A few days ago I had VOOM installed—I’m reasonably confident that Dolan will acquire VOOM’s assets and keep the service alive. I also recall reading in some analysis one time that Dolan and Malone (Liberty Media) are “friends.” OK, enough rationalizing for my decision 
Installing VOOM seems to have opened a tin of tech worms (for me)! I assumed that local channels meant just that—not local UHF channels only. Although there are several UHF channels that antennaweb indicates I can receive, the VOOM receiver is “saying” there isn’t a signal for most of them. The installation included an OTA antenna and a preamp. I still want to see the VHF channels. I also want to distribute signals to 1-2 SD TVs, but after seeing HD I’m close to deciding to buy more LCD monitors.
From lots of reading in this forum it seems that I need to do something like the following and I’d greatly appreciate some feedback and suggestions. In other words help, please.
In addition to the satellite dish, I think I should replace the UHF antenna the Installer installed with a combination UHF/VHF antenna. At the moment the cable from the UHF antenna is combined with the cable from the LNB at the top and a preamp cable intersects in a multiswitch, which is on the outside of the house (near the ground).
I’m suspicious of using multiple amplification points. That is, the VOOM receiver is amplifying (to the LNB) and the preamp is amplifying to the UHF antenna. Presumably the multiswitch is managing the merge, but I’m unsure if this is an optimal configuration for power of coax.
I suspect there’s a further cable related complication. I understand that RG6 is preferable for high frequencies and RG59 for lower frequencies (such as VHF). Although RG6 and RG59 cables are usually interchangeable, problems can/will arise if signal strength isn’t adequate to overcome noise. The cable the installer used isn’t stamped with either standard. It’s stamped with “UL or C(UL) E236426 CMX 18 AMG COAXIAL CABLE 60% BRAID APPLIED TELECOM MODEL: A660-1USCX 29-11-2004 0292FT” which I can’t identify, but I’d guess it’s an RG6 equivalent though.
As the VOOM receiver has 2 inputs—UHF and Satellite—any VHF signals on an inbound cable wouldn’t be recognized or accepted and if I split the cable before it reaches the diplexer on the back of the VOOM receiver and connect one leg to a VCR I’ll be able to send VHF signals (via the VCR output) to an antenna input on an LCD monitor. Kludgey ,right? But I think it should work. Now, by switching between sources on the monitor, I’d be able to see UHF/VHF channels and VOOM.
I’m somewhat at a loss as to which UHF/VHF (pre) amplified antenna to use as I believe I need max gain or signal strength and my wife doesn’t want to see anything on the side of a chimney that might cause the neighbors to conclude that I’ve finally flipped and am trying to reach a spaceship. Sure wish TV over IP over WiMAX was deliverable.
Hope to hear from a few gurus with suggestions to optimize a configuration to meet my needs
Thanks in advance
Colin West
Installing VOOM seems to have opened a tin of tech worms (for me)! I assumed that local channels meant just that—not local UHF channels only. Although there are several UHF channels that antennaweb indicates I can receive, the VOOM receiver is “saying” there isn’t a signal for most of them. The installation included an OTA antenna and a preamp. I still want to see the VHF channels. I also want to distribute signals to 1-2 SD TVs, but after seeing HD I’m close to deciding to buy more LCD monitors.
From lots of reading in this forum it seems that I need to do something like the following and I’d greatly appreciate some feedback and suggestions. In other words help, please.
In addition to the satellite dish, I think I should replace the UHF antenna the Installer installed with a combination UHF/VHF antenna. At the moment the cable from the UHF antenna is combined with the cable from the LNB at the top and a preamp cable intersects in a multiswitch, which is on the outside of the house (near the ground).
I’m suspicious of using multiple amplification points. That is, the VOOM receiver is amplifying (to the LNB) and the preamp is amplifying to the UHF antenna. Presumably the multiswitch is managing the merge, but I’m unsure if this is an optimal configuration for power of coax.
I suspect there’s a further cable related complication. I understand that RG6 is preferable for high frequencies and RG59 for lower frequencies (such as VHF). Although RG6 and RG59 cables are usually interchangeable, problems can/will arise if signal strength isn’t adequate to overcome noise. The cable the installer used isn’t stamped with either standard. It’s stamped with “UL or C(UL) E236426 CMX 18 AMG COAXIAL CABLE 60% BRAID APPLIED TELECOM MODEL: A660-1USCX 29-11-2004 0292FT” which I can’t identify, but I’d guess it’s an RG6 equivalent though.
As the VOOM receiver has 2 inputs—UHF and Satellite—any VHF signals on an inbound cable wouldn’t be recognized or accepted and if I split the cable before it reaches the diplexer on the back of the VOOM receiver and connect one leg to a VCR I’ll be able to send VHF signals (via the VCR output) to an antenna input on an LCD monitor. Kludgey ,right? But I think it should work. Now, by switching between sources on the monitor, I’d be able to see UHF/VHF channels and VOOM.
I’m somewhat at a loss as to which UHF/VHF (pre) amplified antenna to use as I believe I need max gain or signal strength and my wife doesn’t want to see anything on the side of a chimney that might cause the neighbors to conclude that I’ve finally flipped and am trying to reach a spaceship. Sure wish TV over IP over WiMAX was deliverable.
Hope to hear from a few gurus with suggestions to optimize a configuration to meet my needs
Thanks in advance
Colin West
