Hey everyone,

Just got done talking with a CSR and she reassured me that they would keep their promise of having the DVR ready by the end of the month. I explained how I was considering jumping ship due to the lack of a DVR and she said that voom WOULD deliver on its promise... Not sure how much thats worth.. but comforting at least.

cheers,
Jon

I hate to burst your bubble but I dont believe we will see it by the end of the month. It IS close though. :)

i was told by a csr that it would be released in june.I dont think they know to much myself.

Well it is all that I am waiting for. As soon as they get a DVR I will switch...just that simple. I would imagine there are many other in the same boat I am too.

I think it's hard to quantify "many"...

Lob

Anyone out there beta-testing?
Remember, you can SAY you are beta-testing without breaking your non-disclosure agreement (at least the one from Microsoft is worded that way). I have been a beta-tester for MS for many years now - since Win98. I guess that would make me a Master.
Wait...don't think about that too much... :shocked

Seriously though, it would be very reassuring to hear that folks outside the company are trying it out...

Andrew

i was told by a csr that it would be released in june.I dont think they know to much myself.

I was told JUNE also.

Anyone out there beta-testing?
Remember, you can SAY you are beta-testing without breaking your non-disclosure agreement (at least the one from Microsoft is worded that way). I have been a beta-tester for MS for many years now - since Win98. I guess that would make me a Master.
Wait...don't think about that too much... :shocked

Seriously though, it would be very reassuring to hear that folks outside the company are trying it out...

Andrew

I asked to beta test ANYTHING for VOOM. Been beta testing, and a gui engineer for 20+ years.

Never heard back from anyone at VOOM. Sigh

:(

they have said June 2004 before Xmas 2004 They said march 2005 and I was told June 2005!!!! VOOM Gods said 70 NEW HD channels by march 2005 i!!!!!!!!!
Give me my HDTV and a Fire wire that is all I want!!!!!!!!!!

Well it is all that I am waiting for. As soon as they get a DVR I will switch...just that simple. I would imagine there are many other in the same boat I am too. \

Me too.

On February 27th I was told the DVR would be out in March but the new channels were pushed back till June.

I belive the CSR's repeat what they thought they heard. Probably from us as well as their supervisors.

We were told "first half of 2005". Does June fall within the first half? Yes, it does, right along with March, April, and May. The CSR's will be able to give you an exact date one or two days prior to the release, that's about all the notice we get on anything.

Me three!!

Well again.... if someone tried to break both your legs when you were planning on a 10K run, would you be a little distracted? Let's make sure that there is a service to connect a DVR too. Besides...there is so much repeat on every channel (not just VOOM 21) that I wonder what the value is of a DVR.

We were told "first half of 2005". Does June fall within the first half? Yes, it does, right along with March, April, and May. The CSR's will be able to give you an exact date one or two days prior to the release, that's about all the notice we get on anything.

See here: http://www.satelliteguys.us/2005ces/

VOOM said the DVR will be out in March. This is the only official statement from VOOM. There has been no press release to the contrary.

I have been a beta-tester for MS for many years now - since Win98. I guess that would make me a Master.

Andrew

I've been a Master beta since I was 14!

Besides...there is so much repeat on every channel (not just VOOM 21) that I wonder what the value is of a DVR.
:confused:
Lets see:

1) Can't stay awake for SNL
2) Want to watch LOST and record American Dreams on Wednesday
3) Losing Starz soon so want to record as many movies, especially HDmovies as I can
4) Wife can't stay awake for ER on Thursdays
5) Go to hockey games Friday so I miss 8 Simple Rules
6) Would rather record an "iffy" movie than watch it
7) Nice to record afternoon ball games and fast forward through them later
8) Makes an easy PIP
9) Nice to pause something live when you need to use the litter box
10) Need a list of 10

That person on the video wasnt a VOOM employee he worked for Motorola.

Scott Greczkowski That person on the video wasnt a VOOM employee he worked for Motorola.


Actually, I believe it was a Ucentric employee just prior to Motorola absorbing it. :p :D :rolleyes:

Hi name badge said Motorola on it. :)

VoOm needs this HD DVR to keep churn down.

I just got off the voom live chat and the lady said planned for end of march then researched it and said it's still being worked on and that release is scheduled for first half of 2005.

What does this mean? I've got no clue. But my guess is that it's probably going to be ready for April but since no one knows if Voom's going to be around after the 31st it's probably not a good idea for Voom to release the dvr just yet. Also, my opinion is that they're going to be mass producing them so that they don't run out like dish did with the 921. Again, just a guess.

I'm amazed how VOOM STILL doesn't offer a simple HD-DVR....
They are getting left in the dust with each passing day.
Now even multi-room cable systems are starting to roll out.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-11-2005/0003163919&EDATE=

I'm amazed how VOOM STILL doesn't offer a simple HD-DVR....
They are getting left in the dust with each passing day.
Now even multi-room cable systems are starting to roll out.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/03-11-2005/0003163919&EDATE=

Give them time folks, they have had a bad few weeks, those guys have been fired and hired a few times over the past few weeks, everything that has gone on has caused part of the delay.

I can tell you it is almost ready, a few more bugs to quish and then you will have a great DVR unit. :)

That person on the video wasnt a VOOM employee he worked for Motorola.

That's a new excuse: The guy is in the VOOM booth, talking about VOOM, saying "we" this and "we" that while he describes VOOM but subscribers are not supposed to believe him because he actually works for someone else.

A CSR told me the first half of 2005 yesterday.

2 more weeks! ;) Just 2 more weeks. ;)

Give them time folks, they have had a bad few weeks, those guys have been fired and hired a few times over the past few weeks, everything that has gone on has caused part of the delay.

I can tell you it is almost ready, a few more bugs to quish and then you will have a great DVR unit. :)


The problem is that we are all very in-patient and want a DVR as soon as possible (now). This, of course, is from a viewer perspective who knows very little of what's going on and the pieces that should be in placed to have one. I am sure VOOM as a company knows how important a DVR is these days. Not only to their current base but from a competition point of view.

No, I am not going to say three weeks or by month end but I could see that is getting closer and closer since the pieces needed are or have been put together already (a lot of these pieces have already been made public in this forum). There's probably two more pieces and we will have a DVR. I just hope that we will get to see it. Of course, this is all depending whether VoOM can get funding to continue past 3/31/05, otherwise everything is moot.

Well it is all that I am waiting for. As soon as they get a DVR I will switch...just that simple. I would imagine there are many other in the same boat I am too.

Yep, me too!

they should've had it back in Feb.... of 2004!!! this is just pathetic.

I am sure VOOM as a company knows how important a DVR is these days. Not only to their current base but from a competition point of view.


Fact or opinion?

If fact , what's your source?

If opinion, I respectfully disagree.

HD-DVRs are common pieces of equipment available to most customers of their competition.
It is pathetic they haven't released one yet. No more excuses please.

2 more weeks! ;) Just 2 more weeks. ;)Here We Go Again!!!!!!!!

There's probably two more pieces and we will have a DVR. I just hope that we will get to see it. Of course, this is all depending whether VoOM can get funding to continue past 3/31/05, otherwise everything is moot.

Sean, is 3/31 funding in addition to the two other pieces, or are we in fact talking three pieces.
My guess is 1=funding, 2=mpeg4 but can you give a hint on 3? Other than move to R2 I don't see a third one. admit that even 2 is a guess, however pretty calculated guess.

Its getting closer and closer? Everything gets closer as the clock ticks. Stop jerking the customers around and give them a freaking DVR. Its not like it hasnt been done before.

I thought they had a fully functional prototype at CES? This delay delay delay is ridiculous.

Give them time folks, they have had a bad few weeks, those guys have been fired and hired a few times over the past few weeks, everything that has gone on has caused part of the delay.



Sorry but they are a business and we are customers. If I have a Bad few weeks Voom still expects its money on time. They are not going to give me a break. Any hiring/firing is Cablevision and Vooms fault not ours. They need to deliver on their promises. If they are a business then start acting like one. If they are a circus then they need to fold. I thought they had a fully functional prototype at CES? This delay delay delay is ridiculous.

So who changed vurbano's response? Did you change it vurbano or are the Admin Nazi's out to get you tonight? ;-)

So who changed vurbano's response? Did you change it vurbano or are the Admin Nazi's out to get you tonight? ;-)

It was me I thought it was harsh .. lol:D

It was me I thought it was harsh .. lol:D I didn't see an edit on any of his posts here...is there a way to edit without it showing? I'd be interested regarding another source and highlighting another issue, if that's the case. Vicki

Scott or Sean,
Can you say whether or not the DVR will have the "whole house solution" with it? Or, will it be a stand-alone HD-DVR at first with the WHS coming later?

"I am sure VOOM as a company knows how important a DVR is these days. Not only to their current base but from a competition point of view."



Fact or opinion?

If fact , what's your source?

If opinion, I respectfully disagree.

HD-DVRs are common pieces of equipment available to most customers of their competition.
It is pathetic they haven't released one yet. No more excuses please.

At this point it is common sense or is it not? my statement can only be said in that sense. Not making excuses for anybody ONLY stating some simple facts that may illustrate why the delay. If it's better to listen/read/believe the fictional stories of why a DVR has not been released, by all means do so. I am just stating what I can post.

Sean, is 3/31 funding in addition to the two other pieces, or are we in fact talking three pieces.
My guess is 1=funding, 2=mpeg4 but can you give a hint on 3? Other than move to R2 I don't see a third one. admit that even 2 is a guess, however pretty calculated guess.

Of course if there's no funding past 3/31, we can all stop talking about it. So that has to be the biggest piece. Here's where people that do not follow the information gets caugh up in their fiction (not saying you MarcelV).

First remember about version 7.37. All stb needed to be in this version and they are now. Then all channels needed to be on NDS and they are now. Then all channels needed to be on Harmonic and they are now. SuperDMA is being released which it is good. In parallel work is the access to R2 and I believe once all of these ingredients are put in place, we can start talking about a DVR.

Of course, this is all my opinion and a lot of this is subject to change based on decisions that may chance the course of their process.

They could have released a DVR today that would have been a good piece of trash in anyone's shelf without every single of those pieces that I mentioned. For whatever reason those pieces got delayed in the process. Why? I do not know.

Scott or Sean,
Can you say whether or not the DVR will have the "whole house solution" with it? Or, will it be a stand-alone HD-DVR at first with the WHS coming later?

IMO, they are shooting for the WHS but do not quote me on that.

I didn't see an edit on any of his posts here...is there a way to edit without it showing? I'd be interested regarding another source and highlighting another issue, if that's the case. Vicki
Vicki-
There must be an edit rule that allows the poster a certain amount of time to fix the post (like 2 minutes???). I have done that several times, where you post a message, realize a mistake, edit the post--and there is no edit data applied down at the bottom of the post.

And here is an edit without putting in a reason (8:10PM)

Hey everyone,

Just got done talking with a CSR and she reassured me that they would keep their promise of having the DVR ready by the end of the month. I explained how I was considering jumping ship due to the lack of a DVR and she said that voom WOULD deliver on its promise... Not sure how much thats worth.. but comforting at least.

cheers,
Jon
I chatted with a voom rep. and he said that was not true for the end of the month he just said their working on it. :confused:

On February 27th I was told the DVR would be out in March but the new channels were pushed back till June.

I belive the CSR's repeat what they thought they heard. Probably from us as well as their supervisors.

What is the possibility that because the DVR is going to slip (assumption), the programming has been pushed forward for apeasement?

1) I have complained that Cable has had DVR's for years including an HD version for over a year, however, to be fair - the quality was poor. I went through 4 SA 8000's and 3 SA 8300's in probably 18 months. And the HDMI-out on the 8300 steals the DD 5.1 audio away from the Optical audio out...so if VOOM does do it right it will be worth the wait.

2) The last time I talked with a rep they "hoped by July". I think we can scratch anytime soon out. The only problem is there is no alternative because of the VOOM box being a single tuner

Makes me glad I have a HiPix set up so that I can at least timeshift OTA programming.

Makes me glad I have a HiPix set up so that I can at least timeshift OTA programming.
Hey Sean, what's a HiPix?

Hey Sean, what's a HiPix?
A computer HDTV tuner card.

A computer HDTV tuner card.
Thanks...

So you think DVR will still be released at the end of this month? :confused: If not, it's ok for I have the PSP (off topic) :o launching this 3/24 to keep me busy and of course my voom :) .

I'm very interested in the Voom DVR. I'm curious to see how much they will charge for it or if they will (hopefully) just lease it out instead. I'd LOVE to have an HD-DVR.

Voom seems to have some pretty cool programming too. Anybody who has an all Kung Fu channel is alright by me. I just hope Voom can make it.

I'm anxiously awaiting my Voom install....I'm also intrigued by the Voom DVR. If the DVR has the features as announced at CES...It will be the most advanced DVR available from any of the satellite providers and puts the others to shame.

I've endured way buggy featureless DVRs from Dish Network for way too long.

I spoke to a CSR this morning in regards to an upgrade on my dish and OTA and when I asked about the future of the company, she stated without hesitation that not only with there be a major anouncement within a few days about a pending deal(dish? apple? or the selling of cablevison?) accompanied with a DRV annoucement! So lets cross our fingers in hopes that it's true!!!

I spoke to a CSR this morning in regards to an upgrade on my dish and OTA and when I asked about the future of the company, she stated without hesitation that not only with there be a major anouncement within a few days about a pending deal(dish? apple? or the selling of cablevison?) accompanied with a DRV annoucement! So

Wow! We know we're going to get one of two announcements. I hope it's this one!!!

I'm lighting a candle.

I spoke to a CSR this morning in regards to an upgrade on my dish and OTA and when I asked about the future of the company, she stated without hesitation that not only with there be a major anouncement within a few days about a pending deal(dish? apple? or the selling of cablevison?) accompanied with a DRV annoucement! So lets cross our fingers in hopes that it's true!!!

I'm not lighting a candle, I'm starting the "brushfire of hope". Here's to Dolan blowing the doors off and getting to give the bird to all the naysayers... :cool:

There has to be some sort of announcement in the next couple days as the 31st is looming.

Well it's the end of the month and no DVR :(. I just hope Voom is still around and they have a DVR by November when my E* contract is finally up.

I received a promo for the 3 rooms for $1 in the mail today. On the third page it says "And this summer, we'll debut our HD-DVR recorder technology....." So there it is.

I received a promo for the 3 rooms for $1 in the mail today. On the third page it says "And this summer, we'll debut our HD-DVR recorder technology....." So there it is.Well, I'm predicting the HD DVR will not be repleased in March. :p Ok, what is this stuff about Summer? Summer doesn't officially end until late September... and we are all expecting this thing to be in our homes come June.

"This Summer"???
Wonder what their definition is for the word "this".

March, and now Summer. Someones stringing us along here.

"This Summer"???
Wonder what their definition is for the word "this".

March, and now Summer. Someones stringing us along here.

Actually it was "soon", then Summer 2004, then "this year", then March 2005, then "first half of 2005", then "this Summer".

I called VOOM and questioned them on the new date. They said the DVR is scheduled for release in the first half of the year AND in the Summer. That means it will definitely be released between June 21, 2005, and June 30, 2005 as those are the only dates that fall within both ranges.

Actually it was "soon", then Summer 2004, then "this year", then March 2005, then "first half of 2005", then "this Summer".

I called VOOM and questioned them on the new date. They said the DVR is scheduled for release in the first half of the year AND in the Summer. That means it will definitely be released between June 21, 2005, and June 30, 2005 as those are the only dates that fall within both ranges.ROFLMAO!!!

I asked the same thing and got a similar answer-
About the DVR, I suppose you don't have any information yet on it do you?
Answer- "Oh no, we've all been told it is in the final testing from our beta group and is expected soon. The testing is going well. We are told it will be released definitly before end of June." What's the price? "Now that, they haven't decided. We probably won't know that until the last minute."

...snip... We probably won't know that until the last minute."

So true.

I had an installer out this morning and the conversation went to the DVR. I was told that beta testing will be starting in about two weeks. I promised my firstborn child to take part and was told that he would let me know. Of course this is totally unsubstantiated, but my hopes are up. :)

I had an installer out this morning and the conversation went to the DVR. I was told that beta testing will be starting in about two weeks. I promised my firstborn child to take part and was told that he would let me know. Of course this is totally unsubstantiated, but my hopes are up. :)

Weeks ago a CSR told me that there are already beta testers for the DVR. I was calling about a billing issue and when I was done he asked "is there anything else I can help you with?" and I asked about the DVR. Thats when he told me the above.

--Dan

Just out of curiousity, how does one become a Beta Tester for something of this magnatude? Not that I would ever get picked, but I can say that I have a knack of breaking things electronic in ways that no CSR or on-site tech support engineer has ever conceived! I believe this would certainly qualify me as a prime beta testing candidate... :)

atp1313

Buy 50,000 shares of cablevision. That'll probably help. ;)

Oh, that's all...? Jeez. There must be A LOT of shares sold out there! ;)

It is just breathtakingly incompetent for Voom never to have released a DVR. How hard can it be, given that D, E and cable all have them? I was about to cancel my Voom because of it, until I heard they beat me to it. I don't think they were anywhere near close to releasing it, as they underestimated how important it was, and overestimated their ability to bring it to market.

What do you mean, no DVR from Voom??? Where did you hear that??

Just kidding with you. I'd like to believe the service will somehow continue and we'll all have our DVRs in a few weeks. We all have our own realities.

Does anyone else think that the lack of a DVR was one of the major reasons Voom faile?

Does anyone else think that the lack of a DVR was one of the major reasons Voom faile?
Well, I certainly do. It's difficult to announce yourself the "technology leader" when you don't have something so basic as DVR (especially when you continue to fail to hit delivery dates on it and no-one ever saw it).

However, it probbaly falls behind:
1. Lack of visibility - most people had never heard of the service, as it wasn't in the major eloctronic retailers or they never received a flyer promoting it (I must see about 20 each week from D and E);

2. Lack of "required" channels. I needed to receive BBC America and FSW to enable me to cancel my D. I wouldn't have continued to pay for both services. HD is great, but it isn't a requirement as a DVR and certain channels are. They got these channels in the end when they seemed to realize the gaping whole in their strategy - this would have been at about the same time as subs picked up, co-incidentally.

3. Software bugs. I was really pi**ed that I kept needing to reboot the receiver as it lost the program guide. A reboot would then need about 30 minutes to get the program guide. This was very frustrating and I'm sure otehrs would have given up becuase of this. They did seem to fix this towards the end, though, as I haven't had this problem for a month or two.

But, it was the lack of DVR that made me doubt if they had the ability to pull the whole HD experience together. Clearly, they didn't, which is such a shame as I'm going to really miss them. Hopefully, the next company, if there is ever another one, will address these obvious flaws immediately.

the lost guide happens if the recvr is left on a non voom ch over nite or if you have a low sig. the rcvr is not getting the update - will hold 3 days worth of guide, if no up date by end of 3rd day-then no guide.

the lost guide happens if the recvr is left on a non voom ch over nite or if you have a low sig. the rcvr is not getting the update - will hold 3 days worth of guide, if no up date by end of 3rd day-then no guide.
Thanks for that explanation. It no longer happens, so is unfortunately moot. I don;t think it was the latter, btw, as I was always able to receive a signal. It usually seemed to happen when I switched it on. Perhaps they never fixed it, and I just saw it happen because I no longer switch it off. If that is true, then I gave credit where it was not due :(