[VOOM] My HDTV situation....

A

afriedkin

Guest
Original poster
This is my first post on this forum, and I figure I'll just "lay it all out there" and see if I get
any replies...

Since I first saw HD at Good Guys back in 1998 (NFL game), I've been dreaming of the day
I'd actually have it in my home. Well, the day has come...but I'm officially frustrated, and
would like to hear people's take on what I should or shouldn't do. Two weeks ago, I
purchased a Sony 51 inch rear projection TV. It's the KP-51WS520. It's a great set,
gorgeous picture, with an HDMI port in the back. I have Comcast install their HDTV
receiver, and I'm all set. The first thing I do is go plunk down $125 on a DVI to HDMI cord.
I've heard the picture is outstanding using this connector, and I can't wait to take
advantage. I get home, plug it in, and see three distorted pictures on my tube. I call
Comcast and they tell me that the DVI port is not functional at this time and they have no
idea when it might be. So I consider returning the cable to Good Guys, but I've thrown
away they box and am stuck with it.
Fine, no biggie. I suppose I'll wait until it's "enabled" and use it then. Now, let me explain
how I've set my TV up. I've kept my Comcast digital cable non-HD box. I've got that
attached to my TIVO. This enables me to watch an HD show, or standard show on my HD
box, while recording another show to my TIVO. Also enables me to split screen PIP two
football games at once, or whatever else I want to see. What I don't like is watching an HD
channel like NBC, CBS, or ABC that's not in HD because if I watch it with the bars, I've been
told I'm risking "burn-in" and if i stretch it, I have to use "wide zoom" and I lose some
picture. Watching those channels on a standard channel with my non-HD box alleviates
that problem, but the quality is not as good.

Anyhow, so all is well, I'm watching my ESPN HD and LOVING IT. Discovery HD is amazing,
and I can't get enough of HD Net's show on baseball stadiums. College football Saturday
rolls around, and watching the Georgia - Tennessee game is mind boggling. I've never
seen colors that sharp, a picture so vivid. It's really like being there...no, it's BETTER than
being there. Then Sunday rolls around. I'm a huge NFL fan, but can't get Direct TV
because I live in a 24 story building and our condo's balcony faces east. So I'm stuck with
NFL programming on local channels. So I get the CBS game in HD, which is wonderful.
BUT, here is the big problem...NO FOX!! I'm in Oakland, CA and Comcast here has not
been able to strike a deal with the local Fox affiliate KTVU. I've spoken to both sides
regarding the problem and there's no solution in sight (makes the NHL lockout look
promising!!) So no NFL, no MLB playoffs....NO SUPERBOWL!!! Fine, very few things in life
are perfect, so I know what I have to do. I've got to get one of those Radio Shack antennas
and I'll be able to get KTVU over the air. I'm right in the heart of downtown Oakland, and
so reception shouldn't be a problem. I call Comcast just to verify I can do this, and my
nightmare continues, and they tell me that plugging the antenna into their cable box won't
work. I'd have to have an HDTV with a built in tuner to see KTVU in HD over the air.

Now what?

Will I just accept this? Yankees-Red Sox, in standard def? NO. So I start researching. I
knew about Voom but figured since I can't get Direct TV or Dish reception from my
balcony, that Voom won't work. But I decided to call and check, and to my delight, they
need a south east view, as opposed to south west. Excellent, problem solved. Get Voom,
ditch Comcast. Life is good...right?...wrong.

I speak to a Voom rep to set up installation. After talking to this guy for 30 seconds, I
knew he had no clue what he was talking about. I was scrolling down the channel lineup
while talking to him and I saw a Fox Sports Florida channel. I asked him if I would be
receiving my RSN, which is Fox Sports Net Bay Area, and he told me...quote..."uh, well, I
live in Texas, and I get Fox Sports South West, so you should be receiving your local
channel too!". I asked him if he was sure, he said he was. So I proceeded with my order
and am scheduled for install this Monday 10/18. Yesterday I was reading up on Voom and
I saw that there actually was NOT any Fox Sports regional networks available except for
Florida right now. I called Voom to confirm, and that appears to me to be the case. This
is a very big deal as I'm a big Warriors (NBA), Giants, A's..etc..fan. Plus, Comcast has just
started broadcasting our local teams in HD.

So to sum up this rambling post....

#1. Should I be upset that Comcast does not have their DVI port functional? Does Voom
have one? If so, will there be a big difference?

#2. "Burn-In". Is that a real possibility? Is watching channels with gray bars bad? How
about Black bars? Is there a way to watch an HD channel, that is not broadcast in HD, fill
the screen without going to "wide-zoom?" Like a setting I can tweak on my cable box, or
TV? Also, I've heard I should keep the brightness and picture levels below 50% all the
time. Is this true? I like those levels higher than 50%. That's too bad if that's the case.

#3. I'm switching to Voom for the local Fox channel. Well, all the other channels too, but
if Comcast had our Fox affiliate, I wouldn't be doing this. Is that a good move? Will I be
happy with over-the-air reception?

#4. I'm going to have to keep my Comcast HD Box because apparently Voom does not
have the Fox regional sports networks. So, the basic Voom package at $49.99 per month,
plus HBO at $19.99 per month, plus two Voom receivers at $19.99 per month, plus the
Comcast sports pack at $40.00 per month, plus one Comcast HD receiver at $5.00 per
month....equals an INSANE $135 per month for TV!!! and I'm not even getting all the
premium movie channels....or playboy!!! Is there any way around this? Do I have any
cheaper options?

#5. Does anyone have any idea if or when Voom will get all the local Fox Sports regional
channels? And if so, will it be HD? I'm worried that since the local HD Fox Sports
broadcasts are affiliated with Comcast, the broadcast may just be exclusive to Comcast
cable, and not be available to Voom.

(some other random questions...)

#6. 1080i or 720p? I've heard 720p is better. But the football game I saw on CBS looked
amazing, so I can't see how 720p can be better. A matter of personal preference?

#7. Video games bad for my TV? I have an Xbox and PS2. Can anyone recommend any
games that will look great on my TV? I've purchased the component cables for both
systems, now I just need some good HD games.

#8. DVD's. I've got an older Toshiba DVD player. It has the component blue and green
outputs on the back. Does that mean I'm getting the best quality for DVD playback? I've
heard that the best is 480i progressive scan. Is that true? Or, do I need to buy a newer
progressive scan DVD player? My current DVD player has a 16X9 option that fills the
entire screen (amazing!) but it doesn't say anything about prog scan. How about the
Xbox? Does that support prog scan playback?

#9. If you're still with me here, thanks! I appreciate it :) NFL network. Does voom have
it? If so, will the Game of the Week be available in HD?

#10. NBA sports package? MLB sports package? Any news on these coming to Voom? I
know DirectTV has exclusive rights to NFL Ticket, but the others would be welcome.

#11. And this is a big one. I may, and I emphasize, may....need to have the Voom dish set
up on a tri pod. I'm waiting to hear back from condo association, but that's a possibility.
If so, I'll have to call Voom and hope that the installers can do that. Has anyone else gone
this route? Does it take up a lot of space? Any specific instructions I should give to the
installers. Actually, in general, is there anything I should check before the installers leave?

#12. Voom reception. I explained to the Voom rep that I don't think I've got a great
south-eastern view from my balcony. It's more east and actually north-east. He told me
not to worry, but I can't help it. Putting the equipment on the roof here is not an option,
only the balcony. For those of you that have a good sense of where the dish can and can't
get reception, here's a link to a map of where the dish will be. I'm on the 4th floor of a big
20 plus story building. If you look at the map, my balcony faces straight up Lakeside
Drive...and the farthest south I go, to the right, is straight to the "lake merrit" typing in the
middle of the lake.

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?
zoomin=yes&name=&ed=wwr10Op_0Tqjh6UANhoJCB5FRZxyXCad0jufdkdrIhL5d2mah8ZP
hGjRgLjaPd7awCAdDK.9CaFGOR_eBuk0FLBQvXX.5kyKWdEblJS3vUeb6w--
&state=CA&csz=Oakland%2C+CA+94612
-4620&ds=n&uzip=94612&mag=10&desc=&country=US&dma=807&cat=&resize=s&rez
oom=0&.intl=us&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0


It looks like I face directly east, but not south. Is it still worth the installation attempt, or
is there no chance?

#13. Some of my symptoms are right upper quadrant pain, constipation, nausea....
oops! I got confused. I thought I was in the irritable bowl syndrome forum. Sorry!

Anyhow, that's about it. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any feedback is greatly
appreciated.

Ari







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This is my first post on this forum, and I figure I'll just "lay it all out
there" and see if I get any replies...

Since I first saw HD at Good Guys back in 1998 (NFL game), I've been dreaming of
the day I'd actually have it in my home. Well, the day has come...but I'm officially
frustrated, and would like to hear people's take on what I should or shouldn't do. Two
weeks ago, I purchased a Sony 51 inch rear projection TV. It's the KP-51WS520. It's a great
set, gorgeous picture, with an HDMI port in the back. I have Comcast install their
HDTV receiver, and I'm all set. The first thing I do is go plunk down $125 on a DVI
to HDMI cord. I've heard the picture is outstanding using this connector, and I can't wait
to take advantage. I get home, plug it in, and see three distorted pictures on my tube.
I call Comcast and they tell me that the DVI port is not functional at this time and
they have no idea when it might be. So I consider returning the cable to Good Guys, but
I've thrown away they box and am stuck with it.
Fine, no biggie. I suppose I'll wait until it's "enabled" and use it then.
Now, let me explain how I've set my TV up. I've kept my Comcast digital cable non-HD
box. I've got that attached to my TIVO. This enables me to watch an HD show, or standard
show on my HD box, while recording another show to my TIVO. Also enables me to split
screen PIP two football games at once, or whatever else I want to see. What I don't like is
watching an HDchannel like NBC, CBS, or ABC that's not in HD because if I watch it with
the bars, I've been told I'm risking "burn-in" and if i stretch it, I have to use "wide zoom"
and I lose some picture. Watching those channels on a standard channel with my non-HD
box alleviates that problem, but the quality is not as good.

Anyhow, so all is well, I'm watching my ESPN HD and LOVING IT. Discovery HD is amazing,
and I can't get enough of HD Net's show on baseball stadiums. College football Saturday
rolls around, and watching the Georgia - Tennessee game is mind boggling. I've never
seen colors that sharp, a picture so vivid. It's really like being there...no,
it's BETTER than being there. Then Sunday rolls around. I'm a huge NFL fan, but can't get
Direct TV because I live in a 24 story building and our condo's balcony faces east. So
I'm stuck with NFL programming on local channels. So I get the CBS game in HD, which is
wonderful. BUT, here is the big problem...NO FOX!! I'm in Oakland, CA and Comcast here
has not been able to strike a deal with the local Fox affiliate KTVU. I've spoken to
both sides regarding the problem and there's no solution in sight (makes the NHL lockout
look promising!!) So no NFL, no MLB playoffs....NO SUPERBOWL!!! Fine, very few
things in life are perfect, so I know what I have to do. I've got to get one of those Radio
Shack antennas and I'll be able to get KTVU over the air. I'm right in the heart of downtown
Oakland, and so reception shouldn't be a problem. I call Comcast just to verify I can do
this, and my nightmare continues, and they tell me that plugging the antenna into their
cable box won't work. I'd have to have an HDTV with a built in tuner to see KTVU in HD
over the air.

Now what?

Will I just accept this? Yankees-Red Sox, in standard def? NO. So I start researching. I knew
about Voom but figured since I can't get Direct TV or Dish reception from my balcony, that
Voom won't work. But I decided to call and check, and to my delight, they need a south
east view, as opposed to south west. Excellent, problem solved. Get Voom, ditch Comcast.

Life is good...right?...wrong.

I speak to a Voom rep to set up installation. After talking to this guy for 30 seconds, I
knew he had no clue what he was talking about. I was scrolling down the channel lineup
while talking to him and I saw a Fox Sports Florida channel. I asked him if I would be
receiving my RSN, which is Fox Sports Net Bay Area, and he told me...quote..."uh, well, I
live in Texas, and I get Fox Sports South West, so you should be receiving your local
channel too!". I asked him if he was sure, he said he was. So I proceeded with my order
and am scheduled for install this Monday 10/18. Yesterday I was reading up on
Voom and I saw that there actually was NOT any Fox Sports regional networks available
except for Florida right now. I called Voom to confirm, and that appears to me to be the
case. This is a very big deal as I'm a big Warriors (NBA), Giants, A's..etc..fan. Plus, Comcast
has just started broadcasting our local teams in HD.

So to sum up this rambling post....

#1. Should I be upset that Comcast does not have their DVI port functional?
Does Voom have one? If so, will there be a big difference?

#2. "Burn-In". Is that a real possibility? Is watching channels with gray
bars bad? How about Black bars? Is there a way to watch an HD channel, that is not
broadcast in HD, fill the screen without going to "wide-zoom?" Like a setting I can tweak
on my cable box, or TV? Also, I've heard I should keep the brightness and picture levels
below 50% all the time. Is this true? I like those levels higher than 50%. That's too bad if
that's the case.

#3. I'm switching to Voom for the local Fox channel. Well, all the other
channels too, but if Comcast had our Fox affiliate, I wouldn't be doing this. Is that a good
move? Will I be happy with over-the-air reception?

#4. I'm going to have to keep my Comcast HD Box because apparently Voom does
not have the Fox regional sports networks. So, the basic Voom package at $49.99 per
month, plus HBO at $19.99 per month, plus two Voom receivers at $19.99 per month,
plus the Comcast sports pack at $40.00 per month, plus one Comcast HD receiver at
$5.00 per month....equals an INSANE $135 per month for TV!!! and I'm not even getting all
the premium movie channels....or playboy!!! Is there any way around this? Do I have any
cheaper options?

#5. Does anyone have any idea if or when Voom will get all the local Fox Sports
regional channels? And if so, will it be HD? I'm worried that since the local HD Fox
Sports broadcasts are affiliated with Comcast, the broadcast may just be exclusive to
Comcast cable, and not be available to Voom.

(some other random questions...)

#6. 1080i or 720p? I've heard 720p is better. But the football game I saw on CBS looked
amazing, so I can't see how 720p can be better. A matter of personal preference?

#7. Video games bad for my TV? I have an Xbox and PS2. Can anyone recommend any
games that will look great on my TV? I've purchased the component cables for both
systems, now I just need some good HD games.

#8. DVD's. I've got an older Toshiba DVD player. It has the component blue and green
outputs on the back. Does that mean I'm getting the best quality for DVD playback? I've
heard that the best is 480i progressive scan. Is that true? Or, do I need to
buy a newer progressive scan DVD player? My current DVD player has a 16X9 option that
fills the entire screen (amazing!) but it doesn't say anything about prog scan. How about
the Xbox? Does that support prog scan playback?

#9. If you're still with me here, thanks! I appreciate it :) NFL network. Does voom have
it? If so, will the Game of the Week be available in HD?

#10. NBA sports package? MLB sports package? Any news on these coming to Voom?
I know DirectTV has exclusive rights to NFL Ticket, but the others would be
welcome.

#11. And this is a big one. I may, and I emphasize, may....need to have the
Voom dish set up on a tri pod. I'm waiting to hear back from condo association, but that's
a possibility. If so, I'll have to call Voom and hope that the installers can do that. Has
anyone else gone this route? Does it take up a lot of space? Any specific instructions I
should give to the installers. Actually, in general, is there anything I should check before
the installers leave?

#12. Voom reception. I explained to the Voom rep that I don't think I've got a
great south-eastern view from my balcony. It's more east and actually north-east. He
told me not to worry, but I can't help it. Putting the equipment on the roof here is
not an option, only the balcony. For those of you that have a good sense of where the dish
can and can't get reception, here's a link to a map of where the dish will be. I'm on the 4th
floor of a big 20 plus story building. If you look at the map, my balcony faces straight up
Lakeside Drive...and the farthest south I go, to the right, is straight to the "lake
merrit" typing in the middle of the lake.

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?
zoomin=yes&name=&ed=wwr10Op_0Tqjh6UANhoJCB5FRZxyXCad0jufdkdrIhL5d2mah8ZP
hGjRgLjaPd7awCAdDK.9CaFGOR_eBuk0FLBQvXX.5kyKWdEblJS3vUeb6w--
&state=CA&csz=Oakland%2C+CA+94612
-4620&ds=n&uzip=94612&mag=10&desc=&country=US&dma=807&cat=&resize=s&rez
oom=0&.intl=us&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0



It looks like I face directly east, but not south. Is it still worth the installation attempt, or is
there no chance?

#13. Some of my symptoms are right upper quadrant pain, constipation,
nausea....
oops! I got confused. I thought I was in the irritable bowl syndrome forum.
Sorry!

Anyhow, that's about it. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any feedback
is greatly appreciated.

Ari






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<*> 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

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 
This is my first post on this forum, and I figure I'll just "lay it all out
there" and see if I get any replies...

Since I first saw HD at Good Guys back in 1998 (NFL game), I've been dreaming of
the day I'd actually have it in my home. Well, the day has come...but I'm officially
frustrated, and would like to hear people's take on what I should or shouldn't do. Two
weeks ago, I purchased a Sony 51 inch rear projection TV. It's the KP-51WS520. It's a great
set, gorgeous picture, with an HDMI port in the back. I have Comcast install their
HDTV receiver, and I'm all set. The first thing I do is go plunk down $125 on a DVI
to HDMI cord. I've heard the picture is outstanding using this connector, and I can't wait
to take advantage. I get home, plug it in, and see three distorted pictures on my tube.
I call Comcast and they tell me that the DVI port is not functional at this time and
they have no idea when it might be. So I consider returning the cable to Good Guys, but
I've thrown away they box and am stuck with it.
Fine, no biggie. I suppose I'll wait until it's "enabled" and use it then.
Now, let me explain how I've set my TV up. I've kept my Comcast digital cable non-HD
box. I've got that attached to my TIVO. This enables me to watch an HD show, or standard
show on my HD box, while recording another show to my TIVO. Also enables me to split
screen PIP two football games at once, or whatever else I want to see. What I don't like is
watching an HDchannel like NBC, CBS, or ABC that's not in HD because if I watch it with
the bars, I've been told I'm risking "burn-in" and if i stretch it, I have to use "wide zoom"
and I lose some picture. Watching those channels on a standard channel with my non-HD
box alleviates that problem, but the quality is not as good.

Anyhow, so all is well, I'm watching my ESPN HD and LOVING IT. Discovery HD is amazing,
and I can't get enough of HD Net's show on baseball stadiums. College football Saturday
rolls around, and watching the Georgia - Tennessee game is mind boggling. I've never
seen colors that sharp, a picture so vivid. It's really like being there...no,
it's BETTER than being there. Then Sunday rolls around. I'm a huge NFL fan, but can't get
Direct TV because I live in a 24 story building and our condo's balcony faces east. So
I'm stuck with NFL programming on local channels. So I get the CBS game in HD, which is
wonderful. BUT, here is the big problem...NO FOX!! I'm in Oakland, CA and Comcast here
has not been able to strike a deal with the local Fox affiliate KTVU. I've spoken to
both sides regarding the problem and there's no solution in sight (makes the NHL lockout
look promising!!) So no NFL, no MLB playoffs....NO SUPERBOWL!!! Fine, very few
things in life are perfect, so I know what I have to do. I've got to get one of those Radio
Shack antennas and I'll be able to get KTVU over the air. I'm right in the heart of downtown
Oakland, and so reception shouldn't be a problem. I call Comcast just to verify I can do
this, and my nightmare continues, and they tell me that plugging the antenna into their
cable box won't work. I'd have to have an HDTV with a built in tuner to see KTVU in HD
over the air.

Now what?

Will I just accept this? Yankees-Red Sox, in standard def? NO. So I start researching. I knew
about Voom but figured since I can't get Direct TV or Dish reception from my balcony, that
Voom won't work. But I decided to call and check, and to my delight, they need a south
east view, as opposed to south west. Excellent, problem solved. Get Voom, ditch Comcast.

Life is good...right?...wrong.

I speak to a Voom rep to set up installation. After talking to this guy for 30 seconds, I
knew he had no clue what he was talking about. I was scrolling down the channel lineup
while talking to him and I saw a Fox Sports Florida channel. I asked him if I would be
receiving my RSN, which is Fox Sports Net Bay Area, and he told me...quote..."uh, well, I
live in Texas, and I get Fox Sports South West, so you should be receiving your local
channel too!". I asked him if he was sure, he said he was. So I proceeded with my order
and am scheduled for install this Monday 10/18. Yesterday I was reading up on
Voom and I saw that there actually was NOT any Fox Sports regional networks available
except for Florida right now. I called Voom to confirm, and that appears to me to be the
case. This is a very big deal as I'm a big Warriors (NBA), Giants, A's..etc..fan. Plus, Comcast
has just started broadcasting our local teams in HD.

So to sum up this rambling post....

#1. Should I be upset that Comcast does not have their DVI port functional?
Does Voom have one? If so, will there be a big difference?

#2. "Burn-In". Is that a real possibility? Is watching channels with gray
bars bad? How about Black bars? Is there a way to watch an HD channel, that is not
broadcast in HD, fill the screen without going to "wide-zoom?" Like a setting I can tweak
on my cable box, or TV? Also, I've heard I should keep the brightness and picture levels
below 50% all the time. Is this true? I like those levels higher than 50%. That's too bad if
that's the case.

#3. I'm switching to Voom for the local Fox channel. Well, all the other
channels too, but if Comcast had our Fox affiliate, I wouldn't be doing this. Is that a good
move? Will I be happy with over-the-air reception?

#4. I'm going to have to keep my Comcast HD Box because apparently Voom does
not have the Fox regional sports networks. So, the basic Voom package at $49.99 per
month, plus HBO at $19.99 per month, plus two Voom receivers at $19.99 per month,
plus the Comcast sports pack at $40.00 per month, plus one Comcast HD receiver at
$5.00 per month....equals an INSANE $135 per month for TV!!! and I'm not even getting all
the premium movie channels....or playboy!!! Is there any way around this? Do I have any
cheaper options?

#5. Does anyone have any idea if or when Voom will get all the local Fox Sports
regional channels? And if so, will it be HD? I'm worried that since the local HD Fox
Sports broadcasts are affiliated with Comcast, the broadcast may just be exclusive to
Comcast cable, and not be available to Voom.

(some other random questions...)

#6. 1080i or 720p? I've heard 720p is better. But the football game I saw on CBS looked
amazing, so I can't see how 720p can be better. A matter of personal preference?

#7. Video games bad for my TV? I have an Xbox and PS2. Can anyone recommend any
games that will look great on my TV? I've purchased the component cables for both
systems, now I just need some good HD games.

#8. DVD's. I've got an older Toshiba DVD player. It has the component blue and green
outputs on the back. Does that mean I'm getting the best quality for DVD playback? I've
heard that the best is 480i progressive scan. Is that true? Or, do I need to
buy a newer progressive scan DVD player? My current DVD player has a 16X9 option that
fills the entire screen (amazing!) but it doesn't say anything about prog scan. How about
the Xbox? Does that support prog scan playback?

#9. If you're still with me here, thanks! I appreciate it :) NFL network. Does voom have
it? If so, will the Game of the Week be available in HD?

#10. NBA sports package? MLB sports package? Any news on these coming to Voom?
I know DirectTV has exclusive rights to NFL Ticket, but the others would be
welcome.

#11. And this is a big one. I may, and I emphasize, may....need to have the
Voom dish set up on a tri pod. I'm waiting to hear back from condo association, but that's
a possibility. If so, I'll have to call Voom and hope that the installers can do that. Has
anyone else gone this route? Does it take up a lot of space? Any specific instructions I
should give to the installers. Actually, in general, is there anything I should check before
the installers leave?

#12. Voom reception. I explained to the Voom rep that I don't think I've got a
great south-eastern view from my balcony. It's more east and actually north-east. He
told me not to worry, but I can't help it. Putting the equipment on the roof here is
not an option, only the balcony. For those of you that have a good sense of where the dish
can and can't get reception, here's a link to a map of where the dish will be. I'm on the 4th
floor of a big 20 plus story building. If you look at the map, my balcony faces straight up
Lakeside Drive...and the farthest south I go, to the right, is straight to the "lake
merrit" typing in the middle of the lake.

(you may have to cut and paste this)

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?
zoomin=yes&name=&ed=wwr10Op_0Tqjh6UANhoJCB5FRZxyXCad0jufdkdrIhL5d2mah8ZP
hGjRgLjaPd7awCAdDK.9CaFGOR_eBuk0FLBQvXX.5kyKWdEblJS3vUeb6w--
&state=CA&csz=Oakland%2C+CA+94612
-4620&ds=n&uzip=94612&mag=10&desc=&country=US&dma=807&cat=&resize=s&rez
oom=0&.intl=us&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0



It looks like I face directly east, but not south. Is it still worth the installation attempt, or is
there no chance?

#13. Some of my symptoms are right upper quadrant pain, constipation,
nausea....
oops! I got confused. I thought I was in the irritable bowl syndrome forum.
Sorry!

Anyhow, that's about it. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any feedback
is greatly appreciated.

Ari






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This is my first post on this forum, and I figure I'll just "lay it all out
there" and see if I get any replies...

Since I first saw HD at Good Guys back in 1998 (NFL game), I've been dreaming of
the day I'd actually have it in my home. Well, the day has come...but I'm officially
frustrated, and would like to hear people's take on what I should or shouldn't do.

Two weeks ago, I purchased a Sony 51 inch rear projection TV. It's the KP-51WS520. It's a
great set, gorgeous picture, with an HDMI port in the back. I have Comcast install their
HDTV receiver, and I'm all set. The first thing I do is go plunk down $125 on a DVI to HDMI
cord. I've heard the picture is outstanding using this connector, and I can't wait to take
advantage. I get home, plug it in, and see three distorted pictures on my tube. I call
Comcast and they tell me that the DVI port is not functional at this time and they have no
idea when it might be. So I consider returning the cable to Good Guys, but I've thrown
away they box and am stuck with it. Fine, no biggie. I suppose I'll wait until it's "enabled"
and use it then. Now, let me explain how I've set my TV up. I've kept my Comcast digital
cable non-HD box. I've got that attached to my TIVO. This enables me to watch an HD
show, or standard show on my HD box, while recording another show to my TIVO. Also
enables me to split screen PIP two football games at once, or whatever else I want to see.
What I don't like is watching an HDchannel like NBC, CBS, or ABC that's not in HD because
if I watch it with the bars, I've been told I'm risking "burn-in" and if i stretch it, I have to
use "wide zoom" and I lose some picture. Watching those channels on a standard channel
with my non-HD box alleviates that problem, but the quality is not as good.

Anyhow, so all is well, I'm watching my ESPN HD and LOVING IT. Discovery HD is amazing,
and I can't get enough of HD Net's show on baseball stadiums. College football Saturday
rolls around, and watching the Georgia - Tennessee game is mind boggling. I've never
seen colors that sharp, a picture so vivid. It's really like being there...no, it's BETTER than
being there. Then Sunday rolls around. I'm a huge NFL fan, but can't get Direct TV because
I live in a 24 story building and our condo's balcony faces east. So I'm stuck with NFL
programming on local channels. So I get the CBS game in HD, which is wonderful. BUT,
here is the big problem...NO FOX!! I'm in Oakland, CA and Comcast here has not been
able to strike a deal with the local Fox affiliate KTVU. I've spoken to both sides regarding
the problem and there's no solution in sight (makes the NHL lockout look promising!!) So
no NFL, no MLB playoffs....NO SUPERBOWL!!! Fine, very few things in life are perfect, so I
know what I have to do. I've got to get one of those Radio Shack antennas and I'll be able
to get KTVU over the air. I'm right in the heart of downtown Oakland, and so reception
shouldn't be a problem. I call Comcast just to verify I can do this, and my nightmare
continues, and they tell me that plugging the antenna into their cable box won't work. I'd
have to have an HDTV with a built in tuner to see KTVU in HD over the air.

Now what?

Will I just accept this? Yankees-Red Sox, in standard def? NO. So I start researching. I knew
about Voom but figured since I can't get Direct TV or Dish reception from my balcony, that
Voom won't work. But I decided to call and check, and to my delight, they need a sout east
view, as opposed to south west. Excellent, problem solved. Get Voom, ditch Comcast.

Life is good...right?...wrong.

I speak to a Voom rep to set up installation. After talking to this guy for 30 seconds, I
knew he had no clue what he was talking about. I was scrolling down the channel lineup
while talking to him and I saw a Fox Sports Florida channel. I asked him if I would be
receiving my RSN, which is Fox Sports Net Bay Area, and he told me...quote..."uh, well, I
live in Texas, and I get Fox Sports South West, so you should be receiving your local
channel too!". I asked him if he was sure, he said he was. So I proceeded with my order
and am scheduled for install this Monday 10/18. Yesterday I was reading up on Voom and
I saw that there actually was NOT any Fox Sports regional networks available except for
Florida right now. I called Voom to confirm, and that appears to me to be the case. This is
a very big deal as I'm a big Warriors (NBA), Giants, A's..etc..fan. Plus, Comcast has just
started broadcasting our local teams in HD.

So to sum up this rambling post....

#1. Should I be upset that Comcast does not have their DVI port functional? Does Voom
have one? If so, will there be a big difference?

#2. "Burn-In". Is that a real possibility? Is watching channels with gray bars bad? How
about Black bars? Is there a way to watch an HD channel, that is not broadcast in HD, fill
the screen without going to "wide-zoom?" Like a setting I can tweak on my cable box, or
TV? Also, I've heard I should keep the brightness and picture levels below 50% all the time.
Is this true? I like those levels higher than 50%. That's too bad if that's the case.

#3. I'm switching to Voom for the local Fox channel. Well, all the other channels too, but if
Comcast had our Fox affiliate, I wouldn't be doing this. Is that a good move? Will I be
happy with over-the-air reception? Also, could Comcast be wrong? Can I still get KTVU
Fox affiliate over the air with doing all of this???

#4. I'm going to have to keep my Comcast HD Box because apparently Voom does not
have the Fox regional sports networks. So, the basic Voom package at $49.99 per month,
plus HBO at $19.99 per month, plus two Voom receivers at $19.99 per month, plus the
Comcast sports pack at $40.00 per month, plus one Comcast HD receiver at $5.00 per
month....equals an INSANE $135 per month for TV!!! and I'm not even getting all the
premium movie channels....or playboy!!! Is there any way around this? Do I have any
cheaper options?

#5. Does anyone have any idea if or when Voom will get all the local Fox Sports regional
channels? And if so, will it be HD? I'm worried that since the local HD Fox Sports
broadcasts are affiliated with Comcast, the broadcast may just be exclusive to Comcast
cable, and not be available to Voom.

(some other random questions...)

#6. 1080i or 720p? I've heard 720p is better. But the football game I saw on CBS looked
amazing, so I can't see how 720p can be better. A matter of personal preference?

#7. Video games bad for my TV? I have an Xbox and PS2. Can anyone recommend any
games that will look great on my TV? I've purchased the component cables for both
systems, now I just need some good HD games.

#8. DVD's. I've got an older Toshiba DVD player. It has the component blue and green
outputs on the back. Does that mean I'm getting the best quality for DVD playback? I've
heard that the best is 480i progressive scan. Is that true? Or, do I need to buy a newer
progressive scan DVD player? My current DVD player has a 16X9 option that fills the
entire screen (amazing!) but it doesn't say anything about prog scan. How about the Xbox?
Does that support prog scan playback?

#9. If you're still with me here, thanks! I appreciate it :) NFL network. Does voom have it?
If so, will the Game of the Week be available in HD?

#10. NBA sports package? MLB sports package? Any news on these coming to Voom? I
know DirectTV has exclusive rights to NFL Ticket, but the others would be welcome.

#11. And this is a big one. I may, and I emphasize, may....need to have the Voom dish set
up on a tri pod. I'm waiting to hear back from condo association, but that's a possibility. If
so, I'll have to call Voom and hope that the installers can do that. Has anyone else gone
this route? Does it take up a lot of space? Any specific instructions I should give to the
installers. Actually, in general, is there anything I should check before the installers leave?

#12. Voom reception. I explained to the Voom rep that I don't think I've got a great south-
eastern view from my balcony. It's more east and actually north-east. He told me not to
worry, but I can't help it. Putting the equipment on the roof here is not an option, only the
balcony. For those of you that have a good sense of where the dish can and can't get
reception, here's a link to a map of where the dish will be. I'm on the 4th floor of a big 20
plus story building. If you look at the map, my balcony faces straight up Lakeside
Drive...and the farthest south I go, to the right, is straight to the "lake merrit" typing in the
middle of the lake.

(you may have to cut and paste this)

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?
zoomin=yes&name=&ed=wwr10Op_0Tqjh6UANhoJCB5FRZxyXCad0jufdkdrIhL5d2mah8ZP
hGjRgLjaPd7awCAdDK.9CaFGOR_eBuk0FLBQvXX.5kyKWdEblJS3vUeb6w--
&state=CA&csz=Oakland%2C+CA+94612
-4620&ds=n&uzip=94612&mag=10&desc=&country=US&dma=807&cat=&resize=s&rez
oom=0&.intl=us&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0

It looks like I face directly east, but not south. Is it still worth the installation attempt, or is
there no chance?

#13. Some of my symptoms are right upper quadrant pain, constipation,
nausea....
oops! I got confused. I thought I was in the irritable bowl syndrome forum.
Sorry!

Anyhow, that's about it. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any feedback is greatly
appreciated.

Ari






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Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
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--------------------------------------------------------------------~->


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

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
 
Ari, please fix your email system ASAP as the forum has now received atleast
* 5 * copies of your email.

Robert Heitner, Yahoo VOOM moderator.

_____

From: afriedkin [mailto:afriedkin@yahoo.com]
Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 4:56 PM
To: VOOM@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [VOOM] My HDTV situation....



This is my first post on this forum, and I figure I'll just "lay it all out
there" and see if I get any replies...

Since I first saw HD at Good Guys back in 1998 (NFL game), I've been
dreaming of
the day I'd actually have it in my home. Well, the day has come...but I'm
officially
frustrated, and would like to hear people's take on what I should or
shouldn't do.

Two weeks ago, I purchased a Sony 51 inch rear projection TV. It's the
KP-51WS520. It's a
great set, gorgeous picture, with an HDMI port in the back. I have Comcast
install their
HDTV receiver, and I'm all set. The first thing I do is go plunk down $125
on a DVI to HDMI
cord. I've heard the picture is outstanding using this connector, and I
can't wait to take
advantage. I get home, plug it in, and see three distorted pictures on my
tube. I call
Comcast and they tell me that the DVI port is not functional at this time
and they have no
idea when it might be. So I consider returning the cable to Good Guys, but
I've thrown
away they box and am stuck with it. Fine, no biggie. I suppose I'll wait
until it's "enabled"
and use it then. Now, let me explain how I've set my TV up. I've kept my
Comcast digital
cable non-HD box. I've got that attached to my TIVO. This enables me to
watch an HD
show, or standard show on my HD box, while recording another show to my
TIVO. Also
enables me to split screen PIP two football games at once, or whatever else
I want to see.
What I don't like is watching an HDchannel like NBC, CBS, or ABC that's not
in HD because
if I watch it with the bars, I've been told I'm risking "burn-in" and if i
stretch it, I have to
use "wide zoom" and I lose some picture. Watching those channels on a
standard channel
with my non-HD box alleviates that problem, but the quality is not as good.

Anyhow, so all is well, I'm watching my ESPN HD and LOVING IT. Discovery HD
is amazing,
and I can't get enough of HD Net's show on baseball stadiums. College
football Saturday
rolls around, and watching the Georgia - Tennessee game is mind boggling.
I've never
seen colors that sharp, a picture so vivid. It's really like being
there...no, it's BETTER than
being there. Then Sunday rolls around. I'm a huge NFL fan, but can't get
Direct TV because
I live in a 24 story building and our condo's balcony faces east. So I'm
stuck with NFL
programming on local channels. So I get the CBS game in HD, which is
wonderful. BUT,
here is the big problem...NO FOX!! I'm in Oakland, CA and Comcast here has
not been
able to strike a deal with the local Fox affiliate KTVU. I've spoken to both
sides regarding
the problem and there's no solution in sight (makes the NHL lockout look
promising!!) So
no NFL, no MLB playoffs....NO SUPERBOWL!!! Fine, very few things in life are
perfect, so I
know what I have to do. I've got to get one of those Radio Shack antennas
and I'll be able
to get KTVU over the air. I'm right in the heart of downtown Oakland, and so
reception
shouldn't be a problem. I call Comcast just to verify I can do this, and my
nightmare
continues, and they tell me that plugging the antenna into their cable box
won't work. I'd
have to have an HDTV with a built in tuner to see KTVU in HD over the air.

Now what?

Will I just accept this? Yankees-Red Sox, in standard def? NO. So I start
researching. I knew
about Voom but figured since I can't get Direct TV or Dish reception from my
balcony, that
Voom won't work. But I decided to call and check, and to my delight, they
need a sout east
view, as opposed to south west. Excellent, problem solved. Get Voom, ditch
Comcast.

Life is good...right?...wrong.

I speak to a Voom rep to set up installation. After talking to this guy for
30 seconds, I
knew he had no clue what he was talking about. I was scrolling down the
channel lineup
while talking to him and I saw a Fox Sports Florida channel. I asked him if
I would be
receiving my RSN, which is Fox Sports Net Bay Area, and he told
me...quote..."uh, well, I
live in Texas, and I get Fox Sports South West, so you should be receiving
your local
channel too!". I asked him if he was sure, he said he was. So I proceeded
with my order
and am scheduled for install this Monday 10/18. Yesterday I was reading up
on Voom and
I saw that there actually was NOT any Fox Sports regional networks available
except for
Florida right now. I called Voom to confirm, and that appears to me to be
the case. This is
a very big deal as I'm a big Warriors (NBA), Giants, A's..etc..fan. Plus,
Comcast has just
started broadcasting our local teams in HD.

So to sum up this rambling post....

#1. Should I be upset that Comcast does not have their DVI port functional?
Does Voom
have one? If so, will there be a big difference?

#2. "Burn-In". Is that a real possibility? Is watching channels with gray
bars bad? How
about Black bars? Is there a way to watch an HD channel, that is not
broadcast in HD, fill
the screen without going to "wide-zoom?" Like a setting I can tweak on my
cable box, or
TV? Also, I've heard I should keep the brightness and picture levels below
50% all the time.
Is this true? I like those levels higher than 50%. That's too bad if that's
the case.

#3. I'm switching to Voom for the local Fox channel. Well, all the other
channels too, but if
Comcast had our Fox affiliate, I wouldn't be doing this. Is that a good
move? Will I be
happy with over-the-air reception? Also, could Comcast be wrong? Can I
still get KTVU
Fox affiliate over the air with doing all of this???

#4. I'm going to have to keep my Comcast HD Box because apparently Voom does
not
have the Fox regional sports networks. So, the basic Voom package at $49.99
per month,
plus HBO at $19.99 per month, plus two Voom receivers at $19.99 per month,
plus the
Comcast sports pack at $40.00 per month, plus one Comcast HD receiver at
$5.00 per
month....equals an INSANE $135 per month for TV!!! and I'm not even getting
all the
premium movie channels....or playboy!!! Is there any way around this? Do I
have any
cheaper options?

#5. Does anyone have any idea if or when Voom will get all the local Fox
Sports regional
channels? And if so, will it be HD? I'm worried that since the local HD Fox
Sports
broadcasts are affiliated with Comcast, the broadcast may just be exclusive
to Comcast
cable, and not be available to Voom.

(some other random questions...)

#6. 1080i or 720p? I've heard 720p is better. But the football game I saw on
CBS looked
amazing, so I can't see how 720p can be better. A matter of personal
preference?

#7. Video games bad for my TV? I have an Xbox and PS2. Can anyone recommend
any
games that will look great on my TV? I've purchased the component cables for
both
systems, now I just need some good HD games.

#8. DVD's. I've got an older Toshiba DVD player. It has the component blue
and green
outputs on the back. Does that mean I'm getting the best quality for DVD
playback? I've
heard that the best is 480i progressive scan. Is that true? Or, do I need to
buy a newer
progressive scan DVD player? My current DVD player has a 16X9 option that
fills the
entire screen (amazing!) but it doesn't say anything about prog scan. How
about the Xbox?
Does that support prog scan playback?

#9. If you're still with me here, thanks! I appreciate it :) NFL network.
Does voom have it?
If so, will the Game of the Week be available in HD?

#10. NBA sports package? MLB sports package? Any news on these coming to
Voom? I
know DirectTV has exclusive rights to NFL Ticket, but the others would be
welcome.

#11. And this is a big one. I may, and I emphasize, may....need to have the
Voom dish set
up on a tri pod. I'm waiting to hear back from condo association, but that's
a possibility. If
so, I'll have to call Voom and hope that the installers can do that. Has
anyone else gone
this route? Does it take up a lot of space? Any specific instructions I
should give to the
installers. Actually, in general, is there anything I should check before
the installers leave?

#12. Voom reception. I explained to the Voom rep that I don't think I've got
a great south-
eastern view from my balcony. It's more east and actually north-east. He
told me not to
worry, but I can't help it. Putting the equipment on the roof here is not an
option, only the
balcony. For those of you that have a good sense of where the dish can and
can't get
reception, here's a link to a map of where the dish will be. I'm on the 4th
floor of a big 20
plus story building. If you look at the map, my balcony faces straight up
Lakeside
Drive...and the farthest south I go, to the right, is straight to the "lake
merrit" typing in the
middle of the lake.

(you may have to cut and paste this)

http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?
zoomin=yes&name=&ed=wwr10Op_0Tqjh6UANhoJCB5FRZxyXCad0jufdkdrIhL5d2mah8ZP
hGjRgLjaPd7awCAdDK.9CaFGOR_eBuk0FLBQvXX.5kyKWdEblJS3vUeb6w--
&state=CA&csz=Oakland%2C+CA+94612
-4620&ds=n&uzip=94612&mag=10&desc=&country=US&dma=807&cat=&resize=s&rez
oom=0&.intl=us&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0

It looks like I face directly east, but not south. Is it still worth the
installation attempt, or is
there no chance?

#13. Some of my symptoms are right upper quadrant pain, constipation,
nausea....
oops! I got confused. I thought I was in the irritable bowl syndrome forum.
Sorry!

Anyhow, that's about it. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any
feedback is greatly
appreciated.

Ari






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<http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/> .




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



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Now with Pop-Up Blocker. Get it for free!
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--------------------------------------------------------------------~->


Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VOOM/

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<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
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[VOOM] Re: My HDTV situation....

I deleted the other four. Sorry. I was trying to figure out how to fix the text.



--- In VOOM@yahoogroups.com, "Robert Heitner" <ddprobert@y...> wrote:
> Ari, please fix your email system ASAP as the forum has now received atleast
> * 5 * copies of your email.
>
> Robert Heitner, Yahoo VOOM moderator.
>
> _____
>
> From: afriedkin [mailto:afriedkin@y...]
> Sent: Wednesday, October 13, 2004 4:56 PM
> To: VOOM@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [VOOM] My HDTV situation....
>
>
>
> This is my first post on this forum, and I figure I'll just "lay it all out
> there" and see if I get any replies...
>
> Since I first saw HD at Good Guys back in 1998 (NFL game), I've been
> dreaming of
> the day I'd actually have it in my home. Well, the day has come...but I'm
> officially
> frustrated, and would like to hear people's take on what I should or
> shouldn't do.
>
> Two weeks ago, I purchased a Sony 51 inch rear projection TV. It's the
> KP-51WS520. It's a
> great set, gorgeous picture, with an HDMI port in the back. I have Comcast
> install their
> HDTV receiver, and I'm all set. The first thing I do is go plunk down $125
> on a DVI to HDMI
> cord. I've heard the picture is outstanding using this connector, and I
> can't wait to take
> advantage. I get home, plug it in, and see three distorted pictures on my
> tube. I call
> Comcast and they tell me that the DVI port is not functional at this time
> and they have no
> idea when it might be. So I consider returning the cable to Good Guys, but
> I've thrown
> away they box and am stuck with it. Fine, no biggie. I suppose I'll wait
> until it's "enabled"
> and use it then. Now, let me explain how I've set my TV up. I've kept my
> Comcast digital
> cable non-HD box. I've got that attached to my TIVO. This enables me to
> watch an HD
> show, or standard show on my HD box, while recording another show to my
> TIVO. Also
> enables me to split screen PIP two football games at once, or whatever else
> I want to see.
> What I don't like is watching an HDchannel like NBC, CBS, or ABC that's not
> in HD because
> if I watch it with the bars, I've been told I'm risking "burn-in" and if i
> stretch it, I have to
> use "wide zoom" and I lose some picture. Watching those channels on a
> standard channel
> with my non-HD box alleviates that problem, but the quality is not as good.
>
> Anyhow, so all is well, I'm watching my ESPN HD and LOVING IT. Discovery HD
> is amazing,
> and I can't get enough of HD Net's show on baseball stadiums. College
> football Saturday
> rolls around, and watching the Georgia - Tennessee game is mind boggling.
> I've never
> seen colors that sharp, a picture so vivid. It's really like being
> there...no, it's BETTER than
> being there. Then Sunday rolls around. I'm a huge NFL fan, but can't get
> Direct TV because
> I live in a 24 story building and our condo's balcony faces east. So I'm
> stuck with NFL
> programming on local channels. So I get the CBS game in HD, which is
> wonderful. BUT,
> here is the big problem...NO FOX!! I'm in Oakland, CA and Comcast here has
> not been
> able to strike a deal with the local Fox affiliate KTVU. I've spoken to both
> sides regarding
> the problem and there's no solution in sight (makes the NHL lockout look
> promising!!) So
> no NFL, no MLB playoffs....NO SUPERBOWL!!! Fine, very few things in life are
> perfect, so I
> know what I have to do. I've got to get one of those Radio Shack antennas
> and I'll be able
> to get KTVU over the air. I'm right in the heart of downtown Oakland, and so
> reception
> shouldn't be a problem. I call Comcast just to verify I can do this, and my
> nightmare
> continues, and they tell me that plugging the antenna into their cable box
> won't work. I'd
> have to have an HDTV with a built in tuner to see KTVU in HD over the air.
>
> Now what?
>
> Will I just accept this? Yankees-Red Sox, in standard def? NO. So I start
> researching. I knew
> about Voom but figured since I can't get Direct TV or Dish reception from my
> balcony, that
> Voom won't work. But I decided to call and check, and to my delight, they
> need a sout east
> view, as opposed to south west. Excellent, problem solved. Get Voom, ditch
> Comcast.
>
> Life is good...right?...wrong.
>
> I speak to a Voom rep to set up installation. After talking to this guy for
> 30 seconds, I
> knew he had no clue what he was talking about. I was scrolling down the
> channel lineup
> while talking to him and I saw a Fox Sports Florida channel. I asked him if
> I would be
> receiving my RSN, which is Fox Sports Net Bay Area, and he told
> me...quote..."uh, well, I
> live in Texas, and I get Fox Sports South West, so you should be receiving
> your local
> channel too!". I asked him if he was sure, he said he was. So I proceeded
> with my order
> and am scheduled for install this Monday 10/18. Yesterday I was reading up
> on Voom and
> I saw that there actually was NOT any Fox Sports regional networks available
> except for
> Florida right now. I called Voom to confirm, and that appears to me to be
> the case. This is
> a very big deal as I'm a big Warriors (NBA), Giants, A's..etc..fan. Plus,
> Comcast has just
> started broadcasting our local teams in HD.
>
> So to sum up this rambling post....
>
> #1. Should I be upset that Comcast does not have their DVI port functional?
> Does Voom
> have one? If so, will there be a big difference?
>
> #2. "Burn-In". Is that a real possibility? Is watching channels with gray
> bars bad? How
> about Black bars? Is there a way to watch an HD channel, that is not
> broadcast in HD, fill
> the screen without going to "wide-zoom?" Like a setting I can tweak on my
> cable box, or
> TV? Also, I've heard I should keep the brightness and picture levels below
> 50% all the time.
> Is this true? I like those levels higher than 50%. That's too bad if that's
> the case.
>
> #3. I'm switching to Voom for the local Fox channel. Well, all the other
> channels too, but if
> Comcast had our Fox affiliate, I wouldn't be doing this. Is that a good
> move? Will I be
> happy with over-the-air reception? Also, could Comcast be wrong? Can I
> still get KTVU
> Fox affiliate over the air with doing all of this???
>
> #4. I'm going to have to keep my Comcast HD Box because apparently Voom does
> not
> have the Fox regional sports networks. So, the basic Voom package at $49.99
> per month,
> plus HBO at $19.99 per month, plus two Voom receivers at $19.99 per month,
> plus the
> Comcast sports pack at $40.00 per month, plus one Comcast HD receiver at
> $5.00 per
> month....equals an INSANE $135 per month for TV!!! and I'm not even getting
> all the
> premium movie channels....or playboy!!! Is there any way around this? Do I
> have any
> cheaper options?
>
> #5. Does anyone have any idea if or when Voom will get all the local Fox
> Sports regional
> channels? And if so, will it be HD? I'm worried that since the local HD Fox
> Sports
> broadcasts are affiliated with Comcast, the broadcast may just be exclusive
> to Comcast
> cable, and not be available to Voom.
>
> (some other random questions...)
>
> #6. 1080i or 720p? I've heard 720p is better. But the football game I saw on
> CBS looked
> amazing, so I can't see how 720p can be better. A matter of personal
> preference?
>
> #7. Video games bad for my TV? I have an Xbox and PS2. Can anyone recommend
> any
> games that will look great on my TV? I've purchased the component cables for
> both
> systems, now I just need some good HD games.
>
> #8. DVD's. I've got an older Toshiba DVD player. It has the component blue
> and green
> outputs on the back. Does that mean I'm getting the best quality for DVD
> playback? I've
> heard that the best is 480i progressive scan. Is that true? Or, do I need to
> buy a newer
> progressive scan DVD player? My current DVD player has a 16X9 option that
> fills the
> entire screen (amazing!) but it doesn't say anything about prog scan. How
> about the Xbox?
> Does that support prog scan playback?
>
> #9. If you're still with me here, thanks! I appreciate it :) NFL network.
> Does voom have it?
> If so, will the Game of the Week be available in HD?
>
> #10. NBA sports package? MLB sports package? Any news on these coming to
> Voom? I
> know DirectTV has exclusive rights to NFL Ticket, but the others would be
> welcome.
>
> #11. And this is a big one. I may, and I emphasize, may....need to have the
> Voom dish set
> up on a tri pod. I'm waiting to hear back from condo association, but that's
> a possibility. If
> so, I'll have to call Voom and hope that the installers can do that. Has
> anyone else gone
> this route? Does it take up a lot of space? Any specific instructions I
> should give to the
> installers. Actually, in general, is there anything I should check before
> the installers leave?
>
> #12. Voom reception. I explained to the Voom rep that I don't think I've got
> a great south-
> eastern view from my balcony. It's more east and actually north-east. He
> told me not to
> worry, but I can't help it. Putting the equipment on the roof here is not an
> option, only the
> balcony. For those of you that have a good sense of where the dish can and
> can't get
> reception, here's a link to a map of where the dish will be. I'm on the 4th
> floor of a big 20
> plus story building. If you look at the map, my balcony faces straight up
> Lakeside
> Drive...and the farthest south I go, to the right, is straight to the "lake
> merrit" typing in the
> middle of the lake.
>
> (you may have to cut and paste this)
>
> http://maps.yahoo.com/maps_result?
>

zoomin=yes&name=&ed=wwr10Op_0Tqjh6UANhoJCB5FRZxyXCad0jufdkdrIhL5d2mah8ZP
> hGjRgLjaPd7awCAdDK.9CaFGOR_eBuk0FLBQvXX.5kyKWdEblJS3vUeb6w--
> &state=CA&csz=Oakland%2C+CA+94612
>

-4620&ds=n&uzip=94612&mag=10&desc=&country=US&dma=807&cat=&resize=s&rez
> oom=0&.intl=us&compass=&pan_x=0&pan_y=0
>
> It looks like I face directly east, but not south. Is it still worth the
> installation attempt, or is
> there no chance?
>
> #13. Some of my symptoms are right upper quadrant pain, constipation,
> nausea....
> oops! I got confused. I thought I was in the irritable bowl syndrome forum.
> Sorry!
>
> Anyhow, that's about it. Thanks for taking the time to read this. Any
> feedback is greatly
> appreciated.
>
> Ari
>
>
>
>
>
>
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