HDTV Exclusive *scottvamp news*

scottvamp
scottvamp Posts: 3,277
edited November 2003 in Electronics
Good news HDTV junkies. A dedicated HDTV network has been launched. $750 installed - $39 a month.
Check it out:
VOOM
Post edited by scottvamp on
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Comments

  • ken brydson
    ken brydson Posts: 8,783
    edited November 2003
    Is it dish / cable or?? I looked at the link and can't figure it out. Sounds cool. I've got a HD ready set but haven't made the leap yet.
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited November 2003
    Don't be in to big a hurry to jump on the Voom wagon just yet. Lot's of info to be read at WWW.DBStalk.com


    Try this for a bit of lite reading.

    http://www.dbstalk.com/showthread.php?t=19030&highlight=voom
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited November 2003
    It looks like a Satelite broadcast via a Dish and HD Receiver,looks promising!!!
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  • Mike Reeter
    Mike Reeter Posts: 4,315
    edited November 2003
    Well Frank,you just burst my bubble, thanks for the link...I'm still waiting for Dish Network HD version to become available in our area...
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited November 2003
    Well. Voom does look promising. I'm on the fence right now as to what to do. I have digital cable but the cable company wants $4.99 / channel for HDTV signals. I think that's a little steep especially for ESPN and the Discovery channel. I have an HDTV monitor but have yet to buy a receiver not knowing which way I want to go (satellite or digital cable).

    Frank, oh please do tell; I did quickly search for Voom on the website you linked. Want to give us an abbreviated scoop on what rumors / facts that you have found (yeah... save me some research bud). Will Voom have local channels available? That's a big one for me.. no local channels = might as well be living on Mars.

    thanks,
    Paul
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  • scottvamp
    scottvamp Posts: 3,277
    edited November 2003
    It's freaking HDTV. I'M not ready yet but i'm sure alot of people are excited about it. People negleted satilite (Direct TV) for years.
    Now they feel supid for not doing it earlier. It is a step into the future that is for sure. I did not think this internet thing was going to work years ago. ;)
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited November 2003
    Ok. They will have local channels available via an off the air digital antenna. I'm interested but I'm going to have to get my read on.
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited November 2003
    They probably just do a bunch of crappy upconverting.

    Regards,
    PolkThug
    Never Forget
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  • Frank Z
    Frank Z Posts: 5,860
    edited November 2003
    Well it's not all bad, just wanted to let everyone know that there is more info available for those that may be interested.

    This copied from the 16th post down on the list.
    As Mike123 noted, VOOM will be using more compression on HDTV than DirecTV and Dish Network. Using 8PSK (22000 SR, 2/3 FEC), they'll have about 40.5Mbps per transponder to work with, which equates to 11.5Mbps average for the 30 HDTV channels they plan to have at launch. That assumes Dish-like quality for SD channels; if they decide to deliver superior quality on SD channels, that will give them closer to 10.5Mbps per HD channel. They'll have to use stat mux, and may well downconvert HD from 1920x1080 to 1280x1080.

    That will likely translate into noticeable degradation on 1080i HDTV video channels for those with better / larger displays, but for those with little or no HDTV experience, it will still be a significantly better picture than they are getting now on cable or SD Dish / SD DirecTV. And even current HD viewers with smaller displays (<=40") may not be able to tell a difference.

    With VOOM taking the "quantity over quality" approach to HDTV, my concern is that DirecTV or Dish Network may follow suit.
    9/11 - WE WILL NEVER FORGET!! (<---<<click)
    2005-06 Club Polk Football Pool Champion!! :D
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  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited November 2003
    For people who have $750 lying around (not me), I would think it's worth trying. I've been following the thread at avsforum, and while there have many installation nightmares because of the crappy company Voom contracted with, it seems people really like the picture quality at this point. On top of that, you get all of their programming for free until 2/29/04. Also, they initially were offering a 30-day money-back guarantee, but that has now been extended until 3/31/04! I would try it in a heartbeat if I had the cash. Why not? It's free for 3+ months and if you decide you don't like it, send it back.
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  • pjdami
    pjdami Posts: 1,894
    edited November 2003
    Thanks Frank.

    I read this three times:
    As Mike123 noted, VOOM will be using more compression on HDTV than DirecTV and Dish Network. Using 8PSK (22000 SR, 2/3 FEC), they'll have about 40.5Mbps per transponder to work with, which equates to 11.5Mbps average for the 30 HDTV channels they plan to have at launch.

    and thought to myself... holy crapola I've got a lot to learn about this technology. Now I know what one of these newbies feels like when we throw "adjust your crossover on your LFE to 80 hz and set your speakers to small and biwire your speakers". Well even that sounds easy in comparison.

    What I like is a flat rate for multiple HD channels. Not a fee per channel which is ridiculous and what my cable provider is trying to push. That isn't going far if VOOM has a flat rate like stated. Good news is that the competition and business they may attract from Dish or DTV may get these other guys on the ball.

    P.
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  • bikezappa
    bikezappa Posts: 2,463
    edited November 2003
    I'd go for this but they don't have HBO. I need this electronic heroin every Sunday night. I'll keep watching.
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  • goingganzo
    goingganzo Posts: 2,793
    edited November 2003
    i would love to get sat but i need my high speed internet and you can get that.
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  • fireshoes
    fireshoes Posts: 3,167
    edited November 2003
    So cough up the extra 10 bucks to get broadband by itself. ;)
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