Any BOSTON metro VOOMers?

[alsie731]

subdude212

Happens all the time to me also. Just did it again after rebooting with rep on the phone. Now it says Ver 16 I have - does it state anyplace else what update I have?

 

[Jeff_in_MA]

Channel 7 (WHDHD1) seems to off the air. I can get all Boston stations directly through my HD tuner that's built-in my TV with a small indoor antenna and Ch7 has been absent for a week or so. So it appears that this problem has nothing to do with Voom.

I guess I am not the only one with 5.11 (UpdatTV) that keeps coming back and freezing the box. It seems to be happening more frequently now. Anyone else having this problem?

 

[mitch672]

WHDH-DT CH 7-1 is not off the air

Well, it is off the air if you only have a VOOM STB's.

I had VOOM installed on Saturday, and CH 7-1 did not come in. It comes in just fine on my former STB's (RCA DTC-100 and a korean clone "MY MAXTV")
BTW, I should also state that I have had OTA DTV and HDTV for the last 6 years, so I am not new to OTA DTV, I have had my antenna up since late 1998.

I have called VOOM and told them this, as well as I am getting a signal strength of 98, and the fact that OTHER STB's I have get CH 7-1 just fine.

Whatever VOOM did on their last update, must have broken CH 7-1 somehow, that's the only conclusion you can have from these facts.

I have a support case about this, I also put this thread's address in the case, so they can see that ALL Boston VOOM users seem to be missing CH 7-1

And yes, "UpdatTV" keep unhiding itself, very annoying because if you accidently flip to it, the entire box locks up.

Mitch

 

[Jeff_in_MA]

Hmmmm, so Mitch, can you get CH7 right now on other STB?

I have watched CH7 for a year on my Mitsubishi WS65711 HDTV with built-in HD tuner and even that tuner stopped receiving CH7 for several days now. All other Boston stations come in perfectly. That's why I think the problem has nothing to do with Voom. It is possible that CH7 is broadcasting at a reduced power level or not transmitting at all.

 

[mitch672]

Yes, I get CH 7-1 on other STB's

I am located South of Boston (Randolph), so I am only about 11 miles from the Needham towers. In fact My antenna was pointed almost South (Providence), I used the rotor and pointed it at the Needham towers, and now I get a Signal Strength of 99. Yes, my 2 other OTA STB's BOTH get WHDH-DT CH 7-1, no problem. They did on Saturday when it was installed (and CH 7-1 did not come in on the 3 VOOM boxes), and it does now.

I think VOOM screwed something up in the channel mapping, or something they did. There is no reason that we should be having trouble receiving Ch 7-1 on the VOOM boxes, especially since I have a SS of 99, and I can receive it on 2 non-VOOM OTA STB's.

Mitch

 

[Jeff_in_MA]

I still think Voom has nothing to do with the CH7 problem since I am seeing the same problem on my TV's HD tuner. I wasn't getting CH44's for a few weeks but since Saturday, they are coming in perfectly and CH2 is not coming in now, both on VOOM and my TV's HD tuner.

I think the stations are experimenting with 8-VSB modulation so if your are close to the tower and your STB can decode somewhat distorted signal, then you can still receive the signal.

I complain legitimate problems to VOOM but I don't think this one is.

 

[Sean Mota]

Anyone knows the engineer contact information at channel 7..?

 

[Sean Mota]

I sent the engineers this problem. If anyone knows the contact information please post here as the Voom engineers will be looking at this thread. Thanks and hopefully the problem will be resolved soon.

 

[alsie731]

Channel 7 problem

Called WHDH-TV (617-725-0826) and was directed to a gentleman in the transmitter dept that said their encoding was changed a week ago but should have not interfered with any broadcast difference. Gave me a name and # of a engineer by the name of Arthur Murphy 617-725-0826 who is in charge & who can give give all the proper info but all I got was a voice mail to leave a message. Left my name and number but hope someone at Voom will make contact with him and find out what the correct story is a a solution for us Boston Voomers. Thanks Sean

 

[roachxp]

I noticed everyone over at the AVS forums has the same problem even with the TV built in tuners. It's has to be WHDH problem.

 

[mitch672]

CH 7-1 comes in on 2 of my non-VOOM STB's

If its a CH7-1 problem, how do you explain that I can get it on BOTH of my non-VOOM STB's? Both an old RCA-DTC 100 has no problem, and so does a korean clone STB I have "MyMaxTV".. CH 7-1 comes in perfectly on both of them. Look at the response from VOOM:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Autumn H.) 02/23/2005 09:12 AM
Thank you for choosing VOOM - HDTV Delivered!

I do apologize that CH 7-1 is still not working. We have brought this issue to the attention of one of our technical specialists and they are still researching it. Unfortunately, it will take some time for us to find the resolution for this issue, but as soon as we do, we will be sure to inform our customers. I Again apologize for any inconvenience.

Thank you for choosing VOOM - the leader in High Definition programming!

Tiffany P.
VOOM Email Support

Customer (MITCHELL) 02/22/2005 08:24 PM
CH 7-1 still not comming in.. Any ideas yet? I do get it on my NON-VOOM STB's... It is definitley related to the VOOM STB's only.

Response (Autumn H.) 02/22/2005 09:22 AM
Thank you for choosing VOOM - HDTV Delivered!

I do apologize about the inconvenience. We have sent this to one of out technical specialists, and we will be investigating the issue. Once again, I do apologize about the inconvenience.

Thank you for choosing VOOM - the leader in High Definition programming!

Adrianne F.
VOOM Email Support
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If CH 7-1 did change something in their encoding, it has NOT affect either of my NON-VOOM STB's...

Mitch

 

[alsie731]

Call from channel 7

I just received a call from Arthur Murphy engineer from Channel 7 and he stated it is not Vooms problem but theirs. They will try and correct this but wanted me to try and pull in Ch 42 and I would get the programming until they correct the problem. I got no idea of how to do this or if I can. Hope the powers to be from Voom do contact Arthur Murphy 617-725-0826 and they get their heads together.

 

[Jeff_in_MA]

Thank you 731. That confirms that it is not Voom's problem as I have been saying.

A real problem that Voom has to address is CH 5.11 (UpdatTV) which keeps un-hiding itself and freezing the STB every single time the box is tuned to that channel. My TV's HD tuner receives this deadly channel as 2.101.

 

[alsie731]

Installer due shortly

Voom insisted on installer coming to house (scheduled this AM) to check antenna and could not convince them it wasn't needed. Screws up my day and installer will be in and out unless he has some way to map 42-1 channel into my box. Hope someone from Voom got in touch with that Arthur Murphy at 7. Jeff you were right much to my surprise - after all how could Channel 7 screw up and amazing it happened just when Voom did a upgrade. I apologize.

 

[mitch672]

Gee, I guess that since I can get CH 7-1 on my NON-VOOM STB's, right NOW, I guess it has nothing to do with VOOM. Think about what you are saying. If it is something related to CH 7-1, it does NOT affect my NON-VOOM Set Top Boxes.

 

[alsie731]

Mitch

All I know is the head engineer stated they have a problem at their end when they did their new encode but if I could receive 42-1 channel I would get the programming until they found the way to correct the situation. I do get a 96 signal from 7-1 but get no pic or sound.

 

[philhu]

While talking to Boston voomers.

Does anyone else noticed that 68 has 4 channels, and that the listings use 5?

68-1 has no listings
68-2 has the 68-1 listings
68-3 has the 68-2 listings
68-4 has the 68-3 listings
68-5 has the 68-4 listings and the channel does not even exist!

It is all off by one in the program guide.

 

[alsie731]

Installer came & left

He checked everything and found everything OK - checked dish - signal strength at 96. Called his office and someone stated it should be fixed by Voom or Ch 7 within a couple of weeks. I was his second call and said he had 3 voom calls today on box freezing up on 5.11 and this issue of losing Ch 7 also. A waste of VOOM $$ - someone someplace should correct before the trees blossom - I hope. If channel 7 states to get 42.1 until things are straightened out, I can't find what reading it would be at - not listed or at least can't find it. Most Ch7 is around 229 degrees I believe.

 

[alsie731]

Channel 7-1 just came on

Got no idea who or what fixed it but was having trouble going through the channels and having to go beyond channel and then backing down 1 to get some channels in while surfing and went to channel 7 -1 then to channel 7-2 and channel back and 7-1 all of a sudden came in. someone had to do something somewhere. Hope it continues to work and works for others. Many channels are acting funny this afternoon. Maybe Sean can find out what happened.

 

[mitch672]

Yes, CH 7-1 finally comming in on VOOM STB's

Looks like either WHDH and/or VOOM worked out the issue (possibly bad encoder at the transmitter?), glad it finally works, and I can keep VOOM... I was starting to get concerned.

Mitch