Hey guys;

When Voom introduces its home network thing that lets you stream video or whatever around the house, and when they release theri DVR, how will we get it?

I'm a subscriber, and I got in on the $0 install and equipment fee. Will I be able to "switch" out my box with one with a DVR built in? Or will I have to buy it? I don't mind paying up to $200 for the DVR, like a Tivo price, but beyond that I won't pay. If i can't get it for under $200, I'll get a Tivo that is compatible with Voom and use that.

Regarding the home network thing, do you think it will include functionaily to connect to a wired or wireless homenetwork and get rid of the option requiring a phone line?

No details yet about pricing and how current customers will be able to switch to it. As to the phone line, no details either.

Voom = no details on anything beyond today generally speaking

hey vurbano, do you ever get up on the RIGHT side of the bed??? ;)

Although my Voom box is near both an Internet and phoneline connections,
it was installed connected to neither. What are these STB jacks used for?
Are they only for linking multiple boxes? Tnx.

I tried looking in the detailed Motorola receiver manual but, oops, there is none. <smile>

By the way, viewing VoomHD up close on a 1920x1200 computer monitor (23") is truly awesome. You're up close, wide viewing angle, and everything is perfectly sharp.

Although my Voom box is near both an Internet and phoneline connections, it was installed connected to neither.
Question number 2 on the 10 Most Frequently Asked Questions (http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=20677) list ;)

Do I have to connect my STB to a telephone line? (http://www.satelliteguys.us/showthread.php?t=13946#Q10-1)

I was sent a brochure from Voom today that has the DVR question in it's FAQ and according to the brochure Voom will release it this fall. It will have a 160 Gig hard drive and will network with the other Voom boxes so you can watch what you record on another Voom box. I like that idea. No pricing yet. I was told by a CSR that anyone on the lease program will get automatic upgrades, including this.

Believe it when I see it ;). 160gb is fairly small, I wish they'd expand it. Still, if they include the promised firewire, I'll be ok.

Believe it when I see it ;). 160gb is fairly small, I wish they'd expand it. Still, if they include the promised firewire, I'll be ok.
Must.....have......firewire...... My JVC DVHS deck is going to waste, (except for the occasional DTheater tape) I have no HD stb that outputs firewire and since I got my Panny DVD recorder I haven't even used it.

Must.....have......firewire......

I agree...it's gotta have it!!!

Lets hope that Voom gets it right since DISH didn't with their HD-DVR.

I was sent a brochure from Voom today that has the DVR question in it's FAQ and according to the brochure Voom will release it this fall. It will have a 160 Gig hard drive and will network with the other Voom boxes so you can watch what you record on another Voom box. I like that idea. No pricing yet. I was told by a CSR that anyone on the lease program will get automatic upgrades, including this.

160GB seems really small for HD recordings.

I'm just relaying what the brochure said. It does seem small for HD though compared to the 250 Gig hard drives that DISH and Directv have in theirs.

Maybe with MPEG-4 or WMP9 compression this isn't a factor?

160GB seems really small for HD recordings.
I have 160 gig in my DVD recorder, but that's probably how they will keep the price down. Hopefully it will be user upgradeable.

Hoenstly, they aren't keeping the price down by more than a few bucks with that small a hard drive. They are dirt cheap these days.

FWIW, I visited the VOOM store in the Minneapolis area over the weekend. The salesman offered two pieces of info. I don't know how credible they are, but I'm sharing with the appropriate caveats. First, the size of the drive is officially listed at 160 as is stated, but he gave me a 'or maybe larger by the time they hit the street'. Hardly a strong endorsement for a larger drive, but something.

Secondly, he seemed quite certain that they could be rented. There was no doubt in his mind. I've done a bit of reading and don't know if anyone else has heard that yet.

Again, take the info as you will, considering the source.

Because WM9 is so much more efficient than MPEG2 it will require much less disk space. WM9 on a 160GB drive would be like MPEG2 on a 640GB drive. Of course this assumes that Voom makes the switch to WM9 before their PVR is released.

Clearly the WM9 will be more efficient, that's a large plus. On a related question, with a WM9 decoder and network ability, has anyone heard speculation on this box playing WM9 dvd's? That would be a very large win in my book.

Not that much... WM9 could do in half (maybe a third, but not quite), what MPEG-2 can do.

Hong.

Hey guys;

When Voom introduces its home network thing that lets you stream video or whatever around the house, and when they release theri DVR, how will we get it?

I'm a subscriber, and I got in on the $0 install and equipment fee. Will I be able to "switch" out my box with one with a DVR built in? Or will I have to buy it? I don't mind paying up to $200 for the DVR, like a Tivo price, but beyond that I won't pay. If i can't get it for under $200, I'll get a Tivo that is compatible with Voom and use that.

Regarding the home network thing, do you think it will include functionaily to connect to a wired or wireless homenetwork and get rid of the option requiring a phone line?

Will a Tivo work with Voom? Will it just downconvert HD to SD on the composite and S-video outputs on the Motorola box? This may be an interim solutions until Voom releases it's HD PVR (I was told 6 months by a CSR a few days ago). I have no other means of recording off Voom at this time.

Will a Tivo work with Voom? Will it just downconvert HD to SD on the composite and S-video outputs on the Motorola box? This may be an interim solutions until Voom releases it's HD PVR (I was told 6 months by a CSR a few days ago). I have no other means of recording off Voom at this time.Sure. All SD recording solutions work with VOOM no problem: TiVo, VCR, DVD-writers, etc. It's just HD recording that is a problem.

From what I hear part of the reason for the delay on the VOOM DVR is that it will only work with WMV9 streams so VOOM cannot release until they convert to WMV9.

From what I hear part of the reason for the delay on the VOOM DVR is that it will only work with WMV9 streams so VOOM cannot release until they convert to WMV9.If true, and based on VooMs MPEG-4 SD/HD implementation schedule, would this means the DVR may not be released until Spring '05 or later? I wouldn't think so! We will just have to make do with the available hard drive space using MPEG-2.

Perhaps I am mixing apples and oranges, but can't the DVR decode an MPEG-2 or MPEG-4 stream and encode it to the hard drive as a Windows Media File using WM9?

Anyway, here is an interesting paragraph regarding MPEG-4 recently filed by VooM leadership. There was no mentioned of WM9 compression:

Amendment 1 to Form 10 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 29, 2004:

"Standard definition and high-definition are two formats of displaying digital television, with high-definition television offering more enhanced vertical and horizontal resolution and higher quality stereo sound as compared to standard definition television. High-definition channels display pictures that contain significantly more detail, resulting in much "crisper" pictures. When we transfer to MPEG-4 standard definition compression, which we anticipate occurring the first quarter of 2005, we will nearly double our capacity to deliver standard definition programming. Similarly, with the implementation of MPEG-4 high-definition compression, which we anticipate occurring in the fourth quarter of 2005, we will increase our high-definition capacity by 50%. For example, once the MPEG-4 conversion for standard definition and high-definition is complete, we will be able to offer a package of up to 58 high-definition channels and 176 standard definition services. However, we have not yet decided how we will allocate such increased capacity between standard and high-definition but expect to make that determination during 2005 based upon our perception of consumer preferences at that time."

So they aren't going to MPEG-4/WM9 until next year now??? Or do they mean 4Q 2004 for implementation and 1Q 2005 for the actual use of it?

SD - MPEG-4/WM9 1st Quarter 2005
HD - MPEG-4/WM9 4th Quarter 2005

The above dates were taken directly from the SEC Form filing and have been reported earlier on this forum. There are lots of moving pieces and parts in this transition and other things happening as well: dish upgrade, new channels, transponder lease 1 Oct, DVR release, MPEG-4/WM9 module for DSR-550, more new channels, MPEG-4/WM9 SD, Whole Home Networking release, more new channels, MPEG-4/WM9 HD. It will interesting to see what happens!!!