Metro Detroit (Royal Oak) review

[TheTimm]

Had the Voom installed two days ago -- so far, so good.

Don Lor's did the install and seemed to do a fine job, although I'm no expert. The main problem is intermittent reception of ch. 50. The Tech noted this on the paperwork and I'm scheduled for an antenna upgrade evaluation on Saturday. Also, no reception of ch. 20, but this is apparently a "mapping" problem, whatever that is. I'm getting both these channels from my other tuner/antenna set-up so I'm not too concerned.

I was concerned when it all went dead on the first night -- nothing but snow on the screen, dead remote, dead receiver. But I called customer service - got through almost immediately - and they resolved the problem in a couple of minutes (just had to unplug it for a minute and plug it back in).

Voom itself I absolutely love so far. I'm addicted to the concerts and videos on RAVE, and I think I want to marry MOOV. Have also stumbled across a few movies I enjoyed on the CINEMA 10 channels. I find the remote control easy to use and well-designed. I also like the digital music choices - much better than local radio -- no commercials and no idiot dj's. OTA reception, excluding 20 & 50, is locked on. 2,4,7,38,56,62 are all coming in strong with no issues.

So far, love it.

 

[jtruong]

Hey TheTimm. I'm also in Royal Oak and have had Voom for 1 week. I'm also having the same problems with channel 20 and 50. I'm actually getting the same problem with channel 62 as with 50 (signal comes in and out). I didn't find this out till this weekend, so the next service date that I could get isn't for a few weeks. Post here after the service call and let us know if the problem is fixed or not. Thanks!

John

 

[TheTimm]

Channel 20 has made an appearance! I woke up with it this morning. Either Sean Mota had something to do with this, or it was just a big coincidence that it appeared a couple days after I e-mailed him about the problem. Anyone else in Detroit getting it now? jtruong? Any luck?

Still waiting for Saturday to see about a bigger antenna for channel 50. . .

 

[Slick]

(still 5.68 software)Just got the new update (to my OTA map)

I think that is what you Voomers have been calling it, I just was looking thru my channels and BAM, there it was the WB channel 20.. I was not mapped for this channel before and there it was, I was pretty happy..

I take it that every other Voomer got the update as well??

I just read a good artical in Fangoria magazine about David Sehring the creator of Monsters HD on Voom.. I dont thik Voom advertise very well and I think this will give us a little more exposure..

I will have to tell any new people out there looking to Voom do it even if there is a few problems with your install you will love it in the long run.. Cya Slick

 

[FunkyBoss]

What software version does it say you are running?

 

[jtruong]

The WB also showed up for me too this morning, but that didn't necessarily mean my software version was upgraded. I checked and it's still 5.58 (I think that's it).

 

[jtruong]

Yup, I got channel 20 too. I checked after reading your post and I've got it. I don't have the software upgrade though. Hopefully that'll happen soon.

John

 

[jtruong]

OTA Signal Strength Problem

Here’s my situation. I can finally pick up all of my local OTA channels, but channels 50, 56, and 62 (UPN, PBS, and CBS) have a very weak signal. I haven’t been able to watch more than a few minutes on these channels before it freezes and I lose the channel. I’ve checked the signal strengths for the other channels and they’re great. Channel 2, 4, and 7 (Fox, NBC, and ABC) are usually around 90 and channel 20 (WB) is around 70.

It seems that the UHF channels (50, 56, 62) are the worse in terms of signal strength. Although is channel 20 UHF or VHF? Anyway, I do have a technician coming out on the 17th (the earliest Saturday appointment I could get), but I wanted to find out what should I make sure he checks out? For something like this, would raise the antenna help? Should I expect him to replace the antenna with a different one? What other things should I make sure he checks out? Thanks in advance!

John

 

[wasch_24]

If the weak stations are a few degrees off from the stronger ones the tech may be able to move the antenna slightly to get the best of both. Moving the antenna may help as well. The best method I have experienced is having the tech use a hands free cell phone while on the roof and you on the home phone in front of the TV checking reception changes. He won't be able to upgrade unless Voom directs him to which means that you have to convince Voom you need to be upgraded so they will instruct the tech to do so.

Moderator Note: I moved this thread to the "In Your Area" forum because we are trying to keep all OTA questions in one location.

 

[vurbano]

nope, you just got your mapping fixed. 5.68 is the old version.

 

[wasch_24]

Edited title to prevent mass hysteria

 

[r.jones1116]

OTA Signal Strength Problem

Increasing height will probably help but it could be all you need to do is rotate the antenna towards the transmitter. Go to www.antennaweb.org, type in your info and look at your street level map. This map shows your house in relation to the broadcasting towers. If it is a rotation issue, you have to ask yourself, is it worth $100.00 (material cost:rotator and wire) to receive the channel. Keep in mind that OTA will cause you to loose hair and cuss your loved ones (way too many factors that effect reception). What comes in great today doesn't imply that it will tomorrow.

 

[bryan27]

Edited title to prevent mass hysteria

Change it more. I was still hysteric

 

[Slick]

I went and check and yes it is still the same software..
Sorry I did not wanna get everyone all in mass hysteria
LOL you guys are cracking me up.. Hey there wasch_24 thanks for changing the title in this thread.. Well it sounds like a few people got the OTA update, it is so new it is not showing up in my show info guide yet..

Cya fellow Voomers

 

[jtruong]

Thanks for the responses. I checked antennaweb.org and the direction for channel 56 and 62 is the same direction as channel 20 and 20 is coming in great. Channel 50 is in a slightly different direction, but not much.

I like the idea of the tech adjusting the antenna while I check the signal strength. I'll make sure to recommend that if the tech doesn't. I SOOOO hoping that the tech doesn't muck something else up by trying to fix this problem.

John

 

[Slick]

Hey there jtruong I think it depends how much power the station is putting out makes a big diffrence, because I get a bunch of ota channels but UPN 50 which is in the same direction has never come in at all..

Channel 2 is in the same direction but I only get that one during prime time 8pm and after, I am just making a educated guess here maybe some one could tell you a little better than me..

I get 4,7,56,62,38, and I just got mapped for WB channel 20, and I am getting that during the mid day so that is telling me that I will get that station all the time (I Hope).. Good luck Cya Slick

 

[Tvlman]

How do you check signal strength for OTA?

 

[voomvoom]

How do you check signal strength for OTA?

Tylman : Press your "HELP" button... should be on Options & Settings page, "Getting Started" should be highlighted, Press your "INFO" button... should be on EPG information page, "Epg: 1.9.6D" should be highlighted, Press your "OK" button... should be on Help page, 1st page is "System Status - Hardware"... you want page 3 "System Status - Channel", Press down button twice... should be there...

 

[jtruong]

Cool, thanks Slick. BTW, where in the Detroit metro area are you? I'm in Royal Oak.

 

[Slick]

Hey there jtruong I am on the very most east side o Michigan on the Saint Clair river, 32 mile and I-94 right on the border of Canada and the US.. I have been thinking about getting a rotor for my antenna so I can get Canadian channels on the old tv..

Well good luck to you on your quest for OTA channels, in can be tiring at times but worth it.. Cya Slick