Re: [VOOM] Need help Bad

[JIFFLAND]

Need help Bad

I am a voom customer who has had nothing but problems trying to get my voom hooked up properly. I have had service out 4+ times, they have scheduled me for an upgrade dish, and a rotor., but they insist there is no problem. I am having problems with hd pixels and locals. I have tried to talk to someone who can actually help me. The supervisors there suck, and there is only so many times that you can be told a manager will call you back, which by the way never happens. Can anyone help me get an email or phone number so I can get someone's attention. I think it time to hang it up for me as far as voom. Of course csr can not help me.
Help

 

[riffjim4069]

Jiff,

Most of us have been in your shoes at some point in the past. Just take a deep breath, relax, and tell us where you're located (zipcode) and the exact nature of your troubles. Also, if you haven't already done so, read the VOOM Master FAQ. VOOM will go to great lengths to correct shoddy installs.

Satellite: How many receivers? What type dish? What are your signal levels? Software version on your receivers? Etc.

Locals: What antenna was installed? Amplified? Diplexers/Multiswitch? Etc.

Riff...

 

[JIFFLAND]

It was the standard 3 room install, 18" dish(oval). The last update was when we hooked up with voom, unfortunatly I am not by the receiver to tell the version. My signal levels are reading 96-98 on the digital side, on the locals, anywhere from just under 80 to 84. by there meter on setup. I am 8 miles from my furthest local channel (43605) but am now getting locals from detroit (50 miles away), when any at all. The last time they were out they said they amplified the antenna, but since, there has been no real change. It seems like my digital/hd is getting a lot of fade even during sunny days. they are using the dyplexors for locals. Sorry about the info, hopefully this helps

 

[Kentstater72]

May have some info at home

JeffLand

I am in Lambertville and I have saved some contact information on local installers. I will PM you when I get home tonight.

I am further north than you and I can't get Detroit stations, what antenna did they use?

 

[JIFFLAND]

This may not be any help, but they said it was the standard antenna. About 3 foot long. Sorry if I am not much help.

 

[Stan Sexton]

Here is a perfect example of the local OTA problem that turns people off to=
VOOM.=20
VOOM can't guarantee that any subsciber will pick up local OTA.=20
They do supply an antenna, but most people need to realize that they will n=
eed their own larger antenna and usually a rotor and preamp.
The OTA situation is still "crude", as almost all HD OTA has been forced up=
onto the UHF band, which is plagued by line of sight limitations and stati=
ons with low power.
In 2007, the FCC is supposed to kill analog, and at that time OTA HD statio=
ns will migrate to the vacated VHF band. Until then, OTA HD will be a hit a=
nd miss pioneering situation, and the attempts by VOOM to supply an all inc=
lusive solution will only end in expensive frustration, driving viewers bac=
k to cable.
It's really a situation requiring qualifying the prospective customer, rese=
arching the reception before installation, and explaining to the customer t=
he limitations before sale. VOOM or it's installers need to do that.
Customers need some technical advice also. I don't think VOOM is for the "P=
lug and Play" type, whose expectations are really high for all consumer pro=
ducts. VOOM HD OTA is like Linux.=20
Many people should keep cable for the "other channels". I do.
VOOM to me is strictly for the best quality HD picture. I use DVI. For OTA =
HD, I have an LG 3510a for ATSC and QAM, a big Winegard UHF with a Rotor a=
nd a matching mast preamp. I bought this after I had VOOM. I told the VOOM =
installer to forget the "toy" antenna. I researched my OTA situation and re=
alized that OTA would be a challenge in that my HD was coming in from 4 dir=
ections. No way VOOM could solve that problem. Also, I didn't like the "con=
trol" factor concerning scanning.=20
So, dear consumer, enjoy VOOM for what it provides and keep cable for the c=
ommercial filled claptrap.
As Dirty Harry said, a man has to know his limitations. And everbody else's=
..

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



------------------------

 

[Stan Sexton]

Get rid of the Diplexer and run separate lines. Don't put anything in the l=
ine! You need every precious db you can get!

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



------------------------

 

[riffjim4069]

Jiff, I believe you're in Ilya's neck of the woods. I know quite a bit about fringe/deep fringe OTA, but there are a number of Forum members who are very proficient dealing with the Winegard Sensar II, diplexers and multipath issues (Ilya and TYORK just to name two). Your satellite signals look great, you just need to verify that your receivers have been upgraded to software verision 7.33 and that your installer didn't do something...well, less than terrific. I have to run out to a Dr.'s appointment so you may wish to checkout the Toledo area thread.

Also, here is short FAQ I put together when helping others deal with their VOOM OTA issues, which you may find useful in the interim:

Please remember RF is nothing more than a radio frequency - it is analog by definition. However, RF signals carry encoded information, which can be Digital (ATSC) or Analog (NCTS). The 8-VSB/OTA module in your VOOM box is only capable of tuning Digital TV (DTV) signals. Since almost all broadcasters are transmitting both analog and digital signals, your antenna may be picking up a fair amount of interference from as far away as 100 miles. IMO, short of purchasing an RF spectrum analyzer or a decent RF signal level meter, the best way to research RF in your area is to:

1. Plot your location (latitude and longitude) at the following site: http://www.geocode.com/modules.php?name=TestDrive_Eagle

Example:
Lat: 37.253327
Lon: -078.594939 (your longitude will be expressed as a negative number)

2. Conduct a Broadcast DTV search based on your location: http://www.2150.com/broadcast/ - cut and paste your Lat/Lon from the above link (note: delete trailing spaces when pasting).
· Input range of 100 miles
· Sort by channel
· Select the "List Analog Stations" option

3. You will then need to sort through the list in order to validate potential DTV stations in your area. There may be a number of low-power stations and you may discover that an analog station 70 miles away may interfere with one of your local DTV stations. In my case, DC is basically 55 miles to my north and Richmond VA is 51 miles to my south. The Richmond analog 35 is interfering with my reception of DC digital 35…actually, they will eventually in DC 35 goes full power in early 2005 – this is directly from the Head of Engineering I corresponded with from FOX 5/UPN 20.

4. You can further validate stations of interest at the FCC website: http://www.fcc.gov/mb/video/tvq.html

I hope this helps…

 

[thegrod]

Stan,
What you say is true but at this point VOOM does upgrades on the dish and
the antenna including possibly a rotor and mast amplifier. Unfortunately, I
did the same thing you did and installed all ( except 24" dish upgrade) that
myself to get it done without a hassle.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Stan Sexton" <stanathomesell@cox.net>
To: <VOOM@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 10:52 AM
Subject: Re: [VOOM] Need help Bad



Here is a perfect example of the local OTA problem that turns people off to
VOOM.
VOOM can't guarantee that any subsciber will pick up local OTA.
They do supply an antenna, but most people need to realize that they will
need their own larger antenna and usually a rotor and preamp.
The OTA situation is still "crude", as almost all HD OTA has been forced up
onto the UHF band, which is plagued by line of sight limitations and
stations with low power.
In 2007, the FCC is supposed to kill analog, and at that time OTA HD
stations will migrate to the vacated VHF band. Until then, OTA HD will be a
hit and miss pioneering situation, and the attempts by VOOM to supply an all
inclusive solution will only end in expensive frustration, driving viewers
back to cable.
It's really a situation requiring qualifying the prospective customer,
researching the reception before installation, and explaining to the
customer the limitations before sale. VOOM or it's installers need to do
that.
Customers need some technical advice also. I don't think VOOM is for the
"Plug and Play" type, whose expectations are really high for all consumer
products. VOOM HD OTA is like Linux.
Many people should keep cable for the "other channels". I do.
VOOM to me is strictly for the best quality HD picture. I use DVI. For OTA
HD, I have an LG 3510a for ATSC and QAM, a big Winegard UHF with a Rotor
and a matching mast preamp. I bought this after I had VOOM. I told the VOOM
installer to forget the "toy" antenna. I researched my OTA situation and
realized that OTA would be a challenge in that my HD was coming in from 4
directions. No way VOOM could solve that problem. Also, I didn't like the
"control" factor concerning scanning.
So, dear consumer, enjoy VOOM for what it provides and keep cable for the
commercial filled claptrap.
As Dirty Harry said, a man has to know his limitations. And everbody else's.

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





Yahoo! Groups Links









------------------------

 

[TYORK]

This may not be any help, but they said it was the standard antenna. About 3 foot long. Sorry if I am not much help.

Jiffland ,
I may be able to help but i need to know what the model number on the multi-switch that they installed at your house can you get me that info

tyork

 

[Stan Sexton]

A rotor by VOOM? No wonder VOOM is going broke. It will all end with the D=
ISH takeover. Dish could keep VOOM as an add-on but forget the upgrades and=
OTA Antenna. That's a loser.=20
Of course, DISH has locals so they don't have to play the OTA antenna game.
This could be a good marriage. My fear is that DISH will make me take an ex=
pensive SAT package to get what I had with VOOM. So much for my $40.00 a mo=
nth.
DISH's mistake will be thinking that everyone will pay gobs monthly for HD.=
And my fear is that the HD will not be "unbundled" from DISH.
IF I have to choose, DISH will lose my business, because they can't supply =
all my locals like COX can. On the other hand, COX is in the stone age with=
HD. They don't have any bandwidth left and they compress the heck out of w=
hat they do carry.
Terrible PQ.=20
Cox is running Cable Modem, Analog Cable, Digital Cable,Telephone Service a=
nd HDTV on one RG-6. They are coming up on the 1 Ghz limit!
The solution for Cox is Fiber Optic from the pole nodes to the house. They =
don't want to invest and provide us with fiber digital to analog or digital=
to digital STBs but imagine the bandwidth and PQ going all digital from he=
ad to home. Imagine DVI or HDMI from your STB to your set!

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



------------------------

 

[JIFFLAND]

The multi-switch is a vm-3400, and the locals antenna says it it a winsgard amplified. Hope this helps.

 

[JIFFLAND]

Update

Talked to csr, explained problems with locals and picking up channels 50+ miles away, and was told they have done everything that they can, and basically the we do not guarantee locals again. When I mentioned going back to D, I was told thats fine she can change my appointment to a disconnect, but I would be faced with a 250.00 charge for early termination. How do they figure it is early termination, when I am still having problems with the HD/Dig. side of the thing to. Guess it time to turn the whole mess over to the B.B.B. and the local ABC channel, to see if they have any luck with my buddies at voom. I want to tahnk everyone for there help, it is greatly appreciated, I guess now I fish for the corporate phone number. CSR said she did not have that info.

 

[Bob Mankin]

The network backbones do not support rolling out FTTP(fiber to the premises=
)
on any large scale, so don't look for it anytime soon.=20

Bob=20

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Stan Sexton [mailto:stanathomesell@cox.net]=20
> Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 12:38 PM
> To: VOOM@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [VOOM] Need help Bad
>=20
>=20
> A rotor by VOOM? No wonder VOOM is going broke. It will all=20
> end with the DISH takeover. Dish could keep VOOM as an add-on=20
> but forget the upgrades and OTA Antenna. That's a loser.=20
> Of course, DISH has locals so they don't have to play the OTA=20
> antenna game.
> This could be a good marriage. My fear is that DISH will make=20
> me take an expensive SAT package to get what I had with VOOM.=20
> So much for my $40.00 a month.
> DISH's mistake will be thinking that everyone will pay gobs=20
> monthly for HD. And my fear is that the HD will not be=20
> "unbundled" from DISH.
> IF I have to choose, DISH will lose my business, because they=20
> can't supply all my locals like COX can. On the other hand,=20
> COX is in the stone age with HD. They don't have any=20
> bandwidth left and they compress the heck out of what they do carry.
> Terrible PQ.=20
> Cox is running Cable Modem, Analog Cable, Digital=20
> Cable,Telephone Service and HDTV on one RG-6. They are coming=20
> up on the 1 Ghz limit!
> The solution for Cox is Fiber Optic from the pole nodes to=20
> the house. They don't want to invest and provide us with=20
> fiber digital to analog or digital to digital STBs but=20
> imagine the bandwidth and PQ going all digital from head to=20
> home. Imagine DVI or HDMI from your STB to your set!
>=20



------------------------

 

[Stan Sexton]

Jiffland - I bet you have lots of life insurance too. Just got to have all =
those guarantees! Cable is a safe bet! How about some effort on your part?

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



------------------------

 

[Wilt Hildenbrand]

Would you send me contact info, privately, to wilth@optonlline.net? I'll ge=
t
some action on this for you.

Thanks,

Wilt

=20

_____=20=20

From: JIFFLAND [mailto:satguys2004@yahoo.com]=20
Sent: Monday, February 07, 2005 4:15 PM
To: VOOM@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [VOOM] Need help Bad

=20


Talked to csr, explained problems with locals and picking up channels
50+ miles away, and was told they have done everything that they can,
and basically the we do not guarantee locals again. When I mentioned
going back to D, I was told thats fine she can change my appointment to
a disconnect, but I would be faced with a 250.00 charge for early
termination. How do they figure it is early termination, when I am
still having problems with the HD/Dig. side of the thing to. Guess it
time to turn the whole mess over to the B.B.B. and the local ABC
channel, to see if they have any luck with my buddies at voom. I want
to tahnk everyone for there help, it is greatly appreciated, I guess
now I fish for the corporate phone number. CSR said she did not have
that info.


--=20
JIFFLAND
------------------------------------------------------------------------
This message was posted via http://www.satelliteguys.us by JIFFLAND=20






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------------------------

 

[TYORK]

The multi-switch is a vm-3400, and the locals antenna says it it a winsgard amplified. Hope this helps.

not sure what is going there but unless they have some diplexer right there with that multi-switch than this is the problem cause there is no power getting back to the amp though that multi-switch cause that is a non power multi-switch.

Tyork

 

[JIFFLAND]

Stan
I guess it is safe to say that you don't have a clue. When a customer is treated like they do not matter, install is piss poor, and it takes a month, 4 visits, 3 missed visits, you can bet your ass it is time to let that boat sink. Your right cable is the safe bet, but an even safer bet is to wash my hands of a company that could care less about the guy who pays their salaries. Voom is a great concept, but when they will not take responsibility for their actions, it does not matter how great the idea is, it will not last. If things were so rosy, why would the company that owns it jump ship? Unfortunately for dish, they bought into a dead dog.

 

[JIFFLAND]

tyork
According to voom they installed a amplified signal booster, but I only see a non powered switch. I tried to explain that to voom, but that is what the installer put in their notes, so I guess I cant see the work that they said they did.

 

[TYORK]

tyork
According to voom they installed a amplified signal booster, but I only see a non powered switch. I tried to explain that to voom, but that is what the installer put in their notes, so I guess I cant see the work that they said they did.

Jiffland ,
ok they might have done that but from what i can see is that you antenna is not adjusted to the orientation your should be 81 degrees but it seem that yours is at between 19 and 33 degrees email jyukie@installs.com he is the field manager in that area and he will take care of you just let hime know what is going on.