Is Voom worth the money?

[dlhoppe]

Just thought I'd throw in what I was told by Voom customer service the other day about their upcoming DVR box. I just signed up last week and will be installed on Tues, 25th. I was very insistent on getting DVR information during the phone call. They've assured me that when the DVR boxes become available, they'll switch out my box with the DVR model with no change in monthly fees. Part of me is a little hesitant to believe this, but they indicated this will be the case.

We'll see....

[summerfun]

Not to start an argument here, because I see a lot of value in VOOM. I love HD and the more I can get the better. I could be persuaded to use it someday, but you failed to mention all the benefits that TWC has that VOOM cannot provide, that I would loose if I left TWC. These are not available on VOOM and I use them all. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I did not see any of these features on their web site.

Local SD and HD. (no charge, no messing with antennas)

Dual tuner DVR ($5 charge, no $1,000 purchase, HD any month now)

VOD (no charge, includes any premium channels you have)

Pay per view (charged as used)

EXTRA analog connections, as many as you want (no charge)

Internet connection (save $5 / month by having bundle)

[gparris]

Competition...that is what Voom is good for...more HD channels and more money going away from cable concerns and the Directv and Dish companies for more HD is what is happening.
Joe six-pack likes his 3 rooms free (until the mirroring fees get billed) on his 25" analogue TVs and could care less about HD.
Maybe this is what Murdoch and Ergen are aiming for
SD for everybody!:mad:

Voom is the challenge for all the service providers.

Generally the HDTV set owner is going to want more than the basic service because that is why it was bought to begin with...not just to make the DVDs look great,  in many cases.
Voom is the HD delivery system and quick answer to the question.

If Directv and Dish don't get it together soon, Voom will pull their best subscribers away, the ones that just don't buy the Total Choice or the cheaper Dish packages...and just wait until the DVRs come from Voom...on a rental basis, no less.

summerfun: your arguments are valid, too. I just like the "competition factor" going on. Maybe us TWC HD box renters will get some more for our $6.95/month HD package...or some  extra HD regulars like Bravo HD or (God forbid) ESPN-HD.

borghe: the price of the TWC HD box and remote is $7.95, not $8.95 and Starz! with Encore package is $12.45 extra,  together for a total for "all channels"on TWC for about $90.40 a month to include all the premium movie packages - 58 SD channels in all vs. Directv's TC Plus w/locals and SD (premiums total of 31-some deal for $83.99!)
For the $47.95 you get HD Discovery, TNT-HD (when avail.), Fox Sports Net HD and all your locals in HD (including Fox HD) without an antenna fight. Just to get the facts correct.

[AndrewP]

OK,

I am trying to install VOOM.
Install Inc. assigned Adant Wireless from Illinois as my installer.
First appointment was July 6, 8 - 12 a.m. I took day off. They called me at 11.50 and said that their truck broke and I need to reschedule.
Second appointment, Saturday, July 10, 12 p.m. - 5 p.m.
They called me at 4.20 p.m. and said that they will be at my house in half hour. 205 minutes later they called again and said that they had car accident, waiting for cops and cannot make it.

I called VOOM to complain and demand to change installer.
This morning Adant Wireless called to reschedule. I told them NO  WAY. Later Install Inc. called and asked if I want to reschedule with Adant Wireless. I refused, thay promised to call back with other options. Still waiting.

So...

BE aware of ADANT WIRELESS. They just do not like to drive to our area.
If somebody has a good Voom installer in our area, please post it to this group.


Andrew, Muskego

[StarvingForHDTV]

Wow, that is horrible service!  You should send VOOM an invoice for your time.

Starving

[AndrewP]

But... I still want to try VOOM. Especially when Dish is saying that there is no compelling HD out there. (CinemaxHD, StarsHD, MovieChanellHD, BravoHD are not impressing Charlie).

So they replaced installer and I am set up this Saturday 8-12.
Will see.
But probably it will be their last chance to show up.

Andrew

[easylistener]

I am still waiting for a preamp for my antenna.  Voom has had three guys out and all three didn't now what a preamp was or didn't bring it.  I am sick and tired of these installers.  

When will they pull there heads out and let the consumers install there own stuff.

[sp44again]

Enough about the installers what about the actual service? You get bad installers with TWC and Directv also. Do you like the programming and hardware?

[easylistener]

I love the service.  They have great service but I miss my tivo.  When they get there dvr it will be hard to beat.  Try the service and you will probally stay with them.  If I could get all my locals off the air then I would be one happy man.

[AndrewP]

>>> Enough about the installers ?

Yes, indeed I did not want to talk about installation problems. But that is the only current issue for me. They did not make third (!) appointment, they said equipment did not arrive to a new installer from the old installer. So, saga continues...

Andrew

[smcahee]

ive had voom for about two weeks now.  we like the service, but since we dont live in milwaukee and have charter not TWC, comparison to cable is different.

presently my market charter cable only has five HD channels:  HBO, Showtime, ESPN, HDNet and HDNet Movies.  No locals although green bay channels are promised.  analog has both milwaukee and green bay locals in SD.  DVR is not yet offered, nor is video on demand.  there is SD pay per view, extra analog connections are free, and there is a discount for bundles that include cable internet.  charter box has firewire but i havent tried using it.

voom has far more HD channels than cable does here.  its missing many SD channels that cable has, but the only ones i miss are SciFi and maybe USA.  the antenna/OTA issue has definitely been a hassle, but again its the only way i can get locals in HD.  there is also the issue with 'rain fade' (dish+hard rain=no signal) which i dont think has been mentioned above.  the box is better than what charter has, and has DVI output but no firewire.

the pricing with voom is close to what i would pay for cable with the same premium channels.  

the install was unfortunately a headache, so much that i do think its necessary to mention.  my first two installs were cancelled because of 'lack of equipment'.  one was rescheduled with two days notice, the other i waited all afternoon till 5pm.  voom was blamed by installer, citing overwhelming demand.  they put up an antenna (free) that's too small, and the (free) service call to upgrade the antenna was botched last friday when the tech showed up with the same antenna i already had.

i have friends in milwaukee who have TWC, and must admit if thats what i had here i probably would keep it.

[sp44again]

Sounds like they have really good installers in Southeast WI. I'll be waiting til they get a DVR and better installers!

[smcahee]

the first installer i got was actually a nice guy who knew what he was doing/talking about.  i think he did the best he could with what his company gave him.  the problem here is that as near as i can tell, voom contracts with installs inc, which then in turn contracts with companies like adant wireless (out of gurnee, il).  the installers may also be independent contractors.  reminds me a little of that tom hanks/shelley long movie 'the money pit'...two weeks!!