my mistake i thought it mentioned the HD version of this Disney movie.

I hear HBO is going to start broadcasting all there channels in HD! :rolleyes:

I hear HBO is going to start broadcasting all there channels in HD! :rolleyes:
Yes, HBO will begin to start up new HBO & Cinemax HD channels in September, but will do these in steps through the 2nd qtr of 2008. See http://www.tvpredictions.com/hbofeeds061207.htm as well as the sticky for the HBO/Cinemax at the top of this forum. But there has been absolutely nothing from Verizon on when they will begin to add the new HD channels or even add the existing national HD channels that they don't have. My guess is that they are focused on rolling out the new IMG guide and we won't see anything until that roll-out is done and the phone calls to the CSRs subside. So maybe in September, once TBS-HD and CNN-HD start up?

Scanning the article I don't see anything about it being shown in HD VOD, just regular VOD.
I called FiOS and asked them about VOD-HD. They don't have it yet, but they are looking into it for the future. :rolleyes:

I have notified the CSR's that I think the following changes should be made to the new IMG:

1. After watching a DVR-recorded program, I immediately erase it. Under the old system that was quick and easy. With the new IMG, it is more difficult: To erase, you have to go back to the menu and find the program you want to erase and then drill down the menus to erase it. Too complicated. It should be: watch the program; hit the black square on the remote control; select erase and erase.

2. IMG TV Guide Options: It is not possible to permanently choose a list of channels that will appear when you bring up the TV Guide --- such as HD channels or Favorites. As soon as you leave the Guide, it always reverts to the default All. I would like to be able to select HD in the Guide that always appears without my having to temporarily select it every time. That way, I can get Favorites by hitting the Favorites button on the remote and HD when I select the Guide button.

Hilltop I do see your points(especially on the DVR functions) but IMHO two extra button presses to access the HD chs isn't really THAT big a deal. Then again i'm almost 50 & STILL luv going thru the gears on my 6 sp. manual car!!! just that kinda guy I guess.:)

Hilltop...

Other than your suggested enhancements... any other feedback???

How about is there any / easy way to extend the time of a currently recording show... or a "non live" show?

Hilltop I do see your points(especially on the DVR functions) but IMHO two extra button presses to access the HD chs isn't really THAT big a deal. Then again i'm almost 50 & STILL luv going thru the gears on my 6 sp. manual car!!! just that kinda guy I guess.:)

It sounds like there is no way to create a list of only channels you receive, pay for or want to flip through either when watching TV or in the guide. Currrenltly, you can remove channels and leave only those in which you are interested to watch as you flip up and down or in the guide.

The new one sounds like this has been removed and you must see every channel that is on their system as you flip up and down. This is prehistoric.

If I were a cable network though, I'd make damn sure that you couldn't just "erase" my channel from your guide. Especially since Verizon could probably sit down at the next meeting and print out some data that said X subscribers deleted Channel Y from their guide and Channel Y isn't going to get nearly the fee increase they thought they were.

If Channel Y threatens to just end negotiations, you feed that data to every other provider and watch them implode.

If I were a cable network though, I'd make damn sure that you couldn't just "erase" my channel from your guide. Especially since Verizon could probably sit down at the next meeting and print out some data that said X subscribers deleted Channel Y from their guide and Channel Y isn't going to get nearly the fee increase they thought they were.

If Channel Y threatens to just end negotiations, you feed that data to every other provider and watch them implode.

The FiOS Guide is the only one I know of that has a permanent default to 'All'. You can temporarily go to a very few other options in the Guide, but after you leave it, it always reverts. Bad. :eek:

Hilltop...

Other than your suggested enhancements... any other feedback???

How about is there any / easy way to extend the time of a currently recording show... or a "non live" show?

1. There is now a 'paging' function which moves the list by many lines rather than having to key each one up/down; however, it only works on a few lists! Dumb. :confused:

2. There should be a Setup option which allows the sub to select whether or not he wants to 'confirm' every choice he makes before it happens. As it is now, you have to confirm almost everything meaning more keystrokes. This is especially bad when trying to select/deselect numerous channels from a list or deleting shows from the DVR.

3. Yes, you can start earlier or end later with various options available on 'series' record.

Hilltop I do see your points(especially on the DVR functions) but IMHO two extra button presses to access the HD chs isn't really THAT big a deal. Then again i'm almost 50 & STILL luv going thru the gears on my 6 sp. manual car!!! just that kinda guy I guess.:)

The VZ 'suit' I talked with for more than an hour several months ago told me his plan was to get all IMG functions available in 2 keystrokes. That is a good goal and I wish him luck.

Note: I do not pretend to enjoy creeping along First Colonial at lunch time or around 3:30 pm and especially would not enjoy it with a clutch. I used to drive sports cars which had manuals, but it is an automatic sedan now. I'll admit to being impatient and liking the good life. Fewer keystrokes is better IMHO. :D

Well, I finally have all 3 STB's up and running with the IMG. A tech came to my house today to see what the problem was since they had already fixed the 'Group Ticket' problem (problem was at the VHO) of which I was a member. Turns out that my HD-only STB coincidentally went bad (the HDMI port was bad) at exactly the same time as the IMG was installed (what are the odds?). Got a new HD-only STB. I am a Happy Camper again and steadily learning the ins and outs of the new toy. :)

It sounds like there is no way to create a list of only channels you receive, pay for or want to flip through either when watching TV or in the guide. Currrenltly, you can remove channels and leave only those in which you are interested to watch as you flip up and down or in the guide.

The new one sounds like this has been removed and you must see every channel that is on their system as you flip up and down. This is prehistoric.

I noticed this-I would prefer to edit the program guide and set a default.

but as a workaround you could just set a favorites list & access it by the FAVORITES button & ignore the GUIDE button.

Note to Hilltop: brother do I know what you mean but frankly being stuck in traffic around here sucks no matter what you drive. but I'll agree to disagree!!! :)

Does anyone know if there is any progress on getting the In Demand sport packages?

I noticed this-I would prefer to edit the program guide and set a default.

but as a workaround you could just set a favorites list & access it by the FAVORITES button & ignore the GUIDE button.

Note to Hilltop: brother do I know what you mean but frankly being stuck in traffic around here sucks no matter what you drive. but I'll agree to disagree!!! :)

Except that if you add a normal tier station, say USA, to your favorites it will also add the Spanish tier counterpart. So, you will double up on a lot of stations.

yes & if you remove the La Conexion ch it's Premier tier counterpart is removed as well!!!! not a good thing :(

yes & if you remove the La Conexion ch it's Premier tier counterpart is removed as well!!!! not a good thing :(

Yep, I've opened up a trouble ticket to make them aware.

I'm in So.Calif, and haven't seen the new IMG hot my boxes. However, I did have a question...

I have parental controls activated so the li'l ones can't see the Playboy Channel. I did notice, though, that Playboy programming can be activated off of VOD from the Subscriptions submenu. Is there any way to prevent that with a password?

Also, any plans for FiOS to offer any other adult channels besides Playboy?

Finally, does the new IMG allow the box to auto tune to a channel at a specific time WITHOUT recording it? I do miss that function from my Dish boxes.

Thanks, all.

I'm in So.Calif, and haven't seen the new IMG hot my boxes. However, I did have a question...

I have parental controls activated so the li'l ones can't see the Playboy Channel. I did notice, though, that Playboy programming can be activated off of VOD from the Subscriptions submenu. Is there any way to prevent that with a password?

Also, any plans for FiOS to offer any other adult channels besides Playboy?

Finally, does the new IMG allow the box to auto tune to a channel at a specific time WITHOUT recording it? I do miss that function from my Dish boxes.

Thanks, all.

I can't answer the Parental Control questions because I don't have Playboy Channel, however the other question the answer is no, in fact they even removed the autotuning function("Set a Reminder") from the non-DVR boxes with the new IMG.

I can't answer the Parental Control questions because I don't have Playboy Channel, however the other question the answer is no, in fact they even removed the autotuning function("Set a Reminder") from the non-DVR boxes with the new IMG.

The Beta testers lead FiOS down some very dark and strange paths with IMG.

Here are my entries for the best and worst changes related to IMG as compared to IPG:

Best: Automatically preventing the accidental listing of 3 simultaneous recordings.

Worst: Manipulation of recorded DVR programs - especially the deletion sequence.

Yep, I've opened up a trouble ticket to make them aware.

When I called a FiOS CSR to complain about this, he said he had never heard of the problem and I could tell by his talk that he thought the problem was strictly isolated to my case. I even told him that I knew it was a system-wide problem. He never even bothered with the usual FiOS first fix solution: disconnect from the wall. Before I knew it he had sent a signal to reset my STB just a few minutes before I was to record a show. Luckily, the box reset in time to record it (with one minute to spare). He then believed me and wrote up the trouble ticket. :rolleyes:

1. Any word of FiOS getting NBA TV, MSG-HD, or the Voom Channels-HD?

2. Also wondering about when they Picture-in-Picture will work.

3. And when will the Multi-room DVR will stream to the HD boxes.

Does anyone know if there is any progress on getting the In Demand sport packages?

tune to 701

What is this IMG conversion?

What is this IMG conversion?
This the new Interactive Media Guide software & user interface for the STBs and DVRs. It is the process of rolling out across the US to each state or market over the next month. Odds are as a new customer, you will get a box with the IMG, so they don't have to remotely upgrade you a few days or weeks later.

1. Any word of FiOS getting NBA TV, MSG-HD, or the Voom Channels-HD?

2. Also wondering about when they Picture-in-Picture will work.

3. And when will the Multi-room DVR will stream to the HD boxes.

1. don't know who owns NBA TV but MSG-HD(& FSNY-HD) and the Voom tier are owned by Cablevision. technically the Voom chs are owned by Rainbow Media but guess who THEIR parent company is? also it seems E* still has an exclusive deal for the Voom tier.
if you're aware of the nastiness that occurred when FiOS TV was launched on Long Island last year you can see a possible reason for Verizon & Cablevision having an acrimonious relationship. from looking at the FiOS ch lineups in other markets it seems significant to me that the only HD RSNs missing seem to be those owned by Cablevision(in NY/NJ) and one owned by Comcast(in VA & MD).

IMHO you'll probably see the Voom tier first-i'm sure Cablevision could use the extra revenue source(assuming that Vz has any interest in carrying these chs.)

2. & 3. are probably software issues. I'll guess the Home Media-enabled boxes will be able to stream HD content well before Vz will worry about PIP issues. I'll go further out on a limb & speculate that HD VOD content will be added around the same time.

1. don't know who owns NBA TV but MSG-HD(& FSNY-HD) and the Voom tier are owned by Cablevision. technically the Voom chs are owned by Rainbow Media but guess who THEIR parent company is? also it seems E* still has an exclusive deal for the Voom tier.
if you're aware of the nastiness that occurred when FiOS TV was launched on Long Island last year you can see a possible reason for Verizon & Cablevision having an acrimonious relationship. from looking at the FiOS ch lineups in other markets it seems significant to me that the only HD RSNs missing seem to be those owned by Cablevision(in NY/NJ) and one owned by Comcast(in VA & MD).

As long as Jimmy Dolan draws a [sober] breath, MSG-HD and FSN-NY HD will not be seen on any platform that's not standard cable. That inlcudes satellite tv and telco cable.
He doesn't have to sell the channels to others, the feds won't yet crimp this expression of free enterprise, and lets the cable systems that carry the channels advertise a unique selling point [all major NY teams in HD] something others can't claim. Same principle with regional news like NY1 [Time Warner] or News 12.

Anyone know if FIOS has the new M-cards? I just bought a new Tivo HD which can take the M-card. I need it since I already have 6 devices, one of which is the Tivo S3 that has 2 cable cards in it. FIOS maxes out at 7 'devices' and therefore they can't even give me 2 conventional cards which would put me over the limit of 7.

My only solution is to get an M-card which would count as 1 device.

Hi,

For all the fios subscribers out there in the Northern New Jersey area:

Are the New York Rangers home games broadcast in HD?

I know there is no dedicated MSG-HD on fios but maybe they broadcast it on different HD channels like Comcast does. I have comcast now and want to switch over to fios but I need Rangers in HD. Thanks in advance for any replies!

Ray

Richmond, VA area got the new guide last night. Haven't had a chance to explore yet, but it is very different.

Richmond, VA area got the new guide last night. Haven't had a chance to explore yet, but it is very different.

We have had it here in Virginia Beach for a few days now. I would be interested in hearing if you have two of my problems. VZ has open trouble tickets for both: :confused:

1. Unable to record a 'series' of programs (such as 'Rome is Burning' everyday) on 826 (ESPNHD). I can only record one show at a time. When I try to get the entire series, I get a screen that asks me if I want to exit or cancel.

2. When I try to add/delete an english speaking channel from my Favorites list, IMG automatically adds/deletes the corresponding spanish speaking channel in the 500 series of numbers in addition to the desired english speaking channel. And vice-versa spanish to english.

Hi,

For all the fios subscribers out there in the Northern New Jersey area:

Are the New York Rangers home games broadcast in HD?

I know there is no dedicated MSG-HD on fios but maybe they broadcast it on different HD channels like Comcast does. I have comcast now and want to switch over to fios but I need Rangers in HD. Thanks in advance for any replies!

Ray

Ray for reasons already outlined in posts 3528-9 there's no point in holding your breath-absent any atypical action by the FCC the Dolans are NOT going to allow MSG-HD on any TV provider except Cablevision. they own the ch. they own the Rangers. I'm pretty sure they DON'T like Verizon. and it seems every year TWC has trouble enough keeping the SD MSG & FSN-NY chs.

for now, & probably for the forseeable future, anyone who wants MSG-HD outside of Cablevision territory is SOL.

Ray for reasons already outlined in posts 3528-9 there's no point in holding your breath-absent any atypical action by the FCC the Dolans are NOT going to allow MSG-HD on any TV provider except Cablevision. they own the ch. they own the Rangers. I'm pretty sure they DON'T like Verizon. and it seems every year TWC has trouble enough keeping the SD MSG & FSN-NY chs.

for now, & probably for the forseeable future, anyone who wants MSG-HD outside of Cablevision territory is SOL.
I am in the exact same boat. Would love to switch to Verizon (from Comcast in North Jersey) but don't want to sacrifice Rangers games in HD. Unfortunately, waiting around for the FCC to act isn't a likely near-term solution. The NHL should have considered this, quite frankly, when they approved the sale to Cablevision. That notwithstanding, the Dolans would likely make more money if they were to offer carriage rights to other operators.

Hi, my family is interested in getting Fios TV. We are not big TV watchers though. We have Comcast non-digital on all our TVs, except in the HDTV room, which has digital HD.

When we called for details we found that you get more than 20 channels on a TV you need a box. We personally find this annoying to have to have a large box next to every TV. All we'd want is the standard amount of analog channels in 1-99, but this is not possible without a box.

Now I know the HD box offered with Fios is the same HD Motorola box comcast gives us. However, are the boxes for the non-HD TV's the same large Motorola or something else, maybe smaller?

Thanks.

Just got a New Guide Info pack in the mail here in MA, hopefully we'll get the guide over the weekend

Hi, my family is interested in getting Fios TV. We are not big TV watchers though. We have Comcast non-digital on all our TVs, except in the HDTV room, which has digital HD.

When we called for details we found that you get more than 20 channels on a TV you need a box. We personally find this annoying to have to have a large box next to every TV. All we'd want is the standard amount of analog channels in 1-99, but this is not possible without a box.

Now I know the HD box offered with Fios is the same HD Motorola box comcast gives us. However, are the boxes for the non-HD TV's the same large Motorola or something else, maybe smaller?

Thanks.

The SD boxes are smaller and black. According to Verizon's site the dimensions are:

Dimensions - W 14.75 in. D 10 in. H 2.75 in.

The SD boxes are smaller and black. According to Verizon's site the dimensions are:

Dimensions - W 14.75 in. D 10 in. H 2.75 in.

Thanks, got the model number?

Thanks, got the model number?

I think it is a Motorola QIP-2500. You can find lots of info at http://www.verizonfios.com/tv/

Richmond, VA area got the new guide last night. Haven't had a chance to explore yet, but it is very different.


Also in Richmond, and got it last night. I don't have the DVR option (use TiVo S3), but do have an HD STB. Maybe I'm just not used to it, but it seems awfully slow in response to commands.

Just got a New Guide Info pack in the mail here in MA, hopefully we'll get the guide over the weekend
The supposed IMG roll-out schedule for August that was posted on dslreports and here in the Fios Installation thread in the reception hardware is:

MA 8/2
new customers only NJ/PA/DE 8/2
other parts NJ 8/7
NY 8/9
CA 8/14
FL 8/16
TX 8/21
MD 8/23 (and N. VA)
existing customers NJ/PA/DE 8/28

If this is accurate, then you may get the IMG on Thursday. Of course, if this list is the plan, it is obviously subject to change if Verizon runs into problems. Given all the not so positive reports for the new IMG, I rather be at the end of the list than at the top.

Also in Richmond, and got it last night. I don't have the DVR option (use TiVo S3), but do have an HD STB. Maybe I'm just not used to it, but it seems awfully slow in response to commands.

Mine did that at first also until the company rebooted it a few times during the night. I have no idea what they did, but it fixed that specific problem.

Houston, I think we have a problem with my DVR STB. Mine is going haywire: :confused:
- Sometimes stopping 'Play' when it starts to 'Record'
- Sometimes starting at the end instead of the beginning of an initial playback and then shifting to 'Live' by itself
- Sometimes double recording the same program at the same time (now that's really hard to do)
- Not recording 'series' on 826 (ESPNHD)
- Simultaneously adding/deleting both spanish and english channels when I want to only add/delete one or the other

I am a long time D* user on the verge of leaving for FIOS. Could someone answer the following:
Is the equipment problematic? Are the guides "speedy"? Are there picture drop outs, freezing boxes and random reboots?
Is SD/HD as good as everyone claims over D*? Anything else notable to mention?

I really like D*, and they have done me well over the years. However, the equipment problems are WAY TOO numerous and I literally end up taking $$$ out of pocket and the problem never really gets resolved. It gets really frustrating and I think it's time i move on....

I am a long time D* user on the verge of leaving for FIOS. Could someone answer the following:
Is the equipment problematic? Are the guides "speedy"? Are there picture drop outs, freezing boxes and random reboots?
Is SD/HD as good as everyone claims over D*? Anything else notable to mention?

I really like D*, and they have done me well over the years. However, the equipment problems are WAY TOO numerous and I literally end up taking $$$ out of pocket and the problem never really gets resolved. It gets really frustrating and I think it's time i move on....

Suggestion: I would refer you to the entries prior to your posting. They answer your questions. And no, you don't have to read more than 100 pages to get the picture about FiOS's pluses and minuses.

I am a long time D* user on the verge of leaving for FIOS. Could someone answer the following:
Is the equipment problematic? Are the guides "speedy"? Are there picture drop outs, freezing boxes and random reboots?
Is SD/HD as good as everyone claims over D*? Anything else notable to mention?

I really like D*, and they have done me well over the years. However, the equipment problems are WAY TOO numerous and I literally end up taking $$$ out of pocket and the problem never really gets resolved. It gets really frustrating and I think it's time i move on....

There are problems. Some are being slowly addressed. I had D* for about ten years and at this current point in time I'm on the fence as to whether I would switch knowing what I know now. If V* continues to use the same Moto DVR box then I will strongly either consider a 3 series Tivo or seeing if the new D* DVR has had it's problems worked out. There are several problems with the moto box that are extremely frustrating. The guide info sucks, there are stuttering issues that can be resolved but not perminently. it's buggy and the HD is not very big. The PQ is great but they still have a long way to go before they catch up to Tivo type performance.

I am a long time D* user on the verge of leaving for FIOS. Could someone answer the following:
Is the equipment problematic? Are the guides "speedy"? Are there picture drop outs, freezing boxes and random reboots?
Is SD/HD as good as everyone claims over D*? Anything else notable to mention?

I really like D*, and they have done me well over the years. However, the equipment problems are WAY TOO numerous and I literally end up taking $$$ out of pocket and the problem never really gets resolved. It gets really frustrating and I think it's time i move on....
You know, it depends on what's most important to you.

If you want some kind of happy feeling from interacting with your STB, you might be disappointed.

I wanted more channels, better quality, for less money. I had Dish HD, which the general consensus is that it's picture quality was superior to DTV (not universal and if you want to disagree, fine, I'm not going to argue) ... and FIOS HD just blows away Dish HD. I haven't seen a single compression artifact. Both SD + HD are vastly superior. And I DO get more channels for less $$. And better quality.

I just don't care if there are minor glitches with the software. I had a friggin' Dish 811, so the Moto DVR is a delight thus far.

I used to have dial-up too, so the 5/2 broadband Internet is keeping me smiling too.

I just don't care if there are minor glitches with the software. I had a friggin' Dish 811, so the Moto DVR is a delight thus far.

I'd be interested in hearing your views on this after you get the new IMG. :D

There are problems. Some are being slowly addressed. I had D* for about ten years and at this current point in time I'm on the fence as to whether I would switch knowing what I know now. If V* continues to use the same Moto DVR box then I will strongly either consider a 3 series Tivo or seeing if the new D* DVR has had it's problems worked out. There are several problems with the moto box that are extremely frustrating. The guide info sucks, there are stuttering issues that can be resolved but not perminently. it's buggy and the HD is not very big. The PQ is great but they still have a long way to go before they catch up to Tivo type performance.

It sounds like and digital TV provider has problems with it's boxes. I don't think I'd get the digital recorder, but would get the HD box.

I don't understand why cable providers go with Motorola...I mean I love their wireless phones, but that's about it. I always thought their boxes were ALWAYS buggy....unless it's a combination of the cable comp and Moto.

BTW, thank you all for your response. The reason I asked, is sometimes you read through these posts and think "FIOS" is horrible. I like to get a specific and honest response like those above. Thanks.

i guess it comes down to "nice PQ/ bad box" or "not as nice picture quality/bad box".

I'd be interested in hearing your views on this after you get the new IMG. :D
I'm like the last in line, so I'm hoping they're on SP2 by then ;)

For those of you with IMG:

Does the IMG distinguish between the second week and the current week of listings? With the old Verizon guide, the second Monday, Tuesday, etc., is labeled the same as the current Monday, Tuesday, etc.

The COMCAST guide labeled the second week in mm/dd format while the first week was day-of-the-week. That is one of the few features that I missed once I switched from COMCAST to FIOS TV.

For those of you with IMG:

Does the IMG distinguish between the second week and the current week of listings? With the old Verizon guide, the second Monday, Tuesday, etc., is labeled the same as the current Monday, Tuesday, etc.

The COMCAST guide labeled the second week in mm/dd format while the first week was day-of-the-week. That is one of the few features that I missed once I switched from COMCAST to FIOS TV.

It does not show days of the week anymore when you go through the guide, I believe it has Today, Tomorrow, and then the actual date. It is not very convenient.

I have a few issues with new guide. I am in VA and we got our guide on tuesday. I called them about these issues but they said no one else has found this so may be isolated and second problem to be the way it is designed.

Firstly my IMG guide cuts the top and bottom listing. I remember with comcast you had a setting where you could move the picture up or down. Neither me or the tech could find that.

Secondly, When I got to a show lets say "Law and Order" and look up info, firstly it show most rerun to be new. Secondly if you see the info, it tells you the name of eposide. If the episode is being shown multiple times or is also in HD, it will show "next airings button". But next airings shows only that particular episode times.

There is no function anywhere that would let you see all law and order episodes and let u select which ones you want to record.

I also don't like the new feature where it shows how many hours of HD and regular tv show you can record. I prefered 25% full kind of info.

Maybe i am missing something and others have better luck.

I have a few issues with new guide. I am in VA and we got our guide on tuesday. I called them about these issues but they said no one else has found this so may be isolated and second problem to be the way it is designed.

Firstly my IMG guide cuts the top and bottom listing. I remember with comcast you had a setting where you could move the picture up or down. Neither me or the tech could find that.

Secondly, When I got to a show lets say "Law and Order" and look up info, firstly it show most rerun to be new. Secondly if you see the info, it tells you the name of eposide. If the episode is being shown multiple times or is also in HD, it will show "next airings button". But next airings shows only that particular episode times.

There is no function anywhere that would let you see all law and order episodes and let u select which ones you want to record.

I also don't like the new feature where it shows how many hours of HD and regular tv show you can record. I prefered 25% full kind of info.

Maybe i am missing something and others have better luck.

Definitely not isolated, same issues here, along with a few others.

I'm like the last in line, so I'm hoping they're on SP2 by then ;)

Great answer! :)
I had several good talks on the phone today about my HD-DVR IMG problems. They are taking the problems seriously; they are diligently working to fix them; they are keeping me regularly updated. Will post when some or all are fixed (no ETR). Of the ones I have mentioned above, the only one he said was previously known and they were already trying to fix is the simultaneous English/spanish issue.

The supposed IMG roll-out schedule for August that was posted on dslreports and here in the Fios Installation thread in the reception hardware is:

MA 8/2
new customers only NJ/PA/DE 8/2
other parts NJ 8/7
NY 8/9
CA 8/14
FL 8/16
TX 8/21
MD 8/23 (and N. VA)
existing customers NJ/PA/DE 8/28

If this is accurate, then you may get the IMG on Thursday. Of course, if this list is the plan, it is obviously subject to change if Verizon runs into problems. Given all the not so positive reports for the new IMG, I rather be at the end of the list than at the top.

new customers only NJ/PA/DE 8/2 (South Jersey/PA/DE - VHO8) Will let you know if comes online in South Jersey on 8/2.....I'm sure I'll be doing an install *****As of 8/3 no IMG on new installs in South Jersey
other parts NJ 8/7 (Mercer County and North Jersey - VHO7)
existing customers NJ/PA/DE 8/28 (South Jersey/PA/DE - VHO8)

Jim

This the new Interactive Media Guide software & user interface for the STBs and DVRs. It is the process of rolling out across the US to each state or market over the next month. Odds are as a new customer, you will get a box with the IMG, so they don't have to remotely upgrade you a few days or weeks later.

Most of the boxes sit in a warehouse for a while before they make it through the distribution process and onto the trucks....and sometimes the boxes sit on the truck for a while. I know that most tech do not "rotate their stock".

The IMG will download while the modules are downloaded during the initialization process.

-Jim

I think it is a Motorola QIP-2500. You can find lots of info at http://www.verizonfios.com/tv/

There is another SD box (as well as an SD DVR) supposedly hitting the street by the end of the year. The box is a Motorola that is significantly smaller than the current qip2500. (I believe it is the same box that C* uses) It's about six inches square and about 2 inches high. It allows you to get the premier package and premiums although you don't have access to the IMG or VOD. It's just a "basic" digital converter.

-Jim

I called FiOS and asked them about VOD-HD. They don't have it yet, but they are looking into it for the future. :rolleyes:

I believe Ivan announced at CES, that HD-VOD should be available by year's end. I believe it's in testing to select customers somewhere in the new england market.

-Jim

There is another SD box (as well as an SD DVR) supposedly hitting the street by the end of the year. The box is a Motorola that is significantly smaller than the current qip2500. (I believe it is the same box that C* uses) It's about six inches square and about 2 inches high. It allows you to get the premier package and premiums although you don't have access to the IMG or VOD. It's just a "basic" digital converter.

-Jim
Will the monthly fee for the new SD box be cheaper since it doesn't do VOD/IMG?

I saw the Comcast box in a friend's house and was amazed by the size. I thought it was a battery recharger at first. My first encounter with digital STB was a Comcast (then AT&T) monster that's the size of my AVR.

I have a few issues with new guide. I am in VA and we got our guide on tuesday. I called them about these issues but they said no one else has found this so may be isolated and second problem to be the way it is designed.

Firstly my IMG guide cuts the top and bottom listing. I remember with comcast you had a setting where you could move the picture up or down. Neither me or the tech could find that. I was lucky and selected as a trial user of the new guide before it was launched. I reported this issue the first day I had the new guide. It only cuts off the top/bottom on my HD set. All my SD sets show a full row for the top and bottom. Even on s-video output on the HD STB, the display is fine. It's just on the HDMI and I'd imagine component outputs that the problem occurs. The rep might not have heard this before, but the guide folks know about it.

Secondly, When I got to a show lets say "Law and Order" and look up info, firstly it show most rerun to be new. Secondly if you see the info, it tells you the name of eposide. If the episode is being shown multiple times or is also in HD, it will show "next airings button". But next airings shows only that particular episode times.

There is no function anywhere that would let you see all law and order episodes and let u select which ones you want to record.That's less the guide itself and more the data provided by the company that gives Verizon their programming info. The new guide isn't going to magically fix poor data.

Does anyone in MA have the new IMG today?

Does anyone in MA have the new IMG today?The Verizon 1-800 # is reporting a delay due to some last minute issues.

Does anyone in MA have the new IMG today?

The word from one of the other forums is that the rollout of the new guide has been delayed.

Thanks for the update

There is another SD box (as well as an SD DVR) supposedly hitting the street by the end of the year. The box is a Motorola that is significantly smaller than the current qip2500. (I believe it is the same box that C* uses) It's about six inches square and about 2 inches high. It allows you to get the premier package and premiums although you don't have access to the IMG or VOD. It's just a "basic" digital converter.

-Jim

Are you referring to the Motorola DCT-700 STB? If so, with C* it does have the guide and VOD... It even has the small picture in the upper right when in guide mode. It only has coax and composite (rca) outputs.

Are you referring to the Motorola DCT-700 STB? If so, with C* it does have the guide and VOD... It even has the small picture in the upper right when in guide mode. It only has coax and composite (rca) outputs.

That must be it. Back in April I told the Verizon installer that I did not like the big SD box on top my 13 inch TV in the kitchen. He responded saying that a much smaller box would be available by mid-summer. When I called the Verizon tech support the other day they had no idea what I was talking about, let alone giving me date for availability.

The word from one of the other forums is that the rollout of the new guide has been delayed.

Serious question: Does anyone know why VZ didn't go with a Tivo contract for FiOS instead of trying to reinvent the wheel?

Are you referring to the Motorola DCT-700 STB? If so, with C* it does have the guide and VOD... It even has the small picture in the upper right when in guide mode. It only has coax and composite (rca) outputs.

it sounds like the new, smaller FiOS SD box is not IP-enabled which would explain why the IMG & VOD is not available(& probably why the box is much smaller than the QIP-2500). also why a Comcast version WOULD have these features.

keep in mind the FiOS boxes are NOT just the same Moto boxes used by other providers with different software-they're hybrid QAM/IP boxes, hence the QIP designation instead of DCT. FiOS VOD, PPV, & the IMG are IP-based. this is why you need the FiOS router even if you don't have FiOS internet service.

Serious question: Does anyone know why VZ didn't go with a Tivo contract for FiOS instead of trying to reinvent the wheel?

I'll take one wild guess: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ;)

So they have delayed the IMG updates.....have they stated if it would be days, weeks or months?

So they have delayed the IMG updates.....have they stated if it would be days, weeks or months?

It depends on when I say I am a Happy Camper again (and maybe a few others). :D

I'll take one wild guess: $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ ;)

You get what you pay for. I still think Tivo is the 'Gold Standard'. ;)

You get what you pay for. I still think Tivo is the 'Gold Standard'. ;)

That's why my 2 'FIOS' PVRs are now the Tivo S3 and the Tivo HD. ;)

That's why my 2 'FIOS' PVRs are now the Tivo S3 and the Tivo HD. ;)

Excellent! Are there any drawbacks about using the Series 3 HD-DVR with FiOS?

I received a mailed notice the other day warning me of the impending release of their new IMG. From the screen shots it seems closer to a media center interface. It would be nice if they could have a movie that you bookmark in the VOD library automatically record when available in Hbo. starz etc.
It would also be nice if they would offer true multi room functionality. You should be able to view HD recorded shows from the HD DVR to another HD box. Being limited to SD recordings and the SD box is kind of backwards considering our desire for hd.
If i read the tivo site's info correctly even their HD offerings do not support HD multi room functionality yet, Ken correct me if I am wrong.
As mentioned before the tivo interface is a gold standard. If you ever had a device that used the tivo interface then using the VZ interface or Cable you can see how incomplete they seem.
I hope in time Verizon will step it up, I am very satisfied with the quality of the signal. I like others would like more HD channels, HD VOD, tivo interface and HD DVR with a larger HD or esata port to add an external drive.

I received a phone call from VZ last night advising me up the impending IMG upgrade. They told me it was slated for Tuesday, August 7th in MA and gave me a number specifically for any upgrade issues. We'll see.

Excellent! Are there any drawbacks about using the Series 3 HD-DVR with FiOS?
You might want to read the threads at Tivo forums such as the tivocommunity.com for details on the pros and cons of the new TivoHD at this time. However among the drawbacks with the TivoHD is you can't get VOD and PPV. The new TivoHD supports M(ultistream)-cards, so you need only one cablecard to support both sets of tuners. But M-cards are fairly new, so the local Verizon office might not have them yet. So for now, you would likely have to pay for two $3/month cablecards. The TivoHD has only a 160GB HD, the same capacity as the 6416. The TivoHD eSATA port is supposed to be enabled later this year, so one should be able to expand capacity. People, of course, are already experimenting on dropping new larger HDs into their TivoHDs as aftermarket mods. I am considering getting the TivoHD for OTA and Fios recording, but am going to wait a month or two to see how it & the new IMG play out and for software fixes from Tivo. But this discussion is more suited to the Fios 6416 thread in the HDTV recorders forum as the TivoHD is an option to dealing with the 6416, not so much as a programming content issue.

...The TivoHD has only a 160GB HD, the same capacity as the 6416. The TivoHD eSATA port is supposed to be enabled later this year, so one should be able to expand capacity. ....

Yeah should probably be in another thread....but since you brought it up...

There is a bunch of different models of TiveHD with various sizes of Hard the 160GB is the 299 model but there are a number of models with larger HD sizies see....

http://www.weaknees.com/series-3-hd-tivo.php

I am seriously considering this too...after reading this post...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11167031&&#post11167031

HILLTOP we appreciate all your hard work/info...I am out in SoCal...its like your a Field Agent...getting your hands dirty in the Field and reporting back...thx

Yeah should probably be in another thread....but since you brought it up...

There is a bunch of different models of TiveHD with various sizes of Hard the 160GB is the 299 model but there are a number of models with larger HD sizies see....

http://www.weaknees.com/series-3-hd-tivo.php

I am seriously considering this too...after reading this post...

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=11167031&&#post11167031

HILLTOP we appreciate all your hard work/info...I am out in SoCal...its like your a Field Agent...getting your hands dirty in the Field and reporting back...thx

Thanks for everyone's updates! :)
I was not trying to hijack this forum into Tivo. I realize that Tivo is on another forum and have read there. What I was looking for was FiOS-specific items of interest connected with Tivo. There may be some gottcha's in the FiOS system when using Tivo that I am not aware of. When I talked with Tivo last night, they said there are 2 different sizes to choose from ( regular and big Drives)--- both called Series 3. I haven't decided what to do yet. :confused:

There is a bunch of different models of TiveHD with various sizes of Hard the 160GB is the 299 model but there are a number of models with larger HD sizies see....

http://www.weaknees.com/series-3-hd-tivo.php
Technically, there's only 1 TiVoHD model right now. Those linked are 3rd party pre-installed upgrade sets.

Technically, there's only 1 TiVoHD model right now. Those linked are 3rd party pre-installed upgrade sets.

Oh man...getting technical on me .... details....details.... :o
but these come with warranties etc and are pre-installed and for a good price... seems like a pretty good alternative....promise last Tivo post....I am still really anxious about the IMG upgrade first.

Thanks for everyone's updates! :)
I was not trying to hijack this forum into Tivo. I realize that Tivo is on another forum and have read there. What I was looking for was FiOS-specific items of interest connected with Tivo. There may be some gottcha's in the FiOS system when using Tivo that I am not aware of. When I talked with Tivo last night, they said there are 2 different sizes to choose from ( regular and big Drives)--- both called Series 3. I haven't decided what to do yet. :confused:
I'll try to keep this to the point for clarification for those confused about the TivoHD option for Fios. Check the HDTV Recorders forum for Series 3 Tivo and QIP 6416 threads and elsewhere on the net for details.

The Series 3 HD Tivo was released last fall at a list price of $799. It has a 250 GB HD, two sets of ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, and two cablecard slots. It did not sell all that well despite recent rebates. It works fairly well with Fios compared to the other cable companies.

The TivoHD is the successor lower cost model, which shipped just after it was officially released less than 2 weeks ago. It has a 160 GB HD, two sets of ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, newer electronics, and supports M-cards, but to save some money, drops the fancy OLED front panel display, the fancy remote, THX certification, and is in a cheaper box. But these are minor differences for most. The fancy remote is available for $50, but I have a Logitech Harmony programmable remote, so in my case, I could care less about the Tivo remote. To use the Tivo, you will need to pay their subscription fee. The cheapest is with the 3 year pre-paid deal.

The issue facing a lot of TivoHD buyers with cable is Switched Digital Video (SDV), especially those on TWC or Cox systems who have announced they will be utilizing SDV across their systems. TivoHD does not currently work with SDV, so SDV channels are not accessible for TivoHD or Series 3 owners. This is not a concern for Fios as they have no need for SDV to free up limited bandwidth.

I had a Series 2 Tivo once. When I got a Panasonic plasma 2.5 years ago, I got a SA8000 HD-DVR from Comcast, which was like falling off a cliff in capability and the interface. I kept the analog Tivo for a while, but the analog channels on the Tivo did not look very good compared to the digital channels from Comcast. I moved and got a Motorola 6412 from Adelphia. Then I switched to Fios and got a 6416. The three leased DVRs have each been a step up, but they still lag way behind the Tivo in capabilities.

Now the lower cost TivoHD is here. I'm seriously thinking of getting one with a larger HD to eventually replace the 6416 and the Sony HDD250 that I use for OTA recording. I also like the output format options including native passthrough that the 6416 does not have. But I'm not inclined to be an early Beta tester. Tivo has already rolled out a software update for TivoHD to fix a problem with one brand of cablecards. At this point, I'm going to wait a while for M-cards become more widely available, the software updates to stabilize, and to see if Tivo will introduce a larger capacity TivoHD once/if the Series 3 models clear out of inventory. I would keep the 6416 for a while after I got a Tivo to make sure it all works, but might step down to a HD STB (for $10/month, aargh) for VOD and as a backup to the TivoHD. Anyway, sorry for getting a bit off the Fios programming topic here, but at $299, the TivoHD is going to be hard to resist for a lot of Fios subscribers.

So what's up? I have been patiently waiting fro csn hd here in dc also news on how fios will take advantage of their pipeline advantage but nothing happens. It is really frustrating because I like the pq of fios but I want to see the caps in HD> But if it's going to be a year or two I pretty much have to switch to D*.

Does anyone have any info for me, I really want to stay but I can't go another year without CSN HD, thanks.

I feel your pain about CSN HD....still waiting for it as well....

I'll try to keep this to the point for clarification for those confused about the TivoHD option for Fios. Check the HDTV Recorders forum for Series 3 Tivo and QIP 6416 threads and elsewhere on the net for details.

The Series 3 HD Tivo was released last fall at a list price of $799. It has a 250 GB HD, two sets of ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, and two cablecard slots. It did not sell all that well despite recent rebates. It works fairly well with Fios compared to the other cable companies.

The TivoHD is the successor lower cost model, which shipped just after it was officially released less than 2 weeks ago. It has a 160 GB HD, two sets of ATSC/QAM/NTSC tuners, newer electronics, and supports M-cards, but to save some money, drops the fancy OLED front panel display, the fancy remote, THX certification, and is in a cheaper box. But these are minor differences for most. The fancy remote is available for $50, but I have a Logitech Harmony programmable remote, so in my case, I could care less about the Tivo remote. To use the Tivo, you will need to pay their subscription fee. The cheapest is with the 3 year pre-paid deal.

The issue facing a lot of TivoHD buyers with cable is Switched Digital Video (SDV), especially those on TWC or Cox systems who have announced they will be utilizing SDV across their systems. TivoHD does not currently work with SDV, so SDV channels are not accessible for TivoHD or Series 3 owners. This is not a concern for Fios as they have no need for SDV to free up limited bandwidth.

I had a Series 2 Tivo once. When I got a Panasonic plasma 2.5 years ago, I got a SA8000 HD-DVR from Comcast, which was like falling off a cliff in capability and the interface. I kept the analog Tivo for a while, but the analog channels on the Tivo did not look very good compared to the digital channels from Comcast. I moved and got a Motorola 6412 from Adelphia. Then I switched to Fios and got a 6416. The three leased DVRs have each been a step up, but they still lag way behind the Tivo in capabilities.

Now the lower cost TivoHD is here. I'm seriously thinking of getting one with a larger HD to eventually replace the 6416 and the Sony HDD250 that I use for OTA recording. I also like the output format options including native passthrough that the 6416 does not have. But I'm not inclined to be an early Beta tester. Tivo has already rolled out a software update for TivoHD to fix a problem with one brand of cablecards. At this point, I'm going to wait a while for M-cards become more widely available, the software updates to stabilize, and to see if Tivo will introduce a larger capacity TivoHD once/if the Series 3 models clear out of inventory. I would keep the 6416 for a while after I got a Tivo to make sure it all works, but might step down to a HD STB (for $10/month, aargh) for VOD and as a backup to the TivoHD. Anyway, sorry for getting a bit off the Fios programming topic here, but at $299, the TivoHD is going to be hard to resist for a lot of Fios subscribers.

Wow! You sure gave me the Reader's Digest version of things and that's exactly what I was hoping for. Some of that stuff on other sites did not make sense or even register until your post. I was really worried about FiOS not working with it in some modes or changing software soon and not being compatible. Thanks again. :)

As it stands now, I still like FiOS overall, but I really dislike the IMG.

So what's up? I have been patiently waiting fro csn hd here in dc also news on how fios will take advantage of their pipeline advantage but nothing happens. It is really frustrating because I like the pq of fios but I want to see the caps in HD> But if it's going to be a year or two I pretty much have to switch to D*.

Does anyone have any info for me, I really want to stay but I can't go another year without CSN HD, thanks.

you can blame Comcast for this. they don't even have this ch on other cable systems like Cox or Charter.

on the other hand Vz might get more agressive about getting this ch this fall-after the launch of the new IMG is completed & new national HD chs are launched. wouldn't hurt if we let Vz know there's a lot of subs who want CSN-MA in HD.

BTW I switched from D*-have they officially announced they're going to carry CSN-MA HD?

I apologize if this has been addressed before, but 3500 posts were a bit much to sift through for the answers.

Has Verizon given any indication that they intend to address the archaic manner in which their 'favorite channels' work on their DVR? Specifically, I am more than a little put off by the fact that you cannot easily hide channels that you do not subscribe to or never plan to watch when using the channel up/channel down buttons.

Is there a way to hide unwanted channels that I am ignorant of?

Since I am already on my soapbox, it is also annoying that the favorites are stored in volatile memory, so you have to reprogram them if the power goes out, or you need to unplug the unit during a nasty thunderstorm.

What were they thinking?

I apologize if this has been addressed before, but 3500 posts were a bit much to sift through for the answers.

Has Verizon given any indication that they intend to address the archaic manner in which their 'favorite channels' work on their DVR? Specifically, I am more than a little put off by the fact that you cannot easily hide channels that you do not subscribe to or never plan to watch when using the channel up/channel down buttons.

Is there a way to hide unwanted channels that I am ignorant of?

Since I am already on my soapbox, it is also annoying that the favorites are stored in volatile memory, so you have to reprogram them if the power goes out, or you need to unplug the unit during a nasty thunderstorm.

What were they thinking?

I agree with you. I called them and complained specifically about the Guide default option feature: Everytime you choose to look at the Guide, it automatically reverts to the 'All Channels' default. If you want to only review your 'Favorites' you have to manually select that option before continuing. Dumb! There is no way to choose 'Favorites' as the Guide's display default. I have not received any word on whether or not Vz thinks changing this process is a good idea.

The IMG is not ready for prime time.

I agree with you. I called them and complained specifically about the Guide default option feature: Everytime you choose to look at the Guide, it automatically reverts to the 'All Channels' default. If you want to only review your 'Favorites' you have to manually select that option before continuing. Dumb! There is no way to choose 'Favorites' as the Guide's display default. I have not received any word on whether or not Vz thinks changing this process is a good idea.

The IMG is not ready for prime time.

If you press Favorites on the remote it will bring up the Guide only w/your favorites displayed.

After fighting with the guide the first couple of weeks I am getting used to it. I still do not like the steps it takes to delete a show and the lack of a reminder feature(but saw an article where that will come 4Q07), but all in all I am happy with it now.

[QUOTE=kes601]If you press Favorites on the remote it will bring up the Guide only w/your favorites displayed.QUOTE]

True, but misleading when discussing the problem at hand (Guide defaults). I should have used one of the other Guide options in my posting. Here is a new one which will show the problem with the IMG Guide:
1. The IMG Guide has 3 available Guide channel viewing options: Favorites, HD and All.
2. EVERYTIME you select Guide, you automatically get ALL because that is the mandatory default to begin with. You have no choice.
3. If you want to look only at your Favorites or the HD channels in the Guide, you first have to select one of those after entering the Guide and then proceed.
4. There is a Favorites button on the remote and it works. There is no HD channels button.
5. The Sub should be able to select HD as the viewing default for the Guide (or for that matter, any of the current or future options) so that he can view the HD channels with one-push of the Guide button and Favorites with one-push of the Favorites button if he wishes. You cannot do that now.

D * has had csn ma in hd for over a year now. This is what is a big problem for me. I went through last year watching the caps in sd but with comcast and D having the channel I want it will be super tough. But I am holding out hope, what is the deal why are they allowed to hold onto a channel like this when they can't hold on to the SD channel? So darned frustrating, and how can D* get it if they are holding the reigns so tightly but Fios can't. Again no rhyme or reason from my point of view. One thing I know is that I am keeping the internet regardless of what I do with the video.

from what I've heard the FCC allows ch owners to treat their HD & SD chs as separate properties(much like how a local stations digital & analog signals are)-even if the HD ch is a simulcast of the SD ch. as for D* getting carriage rights-well they have a huge sub. base compared to FiOS, Comast may not see the sat. providers as direct competitors, & probably made Comcast an offer they didn't want to say no to($$$$$$$!!!!!).
still have to wonder why Cox doesn't have it.

I had D* until last mo. & never heard word one that CSN MA-HD was available. is the ch MPEG-4? I only had the MPEG-2 hardware-not that it matters now, just curious.

Add to the list: While viewing a prerecorded DVR program, the time tape number sometimes stays at 0:00 and doesn't move while you are watching the program. The program itself is unaffected.

For those of you w/the new IMG, I have found an easy way to get into the 4:3 override menu. It was previously thought you could only get into it when you reset the DVR and hit menu when the display showed the dashes.

From Remote:
Power Off
Select
Menu

yeah, only mpeg 4 which sucks becase I have the old mpeg 2 stuff here that I turn on for the sunday ticket and can't get it. How much different was the PQ for you on the HD channels?

Add to the list: While viewing a prerecorded DVR program, the time tape number sometimes stays at 0:00 and doesn't move while you are watching the program. The program itself is unaffected.

I've had this problem with the old guide while scanning a program I'm watching live.

yeah, only mpeg 4 which sucks becase I have the old mpeg 2 stuff here that I turn on for the sunday ticket and can't get it. How much different was the PQ for you on the HD channels?

the FiOS HD PQ is better tho not by a big degree. the improvement in SD PQ is much more significant(notably on CNN-Headline, History Channel, Speed).

I'm attributing this to the near-elimination of compression artifacts.

locally, we're rumored to get our ABC digital local added later this week, and Verizon is supposed to be laying fiber to add the CW digital local at some point in the near future.
other than the absence of CSN-MA HD the most glaring lack here is a shortage of network HD(for now only NBC, FOX, CBS, & PBS).

I have given up trying to like the IMG on my FiOS HD-DVR. I just ordered the TIVO Series-3 HD-DVR with the big HD. Tivo is having a great internet special on them right now (saved $300). I should have it by Friday. Don't know yet when I can get FiOS to come out to install the 2 required cable cards.

From the stickied Dish Network thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=873023&page=7&pp=30
Also on Aug. 15, DISH Network will add seven national HD channels to its DishHD programming package, including MHD, featuring music programming from MTV, VH1 and CMT; Golf/Versus HD; Animal Planet HD; The Science Channel HD; TLC HD; Discovery HD, and History HD, which will debut on Sept. 1.

It looks like we can start playing "Why hasn't FiOS added XXXXXXX HD channel yet?!?!" again (not that we ever stopped about A&E HD, Golf/Versus HD, and CSN-MA HD), but I imagine any discussion is totally fruitless until the IMG has been ironed out. I'm not going to even start hoping for new channels until Oct. 1.

From the stickied Dish Network thread:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=873023&page=7&pp=30


It looks like we can start playing "Why hasn't FiOS added XXXXXXX HD channel yet?!?!" again (not that we ever stopped about A&E HD, Golf/Versus HD, and CSN-MA HD), but I imagine any discussion is totally fruitless until the IMG has been ironed out. I'm not going to even start hoping for new channels until Oct. 1.

Please tell me the importance of OCT 1.

Please tell me the importance of OCT 1.
Well, Fios better have TBS-HD by then or else there will be some fuss when TBS-HD airs some of the baseball playoff games and Fios does not have it. Given that it took Verizon around two weeks to add the last set of 3 HD channels across the US, I wonder how they plan to do this with a bunch of channels presumably starting up on different dates in September and October?

Yup. Game 1 of the NLDS is scheduled for Oct. 2 and the ALDS for Oct. 3, both on TBS HD. I hope the folks at Verizon are paying attention. They were quick to add NFL Network HD and avoided all that mess that nearly every other provider had to deal with this past year (and, for some, continue to deal with now). I hope they're on the ball for baseball in HD too. If I recall correctly, they added some regional sports networks in the Northeast just in time for the start of baseball season back in April, so I haven't lost all hope, but I'm leary that a rocky start with the IMG could delay new channel additions for this fall.

I have given up trying to like the IMG on my FiOS HD-DVR. I just ordered the TIVO Series-3 HD-DVR with the big HD. Tivo is having a great internet special on them right now (saved $300). I should have it by Friday. Don't know yet when I can get FiOS to come out to install the 2 required cable cards.Someone on the Richmond, VA FiOS Thread is doing the same thing...

I have given up trying to like the IMG on my FiOS HD-DVR. I just ordered the TIVO Series-3 HD-DVR with the big HD. Tivo is having a great internet special on them right now (saved $300). I should have it by Friday. Don't know yet when I can get FiOS to come out to install the 2 required cable cards.

Exactly which one did you order? Direct from Tivo or Weaknees or some other outlet?

Appreciate the post !


For those of you w/the new IMG, I have found an easy way to get into the 4:3 override menu. It was previously thought you could only get into it when you reset the DVR and hit menu when the display showed the dashes.

From Remote:
Power Off
Select
Menu

I really hope FIOS has The Science Channel HD; TLC HD; Discovery HD, and History HD soon. These are the channels my family enjoy the most. That will justify my switch from Comcast $18 Basic + Classic to FIOS royally to my wife. :)

For those of you w/the new IMG, I have found an easy way to get into the 4:3 override menu. It was previously thought you could only get into it when you reset the DVR and hit menu when the display showed the dashes.

From Remote:
Power Off
Select
Menu
Thanks for the info.

Do you have to do this from the remote? Or can you use the STB front panel buttons like before? The reason I ask is that on my remote I have both the DVR and the TV Power Off together.

You get what you pay for. I still think Tivo is the 'Gold Standard'. ;)


That sums it up in a nutshell. As a DirecTV user for almost 10 years, I hated when I had to move away from my HD DirecTivo to the non Tivo box. I jumped to FIOS to get better picture quality. Lived with their DVR for a month, then with the new IPG for a week and realized life is too short not to have Tivo.

I bought two Tivo HD's yesterday and FIOS is coming with the cable cards tomorrow.

Man, it's good to have Tivo back. ! :D

Exactly which one did you order? Direct from Tivo or Weaknees or some other outlet?

1. I ordered directly from Tivo by phone.
2. There are two Series-3 versions depending on the Hard Drive size. I got the big hard drive unit which they refer to as the 'Grand Daddy'.
3. First, I went to the Tivo website and thoroughly researched all those sales pages. I have had Tivo in the past so I know what I am getting. :)
4. You need to be looking at the web page when you order by phone because the CSRs can get 'confused' about exactly what you want.
5. The Series-3 HD-DVR sale is take it or leave it. Since there is a $300 discount, no changes are allowed. There is a 30 day return period for a full refund where you would pay only shipping to return it.
6. The Sale HD-DVR is a rebuilt unit with full factory warranty.
7. Listen closely when the CSR is talking about the labor&parts warranty since it is confusing. It changes at the 4 month and 12 month points and then again for your renewal beyond that.
8. This morning, I called FiOS to get a tech to come out and install the two required cable cards and pick-up the FiOS HD-DVR. That costs about $25. The monthly rental on the cable cards is about $5 for both. No hassle from FiOS sales about the change or why. Very polite and friendly. As always, great FiOS customer service reps.

Please tell me the importance of OCT 1.

i think UR is guessing that, with the IMG roll-out ending in late-Aug. & the launch of new HD nationals in Sept. it's going to take all of Sept. for FiOS to iron out the bugs in the new IMG AND get the hardware set-up for new HD chs. hence, low expectations until the beginning of Oct.

FiOS TV Now Available in Four More Mass. Communities

Marion, Mattapoisett, Rockland and Westborough, Mass.

Customers in these communities can now order our FiOS TV Premier package which includes:
· More than 200 all-digital channels for $42.99 per month.
· A total of 27 high-definition channels with extraordinary clarity and theater-quality sound.
· A library of more than 8,600 on-demand titles.
· The choice of three set-top boxes: standard definition for $4.99 per month; high definition, which includes HD channels, for $9.99 per month; and a dual-tuner, HD-capable digital video recorder for $12.99 per month.

If customers want to trim their bills even further, FiOS TV-eligible customers can bundle their FiOS TV service, FiOS Internet Service and the Verizon Freedom Essentials voice service – all for under $99.99 a month.

For more information on FiOS packages, prices and service highlights, go to http://www.verizon.net/fiostv. Massachusetts customers also can call 1-800-880-2943 to see if they qualify to order FiOS TV.

FiOS TV is now available in these Massachusetts communities: Acton, Andover, Arlington, Bedford, Belmont, Boxborough, Boxford, Burlington, Canton, Dedham, Dunstable, Franklin, Georgetown, Hamilton, Hopkinton, Ipswich, Lawrence, Lincoln, Littleton, Lexington, Lynn, Lynnfield, Marion, Marlborough, Mattapoisett, Medfield, Melrose, Middleborough, Nahant, Natick, Needham, Newton, North Reading, Reading, Rockland, Southborough, Stoneham, Sudbury, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Wellesley, Wenham, West Newbury, Westborough, Westwood, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn.

Augh! I wish we'd get it in NY OTHER than LI or NYC. I heard a rumor there was a proposal in the NY State Assembly but Verizon wasn't "for" it and it's just been sitting there. Apparently until Verizon gets a state franchise, they won't be offering any TV in NY (other than Long island for some strange reason).

Sigh.

i think UR is guessing that, with the IMG roll-out ending in late-Aug. & the launch of new HD nationals in Sept. it's going to take all of Sept. for FiOS to iron out the bugs in the new IMG AND get the hardware set-up for new HD chs. hence, low expectations until the beginning of Oct.

Even when FiOS cleans up the current (numerous) IMG problems, it will still be lipstick on a pig. Its basic design is just not user friendly. That is a shame because my Vz internet/wireless/phone service has been perfect. I do not know how they could have 'missed the mark' on the IMG this badly. :(

Yup. Game 1 of the NLDS is scheduled for Oct. 2 and the ALDS for Oct. 3, both on TBS HD. I hope the folks at Verizon are paying attention. They were quick to add NFL Network HD and avoided all that mess that nearly every other provider had to deal with this past year (and, for some, continue to deal with now). I hope they're on the ball for baseball in HD too. If I recall correctly, they added some regional sports networks in the Northeast just in time for the start of baseball season back in April, so I haven't lost all hope, but I'm leary that a rocky start with the IMG could delay new channel additions for this fall.
Yes the beginning of October is also the start of the NHL season.
I know of three HD channels, representing three, possibly four playoff-caliber NHL teams, that FiOS won't have.
Ain't competition fun?

HD lite or HD brite if they don't have my caps in HD by middle of next month I have to say good night!

That sums it up in a nutshell. As a DirecTV user for almost 10 years, I hated when I had to move away from my HD DirecTivo to the non Tivo box. I jumped to FIOS to get better picture quality. Lived with their DVR for a month, then with the new IPG for a week and realized life is too short not to have Tivo.

I bought two Tivo HD's yesterday and FIOS is coming with the cable cards tomorrow.

Man, it's good to have Tivo back. ! :D

Can you let us know if there are any pixelization problems especially with tuner/card 2. I have read about this in another forum and would like to know your assessment. Thanks.

Can you let us know if there are any pixelization problems especially with tuner/card 2. I have read about this in another forum and would like to know your assessment. Thanks.

This issue could pose quite a dilemma. If there is a pixelation problem with the new Tivo box, then I would have to decide which is worse: the pixelation of the Tivo or the non-user friendly IMG of the FiOS DVR. Theoretically, I should have the best of both worlds: a perfect Tivo DVR along with the perfect FiOS PQ. I wonder what I will decide? Whichever I choose, I will have to do it within the 30 day moneyback guarantee time frame of Tivo. :D

Well another promised date has come and gone for IMG in Boston......I wonder what the next date will be?

According to John Czwartacki (Executive Director - External Communications), there will be an update to the IMG come Q4

Our immediate plans include a maintenance release to be launched 4Q07. New enhancements to the IMG will include:

- Scaled video while you are in the menus finding the next show or movie to watch.

- Better program information with richer descriptions.

- New reminder system, for future TV shows or PPV events.

- Efficient way to flip through your favorite channels while hiding others.

- Better management of your DVR settings and schedule.

- Expanded help topics, and more video tutorials.



Future releases targeted for 2008 will include games, the ablity to program the DVR remotely, and much more. We believe, and many of our customers have told us, that we have a good product. But this is just the beginning, we are deeply committed to making FiOS TV the best entertainment product on the market! Link (http://policyblog.verizon.com/PolicyBlog/Blogs/policyblog/CZBlogger1/341/FiOS-TV-2-0-an-IMG-Update-.aspx)

According to John Czwartacki (Executive Director - External Communications), there will be an update to the IMG come Q4

Our immediate plans include a maintenance release to be launched 4Q07. New enhancements to the IMG will include:

- Scaled video while you are in the menus finding the next show or movie to watch.

- Better program information with richer descriptions.

- New reminder system, for future TV shows or PPV events.

- Efficient way to flip through your favorite channels while hiding others.

- Better management of your DVR settings and schedule.

- Expanded help topics, and more video tutorials.



Future releases targeted for 2008 will include games, the ablity to program the DVR remotely, and much more. We believe, and many of our customers have told us, that we have a good product. But this is just the beginning, we are deeply committed to making FiOS TV the best entertainment product on the market! Link (http://policyblog.verizon.com/PolicyBlog/Blogs/policyblog/CZBlogger1/341/FiOS-TV-2-0-an-IMG-Update-.aspx)

Thanks for the great post! :)

Well another promised date has come and gone for IMG in Boston......I wonder what the next date will be?
The day is not over. I got the impression from the reports of those who have gotten the new IMG that Verizon has not been doing the updates at 4 or 5 AM like they do when they add new channels or issue minor updates. Instead, the big upgrade is done during the day with the TV off-line for a while. Can anyone confirm this?

So they are going to issue a maintenance upgrade in the 4th quarter to add features that should have been there before they started to roll the IMG out? They should have insisted that the IMG not lose significant features - reminder, favorite channels, default to passing SD through as 480i/p - that the current firmware has. This is a two step forward, 3 steps backward diagonally, upgrade from all the complaints I seen about the IMG. If they want to hold off the IMG for several more months, that is fine with me.

I rather see priority given to adding the new HD channels right away and improving the accuracy and content of the guide data over rolling out the new IMG. But it could be worse. I could be stuck with Comcast and having to decide if I really wanted to sign up for satellite.

The day is not over. I got the impression from the reports of those who have gotten the new IMG that Verizon has not been doing the updates at 4 or 5 AM like they do when they add new channels or issue minor updates. Instead, the big upgrade is done during the day with the TV off-line for a while. Can anyone confirm this?

That is what happened to me. It was done midday. Very interesting update to this: I have received word that part of my FiOS HD-DVR IMG problem may be due to my box not completing the upgrade from IPG to IMG. It may still be in the process of what they call 'migration" from one to the other! They are looking into it. Wow! The geese migrate south for the winter in less time.

As for the IMG: Fix it first before forcing it on any more unsuspecting victims.

More HD channels nationwide as the priority? Yes. The current IPG works OK for now and I would think that adding more HD 'should' be easier and faster than fixing the new IMG.

They should have insisted that the IMG not lose significant features - reminder, favorite channels, default to passing SD through as 480i/p - that the current firmware has.


Are you saying the 4:3 override option is no longer there after the IMG upgrade?

Changing the 4:3 override to 480i is what fixed my stuttering picture problem on HD channels. Don't know why but it did. If the stuttering picture comes back after the upgrade then I am screwed.

Are you saying the 4:3 override option is no longer there after the IMG upgrade?

Changing the 4:3 override to 480i is what fixed my stuttering picture problem on HD channels. Don't know why but it did. If the stuttering picture comes back after the upgrade then I am screwed.
As I understand it, the new IMG software by default outputs all channels - SD and HD - the SD or upconverts 720p or 1080i format you specified. I think this is just incredibly stupid and will confuse a lot of people who can no longer zoom on their SD channels. The SD upconversion is also very likely to be poorer picture quality than using the TV's internal scaler.

I have my 4:3 override set to 480p so I can ge closed captions for the SD channels.

There is a work around as the setup menu option is still there when the box is off. Lifting from a post in the Fios TV forum as dslreports.com:

To access the 4:3 override and output settings:
turn box Off
press Select
press Menu

To access the diagnostics menu:
Off
Select
Select

BTW, the reports are that the TV may be offline for up to 6 hours for the upgrade process, so don't plan to watch any soap operas or daytime talk shows via Fios the day of IMG gets rolled out in your area.

Are you saying the 4:3 override option is no longer there after the IMG upgrade?

Changing the 4:3 override to 480i is what fixed my stuttering picture problem on HD channels. Don't know why but it did. If the stuttering picture comes back after the upgrade then I am screwed.

let not your heart be troubled-that's not true.

I had 4:3 Override @480i set from the beginning & after the IMG download that's how it stayed. I can tell because the lag in switching from SD to HD chs is stil there-and SD PQ is still good to excellent(depending on the ch).

below is an easy way to check the 4:3 setting if you're not sure of it's status.





For those of you w/the new IMG, I have found an easy way to get into the 4:3 override menu. It was previously thought you could only get into it when you reset the DVR and hit menu when the display showed the dashes.

From Remote:
Power Off
Select
Menu

Here's a random problem I've been having. Has anyone had trouble with ESPN2-HD during late night for the past few nights? Last night ESPN2-HD was frozen from some time until about 2:15 a.m. Tonight I'm getting the same problem. I'm in Spotsylvania, VA, which is part of the Wash-Metro group (much to local chagrin).

It's not blank though. It's frozen, e.g. if I try to switch from NBC watching Late Nite with Conan I get a frozen picture of the last frame of Conan.

On an unrelated note, I'm glad to see that the Q4 update to the IMG will bring improved guide descriptions. The current description provider just flat out sucks, rates everything 2 stars, and is wrong probably half the time.

Here's a random problem I've been having. Has anyone had trouble with ESPN2-HD during late night for the past few nights? Last night ESPN2-HD was frozen from some time until about 2:15 a.m. Tonight I'm getting the same problem.

The Nationals game was blacked out last night on ESPN2 locally on Comcast. Probably the same on FiOS.

Can we please stop with the 6 hours to upgrade the IMG posts?

That's rediculous. It will take 10-20 minutes maximum.

Here's a random problem I've been having. Has anyone had trouble with ESPN2-HD during late night for the past few nights? Last night ESPN2-HD was frozen from some time until about 2:15 a.m. Tonight I'm getting the same problem. I'm in Spotsylvania, VA, which is part of the Wash-Metro group (much to local chagrin).
ESPN2-HD was blacked out because they were carrying the Giants-Nationals game which was on MASN. You just get nothing when you tune to the HD channel rather than a message. I saw that Fios was providing a ESPNews feed to the SD ESPN2 channel during the game. You should expect this for the national or regional sports channels when they broadcast an event involving local teams that someone else - MASN, CSN, local broadcast station - has the rights too. In this case, I caught a couple of Bonds at bat segments in HD on ESPN-HD when ESPN cut to the feed.

As for the IMG roll-out, it makes sense that it would not take 6 hours to do the upgrade. That is probably the window that is provided by the Fios phone message to let people know their TV service will go off-line for a while in that time frame. Wonder if they try to update all the boxes at once in a market or do they do a rolling update over a 4 to 6 hour period in smaller groups?

I just got the new IMG overnight and after a cursory examination, I like it.

I had DirectTivo for five years, so I can make comparisons of a sort, but to tell you the truth, I don't really want to - I never thought the Tivo menu system was the be-all and end-all. The Tivo unit was good, but incredibly slow to me, so all of the cool features in the world were tainted by that.

The new IMG is much better than the previous, is quick and easy to access. Is it perfect? of course not, but Tivo is not perfect either. I haven't seen any bad quirks in this, my recorded content is there, the menus are accessible through cascading menus, which I like. My wife, mother in law and kids still have to use it and declare their like/dislike, but for me, it works well. The installation seems to have gone well, the only sign I saw of it was a quick splash screen asking me to wait (about 10 seconds).

So far so good.

Update to this... My kids love the new look & feel, my mother in law (technophobe) is fine with it, the real test (wife) will come later.

FiOS TV May Hurt DBS More Than Cable

OneTrak Study Says Bulk of New Verizon Subscribers Came From DirecTV, EchoStar

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 8/8/2007 6:33:00 AM

Verizon’s FiOS TV service initially appeared to steal disproportionately more customers from direct-broadcast satellite services than cable, according to an analysis of the telco’s rollout in 34 Massachusetts communities last year by research firm OneTrak.

In 2006, FiOS TV signed up 11,982 subscribers in the 34 towns, which cover a combined 285,000 homes passed. The service was available in each market for an average of about 90 days, OneTrak said.

During the time FiOS TV was available, incumbent cable provider Comcast lost 5,216 subscribers across a base of 204,160, a drop of 2.6%, OneTrak found. Cable overbuilder RCN, which offers service in nine of the 34 communities, lost 1,813 subscribers, or 7% off its base of 25,895 subscribers.

Assuming 3% of Verizon subscribers did not have any prior multichannel video service, that means around 4,600 FiOS TV customers -- 38% of the total for the area--came from DirecTV or EchoStar Communications' Dish Network, according to OneTrak.

The firm analyzed subscriber statistics for Verizon, Comcast and RCN as of Dec. 31, 2006, provided by the Massachusetts Department of Telecommunications and Cable.

OneTrak also found that in four towns where FiOS TV had been available longer than six months--Lynnfield, North Reading, Reading and Winchester -- Comcast’s penetration fell between 7.8% and 13.6%. In two other markets where FiOS had been available for longer than six months and where RCN also offered service, RCN took the bigger hit from Verizon than Comcast did, the research firm found.

OneTrak said Verizon will likely continue to see double-digit penetration gains in markets where it launches FiOS TV service. However, it cautioned that changes in product offerings and marketing will affect individual market dynamics.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6466511.html

IMG is now in the Boston area. Have not had the chance to play with it yet though.

FiOS TV May Hurt DBS More Than Cable

OneTrak Study Says Bulk of New Verizon Subscribers Came From DirecTV, EchoStar

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 8/8/2007 6:33:00 AM

Verizon’s FiOS TV service initially appeared to steal disproportionately more customers from direct-broadcast satellite services than cable...

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6466511.html

Many of those may go back to DirecTV with their announced HD channels for 2007:

Announced HD Additions
* = not a simulcast of the SD channel (if available), programming will vary.

September 2007
10. A&E
11. Animal Planet
12. Big Ten Network
13. CNN
14. Discovery
15. Food Network*
16. HGTV*
17. History Channel
18. MHD (MTV brand channel)
19. National Geographic
20. NFL Network
21. The Science Channel
22. TBS
23. TLC
24. Versus
25. Weather Channel
26. Cinemax-E
27. Cinemax-W
28. MoreMax
29. HBO-W
30. HBO2-E
31. HBO2-W
32. HBO Family-E
33. HBO Family-W
34. HBO Signature
35. The Movie Channel
36. SHO-W
37. STARZ-E
38. STARZ-W
39. STARZ-Edge
40. STARZ-Comedy
41. STARZ-Kids
Fall 2007
42. Bravo
43. Cartoon Network
44. Chiller
45. CNBC
46. FX
47. SciFi Channel
48. Sleuth
49. Speed
50. USA Network
December 2007
51. The Tennis Channel
Spring 2008
52. ABC Family
53. Disney Channel
54. ESPN News
55. MGM
56. Toon Disney

Many of those may go back to DirecTV with their announced HD channels for 2007:

Announced HD Additions
* = not a simulcast of the SD channel (if available), programming will vary.

September 2007
10. A&E
11. Animal Planet
12. Big Ten Network
13. CNN
14. Discovery
15. Food Network*
16. HGTV*
17. History Channel
18. MHD (MTV brand channel)
19. National Geographic
20. NFL Network
21. The Science Channel
22. TBS
23. TLC
24. Versus
25. Weather Channel
26. Cinemax-E
27. Cinemax-W
28. MoreMax
29. HBO-W
30. HBO2-E
31. HBO2-W
32. HBO Family-E
33. HBO Family-W
34. HBO Signature
35. The Movie Channel
36. SHO-W
37. STARZ-E
38. STARZ-W
39. STARZ-Edge
40. STARZ-Comedy
41. STARZ-Kids
Fall 2007
42. Bravo
43. Cartoon Network
44. Chiller
45. CNBC
46. FX
47. SciFi Channel
48. Sleuth
49. Speed
50. USA Network
December 2007
51. The Tennis Channel
Spring 2008
52. ABC Family
53. Disney Channel
54. ESPN News
55. MGM
56. Toon Disney

Please, the last thing anyone wants is 40+ channels of macroblocked HD-Lite. :rolleyes:

Please, the last thing anyone wants is 40+ channels of macroblocked HD-Lite. :rolleyes:


I had Direct TV for 7 yrs and went to Comcast to get HD. As soon as FIOS arrived, I made the switch. I have every expectation that FIOS will get an expanded selection of HD broadcasts from many if not all (all eventually) of the channels that Direct TV will have in their lineup. Switching back to Direct TV is not an option for me. I believe that FIOS, while not perfect, is still new to the industry and will continue to improve in most aspects of its' service. Albeit, it will not happen quickly, but after dealing w/Comcast, I am willing to wait. I have been satisfied w/FIOS thus far.

agree totally with the above, and I for one will NOT be going back to D*-I waited 13 months for FiOS TV(from the time the fiber was hung in my neighborhood), I can wait a bit for more HD chs(& I may not have to anyway.)

BTW FiOS subs get 8 of the chs on that list NOW! :)

Many of those may go back to DirecTV with their announced HD channels for 2007:Verizon intends to add most of the new channels at or soon after launch.

As noted, they have eight already and they should have several more before DirecTV adds another channel.

Verizon intends to add most of the new channels at or soon after launch.

As noted, they have eight already and they should have several more before DirecTV adds another channel.
Any Specifics or press release/info about this ...?

Any Specifics or press release/info about this ...?No, I don't have any specific channel names. The folks in engineering refuse to name names. But they are preparing the system for a significant number of new additions this fall. The first new channels are in the works for the last week of August.

Can we please stop with the 6 hours to upgrade the IMG posts?

That's rediculous. It will take 10-20 minutes maximum.

You're right. That's how long it should take, but some areas are having trouble with new STB install times (driving the in-home tech installers crazy) and IMG update migrations. Some subs are lucky and some are not.

Please, the last thing anyone wants is 40+ channels of macroblocked HD-Lite. :rolleyes:
Amen.

No, I don't have any specific channel names. The folks in engineering refuse to name names. But they are preparing the system for a significant number of new additions this fall. The first new channels are in the works for the last week of August.
Offer them candy, a big Hershey's Bar with Almonds should get the info you need .. :)

...I waited 13 months for FiOS TV(from the time the fiber was hung in my neighborhood)...

Gee great. They just strung it past my house a couple weeks ago. 13 months, huh?

Gee great. They just strung it past my house a couple weeks ago. 13 months, huh?

It didn't take anywhere near that long for me to get the service. Long delays can often be attributed to the local City Hall folks (they hold the license authorization) who try to wring as much money out of VZ as they can before approval. Then there are the political delays behind the scenes that can be caused by the cable companies who don't want the competition. States with state-wide cable rulings are often much better off. Oh, and don't forget the station owners who can really be a problem. We have had FiOS-TV here since last December and we are just today getting our last local DT signal (a BeLo station) at our homes. What a stand-off that was.

Anyone have problems with the SNY HD Broadcast of the Mets? I've got some bad jitter going on. I've had Jitter Problems for 6 months, had a new Tech over a couple weeks ago, he saw some bit errors in the line, replaced a main cable and replaced my DVR again, and all other channels look great. I was hoping the problem was completely solved.
Anyway, the Mets games look great, but any fast movement is jittered.

Thanks
Hef

Gee great. They just strung it past my house a couple weeks ago. 13 months, huh?
There's hope - it was less than two months from the fiber pull through my neighborhood to my being the first install in the neighborhood! :D

Im moving in Nov and FIOS is in that area. Im planning to go with FIOS for internet and can either get Directv or FIOS TV service. So far, the argument sounds like Directv will have more HD channels, but the picture is better on FIOS (due to more bandwidth/bitrate).

Well, I have a 71in DLP tv, so I want the BEST picture possible. Sounds like FIOS TV is the way to go...right?

Im moving in Nov and FIOS is in that area. Im planning to go with FIOS for internet and can either get Directv or FIOS TV service. So far, the argument sounds like Directv will have more HD channels, but the picture is better on FIOS (due to more bandwidth/bitrate).

Well, I have a 71in DLP tv, so I want the BEST picture possible. Sounds like FIOS TV is the way to go...right?Yes.

Furthermore, I wouldn't expect DirecTV to have significantly more channels. They may add some channels a few weeks before FiOS, but I wouldn't expect DirecTV to have any 'majors' that aren't on FiOS.

It didn't take anywhere near that long for me to get the service. Long delays can often be attributed to the local City Hall folks (they hold the license authorization) who try to wring as much money out of VZ as they can before approval. Then there are the political delays behind the scenes that can be caused by the cable companies who don't want the competition. States with state-wide cable rulings are often much better off. Oh, and don't forget the station owners who can really be a problem. We have had FiOS-TV here since last December and we are just today getting our last local DT signal (a BeLo station) at our homes. What a stand-off that was.

also keep in mind maxman that every Verizon area is run a little differently.

I would expect them to move at a much quicker pace in preparing the hardware-plus I think Verizon got a state-wide video franchise for NJ.

actually the local added today is the last of the Big 4 networks. we still lack CW, MyTV, & Ion digitals tho the CW should be added within weeks. we also lack the HD feed of our RSN. at least you guys in NY/NJ have YES & SNNY in HD.

also keep in mind maxman that every Verizon area is run a little differently.

I would expect them to move at a much quicker pace in preparing the hardware-plus I think Verizon got a state-wide video franchise for NJ.

actually the local added today is the last of the Big 4 networks. we still lack CW, MyTV, & Ion digitals tho the CW should be added within weeks. we also lack the HD feed of our RSN. at least you guys in NY/NJ have YES & SNNY in HD.

Of course we still can't tune into that last of the big 4's :)

Of course we still can't tune into that last of the big 4's :)

Reminds me of an old TV skit: The not ready for prime time players. :D

Of course we still can't tune into that last of the big 4's :)

The FiOS CSR I talked to this morning told me that the last of the big 4's (WVEC-DT, ABC) here locally will not happen at this time. He said putting it into the local Guide was a company mistake. He also said he had no estimate as to when it would be available. Looks like Chad, from Alltell, wins again. :(

also keep in mind maxman that every Verizon area is run a little differently.

I would expect them to move at a much quicker pace in preparing the hardware-plus I think Verizon got a state-wide video franchise for NJ.

actually the local added today is the last of the Big 4 networks. we still lack CW, MyTV, & Ion digitals tho the CW should be added within weeks. we also lack the HD feed of our RSN. at least you guys in NY/NJ have YES & SNNY in HD.
Yet still no MSG-HD or FSN-HD here in NY/NJ. Until they can work something out with the Dolans, you're going to have a lot of people just hanging around the hoop.

We received the IMG upgrade on our FIOS boxes yesterday here in MA. My initial impressions are mixed. I think most of my issues have been discussed a bit here (after scanning the last several pages of this monster thread). But 2 issues we had required me to call tech support (and I haven't seen these mentioned here so I figured I'd post).

1. We have 3 boxes (2 DVR's, 1 SD). At the time of install (Fall '06) the Verizon Tech gave us "alternate" remotes (I forget the type - Sci Atlanta maybe?). Apparently Verizon was out of remotes at the time. Well, the remotes were kinda lame but they worked. After the IMG upgrade the remotes don't work properly. Most noticeably, the PLAY button isn't functional. Nice. Well I called and they're sending out 3 new remotes - but it's kinda sloppy for them to let stuff like that slip through.

2. One of the DVR's upgraded and the recorded programs were fine. The other DVR only showed 1 program as available. There should have been about 20 shows on that unit. The recording space showed about 40 hours of SD content recorded - but none of it was in the list of programs. The tech rep reset the box and BOOM - only 1 show still showed and now the recording space showed 0 hours recorded - everything was lost. Fortunately none of it mattered (mostly kids stuff) - but kinda sad that there's still bugs like that floating around. Kind of the worst case scenario for a DVR upgrade - lose all the recordings.

I assume that's why they're upgrading in August. The risk for collateral damage to DVR recordings is smallest (because there's very little risk of having recorded anything important).

The FiOS CSR I talked to this morning told me that the last of the big 4's (WVEC-DT, ABC) here locally will not happen at this time. He said putting it into the local Guide was a company mistake. He also said he had no estimate as to when it would be available. Looks like Chad, from Alltell, wins again. :(

According to my contact it WVEC-DT will be added tomorrow(I assume overnight tonight). Out of necessity(I assume tech issues) they had to delay, but both the VHO and WVEC have confirmed tomorrow. We'll see...

Well 8/9 has come and gone and no new guide here in N.Y.

Well 8/9 has come and gone and no new guide here in N.Y.
Anybody in NY area get the new IMG yet ???

Anybody in NY area get the new IMG yet ???
No. Most deployments were delayed 4-7 days.

You should see it in the next week, possibly as early as Tuesday and no later than Thursday.

2. One of the DVR's upgraded and the recorded programs were fine. The other DVR only showed 1 program as available. There should have been about 20 shows on that unit. The recording space showed about 40 hours of SD content recorded - but none of it was in the list of programs. The tech rep reset the box and BOOM - only 1 show still showed and now the recording space showed 0 hours recorded - everything was lost. Fortunately none of it mattered (mostly kids stuff) - but kinda sad that there's still bugs like that floating around. Kind of the worst case scenario for a DVR upgrade - lose all the recordings. Thought I was being paranoid, but after reading above post, maybe not.

2 days after the update, my wife is watching a recorded program today on our HD-DVR (the recording was SD, not that it probably matters), Picture suddenly freezes, STB starts going haywire. Suddenly she can't get anything to watch, recorded or live TV.

She called tech support, they tried "3 things", the third sounds like it was a reset initiated from VZ's end. After that, HD-DVR box totally fried. Recordings, favorites - all gone.

IMG upgrade related, or just a bad box?

Seeing an artifact on left and right side after Verizon IMG Upgrade. Samsung 4061f, a 1080p set (revision 1022/1004) has the following behavior in HD and Just Scan mode: a 1/2 inch artifact on left hand side, as if the whole column is shifted down. On the right hand side, a 1/4 inch black (or green if HMDI Color Space is not set to RGB). Problems go away with 16:9 mode (along with some screen, of course...)

Another user on DSLreports.com (RandyB) has reported the same issue with his Samsung 4696. Verizon reset the DVR with no change...

Thoughts anyone?

After all these FiOS HD-DVR IMG trouble reports, is there anyone who has a properly functioning FiOS HD-DVR after the IMG install?

I do(so far anyway.)

I do(so far anyway.)

Can you record a series on 826 (ESPNHD) --- specifically the M-F afternoon shows like 'Rome is Burning' ?

Anyone use the Series 3 TIVO with their FIOS service? When I switch to FIOS, Im planning to use it (with 2 cablecards).

Anyone use the Series 3 TIVO with their FIOS service? When I switch to FIOS, Im planning to use it (with 2 cablecards).I used to have the Series3 with FiOS and now use the TivoHD with a 750Gb hard drive. Upgrades are made easy with the WinMFS tool (http://www.mfslive.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=207).

It works very well, outside of a minor bug that causes about random pixelization a few times per hour. This pixelization lasts a fraction of a second and I don't see it if I rewind or hit instant replay. It appears to be a video driver issue, so presumably Tivo will fix it in a forthcoming software update.

Can you record a series on 826 (ESPNHD)?I can't do that with the old FiOS DVR either. It just gives me the option for all episodes, which records everything.

This is clearly a problem with the FiOS guide data on ESPN, because I can record that series with the Tivo and choose only "new episodes."

Anyone use the Series 3 TIVO with their FIOS service? When I switch to FIOS, Im planning to use it (with 2 cablecards).

I have just received my Tivo HD-DVR Series-3 with the big HD. FiOS will install the M-card (it replaces the two regular cards) on Tuesday. I had to ask special to get the M-card, but they said OK. It costs $2.99 a month just like a regular card, but you only need one. W/O the M-card, I would have been charged for 2 regular cards at $5.98 per month for both.

I temporarily hooked it up to my smaller HDTV yesterday for use w/o any card and just to get the initial setup completed before the tech arrives. I will move it to the big set on Tuesday morning. I also got the wireless adapter free as part of the deal (eliminates the phone line requirement as updating will go wirelessly through the router). So far, it is working fine on the basic cable (ch 1-49). It is sooo nice to have a DVR that actually works and is easy and fast to use. Such a welcome change after the FiOS HD-DVR w/IMG! Many improvements since the last one I had with D* (HR10-250). :)

I have just received my Tivo HD-DVR Series-3 with the big HD. FiOS will install the M-card (it replaces the two regular cards) on Tuesday. I had to ask special to get the M-card, but they said OK. It costs $2.99 a month just like a regular card, but you only need one. W/O the M-card, I would have been charged for 2 regular cards at $5.98 per month for both.

I temporarily hooked it up to my smaller HDTV yesterday for use w/o any card and just to get the initial setup completed before the tech arrives. I will move it to the big set on Tuesday morning. I also got the wireless adapter free as part of the deal (eliminates the phone line requirement as updating will go wirelessly through the router). So far, it is working fine on the basic cable (ch 1-49). It is sooo nice to have a DVR that actually works and is easy and fast to use. Such a welcome change after the FiOS HD-DVR w/IMG! Many improvements since the last one I had with D* (HR10-250). :)Did you get the TivoHD or the Tivo Series3? Only the newer TivoHD currently allows you to replace two standard CableCards with one MCARD.

Please, the last thing anyone wants is 40+ channels of macroblocked HD-Lite.

2 weeks ago I would have disagreed. But after seeing my friends HD channels on charter cable I now have to agree. DirecTV looks like ass now. Its difficult to even watch. I had rather have quality of quantity.

If it wasnt for the $250 it would cost to get out of my contract I would drop them in a heart beat. Im hoping for FiOS to be available in the Greenville, SC area in the next couple years. But im not holding my breath. :(

2 weeks ago I would have disagreed. But after seeing my friends HD channels on charter cable I now have to agree. DirecTV looks like ass now. Its difficult to even watch. I had rather have quality of quantity.Charter applies extra compression via rate shaping in most of its markets -- like DirecTV except to a lesser degree -- so even their quality is a noticeable step down from FiOS.

If you spent two months with FiOS on a 60" 1080p screen, I think you would have a hard time going back to the quality of DirecTV or Dish Network.

Charter applies extra compression via rate shaping in most of its markets -- like DirecTV except to a lesser degree -- so even their quality is a noticeable step down from FiOS.

If you spent two months with FiOS on a 60" 1080p screen, I think you would have a hard time going back to the quality of DirecTV or Dish Network.


What about comcast, is it a little closer to fios in your opinion?

You guys that know your stuff, look at that thread and please give your opinion on the validity of it. Is there a possiblity that they are going to up grade the signal across the board to increase PQ?

Thanks

If you spent two months with FiOS on a 60" 1080p screen, I think you would have a hard time going back to the quality of DirecTV or Dish Network.

I was with Directv for around 10 years (with a 3 year stint along the way with DISh) and switched to FIOS 3 months ago.

Agree 1000% with the quoted statement but with some modifications.
Spend time on a 52" Latest generation 1080P Sharp LCD for 5 minutes and you will never go back even with the cruddy DVR that Verizon has.

Even Standard Definition, like my most watched channel - SCIFI, looks pretty darn good now.

I ding Verizon's DVR but when you consider that they only went 'llive' with their TV service somthing like 2 or 3 years ago, they did a great job right out of the gate. I fully expect them to get it right sooner than later.

If it wasnt for the $250 it would cost to get out of my contract I would drop them in a heart beat. Im hoping for FiOS to be available in the Greenville, SC area in the next couple years. But im not holding my breath. :(

Double check your contract. If you send them back the equipment, it is only $30 to get out.

I used to have the Series3 with FiOS and now use the TivoHD with a 750Gb hard drive. Upgrades are made easy with the WinMFS tool (http://www.mfslive.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=207).

It works very well, outside of a minor bug that causes about random pixelization a few times per hour. This pixelization lasts a fraction of a second and I don't see it if I rewind or hit instant replay. It appears to be a video driver issue, so presumably Tivo will fix it in a forthcoming software update.

Strange, I haven't seen this in my S3 since I've had it. I don't think it's inherent in the S3...perhaps your connection or local service?

I have just received my Tivo HD-DVR Series-3 with the big HD. FiOS will install the M-card (it replaces the two regular cards) on Tuesday. I had to ask special to get the M-card, but they said OK. It costs $2.99 a month just like a regular card, but you only need one. W/O the M-card, I would have been charged for 2 regular cards at $5.98 per month for both.



Lucky you! In the N.Y. area they have no idea what an M card is and insist they never had one.

Strange, I haven't seen this in my S3 since I've had it. I don't think it's inherent in the S3...perhaps your connection or local service?I was referring to the TivoHD. This issue is specific to the TivoHD. It does not affect the Series3.

Did you get the TivoHD or the Tivo Series3? Only the newer TivoHD currently allows you to replace two standard CableCards with one MCARD.


The rest of the story:
1. I have the Tivo Series 3 HD-DVR with the big HD.
2. After several calls to the techs: Both the Tivo HD (newest @ $299) and the Tivo Series 3 HD-DVR (older, but much more capable @ $799) accept the 'M card'. The Series 3 still requires either two 'S cards' or two 'M cards' for full functionality, but Tivo will soon come out with a software change which will allow full functionality with only one 'M card'.
3. FiOS can support any Tivo combo.

Hilltop, are you saying the software update will allow the S3 to use just 1 M card for full stream functionality? I assume you are since the Tivo-HD already supports M card. But I thought the S3 would never be capable of M card support due to hardware requirements that it doesn't have.

Of course in the N.Y. area my problem remains trying to GET an M-card from FIOS. Very frustrating.

Hilltop, are you saying the software update will allow the S3 to use just 1 M card for full stream functionality? I assume you are since the Tivo-HD already supports M card. But I thought the S3 would never be capable of M card support due to hardware requirements that it doesn't have.

Of course in the N.Y. area my problem remains trying to GET an M-card from FIOS. Very frustrating.I believe TivoHD told reviewers that full support for MCARDs on the Series3 (as in, requiring one card not two) was coming by the end of the year. As of today, only the TivoHD lets you substitute one MCARD for two older 'S' CableCards.

I expect to add a second TivoHD, but won't do so until FiOS has a ready supply of MCARDs in my area.

Hilltop, are you saying the software update will allow the S3 to use just 1 M card for full stream functionality? I assume you are since the Tivo-HD already supports M card. But I thought the S3 would never be capable of M card support due to hardware requirements that it doesn't have.

Of course in the N.Y. area my problem remains trying to GET an M-card from FIOS. Very frustrating.

That's what they told me: Later this year, the software will make it happen. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

I believe TivoHD told reviewers that full support for MCARDs on the Series3 (as in, requiring one card not two) was coming by the end of the year. As of today, only the TivoHD lets you substitute one MCARD for two older 'S' CableCards.

I expect to add a second TivoHD, but won't do so until FiOS has a ready supply of MCARDs in my area.

I am having the two M-cards installed tomorrow and then the Tivo is supposed to be fully up. The VZ FiOS installation office says that I will just have to return the extra M-card by mail after the software change happens later this year. M and S cards cost the same ($2.99/month each). I'll let you all know how it goes after the tech leaves tomorrow. I'm thinking positive. :D

I am having the two M-cards installed tomorrow and then the Tivo is supposed to be fully up. The VZ FiOS installation office says that I will just have to return the extra M-card by mail after the software change happens later this year. M and S cards cost the same ($2.99/month each). I'll let you all know how it goes after the tech leaves tomorrow. I'm thinking positive. :D

Good luck. How much does the Tivo service cost monthly? I may consider switching the Non-Home Media DVR out for a TivoHD unit, my main concern is that if/when FiOS switches to IPTV the Tivo becomes a door stop.

If you spent two months with FiOS on a 60" 1080p screen, I think you would have a hard time going back to the quality of DirecTV or Dish Network.
Using the word "quality" in the same sentence with "DirecTV" or "Dish" does not compute. :p

FIOS has met my expectation for picture quality. Nothing else comes close, except OTA.

I am having the two M-cards installed tomorrow and then the Tivo is supposed to be fully up. The VZ FiOS installation office says that I will just have to return the extra M-card by mail after the software change happens later this year. M and S cards cost the same ($2.99/month each). I'll let you all know how it goes after the tech leaves tomorrow. I'm thinking positive. :D

I'd like to know who you guys know. In N.Y. you get blank stares when mentioning the M-card. :(

I can't do that with the old FiOS DVR either. It just gives me the option for all episodes, which records everything.

This is clearly a problem with the FiOS guide data on ESPN, because I can record that series with the Tivo and choose only "new episodes."

I still have the old IMG. There is an option to choose "New" or "new & repeats". I do this with resuce Me and I just get the one episode. You also pick tyhe channel as well that you want ot record. You also have the ability to restrict by time as well.

One thing that happened on Comcast (on the Moto 6416) was that if you recorded a program like Rescue Me, that "repeated" the same episode many times throughout the night and week was that once you watched it on the DVR and deleted it within the same week, it would record that same episode again. Obviously they didn't keep a database like TIVO that knows you already previously DVR'd the show. However, I tried the same thing on my Verizon- Moto 6416 DVR and they must keep track because it did not re-record it again. I only tested this once (just got the service).

While you may be able to do that on a show like Rescue Me, some stations do not give you the option to change that. I have the same problem with shows on SpikeTV.

Good luck. How much does the Tivo service cost monthly? I may consider switching the Non-Home Media DVR out for a TivoHD unit, my main concern is that if/when FiOS switches to IPTV the Tivo becomes a door stop.
To answer your question: $155.40 for one year of Tivo plus $5.98/month for 2 FiOS cable cards, but you no longer have the FiOS HD DVR to pay for.

Related info: Be very careful when ordering Tivo boxes. It is as tricky as ordering from FiOS. Only the Series 2 can download digital pix and multi-media-like stuff from your computer internet to your DVR STB in the house. The HD and Series-3-HD can only download movies from the outside internet (like the new DVD internet service from Amazon.com which is great). Tivo is working on getting the multi-media stuff on the HD and Series-3 HD 'soon'. :rolleyes:

1. We have 3 boxes (2 DVR's, 1 SD). At the time of install (Fall '06) the Verizon Tech gave us "alternate" remotes (I forget the type - Sci Atlanta maybe?). Apparently Verizon was out of remotes at the time. Well, the remotes were kinda lame but they worked. After the IMG upgrade the remotes don't work properly. Most noticeably, the PLAY button isn't functional. Nice. Well I called and they're sending out 3 new remotes - but it's kinda sloppy for them to let stuff like that slip through.

You hit the nail right on the head. The SA remotes were a temporary solution from the time the Moto remotes ran out and until the 3rd generation remotes (the current Philips remotes) hit the shelves.

I found it rather amusing to explain to the customers that the remotes described in the brochure and in the on-demand program were not the ones that I'm leaving with you.

Gee great. They just strung it past my house a couple weeks ago. 13 months, huh?

I would expect them to move at a much quicker pace in preparing the hardware-plus I think Verizon got a state-wide video franchise for NJ.

HDntheCity is exactly right. NJ has a statewide franchise agreement. The biggest delay will be whether or not they install all the equipment in the CO at the same time. As far as I know all the FiOS equipped CO's in South Jersey are up and running with TV, so there shouldn't be a line for your CO to stand in.

HDntheCity is exactly right. NJ has a statewide franchise agreement. The biggest delay will be whether or not they install all the equipment in the CO at the same time. As far as I know all the FiOS equipped CO's in South Jersey are up and running with TV, so there shouldn't be a line for your CO to stand in.

thanks j.

:mad: :mad: :mad:

Today, I got 'S-cards' and not the 'M-cards' I purchased and was promised by both the FiOS Sales and Installation offices as late as yesterday. The Tivo is up and running properly. More phone calls to make and emails to send.

The issue: I ordered specific FiOS parts (M-cards) and was promised same by FiOS Sales and Installation on several occasions. S-cards were delivered and installed. To me, that is no different than ordering an HD STB and being told you will get a non-HD box and like it. Take it or leave it. FiOS is refusing to order M-cards for me even though they exist and will work in this market.

1. I called Sales yesterday to make sure all was on track. They were not sure so they patched me over to Installation who then asked me: "What installation? You are not scheduled at all." I then gave them the installation order number from last week and he found it, but said the order had not been properly completed within the company and that is why it had not been scheduled. He then completed the order, scheduled it and assured me I would be getting the M-cards.

2. The installation tech shows up today with only S-cards. I asked why and he said there was no mention of M-cards on his work order and, besides, his particular shop does not normally carry M-cards and doesn't know if or when they ever will. I have nothing against this tech. He did his job well and was polite. He was just put in a bad situation by the company.

3. While the tech was still installing the cards, I called the local Customer Service Center in Hampton. The CSR did not have any answers and didn't know M-cards even existed. He said he just knows about 'cards'. He said there was nothing he could do.

4. After the tech left, I tried to get some answers from various FiOS CSR's and got nowhere. They either didn't see my point or put me on 'permanent hold'. The last hold was so long that the line went dead at their end.

I am really surprised and disappointed with FiOS customer service. :(

Hillttop, your #1 & 2 sound EXACTLY like what happened to me. I don't know how anyone gets M-cards within the FIOS system. I don't think they have a clue about these cards.

I'm also still waiting for the new rollout of the guide. If it looks good, I just may return my Tivo which I'm having nothing but trouble with. I can't get dual buffering on it since "Live TV' simply brings up the guide instead of switching between 2 buffered channels. Tivo support had me redo the guide info..an hour + process and that restored the function. The only problem was I had no guide data even hours later. So I had to redo the download twice more before getting the guide data.

Now I've got the guide data but no dual buffered channels. Once again the Live TV button simply brings up the guide. To be honest, I never had these issues with the FIOS PVR. Of course it's not capable of dual buffering, but I'm not getting that either with the Tivo S3. My Tivo S3 in another room works fine.

I had started with a Tivo HD, but that a bad hard drive! I don't know what's up with Tivo QC, but it stinks!

Hillttop, your #1 & 2 sound EXACTLY like what happened to me. I don't know how anyone gets M-cards within the FIOS system. I don't think they have a clue about these cards.

I'm also still waiting for the new rollout of the guide. If it looks good, I just may return my Tivo which I'm having nothing but trouble with. I can't get dual buffering on it since "Live TV' simply brings up the guide instead of switching between 2 buffered channels. Tivo support had me redo the guide info..an hour + process and that restored the function. The only problem was I had no guide data even hours later. So I had to redo the download twice more before getting the guide data.

Now I've got the guide data but no dual buffered channels. Once again the Live TV button simply brings up the guide. To be honest, I never had these issues with the FIOS PVR. Of course it's not capable of dual buffering, but I'm not getting that either with the Tivo S3. My Tivo S3 in another room works fine.

I had started with a Tivo HD, but that a bad hard drive! I don't know what's up with Tivo QC, but it stinks!

I haven't given up hope on FiOS support yet. I'm still working on it. :D

I had D* Tivo before so I know I have all the bells and whistles turned on with my new set. So far, my Tivo Series-3 HD-DVR is working fine and the dual recording function is OK also.

Just an FYI that I woke up with the new IMG here in Loudoun Co Virginia this AM. Didn't get a chance to play with it too much but I did see that it seemed to save all my recorded programs.

I posted this in the 6416 sticky thread elsewhere, but I'll repost it here if people don't mind.

Got the new IMG here in Sterling, VA last night. Release 1.03, Build 03.40.

First reactions: all recorded DVR programs are shown, but have not confirmed this except by playing one recording for a few seconds. Last night I had around 70% used, this morning it shows total hours used for SD and HD, but only a few hours of SD or ~ 1 hour of HD of free space left. Given that 1 hour of HD recording varies between 3% and 6% in the old guide, depending on the channel and material, showing hours remaining for HD is never going to be more than a wild ass guess. I hope they restore a % used & remaining option in a future update.

Stepping through the options, I do not see any menu controls for setting how many minutes to record before and after a scheduled program. It was wired to 1 minute before and after in the old guide, IIRC. Surely this would be a option they would have added to the new IMG?

Bug: the update blew away my closed caption settings. It left the captions on, but reset the captioning to the default block text with black background. Fortunately, because I had read this on the net, I was able to access the setup menu by turning the box off, press Select, then press Menu. I then reset my caption settings to small text, transparent background to make them take up less of the screen.

The guide shows HDNet playing Dan Rather Reports all day long until midnight. Probably a glitch in the guide data, which is nothing new, than in the IMG.

Besides the prettier looking screen, what new features do I get with the IMG? Presumably lays the foundation for HD VOD and better search functions, but call me unimpressed.

For those who wish to report problems with the new guide -

please call 1-888-811-1371


There is no hold time and the more calls they receive about problems (like not being able to delete a recording once you've watched it) the quicker they will respond with a fix.

I like the look of the new guide but am upset about lost functions. I don't understand why they did not add an option to "save all shows" for season passes (the max now is 5).

I am glad they fixed the slow response time of the 30 second skip. Other than that I think the new guide offers nothing worth mentioning. All the hype was much to do about NOTHING!!

I wish V* spent all that time negotiating with carriers to add more HD channels.

We'll see what happens.............

Just an FYI that I woke up with the new IMG here in Loudoun Co Virginia this AM. Didn't get a chance to play with it too much but I did see that it seemed to save all my recorded programs.

It's still vaporware in N.Y....pretty amazing. Eros, did you get info in the mail right before you got the new IMG?

It's still vaporware in N.Y....pretty amazing. Eros, did you get info in the mail right before you got the new IMG?

Sorry to butt in but I figure I would speak up for the Maryland folks.

I got a very professional and obvipously expensive to produce booklet in the mail about a week ago that told me I was getting a new User Interface on my DVR.

I did not think much of it but this morning, I turned the TV on and the new program guide had been downloaded.

Not had a chance to try anything at all yet.


a bit OT but with the new firmware does tell me something:


I have been trying to figure out how to get a bigger disk in this thing or do a round robin type deal where I dump the data to another disk and swap in a blank disk.
This new program guide helps to confirm what I have been suspecting.

I have the machine open and the other day, I popped a brand new,unformatted 160 Gbyte disk onto the internal SATA connector (the one that goes to the normal disk).
After about 15 minutes of it saying 'please wait. busy downling guide info', I had a fully operational system. That told me that the disk is not used for the OS but is merely the data storage area and the firmware on the EEPROM holds the OS.


This theory was confirmed to my satisfaction with this new Program guide.
I stuck the disk that is my test disk back in the machine this morning and after booting for a few moments, I had the new Program Guide display using this this blank disk.

This tells me that the OS is in Firmware an NOT on the disk like it is on a TIVO. It also would probably explain why I only see 2 paritions in Linux with the disk.

Linux complains that it can not mount the partitions because it can not determine their type BUT partimage in Linux does show 2 partitions on the freshly formatted disk (formatted via the code in the Firmare).

Partition 1 is showing up as being 2.79 Gbytes
Parition 2 is showing up as being 144.12 Gbytes

The firmware may get copied to the disk at run time but I have not been able to verify that.

Good News Pittsburgh

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07227/809463-28.stm

Channeling FiOS in South Hills


"Residents of Bethel Park, Mt. Lebanon and Peters were a step closer toward choosing an alternative to cable television services following a vote Monday by municipal officials authorizing Verizon to offer its FiOS TV service in their communities. The agreement covers more than 34,000 households in the three South Hills communities."

Joe Q: that's very cool! thanks. do you have a larger capacity disk you can try out?

The firmware on past Motorola DVRs (including the QIP when FiOS began using it) was limited to 160Gb. The box partitioned for 160Gb regardless of drive size. I seriously doubt that has changed.

Even though we may be limited to one 160gb disk at a time, it does leave open the possibility of swapping disks as they fill with material we want to keep long term.

I've never opened my box up. Would it be possible to extend the internal SATA connection to the outside, and use drives in external enclosures in order to make disk swapping easy? It would then be pretty simple to have a "day-to-day" disk that you would use for stuff you were going to watch and then delete, and other disks that you could swap in when you know you want to record something to save long-term.

Has anyone determined if the user settings (i.e. scheduled recordings) are stored on the disk or in static ram?

Dish just got the new Discovery channels: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=890868

Any news on when FIOS TV will have them?

I finally found a way to get to the right folks at FiOS-TV and I now have the facts.
1. M-cards exist, but are not yet available anywhere in the FiOS-TV system. They are still in development with no issue date. M-cards will become available.
2. M-cards have more capability than some equipment can currently use.
3. The Sales and Installation folks in the offices I had been talking to for a long time were wrong in telling me that M-cards were available. The company will do staff retraining to fix this problem.
4. Senior staff was unaware of this issue and was very apologetic and helpful in resolving my problem within less than half a day.
5. I am satisfied with the result.

It's still vaporware in N.Y....pretty amazing. Eros, did you get info in the mail right before you got the new IMG?

I got the flyer in the mail about a week ago.

Even though we may be limited to one 160gb disk at a time, it does leave open the possibility of swapping disks as they fill with material we want to keep long term.

I've never opened my box up. Would it be possible to extend the internal SATA connection to the outside, and use drives in external enclosures in order to make disk swapping easy? It would then be pretty simple to have a "day-to-day" disk that you would use for stuff you were going to watch and then delete, and other disks that you could swap in when you know you want to record something to save long-term.

Has anyone determined if the user settings (i.e. scheduled recordings) are stored on the disk or in static ram?

I'm sure we all know this, but by doing this you are opening yourself up to a can of worms. If the DVR is damaged you will be out somewhere in the neighborhood of $600(the fee Vz charges for damaged or unreturned DVRs).

I finally found a way to get to the right folks at FiOS-TVCan you tell us how? It sure would be refreshing to be able to talk to someone at Verizon who understood their own system better than I do.

I'm sure we all know this, but by doing this you are opening yourself up to a can of worms. If the DVR is damaged you will be out somewhere in the neighborhood of $600(the fee Vz charges for damaged or unreturned DVRs).

So what?

Pay $600 for a Series 3 Tivo and not be able to offload/record programs or pay $600 for the Motorola which at a minium lets me pull via my 5C compliant D-VHS deck or HD OTA via my QAM Capture card or pull the 15 handful of non OTA channels that dony have 5C enabled via the Firewire my PC?

I wish I could buy one of these things so if I break it then I get to pay them for it and then I will own it.
When you look at the design with the case open , it is really simple and the only thing that I have the slightest worry about is the Power Supply.

With your PC, what is the #1 reason that they go bad?
It is the PS or the disk. NOT the Motherboard unless you do something stupid.

The Motot 6416 is a fanless design. I am told there is one under the disk drive but I can not see it and I am just leaving the disk where it is.

I am running the disk via an externel PS to take the load off of the internal PS because I have been doing a lot of true power on/off cycles and that is when Power Supplies generally go.

I have no delusions that I will be able to make playable files outside the DVR because I am convinced that the recorded data on the disk is encrypted.
My thought process is to be able to copy a bunch of those to another 160 disk and then delete them. Then I stick that disk in the 6416.

Ie. My idea is to Swap 2 drives back and forth. I already have a Sata switch that I designed at work which allows me to conenct up several disks to a Microcomputer.
It is a 'many to one' Sata Data connector and Power Connector using a Rotary switch. Total Cost was about 15$
All that is required is a reboot when you change the switch.

I am just stuck on the darn partition ID as none of my Linux tools can do much without being about to mount the drives.
partimage that I referred t ealer in this thread does allow one to copy the contents of a disk in Linux to another disk.

Maybe one of those forensic disk duplicator programs that are used to save the evidence from the disk when they catch the perve's will do the trick.

I sure wish someone could explain why Motorola chose to lock into a 160 Gbyte size.

To the person that asked about a biggger drive, I stuck a 300Gbyte Sata Drive in the 6416 and I ended up with the same 2 sized partitions as the 160
I was really hoping that this new firmware would let us format a bigger drive but the new firmware only looks to me to be a prettier face.



To the person who asked: Has anyone determined if the user settings (i.e. scheduled recordings) are stored on the disk or in static ram?
The scheduled recording list is stored on the disk. My experimentation has proven this

I could provide details on my testing if you want (I sure would as I don't believe what 99% of the things people tell me so I always want the proof)


This topic that I started should probably be in the QIP6416 Forum. I think I will move over to there

Can you tell us how? It sure would be refreshing to be able to talk to someone at Verizon who understood their own system better than I do.

Unbeknownst to me prior to this problem, Verizon FiOS Virginia has a Customer Advocate office for unresolved customer issues. The Norfolk office opened in March 2007. All "new connects" get a business card with the phone number. Since I became a sub long before that, I never received that business card. I have seriously looked throughout the FiOS website and have yet to find it listed there. Ask your CSR if your area has a C.A. the next time you have a problem that isn't being resolved. It sure worked for me. :)

I ran across this little tidbit from http://www.longhornxp.net/Verizon.html

Verizon FIOS TV service is a 100% all digital offering and it also has the "best" SD and HD picture quality of any cable and satellite company today. They have so much bandwidth they must reduce the picture quality or your DVR would only record 1 hour total of anything. But even their reduction in picture quality is still much much better than anything out today so that should give you an idea.


I am a 3 month long 15/2 Fios Internet and FIOS TV subscriber and am really impressed with my TV's GREAT Picture Quality after being with Directv's 'HD Lite' for so long but somehow I think the statement in bold above is a tad bit of an exaggeration.


The website is a good read and there was another item in that blog which REALLY caught my attention and I sure wish it was true. Awesome

Network DVR Service
Now onto the last new change which is network DVR service. Network DVR service will be DVR service that doesn't require a DVR box at the customers house. Verizon will price the service based on both space for storage and the number of live recordings your home needs at a time. Tons of storage with at least 4 tuner ability with room to grow without having to change anything. Backups of everything so you will never lose your recordings like you would if your hard drive and/or box went bad. Pricing will be cheaper than renting DVR boxes but don't fret Verizon will still offer DVR boxes now and in the future

Edit: When I just found who the website owner is , I made some edits :eek:

The author is Mark who is LonghornXP on SatelliteGuys
In fairness to him, he notes that this was written in April of 2006 and some of this is Rumor

Not sure I buy this 'reduce the quality....or record only 1 hour total of anything'. That sounds like uncompressed HD, which there would be no point in transmitting.

A handful of HD channels on FiOS are ~19Mbps, but none use more than that.

I ran across this little tidbit from http://www.longhornxp.net/Verizon.html

Network DVR Service
Now onto the last new change which is network DVR service. Network DVR service will be DVR service that doesn't require a DVR box at the customers house. Verizon will price the service based on both space for storage and the number of live recordings your home needs at a time. Tons of storage with at least 4 tuner ability with room to grow without having to change anything. Backups of everything so you will never lose your recordings like you would if your hard drive and/or box went bad. Pricing will be cheaper than renting DVR boxes but don't fret Verizon will still offer DVR boxes now and in the future


Didn't Cablevision try this and was told it was a copyright issue and had to do away with the test?

got the IMG in Maryland this morning

one of my DVRs lost all recordings. apparently the IMG eats up a bunch of the hard drive to the point where ~100 hours of recording time available turns into ~40 or 50 hours. hopefully there's a fix for this ASAP.

It's still vaporware in N.Y....pretty amazing. Eros, did you get info in the mail right before you got the new IMG?


Received mailing 2 weeks ago, phone call last week warning of new img coming soon. Still no new img in North Jersey. From what I am reading i should consider myself lucky.

Received mailing 2 weeks ago, phone call last week warning of new img coming soon. Still no new img in North Jersey. From what I am reading i should consider myself lucky.

Personally speaking, I don't think they should add any more areas until after the IMG improvement software is released. Why add to the number of unhappy subs with the current IMG when all you have to do is wait until after the fix is ready?

Got the new IMG here in MD yesterday. I like the look of it but It will take time to get used to. As expected you loose the ability to choose which channels are included in the guide. This was expected and seems to be it's biggest shortcoming. They say that will be rectified in the promised update. Other things I hope they change:

-Enable the ability to cycle from the end of the channels to the beginning. Now you have to double back when you browse.

-Default the guide to the selected channel when you hit favorites. Now the guide seems to go to a random channel rather than the current channel even if its on your favorites list.

-Enable multiple favorites lists ala DishNetwork. This is the one thing I miss from E*. I had my favorites which were different from the kids. When you turned on the STB the guide defaulted the last favorites list and you could limit your browsing to those channels. My kids still complain bitterly that they miss this.

I'm sure there are more but those are the few things that are obvious after a few hours of use.

[QUOTE=Rich L]As expected you loose the ability to choose which channels are included in the guide. This was expected and seems to be it's biggest shortcoming. They say that will be rectified in the promised update. Other things I hope they change: QUOTE]
You can choose which channels are in the Guide, but you have to choose everytime you use it. There is no selectable default which I explained several days ago. Punch Guide and then move left to get Guide options: All, HD or Favorites. You will also discover that all spanish and english language channels add/delete together. The IMG needs work. :rolleyes:

got the IMG in Maryland this morning

one of my DVRs lost all recordings. apparently the IMG eats up a bunch of the hard drive to the point where ~100 hours of recording time available turns into ~40 or 50 hours. hopefully there's a fix for this ASAP.

Is this true? That's the first I've heard of that. Something doesn't sound right.

Is this true? That's the first I've heard of that. Something doesn't sound right.
I appeared to have lost some disk space, but it is not clear how much. The amount of hours available for HD programs is rounded off to the nearest hour and may be rounded down. I deleted 2.5+ hours of HD recordings and went from 1 hour to 3 hours of HD recording time available. I suspect they are using the higher end bit rate for HD in their hours remaining calculation. What I don't know if what happens if you try to record 90 mins of low bitrate HD, say on UniversalHD, when the IMG shows only 1 hour of HD space left. I could figure out how much space I had left with the percentage report, not as clear with the hours remaining report.

If I had to guess based on my limited testing last night, I have maybe 10% less disk space. Maybe they set aside more space for the buffer for the current program being viewed? They badly need to get the eSATA port activated on the QIP 6416. The new IMG is likely to push me to getting a TivoHD in a couple of months.

May I suggest moving the IMG discussion to the HDTV Recorders forum? It seems more related to the machine functions than the programming.

Thanks.

Is this true? That's the first I've heard of that. Something doesn't sound right.

The IMG should not take up disk space. What happens on a standard settop box ? It does not have a hard drive. Where is the IMG stored?

Got our new guide (using standard STB) and looks nice but really haven't had a chance to play with it. A few quick questions:
- How do you unhighlight/demagnify the current channel? Did NOT like that as a default. I'd like to view the guide as a whole without focusing on a specific channel which takes up 1/4 of the space.
- How can you 'page scroll' through the channel list?
TIA!

Personally speaking, I don't think they should add any more areas until after the IMG improvement software is released. Why add to the number of unhappy subs with the current IMG when all you have to do is wait until after the fix is ready?
Probably because only a small portion of subs are vocally "unhappy."

If they deploy to 1000 people and 5 complain a bunch, that's a successful launch.

...
- How can you 'page scroll' through the channel list?
TIA!
Channel UP, Channel DOWN works for me as PG UP, PG DN.

May I suggest moving the IMG discussion to the HDTV Recorders forum? It seems more related to the machine functions than the programming.
I agree to an extent. Spillover discussions of the rollout of the IMG are inevitable here, but we should try to direct most of that stuff to the QIP 6416 thread.

Instead, we should start complaining about where the heck is Discovery-HD, Science-HD, now that those channels are up and running? The new season of Mythbusters is in HD. WE WANT DISCOVERY-HD!!! Not the missing features alpha version of the IMG. I could have waited 3 months longer for the IMG.

FIOS has had Discovery HD since it began.

FIOS has had Discovery HD since it began.

Discovery HD launched yesterday on E*. You have Discovery HD Theatre

Discovery HD launched yesterday on E*. You have Discovery HD Theatre

Actually Discovery Channel HD launched yesterday on E*.

People usually just call Discovery HD Theater Discovery HD. But now we may have to make the distinction as that could be used for either channel.

Probably because only a small portion of subs are vocally "unhappy."

If they deploy to 1000 people and 5 complain a bunch, that's a successful launch.

It is not a "small" number. I have talked with various FiOS company folks and many are unofficially (off the record) unhappy with IMG and wonder why it continues to be implemented in more markets in its current form. I would venture to say that of the AVS posters here who actually have the IMG, there are more against it than for it when compared to what they had before. Will it improve? Of course it will, but that will take time.

May I suggest moving the IMG discussion to the HDTV Recorders forum? It seems more related to the machine functions than the programming.Not the Recorders forum -- the new software applies equally to the non-DVR STBs. However, there is a Fios Hardware thread over in Reception Hardware that might be more apt.

I would Suggest a Sticky just for The new 2.0 IMG, seperate from the Programming or 6416 Threads ...

I would Suggest a Sticky just for The new 2.0 IMG, seperate from the Programming or 6416 Threads ...

MHO: Why add to the confusion? I already read too many different sites. FiOS-TV is Fios-TV. It's not like this site is overun with hundreds of entries per day or that we all don't have other things to do. Keep things simple with what we have. Just my 2 cents. :D

I think this discussion is fine where it is.

The programming issue I have is that VOD has no HD programming.

Other than that, I like the IMG but it has it's flaws.

First off, it erased all my recordings on the switch over. :mad:

I think this discussion is fine where it is.

The programming issue I have is that VOD has no HD programming.

Other than that, I like the IMG but it has it's flaws.

First off, it erased all my recordings on the switch over. :mad:

IMHO, this discussion should not be in the HDTV programming forum.

So when are we geting HD-VOD, Golf Channel -HD ?

Actually Discovery Channel HD launched yesterday on E*.

People usually just call Discovery HD Theater Discovery HD. But now we may have to make the distinction as that could be used for either channel.
True. We now need to write Discovery Channel HD and Discovery HD Theater or come with a better shorthand reference to keep the two channels straight.

Dish added 6 HD channels yesterday. Four new national channels from the Discovery Channel family: Animal Planet HD; The Science Channel HD; TLC HD; Discovery HD. They added MHD (aka Music HD) which is on Verizon and Versus/Golf-HD which is not. They announced that they will add History Channel HD on September 1, so that channel will be live by then. TBS-HD is also supposed to start up on September 1. September 1st is a Saturday, so I wonder if those channels will really start up then or after Labor Day weekend.

Anyway, the list of national HD channels that Verizon Fios does not currently have now includes:
A&E-HD
Versus/Golf-HD
Mojo (not that I expect Verizon to add this any time soon).
the Voom 15 channels (only carried by Dish & Cablevision at this time. I don't expect to see these on Verizon because of the Dolans / Cablevision tie-in)

New: Animal Planet HD, The Science Channel HD, TLC HD, Discovery HD. All of these are simulcast of SD channels, so there will be a limited amount of real HD on these, but there will be HD that we are not getting.

Starting Sept 1? - History-HD, TBS-HD

Verizon adds any of these: ???

I have an appointment to switch over to Fios from Cablevision in 2 weeks. I would like some input from someone who has done the same. Here are my "perceived" pros and cons.

PROS
- A lot cheaper than cable tv/cable modem plus phone for the first year
- Higer bandwitch with fiber optics and less compression in the image (macroblocking)
- Keep true landline vs VOIP

CONS
- I would lose way more HD channels than the average joe since Cablevision recently got a hold of the VoomHD network.
- I've heard some stories of how the Moto boxes are tough to calibrate to the right colors.
- Stuck with one year contract on the Fios vs no contract with Cablevision

Any important differences b/w the Fios Moto DVR HD box vs non-DVR HD box? I'm planning to get one of each but may be convinced to get two of the DVR ones since the price difference is not that much per month. Any input is greatly appreciated!

It is not a "small" number. I have talked with various FiOS company folks and many are unofficially (off the record) unhappy with IMG and wonder why it continues to be implemented in more markets in its current form. I would venture to say that of the AVS posters here who actually have the IMG, there are more against it than for it when compared to what they had before. Will it improve? Of course it will, but that will take time.
Possibly so. But I can assure you that a tiny portion of FiOS subs are AVS forum members. Truly, most people were happy with it before and are happy with it now. I guarantee you, in my neighborhood, I'm the only one who has heard of AVS.

AVS forum members, as we all know very well, have the highest expectations of their equipment of any group of humans in the universe. If there is the slightest imperfection, it will be debated endlessly here.

That's the charm of the place :D

Does anybody know when IMG will hit So. Cal.?

Mojo (not that I expect Verizon to add this any time soon).

Im going to FIOS soon and will miss this channel....we loooooove Three Sheets!

-Steve McKenna-

I have an appointment to switch over to Fios from Cablevision in 2 weeks. I would like some input from someone who has done the same. Here are my "perceived" pros and cons.

PROS
- A lot cheaper than cable tv/cable modem plus phone for the first year
- Higer bandwitch with fiber optics and less compression in the image (macroblocking)
- Keep true landline vs VOIP

CONS
- I would lose way more HD channels than the average joe since Cablevision recently got a hold of the VoomHD network.
- I've heard some stories of how the Moto boxes are tough to calibrate to the right colors.
- Stuck with one year contract on the Fios vs no contract with Cablevision

Any important differences b/w the Fios Moto DVR HD box vs non-DVR HD box? I'm planning to get one of each but may be convinced to get two of the DVR ones since the price difference is not that much per month. Any input is greatly appreciated!

I've been doing the same comparison. I think I've come to the conclusion that only real advantage Cablevision has right now is the Voom channels. This is nice given the lack of overall HD programming, although FIOS does have a couple of HD channels that Cablevision is missing that I would like to have. However, there are a bunch of new HD stations coming online in the next 6 months and the real question is which will get what and when. So right now I'm stalling a little while longer with Cablevision to see how this pans out.

The other "advantage" to Cablevision is the DVR. The cablevision DVR is HORRIBLE, and the FIOS one is WORSE. Especially forcing 720p channels to get converted to 1080i, which is just unacceptable. That's why, in either case, I will probably buy the new TivoHD DVRs, assuming they can work the problems out of them. Which is another reason I am stalling.

So, in summary, I'm stalling.

Jay, having had both the SA Cablevision HD PVR and now the Motorola FIOS HD PVR, I can't agree with you. I find the Motorola superior to the SA. The SA box was the worst I encountered.

Does anybody know when IMG will hit So. Cal.?

I received the flyer yesterday here in Temecula, whatever that means. The update seems to follow a week or two later.

I've been doing the same comparison. I think I've come to the conclusion that only real advantage Cablevision has right now is the Voom channels. This is nice given the lack of overall HD programming, although FIOS does have a couple of HD channels that Cablevision is missing that I would like to have. However, there are a bunch of new HD stations coming online in the next 6 months and the real question is which will get what and when. So right now I'm stalling a little while longer with Cablevision to see how this pans out.

The other "advantage" to Cablevision is the DVR. The cablevision DVR is HORRIBLE, and the FIOS one is WORSE. Especially forcing 720p channels to get converted to 1080i, which is just unacceptable. That's why, in either case, I will probably buy the new TivoHD DVRs, assuming they can work the problems out of them. Which is another reason I am stalling.

So, in summary, I'm stalling.

OK. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread so here I go. This input is going to overlap several other threads and tick some people off, but I see no way around it. FiOS is a 'system' and not just a 'cable line'. I will keep it short. :D
1. What TivoHD-DVR problems? I have a Series-3 TivoHD-DVR and it is working perfectly and as advertised. A perfect complement to my FiOS-TV package.
2. FiOS System (TV/Internet/Phone) Advantage: Now that I have a Tivo connected to my integrated FiOS system, I am watching DVD recordings downloaded from the Amazon.com Unbox. Last night I downloaded a 155 minute movie thru my FiOS 30/5 internet line to my home Tivo via a wireless adapter in just 9 minutes. Watched the movie on my home theater. Great!

Im going to FIOS soon and will miss this channel....we loooooove Three Sheets!

MOJO is the HD channel I'd miss the most by leaving Comcast. :(