message for weeks and weeks and weeks and weeks. It is true that I am upset with some of VOOMs policies, practices and customer service...but for you to somehow conclude that I had a "Hissy Fit and cancelled" service is nonsensical, absurd, preposterous, and void of logical thought....wouldn't ya think? I've added the following links solely for your edification:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=253646&postcount=47(concludes the process)
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?p=247241#post247241
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=245476&postcount=12
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=242311&postcount=4
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=242029&postcount=1
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=238444&postcount=6
http://www.satelliteguys.us/showpost.php?p=236412&postcount=44 (begins the process - notice how I cancelled on 18 Nov)

While I have been hopeful, I have occasionally been extremely critical of VOOM and their DVR. Perhaps the reason I (according to your expert assessment), hammered Red UFO was due to his/her/its troll like behavior: inability to provide constructive criticism, does not try to help others, and whose lack of character is evident in each and every negative posting. Anyway, it would probably serve you well to read the following thread I started on the DVR delivery date:

http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=32099

Lastly, if you have any recollection of Red UFO, then you are probably birds of a feather and fly together (assuming you are not Red UFO in disguise?). To the best of my recollection, Red UFO was one of the 10% I mentioned above; a troll extraordinary!!! I will not waste any more time on you since your post speak volumes.

P.S. Happy Trollidays!!!

Lastly, if you have any recollection of Red UFO, then you are probably birds of a feather and fly together (assuming you are not Red UFO in disguise?). To the best of my recollection, Red UFO was one of the 10% I mentioned above; a troll extraordinary!!! I will not waste any more time on you since your post speak volumes.

P.S. Happy Trollidays!!!
riffjim4069. I think you cancelled Voom for legitimate reason and are a valuable member of our forum. You shouldnt react to anyone that names themselves after a female genital fart.

Come SpaceWay 1 ... the decision will be quite clear. For now Voom has it by number but I have always thought D* kept the best content.
Spaceway 1 will be the beginning of years of adding hundreds of locals in HD. Doesnt offer any clear decision for me. It will probably result in even more downrezzing than D* is doing now.

riffjim4069. I think you cancelled Voom for legitimate reason and are a valuable member of our forum. You shouldnt react to anyone that names themselves after a female genital fart.Thanks! And you are probably correct. :) I really do like VOOM, but their business practices are giving me a headache. !sadroll The bottom line is our single receiver will be gathering dust until Spring and VOOM appears to be going out of their way to avoid providing me with additional receivers without jumping through hoops. Again, how foolish is it not to extent this offer to current customers without requiring them to first cancel service - this sets a bad precedence. How long does it take to quickly state the terms & conditions of the offer in an e-mail and hit send? Why don't they stop wasting our time and post this offer on their website? Finally, why don't they properly train CSRs so they are at least playing in the same ballpark?

They are certainly doing some things better (70 HD channels in March, making use of the SES Americom transponders, using VOOM installers down in South Florida)...but why can't they post status updates in the monthly newsletter and why in the heck can't they post firmware problems on their website and keep us advised of problem via e-mail. Really! This costs next to nothing. Can you imagine your friends, parents or grandparents living through 7.26 'Caller ID' or 6.20 'Weak OTA' hell sporadically locking up their receivers without the aid of this of this Forum? Just send an e-mail and get the info to the CSRs as-soon-as-possible. Better yet, get rid of the Motorola STB and their support staff because they certainly aren't cutting the mustard..

Spaceway 1 will be the beginning of years of adding hundreds of locals in HD. Doesnt offer any clear decision for me. It will probably result in even more downrezzing than D* is doing now.

Ya that dude really good his panties in a bunch for nothing. Perhaps I hit a sore spot? See ya on the D* boards. :D

I haven't read through all of these posts, so forgive me for not being part of the "group thinking." I really want a DVR that records HD, but what are my options? A Direct TV DVR @1K? I've researched my HD options (in the Bay Area) and have concluded that VOOM is the best bang for the buck. Sure, Comcast will "almost" have a DVR "really soon," but they can't even offer me HD now. So my HD allegiance is with VOOM. I trust they're doing what they can, when they can. I don't have a better HD option where I live, so I feel they deserve my support.

> A Direct TV DVR @1K?

You could get it a bit cheaper with some efforts, but that's basically it.

> Sure, Comcast will "almost" have a DVR "really soon," but they can't even offer me HD now.

Have you checked http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=357896 ? Even some in South San Jose is getting Motorola 6412.

Hong.

directv will be the last service standing against all the loser cable companies

get over it

Voom has their problems but that isn't just Voom. Between BHN, DirecTV and Voom I've had various problems but sadly to say Voom is the only company that couldn't fix the double billing issue but other than that their prices and right in line with DirecTV. DirecTVs total choice premier is about the same price as Vooms VaVa Voom package. Granted Voom doesn't have all the channels in SD that DirecTV does but what they have in HD makes up for those other SD channels that DirecTV has that I will never watch.

What I hate now is if Voom had a DVR I would drop DirecTV 100% and only add the base base package for the 4 months to get Sunday Ticket. But for now I'll enjoy my HD Tivo until such time as I'm with Voom but I might have to face the music that Voom might not be around for a long time. I'm hoping that Microsoft might buy Voom because I'm very anti-Microsoft on many things but this one I'm not against. I don't want Dish Network in control of Voom considerin Charlie's past HD thoughts but Gates is flatout a home theater nut and he has the dollars to move it further at least more than Charlie does. I want Microsoft to take over Voom just because it would be very interesting and funny watching Bill Gates and Rupert Murdock going at each other tooth and nail. That would help us customers with DirecTV and Voom but sadly to say Dish Network would be left behind but that Charlie deserved it because I've never seen one man be so clueless in my entire life. If Murdock could see the light about HD than why can't Charlie. Now to set this straight I never saw Murdock as being anti HD Technology but he wants to make money and back than HD wouldn't make him enough money but now HD can and does make him money so he now embraces HDTV. Remember this one thing about Murdock he is first and foremost all about money so if HDTV in his mind will make him tons of money expect him to go nuts with adding and upgrading our HDTV services. Now granted it might take time but he will do it better than anyone else and he has the money to outspend everyone else.

That is the end of my long rant but the bottom line is Voom needs Microsoft right now to help Voom and HDTV and to get Murdock always looking further than he wants to right now. Murdock can still kill Dish Network with Voom with his wallet but Microsoft with Voom is a whole other story he can't buy out Microsoft and their wallets are about equal as well.

Here is the latest response from Voom as to when the DVR will be available:
Subject
---------------------------------------------------------------
when the hd recorder will be available? I love voom and want to be able to time shift. ...


Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Michelle) - 12/20/2004 04:47 PM David,

We are actively working on and testing our HD-DVR, and we expect to release it in the first half of 2005. However, its exact release date and pricing have not been set at this time. The VOOM HD-DVR will have multiple tuners, allowing you to record a program while watching a live program or one that you’ve previously recorded!

Thank you again for choosing VOOM - the leader in High Definition programming!