Compare the 3

[HDTVFanAtic]

We all know Voom has more content, but has anyone actually taken some time to compare all 3 Satellite services that can give a good ranking of video/audio quality of the 3 services?

[rgreenpc]

One thing to consider is that you must think about if you will watch live or DVR it

I was with DISH (read:WAS)

The quality of their DVR is terrible - terrible interface and not very user friendly ( and no name based recording )

The dish signal is also a bit softer -

I am with DTV now and I have a Phillips DirecTIVO in my bed room and a Hughes HD box in the living room till my HDTIVO shows next week.

I haven't seen VOOM, but I don't like the idea of company based channels - ie the animation channel, etc. I want normal channels in HD not some content they want to give me.

Voom just seems to be for people who have to have more HD content....

If they had all the networks in HD and a lot more channels that I watch in HD then we would be golden.

I doubt many people besides me want to see DiscoveryWingsHD though.

One thing I WOULD like to see is a HD Aquairum loop ( kind of a screen saver ) Just some underwater footage on a loop.

[HDTVFanAtic]

thanks for the input. What I was *trying* to get at - we all know the content limitations - we all know the 921 issues - there are threads on all these issue.

I simply want someone that has really looked at all 3 (if anyone) and can say the quality in terms of picture is a/b/c.

Then it's up to us to decide if the picture quality makes up for the lack of other features - choices.

[rgreenpc]

Ny neighbor got VOOM on Wed - I am going to be at his place this Saturday to help him get his HDTV setup - I will let you know my impressions afetra few hours of it sometime this weekend.

[HDTVFanAtic]

Jaymar, I think I can now see why you get 4-6 people at your get togethers if not 1 person on here has compared the different HDTV satellite feeds for satellite quality.

Apparently the interest isn't as great as one would think.

[mikeymo]

I have all three. If there is a difference, I can't see it. (MITS 73711 calibrated by Gregg)

In comparing STB's, I would rate the Hughes E-86 as the winner. NO CONTEST.

VOOM is trying very hard to please. I really appreciated the PPV fight two weeks ago in HD for a buck on VOOM.

If VOOM gets its PVR to market anytime soon, they will be hard to beat.

[bdraw]

And if Voom gets HD.net, INHD, and ESPNHD.

When it comes to sports and exclusive contracts it is important that they carry all the channels. There is always going to be some event that I will want to watch that is carried by that one channel they don't carry.

What exclusive, original content does voom have? News I have seen and loved, but what else?

Even when they do have a DVR, will it allow archiving, or have a 30 second skip?

[mikeymo]

bdraw: VOOM wins the HD race hands down. They don't have ESPNHD or the other two HD channels you mention. But then D* and E* don't have Cinemax, Startz, etc. (See www.voom.com for the list of channels that are carried). I'm too old to care, but I understand they have explicit HD porn via PLAYBOY for $15.00. No PPV as yet (fight was a special exception).

I'm not here to push VOOM, but they had a "no upfront cost" offer, plus you can cancel if you don't like it. I took advantage of this offer which included installation and an OTA antenna for local HD.

As for the VOOM DVR, I have no details. The web site mentions one is coming and the CSR I recently spoke with (to order the HD fight for a buck) said it will be out this year.

[mikeymo]

bdraw: VOOM just added ESPNHD.

In comparing VOOM and D*, it should be remembered that D* doesn't carry quite a few of the movie channels. For example, VOOM has 9 Cinemax while D* (as I recall) has only 3.

[HDTVFanAtic]

And if Voom gets HD.net, INHD, and ESPNHD.


InHD will only sell their service to cable.

[HDTVFanAtic]

bdraw: VOOM wins the HD race hands down. They don't have ESPNHD or the other two HD channels you mention. But then D* and E* don't have Cinemax, Startz, etc. (See www.voom.com for the list of channels that are carried).

I cannot cut and paste a link as voom.com uses flash - but if you go to programming, plus packs and details....buried deep within you will see something to the following:

"Starz! and Showtime Plus Packs are delivered on Satellite Capacity that is only temporarily available to Rainbow DBS. Rainbow DBS may be required to cease transmitting over this capacity at any time."

Now, I can tell you the date to end was April 14th and voom.com stated that up until 4/14.

Now you get the above statement - that those can disappear at any time.

That is another reason that has slowed me down on getting Voom.

[bdraw]

And if Voom gets HD.net, INHD, and ESPNHD.


InHD will only sell their service to cable.

If this were offically true, they would be sued. It is not legal to only offer a channel to cable.

[bdraw]

Still can't watch Sunday Ticket or Cart Races on Voom.

I already have two MSO's 3 is too many. I get more then my share of old movies and nature shows with the channels I get.

The only appeal that zoom has to me over D* is the HD news channel. Considering they don't offer the Sunday Ticket, it is just not worth it to me to have 3 providers. Plus no way to record. Honestly if it wasn't for ESPNHD and ST I would drop D* as well.

[HDTVFanAtic]

And if Voom gets HD.net, INHD, and ESPNHD.


InHD will only sell their service to cable.

If this were offically true, they would be sued. It is not legal to only offer a channel to cable.

It's true - Watch the channel. They even position themselves that it's only available on cable. And if you watch what they offer in terms of special programming, you would understand why they only offer it on cable.

[teampozer]

I may be wrong, but isn't INHD part of the INDemand family of channels? INDemand of course being the PPV provider for the cable companies. This would make sense that INHD would not be available to the satellite services.

[bdraw]

The channel says "Only on cable" which is true it is only on cable. But if it ever becomes proven that D* or E* attempted to carry the channels and INHD either said no, or jacked the price up on them, D* or E* could sue, because it is against the law. There is a big thread about this over at avs, I am not a lawyer I am just repeating what I have read over there.

[HDTVFanAtic]

The fact is they carry material such as a HD feed of the NBA All Star Game through TNT and NBA/MLB games in HD on systems that have the ability to purchase those packages.

They cannot sell to Satellite as their contracts with their suppliers will not let them.

It's no difference than Universal having rights to Miami Vice in VHS but cannot put it out on DVD as they do not have clearance for the songs that made up Miami Vice to be sold in a digital format.

People can make restraint of trade arguements all they want, but if the program material is licensed by the owner, INHD has no choice.

[Dknow]

Comparing the three

D*

HD eq. is expen$ive
HD eq. is the best
HD programming is the least

E*

HD eq. is Free
HD eq. has issues
HD programming is on par

Voom

HD eq. is Free (for now)
HD eq. is ok
HD programming is from what I hear just full of BS programming.


Personally I think D*, E* and cable will all catch up to Voom with real programming once HD catches on with mainstream America. Until then I'll just benefit from the competition.

[Vail55]

[quote=bdraw]And if Voom gets HD.net, INHD, and ESPNHD.


InHD will only sell their service to cable.

If this were offically true, they would be sued. It is not legal to only offer a channel to cable.

Not so! I lived in Philly and Comcast SportsNet home of the Flyers, 76ers and Phillies ONLY offers this sports channel on Comcast cable! DirectTv has been sueing for 5 years and nothing has come out of this except appeal after appeal. No end in site. When I lived near Philly I had to subscribe to Comcast Premium plan because you could not even get SportsNet without premium cable! I had to pay Direct tV and premium cable cause I had to have this sports channel. That was the only cable channel I ever watched. Moral of story- never say they can never do something...they just bury it in the legal system. It also helps when the cable channel owns the teams and the arena! 8O