Wondering the same things about the upcoming channel roll-out in April. I just saw a message on the STB regarding this a couple of days ago. I switched recently from Comcast and I must say I really miss golf HD on Thurs/Fri.

Hello fellow Richmonder,

My FiOS install date is in 2 weeks. Other than some channel differences, what do you like/dislike between the 2?

Wondering the same things about the upcoming channel roll-out in April. I just saw a message on the STB regarding this a couple of days ago. I switched recently from Comcast and I must say I really miss golf HD on Thurs/Fri.

I used to have Comcast also. The golf channel isn't HD, and that's where the Thurs. and Fri. broadcasts are this year. I believe they were on USA HD last year. Am I wrong?

Hi,
I've been a long time reader of this thread but have not seen anyone mention this. Does Verizon plan on making the Menu & Guide Widescreen? It drives me nuts to lose almost a third of the screen real estate when I pull up the guide or menu. Think it'd be pretty simple to create one.

I used to have Comcast also. The golf channel isn't HD, and that's where the Thurs. and Fri. broadcasts are this year. I believe they were on USA HD last year. Am I wrong?

The Golf Channel is in HD on the Golf/Versus HD channel. This is TGC's second year carrying Thurs/Fri HD coverage.

Personally, Golf/Versus HD, The Weather Channel HD, ESPNEWS HD, and CNN HD are at the top of my list for channels I want added in HD.

Hi, I've been a long time reader of this thread but have not seen anyone mention this. Does Verizon plan on making the Menu & Guide Widescreen? It drives me nuts to lose almost a third of the screen real estate when I pull up the guide or menu. Think it'd be pretty simple to create one.Welcome to AVS forum. You might want to start reading the Verizon FiOS forum on DSL reports. There's a dedicated thread for IMG bugs, that's on the list. http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r19831384-IMG-Bugs-and-missing-features-Ver-20

Hi,
I've been a long time reader of this thread but have not seen anyone mention this. Does Verizon plan on making the Menu & Guide Widescreen? It drives me nuts to lose almost a third of the screen real estate when I pull up the guide or menu. Think it'd be pretty simple to create one.

Between the truly lame Motorola DVR and the fact that they updated my box into oblivion, losing all my recorded shows, I dumped the Motorola in favor of a Series 3 TiVo. Verizon took 7 visits and over a month to get both cable cards going, but now I'm good to go. Never again will verizon screw with my content!!

The next launch of the space shuttle is set for Tuesday, 2:28 a.m. EDT (that's Monday, 11:28 PM PDT). It's a night time launch (a rare occurence) and should be spectacular to watch. On the IMG now, search for "NASA". However, I'd record the series (First Run and Repeat) and check during the day to be sure. Should be a "keeper". I just hope that announcer stops talking and they switch over to the NASA channel audio from the T-9 minute launch poll until main fuel tank separation.

Tue, Mar 11 - 2:00 AM ET Mon, Mar 10 - 11:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet - LIVE!
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Launch - Live from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, exclusive HD coverage of a rare nighttime launch.

Tue, Mar 11 - 10:00 PM ET 7:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Launch - Live from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, exclusive HD coverage of a rare nighttime launch. Special Encore Presentation

Wed, Mar 12 - 1:00 AM ET Tue, Mar 11 - 10:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Launch - Live from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, exclusive HD coverage of a rare nighttime launch. Special Encore Presentation

Wed, Mar 12 - 10:00 AM ET 7:00 AM PT NASA on HDNet
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Launch - Live from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, exclusive HD coverage of a rare nighttime launch. Special Encore Presentation

Hello fellow Richmonder,

My FiOS install date is in 2 weeks. Other than some channel differences, what do you like/dislike between the 2?

Oh, just noticed you are in short pump!

Well, so far I don't have HD boxes yet due to the Motorola shortage. I should be getting them in a couple of weeks I'm told. Therefore I've got no HD, and SD doesn't look quite as good since the standard box doesn't have any component or HDMI connections to at least get the image to 480i.:( (I got a package deal that beat Comcast by a good margin, and the service was awful with Comcast as I just moved across the street and didn't even complete a transfer of service!!)

Overall I like the interface and On Demand setup with the Moto box much better than the Scientific-Atlanta box from Comcast. (again, I only had SD boxes to compare it with at the moment) There were many times when on demand wouldn't work with Comcast, but it works like a charm with Verizon.

One thing I don't like is the way to change volume on the STB as you have to go deep into the menu settings to do this. You can't just adjust it with a press of a button.

I will give a better and more complete comparo of the two when I receive my HD boxes. In the meantime I will just keep up with this thread.

The Golf Channel is in HD on the Golf/Versus HD channel. This is TGC's second year carrying Thurs/Fri HD coverage.

Personally, Golf/Versus HD, The Weather Channel HD, ESPNEWS HD, and CNN HD are at the top of my list for channels I want added in HD.

Yep, the versus/golf channel is the one I'm talking about. The Masters is simulcast on USAHD, but all other regular tournaments are on versus/golf HD on Thurs/Fri.

I didn't have The Weather Channel HD or CNN HD on Comcast. (I do have a cousin up in Charlottesville about an hour from here that does have CNN HD through Comcast) It will be exciting to see what we get on FIOS in April. Please bring golf/versus HD!!

Early round coverage of the Masters will be on ESPNHD this year, so zero FiOS folks will be deprived of it.

The Golf Channel is in HD on the Golf/Versus HD channel. This is TGC's second year carrying Thurs/Fri HD coverage.

Personally, Golf/Versus HD, The Weather Channel HD, ESPNEWS HD, and CNN HD are at the top of my list for channels I want added in HD.

I can't find the channel that you referred to (Golf/Versus HD). I'm in southern NJ. Maybe that channel isn't offered here.

I can't find the channel that you referred to (Golf/Versus HD). I'm in southern NJ. Maybe that channel isn't offered here.
Verizon does not (yet) carry the Versus/Golf HD channel. Verizon has Versus (SD) on channel 85, Golf (SD) is part of the sports package on channel 305. Comcast owns both cable nets and combines the HD programming from them on one HD channel, Versus/Golf HD.

At this point, everyone on Verizon Fios TV has the same national channel line-up. The only differences are the local stations, the PEGs, the RSN (Regional Sports Networks), and blocked cable channels such as MSNBC for northern NJ and NYC area because of local carriage agreements. So we all have the same 16 national HD channels and access to the 5 premium HD channels.

Verizon will be adding many national HD channels this year, but on a market by market roll-out basis as the bandwidth hogging analog channels are shut down. We are looking at a ~5-6 month period where some markets will have many more HD channels than others. The big question is when will Verizon add more national HD channels to each market and which ones? Versus/Golf HD is one the NHL and golf fans want to get. How Verizon will handle Versus/Golf HD is an interesting question because Versus is on the basic (aka Premiere) tier while Golf is on the extra cost sports package? My guess is that they will move Versus to the sports package. But Verizon will have to add a HD companion set to the sports package.

The HD channels I most want to see added are: Sci-Fi HD, CNN HD, USA HD, and probably FX HD to round out the cable nets that provide original scripted series programming. Although, Family Channel and AMC provide original scripted series programming as well, but they don't have live HD channels yet. I'll will take the rest of the Discovery HD channels, History HD, and the other HD sports channels when Verizon adds them. If the other major cable news channels (MSNBC, Fox News, ?) start up HD channels, I can see the time a year from now where I almost never watch an SD channel.

I switched recently from Comcast and I must say I really miss golf HD on Thurs/Fri.

Amen, brotha! But I AM getting a lot more done. :D

I'm also wondering if and when they do provide the VS/Golf HD channel, will it be in some special sports tier as the SD Golf channel now resides? Anything for a buck, you know.

The next launch of the space shuttle is set for Tuesday, 2:28 a.m. EDT (that's Monday, 11:28 PM PDT). It's a night time launch (a rare occurence) and should be spectacular to watch. On the IMG now, search for "NASA". However, I'd record the series (First Run and Repeat) and check during the day to be sure. Should be a "keeper". I just hope that announcer stops talking and they switch over to the NASA channel audio from the T-9 minute launch poll until main fuel tank separation.

Tue, Mar 11 - 2:00 AM ET Mon, Mar 10 - 11:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet - LIVE!
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Launch - Live from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, exclusive HD coverage of a rare nighttime launch.

Tue, Mar 11 - 10:00 PM ET 7:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Launch - Live from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, exclusive HD coverage of a rare nighttime launch. Special Encore Presentation

Wed, Mar 12 - 1:00 AM ET Tue, Mar 11 - 10:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Launch - Live from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, exclusive HD coverage of a rare nighttime launch. Special Encore Presentation

Wed, Mar 12 - 10:00 AM ET 7:00 AM PT NASA on HDNet
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Launch - Live from Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, exclusive HD coverage of a rare nighttime launch. Special Encore PresentationGlad to see another night launch. Most trajectories are close enough to the East Coast that I can see them go by a few minutes (7-8?) after I watch the lift-off on TV. Great view from Virginia Beach looking to the southeast-to-east.

All,
Does anyone have any more info on the "bevel effect" that Suddy and company discussed earlier in the thread--a mirror-like reflection on the left side of the screen? It seems to be a problem with Fios, but other than shifting the TV image to compensate, I haven't found any reason or solution to the problem.

I never experienced it with any HDTV's hooked to Fios in the past, but it is bedeviling my new Pioneer. I guess this is the best place to discuss...thanks.

Might be better in the FiOS Installation and Hardware thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=621323&page=93. However, it's known in the Verizon FiOS forum on DSL Reports. Here's a thread discussing it: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20065095-Image-on-screen-is-compressed-on-left-hand-side

Might be better in the FiOS Installation and Hardware thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=621323&page=93. However, it's known in the Verizon FiOS forum on DSL Reports. Here's a thread discussing it: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20065095-Image-on-screen-is-compressed-on-left-hand-side

Thanks...I just switched to component and it seems to have improved...no sign of the distortion yet. Maybe another hdmi issue.

How long has FIOS had A&E HD? I somehow never noticed until today!

How long has FIOS had A&E HD? I somehow never noticed until today!

A few months, I think it was added in Nov or Dec.

Thanks...I just switched to component and it seems to have improved...no sign of the distortion yet. Maybe another hdmi issue.

Well it turns out my component work-around isn't foolproof after all...while watching a program that was presented in 4:3, the bevel effect returned.

I checked up on my scheduled HD Net recording for the launch and it was gone!! No where to be found in the IMG.

HD Net shows programming OK on their web site (same as previous post).

Then, I setup a manual recording for the same time, and lo and behold, it was back in the IMG! Magic.

The Golf Channel is in HD on the Golf/Versus HD channel. This is TGC's second year carrying Thurs/Fri HD coverage.

Personally, Golf/Versus HD, The Weather Channel HD, ESPNEWS HD, and CNN HD are at the top of my list for channels I want added in HD.
Throw in the NHL Network and I'm with ya there. This is frustrating and I search for news everyday. From what I'm reading here, we have to wait until next month to see what we get?

The best is when I call Verizon for answers the customer service rep always give s me the same answer: "Unfortunately we don't know what channels we're getting until they come out." Why would a company keep their own people in the dark?

I don't think it's intentional, they just don't communicate very well.

Recently when A&E HD was added the only way we knew was from a crawl on the bottom of Verizon's weather channel. No press release or anything. I emailed my contact over at Verizon who is very responsive and write the Policy blog, and he didn't even know about it. It's like the programming department didn't tell anyone.

Question for you fios owners...how often do you notice judder on your HD channels? I know some channels (such as ABC) are notorious for these problems, but I've noticed it with more frequency on others as of late.

Just trying to figure out if it's the TV or the Fios that's the culprit. It never seemed to happen that often with my previous HDTV, though I have certainly been having some issues w/ Verizon over the last few weeks.

I don't think it's intentional, they just don't communicate very well.

Recently when A&E HD was added the only way we knew was from a crawl on the bottom of Verizon's weather channel. No press release or anything. I emailed my contact over at Verizon who is very responsive and write the Policy blog, and he didn't even know about it. It's like the programming department didn't tell anyone.

For those of us with Series 3 Tivos, we get a messsage from TiVo any time a channel is added. Yet another reason to go that way!

For those of us with Series 3 Tivos, we get a messsage from TiVo any time a channel is added. Yet another reason to go that way!

I'm a Series3 owner and TiVo almost never adds a channel when it's launched. In fact in my experience it can take 2 to 3 weeks before the TiVo notifies me. In this particular case, we found out A&E HD was going to be added almost a week before it was.

Question for you fios owners...how often do you notice judder on your HD channels? I know some channels (such as ABC) are notorious for these problems, but I've noticed it with more frequency on others as of late.

Just trying to figure out if it's the TV or the Fios that's the culprit. It never seemed to happen that often with my previous HDTV, though I have certainly been having some issues w/ Verizon over the last few weeks.

Never. I used to get those all the time on Comcast but FIOS has been rock-solid PQ-wise for me.

Question for you fios owners...how often do you notice judder on your HD channels? I know some channels (such as ABC) are notorious for these problems, but I've noticed it with more frequency on others as of late.There is a skipped frame glitch that can develop with the TivoHD and TiVo Series3. It's not clear what causes this glitch to start, but you can reboot the TiVo to eliminate it. I've had it occur 4-5 times since last July and a reboot fixed it each time.

Given so many people have reported this glitch, one would expect TiVo to eliminate it (and the need to reboot to fix it) in a software update. TiVo has said a software update is coming soon (http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?p=5974459#post5974459), although we have no idea what it will and won't fix.

Now, if your local affiliate is recompressing their signal to such a degree that frames are skipped, then obviously you will see that on the TiVo no matter what. TiVo cannot add frames that do not exist in the first place. Some 120Hz LCD can also cause very obvious judder, but that tends to be a settings issue on the TV.

Question for you fios owners...how often do you notice judder on your HD channels? I know some channels (such as ABC) are notorious for these problems, but I've noticed it with more frequency on others as of late.

Just trying to figure out if it's the TV or the Fios that's the culprit. It never seemed to happen that often with my previous HDTV, though I have certainly been having some issues w/ Verizon over the last few weeks.

I've had it on my late TivoS3, but never had it on the FIOS DVRs. I just replaced my dead S3 with another FIOS HD DVR. I'm happy. :)

I've had it on my late TivoS3, but never had it on the FIOS DVRs. I just replaced my dead S3 with another FIOS HD DVR. I'm happy. :)

Ugh. Not the answer I was hoping for with a new TV. I use the HD DVR as well.

Ugh. Not the answer I was hoping for with a new TV. I use the HD DVR as well.See my response above.

See my response above.

Hmm...as far as it being a settings issue, I'm not sure. I notice the judder/lag with both film mode "off" or set to standard (Pioneer plasma). It's hard to tell what judder is justified (in films, on occasion) and what is fishy (i.e. seeing judder/lag on Food Network--no pun intended).

I have noticed quite a bit on HBO HD as well.

Ugh. Not the answer I was hoping for with a new TV. I use the HD DVR as well.The cheapest way to figure out which piece of equipment is causing your problem is to separate them and run the TV without the DVR for a while (if that is possible with your setup).

Hilltop's right. if your Pioneer has a QAM tuner run a direct cable connection to it & do a digital cable scan. you should get your locals in HD. check if the judder still rears it's ugly head on network HD programming.

My brand new Pioneer plasma has CableCARD, but doesn't support clear QAM, go figure.

wait a minute-it has a digital QAM tuner that will ONLY work with a cablecard?

why would Pioneer do that?

My brand new Pioneer plasma has CableCARD, but doesn't support clear QAM, go figure.

Ben, which Pio model do you have? I just got a 5080, haven't even thought about trying the QAM yet.

My brand new Pioneer plasma has CableCARD, but doesn't support clear QAM, go figure.
On what basis, do you say this? I have never heard of a QAM tuner that did not at least get non-encrypted QAM channels. I just looked at the Pioneer 5080 manual and, while I see material on the cable card, it does not say anything about not getting non-encrypted channels. On Fios, the in the clear QAM channels are generally the SD locals & PEGs in the QAM 63 to 68 range (give or take) and the digital broadcast locals with HD & SD sub-channels starting at QAM 71. The digital broadcast locals should get re-mapped to their broadcast channel #, but some tuners are having problems with how Verizon is (incorrectly) formatting the PSIP data.

I have a PDP-6010FD and on the basis that I connected my clear QAM to it and couldn't do a channel scan.

Later I got a CableCARD and it worked perfectly.

It has been a long time since I tried, but I did exhaust all my resources including the manual and was not able to do a channel scan and find any digital channels.

I'll try it again when I get a chance so I can remember why I couldn't get it to work.

Not sure what I was talking about. I tried it again, and it worked fine. The only catch is it only works on Ant-A, and not Ant-B. Maybe I had it plugged into the wrong input last time.

Either way, sorry for the confusion.

I had my first maintenance issue with the FiOS outside boxes today. I have not seen this problem posted before. I will be short.
1. The 3 FiOS boxes are mounted inside my garage so no weather or temperature problems to worry about. Installation is 2 years old.
2. The battery box began to beep on a regular basis and the red 'Replace Battery' light came on. That would cost me about $20.
3. No affect on TV, 'net or phone so I'm not sure I ever would have noticed that there was a problem if they were located outside where I normally rarely go.
4. I called FiOS Tech Support and was told not to replace the battery, but to 'reset' the system and it worked. 'Resetting' consists of opening the battery box and disconnecting the battery and then pulling the master electrical plug out of the wall. No waiting time required. Then replug the wall outlet and reconnect the battery. Note: There is a very small Phillips head screw on the right side of the box that must be removed before pulling the box cover.
5. Just thought some of you would like to know this info.

I had my first maintenance issue with the FiOS outside boxes today. I have not seen this problem posted before. I will be short.
1. The 3 FiOS boxes are mounted inside my garage so no weather or temperature problems to worry about. Installation is 2 years old.
2. The battery box began to beep on a regular basis and the red 'Replace Battery' light came on. That would cost me about $20.
3. No affect on TV, 'net or phone so I'm not sure I ever would have noticed that there was a problem if they were located outside where I normally rarely go.
4. I called FiOS Tech Support and was told not to replace the battery, but to 'reset' the system and it worked. 'Resetting' consists of opening the battery box and disconnecting the battery and then pulling the master electrical plug out of the wall. No waiting time required. Then replug the wall outlet and reconnect the battery. Note: There is a very small Phillips head screw on the right side of the box that must be removed before pulling the box cover.
5. Just thought some of you would like to know this info.
Happened to me as well, they told me to do what you did. No prob.

I had my first maintenance issue with the FiOS outside boxes today. I have not seen this problem posted before. I will be short.
1. The 3 FiOS boxes are mounted inside my garage so no weather or temperature problems to worry about. Installation is 2 years old.
2. The battery box began to beep on a regular basis and the red 'Replace Battery' light came on. That would cost me about $20.
3. No affect on TV, 'net or phone so I'm not sure I ever would have noticed that there was a problem if they were located outside where I normally rarely go.
4. I called FiOS Tech Support and was told not to replace the battery, but to 'reset' the system and it worked. 'Resetting' consists of opening the battery box and disconnecting the battery and then pulling the master electrical plug out of the wall. No waiting time required. Then replug the wall outlet and reconnect the battery. Note: There is a very small Phillips head screw on the right side of the box that must be removed before pulling the box cover.
5. Just thought some of you would like to know this info.

Thanks, it's good to know - I'm getting close to the 2 year anniversary.

Any new channel news?

There's a free HBO preview coming March 20. Check the Weather Channel local on the 8's crawler. That's the best spot for Verizon announcements. yawn.

Any new channel news?I got a letter in the mail from Verizon this week confirming the complete digital conversion for my area on 14 April. It also said that the improvements will occur after that with no exact date specified.

I wish I had FiOS in my area, but for the past 2 months I have been seeing tons of Verizon trucks in my area and I have been reading that they are installing fiber. I asked the guys at the Verizon store and they told me to wait a month or so and FiOS should be in my area, although it may take a little longer than that.

I tune in to channel 66 for Celtics game and saw the bug saying it's also available in HD. But 830 is still showing the beautiful HD Sports 3D banner. Is it really available in HD? If so, which channel is it???

I tune in to channel 66 for Celtics game and saw the bug saying it's also available in HD. But 830 is still showing the beautiful HD Sports 3D banner. Is it really available in HD? If so, which channel is it???

The channel (830) is now carried 24/7 by Comcast and COX Cable (in RI). I have called and written to Verizon asking that they add this channel full time with no satisfaction. One CSR had no idea what I was talking about. My son who has Cox cable takes great delight in telling me how he watches the Celtics away games in glorious HD :mad:

When is Scifi HD coming to FiOS in the Boston MA area? I am jealous of comcast owners right now!!!!

The channel (830) is now carried 24/7 by Comcast and COX Cable (in RI). I have called and written to Verizon asking that they add this channel full time with no satisfaction. One CSR had no idea what I was talking about. My son who has Cox cable takes great delight in telling me how he watches the Celtics away games in glorious HD :mad:

Even worse I think Comcast Sportsnet-NE is stonewalling Verizon. If you go to their web site there's a link for "what's up with HD" and it lists Comcast, Cox, and Charter as having both home and away games in HD. For the others it reports

"Q: Why aren't HD road games available on other cable or DBS providers?

A: Comcast SportsNet is making its HD telecasts available to all cable operators. We are working with each operator that currently provides HD home game telecasts to deliver all Celtics games in HD. For updates, go to ComcastSportsNet.com."

:mad:

Even worse I think Comcast Sportsnet-NE is stonewalling Verizon. If you go to their web site there's a link for "what's up with HD" and it lists Comcast, Cox, and Charter as having both home and away games in HD...
Sounds like MSG Network and Cablevision here in NY. :mad:

My wish list:
MSG HD
Versus/Golf HD
NHL Network
NHL Center Ice...

Is that too much to ask?

Oops. I meant to post that question to Boston FIOS TV thread. Sorry about that.

830 here actually does show Celtics game in HD but so far only with the home games. They are playing out of town tonight so I was expecting it to be in SD only but saw the "also available in HD bug" on the SD channel. CSN-NE obviously doesn't know their own HD schedule. :)

Anyone notice any problems with the guide today? I was going through it to record a few shows and the guide listed Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC tonight as being on from 7-10 pm. Hardball is only an hour and Countdown is supposed to be there at 8:00. One of the Lockdown shows on same channel was listed from 11-2, but again, Countdown is supposed to be on at Midnight.

Also saw this on History Channel. Cities of the Underground, a one hour show, was listed as being on 9-12 tonight. Yet, the rerun during the middle of the night was listed properly as 1 hour.

I noticed this around 11:00 this morning as I was setting some recordings via Slingbox, so not sure if its still screwed up.

Well, I officially cut the cord that is DirecTV (until Sunday Ticket) putting my service on suspension. That leaves me with Yes, SNY and ESPN for baseball until Verizon starts offering MLB Extra Innings. I just hope it's soon, it's in HD and it's offered in NY. I'm surprised there isn't more chatter about Extra Innings here?

Anyone notice any problems with the guide today? I was going through it to record a few shows and the guide listed Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC tonight as being on from 7-10 pm. Hardball is only an hour and Countdown is supposed to be there at 8:00. One of the Lockdown shows on same channel was listed from 11-2, but again, Countdown is supposed to be on at Midnight.

Also saw this on History Channel. Cities of the Underground, a one hour show, was listed as being on 9-12 tonight. Yet, the rerun during the middle of the night was listed properly as 1 hour.

I noticed this around 11:00 this morning as I was setting some recordings via Slingbox, so not sure if its still screwed up.

It's the same here in RI altho I note that tomorrow's guide is correct.

Well, I officially cut the cord that is DirecTV (until Sunday Ticket) putting my service on suspension. That leaves me with Yes, SNY and ESPN for baseball until Verizon starts offering MLB Extra Innings. I just hope it's soon, it's in HD and it's offered in NY. I'm surprised there isn't more chatter about Extra Innings here?Chattering away over on DSL Reports Verizon FiOS forum: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20069989-Verizon-to-add-MLB-Extra-Innings-in-2008-so-it-appears

Easy add for me if they cover in HD.

Yes my guide is messed up... here is something that is strange:

I live in NY. I don't get MSNBC on Fios. You do, I don't? Answers, please.

I currently have Comcast Triple Play, but have FiOS Triple Play scheduled to be installed this Friday (3/21). If I keep Verizon, who should I contact so that I can have my [comcast] number ported to Verizon? I hear that Comcast is dragging their feet on releasing numbers, and I didn't want to delay the install any further.

Yes my guide is messed up... here is something that is strange:

I live in NY. I don't get MSNBC on Fios. You do, I don't? Answers, please.

The guide in Richmond is messed up too on certain channels.

Yes my guide is messed up... here is something that is strange:

I live in NY. I don't get MSNBC on Fios. You do, I don't? Answers, please.
See post 5821 and 5822 of this thread as a starting point: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=13044518#post13044518. Short answer: CableVision has exclusive rights to MSNBC in their markets and Verizon blacks out MSNBC in northern NJ and NYC markets rather than deal with making MSNBC available only in non-Cablevision markets.

The guide data is messed up in many markets tonight. New Amsterdam on Fox is listed as running from 9 to 11 PM in the Washington Metro market. I see other program listings running long.

God, I hate Cablevision. :mad:

What about HD VOD? Everytime I try to watch an HD title it says I'm not subsribed. The only reason I got the FIOS HD STB was to use for HD VOD. If they aren't going to offer it I might as well just return the box and save my $10 a month.

What about HD VOD? Everytime I try to watch an HD title it says I'm not subsribed. The only reason I got the FIOS HD STB was to use for HD VOD. If they aren't going to offer it I might as well just return the box and save my $10 a month.

No problem with it in MA. I can get both the free HD VOD content (all planet earth broadcasts, concerts, etc.) and the paid content (many movies).

Do you see them and get that error or not see them at all?

(I have HD DVR's, maybe that makes a difference?)

No problem with it in MA. I can get both the free HD VOD content (all planet earth broadcasts, concerts, etc.) and the paid content (many movies).

Do you see them and get that error or not see them at all?
HD VOD still has not been added to the Washington Metro and many other markets. Here there are a small handful of HD programs shown in the HDTV folder and I get the not authorized or not subscribed error for the past week or so when I try to watch them. A few weeks back I was able to watch a CSI episode in HD when they had several of those loaded. But now none of the few HD listings are available.

I wonder what the hold-up is. Verizon put out a press release back in December that said they would add HD VOD to the Washington Metro, MA, and RI markets by the end of 2007. The rest of the markets would follow in 2008. Well, we are still waiting. This delay is getting as bad as the IMG roll-out.

HD VOD still has not been added to the Washington Metro and many other markets. Here there are a small handful of HD programs shown in the HDTV folder and I get the not authorized or not subscribed error for the past week or so when I try to watch them. A few weeks back I was able to watch a CSI episode in HD when they had several of those loaded. But now none of the few HD listings are available.

I wonder what the hold-up is. Verizon put out a press release back in December that said they would add HD VOD to the Washington Metro, MA, and RI markets by the end of 2007. The rest of the markets would follow in 2008. Well, we are still waiting. This delay is getting as bad as the IMG roll-out.

It was annoying when we first got it, because at first all there was was pay HD VOD; I even put in a post earlier asking whether other people had any free content. It stayed that way for a while, but now there is a good amount of content, including several full length music concerts, programs, so on.

I'm good now, so I guess, if it goes like with me, you should see more content soon.

There are only 5 or 6 HD VOD items here and if I try to watch them is says that I'm not subscribed. It's been this way over a month. And tech support isn't any help. They said that they might be adding a package you have to pay for to get HD VOD which would make no sense.

Doers anyone know when we might get CSTV or AKA CBS College Sports?

Verizon is having a free preview weekend from March 20-23 for the HBO and Cinemax. I checked and the HBO and Cinemax QAM channels are not encrypted for the free preview, so anyone with a TV hooked up with a QAM tuner can watch HBO & Cinemax this weekend. A few of the channel locations including the sub-channels that the Samsung H260F shows for the northern VA market:

851 HBO-HD QAM 94-612
852 Cinemax-HD QAM 110-614
400 HBO QAM 108-347 (699 MHz)
402 HBO2 QAM 108-349
415 Cinemax QAM 108-307
420 Action Max QAM 106-312 (687 MHz)

Some of the other HBO and Cinemax channels are at QAM 106 and 108. Have not located the rest, although it can be done. Figure this info might be useful for those with a 2nd or 3rd TV hooked up with a QAM tuner and not using a Verizon STB.

I had Fios installed last week and have an NBC HD question.

Strangely, the ad for Deal or No Deal (ch 804) is widescreen HD, however, both last week, and this week's show is displayed in 4:3 . All other HD shows on NBC are displayed in ws properly. Anyone know why this is happenning ?

So I'm watching ESPN HD (Channel 826) and for some reason I am getting the tbs feed. Normal ESPN (60) is just fine. Hmm...

I had Fios installed last week and have an NBC HD question.

Strangely, the ad for Deal or No Deal (ch 804) is widescreen HD, however, both last week, and this week's show is displayed in 4:3 . All other HD shows on NBC are displayed in ws properly. Anyone know why this is happenning ?

Deal or No Deal is not shot in HD... not sure about why the promos were upconverted.

Thanks mpark for the response. I'm new to the whole hd arena and quite frankly find a very strange mix of programs broadcast in Hd.

Local network news is, but national news is not.
Sunday Morning w/Charles Osgood not
Dateline NBC, 20/20 and 48 Hours Not
Letterman and Leno yes, but Late, Late Show w/Craig Ferguson is not
Regis and Kelly not, yet The View is.
DOND not, but Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are (great pq BTW)

I could go on, but you get the idea. Just strange how many HD network broadcast channels are in sd. I thought at this stage I'd be seeing more HD content on these channels. And, yes, I do love sports in hd....even watching Nascar although I was never a fan before.:)

Thanks mpark for the response. I'm new to the whole hd arena and quite frankly find a very strange mix of programs broadcast in Hd.

Local network news is, but national news is not.
Sunday Morning w/Charles Osgood not
Letterman and Leno yes, but Late, Late Show w/Craig Ferguson is not
Regis and Kelly not, yet The View is.
DOND not, but Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune are (great pq BTW)

I could go on, but you get the idea. Just strange how many HD network broadcast channels are in sd. I thought at this stage I'd be seeing more HD content on these channels. And, yes, I do love sports in hd....even watching Nascar although I was never a fan before.:)

You ain't seen nothin' yet! If you're a baseball fan, you can look forward to regular season Fox National broadcasts appearing to be HD because they fill the whole screen and then realizing that it's Fox SD Widescreen. Networks have no real rhyme or reason on whether they deem programs to be HD-worthy or not. The % is slowly increasing and I think a big reason is that more and more commercials are being shot in HD.

You ain't seen nothin' yet! If you're a baseball fan, you can look forward to regular season Fox National broadcasts appearing to be HD because they fill the whole screen and then realizing that it's Fox SD Widescreen.
Holy pixels Batman....SD in widescreen. Yikes !

You ain't seen nothin' yet! If you're a baseball fan, you can look forward to regular season Fox National broadcasts appearing to be HD because they fill the whole screen and then realizing that it's Fox SD Widescreen.
Fox did announce that all of the MLB games broadcast on Fox would be in HD this year. I would not be surprised if they sneaked a couple of widescreen SD games in on busy weekends, but for the moment, they said they would be all HD this year.

Yes, this whole issue of what is in HD and what is not does get confusing for the new HD viewer. Over the 3 years and 4 months that I have had a HD TV, the amount of true HD programming has steadily increased. However, most of the reality and game show prime-time programming on the broadcast nets are still SD because those shows have little repeat value and SD is cheaper to do. And because of the writers strike, the networks are showing lots of reality & lame game shows right now. Someone can correct me, but IIRC, it was only a year and a half ago that Letterman went HD. Why are not Craig Ferguson or Jimmy Kimmel in HD? Probably because their studios are still SD or have not finished being upgraded. Someday they will go HD, but no reports as to when.

Deal or No Deal is not shot in HD... not sure about why the promos were upconverted.

All of NBC's promos are HD/upconverted and stretched.

All of NBC's promos are HD/upconverted and stretched.
Sure is misleading to the viewer though !

Lovely, as another posted mentioned, ESPN HD is now TBS... what the hell!?

So no ideas on when we can hope to get CSTV huh?

Sure is misleading to the viewer though !

No more misleading than all of the programming on A&E HD, TBS HD, or the other 30 HD channels to launch in the last couple months.

Lovely, as another posted mentioned, ESPN HD is now TBS... what the hell!?

Looks to be normal ESPN HD now, was it TBS HD that was showing up or just the SD feed?

The space shuttle landing is up on the IMG. Duration is 10 minutes :confused: ! Guess they just want to capture the landing and broadcast as convenient.

Latest NASA info:
Landing Date: March 26
Landing Time: 7:01 p.m. EDT
Landing Site: Kennedy Space Center

Wed, Mar 26 - 9:00 PM ET 6:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet - Premiere
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Landing - NASA mission STS-123 concludes after a 16-day journey. Endeavour is expected to land at Kennedy Space Center. Tape Delayed.
Thu, Mar 27 - 12:00 AM ET Wed, Mar 26 - 9:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Landing - NASA mission STS-123 concludes after a 16-day journey. Endeavour is expected to land at Kennedy Space Center. Tape Delayed.
Thu, Mar 27 - 3:00 AM ET 12:00 AM PT NASA on HDNet
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Landing - NASA mission STS-123 concludes after a 16-day journey. Endeavour is expected to land at Kennedy Space Center. Tape Delayed

What's a tape? :)

Verizon is having a free preview weekend from March 20-23 for the HBO and Cinemax. I checked and the HBO and Cinemax QAM channels are not encrypted for the free preview, so anyone with a TV hooked up with a QAM tuner can watch HBO & Cinemax this weekend. A few of the channel locations including the sub-channels that the Samsung H260F shows for the northern VA market:

851 HBO-HD QAM 94-612
852 Cinemax-HD QAM 110-614
400 HBO QAM 108-347 (699 MHz)
402 HBO2 QAM 108-349
415 Cinemax QAM 108-307
420 Action Max QAM 106-312 (687 MHz)

Some of the other HBO and Cinemax channels are at QAM 106 and 108. Have not located the rest, although it can be done. Figure this info might be useful for those with a 2nd or 3rd TV hooked up with a QAM tuner and not using a Verizon STB.

In our market it seems they have chosen to not unlock the Cinemax 852 HD channel. And 408 and 410 are pixelated messes. The message on our boxes said that 400-420 would be available for the preview.:confused:

This had to be one of the worst-publicized, and most stupidly scheduled, previews I've ever seen. I believe I heard one announcement about it while watching television, and they scheduled it right on top of the NCAA Tournament when I wouldn't be watching HBO/Cinemax anyway.

I wouldn't have known without this thread.

Check your IMG guide for the NASA Space Shuttle Landing. IMG showed that yellow triangle saying it was bumped. Sure enough- time change to 7 PM EDT.

NASA site: Endeavour's landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Fla. is planned for March 26 at 7:05 p.m. EDT.

HDNet:
Wed, Mar 26 - 7:00 PM ET 4:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet - LIVE!
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Landing - NASA mission STS-123 concludes after a 16-day journey. Endeavour is expected to land at Kennedy Space Center. Tape Delayed.

This had to be one of the worst-publicized, and most stupidly scheduled, previews I've ever seen. I believe I heard one announcement about it while watching television, and they scheduled it right on top of the NCAA Tournament when I wouldn't be watching HBO/Cinemax anyway.


i agree did FIOS post a message on the local weatherscan station in different markets. thats usually a way to find out when new things are comming on FiOS tv.

the only way i found out about these free previews was a topic i found on DBSTALK.com... but yea, i agree, this was not advertised that well.

Check your IMG guide for the NASA Space Shuttle Landing. IMG showed that yellow triangle saying it was bumped. Sure enough- time change to 7 PM EDT.

NASA site: Endeavour's landing at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Fla. is planned for March 26 at 7:05 p.m. EDT.

HDNet:
Wed, Mar 26 - 7:00 PM ET 4:00 PM PT NASA on HDNet - LIVE!
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 Landing - NASA mission STS-123 concludes after a 16-day journey. Endeavour is expected to land at Kennedy Space Center. Tape Delayed.

The shuttle landing has been delayed and should now occur around 8:39 p.m. ET according to FOX News Channel.

HDNet is no go. :mad: Watching live via internet. Infra-red camera views to touch down. Really cool view of the APU's (Auxiliary Power Units) venting, like a hot rod with flames shooting out the exhaust. Won't see that during the day time.

HDNet is no go. :mad: Watching live via internet. Infra-red camera views to touch down. Really cool view of the APU's (Auxiliary Power Units) venting, like a hot rod with flames shooting out the exhaust. Won't see that during the day time.

Actually, HDNet was a go-go. It was a delayed broadcast, but they did air it at 9 p.m. ET (as promoted throughout the 8 p.m. Hour to be aired as such).

Verizon Lines Up MavTV In HD

Men's-Targeted HD Service Latest Addition To Telco's HD Roster

By Linda Moss -- Multichannel News, 3/27/2008 12:32:00 PM

As part of a new long-term carriage agreement, Verizon FiOS TV will add the high-definition feed of MavTV to its lineup this year, officials said Thursday.

MavTV HD will feature a strong lineup of native high-definition programming for FiOS TV subscribers.

For its part, FiOS TV continues to bolster its roster of HD services.

“All of our original production has been shot in HD since the second quarter of 2007,” MavTV executive vice president of sales and marketing Doug Jost said in a statement. “We have been amassing a robust HD library in anticipation of our launch this year. The agreement with Verizon marks a significant step forward for our HD efforts and we couldn’t be more excited about partnering with them,”

MavTV targets the male demographic with a wide array of content, featuring sports, comedy, women, gadgets, lifestyles and gaming. MavTV HD will air compelling original content in each of these categories, including shows such as Real Guys, Real Golf, Ultimate Combat Experience, American Tailgater, Best of the Best 3 and AMA Pro Motorcycle Racing Series.

MavTV HD will eventually become a full simulcast of the standard-definition schedule.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6545553.html?industryid=47194

Has anyone heard of any date for the beginning of new HD channels...in whatever area it occurs first?

Has anyone heard of any date for the beginning of new HD channels...in whatever area it occurs first?

It depends on your area. Search earlier in this thread for the dates of analog cutoff.

For example, in MD, it's in July.

Has anyone heard of any date for the beginning of new HD channels...in whatever area it occurs first?

All I heard was region by region. As analog is phased out then HD will be introduced. Depending where you are located, I would not expect anything for 2-4 months. Seems like Indiana and Oregon will be first. They have HD VOD (30 or so shows to choose from). I have nothing...at one time I had about 6-8, now nothing.

It is a bit frustrating that things are moving along very slow. However, I dumped D* and took a gamble with FIOS, so I knew what I was getting in to. Also, I wanted my RSN, that was another huge factor in my decision.

Hang in there.....where are you located? I'm in SJ, so I don't expect anything until late June...:(

Has anyone heard of any date for the beginning of new HD channels...in whatever area it occurs first?
Very little solid information out there beyond the schedule for the analog shutdown date by VHO posted here by bfdtv at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=13099835&postcount=5859 and on dslreports. So far, the reports from those in the markets getting their analog shut down in April is that Verizon CSRs are sticking to those dates. However, it was reported that the listed date, say April 21 for NY, is just the day they start to go to the Central Offices one by one in the market and replace the equipment over the following weeks. May explain why there is a gap of April 21 for the NY VHO4 and May 12 for MA & RI VHO6. Got a lot of COs to get to in the NY market. So until they add HD channels in one or more of the markets converted over, we won't know how long after the analog shutdown before we might see a major HD expansion.

There was a post on dslreports listing 8 HD channels which would be added "soon" on a market-by-market basis, but that may be nothing more than someone making stuff up. To add 8 HD channels, Verizon would have to add 4 QAM channels to the national channel line-up.

Also if Verizon is going to add 30 HD channels, they will have to reshuffle the channel line-up first. They could add 8 to the 820 to 849 block, but not enough room in there for 30 more HD channels. Revising the channel line-up and moving channels around requires 30+ days advance notice in many franchise areas and often even posting a notice in the paper. I have not seen any reports of this, so a major HD expansion in any of the markets is likely > 30 days off.

All I heard was region by region. As analog is phased out then HD will be introduced. Depending where you are located, I would not expect anything for 2-4 months. Seems like Indiana and Oregon will be first. They have HD VOD (30 or so shows to choose from). I have nothing...at one time I had about 6-8, now nothing.

It is a bit frustrating that things are moving along very slow. However, I dumped D* and took a gamble with FIOS, so I knew what I was getting in to. Also, I wanted my RSN, that was another huge factor in my decision.

Hang in there.....where are you located? I'm in SJ, so I don't expect anything until late June...:(

I'm in N.Y. where they're supposed to shut down analog in 3 days. I had a tech over about 3 weeks ago and he said they were already in the process of shutting down analog in the N.Y. area.

I'm in N.Y. where they're supposed to shut down analog in 3 days. I had a tech over about 3 weeks ago and he said they were already in the process of shutting down analog in the N.Y. area.

Actually, they are in the process of shutting down analog in all areas. Your time line is about the same as mine (according to the chart). Don't expect anything until late June....I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I really think late June is being optimistic.

I really hope I am wrong though.....

Wow this thread is a great start to my weekend. Let's go FIOS, wake up!

Is there any reason Flyers away games on Comcast look like crap. Is this even hd? The home games look amazing and this game now against the islanders look awful.

It is widescreen 480i. Complain to the folks at CSN who don't think the fans in Philly are worth the expense of HD road games. They do it in Boston for the Celtics but not in Philly. The Sixers' Cletics game last week was in HD in Boston on CSN NE and was picked up nationally for NBA TV but CSN refused to pick up an HD feed for the Philly Market. Apparently, we don't rate the extra backhaul cost.

Yea I figured it looks like crap , thanks for the response though. Is there anywhere I can go to complain?

Yea I figured it looks like crap , thanks for the response though. Is there anywhere I can go to complain?

Try a Comcast thread. I think you wandered into a FiOS thread by mistake.

Doug

Contact CSN directly, either by email or phone.

Two days until the digital switch/slew of new HD channels here in Fort Wayne. I'll report how it looks on Tuesday!

You're joking right?

You're joking right?

Nope. April 1st.

We have received numerous notices in the mail.


Seriously.

Numerous notices of the analog shutoff or of HD additions? There's a difference.

Two days until the digital switch/slew of new HD channels here in Fort Wayne. I'll report how it looks on Tuesday!
Don't confuse the beginning of shutdown of the analog channels with the start-up of the HD channels. What exactly is the wording of the Verizon announcement or letter? The odds are that there will be a gap, possibly months, between the shutdown of analog and the addition of up to 30 HD channels. There was a unsubstantiated report that Verizon would be adding 8 HD channels on a market-by-market basis "soon" for what that is worth. But any major expansion with 30 new HD channels is going to require a channel re-alignment unless they stick the new national HD channels somewhere outside of the 820 to 850 block. A channel move often requires 30 days notice, so Verizon will have to notify us well in advance of a major channel re-shuffle.

Don't confuse the beginning of shutdown of the analog channels with the start-up of the HD channels. What exactly is the wording of the Verizon announcement or letter? The odds are that there will be a gap, possibly months, between the shutdown of analog and the addition of up to 30 HD channels. There was a unsubstantiated report that Verizon would be adding 8 HD channels on a market-by-market basis "soon" for what that is worth. But any major expansion with 30 new HD channels is going to require a channel re-alignment unless they stick the new national HD channels somewhere outside of the 820 to 850 block. A channel move often requires 30 days notice, so Verizon will have to notify us well in advance of a major channel re-shuffle.

In Hampton Roads the letter says(not exact, but close):
"going fully digital on 14 April with the new stuff to follow soon thereafter."

In Hampton Roads the letter says(not exact, but close):
"going fully digital on 14 April with the new stuff to follow soon thereafter."


What he said, but April 1.

"shortly after the transition, you'll see even more great content from Verizon at no additional cost."


"..an all-digital signal will give us the chance to provide improved picture and sound quality, including more HD channels and programming."


I guess I got the new HD channels on April 1 from other foums and post, I guess that might not be confirmed.

What he said, but April 1.

"shortly after the transition, you'll see even more great content from Verizon at no additional cost."


"..an all-digital signal will give us the chance to provide improved picture and sound quality, including more HD channels and programming."


I guess I got the new HD channels on April 1 from other foums and post, I guess that might not be confirmed.

I don't think we will see the new content the day of the switch to all digital, but I doubt it is going to be "months" as other posters think it will be. Vz has stated that the new HDs would be added market by market, so if it is months for Ft. Wayne and Hampton Roads areas then it would be close to a year or more for the areas that are at the end of the transition.

Well, my guess is it'll be a minimum of 30-60 days since there are notice requirements that must be met (that haven't yet been met in any of the pending markets).

My guess is that the early markets to shut off analog will wait longer for additions than the later markets.

Well, my guess is it'll be a minimum of 30-60 days since there are notice requirements that must be met (that haven't yet been met in any of the pending markets).

My guess is that the early markets to shut off analog will wait longer for additions than the later markets.

Out of curiosity, how would you know if Vz had given all the different markets notice on analog shutoff? We've received 2 letters and there is a message from Vz on the DVR confirming Apr 14 is the cutoff date. Until that day comes and passes I am going to believe what I have heard from them.

Edit: I should also add that there have been numerous Vz locally inserted commercials advertising the all digital transition in April for our area.

Around here we were suppsoed to have full deployment of the HD VOD back in January. We are still waiting for it. This is why I just got Comcast re-connected to one of my TiVoHD boxes so I can see the HD channels I'm missing on FIOS, like Sci-Fi HD. I have a special rate for 6 months so hopefully FIOS will have those channels around here by the end of the promotion so I can drop Comcast again.

So I have been with FiOS for a while (pre IMG etc), been through the bugs etc and live with the DVR eccentricities, but here's a new one for me.

So I reboot by unplugging about every week or so or when I get the "can't record thing". Usually I reboot and everything is fine.

Not this time.

After the reboot (a couple times) its seem like the list of recorded shows is a snap shot from about a month ago. My recent recording are missing and the ones I deleted are there again. But its just the list, because if I try to play one of the old show it gives me this "The show is no currently available please try later", obviously the actual "old" recording are not there. It like the file list/file system is buggered up. I have tried rebooting a couple times no luck. Also when it comes up it seems very sluggish changing channels etc.

I am really just bummed be cause I just recorded Inside Man in HiDef and my last LOST ... are lost, gone, nada.

UPDATE: I removed all the "old" recordings that weren't really there. The recording from last night is there so it seems that I am up and running, but I am afraid when I get in the "can't record mode" this going to happen again, i.e. lose all my new recordings.

Anyone have this happen to them? Any ideas what to do?

The best thing to do is dump the FIOS DVR and get a Series 3 or TiVoHD. You can get the TiVoHD on sale for around $200 with this special offer. http://www.tivo.com/promo/nea_specialoffers.html

So I have been with FiOS for a while (pre IMG etc), been through the bugs etc and live with the DVR eccentricities, but here's a new one for me.

So I reboot by unplugging about every week or so or when I get the "can't record thing". Usually I reboot and everything is fine.

Not this time.

After the reboot (a couple times) its seem like the list of recorded shows is a snap shot from about a month ago. My recent recording are missing and the ones I deleted are there again. But its just the list, because if I try to play one of the old show it gives me this "The show is no currently available please try later", obviously the actual "old" recording are not there. It like the file list/file system is buggered up. I have tried rebooting a couple times no luck. Also when it comes up it seems very sluggish changing channels etc.

I am really just bummed be cause I just recorded Inside Man in HiDef and my last LOST ... are lost, gone, nada.

UPDATE: I removed all the "old" recordings that weren't really there. The recording from last night is there so it seems that I am up and running, but I am afraid when I get in the "can't record mode" this going to happen again, i.e. lose all my new recordings.

Anyone have this happen to them? Any ideas what to do?

The best thing to do is dump the FIOS DVR and get a Series 3 or TiVoHD. You can get the TiVoHD on sale for around $200 with this special offer. http://www.tivo.com/promo/nea_specialoffers.htmlThank you. I'm glad you said that. :D
I don't say that anymore since I got tired of so many non-TiVo owners calling me an 'elite' and a 'TiVo snob'. ;)

Anyone know when or if HD VOD is available in the Northern NJ area?

Out of curiosity, how would you know if Vz had given all the different markets notice on analog shutoff? We've received 2 letters and there is a message from Vz on the DVR confirming Apr 14 is the cutoff date. Until that day comes and passes I am going to believe what I have heard from them.

Edit: I should also add that there have been numerous Vz locally inserted commercials advertising the all digital transition in April for our area.

Wait, maybe I was confusing there. No one doubts that analog shutoff is pending in several markets starting April 1. The question is whether HD additions are also pending in those same markets, since Verizon has stated that HD additions will occur on a market-by-market basis until the analog shutoff is complete and the QAM upgrades have been finished.

My comments were only regarding HD additions/lineup changes. So, in regard to those specifically, there's been no notice requirements met and no indication that new HD channels are coming in any market at the moment. Because Verizon operates its service primarily on a nationwide basis, it seems likely to me that they'll be slow moving forward with HD additions in the early markets. Since no channel additions/lineup changes have been announced, they're probably 30 days out or more.

As someone's pointed out, there's room for a few more HD channels in every market under the current configuration, so maybe a couple HD channels will be coming for everyone independent of the analog shutoff. Verizon did say new channels would be coming Spring 2008 last year.

Wait, maybe I was confusing there. No one doubts that analog shutoff is pending in several markets starting April 1. The question is whether HD additions are also pending in those same markets, since Verizon has stated that HD additions will occur on a market-by-market basis until the analog shutoff is complete and the QAM upgrades have been finished.

My comments were only regarding HD additions/lineup changes. So, in regard to those specifically, there's been no notice requirements met and no indication that new HD channels are coming in any market at the moment. Because Verizon operates its service primarily on a nationwide basis, it seems likely to me that they'll be slow moving forward with HD additions in the early markets. Since no channel additions/lineup changes have been announced, they're probably 30 days out or more.

As someone's pointed out, there's room for a few more HD channels in every market under the current configuration, so maybe a couple HD channels will be coming for everyone independent of the analog shutoff. Verizon did say new channels would be coming Spring 2008 last year.



Well...let's start a pool. I'll let everyone know what we have on Tuesday night : )

The best thing to do is dump the FIOS DVR and get a Series 3 or TiVoHD. You can get the TiVoHD on sale for around $200 with this special offer. http://www.tivo.com/promo/nea_specialoffers.html

Thank you. I'm glad you said that. :D
I don't say that anymore since I got tired of so many non-TiVo owners calling me an 'elite' and a 'TiVo snob'. ;)

Thanks I will take that under advisement. GeussI should call Verizon (local?) and see if they have the cable cards available.

That looks like a pretty good deal.

The best thing to do is dump the FIOS DVR and get a Series 3 or TiVoHD. You can get the TiVoHD on sale for around $200 with this special offer. http://www.tivo.com/promo/nea_specialoffers.html

Any idea how long this offer will last?

I'm scheduled to have FiOS installed on 4/3... If the DVR is worse than what I've had with Comcast, I may have to TiVo.

Any idea how long this offer will last?

I'm scheduled to have FiOS installed on 4/3... If the DVR is worse than what I've had with Comcast, I may have to TiVo.

I think your experience depends on what level of DVR-ing you do. I am a "casual recorder" at best and compared to Comcast the FIOS unit is much better. It's faster and all the caching doesn't cause the button input hangups that drove me nuts with Comcast. I haven't lost any recordings either. The box has crashed a few times but rebooted itself without any further interaction from me...but my Comcast box did that too.

I have 2-3 series set to record and the unit does exactly what's asked of it as long as the guide information is correct, and off the top of my head I can't recall the guide screw-ups so they must not have been that much of an inconvenience to me.

YesJim is spot on IMO. I too am a casual recorder and actually prefer the FIOS DVR to my recently deceased Tivo S3. As a result I replaced the Tivo with a FIOS DVR and am happier.

Now if they can just fix that periodic loss of dual buffers, I'd be right where I'd want to be.

Looks like Verizon has finally added HD VOD to the Washington Metro market. There is a High Definition folder today under the browse list here in the Washington Metro market! I found 3 folders under that for HDTV, HD Movies, HD Events. There are HD programs for CBS, Discovery HD, MHD, and other cable nets under the HDTV folder. Looked like several dozen PPV movies for $6 each under the HD movies folder. According to posts on dslreports, the HD material was added to southern NJ, PA, and TX today as well. NY and northern NJ are rumored to be getting HD VOD soon, maybe later today or tomorrow

Now most of us can check the HD VOD picture quality and see if it is as over compressed as the reports say it is.

not HDTV related, but is anyone else in the Hampton Roads area having problems accessing their email? Mt email client keeps giving me the error:

"Sending of password did not succeed. Mail server incoming.verizon.net responded: Service temporarily unavailable"

I also tried going through the netmail access, and the page won't load.

not HDTV related, but is anyone else in the Hampton Roads area having problems accessing their email? Mt email client keeps giving me the error:

"Sending of password did not succeed. Mail server incoming.verizon.net responded: Service temporarily unavailable"

I also tried going through the netmail access, and the page won't load.
1. Yes. My email has been hard to access and has been very slow to respond for several weeks. It's very slow during the day and it's better late at night so its looks more like a backlog problem to me.

2. Same problem with the Verizon internet system in general right now: slow during the day and OK at night. :(

3. Edit: see #6131 below

what are you saying FIos is slowing down...?? i didn't think that was possible...??

It's back! Battlestar Galactica Season Four Premier is up on the IMG. This Friday, 4/4, Sci-Fi 10 PM ET.

Just a little challenge to find it as the IMG didn't display any info for a lot of the currently running shows including 4/4.

Work-around: Create Recording, search for Battlestar Galactica. Scroll down all the way to the bottom for the episode showing on 4/11 at 10 PM. Hit "Record Series" and it will pick up this Friday's episode.

what are you saying FIos is slowing down...?? i didn't think that was possible...??1. I think I have found the problem: the Actiontec Router. Just for something better to do tonight ( I've tried everything else), I disconnected the router from the wall and reset it. That seems to have greatly increased the speed in general and the email access in particular. I will know for sure if this has helped during the day tomorrow. Will advise.

2. I find this "fix" strange if it works. The router is not sensitive to the time of day or to system traffic load outside my home. This "fix" should not work. I guess we will just have to wait and see during the workday tomorrow.

It's back! Battlestar Galactica Season Four Premier is up on the IMG. This Friday, 4/4, Sci-Fi 10 PM ET.

In glorious SD on FiOS.

hilltop, do you think you need a new ACTIONTECH router??

hilltop, do you think you need a new ACTIONTECH router??

Or do like the rest of us - make the ActionTek just a node on your network (if you need it for IMG/program guide data), and put a real router as your front-end router.

1. I think I have found the problem: the Actiontec Router. Just for something better to do tonight ( I've tried everything else), I disconnected the router from the wall and reset it. That seems to have greatly increased the speed in general and the email access in particular. I will know for sure if this has helped during the day tomorrow. Will advise.

2. I find this "fix" strange if it works. The router is not sensitive to the time of day or to system traffic load outside my home. This "fix" should not work. I guess we will just have to wait and see during the workday tomorrow.

i think the problem may have been on my end. my wife's email client would connect under her login on the same machine, but mine wouldn't. after several attempts and config checks, connectivity was restored.

fwiw, i never had a problem with the big black actiontec until it took a dump on me. the replacement actiontec is quite a bit smaller and rounded as well. it works as well as the original.

I watched on Music Choice HD VOD: Cure and Black Crows. I noticed a certain blurring on some shots of the Black Crows. The Cure had what seemed like a video effect where every 30-40 secs there was this weird warping of the image, which I don't want to clasify as blurring. I have noticed all MHD on VOD is only 2.0 audio. This is DLP so motion blur is not possible.

In glorious SD on FiOS.

When are we getting SciFi in HD?

I had the same slow responsiveness and power reset the router and performance came back snappy again. My router had been on for 2310 hours before I reset it.

I started getting MSNBC in central NJ 2 days ago. No logo, channel name, or programming description, but the feed is there.

I also got the expanded HD VOD. The list of titles is quite large, but they are $6 bucks a pop. Hopefully they will add the movie channel subscription HD titles.

1. I think I have found the problem: the Actiontec Router. Just for something better to do tonight ( I've tried everything else), I disconnected the router from the wall and reset it. That seems to have greatly increased the speed in general and the email access in particular. I will know for sure if this has helped during the day tomorrow. Will advise.

2. I find this "fix" strange if it works. The router is not sensitive to the time of day or to system traffic load outside my home. This "fix" should not work. I guess we will just have to wait and see during the workday tomorrow.

I had to reset my Actiontec a couple of days ago as well. Stopped being able to get to the outside world, after a hard reset all was well.

[quote=eric.exe;13526152]I started getting MSNBC in central NJ 2 days ago. No logo, channel name, or programming description, but the feed is there.

Is this an April Fool's Day joke? If so, you got me! I'm in central NJ, but my channel 84 is still non-existent. If I key in 84 it jumps back to 83.

I live in the philly area, and I receive NJN (PBS out of NJ) in the HD numbers, however, I've never seen ANYTHING in HD from them (even though a lot of shows are "available" in HD)... do you suppose that FIOS forgot to switch something to give me something other than an SD feed?

Thanks!

Anyone shocked that Bonzy hasn't commented on all the great new HD channels he's gotten today? :D

When routers mysteriously go south then work properly after a reboot it usually means that a lot of simultaneous connections were made. Routers like these use "network address translation (NAT)" to masquerade the private network addresses like 192.168.1.107 as the router's public IP address.

Most of the time this works fine, but some types of network applications will create so many external connections that it floods the table of NAT links kept in the router's memory. The most common applications to create these problems are gaming and b**torr*nt (misspelled to avoid the stupid site censor). Some clients let you limit the number of total connections in use at one time. If you're using an application like this, set a connection limit like 50 or so in your client software and see if it helps.

I've had ordinary Linksys routers display this problem as well. Manufacturers exploit this fact to sell "gaming" routers which simply have a bit more memory. Given the cost of memory these days, you'd think they'd just add more memory to all the routers and avoid handling customer complaints about the router falling over. Ah, marketing.

@bronowyn: For a while, many of the shows on the PBS-affiliate here in Boston appeared to be in SD even though there was obviously an HD signal (that I could see by connecting my TV directly to the cable and using the built-in ATSC tuner). Just in the past week, though, the Newshour with Jim Lehrer suddenly began appearing in HD via the set-top box. I don't know what the problem was, since the local network affiliates are all in HD. I'm just happy to see that the spinning globe on the NewsHour is circular again when showed in widescreen.

Well, it looks like HBO quietly launched HBO2, HBO Comedy, and HBO Family (but no Signature?) in HD today, and they're available on U-verse.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=62434

Sigh. Throw in ESPNEWS, ABC Family, and Disney HD launching tomorrow on DirecTV, and it's not the best time to be a FiOS subscriber.

In glorious SD on FiOS.
The main reason I just got Comcast re-connected to one of my TiVoHD boxes. So I can get those HD channels that FIOS doesn't thave yet. Hoepfully by the time my 6 month promotion with Comcast runs out, FIOS will have added the HD channels.

Well, it looks like HBO quietly launched HBO2, HBO Comedy, and HBO Family (but no Signature?) in HD today, and they're available on U-verse.

http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=62434

Sigh. Throw in ESPNEWS, ABC Family, and Disney HD launching tomorrow on DirecTV, and it's not the best time to be a FiOS subscriber.

Better than U-verse. Do they still only have the capability to watch or record one HD program at a time? Sometimes i'm simultaneously recording 8 HD programs from my Series 3 and TiVoHD boxes with FIOS.

Looks like Verizon has finally added HD VOD to the Washington Metro market. There is a High Definition folder today under the browse list here in the Washington Metro market! I found 3 folders under that for HDTV, HD Movies, HD Events. There are HD programs for CBS, Discovery HD, MHD, and other cable nets under the HDTV folder. Looked like several dozen PPV movies for $6 each under the HD movies folder. According to posts on dslreports, the HD material was added to southern NJ, PA, and TX today as well. NY and northern NJ are rumored to be getting HD VOD soon, maybe later today or tomorrow

Now most of us can check the HD VOD picture quality and see if it is as over compressed as the reports say it is.

I checked it out this morning. I see it still robs me of 15mbs of my internet bandwidth when viewing HD VOD. My 30mbs connection will drop to 15mbs on my PC when viewing HD VOD.
$6 is in line with other providers, although some have HD VOD for $5. I need to compare the quality of a title this week to one on my VUDU box which is 1080P24 MPEG4 at 4mbs. But FIOS is 15mbs at MPEG2(at least the free stuff was)so it might look better depending on how well they did the encoding.

I checked it out this morning. I see it still robs me of 15mbs of my internet bandwidth when viewing HD VOD. My 30mbs connection will drop to 15mbs on my PC when viewing HD VOD.
$6 is in line with other providers, although some have HD VOD for $5. I need to compare the quality of a title this week to one on my VUDU box which is 1080P24 MPEG4 at 4mbs. But FIOS is 15mbs at MPEG2(at least the free stuff was)so it might look better depending on how well they did the encoding.

I was told that 30mb down is the most they allow for each ONT, so if you have the 30/5 package it will drop your Internet speeds down when watching HD-VOD, whereas I only have the 15/2 package, so my speeds remain the same.

Is this an April Fool's Day joke? If so, you got me! I'm in central NJ, but my channel 84 is still non-existent. If I key in 84 it jumps back to 83.

Um, no. Maybe they finally started adding it on a town-by-town basis. Cablevision isn't even available in my town, but we were subject to the coverage blackout.

But FIOS is 15mbs at MPEG2(at least the free stuff was)so it might look better depending on how well they did the encoding. Hopefully bfdtv can give us some bitrate checks. :D

hilltop, do you think you need a new ACTIONTECH router??
1. No new router needed. The hard reset did the trick. I don't understand the reasoning behind the fix, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. :D

2. As to the other question above: No, I have not added anything. Nothing had changed before the slowdown. It just happened. No viruses, no system changes, no history or trash backups, nothing.

1. No new router needed. The hard reset did the trick. I don't understand the reasoning behind the fix, but I'm not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. :D

2. As to the other question above: No, I have not added anything. Nothing had changed before the slowdown. It just happened. No viruses, no system changes, no history or trash backups, nothing.

It probably cleared out the memory in the router and whatever was causing the problems went away with it.

Anyone shocked that Bonzy hasn't commented on all the great new HD channels he's gotten today? :D

I took a look at the PDF Channel line up and noticed that the one for SoCal was dated Feb 2008. Anyone notice a different date?

I know this isn't a programming post, but why change the trend? Anyway, my Actiontech completely died on me this week. I called for a replacement and they insisted they need to send a tech. After taking a day off work and waiting all day, the tech was a no-show and no-call. I finally called Verizon at 6:30pm (window was 8am-6pm) and they said that the tech wasn't coming. After making a stink, they overnighted me a new Actiontech. Fortunately, it only affected my FiOS TV since I use it as a node and not my main router.

I know this isn't a programming post, but why change the trend? Anyway, my Actiontech completely died on me this week. I called for a replacement and they insisted they need to send a tech. After taking a day off work and waiting all day, the tech was a no-show and no-call. I finally called Verizon at 6:30pm (window was 8am-6pm) and they said that the tech wasn't coming. After making a stink, they overnighted me a new Actiontech. Fortunately, it only affected my FiOS TV since I use it as a node and not my main router.

I had this happen for my original triple play install. I took the day off from work and waited all day, tech was a no show. I called and they said he wasnt coming. I got so angry I told them to cancel the entire order. They transfered me to retention and I ended up getting the movie package free for a year with a promise that the tech would be at my door the next morning. In the long run I'm getting my days pay back.

I took a look at the PDF Channel line up and noticed that the one for SoCal was dated Feb 2008. Anyone notice a different date?

I looked at a couple as well that are Feb 2008... they must have recently updated a few of them.

For those interested, today's press release.



HD Video on Demand Now Available To More Verizon FiOS TV Customers

Verizon Plans to Offer 1,000 HD VOD Titles This Year


NEW YORK – More FiOS TV customers can enjoy even more high-definition programming now that Verizon has launched high-definition video-on-demand (VOD) service in parts of eight more states where FiOS TV is available. Delivered over the nation’s most advanced fiber-optic network straight to customers’ homes, Verizon FiOS TV offers an unparalleled high-definition signal that delivers pure picture quality and sound.
Verizon is now offering HD VOD where FiOS TV is available in California, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Texas. The company began offering HD VOD last December in Florida, Indiana, western Pennsylvania and Virginia. FiOS TV customers in New York and Oregon will receive HD VOD in the coming weeks.
“As the popularity of high-definition programming continues to grow, we are delivering the best in HD content,” said Shawn Strickland, Verizon’s vice president of video solutions. “With 10,000 titles each month, our overall video-on-demand library is the industry’s largest, and we plan to offer more than 1,000 high-definition video on demand titles this year.”
Verizon already has nearly doubled the number of titles in its HD on-demand library since launching the service. The company recently announced new HD VOD content from CBS, Discovery Channel, Music Choice, HDNet and Ovation TV. Other titles include a mix of free programs from a variety of sources, including instructional videos from HowCast, movies from FearNet and music programming from Blastro Music, as well as a number of recently released blockbuster movies.
“Increasing our HD content through video on demand is just one more way we’re making FiOS TV the first and best choice for home entertainment,” said Strickland. “We’re aggressively creating a competitive TV offering that includes the best content delivered over Verizon’s superior fiber network – a combination that is a must-have for today’s consumers. Our subscribers love video on demand because it frees them to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment on their own schedules.”
Seventy percent of FiOS TV’s video-on-demand titles in both standard and high definition each month are free of charge to subscribers. Titles span a wide variety of content, including:
Free on Demand: Customers can watch many of their favorite TV shows on demand for free, with a selection of thousands of titles each month, including sports, lifestyle and kids programming from a variety of sources like the NFL Network, HGTV, TLC, USA Network, Disney Channel and Nickelodeon, as well as a variety of special-interest channels, such as the World Fishing Network.
Movies on Demand: Current blockbusters and classic favorites, as well as free independent film gems from the Film Fest Channel, are among the hundreds of new and classic movies offered every month.
Premium on Demand: When customers subscribe to premium services – including HBO, Cinemax and FiOS TV’s movie package, which includes Showtime, Starz, the Movie Channel, Encore and Sundance Channel – they can watch premium programming on their own schedules. The service includes hundreds of movies and shows every month that are updated daily.
Customers access video on demand simply by pressing the "VOD" or "On Demand" button on their remote control, by using the main menu on FiOS TV's interactive media guide, or selecting the VOD channel.

For those interested, today's press release.



HD Video on Demand Now Available To More Verizon FiOS TV Customers

Verizon Plans to Offer 1,000 HD VOD Titles This Year



Cool...

Now if they would have a press release on what new HD channels they will offer. :)

Cool...

Now if they would have a press release on what new HD channels they will offer. :)
Everyone in this thread would throw a party... and it doesn't seem like anyone is hanging up streamers in anticipation just yet. :(

The Policy Blog is at least a step in the right direction. Several positive announcements have come out of it so far, and it seems to be posting with more and more frequency.

The two Scripps Network HD channels - HGTV and FoodNetwork - are now just simulcasting their SD channels. That means that a lot (most?) of the programming on these 2 HD channels is now stretched and is not in true HD. I'll have to watch it a bit to see how it all works out. Not sure now what will still be in HD. All I know is that I abhor stretchovision and I don't watch it.

Hopefully, they'll just eliminate SD-only programs from their SD channel.
... well, one can hope.

...
HD Video on Demand Now Available To More Verizon FiOS TV Customers

Verizon Plans to Offer 1,000 HD VOD Titles This Year
....
Premium on Demand: When customers subscribe to premium services – including HBO, Cinemax and FiOS TV’s movie package, which includes Showtime, Starz, the Movie Channel, Encore and Sundance Channel – they can watch premium programming on their own schedules. The service includes hundreds of movies and shows every month that are updated daily.
Customers access video on demand simply by pressing the "VOD" or "On Demand" button on their remote control, by using the main menu on FiOS TV's interactive media guide, or selecting the VOD channel.

There doesn't seem to be any subscription HD for free. I guess I was expecting some Free HD Movies from my subscription but that does not seem to be the case. I guess Premium on Demand: is just SD

Hey!

I just ordered FIOS packages (triple) and cant wait.

Hopefully GUY tech will show up on April 21 LOL!

Just bought me 46XXBR4 :) !!

Any tips or advice ??

I will have basic all channels etc they offered HD, STD, some sports but not HBO, max etc cuz We feel that we dont need it whats more they kept repeat.

i rent blu ray thru netflix. We kind of never been home and very busy with kids.

Have a question...i read in here all about Verizon add some HD programing (not movies), do i have to pay for it or is it included ?

Thanks!
Jake

The Policy Blog is at least a step in the right direction. Several positive announcements have come out of it so far, and it seems to be posting with more and more frequency.
I check that everyday along with this thread.

There doesn't seem to be any subscription HD for free. I guess I was expecting some Free HD Movies from my subscription but that does not seem to be the case. I guess Premium on Demand: is just SDTake a look in the "HDTV" section, not the "HD Movie" section. Philly VOD-HD is showing a whopping 4, count em - 4, movies for free. If you like FearNetHD. :eek:

How about the dozens of "How to" HD video shorts. My Favorite, "How to Boil Water"
And of course there is "How to make a paper airplane" with the weird camera angle looking down the womans top.:rolleyes:

Hey!

I just ordered FIOS packages (triple) and cant wait.

I will have basic all channels etc they offered HD, STD, some sports but not HBO, max etc cuz We feel that we dont need it whats more they kept repeat.

i rent blu ray thru netflix. We kind of never been home and very busy with kids.

Have a question...i read in here all about Verizon add some HD programing (not movies), do i have to pay for it or is it included ?

Thanks!
Jake

I had to "re-signup" today when the canceled my install scheduled for tomorrow because of a number porting issue, and the current deal is free movie & sports pack for 2008. You may want to call back and get that.. unless they offered and you just don't want it.

Just out of curiosity...Are there any DC Metro residents around here who notice an innordinate amount of lag and judder with their Fios? If so, what are your culprit stations? I'd like to speak with Verizon about the problem soon but I'm just wondering if anyone else has had these problems as well.

I haven't noticed anything. But everything I watch is from a tiVoHD or Series 3 and run through a VP50pro in my main viewing area which does excellent deinterlacing.

Um, no. Maybe they finally started adding it on a town-by-town basis. Cablevision isn't even available in my town, but we were subject to the coverage blackout.
Are you still getting MSNBC in Princeton?

where is this Policy Blog located?

where is this Policy Blog located?

http://policyblog.verizon.com/policyblog/

There doesn't seem to be any subscription HD for free. I guess I was expecting some Free HD Movies from my subscription but that does not seem to be the case. I guess Premium on Demand: is just SD

If you're migrating from Comcast you'll probably be disappointed with the array of free movie choices available on FiOS, in particular the on-demand offerings. I gave my daugher a broad education in movie history for free with our Comcast service. As an example, they'd carry all the major Hitchcock films for free on demand. I don't see anything like this coming from Verizon which is truly a shame. I actually have considered returning to Comcast just for this reason.

That said, if you take the movie pack (Showtime, Starz, etc.), some of the HD offerings from those channels are available on demand in the "Subscriptions" folder. I see half-a-dozen HD offerings in the Starz folder, for instance. Now if they could only offer movies I'd actually like to watch in HD....

Sometimes FiOS reminds me of VerizonWireless which locks down its phones to force subscribers to move any content (ring tones, etc.) onto the phone via the network and incur data and content fees. I think Verizon sees HD on demand as simply another source of revenue rather than a competitive service offering. As long as they keep growing they probably have little incentive to change this business model. I still think content is king, though, and in the longer run Verizon will need to keep up in the on-demand arena or some people like me will start leaving. High-quality video is nice, but only if there's programming worth watching.

http://policyblog.verizon.com/policyblog/

Seems to be a dead link

Seems to be a dead link

Works for me.

Works for me.
Ok...loads now.

...

That said, if you take the movie pack (Showtime, Starz, etc.), some of the HD offerings from those channels are available on demand in the "Subscriptions" folder. I see half-a-dozen HD offerings in the Starz folder, for instance. Now if they could only offer movies I'd actually like to watch in HD....


Thanks for the info.
I came from TWC ~9 Months ago, cant even remember that far back ;)

But Hmmm, I just looked, I have Starz and Showtime. From what I can see all the Starz and Showtime VOD subscription movies are all SD. Some are WS but all are SD. Can you point out one that is in HD? Some of the Pay-to-View movies are in HD, but other than the previously mentioned FearNetHD, I can see no Free VOD HD Movies.

Bummer :(

Fox did announce that all of the MLB games broadcast on Fox would be in HD this year. I would not be surprised if they sneaked a couple of widescreen SD games in on busy weekends, but for the moment, they said they would be all HD this year.



is it just me or does anyone else think fox's HD is sub par? in so cal, the angel games on fsnw hd always grainier/more snowy than other games. i'm pretty sure it's the station as their coverage of away games is the same. i don't know how many times i've started watching the same game on espn2 and it's unbelievable crisp, then to have espn shut off due to local blackout and have to watch the "same game" on fsn...

I for one, am happy about the HD VOD offerings, it's a step in the right direction. The PPV HD is great, although the 5.99 is a little pricey. Keep it comin Verizon!

is it just me or does anyone else think fox's HD is sub par? in so cal, the angel games on fsnw hd always grainier/more snowy than other games. i'm pretty sure it's the station as their coverage of away games is the same. i don't know how many times i've started watching the same game on espn2 and it's unbelievable crisp, then to have espn shut off due to local blackout and have to watch the "same game" on fsn...You should see what 1080i games look like! DirecTV is giving its subs a free preview and the MLB games in 1080i are amazing!

I live in the philly area, and I receive NJN (PBS out of NJ) in the HD numbers, however, I've never seen ANYTHING in HD from them (even though a lot of shows are "available" in HD)... do you suppose that FIOS forgot to switch something to give me something other than an SD feed?

Thanks!
There is no HD content. I had the same issue when I had Comcast. I'm in NJ and I wish they would give us WNET 13 from NY in HD instead of NJN or WHYY-12. WNET has much better programming. I never watch NJN anyway. The good stuff is never on it.

I agree with you completely! One of the major reasons I went with FIOS over Comcast is because FIOS gives you NY in HD. Now if they only would change from WHYY to WNET it would be great!


There is no HD content. I had the same issue when I had Comcast. I'm in NJ and I wish they would give us WNET 13 from NY in HD instead of NJN or WHYY-12. WNET has much better programming. I never watch NJN anyway. The good stuff is never on it.

FIOS is really behind the curve with Comcast, Direct TV and now Time Warner. From Engadget:
Time Warner Cable drops HD bombshell on New York / New Jersey

Lookee here, it's all coming true. The bits we heard about a massive HD rollout coming to Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, NY (not to mention New Jersey) are now being confirmed by Time Warner Cable. On April 30th, the three previously highlighted areas will have access to 50 HD channels, while those very stations will be available to all digital subscribers in Manhattan (!!!), New Jersey, the Hudson Valley region and Mt. Vernon "later this year." Additionally, TWC is gearing up to add over 250 HD VOD options, launch Enhanced HDTV (which includes Start Over) and position itself "to carry 100 high-definition channels" in NY and NJ by the close of 2008. Progress is a wonderful thing, innit? Check the full list of upcoming HD channels in the read link. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

FIOS is really behind the curve with Comcast, Direct TV and now Time Warner. From Engadget:
Time Warner Cable drops HD bombshell on New York / New Jersey

Lookee here, it's all coming true. The bits we heard about a massive HD rollout coming to Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, NY (not to mention New Jersey) are now being confirmed by Time Warner Cable. On April 30th, the three previously highlighted areas will have access to 50 HD channels, while those very stations will be available to all digital subscribers in Manhattan (!!!), New Jersey, the Hudson Valley region and Mt. Vernon "later this year." Additionally, TWC is gearing up to add over 250 HD VOD options, launch Enhanced HDTV (which includes Start Over) and position itself "to carry 100 high-definition channels" in NY and NJ by the close of 2008. Progress is a wonderful thing, innit? Check the full list of upcoming HD channels in the read link. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

i suspect they're pulling THIS TRICK (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1008271) in order to deliver more content.

is it just me or does anyone else think fox's HD is sub par? in so cal, the angel games on fsnw hd always grainier/more snowy than other games. i'm pretty sure it's the station as their coverage of away games is the same. i don't know how many times i've started watching the same game on espn2 and it's unbelievable crisp, then to have espn shut off due to local blackout and have to watch the "same game" on fsn...Here in SE Virginia, the main network FoxHD is great all the time.

FIOS is really behind the curve with Comcast, Direct TV and now Time Warner. From Engadget:
Time Warner Cable drops HD bombshell on New York / New Jersey

Lookee here, it's all coming true. The bits we heard about a massive HD rollout coming to Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island, NY (not to mention New Jersey) are now being confirmed by Time Warner Cable. On April 30th, the three previously highlighted areas will have access to 50 HD channels, while those very stations will be available to all digital subscribers in Manhattan (!!!), New Jersey, the Hudson Valley region and Mt. Vernon "later this year." Additionally, TWC is gearing up to add over 250 HD VOD options, launch Enhanced HDTV (which includes Start Over) and position itself "to carry 100 high-definition channels" in NY and NJ by the close of 2008. Progress is a wonderful thing, innit? Check the full list of upcoming HD channels in the read link. [Disclosure: Engadget is part of the Time Warner family]

Ironically, it's competition with Verizon that's partly inspired these improvements. Still, Verizon will have caught up with and surpassed most all of its competitors by the end of the year, so no one at Verizon HQ is especially upset that some of us are getting short changed over the next six months.

Vz plans to do a huge upgrade (http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2007/verizon-plans-fivefold.html) to the number of HD channels this year.

I believe that after Vz cuts off analog in all there markets, then they will start adding HD channels like wildfire.

You should see what 1080i games look like! DirecTV is giving its subs a free preview and the MLB games in 1080i are amazing!

yea i agree those games were amazing, i wish FiOS customers had access to MLB EI. :(

Vz plans to do a huge upgrade (http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2007/verizon-plans-fivefold.html) to the number of HD channels this year.

I believe that after Vz cuts off analog in all there markets, then they will start adding HD channels like wildfire.

That press release is more than 5 months old.

Did any body ever notice when one of the companies makes a announcement on hd # amount,D*100,V*150,1000 hdvod etc....They all follow suite.D* made 100 the magic number last year(which they didn't deliver) now V* made the magic number of 150 this year.All the companies start scrambling try to achieve that number and try to feed the consumer with some other inflated promise. Don't get sucked into it.look at the poor saps that got sucked into the blu-ray/hddvd crap.

Can you point out one that is in HD?

I've been snookered.

There are movies in "WS," but they're not "HD." For instance, the Starz folder contains Apocalypto, Black Book, Conversations, Grindhouse, The Grudge 2, The Hoax, Lives of Others (excellent), Next, Reign Over Me, Shanghai Noon, and The Touch in WS. Even though they're "widescreen" they're only in 480p.

So you're right; there are no true HD movies in the Starz On-Demand list (and no widescreen movies in the Showtime folder at all). Same is true for Encore, The Movie Channel and Sundance.

What's even more surprising is that there are no on-demand HD movies in the HBO folder either.

All these channels (except Encore) are available in HD, so I presumed the "WS" movies in the on-demand folders were copies of the movies on channels like Starz HD. I seem to recall from my Comcast days that they offer on-demand HD movies from channels like HBO if you're an HBO subscriber. That doesn't seem to be true for Verizon.

So you're right, there are no free HD on-demand movies. I really don't care all that much about having more of the same boring channels in HD, so those 100 new HD channels I keep hearing about aren't all that inspiring. Being able to watch an HD replay of a movie like The Matrix for free would make me a happier FiOS subscriber. Being able to watch North by Northwest in HD for free would make me even happier. But I'm never going to pay (on a per-view basis) to watch either of these films, nor any other older films, even if they're in HD.

If I could dump 90% of the channels I get now in return for a wide array of free HD material on-demand for the same price, I'd switch to that package in a heartbeat.

So you're right; there are no true HD movies in the Starz On-Demand list (and no widescreen movies in the Showtime folder at all). Same is true for Encore, The Movie Channel and Sundance.

What's even more surprising is that there are no on-demand HD movies in the HBO folder either.

All these channels (except Encore) are available in HD, so I presumed the "WS" movies in the on-demand folders were copies of the movies on channels like Starz HD.
Verizon had some HD VOD movies from Starz and Showtime when they were testing HD VOD in a number of markets last fall. This was when we were finding some HD programs in the HDTV folder which could only be found with a search. I expect Starz, TMC, and Showtime HD folders will be added in the future. Verizon may have to get a separate HD Subscriptions set up first. HBO however, as I understand it, asked all service providers to pull HD movies from VOD several months ago.

Once we get the full set of Starz, Showtime, and HBO HD live channels - although many of the HBO and SHO HD suite of channels have not started up yet - a HD-DVR will get you the movie with a little patience. Just have to wait for it to be played again.

I sampled a Numbers episode from the HD VOD folder the other day. While it's definitely better than SD, it's not as detailed as the regular broadcast episodes (I mean broadcast via FiOS, not OTA). So, V* is apparently compressing the HD VOD content to reduce bandwidth.

Doug

Vz plans to do a huge upgrade (http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2007/verizon-plans-fivefold.html) to the number of HD channels this year.

I believe that after Vz cuts off analog in all there markets, then they will start adding HD channels like wildfire.

To quote you, quoting me:

SOON...:p

I sampled a Numbers episode from the HD VOD folder the other day. While it's definitely better than SD, it's not as detailed as the regular broadcast episodes (I mean broadcast via FiOS, not OTA). So, V* is apparently compressing the HD VOD content to reduce bandwidth.

Doug

It seems to me that Verizon's FTTH implementation does not offer much more bandwidth than cables coax implementation.

My understanding is that QAM is really analog radio over coax carrying digital data. In other words each channel is a chunk of radio spectrum. Thus an oversimplified version of the bandwidth issue is that if you use QAM then the only advantage of ftth is that you can use every channel because you don't have to "waste" QAM space on IP, Phone and VOD.

Because IP does not have the same limitation as QAM, it seems that Verizon should not have to overly compress HD VOD and therefore should have a better HD VOD service than cable. In fact, they should have enough bandwidth to provide 4 20meg hd switched digital video streams into each home.

Also, if Verizon can use IP for VOD then they can use it for switched digital video for less used HD channels. In which case Verizon should have the most HD not the least. The only problem with this is that cablecard will not work with those channels that are not on the QAM spectrum.

Am I misunderstanding something here?

What's even more surprising is that there are no on-demand HD movies in the HBO folder either.



HBO doesn't have any HD movies on demand on Comcast either... The only thing I've seen listed on HBO on demand in HD is a couple of the John Adams episodes. -That was under Premium, HBO, not under the HD On Demand menu.

I hope they add more HD On Demand, I'm switching to Vz in 2 weeks.

I've been snookered.


Shoot I was hoping that I was wrong.

Verizon had some HD VOD movies from Starz and Showtime when they were testing HD VOD in a number of markets last fall. ...

You know I think thats what I am thinking of. I seem to remeber that I am in HB, but not sure.

Yeah just more HD channels and an HD-DVR (with more disk!!!) will be just fine.

It seems to me that Verizon's FTTH implementation does not offer much more bandwidth than cables coax implementation.

Sure it does. The demands have just increased faster than they anticipated. Cable has no solution for bringing GPON level bandwidth to its users, certainly not without a massive cost increase.

Verizon's problem is bottlenecking at the distribution facilities, a problem that will be resolved in 6-9 months. When it's finished, Verizon will have ample QAM to deliver quality HD. TWC, Comcast, these guys are adding HD channels quickly now, but they're just doing it by splitting the QAM three ways, and the degradation in quality is substantial.

Cable is tapping its system dry at every interface. Verizon has plans for long term, "super" bandwidth available to all customers. And as you point out, Verizon can throw all of its offerings onto its IPTV network. Cable can't do that without significant reinvestment that apparently they don't think is worth it.

Verizon got caught a little off guard, and fixing it takes time. Being in a small programming deficit for six to nine months is not a concern when your finances and investments are tracked in much larger increments, especially when Verizon will have more capacity than either cable or DirecTV when its finished, with limitless potential available over IPTV.

Verizon got caught a little off guard, and fixing it takes time. Being in a small programming deficit for six to nine months is not a concern when your finances and investments are tracked in much larger increments, especially when Verizon will have more capacity than either cable or DirecTV when its finished, with limitless potential available over IPTV.

I think they got caught a lot of guard. I guess the Verizon executives should have walked into a CC/BB/Cosco/Sams etc and noticed that the TV's for sale were not 4:3 SD, they were almost all 16X9 HD. To me that would indicate that if consumers were buying HDTV's then the content providers were going to have to produce HD content and by extension Verizon would have to be able to support lots and lots of HD channels. Also, higher end more tech savvy customers are more likely to switch to FIOS than grandma is. Therefore their customer base would have higher PQ and HD channel lineup expectations than cable customers would.

While making a phone call to FiOS Tech Support today, I noticed a most welcome change to the customer service telephone policy: Right at the beginning of the phone call, the computer voice tells me that I can now dial "O" at any time during the call to go directly to a CSR. For any FiOS CSR's silently lurking out there I would like to forward a "BIG Thank You" for this change! :)

I think they got caught a lot of guard. I guess the Verizon executives should have walked into a CC/BB/Cosco/Sams etc and noticed that the TV's for sale were not 4:3 SD, they were almost all 16X9 HD. To me that would indicate that if consumers were buying HDTV's then the content providers were going to have to produce HD content and by extension Verizon would have to be able to support lots and lots of HD channels. Also, higher end more tech savvy customers are more likely to switch to FIOS than grandma is. Therefore their customer base would have higher PQ and HD channel lineup expectations than cable customers would.

I actually think the only mistake they made was in the deployment at the distribution areas. The switch to all digital should free up enough QAM to allow a good number of new HD channels, so the shortfall of HD will hopefully be temporary.

As to the content, that is a slippery area. A large amount of the content I watch is SD. Most of the HD channels I watch have some component of HD and some of SD. I've found that of the channels that FIOS has chosen to broadcast, they have more HD than SD, only some (TNT comes to mind) have stretched SD, which I find an abomination. If having more HD channels means taking in more stretched SD, then I am happy to wait. I wonder what the percent of SD is in the non-FIOS HD provider's channels?

As far as bandwidth, GPON is right on track for us, but even its ability to increase the bandwidth by 400%, it is only a step forward, since I think the ultimate goal is IPTV. When HD VOD first started about three months ago for me, I saw some pixelation and was slightly disappointed. I'm not sure what has changed, but in the last two months, I've seen a much better result, with no visual problems.

As to who will adopt this, I think the cost savings vs. cable and satellite ensures that this is not a niche product, grandma and granpa are just fine with this. I know my mother in law, who lives with us just bought an HD TV after watching on my HD TV, since it is better for her eyes and shows off "Dancing with the Stars".

I think they got caught a lot of guard. I guess the Verizon executives should have walked into a CC/BB/Cosco/Sams etc and noticed that the TV's for sale were not 4:3 SD, they were almost all 16X9 HD. To me that would indicate that if consumers were buying HDTV's then the content providers were going to have to produce HD content and by extension Verizon would have to be able to support lots and lots of HD channels. Also, higher end more tech savvy customers are more likely to switch to FIOS than grandma is. Therefore their customer base would have higher PQ and HD channel lineup expectations than cable customers would.

Discounting Voom and up until D* launched its new bird, Verizon had by far the most comprehensive HD lineup. Come the end of the year, they will again have the most comprehensive HD lineup.

I understand that HD consumers think a 6-9 month deficit where Verizon gets lapped by several competitors on one metric (HD channels) is a huge failure, but no one in the real world thinks that, and by the end of the year not only will Verizon (according to their claims) be the leader in HD, it will also be the best positioned to add new channels going forward as well.

Discounting Voom and up until D* launched its new bird, Verizon had by far the most comprehensive HD lineup. Come the end of the year, they will again have the most comprehensive HD lineup.

I understand that HD consumers think a 6-9 month deficit where Verizon gets lapped by several competitors on one metric (HD channels) is a huge failure, but no one in the real world thinks that, and by the end of the year not only will Verizon (according to their claims) be the leader in HD, it will also be the best positioned to add new channels going forward as well.

I look forward to it. Today is a bad day to convince me of that because of the premier of BSG Season 4 which us FIOS customers will be either forced to watch in SD or like in my case I will wait until it is on UHD.

I'm curious to see what Verizon does with IPTV, will they be forced to recompress? Will they just pass off MPEG-2 like they do now (I hope so!!!)? Will they go with Microsofts IPTV solution?

And my prayer is that Media Center will support whatever it is Verizon does in that arena.

They dumped Microsoft to go IPTV alone (hence IMG 2.0). AT&T U-verse remains partnered with Microsoft. Personally, I wish they had stuck with Microsoft.

I sampled a Numbers episode from the HD VOD folder the other day. While it's definitely better than SD, it's not as detailed as the regular broadcast episodes (I mean broadcast via FiOS, not OTA). So, V* is apparently compressing the HD VOD content to reduce bandwidth.

Doug

I noticed the same thing when I was comparing the CSI episodes this week on HD VOD with OTA and the FIOS local channels. The OTA and FIOS local channels were the same. But there was a noticeable degradation with the HDVOD picture. I'm not sure why. It's using 15mbs of bandwidth, but there is much more macroblocking going on then from the normal broadcast.

Agree big time! When I had Fios installed last year the first thing I did was buy the Tivo HD, get two Fios cable cards, and start watching tv the way it is meant to be . . . 30 minute buffers, a great guide, and easy to use programming. I love Tivo and find it more than worth what it cost me to buy the HD unit and rent the cable cards.

Like others have posted, you should either look into getting a replacement box or go the TiVo route. I'm so glad I have a CableCARD slot for my TV(and have a working card in it) so I can bypass these kind of bugs. :D But I hear you, my phone service with Verizon hasn't been the best walk in the park since switching to FiOS. :mad:

What kind of phone problems? Mine has been identical to how it was before FIOS, except I don't get a ground hum anymore when we have alot of rain.

Is it just me or does FSN Prime Ticket not work very well when it comes to broadcasting Dodgers games? I think so far only one broadcast has worked start to finish. For me it seems like the broadcast doesn't start until the 4th inning then there is no audio at all...

I'm using CableCard with Media Center.

What kind of phone problems? Mine has been identical to how it was before FIOS, except I don't get a ground hum anymore when we have alot of rain.

[Begin OT] Oh, it isn't a FiOS problem, it's more of a number portability issue that has nothing to do with FiOS but relates to Verizon's legacy phone service system that is required to be used when coming from another local phone provider.[End OT]

So how about the customers in Fort Wayne, IN? How does it feel to have those analogs off your backs? Any news on when they or the rest of FiOS-land will see a trickle of the slated spring HD expansion?

The NY market goes analog-free on April 21. I'm guessing we'll start hearing word on HD additions after that, given the size of the NY market.

Is it just me or does FSN Prime Ticket not work very well when it comes to broadcasting Dodgers games? I think so far only one broadcast has worked start to finish. For me it seems like the broadcast doesn't start until the 4th inning then there is no audio at all...

I'm using CableCard with Media Center.

Sorry, I forgot to mention it was FSN Prime Ticket HD (830), not SD.

anybody have any idea if FIOS will ever reach nashville?

anybody have any idea if FIOS will ever reach nashville?


When you finally stop singing that blasted country music.

anybody have any idea if FIOS will ever reach nashville?

Last I remember, Tennessee is not part of Verizon's service area, so the answer currently is never, unless Verizon gobbles up a part of BellSouth's(now at&t) area.

EDIT: After doing some research, at&t has already strung fiber for their u-verse service in Tennessee. Which just provides evidence for my answer.

Verizon Makes Digital Television Upgrade Easy for FiOS TV Customers in Richmond, Virginia Beach Areas

...Verizon is phasing out a small number of duplicate analog channels on the FiOS TV service so all customers will enjoy better-quality, all-digital viewing experiences on every set in their homes. Until now, Verizon has provided these duplicate channels to allow digital subscribers to view some limited programming in an analog format without using a set-top box....
http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2008/verizon-makes-digital-televisi-1.html

Verizon Makes Digital Television Upgrade Easy for FiOS TV Customers in Richmond, Virginia Beach Areas

http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2008/verizon-makes-digital-televisi-1.html

this might be a stupid question but are these duplicate channels like comedy central that appears twice?

i believe its talking about the LOCAL channels which were available in both analog and digital, but now there switching them to digital only.

i believe its talking about the LOCAL channels which were available in both analog and digital, but now there switching them to digital only.
No, the local stations and PEGs on channel 2 to 49 have always been sent in digital. The Verizon STBs and DVRs do not have analog tuners, they were always showing the digital version of the channels. The only people who got the analog channels were those who up their analog TV tuner or VCR.

As for the duplicate channels, they are not sent twice. One QAM sub-channel is mapped to two displayed channels.

No, the local stations and PEGs on channel 2 to 49 have always been sent in digital. The Verizon STBs and DVRs do not have analog tuners, they were always showing the digital version of the channels. The only people who got the analog channels were those who up their analog TV tuner or VCR.

As for the duplicate channels, they are not sent twice. One QAM sub-channel is mapped to two displayed channels.

The analog channels are duplicates of digital channels, and are being sent twice. Just to be clear. This is only about the channels below 50.

The analog channels are duplicates of digital channels, and are being sent twice. Just to be clear. This is only about the channels below 50.
The 2nd part of my post was a replying to the other post questioning why is Comedy Central sent twice. I should have been more clear.

The 2nd part of my post was a replying to the other post questioning why is Comedy Central sent twice. I should have been more clear.

But why are so many of the regular channels repeated in the 5XX series (it says La Conexion in my printed channel guide but they're all in English)? That seems like a clear misuse of bandwidth.

But why are so many of the regular channels repeated in the 5XX series (it says La Conexion in my printed channel guide but they're all in English)? That seems like a clear misuse of bandwidth.


The channels are only transmitted once. You can map that to any number of channels. They aren't broadcasting the same content multiple times. The same thing applies to DirecTV and other cable systems. You can map a network to many different channel numbers, but you are only using one feed. No bandwidth is wasted.

Speaking of those 5xx channels, is there any way to exclude channels from the listings? I know how to set up favorites, but there doesn't seem to be any way to set up an "ignore" list. From a marketing perspective, Verizon might think such a function is a bad idea, since I'm not then constantly reminded of how many channels I'm getting. I'd argue that being forced to scroll though countless channels I never intend to watch is annoying and far outweighs any positive marketing value seeing those channels in the listings might provide.

Speaking of those 5xx channels, is there any way to exclude channels from the listings? I know how to set up favorites, but there doesn't seem to be any way to set up an "ignore" list. From a marketing perspective, Verizon might think such a function is a bad idea, since I'm not then constantly reminded of how many channels I'm getting. I'd argue that being forced to scroll though countless channels I never intend to watch is annoying and far outweighs any positive marketing value seeing those channels in the listings might provide.

Still one of my biggest pet peeves about the FiOS system.

Speaking of those 5xx channels, is there any way to exclude channels from the listings? I know how to set up favorites, but there doesn't seem to be any way to set up an "ignore" list. From a marketing perspective, Verizon might think such a function is a bad idea, since I'm not then constantly reminded of how many channels I'm getting. I'd argue that being forced to scroll though countless channels I never intend to watch is annoying and far outweighs any positive marketing value seeing those channels in the listings might provide.

Get a TivoHD. Easy to exclude whatever you want (like the 500's, and the SD versions of HD channels, etc.).

Speaking of those 5xx channels, is there any way to exclude channels from the listings? I know how to set up favorites, but there doesn't seem to be any way to set up an "ignore" list. From a marketing perspective, Verizon might think such a function is a bad idea, since I'm not then constantly reminded of how many channels I'm getting. I'd argue that being forced to scroll though countless channels I never intend to watch is annoying and far outweighs any positive marketing value seeing those channels in the listings might provide.I have tried, on numerous occasions, to get a straight answer out of FiOS as to why this is. They either ignore the question or talk around it. I have never gotten a straight answer out of them.

Is anyone else currently getting dropped audio and pixelization? I first noticed it last night on several channels [sd & hd] and today on MHD.

(Just wondering if its from FiOS or my equipment.)

thanks

Speaking of those 5xx channels, is there any way to exclude channels from the listings? ................ I'd argue that being forced to scroll though countless channels I never intend to watch is annoying and far outweighs any positive marketing value seeing those channels in the listings might provide.

this is the main reason i tend to favor a la carte. i call it channel clutter and i would be willing to pay the same price each month to get fewer channels but only the channels of my choosing. there are threads buried somewhere in this forum discussing a la carte. it involves more than just Verizon.

this is the main reason i tend to favor a la carte. i call it channel clutter and i would be willing to pay the same price each month to get fewer channels but only the channels of my choosing. there are threads buried somewhere in this forum discussing a la carte. it involves more than just Verizon.

That's completely illogical. Pay less, sure. But pay the same, for fewer channels, just because your STB doesn't let you filter channels properly?

Is anyone else currently getting dropped audio and pixelization? I first noticed it last night on several channels [sd & hd] and today on MHD.

(Just wondering if its from FiOS or my equipment.)

thanks
Yes, noticed it yesterday afternoon.

Additionally (installed 3 weeks ago) I notice that when watching recorded
HD content I occassionally get an audio drop in volume and change from stereo to mono, momentarily, and then it's OK. Doesn't seem to happen watching "live", even though technically that's also recorded.

I haven't noticed any problems this weeked using my Series 3/TiVoHD boxes.

Yes, noticed it yesterday afternoon.

Additionally (installed 3 weeks ago) I notice that when watching recorded
HD content I occassionally get an audio drop in volume and change from stereo to mono, momentarily, and then it's OK. Doesn't seem to happen watching "live", even though technically that's also recorded.

I haven't noticed any problems this weeked using my Series 3/TiVoHD boxes.


I have only had the audio drop happen on CSI and other recorded shows on CBS. Have not had it happen on any other stations.

Is there any way to find out when a specific HD channel will be available on FiOS? I know about the press release stating that the HD offering will be extended to upwards of 150 channels in 2008, but is there any way to know if the Travel Channel in HD will be part of that bundle, and if so, when in 2008?

Sorry if this has been asked before, but trying to search for that kind of question led me down a rabbit hole...

I noticed audio dropouts on BattleStar Galactica this past Friday. Never happened before.

(Only place that I've seen this otherwise is the perpetually bad CW50 in DC. They've been plagues by audio dropouts for months.)

I have only had the audio drop happen on CSI and other recorded shows on CBS. Have not had it happen on any other stations.
I'll have to notice if that's the case as well. If so, then either it's in the broadcast or being caused by the Moto box. Interesting if it's only CBS.

I'll have to notice if that's the case as well. If so, then either it's in the broadcast or being caused by the Moto box. Interesting if it's only CBS.

I've been watching CBS HD a lot lately (a bunch of CSI's, BB, and something else), and have had zero audio dropouts (and I'm super sensitive to them). However I record OTA HD (DC), so perhaps FiOS is screwing something up?

That's completely illogical. Pay less, sure. But pay the same, for fewer channels, just because your STB doesn't let you filter channels properly?The exception is when the main goal is quality over quantity and to stop subsidizing 70% of what many of us consider to be garbage TV. I would rather pay the same amount to fund the channels I actually watch vice paying a single penny toward funding channels like: BET, Speed, Sci-Fi, MTV, etc. Let the channels stand individually on their merit or let them disappear from the public radar...and yes, those include my "favorites" too. Quality programming will continue while the garbage channels, along with thousands of hours of informercials, will disappear.:)

There is nothing illogical about wanting quality over quantity in my opinion.;)

I've been watching CBS HD a lot lately (a bunch of CSI's, BB, and something else), and have had zero audio dropouts (and I'm super sensitive to them). However I record OTA HD (DC), so perhaps FiOS is screwing something up?
It's not really a "drop out", as much as a momentary drop in volume, I would guess by maybe 40%, preceded by a slight pop (hard to describe). I would imagine it's a Fios thing.

I got verizon line drop in my condo over the weekend. I want to ask if you can tell me how long did it take to get tv service once the line was put in your place?

The latest rumor on the block is that the first wave of new HD channels will not be arriving until June...that will most likely be June 30th. That is the rumor for now until Verizon decides to make an official announcement.

Hey, maybe this is old news but I have HD on demand in SoCal now. Content isn't too exciting. Wish they had BSG and The Riches to compensate for not having SciFi and FX in HD.

I have tried, on numerous occasions, to get a straight answer out of FiOS as to why this is. They either ignore the question or talk around it. I have never gotten a straight answer out of them.

I wonder if there might be something in the contract terms between Verizon and the content providers that limits our ability to exclude channels from the listings. ESPN, I believe, requires that its main channels be carried on the standard tiers of service, not bundled into a separate sports package. Perhaps Verizon (and Comcast, etc.) are obligated under contract to list some of the channels at all times. The easiest solution, even if it's just for a few channels, is to not offer the ability to create exclusion lists.

I'm obviously not privy to any of the operative contracts here, so this is purely speculation. It's also consistent with the suggestion given above that using a TiVO would avoid this problem, since TiVO doesn't contract with content providers to deliver their programming.

I find it annoying that we can have these kinds of discussions here and never get any feedback from Verizon's staff. They're obviously reading this thread (if not, they need a new director of marketing), but we're all left adrift here speculating about their motives and intentions. Speak up, Verizon folks. We're among the most important customers you have because we're the ones other people look toward for advice.

I wonder if there might be something in the contract terms between Verizon and the content providers that limits our ability to exclude channels from the listings. ESPN, I believe, requires that its main channels be carried on the standard tiers of service, not bundled into a separate sports package. Perhaps Verizon (and Comcast, etc.) are obligated under contract to list some of the channels at all times. The easiest solution, even if it's just for a few channels, is to not offer the ability to create exclusion lists.

I have long wondered about this too. This feature seems too obvious, and too easy to implement for the exclusion to be a simple oversight. It is frankly pretty asinine that we cannot even program the DVRs to exclude the redundant remapped channels, or exclude the SD version of channels that also provided in HD.

I have long wondered about this too. This feature seems too obvious, and too easy to implement for the exclusion to be a simple oversight. It is frankly pretty asinine that we cannot even program the DVRs to exclude the redundant remapped channels, or exclude the SD version of channels that also provided in HD.

You can easily do this on any Tivo. I think it's just crappy DVR software development for the FiOS DVR, nothing more nefarious.

You can easily do this on any Tivo. I think it's just crappy DVR software development for the FiOS DVR, nothing more nefarious.


In one of the releases coming this summer you will be able to exclude channels from the guide. You will have multiple favorite lists and be able to tell the guide which one to use by default.

Verizon Asks For New York City-Wide Franchise

Says FiOS TV Would Wire City By 2014, Target 3.1M Households

By Kent Gibbons -- Multichannel News, 4/15/2008 3:53:00 PM

Verizon said today that in response to Friday’s request for proposals from New York City, it has applied for a franchise that would let it serve all five boroughs of the city with a fiber network it would build out by mid-2014.

Currently, Time Warner Cable is the largest cable provider within the city, covering Manhattan, Staten Island, Queens and part of Brooklyn. Cablevision is franchised in the Bronx and part of Brooklyn.

Both companies’ 10-year franchises expire this year, and they were in the process of seeking renewals. RCN serves some portions of the city (including Manhattan and Queens) with cable, phone and Internet as an “open service provider.”

On April 11, the city made a public request for proposals “from any company ready, willing and able to offer service to every household in New York City, in competition with existing providers,” according to a city Department of Information Technology & Telecommunications press release.

“The solicitation issued today is non-exclusive and open-ended, so that any company interested in and capable of offering service to all City households will be eligible for consideration for a franchise over the months and years to come,” the April 11 release said.

“While in recent months, DoITT has been in discussions with Verizon regarding the terms under which Verizon would build and offer competitive cable television service to every home in New York City via its advanced FiOS TV system, any grant of a franchise pursuant to this solicitation will not preclude the grant of additional franchises to other companies to offer service simultaneously or in the future,” the city statement continued.

Cablevision, Time Warner and cable companies that don’t operate in New York City—such as Comcast—could apply for citywide operating agreements, too.

Verizon—which the city acknowledged has been negotiating possible citywide franchise terms with city officials for months—said Monday it submitted a proposal in response to the April 11 solicitation, and that it hopes to begin operating as a licensed FiOS TV provider before the end of the year.

Before that can happen, public hearings must be held; the city would have to endorse the franchise and the state Public Service Commission would have to give its consent, Verizon said.

Verizon said it began building a fiber network within city limits in 2004 and uses it to provide FiOS Internet service in some neighborhoods. Last month, it made headlines with an agreement to provide FiOS Internet service topping out at 50 megabits per second to the large Manhattan apartment complexes Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village.

Verizon said it hopes to complete the buildout in mid-2014.

Key points of Verizon’s application include:

-- Making available FiOS TV service to requesting customers in all five boroughs within a six-year time frame as Verizon's wire centers are upgraded to being video-capable.

-- Providing a fiber-optic institutional network (known as an INET), primarily to support the City's public safety needs.

-- Agreeing to pay franchise fees equivalent to 5% of gross revenue on cable TV service, similar to Time Warner and Cablevision.

-- Agreeing to “appropriate customer service provisions.”

Verizon has been gobbling up cable-TV franchises in New York City suburbs elsewhere in the state and in New Jersey, where it competes with Time Warner, Cablevision, Comcast and other cable incumbents, as it does in other areas of the country.

Harriet Novet, regional vice president for Time Warner Cable’s New York City region, said in a statement that “Time Warner Cable is proud of the service we provide to residents of New York City, where competitive options have always been available. As we are in the process of working out a schedule to renew our franchise agreement, we look forward to continuing to bring New Yorkers an innovative array of new technology, 24-hour-a-day local news and exciting video choices, including scores of high definition channels.”

“The RFPs issued by the City are for new video applicants and separate from our renewal discussions,” the statement continued. “Our contract expires in September and we expect to begin discussions to renew our current service areas with the City shortly.”

Cablevision vice president of media relations Jim Maiella said the company also intends to pursue a new franchise agreement.

“Cablevision has a 20-year record of delivering the best cable television service to our customers in The Bronx and Brooklyn, over a state-of-the-art fiber optic network and with a strong and enduring commitment to the communities we serve,” Maiella said. “We look forward to working with the city on a new franchise agreement, and continuing to provide our award-winning services to New York City customers for years to come.

“The phone company has been privately negotiating with the city for more than a year and has yet to make the details of its franchise proposal public, so at this point it would be inappropriate to comment further,” he added.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6551797.html?desc=topstory

Has anyone in the N.Y. area experienced what is apparently an overnight shutoff of the receiver? It appears they just added HD VOD (quite a bit of it actually), and I'm wondering if this is somehow related.

Has anyone in the N.Y. area experienced what is apparently an overnight shutoff of the receiver? It appears they just added HD VOD (quite a bit of it actually), and I'm wondering if this is somehow related.

They may have done the new "patch" of the IMG overnight for you......I know that VHO8 was done earlier this week. I can't confirm that until I get access to the corporate network later today.