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slriv
Hi, Newbie Voom person here. I threw together some notes so far in a
review context last night, but here's the gist of it all. I realize
not everyone thinks like I do, so this is just my opinion.
Enjoy.
Voom
I recently signed up for Voom on their $1 promotional offer. The
installation cost made it a no-brainer to try, and if it didn't work
or reception was unacceptable, I could easily drop it within a short
period. The installation does bind you to a 6 month contract, however.
Installation
My installation was a mess. The installer was completely unprepared.
He didn't have the right equipment and refused to make a cable run
through my apartment without trying to get another $79. He was a nice
guy, but he was a typical sub-contractor trying to get out of doing as
much work as possible. My cable run is long, but it is within the 125
ft limit that is offered in the Voom installation, so technically Voom
owes me another install.
Since I'm an apartment dweller, I'm forced to use a tripod for dish
installation. I already have a tripod and a dish setup for DirecTV.
The Voom installer didn't bring one and acted like it would be weeks
before he could come back, so I let him go ahead and commandeer the
DirecTV gear to get it working which effectively disabled my existing
service. I had planned on dumping DirecTV anyway, but it is sad the
installer was not prepared especially when it is clear where I live
from the work order. The other nit about this and why I didn't bother
to wait is the installer was going to try charging another $100 to get
the tripod installed. Add that to the cable run and you see my
dilemma.
OTA Antenna Installation
I'm a lucky guy, there is no doubt. Since I live on the top floor in
my complex, I can receive virtually every digital channel broadcast in
the region even with the cheap antenna that came with the Voom gear.
Frankly, I'm so impressed with this, I'm considering dumping all the
sat gear and getting an HD tuner card for my HTPC and be done with it.
Sadly I would lose SciFi and Starz Westerns channel.
Experience
Well, it's HD. the 30 some odd channels are primarily composed of a
bunch of Voom content with the standard movie channels and a few
extras broadcast in HD. Most cable channels are still in SD and have
years before they have to bother with upgrading (2010).
As far as content, Voom has fewer channels (dramatically so), but
almost all the ones I care about are there. Besides, who needs 10
shopping channels, 5 or 10 relgious brainwashing channels or 100
sports channels? This however does beg the question of why Voom is the
same price as the competition.
Menus and guides on the receiver are atrocious. I'm a bit of a snob
here having lived with TiVo for the past 5 years and DirecTV for 10
years straight, but I just don't get why the guide only shows 5
channels a page, and then if you move forward in time you run into
this weird bug where shows that wrap across pages (horizontally)
sometimes move back to the right even though they should be moving to
the left. It's very disconcerting and basically a bug. There are NO
advanced features in the guide. There is no easy way to search for
content and basically you are stuck paging through broken menus to
find when stuff is broadcast. Again, I am spoiled here, I'm used to
typing in a name and a list of matches showing up. I actually found
myself logging into tvguide.com to find out what was coming on.
You never know just how much you rely on a PVR until you don't have
one. Voom is planning to release their HD DVR sometime in March, but
like so many of these things I wouldn't hold my breath. When I made my
order I asked about this and they only committed to the first half of
2005 which is suspicious considering what was being said at CES.
Picture quality is excellent on the HD channels, but SD channels are
extremely soft. I tried an SVideo cable, and things didn't improve.
I'm not sure why this is the case but it's made watching SD
unpleasant. I'm starting to think perhaps they are over-compressing
these channels.
Conclusion
Pros
* HD is here, and Voom is delivering.
* The system works, and although the local channels require a
separate terrestrial antenna the guide seamlessly marries the two
feeds. See AntennaWeb.org to check your home.
Cons
* No PVR/DVR device is out yet. I think odds are not good and
especially considering they are giving mixed signals.
* Menu Guide system is 1980's technology and forces you to think
in channel numbers instead of programs... Very annoying
* Installation is bollocks, be prepared for an unhappy experience
* Again, why only 5 channels per page in the guide??? What the
hell are they going to do with the other 3/4's of the screen. And
don't tell me advertising, I'm paying for this damn service.
* No firewire output, which means you can't use an HD VCR unless
it's WVHS with component inputs ($5K and they aren't made anymore!!!).
* Possibly SD channels are over-compressed making them very soft,
but that's only speculation.
You be the judge, but if you are a snob, like me, you will probably be
disappointed. The current $1 offer is great and is worth trying out.
It does commit you to a 6 month contract however. Not everyone will be
able to sign up for Voom because of satellite location. I'm pretty
lucky, but the actual direction of the satellite requires you don't
have any buildings or mountain ranges due east.
------------------------
review context last night, but here's the gist of it all. I realize
not everyone thinks like I do, so this is just my opinion.
Enjoy.Voom
I recently signed up for Voom on their $1 promotional offer. The
installation cost made it a no-brainer to try, and if it didn't work
or reception was unacceptable, I could easily drop it within a short
period. The installation does bind you to a 6 month contract, however.
Installation
My installation was a mess. The installer was completely unprepared.
He didn't have the right equipment and refused to make a cable run
through my apartment without trying to get another $79. He was a nice
guy, but he was a typical sub-contractor trying to get out of doing as
much work as possible. My cable run is long, but it is within the 125
ft limit that is offered in the Voom installation, so technically Voom
owes me another install.
Since I'm an apartment dweller, I'm forced to use a tripod for dish
installation. I already have a tripod and a dish setup for DirecTV.
The Voom installer didn't bring one and acted like it would be weeks
before he could come back, so I let him go ahead and commandeer the
DirecTV gear to get it working which effectively disabled my existing
service. I had planned on dumping DirecTV anyway, but it is sad the
installer was not prepared especially when it is clear where I live
from the work order. The other nit about this and why I didn't bother
to wait is the installer was going to try charging another $100 to get
the tripod installed. Add that to the cable run and you see my
dilemma.
OTA Antenna Installation
I'm a lucky guy, there is no doubt. Since I live on the top floor in
my complex, I can receive virtually every digital channel broadcast in
the region even with the cheap antenna that came with the Voom gear.
Frankly, I'm so impressed with this, I'm considering dumping all the
sat gear and getting an HD tuner card for my HTPC and be done with it.
Sadly I would lose SciFi and Starz Westerns channel.
Experience
Well, it's HD. the 30 some odd channels are primarily composed of a
bunch of Voom content with the standard movie channels and a few
extras broadcast in HD. Most cable channels are still in SD and have
years before they have to bother with upgrading (2010).
As far as content, Voom has fewer channels (dramatically so), but
almost all the ones I care about are there. Besides, who needs 10
shopping channels, 5 or 10 relgious brainwashing channels or 100
sports channels? This however does beg the question of why Voom is the
same price as the competition.
Menus and guides on the receiver are atrocious. I'm a bit of a snob
here having lived with TiVo for the past 5 years and DirecTV for 10
years straight, but I just don't get why the guide only shows 5
channels a page, and then if you move forward in time you run into
this weird bug where shows that wrap across pages (horizontally)
sometimes move back to the right even though they should be moving to
the left. It's very disconcerting and basically a bug. There are NO
advanced features in the guide. There is no easy way to search for
content and basically you are stuck paging through broken menus to
find when stuff is broadcast. Again, I am spoiled here, I'm used to
typing in a name and a list of matches showing up. I actually found
myself logging into tvguide.com to find out what was coming on.
You never know just how much you rely on a PVR until you don't have
one. Voom is planning to release their HD DVR sometime in March, but
like so many of these things I wouldn't hold my breath. When I made my
order I asked about this and they only committed to the first half of
2005 which is suspicious considering what was being said at CES.
Picture quality is excellent on the HD channels, but SD channels are
extremely soft. I tried an SVideo cable, and things didn't improve.
I'm not sure why this is the case but it's made watching SD
unpleasant. I'm starting to think perhaps they are over-compressing
these channels.
Conclusion
Pros
* HD is here, and Voom is delivering.
* The system works, and although the local channels require a
separate terrestrial antenna the guide seamlessly marries the two
feeds. See AntennaWeb.org to check your home.
Cons
* No PVR/DVR device is out yet. I think odds are not good and
especially considering they are giving mixed signals.
* Menu Guide system is 1980's technology and forces you to think
in channel numbers instead of programs... Very annoying
* Installation is bollocks, be prepared for an unhappy experience
* Again, why only 5 channels per page in the guide??? What the
hell are they going to do with the other 3/4's of the screen. And
don't tell me advertising, I'm paying for this damn service.
* No firewire output, which means you can't use an HD VCR unless
it's WVHS with component inputs ($5K and they aren't made anymore!!!).
* Possibly SD channels are over-compressed making them very soft,
but that's only speculation.
You be the judge, but if you are a snob, like me, you will probably be
disappointed. The current $1 offer is great and is worth trying out.
It does commit you to a 6 month contract however. Not everyone will be
able to sign up for Voom because of satellite location. I'm pretty
lucky, but the actual direction of the satellite requires you don't
have any buildings or mountain ranges due east.
------------------------
6 Replies
·
1437 views
RE: [VOOM] Re: Voom experience
I couldn't agree more. SD on Directv, Dish and cable companies are so
compressed sometimes you think you're getting the feed from rabbit ears in
analog. While I'm loving my cable hd dvr, I really miss Voom and hope
they'll release their whole house dvr solution so I can join up again.
Missing Voom in Kemah, TX
Robert Heitner Jr.
Data Developers Plus, Corp.
<blocked::http://www.ddpcorp.com> http://www.ddpcorp.com
Home of the #1 Contact Management Solution!
<blocked::BLOCKED::http://www.riatacrm.com/> http://www.riatacrm.com
_____
From: berockin1 [mailto:berockin1@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 1:12 PM
To: VOOM@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [VOOM] Re: Voom experience
Hmmmm, most think the SD on VOOM is the best they've seen whether it
be on DBS or Cable. Voom compresses less that anyone on the SD.
I guess it all in what everyone sees, to my eye the SD is great
looking. Lets hope we're seeing it for a while to come. : \
--- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "slriv" <samr@s...> wrote:
>
> Hi, Newbie Voom person here. I threw together some notes so far in
a
> review context last night, but here's the gist of it all. I realize
> not everyone thinks like I do, so this is just my opinion.
Enjoy.
>
> Voom
>
> I recently signed up for Voom on their $1 promotional offer. The
> installation cost made it a no-brainer to try, and if it didn't work
> or reception was unacceptable, I could easily drop it within a short
> period. The installation does bind you to a 6 month contract,
however.
>
> Installation
>
> My installation was a mess. The installer was completely unprepared.
> He didn't have the right equipment and refused to make a cable run
> through my apartment without trying to get another $79. He was a
nice
> guy, but he was a typical sub-contractor trying to get out of doing
as
> much work as possible. My cable run is long, but it is within the
125
> ft limit that is offered in the Voom installation, so technically
Voom
> owes me another install.
>
> Since I'm an apartment dweller, I'm forced to use a tripod for dish
> installation. I already have a tripod and a dish setup for DirecTV.
> The Voom installer didn't bring one and acted like it would be weeks
> before he could come back, so I let him go ahead and commandeer the
> DirecTV gear to get it working which effectively disabled my
existing
> service. I had planned on dumping DirecTV anyway, but it is sad the
> installer was not prepared especially when it is clear where I live
> from the work order. The other nit about this and why I didn't
bother
> to wait is the installer was going to try charging another $100 to
get
> the tripod installed. Add that to the cable run and you see my
> dilemma.
>
> OTA Antenna Installation
>
> I'm a lucky guy, there is no doubt. Since I live on the top floor in
> my complex, I can receive virtually every digital channel broadcast
in
> the region even with the cheap antenna that came with the Voom gear.
> Frankly, I'm so impressed with this, I'm considering dumping all the
> sat gear and getting an HD tuner card for my HTPC and be done with
it.
> Sadly I would lose SciFi and Starz Westerns channel.
>
> Experience
>
> Well, it's HD. the 30 some odd channels are primarily composed of a
> bunch of Voom content with the standard movie channels and a few
> extras broadcast in HD. Most cable channels are still in SD and have
> years before they have to bother with upgrading (2010).
>
> As far as content, Voom has fewer channels (dramatically so), but
> almost all the ones I care about are there. Besides, who needs 10
> shopping channels, 5 or 10 relgious brainwashing channels or 100
> sports channels? This however does beg the question of why Voom is
the
> same price as the competition.
>
> Menus and guides on the receiver are atrocious. I'm a bit of a snob
> here having lived with TiVo for the past 5 years and DirecTV for 10
> years straight, but I just don't get why the guide only shows 5
> channels a page, and then if you move forward in time you run into
> this weird bug where shows that wrap across pages (horizontally)
> sometimes move back to the right even though they should be moving
to
> the left. It's very disconcerting and basically a bug. There are NO
> advanced features in the guide. There is no easy way to search for
> content and basically you are stuck paging through broken menus to
> find when stuff is broadcast. Again, I am spoiled here, I'm used to
> typing in a name and a list of matches showing up. I actually found
> myself logging into tvguide.com to find out what was coming on.
>
> You never know just how much you rely on a PVR until you don't have
> one. Voom is planning to release their HD DVR sometime in March, but
> like so many of these things I wouldn't hold my breath. When I made
my
> order I asked about this and they only committed to the first half
of
> 2005 which is suspicious considering what was being said at CES.
>
> Picture quality is excellent on the HD channels, but SD channels are
> extremely soft. I tried an SVideo cable, and things didn't improve.
> I'm not sure why this is the case but it's made watching SD
> unpleasant. I'm starting to think perhaps they are over-compressing
> these channels.
> Conclusion
> Pros
>
> * HD is here, and Voom is delivering.
> * The system works, and although the local channels require a
> separate terrestrial antenna the guide seamlessly marries the two
> feeds. See AntennaWeb.org to check your home.
>
> Cons
>
> * No PVR/DVR device is out yet. I think odds are not good and
> especially considering they are giving mixed signals.
> * Menu Guide system is 1980's technology and forces you to think
> in channel numbers instead of programs... Very annoying
> * Installation is bollocks, be prepared for an unhappy
experience
> * Again, why only 5 channels per page in the guide??? What the
> hell are they going to do with the other 3/4's of the screen. And
> don't tell me advertising, I'm paying for this damn service.
> * No firewire output, which means you can't use an HD VCR unless
> it's WVHS with component inputs ($5K and they aren't made
anymore!!!).
> * Possibly SD channels are over-compressed making them very
soft,
> but that's only speculation.
>
> You be the judge, but if you are a snob, like me, you will probably
be
> disappointed. The current $1 offer is great and is worth trying out.
> It does commit you to a 6 month contract however. Not everyone will
be
> able to sign up for Voom because of satellite location. I'm pretty
> lucky, but the actual direction of the satellite requires you don't
> have any buildings or mountain ranges due east.
_____
Yahoo! Groups Links
* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VOOM/
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
VOOM-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:VOOM-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------
I couldn't agree more. SD on Directv, Dish and cable companies are so
compressed sometimes you think you're getting the feed from rabbit ears in
analog. While I'm loving my cable hd dvr, I really miss Voom and hope
they'll release their whole house dvr solution so I can join up again.
Missing Voom in Kemah, TX
Robert Heitner Jr.
Data Developers Plus, Corp.
<blocked::http://www.ddpcorp.com> http://www.ddpcorp.com
Home of the #1 Contact Management Solution!
<blocked::BLOCKED::http://www.riatacrm.com/> http://www.riatacrm.com
_____
From: berockin1 [mailto:berockin1@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, January 19, 2005 1:12 PM
To: VOOM@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [VOOM] Re: Voom experience
Hmmmm, most think the SD on VOOM is the best they've seen whether it
be on DBS or Cable. Voom compresses less that anyone on the SD.
I guess it all in what everyone sees, to my eye the SD is great
looking. Lets hope we're seeing it for a while to come. : \
--- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "slriv" <samr@s...> wrote:
>
> Hi, Newbie Voom person here. I threw together some notes so far in
a
> review context last night, but here's the gist of it all. I realize
> not everyone thinks like I do, so this is just my opinion.
Enjoy.
>
> Voom
>
> I recently signed up for Voom on their $1 promotional offer. The
> installation cost made it a no-brainer to try, and if it didn't work
> or reception was unacceptable, I could easily drop it within a short
> period. The installation does bind you to a 6 month contract,
however.
>
> Installation
>
> My installation was a mess. The installer was completely unprepared.
> He didn't have the right equipment and refused to make a cable run
> through my apartment without trying to get another $79. He was a
nice
> guy, but he was a typical sub-contractor trying to get out of doing
as
> much work as possible. My cable run is long, but it is within the
125
> ft limit that is offered in the Voom installation, so technically
Voom
> owes me another install.
>
> Since I'm an apartment dweller, I'm forced to use a tripod for dish
> installation. I already have a tripod and a dish setup for DirecTV.
> The Voom installer didn't bring one and acted like it would be weeks
> before he could come back, so I let him go ahead and commandeer the
> DirecTV gear to get it working which effectively disabled my
existing
> service. I had planned on dumping DirecTV anyway, but it is sad the
> installer was not prepared especially when it is clear where I live
> from the work order. The other nit about this and why I didn't
bother
> to wait is the installer was going to try charging another $100 to
get
> the tripod installed. Add that to the cable run and you see my
> dilemma.
>
> OTA Antenna Installation
>
> I'm a lucky guy, there is no doubt. Since I live on the top floor in
> my complex, I can receive virtually every digital channel broadcast
in
> the region even with the cheap antenna that came with the Voom gear.
> Frankly, I'm so impressed with this, I'm considering dumping all the
> sat gear and getting an HD tuner card for my HTPC and be done with
it.
> Sadly I would lose SciFi and Starz Westerns channel.
>
> Experience
>
> Well, it's HD. the 30 some odd channels are primarily composed of a
> bunch of Voom content with the standard movie channels and a few
> extras broadcast in HD. Most cable channels are still in SD and have
> years before they have to bother with upgrading (2010).
>
> As far as content, Voom has fewer channels (dramatically so), but
> almost all the ones I care about are there. Besides, who needs 10
> shopping channels, 5 or 10 relgious brainwashing channels or 100
> sports channels? This however does beg the question of why Voom is
the
> same price as the competition.
>
> Menus and guides on the receiver are atrocious. I'm a bit of a snob
> here having lived with TiVo for the past 5 years and DirecTV for 10
> years straight, but I just don't get why the guide only shows 5
> channels a page, and then if you move forward in time you run into
> this weird bug where shows that wrap across pages (horizontally)
> sometimes move back to the right even though they should be moving
to
> the left. It's very disconcerting and basically a bug. There are NO
> advanced features in the guide. There is no easy way to search for
> content and basically you are stuck paging through broken menus to
> find when stuff is broadcast. Again, I am spoiled here, I'm used to
> typing in a name and a list of matches showing up. I actually found
> myself logging into tvguide.com to find out what was coming on.
>
> You never know just how much you rely on a PVR until you don't have
> one. Voom is planning to release their HD DVR sometime in March, but
> like so many of these things I wouldn't hold my breath. When I made
my
> order I asked about this and they only committed to the first half
of
> 2005 which is suspicious considering what was being said at CES.
>
> Picture quality is excellent on the HD channels, but SD channels are
> extremely soft. I tried an SVideo cable, and things didn't improve.
> I'm not sure why this is the case but it's made watching SD
> unpleasant. I'm starting to think perhaps they are over-compressing
> these channels.
> Conclusion
> Pros
>
> * HD is here, and Voom is delivering.
> * The system works, and although the local channels require a
> separate terrestrial antenna the guide seamlessly marries the two
> feeds. See AntennaWeb.org to check your home.
>
> Cons
>
> * No PVR/DVR device is out yet. I think odds are not good and
> especially considering they are giving mixed signals.
> * Menu Guide system is 1980's technology and forces you to think
> in channel numbers instead of programs... Very annoying
> * Installation is bollocks, be prepared for an unhappy
experience
> * Again, why only 5 channels per page in the guide??? What the
> hell are they going to do with the other 3/4's of the screen. And
> don't tell me advertising, I'm paying for this damn service.
> * No firewire output, which means you can't use an HD VCR unless
> it's WVHS with component inputs ($5K and they aren't made
anymore!!!).
> * Possibly SD channels are over-compressed making them very
soft,
> but that's only speculation.
>
> You be the judge, but if you are a snob, like me, you will probably
be
> disappointed. The current $1 offer is great and is worth trying out.
> It does commit you to a 6 month contract however. Not everyone will
be
> able to sign up for Voom because of satellite location. I'm pretty
> lucky, but the actual direction of the satellite requires you don't
> have any buildings or mountain ranges due east.
_____
Yahoo! Groups Links
* To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VOOM/
* To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
VOOM-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<mailto:VOOM-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com?subject=Unsubscribe>
* Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service
<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------
[VOOM] Re: Voom experience
Ultimately the lack of a DVR is the problem for me. Even the soft SD
channels are tolerable when you consider the HD content, but without a
DVR I find it very hard to make it through any program without losing
interest due to commercial breaks and other nonsense. The voom
channels are interesting, and some movies I've never even heard of.
I was curious though, are the movies on these channels and on HBO and
the other HD channels truly telecine'd (for lack of a better word)
into 1080i or are they just 480p being upconverted? I ask because
most of the film movies don't seem better than the corresponding DVD
through a progressive scan player?
Sam
--- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Heitner" <ddprobert@y...> wrote:
> I couldn't agree more. SD on Directv, Dish and cable companies are
so
> compressed sometimes you think you're getting the feed from rabbit
ears in
> analog. While I'm loving my cable hd dvr, I really miss Voom and
hope
> they'll release their whole house dvr solution so I can join up
again.
>
> Missing Voom in Kemah, TX
>
> Robert Heitner Jr.
> Data Developers Plus, Corp.
> <blocked::http://www.ddpcorp.com> http://www.ddpcorp.com
>
> Home of the #1 Contact Management Solution!
> <blocked::BLOCKED::http://www.riatacrm.com/> ht
tp://www.riatacrm.com
]
------------------------
Ultimately the lack of a DVR is the problem for me. Even the soft SD
channels are tolerable when you consider the HD content, but without a
DVR I find it very hard to make it through any program without losing
interest due to commercial breaks and other nonsense. The voom
channels are interesting, and some movies I've never even heard of.
I was curious though, are the movies on these channels and on HBO and
the other HD channels truly telecine'd (for lack of a better word)
into 1080i or are they just 480p being upconverted? I ask because
most of the film movies don't seem better than the corresponding DVD
through a progressive scan player?
Sam
--- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Heitner" <ddprobert@y...> wrote:
> I couldn't agree more. SD on Directv, Dish and cable companies are
so
> compressed sometimes you think you're getting the feed from rabbit
ears in
> analog. While I'm loving my cable hd dvr, I really miss Voom and
hope
> they'll release their whole house dvr solution so I can join up
again.
>
> Missing Voom in Kemah, TX
>
> Robert Heitner Jr.
> Data Developers Plus, Corp.
> <blocked::http://www.ddpcorp.com> http://www.ddpcorp.com
>
> Home of the #1 Contact Management Solution!
> <blocked::BLOCKED::http://www.riatacrm.com/> ht
tp://www.riatacrm.com
]
------------------------
[VOOM] Re: Voom experience
Hi Sam,
It has been reported by those in the know that the movies are not
upconverted but transferred from the original 35mm film directly to
1080i. Yes, we've noticed the variation in quality as well. I
suspect this is due to the age of the film stock in many cases and to
poor transfers in others but am no expert in this area.
Still watching HDTV under rainy and warm Seattle skies, Gill
--- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "slriv" <samr@s...> wrote:
>
> Ultimately the lack of a DVR is the problem for me. Even the soft SD
> channels are tolerable when you consider the HD content, but without a
> DVR I find it very hard to make it through any program without losing
> interest due to commercial breaks and other nonsense. The voom
> channels are interesting, and some movies I've never even heard of.
>
> I was curious though, are the movies on these channels and on HBO and
> the other HD channels truly telecine'd (for lack of a better word)
> into 1080i or are they just 480p being upconverted? I ask because
> most of the film movies don't seem better than the corresponding DVD
> through a progressive scan player?
>
> Sam
>
> --- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Heitner" <ddprobert@y...> wrote:
> > I couldn't agree more. SD on Directv, Dish and cable companies are
> so
> > compressed sometimes you think you're getting the feed from rabbit
> ears in
> > analog. While I'm loving my cable hd dvr, I really miss Voom and
> hope
> > they'll release their whole house dvr solution so I can join up
> again.
> >
> > Missing Voom in Kemah, TX
> >
> > Robert Heitner Jr.
> > Data Developers Plus, Corp.
> > <blocked::http://www.ddpcorp.com> http://www.ddpcorp.com
> >
> > Home of the #1 Contact Management Solution!
> > <blocked::BLOCKED::http://www.riatacrm.com/> ht
> tp://www.riatacrm.com
> ]
------------------------
Hi Sam,
It has been reported by those in the know that the movies are not
upconverted but transferred from the original 35mm film directly to
1080i. Yes, we've noticed the variation in quality as well. I
suspect this is due to the age of the film stock in many cases and to
poor transfers in others but am no expert in this area.
Still watching HDTV under rainy and warm Seattle skies, Gill
--- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "slriv" <samr@s...> wrote:
>
> Ultimately the lack of a DVR is the problem for me. Even the soft SD
> channels are tolerable when you consider the HD content, but without a
> DVR I find it very hard to make it through any program without losing
> interest due to commercial breaks and other nonsense. The voom
> channels are interesting, and some movies I've never even heard of.
>
> I was curious though, are the movies on these channels and on HBO and
> the other HD channels truly telecine'd (for lack of a better word)
> into 1080i or are they just 480p being upconverted? I ask because
> most of the film movies don't seem better than the corresponding DVD
> through a progressive scan player?
>
> Sam
>
> --- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Heitner" <ddprobert@y...> wrote:
> > I couldn't agree more. SD on Directv, Dish and cable companies are
> so
> > compressed sometimes you think you're getting the feed from rabbit
> ears in
> > analog. While I'm loving my cable hd dvr, I really miss Voom and
> hope
> > they'll release their whole house dvr solution so I can join up
> again.
> >
> > Missing Voom in Kemah, TX
> >
> > Robert Heitner Jr.
> > Data Developers Plus, Corp.
> > <blocked::http://www.ddpcorp.com> http://www.ddpcorp.com
> >
> > Home of the #1 Contact Management Solution!
> > <blocked::BLOCKED::http://www.riatacrm.com/> ht
> tp://www.riatacrm.com
> ]
------------------------
[VOOM] Re: Voom experience
Exactly, HD transfers and upconversion are two different things.
It's all based on the source, if VOOM decides to show a 40 year old
doc. sot on 8mm film obviously that would look not so good even after
an HD transfer. Good stock 35mm film has great resolution for transfer
--- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "seattlesatelliter"
<seattlesatelliter@y...> wrote:
>
> Hi Sam,
>
> It has been reported by those in the know that the movies are not
> upconverted but transferred from the original 35mm film directly to
> 1080i. Yes, we've noticed the variation in quality as well. I
> suspect this is due to the age of the film stock in many cases and
to
> poor transfers in others but am no expert in this area.
>
> Still watching HDTV under rainy and warm Seattle skies, Gill
>
>
> --- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "slriv" <samr@s...> wrote:
> >
> > Ultimately the lack of a DVR is the problem for me. Even the
soft SD
> > channels are tolerable when you consider the HD content, but
without a
> > DVR I find it very hard to make it through any program without
losing
> > interest due to commercial breaks and other nonsense. The voom
> > channels are interesting, and some movies I've never even heard
of.
> >
> > I was curious though, are the movies on these channels and on HBO
and
> > the other HD channels truly telecine'd (for lack of a better word)
> > into 1080i or are they just 480p being upconverted? I ask because
> > most of the film movies don't seem better than the corresponding
DVD
> > through a progressive scan player?
> >
> > Sam
> >
> > --- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Heitner" <ddprobert@y...>
wrote:
> > > I couldn't agree more. SD on Directv, Dish and cable companies
are
> > so
> > > compressed sometimes you think you're getting the feed from
rabbit
> > ears in
> > > analog. While I'm loving my cable hd dvr, I really miss Voom and
> > hope
> > > they'll release their whole house dvr solution so I can join up
> > again.
> > >
> > > Missing Voom in Kemah, TX
> > >
> > > Robert Heitner Jr.
> > > Data Developers Plus, Corp.
> > > <blocked::http://www.ddpcorp.com> http://www.ddpcorp.com
> > >
> > > Home of the #1 Contact Management Solution!
> > > <blocked::BLOCKED::http://www.riatacrm.com/> ht
> > tp://www.riatacrm.com
> > ]
------------------------
Exactly, HD transfers and upconversion are two different things.
It's all based on the source, if VOOM decides to show a 40 year old
doc. sot on 8mm film obviously that would look not so good even after
an HD transfer. Good stock 35mm film has great resolution for transfer
--- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "seattlesatelliter"
<seattlesatelliter@y...> wrote:
>
> Hi Sam,
>
> It has been reported by those in the know that the movies are not
> upconverted but transferred from the original 35mm film directly to
> 1080i. Yes, we've noticed the variation in quality as well. I
> suspect this is due to the age of the film stock in many cases and
to
> poor transfers in others but am no expert in this area.
>
> Still watching HDTV under rainy and warm Seattle skies, Gill
>
>
> --- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "slriv" <samr@s...> wrote:
> >
> > Ultimately the lack of a DVR is the problem for me. Even the
soft SD
> > channels are tolerable when you consider the HD content, but
without a
> > DVR I find it very hard to make it through any program without
losing
> > interest due to commercial breaks and other nonsense. The voom
> > channels are interesting, and some movies I've never even heard
of.
> >
> > I was curious though, are the movies on these channels and on HBO
and
> > the other HD channels truly telecine'd (for lack of a better word)
> > into 1080i or are they just 480p being upconverted? I ask because
> > most of the film movies don't seem better than the corresponding
DVD
> > through a progressive scan player?
> >
> > Sam
> >
> > --- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Heitner" <ddprobert@y...>
wrote:
> > > I couldn't agree more. SD on Directv, Dish and cable companies
are
> > so
> > > compressed sometimes you think you're getting the feed from
rabbit
> > ears in
> > > analog. While I'm loving my cable hd dvr, I really miss Voom and
> > hope
> > > they'll release their whole house dvr solution so I can join up
> > again.
> > >
> > > Missing Voom in Kemah, TX
> > >
> > > Robert Heitner Jr.
> > > Data Developers Plus, Corp.
> > > <blocked::http://www.ddpcorp.com> http://www.ddpcorp.com
> > >
> > > Home of the #1 Contact Management Solution!
> > > <blocked::BLOCKED::http://www.riatacrm.com/> ht
> > tp://www.riatacrm.com
> > ]
------------------------
TFLEV
Time for another AWESOME video from TFL Electric Vehicles!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QFYAiuKOuM
Direct YouTube Link - Used EV Cars and Trucks Are Getting More Expensive & Sell Fast!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QFYAiuKOuM
Direct YouTube Link - Used EV Cars and Trucks Are Getting More Expensive & Sell Fast!
0 Replies
·
0 views
Staff member
HERE TO HELP YOU!
Cutting Edge
Sometimes a thread gets so many posts in it that is can cause issues for the server so that why today we introduce The Song Name Game Part 3!
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
So let the game continue!
The last song was added by Bobby who posted...
One Meat Ball - Andrews Sisters
CONTINUE ON AND HAVE FUN! WELCOME HOME TO SATELLITEGUYS.US!
Here are the original rules for the game as posted by WebbyDude back in 2006. http://www.satelliteguys.us/threads/68645-Song-Name-Game
Just name a song title and the band who performed it. The next person does the same thing, but needs to list a song title or band name which includes a word from the previous entry. Pick songs from any genre.
Example:
Long Live Rock and Roll -- Rainbow
Rainbow in the Dark -- Dio
Another example:
Ride the Lightning -- Metallica
Lightning Strikes -- Ozzy Osbourne
Get it?
An additional note: we all know that song titles, sometimes, use profane words. Because this is a family friendly website it is advised that you clean up that title up a bit. This is accomplished by using something like sh!t instead of the real word. Thanks....
68747 Replies
·
2684646 views
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Over the past year I have been tracking the changes on Western Arc. The past 3 months have had a lot of changes that I posted in the other MPEG2 Western Arc shutdown thread. Now that 129 is (basically) out of commission, here is where Western Arc stands. This is just a national channel list, (no local channels) based off what I can see and what others have contributed. Thanks to everyone who has helped me come up with the locations of some of the channels – I would try and list all of you out, but I know I would forget someone! As has been suggested in other parts of the forum, it would be great to collect the spotbeam data for those who could contribute!
A couple of pieces of info:
When I talk about number of channels on a transponder, all my numbers are unique channels – for example, channel 101 and 199 are the same channel mapped to two different numbers, but in terms of space, only takes up 1 channel worth of bandwidth on the transponder.
Finally, I have to give Dish a ton of credit. When it was 110/119/129, Dish had 82 transponders they were using – it took a lot to get it down to 50 transponders and figure out where all the pieces were going to go. What are the things they did to get there? Here are the things I saw:
A couple of pieces of info:
- Out of the 64 transponders between 110/119, there are currently 50 transponders that Dish is licensed to use. 22 are Spotbeams, 28 are ConUS transponders (14 transponders are licensed to DirecTV and Dish doesn't have access to them)
- Those 28 ConUS transponders are divided as follows:
- 10 are dedicated to National HD channels (ESPN, CNN, Disney Channel, etc). Dish is maxing out at 16 HD channels per transponder (note – in an earlier post I said there was one transponder with 17 HD channels, that was an error on my part. When I double checked my listings, one channel changed transponders). Before the transition, there was a maximum of 14 HD channels per transponder.
- 1 transponder is dedicated to adult content
- 2 are a mixture HD PPV Movies/4k channels
- 3 are set aside for HD Sports channels that are only on for live games (NBA League Pass, the PAC 12 alternate channels, some PPV events, etc); 3 SD PPV Sports Channels are there as well.
- 7 are for SD and/or music channels. Dish is maxing out at 26 SD channels per transponder thus far on the SD transponders.
- 5 transponders on 110 I have no channels listed but Dish operates. (they are labeled as ConUS on my chart below) There are other things that could be on those transponders, like RV Distant Networks, internal testing channels, etc, that I can't see. They might be able to be used for additional content, but I am not sure exactly what is on those transponders.
When I talk about number of channels on a transponder, all my numbers are unique channels – for example, channel 101 and 199 are the same channel mapped to two different numbers, but in terms of space, only takes up 1 channel worth of bandwidth on the transponder.
Finally, I have to give Dish a ton of credit. When it was 110/119/129, Dish had 82 transponders they were using – it took a lot to get it down to 50 transponders and figure out where all the pieces were going to go. What are the things they did to get there? Here are the things I saw:
- During this migration from 129, Dish converted 7 ConUS transponders on 119 into Spotbeams – that is how they ended up fitting on all the HD locals that used to be on 129. (for those interested, TP 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13 are the ones that used to be ConUS on 119 that are now Spotbeam)
- Removed almost all SD duplicate channels that are offered in HD
- Converted remaining SD channels from MPEG2 to MPEG4
- There are also 2 subtle things that changed from the HD channel perspective
- At the beginning of the transition, Dish decreased the number of PPV Movie channels – prior to this transition the PPV channels HD PPV movies were 502-522; now they are 502-517.
- At the beginning of April when MLB, NBA, and NHL regular seasons were all going on at the same time and this transition began, there were a ton of games "joined in progress" for the HD feeds. That wasn't common since the days before the full time HD RSN's. The reason for that was prior to the transition, Dish had 4 transponders set aside for HD Sports – 2 transponders was the bandwidth set aside from the HD RSN's before Dish dropped the RSN's, then 2 transponders were for alternate channels. Now we are down to 3 transponders for HD sports.
254 Replies
·
66373 views
I ran the Schedule S through ChatGPT to analyze the data quickly, and according to ChatGPT, the 16 transponders currently being used for SpotBeams on 110 is all that has been authorized by the FCC. So Dish might be using TP 01-13 for ConUS on 110 for the foreseeable future. If that is the case, Dish has a ton of space to bring in more HD channels nationally or use that bandwidth for something else.
I know my lists aren't perfect as I can't see all the test channels and behind the scenes channels, but for channels available to subscribers - there are no channels on 119 TP 01-08 and 10; and on 110, TP14 has only 4 channels. With Dish putting 16 HD channels per transponder right now, that is about 145+ slots for HD channels that are available if Dish does keep 110 as ConUS for TP 01-13.
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IbSB57EKNEw
Direct YouTube Link - No AI? No Search! Google's Education Controversy #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/IbSB57EKNEw
Direct YouTube Link - No AI? No Search! Google's Education Controversy #shorts
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
·
5 views
TWiT Tech Podcast Network
Time for another AWESOME video from the TWIT Network!
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygHBRh6gE3o
Direct YouTube Link - RTX Spark Laptops: $7,000 Disappointment?
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygHBRh6gE3o
Direct YouTube Link - RTX Spark Laptops: $7,000 Disappointment?
TWIT's Website
TWIT Live Feed
0 Replies
·
14 views
Lifetime Supporter
Looks like dish is Bankrupt. Filling tomorrow Tuesday June 30th
446 Replies
·
15316 views
S
shattered.io
Starlink Mobile: 14 MHz Deal, No Phone Plan Yet [2026]
SpaceX agreed to buy up to 14 MHz of 800 MHz spectrum for Starlink Mobile. No Musk phone plan, price or coverage map exists yet.
shattered.io
S
AT&T, Rakuten tout integration with AST SpaceMobile for D2D
AT&T makes first call handoff to satellite with AST SpaceMobile and prepares for beta service, while Rakuten targets commercial launch in 'near future.'
www.lightreading.com
S
Why Boost Mobile isn't SpaceX's shortcut to an MVNO
Analysts say SpaceX can't simply inherit EchoStar's MVNO deals by acquiring Boost Mobile due to stringent change of control clauses.
www.lightreading.com
Pub Member / Supporter
Lifetime Supporter
Videos like this can make you appreciate the things we take for granted.
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/a2cgQidHQJI
View: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/a2cgQidHQJI
3 Replies
·
53 views
Does someone still have the diagram showing how to connect two Hopper 3s again?
I currently have one H3 and one 4K Joey, set up through a 1000.2 eastern arc hybrid lnb and solo hub.
The plan is to replace the Joey with the second H3. Already purchased a duo hub and I have three coax cables coming in from outside, from back when I used to have the older 1000.4 dish and the hopper 2. I don't fully remember, but I think the other two coax cables are just tied up next to the dish outside; will have to check again.
I currently have one H3 and one 4K Joey, set up through a 1000.2 eastern arc hybrid lnb and solo hub.
The plan is to replace the Joey with the second H3. Already purchased a duo hub and I have three coax cables coming in from outside, from back when I used to have the older 1000.4 dish and the hopper 2. I don't fully remember, but I think the other two coax cables are just tied up next to the dish outside; will have to check again.
27 Replies
·
5970 views
Lifetime Supporter
Schedule drops tomorrow. Mandatory mini camps in June. Hall of Fame game August 6th.
137 Replies
·
2826 views
Mahomes is the biggest cry baby I have ever seen. He thinks he's privileged or something.
R
So is Kelce.Mahomes is the biggest cry baby I have ever seen. He thinks he's privileged or something.
Y
Well you see him more because he is incredibly talented. And yes, typically players try to spin things being in their favor. This isn't cricket where sportsmanship (except in Australia) is expected.Mahomes is the biggest cry baby I have ever seen. He thinks he's privileged or something.
He wants to be BradyMahomes is the biggest cry baby I have ever seen. He thinks he's privileged or something.
I was bewildered with all the new DISH TV "Bonus View" channels, so I put together a web page table with all the info I could find. It's at:
https://anythingpeaceful.org/dishtv/DISH_TV_Bonus_View_Channels.html
Here's a partial screenshot of the table, as sorted by Channel Name. (You can click on a column header to sort.)
If you have any corrections or suggestions, please post here.
https://anythingpeaceful.org/dishtv/DISH_TV_Bonus_View_Channels.html
Here's a partial screenshot of the table, as sorted by Channel Name. (You can click on a column header to sort.)
If you have any corrections or suggestions, please post here.
46 Replies
·
6308 views
T
One Bonus View channel added today. And one correction (on my part):
One Removed:
My full list is at: DISH TV "Bonus View" Channels
BTW, not a Bonus View item, but there was a temporary channel 304 Spooktacular added, I imagine just for the Halloween season.
Thanks again to Pat for the many tips.
One Removed:
My full list is at: DISH TV "Bonus View" Channels
BTW, not a Bonus View item, but there was a temporary channel 304 Spooktacular added, I imagine just for the Halloween season.
Thanks again to Pat for the many tips.
T
Three new Bonus View channels today:
My full list is at: DISH TV "Bonus View" Channels
As always, thanks to Pat for the tips.
My full list is at: DISH TV "Bonus View" Channels
As always, thanks to Pat for the tips.