I need to start this off by thanking a few of you who responded to my post on Friday about waiting 1 month to get service. I finally go the dish install the very next day, thanks to Joe Harkins. I only had the dish installed, and I'm pending on my OTA because everyone including Voom knows the stock aerial won't pick up anything. BTW- if you can recommend a RETAIL antenna I can go pick up that would give me about 40 miles...please respond. Something I can mount that is not overly large- 16in maximum.
I had to say first off, my installer was VERY good. 40ft ladder, tool belt, VERY CLEAN installation. He knew his stuff, especially for never having installed a VOOM sytem before.
I have to preface my analysis by first saying that I have digital cable, and I do get about 13 HD channels through my Moto set top box. I can clearly compare my cable to my Voom dish by switching the inputs quickly. My cable box is coming in VIA component connection with TSOS link out to audio, while my voom is coming in via DVI-D- audio out via TSOS link as well. I spent most of my day comparing HBO HD to cable's version, as well as comparing Discovery HD as well. My cable delivers other channels with notoriously high PQ, like HDNET and PBSHD. HDNET can be had over the air in my area, but I'll need to get the ant. for that. I'm using a simple 46inch rear projection Sony set- which delivers very nicely in HD.
Here's what I've found so far.
First day of Vooming.
The first thing that I noticed was the microstutters. Anyone know when this will be fixed because it was apparent on most channels. Perhaps if this happens with OTA signals, we can safely say it's the DSR 550 to blame. Someone with OTA, please let us know if you get the stutters OTA.
I did also notice that my SD channels looked BETTER on CABLE. This I was NOT expecting. The SD images are very pixelated and grainy at times. Not that my cable image is the best, I think the STB for cable is of higher quality. I'm running the pillar bars for voom. Non stretched, and my cable stretched looks a lot cleaner.
PQ on Hi def cable channels to Voom is VERY close. I'm sure to most, it's likely unnoticeable. I did notice cable was a little better of a sharper picture on HD premiums. For instance, Chris Rock was a HAIR sharper on cable HD, than Voom, although the image was a bit darker by contrast. Microstutters on Voom about every minute or so. It started to annoy me.
Discovery HD looked better on cable than Voom.
Voom seperate themselves with variety. Most of the Voom only networks looked very sharp. PQ was high on most, although the 'inside voom'- lady on the red couch is soft. She's out of focus, and they need to fix that because she comes up on each channel between shows. I also enjoyed the variety of the premium channels like encore, starz and showtime HDs. I think that's where I'll save most of my money vs. cable. The PQ on most of those is fairly strong, but it depends on the transfer. Some movies are not better than DVD quality.
Bravo HD was beaming through loud and clear for me. That is a nice addition to the Voom lineup. High PQ on their event programming.
World sport channel is nice, but their Soccer coverage does not compare to HDNET's MLS soccer coverage. The longshot cameras do not capture the focus and brillance that the HDNET's do.
I do like the RAVE channel, which presents more of an eclectic mix than MTV or VH1. I love the live stuff as well. Very strong quality on sound stage. I'm watching artists I would never even both to watch on SD. Although, Tom Petty is simply not fit for HD. The wrinkles in his face remind me of a Manhattan road map. He's like an old wallet that mumbles!! WOW! He almost belongs on the Monsters channel.
I just received my program guide update, so no more "no info" on each channel, which make the service a bit more watchable.
Overall, I'm content. I went to Voom for variety. I was a bit shocked at how bad some of the SD channels look, but I remind myself that I'm not interested in those channels. I will keep my cable HD because I can get all of the locals in HD for the cost of the converter rental. There is nothing quite like watching a program that is both SHOT and BROADCAST in HD. You can have the upconverts, give me the straight stuff. Voom needs ESPNHD, HDNET, and INHD/INHD2. Add in the home networking, dtv and dish will have a hard time competing with that!
Thank you for creating a forum customers like us! This is a great place for information!
I had to say first off, my installer was VERY good. 40ft ladder, tool belt, VERY CLEAN installation. He knew his stuff, especially for never having installed a VOOM sytem before.
I have to preface my analysis by first saying that I have digital cable, and I do get about 13 HD channels through my Moto set top box. I can clearly compare my cable to my Voom dish by switching the inputs quickly. My cable box is coming in VIA component connection with TSOS link out to audio, while my voom is coming in via DVI-D- audio out via TSOS link as well. I spent most of my day comparing HBO HD to cable's version, as well as comparing Discovery HD as well. My cable delivers other channels with notoriously high PQ, like HDNET and PBSHD. HDNET can be had over the air in my area, but I'll need to get the ant. for that. I'm using a simple 46inch rear projection Sony set- which delivers very nicely in HD.
Here's what I've found so far.
First day of Vooming.
The first thing that I noticed was the microstutters. Anyone know when this will be fixed because it was apparent on most channels. Perhaps if this happens with OTA signals, we can safely say it's the DSR 550 to blame. Someone with OTA, please let us know if you get the stutters OTA.
I did also notice that my SD channels looked BETTER on CABLE. This I was NOT expecting. The SD images are very pixelated and grainy at times. Not that my cable image is the best, I think the STB for cable is of higher quality. I'm running the pillar bars for voom. Non stretched, and my cable stretched looks a lot cleaner.
PQ on Hi def cable channels to Voom is VERY close. I'm sure to most, it's likely unnoticeable. I did notice cable was a little better of a sharper picture on HD premiums. For instance, Chris Rock was a HAIR sharper on cable HD, than Voom, although the image was a bit darker by contrast. Microstutters on Voom about every minute or so. It started to annoy me.
Discovery HD looked better on cable than Voom.
Voom seperate themselves with variety. Most of the Voom only networks looked very sharp. PQ was high on most, although the 'inside voom'- lady on the red couch is soft. She's out of focus, and they need to fix that because she comes up on each channel between shows. I also enjoyed the variety of the premium channels like encore, starz and showtime HDs. I think that's where I'll save most of my money vs. cable. The PQ on most of those is fairly strong, but it depends on the transfer. Some movies are not better than DVD quality.
Bravo HD was beaming through loud and clear for me. That is a nice addition to the Voom lineup. High PQ on their event programming.
World sport channel is nice, but their Soccer coverage does not compare to HDNET's MLS soccer coverage. The longshot cameras do not capture the focus and brillance that the HDNET's do.
I do like the RAVE channel, which presents more of an eclectic mix than MTV or VH1. I love the live stuff as well. Very strong quality on sound stage. I'm watching artists I would never even both to watch on SD. Although, Tom Petty is simply not fit for HD. The wrinkles in his face remind me of a Manhattan road map. He's like an old wallet that mumbles!! WOW! He almost belongs on the Monsters channel.
I just received my program guide update, so no more "no info" on each channel, which make the service a bit more watchable.
Overall, I'm content. I went to Voom for variety. I was a bit shocked at how bad some of the SD channels look, but I remind myself that I'm not interested in those channels. I will keep my cable HD because I can get all of the locals in HD for the cost of the converter rental. There is nothing quite like watching a program that is both SHOT and BROADCAST in HD. You can have the upconverts, give me the straight stuff. Voom needs ESPNHD, HDNET, and INHD/INHD2. Add in the home networking, dtv and dish will have a hard time competing with that!
Thank you for creating a forum customers like us! This is a great place for information!
yeah right). 
