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Kaysadeya

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Apr 18, 2004
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I'm scheduled to have my VOOM installation done by Crave Electronics. I live on the Bay Area peninsula. After searching this forum and other forums for information on Crave, I couldn't find a single complementary post. In fact, the word "incompetent" came up more than once. Now I'm worried. :shocked

I know that bad news is often broadcast much more frequently than good news, so I'd like to hear if anyone has had a *good* experience with their installation by Crave Electronics?

I will update this thread with a summary of my experience after the installation.
 
Kaysadeya said:
I'm scheduled to have my VOOM installation done by Crave Electronics. I live on the Bay Area peninsula. After searching this forum and other forums for information on Crave, I couldn't find a single complementary post. In fact, the word "incompetent" came up more than once. Now I'm worried. :shocked

I know that bad news is often broadcast much more frequently than good news, so I'd like to hear if anyone has had a *good* experience with their installation by Crave Electronics?

I will update this thread with a summary of my experience after the installation.
Click to expand...


I am out in the Central Valley (Manteca to be exact) and Crave did mine using a contractor from Sacramento. He was fantastic, ran extra coax for me and really worked hard and fast to get my system up.
 
Didn't have mine done by Crave, but I bet no matter what company is doing the installation, it's still hit-and-miss based on the actual person/installer that shows up. Don't sweat too much, if the guy that shows up isn't good, VOOM will get someone else to make it right. I happen to have two VOOM systems in different states, CA and CO. Both installs were done by a company called DishConnect, who happens to have installers in both states. Both installers in both states were great, so I lucked out I guess. The point is it's not always the actual company, its the actual guy they send out.
 
I contacted Crave this morning and notified them that I'd like to run an extra coax cable for the OTA signal, per the advice in this forum. Contrary to what I'm hearing here, the rep said that this was not part of their standard installation and that I'd be charged extra.

How should I handle this? Argue with Crave or accept the extra charge and hope to get reimbursed by VOOM?
 
They told me the same thing, but the installer ran the OTA line no charge. Call Installs Inc and let them know, they should contact Crave and get it straightened out.
 
I contacted Installs and the first guy I spoke to was clueless -- he just read off the "official" terms and, after I pressed a bit, talked to his supervisor. He then said he would connect me with an installation specialist and, in case I got disconnected, to call them directly at 1 800 443-2306. Of course, I got disconnected and called the number, which turned out to be bogus. I then called Installs back and got a different rep who sounded much sharper. I told her what happened and she explained that the number was an 888 number, not 800. She also stated that VOOM would reimburse the extra charge from Crave for the coax cable.

When it comes to VOOM reps, I guess it's the luck of the draw.
 
Kaysadeya said:
I contacted Crave this morning and notified them that I'd like to run an extra coax cable for the OTA signal, per the advice in this forum. Contrary to what I'm hearing here, the rep said that this was not part of their standard installation and that I'd be charged extra.

How should I handle this? Argue with Crave or accept the extra charge and hope to get reimbursed by VOOM?
Click to expand...
IMO>> Ignore the "chat" concerning the diplexer and the "must-have" separate cable run.
The installers have to use the diplexer/combiner to power the new OTA VOOM uses. VOOM has switched from the Stealth with a separate power-inserter that was included, to providing a new OTA called a Sensar that has a built-in amp and does not come with any power-inserter. Separate coax lines will not power the antenna and you may have to sacrifice the quality of your OTA signal.

All the "chat" about "making the installer run separate lines" is bogus and I'll argue till I'm blue in the face diplexer/combiners work fine in MOST all installations. There is absolutely NO REAL FACT WHITE PAPER that can back-up the "chat" on these threads.
Let the installer do what he's suppose to do. Arguing will not make your installation experience any better.
 
sat,

Can you point me to details on the difference between the old and new power-inserters? I'm curious how you can run power along with OTA and SAT signals over a single coax cable. This is getting confusing... :confused:
 
Kaysadeya said:
sat,

Can you point me to details on the difference between the old and new power-inserters? I'm curious how you can run power along with OTA and SAT signals over a single coax cable. This is getting confusing... :confused:
Click to expand...
My friend, you not need be confused...
The STB sends 13 & 17 volts DC through the coax to the LNB.
The new Sensar OTA has a built-in antenna amplifier. It does not come with any external power inserter. So, the system/installation design is to use a dual-port power passive diplexer/combiner to allow DC voltage to pass to the OTA to power the amplifier, from the single cable from the STB.

Since the OTA signal is all low freq. and the satellite is all high freq. they don't interfere with each other and can share the same coax.
Diplexer/combiners have been used for decades and work perfectly well in MOST all cases.
If you "force" the VOOM installer to run dual cable, and he might, there will be a problem in that the Sensar OTA will not have any power sent to it to power the amplifier; so my advise is to let the installers do what they are trained to do and that is cable and install as the system designers made it work.

FYI, Wilt is one of the main VOOM engineers/system designers that also backs this installation procedure... Ask him... ;)
 
You could simply ask them to provide the separate power supply.

And yes, there is factual data concerning signal attenuation due to the diplexer. If you look at the manufacturer's specs you will see a 1 to 2 dB insertion loss on both ends. This may not be a problem for some installations, but may matter for others. If given the choice I would definitely run them separately.

Is VOOM providing a GS1000 or 2000?
 
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