When I called to order Cablecards for my newly order TiVo this morning, I was given the option of a) paying $74.99 for a Verizon Tech to install the card(s) in my TiVo or b) save the $74.99 by having the card(s) shipped to my address and installing/activating it myself.

Interesting, I just ordered a CableCARD on Friday and was told there was no self install and there was no mention of a truck roll charge. My appointment is next sat.

Interesting, I just ordered a CableCARD on Friday and was told there was no self install and there was no mention of a truck roll charge. My appointment is next sat.

there will be a charge for a truck roll if it is not an initial install

I just checked into this last week. The "Activation Fee" for the install of a CableCARD is something like $24.95.

there will be a charge for a truck roll if it is not an initial install

I won't pay it. They can cancel the whole thing -- no I'm not under contract -- if they think I'm going to pay a dime for them to send someone to my house who has no idea how to install something that they require a truck roll for. I've had 6 CCs installed so far from 3 different technicians and os far not one has known what he is doing.

I won't pay it. They can cancel the whole thing -- no I'm not under contract -- if they think I'm going to pay a dime for them to send someone to my house who has no idea how to install something that they require a truck roll for. I've had 6 CCs installed so far from 3 different technicians and os far not one has known what he is doing.

I am somewhat confused.

In another post you said you had 3 cablecards sitting around that you had been "meaning to return". So why order another one?

And yet a month ago you stated that they charged you $120 to install 2 CableCards. Why would you think it would be any different this month :confused:

In another post you said you had 3 cablecards sitting around that you had been "meaning to return". So why order another one?

And yet a month ago you stated that they charged you $120 to install 2 CableCards. Why would you think it would be any different this month :confused:

You're right I did have 3 CableCARDs and just as soon as I turned them back in, I ran into a great deal on another CableCARD tuner for my Vista Media Center. You know I'm kicking myself now.

As for the charge. I never paid to install a CableCARD, never the less $120. I went back and looked through the posts I made in this thread for the past 6 months and didn't see anything like that.

The other thing that annoys me, is I figured the only good thing about me turning in the CableCARDs was that I might get out of the $3/mo fee by getting them to send me a CC instead of a digital adapter, then when I called, we got to talking about programming and other things and I completely forgot about it. Ohh well, life is too short.

You're right I did have 3 CableCARDs and just as soon as I turned them back in, I ran into a great deal on another CableCARD tuner for my Vista Media Center. You know I'm kicking myself now.

As for the charge. I never paid to install a CableCARD, never the less $120. I went back and looked through the posts I made in this thread for the past 6 months and didn't see anything like that.


Just to be clear, I never said you paid it - I said they charged you $120 to install the cablecards. Is this not correct?

Now, you might have raised hell after the fact and gotten them to finally credit your bill as a courtesy, but now you are planning to plead ignorance to the charge again when they come out to install your card and subsequently put it on your bill?

I'm just curious how that will play out.:rolleyes:

Verizon Shuts Off Analog In Maryland, Northern Virginia

Move Continues Pledge to FCC to Eliminate Analog Service for FiOS TV

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 7/14/2008 10:46:00 AM

Verizon, as part of its promise to federal regulators to eliminate analog TV service for FiOS TV, will stop distributing analog versions of broadcast signals in Maryland and Northern Virginia starting July 21.

The telco told the Federal Communications Commission last year it would stop sending analog television signals to customers, which it provided so that those channels could be viewed without a set-top box.

Verizon has already phased out analog service in other areas, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6578296.html

Does anyone know if MSG-HD or NHL center ice will be offered when service is turned on in Staten Island, NY? Thanks

Just to be clear, I never said you paid it - I said they charged you $120 to install the cablecards. Is this not correct?

Now, you might have raised hell after the fact and gotten them to finally credit your bill as a courtesy, but now you are planning to plead ignorance to the charge again when they come out to install your card and subsequently put it on your bill?

I'm just curious how that will play out.:rolleyes:

Well last time they told me in advanced that there was a charge and then I told them to cancel my account and where to drop off all my equipment. I told them that Bright House Networks doesn't charge for truck rolls and especially when their installers don't know what they are doing. Then they waived the fee. When the installer comes this time, I'll be sure to read the fine print and not sign anything that states I have to pay any fees.

Other than 15/2 (I have 5/1) and I have only 1 DVR, that is what I pay Comcast now. Hence, why I am looking to FIOS... I hope to get all that for under $150.

I'm paying 149.80 all in for Phone (Freedom Plan), 15/2, FIOS, 2 Cable Cards @2.99/Mo, 2 Cable Cards @ 3.99/Mo, Free Dig Adapt, HB), SHO/SRZ/ENC/TMC. (No Cinimax)

Washington Town Approves Video Franchise for FiOS

Town Gives Operating Authority To Telco For Suburban Subscribers

By Linda Haugsted -- Multichannel News, 7/15/2008 11:23:00 AM

Lynnwood, Washington, has become the first community in that state to approve a competitive video franchise for Verizon Communications.

The city council of the 34,000-population town in Snohomish County, north of Seattle, voted July 14 to give operating authority to the telephone provider. The incumbent video provider is Comcast Corp.

Verizon said that it already offers FiOS Internet service of up to 50 Mbps to customers in the community. The franchise gives Verizon the authority to offer FiOS TV to 15,000 homes in the suburban community.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6578892.html

Does anyone know if MSG-HD or NHL center ice will be offered when service is turned on in Staten Island, NY? Thanks


Center Ice has been rumored since the HD-upgrades were announced but AFAIK nothing confirmed.

MSG-HD? Vz has to deal with the Dolans on that one:( -probably the less said the better.

Center Ice has been rumored since the HD-upgrades were announced but AFAIK nothing confirmed.

MSG-HD? Vz has to deal with the Dolans on that one:( -probably the less said the better.

MSG-HD has been on the NO NJ/NY systems since the get-go.

MSG-HD has been on the NO NJ/NY systems since the get-go.
No it hasn't.

MSG-HD has been on the NO NJ/NY systems since the get-go.
If you are a Verizon subscriber in NY or northern NJ, you might want to check your channel line-up more carefully. Verizon has the MSG SD channels, but not the HD. The Dolans, who control CableVision, also control or own MSG. They have kept MSG-HD away from Verizon to try to protect CableVision (HD) subscription base. Cablevision also has an exclusive arrangement with MSNBC that keeps MSNBC off the Verizon channel list for much of Northern NJ and NY.

If you are a Verizon subscriber in NY or northern NJ, you might want to check your channel line-up more carefully. Verizon has the MSG SD channels, but not the HD. The Dolans, who control CableVision, also control or own MSG. They have kept MSG-HD away from Verizon to try to protect CableVision (HD) subscription base. Cablevision also has an exclusive arrangement with MSNBC that keeps MSNBC off the Verizon channel list for much of Northern NJ and NY.

Sorry, you're right. See how important it is to me!

Nothing, I repeat, nothing will ever get me to go back to CV.

I would also add that MSG-HD(& FSNY-HD) was never available to ANY provider other than Cablevision the entire time I lived up there('98-'06) AFAIK, with perhaps the exception of D*, this is still the case.

Sorry, you're right. See how important it is to me!

Nothing, I repeat, nothing will ever get me to go back to CV.

I can understand that-we're FINALLY getting Comcast Sports-HD in the HD ch upgrade next month.

^ yea all Hampton Roads needs now is MASN HD... but thats not a 24/7 hd station yet.. .

I can understand that-we're FINALLY getting Comcast Sports-HD in the HD ch upgrade next month.

Now if only they can do the same in MA.

Cablevision also has an exclusive arrangement with MSNBC that keeps MSNBC off the Verizon channel list for much of Northern NJ and NY.
Well thanks to Net Neutrality if you a fan of Chris Matthews, Keith Oblermann, or David Gregory, you can just go over the the MSNBC website or subscribe to them at your favorite podcast downloader and watch their shows for all its worth.

Now if only they can do the same in MA.

I saw it in the guide. I'm not sure if it was always there, as I switched to FIOS after Basketball, but it was there yesterday saying HD Sports.

^ yea all Hampton Roads needs now is MASN HD... but thats not a 24/7 hd station yet.. .

Neither is CSN-MA (HD).

Now if only they can do the same in MA.

I saw it in the guide. I'm not sure if it was always there, as I switched to FIOS after Basketball, but it was there yesterday saying HD Sports.

I get channel (Comcast HD)unavailable on FIOS in Walpole, MA...

Neither is CSN-MA (HD).
Not sure I follow. CSN-Mid Atlantic HD is a full time channel, not (very) part time like MASN-HD is this year. There are some HD live events on CSN-MA HD even in the off season for them (the NBA Washington Wizards and NHL Capitals are their core teams). With the MLB season pass the half-way point, I don't expect Verizon will carry the MASN-HD feed at all this year.

Jay is talking about CSN for Mass.

I had CSN in HD for DC when I had Comcast, but it's not on Fios, so all the Wizards and Caps games are non HD.

I don't see them adding MASN HD either until next season.

Jay is talking about CSN for Mass.
I had CSN in HD for DC when I had Comcast, but it's not on Fios, so all the Wizards and Caps games are non HD.
Jay was posting about CSN-MA HD which is CSN Mid-Atlantic. Are you still on Fios in the Washington Metro market? If so, check your channel line-up. Verizon added CSN-MA HD to the Washington Metro VHO last November on channel 829. CSN-MA HD is still missing from the Richmond & Hampton Roads VA VHO, but it appears it will finally show up there in August.

Neither is CSN-MA (HD).

C-Sports Net Mid Atlantic, is a full time 24/7 HD network.
they dont broadcast HD programing all the time, but its still better than the current MASN and some other RSN's that D* carries where they only broadcast during live games...

CSN MA has sports night and a few other proagrams that are shot and broadcast in HD daily.

C-Sports Net Mid Atlantic, is a full time 24/7 HD network.
they dont broadcast HD programing all the time, but its still better than the current MASN and some other RSN's that D* carries where they only broadcast during live games...

CSN MA has sports night and a few other proagrams that are shot and broadcast in HD daily.

Yes it is a 24x7 channel... I was referring to the amount of HD on the channel... Last summer, when I had Comcast and they added CSN-MA (Mid-Atlantic) HD, it had hardly anything in HD... when I looked at their website last summer, It had 1 DC United game in HD for June/July. And some Redskin pre-season in August, which of course was blacked-out in Richmond, so that the local ABC could show it in their crappy analog SD.
Once NFL started, they did have some Washington Post programs in HD.

State Commission Approves Verizon’s Video Franchise in NYC

Telco Clears Last Regulatory Hurdle To Sell FiOS Service to 3.1 Million Residents

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 7/16/2008 1:41:00 PM

The New York State Public Service Commission (PSC) on Wednesday confirmed the agreement between Verizon and the City of New York for the telecommunications company to provide FiOS TV service to all five boroughs of the city.

The PSC’s confirmation clears the last regulatory hurdle for Verizon to begin selling the FiOS TV video service to some 3.1 million city residents. In the Big Apple, the telco will compete with Time Warner Cable, Cablevision Systems and RCN.

Verizon struck an agreement between with the city's Department of Information Technology and Telecommunications on April 29. The city's Franchise and Concession Review Committee then approved the agreement May 27.

Monica Azare, Verizon senior vice president for New York and Connecticut, said in a statement the telco will launch FiOS TV service in New York City “in the coming weeks.”

“Already, interest by the average New Yorker has been staggering,” Azare said. “In the past few weeks, we have been taking orders in the New York City launch neighborhoods for Verizon's triple play of FiOS TV, FiOS Internet and wired, reliable telephone service.”

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6579222.html

Verizon Customers Get New Content From NBC Universal on Multiple Platforms - any Time, any Place

By Verizon

NEW YORK and ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., July 17 --Verizon and NBC Universal have reached an agreement to bring Verizon customers NBC Universal's coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on all three Verizon platforms -- TV, broadband and wireless. The content ranges from schedules and medal standings to news, photos and highlights. Also, in addition to Verizon's current carriage of NBC HD and Universal HD, Verizon will launch a robust high-definition (HD) offering with the addition of four new HD networks: Bravo HD, CNBC+ HD, USA Network HD and SCI FI HD. FiOS TV customers will see these four HD channels launch during the next few months, region by region.

"From TV to broadband to wireless, Verizon is delivering the very best content and programming, and that includes NBC Universal's unprecedented Olympics coverage," said Terry Denson, vice president -- FiOS TV content and programming. "That's exciting for our customers, and it is a great opportunity for us to be able to showcase FiOS TV's video-on-demand and high-definition content, our incredible broadband services, and Verizon Wireless' V CAST video service."

Through the agreement with NBC Universal, Verizon customers will have access to the following Olympic-related content:

Video on demand -- Verizon's FiOS TV customers already have access to NBC Olympics video-on-demand (VOD) programming, including athlete features, Beijing previews and more. During the Olympic Games, FiOS TV's VOD library will offer NBC's daily highlight clips in standard- and high-definition as well as replays of some of the best events of the day, including swimming, diving, gymnastics, track and field, and more.

Broadband -- Verizon's FiOS Internet and High Speed Internet customers now have online access to NBC clips, news, photos and slideshows, a countdown clock and background on various athletes. During the Games, Verizon's broadband customers will have access to NBC's live streaming of more than 20 different sports as well as highlights from various events and medal standings. Verizon's broadband customers can decide which Olympic sports to watch online, either live or on demand, through a high-quality, full-screen viewing experience.

Olympics in HD -- In addition to the four new HD channels coming to Verizon's FiOS TV customers, the company also will launch two NBC HD channels dedicated to covering Olympic basketball and soccer. Live events, highlights and studio programming will be made available on NBC Universal's USA HD and Universal HD.

Wireless -- During the games, Verizon Wireless customers can keep up with the Olympic action on V CAST video through NBC's wireless coverage, which will include daily highlights, breaking news, scores and results, features, and more.


For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to www.verizonwireless.com. To learn more about Verizon FiOS TV and FiOS Internet, customers can visit www.verizon.com/fios or call their local Verizon sales office or 888-438-3467. Customers interested in Verizon's High-Speed Internet service can call 877-483-5898 or go to www.verizon.com/highspeed.

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE: VZ), headquartered in New York, is a leader in delivering broadband and other wireline and wireless communication innovations to mass market, business, government and wholesale customers. Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, serving more than 67 million customers nationwide. Verizon's Wireline operations include Verizon Business, which delivers innovative and seamless business solutions to customers around the world, and Verizon Telecom, which brings customers the benefits of converged communications, information and entertainment services over the nation's most advanced fiber-optic network. A Dow 30 company, Verizon employed a diverse workforce of approximately 232,000 as of the end of the first quarter 2008 and last year generated consolidated operating revenues of $93.5 billion. For more information, visit www.verizon.com.

VERIZON'S ONLINE NEWS CENTER: Verizon news releases, executive speeches and biographies, media contacts, high-quality video and images, and other information are available at Verizon's News Center on the World Wide Web at www.verizon.com/news. To receive news releases by e-mail, visit the News Center and register for customized automatic delivery of Verizon news releases.

SOURCE Verizon

http://www.sunherald.com/prnewswire/story/689009.html

Yawn- give me some HD VOD I really want to watch.

Yawn- give me some HD VOD I really want to watch.


What about the HD movies they have available on VOD right now?

What about the HD movies they have available on VOD right now?


I would like to see them start to compete with Comcast's library of free HD VOD and premium channel HD VOD. At $5.99 for new releases, I will go to Blockbuster and get a Blu-ray.

Verizon Customers Get New Content From NBC Universal on Multiple Platforms - any Time, any Place

By Verizon

NEW YORK and ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., July 17 --Verizon and NBC Universal have reached an agreement to bring Verizon customers NBC Universal's coverage of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing on all three Verizon platforms -- TV, broadband and wireless. The content ranges from schedules and medal standings to news, photos and highlights. Also, in addition to Verizon's current carriage of NBC HD and Universal HD, Verizon will launch a robust high-definition (HD) offering with the addition of four new HD networks: Bravo HD, CNBC+ HD, USA Network HD and SCI FI HD. FiOS TV customers will see these four HD channels launch during the next few months, region by region.

http://www.sunherald.com/prnewswire/story/689009.html

Timely! Not.

I would like to see them start to compete with Comcast's library of free HD VOD and premium channel HD VOD. At $5.99 for new releases, I will go to Blockbuster and get a Blu-ray.


Doesn't Comcast charge the same price? The new releases are $5.99 too. Or are they $4.99?

I think comcast's are $4.99, plus they were always sending us coupons for free ones.

I'm surprised this has not been posted here yet. Verizon is apparently in the process of adding USA-HD and CNBC-HD+ nationwide for the Olympics. My guide - in Northern VA - shows USA-HD at channel 884, but I can not tune to it. There is the Olympics Barker channel at 79, CNBC-HD+ showing up in some places at 879, two not yet live temporary NBC Olympic channels at 896 and 897. Others are reporting at dslreports that they are getting a live feed for USA-HD. I'm going to do a reboot of my DVR and router to see what that does for channel 884.

We have 879 and 884 on the guide here also in SE Pa but no channel is there yet.

Doesn't Comcast charge the same price? The new releases are $5.99 too. Or are they $4.99?

$4.99 in NJ, but a few dollars more for movies that are offered before their theatrical release.

We have 879 and 884 on the guide here also in SE Pa but no channel is there yet.

'Course we're going with the new lineup on Monday here in OR :D, but I tune to 884 and get USA-HD tonight. Oceans 12 is on now - with frequent audio glitches. But when I go to the guide, it shows the current tuned channel as 872. The guide also shows channels 896 and 897 as "NBC Olympics". Tune to either of those and the color bar pattern appears.

From tuning to 884 and getting 872 :confused: I hit the channel down button and get to Ch 879 which is CNBC.

'Course we're going with the new lineup on Monday here in OR :D, but I tune to 884 and get USA-HD tonight. Oceans 12 is on now - with frequent audio glitches. But when I go to the guide, it shows the current tuned channel as 872. The guide also shows channels 896 and 897 as "NBC Olympics". Tune to either of those and the color bar pattern appears.

From tuning to 884 and getting 872 :confused: I hit the channel down button and get to Ch 879 which is CNBC.

i have them in tampa....

the pay per view setanta channel , does any one know if you are required to have a sports tier subscription to get access to it? The guides that are showing up seem a bit confusing in that regard.
As I am going to have to ante up to watch some rugby ... finally ...
I want to know if I need to bet s ports sub as well... if I do , can i get it on a month by month basis?

the pay per view setanta channel , does any one know if you are required to have a sports tier subscription to get access to it? The guides that are showing up seem a bit confusing in that regard.
As I am going to have to ante up to watch some rugby ... finally ...
I want to know if I need to bet s ports sub as well... if I do , can i get it on a month by month basis?

Setanta Sports is not a PPV ch per se-it's a subscription ch(about $15/Mo. last I looked) like the foreign language chs.

shouldn't make any difference whether you have the sports pkg. or not unless Vz plans to offer a bundle discount(and no one has reported any such thing.)

I just checked.. ITs on programing guide.. But we only have the gig-e links from the vho's in NY.. so NY by end of month and NJ.. AS for everywhere else.. The 100 or so HD channels are already at the SHE, but waiting for the gig-e link upgrades to the many many other VHO to actully carry the channels.. Still looking end of year.. sorry

Verizon Adds 22 New Channels to FiOS TV Lineup - Including 15 in HD - for Oregon Customers

New Channels Now Available
--------------------------
Animal Planet HD History Channel HD TBS HD
Big Ten Network Outdoor Channel 2 HD TLC (The Learning
Channel) HD
Big Ten Network HD Reelz USA HD
Bravo HD RFD TV Veria TV
CNBC HD+ Science Channel HD Versus/Golf HD
CNN HD SCI FI HD WAPA TV
Current TV Setanta Sports Weather Channel HD
Smithsonian Channel HD

Channels Coming Soon
--------------------
GMA Pinoy Starz Kids and Family HD Starz Edge HD
Starz Comedy HD Showtime West HD Showtime 2 HD

http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/verizon-adds-22-new-channels/story.aspx?guid=%7B6C6A4774-9559-4732-BC95-053E1E62E459%7D&dist=hppr

Yep, up and running.

Just poured through the HD channel set in the online Guide and I cannot find Sentanta but I guess that's not surprising as it has been noted it's a subscription addition. But that has not been advertised as available here.

There are also the 2 NBC Olympics channels 581 and 582 waiting for programming.

The channel guide mailed to us included Lifetime HD 640 but it seems that has been dropped. Didn't scan for SD programming changes so I have no idea what/where RFD, Veria, Current and WAPA TV are. They're not in my printed guide.

The channel guide mailed to us included Lifetime HD 640 but it seems that has been dropped. Didn't scan for SD programming changes so I have no idea what/where RFD, Veria, Current and WAPA TV are. They're not in my printed guide.
Lifetime HD and other HD channels are still in the channel line-up. I've been following the OR re-alignment thread at dslreports today. Lots of pixelated channels, TBS-HD was added during the day, does not sound like Verizon is done yet in OR. Might have to wait a few days or longer for all the promised HD channels to show up in OR. Or maybe Verizon will change the PDF line-ups again at the end of the week. NY is supposed to get the big re-alignment on July 23.

Official Verizon press release on the OR upgrade: http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2008/verizon-adds-22-new-channels-1.html. Verizon will probably send one out as each VHO is upgraded to keep Fios TV in the news.

Quick question. I live in NOVA, and last night apparently was the cut off on analog. No big deal, but we have a small TV in the bedroom the wife puts on in the AM for the weather in traffic while getting ready. Don't really want to pay for another box, just wondering if there is a way to get locals back there w/ out paying out every month.

Quick question. I live in NOVA, and last night apparently was the cut off on analog. No big deal, but we have a small TV in the bedroom the wife puts on in the AM for the weather in traffic while getting ready. Don't really want to pay for another box, just wondering if there is a way to get locals back there w/ out paying out every month.
Sure. Call Verizon at 1-800-GODIGITAL and ask for a DCT700 SD STB. The official deadline in the letter that I got was July 14, but I would expect that they will send out a DCT700 w/o charge if you just got cut off.

If you only use the TV for the local stations & news, another option is to apply for the $40 coupon from NTIA and get a $60 digital "converter" box (aka digital tuner box) for $20 out of pocket cost and a antenna for free over the air reception. I was recently experimenting with a Zenith DTT901 and a Silver Sensor antenna from the top floor of my townhouse and had no problems getting all the DC stations at 16 miles and most of the Baltimore stations at 43 miles. It will take months to get the coupon however.

Yet another option is to get a small flat panel TV with a ATSC/Clear QAM tuner. You can get all the local stations on Fios with a clear QAM tuner. This is most expensive option as the 19" size range LCD TVs are still mostly in the $350 and up range.

BTW, which Central Office or area do you live in? Curious about which CO was the first to get converted.

Thanks for the reply, I never got a letter, I remember a automated VM message but I think I deleted it before I got to the end. I was thinking of the new TV, the wife wants a flat panel to hang on the wall. We will see.

Quick question. I live in NOVA, and last night apparently was the cut off on analog. No big deal, but we have a small TV in the bedroom the wife puts on in the AM for the weather in traffic while getting ready. Don't really want to pay for another box, just wondering if there is a way to get locals back there w/ out paying out every month.

Where do you live? I checked last night and in Fairfax, the analogs were still there.

I live in Leesburg and the wife called me on my way to work around 7am that she turned on the TV in the bedroom, no box cable just hooked up directly to the TV and there was a message displayed that if you are getting this message please call such and such a number becuse the TV could no longer receive signals.

Where do you live? I checked last night and in Fairfax, the analogs were still there.

If Verizon is converting your area, you should recieve a letter outlining how to get one or two "Free" digital Converter boxes. These boxes actually get all of the channels you subscribe to, but have no frills, such as interactive guide, etc.

CNN HD finally available in Fort Wayne.

I live in Leesburg and the wife called me on my way to work around 7am that she turned on the TV in the bedroom, no box cable just hooked up directly to the TV and there was a message displayed that if you are getting this message please call such and such a number becuse the TV could no longer receive signals.

I just checked and it's the same here in Woodbridge. All the analogs are gone!:D
Finally!

If Verizon is converting your area, you should recieve a letter outlining how to get one or two "Free" digital Converter boxes. These boxes actually get all of the channels you subscribe to, but have no frills, such as interactive guide, etc.
I got 2 boxes (North TX) a couple of weeks ago. Good reception, but in addition to other shortcomings (no online guide, etc) I personally miss the ability to designate Favorite Channels most of all. PITB to have to channel up/down thru ALL SD channels.

It is a wonderful NY morning. All my channels are in their new spots!!!
:D

I'm curious if Verizon was adding the channels to NY in stages. I'm in White Plains and we didn't get the new channels last night.

I got 2 boxes (North TX) a couple of weeks ago. Good reception, but in addition to other shortcomings (no online guide, etc) I personally miss the ability to designate Favorite Channels most of all. PITB to have to channel up/down thru ALL SD channels.

You get what you pay for. (or not)

I'm curious about how TiVo will handle the radical guide changes on the transition date (allegedly 7/30 for us here in NJ). So far the guide shows everything on the original channel assignments and does not show any of the new channels, even for dates beyond the transition. Do they just change it all at once on the transition date? Anyone have experience with this yet?

I'm curious about how TiVo will handle the radical guide changes on the transition date (allegedly 7/30 for us here in NJ). So far the guide shows everything on the original channel assignments and does not show any of the new channels, even for dates beyond the transition. Do they just change it all at once on the transition date? Anyone have experience with this yet?

They will change on the correct date. Depending on when you connect, you might have a few hours with incorrect channels. But your Tivo will download the corrected info on that date. CableCards also carry the info, I think, meaning a Series 3 or an HD Tivo will get the info faster.

You get what you pay for. (or not)
Believe me, with FIOS TV (HD DVRs), Internet at 20/5, and Voicewing, Verizon is getting plenty of my monthly income.

I'm curious about how TiVo will handle the radical guide changes on the transition date (allegedly 7/30 for us here in NJ). So far the guide shows everything on the original channel assignments and does not show any of the new channels, even for dates beyond the transition. Do they just change it all at once on the transition date? Anyone have experience with this yet?

It's not that different than when changing providers. I went from Comcast to FiOS, and on the day I transitioned, the Tivo S3/HD happily took the new channel guide and corrected all my SP's and other recordings.

It was seamless.

So assuming Tivo properly pushes out the channel mapping changes to the right customers, it should be a non-issue.

Good news for those of us later in the conversion (like August and September), is that Tivo will already have the new channel listings loaded up and hopefully most corrections made by the time it's our turn.

Woah!

Christmas in July in New York!


I skimmed through and saw all the changes. Does anyone know if all the channels are activated or are they just place holders for future activation?

Christmas in July in New York!
I skimmed through and saw all the changes. Does anyone know if all the channels are activated or are they just place holders for future activation?
If the new channels are showing up in the guide but are not active, I would think they will show up soon. They have been activating channels during the day. The reports are that NY got some HD channels that are not in the PDF line-ups on the Fios TV website such as Disney HD. Entering the zip code for one of the NY areas reportedly shows a bunch of other HD channels not yet added such as ABC Family HD and a slew of premium movie channels.

They will change on the correct date. Depending on when you connect, you might have a few hours with incorrect channels. But your Tivo will download the corrected info on that date. CableCards also carry the info, I think, meaning a Series 3 or an HD Tivo will get the info faster.

I'm in the Oregon market and we're 48 hours+ right now without correct channel descriptions/guide information for the addition/re-alignment that took place on Monday, July 21st.

I've got a Series 3 and a TiVo HD (both with cablecards) and neither one has updated properly. I've been in contact with people at Verizon and TiVo, but from what I'm gathering the ball has likely been dropped by Tribune (which TiVo gets it's channel/guide information from).

someone posted the following in the dslreports web site, for NY and Northern NJ markets:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20837341-

"The announcment states:

NY and Northern New Jersey
New HD Channels

USA HD 550
TBS HD 552
FX HD 553
WGN HD 568
ESPNews HD 572
SPEED CHANNEL 583
BIG TEN HD 585
TENNISS CHANNEL HD 587
VS/GLOF HD 590
OUTDORR CHANNEL HD 591
WORLD FISHING NETWORK HD 597
MAV TV HD 598
CNN HD 600
CNBC HD 602
FOX BUSINESS NETWORK HD 617
FOX NEWS 618
THE WEATHER HD 619
THE SCIENCE CHANNEL HD 622
THE SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL HD 625
HISTORY CHANNEL HD 628
THE BIOGRAPHY HD 629
ANIMAL PLANET HD 630
TLC HD 639
LIFETIME HD 640
QVC HD 650
PLANET GREEN HD 668
TRAVEL CHANNEL HD 670
SCI FI HD 680
BRAVO HD 685
ABC FAMILY HD 699
HALLMARK CHANNEL HD 740
MGM HD 744
DISNEY HD 780
TOON DISNEY HD 781
STARZ EDGE HD 840
STARZ KIDS HD 845
STARZ COMEDY HD 847
SHOWTIME WEST HD 866
SHOWTIME SHOWCASE HD 867
SHOWTIME SHOWCASE W HD 868
SHOWTIME 2 HD 869
SHOWTIME 2 W HD 870
SHOWTIME EXTREME HD 873
SHOWTIME EXTREME WEST HD 874
TMC W HD 886
TMC EXTRA HD 887
TMC EXTRA W HD 888
HBO W HD 901
HBO2 HD 902
HBO2 W HD 903
HBO SIG HD 904
HBO SIG W HD 905
HBO FAM HD 906
HBOI FAM W HD 907
HBO COMEDY HD 908
HBO COMEDY W HD 909
HBO ZONE HD 910
HBO ZONE W HD 911
HBO LATINO W HD 912
HBO LATINO W HD 913
MAX W HD 921
MORE MAX HD 922
MORE MAX W HD 923
ACTION MAX HD 924
ACTION MAX W HD 925
THRILLER MAX HD 926
THRILLER MAX W HD 927
WMAX HD 928
AT MAX HD 929
5 STAR MAX HD 930
OUTER MAX HD 931

SHOWTIME CHANNELS AVAILABLE FOR TESTING BEGINNING ON 7/29
100 Channel goal will be reached 7/31-8/1"

WOW! I'm on a business trip, can anyone confirm that ALL these channels were actually added in N.Y. This is actually far more than FIOS promised.

WOW! I'm on a business trip, can anyone confirm that ALL these channels were actually added in N.Y. This is actually far more than FIOS promised.

Those were not all added today, they will be added by 8/1(or so a couple posters have said).

Can they add all of these HD channels without a reduction in picture quality? I am considering the move from Comcast to FIOS but not if the extra channels result in quality reduction (as what is happening on Comcast).

Can they add all of these HD channels without a reduction in picture quality? I am considering the move from Comcast to FIOS but not if the extra channels result in quality reduction (as what is happening on Comcast).

Yes. Vz does not recompress any of their stations, they pass them on as they receive them.

By shutting off analog stations they have plenty of room.

Those were not all added today, they will be added by 8/1(or so a couple posters have said).Pretty likely as they have not printed hard guide copies of the staitons they rolled out today. Plus,
there are some pretty wide gaps in the new HD channel numbers, leaving plenty of room for the rumored additional stations.

You know, it's funny. If you look back about 4-5 days, and read the comments about what Verizon ISN'T doing, what Verizon DOESN'T have, how they are so behind the rest, and then flash forward literally hours to see what they are doing it's amazing. If you take into consideration that this is a new venture for this company, and the fantastic job they have been doing so far in bringing us good quality HD streams I would think that we would want to give them a break. I want it all, but I'm realistic enough to understand that it's gonna take some time. It just seems to me that every time we complain about what's missing, it gets added in a brief amount of time. All we have to do is wait, and then we'll stop looking silly in our posts ranting about what "free" programming we don't have (yet).
My 2 cents.

If that list is real, Verizon will be the HD leader when those channels come online, eclipsing all other providers by a substantial margin, i.e. 15+ channels over DBS and 40+ channels over all cable providers.

Although, by my count, it's only 75 channels. But I'm not counting West versions or locals/regionals.

Pretty likely as they have not printed hard guide copies of the staitons they rolled out today. Plus,
there are some pretty wide gaps in the new HD channel numbers, leaving plenty of room for the rumored additional stations.
There is a confusing question for which new HD channels Fort Wayne, Portland, and the CO in NY that were upgraded today have. Channels are still being added so we may have to wait for the dust to settle to figure out what the full set of new national HD channels is that the rest of us can expect to get over the next several months. As for the room, the new line-up has the SD channels in the 1-499 block and the HD channels at +500 to the SD channel in the 500-999 block. The Music channels and La Conexion block are above 1000.

You know, it's funny. If you look back about 4-5 days, and read the comments about what Verizon ISN'T doing, what Verizon DOESN'T have, how they are so behind the rest, and then flash forward literally hours to see what they are doing it's amazing. If you take into consideration that this is a new venture for this company, and the fantastic job they have been doing so far in bringing us good quality HD streams I would think that we would want to give them a break. I want it all, but I'm realistic enough to understand that it's gonna take some time. It just seems to me that every time we complain about what's missing, it gets added in a brief amount of time. All we have to do is wait, and then we'll stop looking silly in our posts ranting about what "free" programming we don't have (yet).
My 2 cents.

I couldn't agree more. It seems they are about to become the TRUE HD leader. The great thing about this is that not only will they be the leader in quantity, but also PQ across the board. :)

I couldn't agree more. It seems they are about to become the TRUE HD leader. The great thing about this is that not only will they be the leader in quantity, but also PQ across the board. :)DirecTV has about 35+ more HD channels about to launch next Wednesday or the following Wednesday. They will have over 130+ HD channels by the end of summer according to a script Joe Buck read on the MLB's All-Star Game telecast. I'm thinking DirecTV will be slightly ahead of FiOS. It's the NFL's Sunday Ticket in HD that's really keeping me with DirecTV and not switching to FiOS...

someone posted the following in the dslreports web site, for NY and Northern NJ markets:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20837341-

"The announcment states:

NY and Northern New Jersey
New HD Channels

USA HD 550
TBS HD 552
FX HD 553
WGN HD 568
ESPNews HD 572
SPEED CHANNEL 583
BIG TEN HD 585
TENNISS CHANNEL HD 587
VS/GLOF HD 590
OUTDORR CHANNEL HD 591
WORLD FISHING NETWORK HD 597
MAV TV HD 598
CNN HD 600
CNBC HD 602
FOX BUSINESS NETWORK HD 617
FOX NEWS 618
THE WEATHER HD 619
THE SCIENCE CHANNEL HD 622
THE SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL HD 625
HISTORY CHANNEL HD 628
THE BIOGRAPHY HD 629
ANIMAL PLANET HD 630
TLC HD 639
LIFETIME HD 640
QVC HD 650
PLANET GREEN HD 668
TRAVEL CHANNEL HD 670
SCI FI HD 680
BRAVO HD 685
ABC FAMILY HD 699
HALLMARK CHANNEL HD 740
MGM HD 744
DISNEY HD 780
TOON DISNEY HD 781
STARZ EDGE HD 840
STARZ KIDS HD 845
STARZ COMEDY HD 847
SHOWTIME WEST HD 866
SHOWTIME SHOWCASE HD 867
SHOWTIME SHOWCASE W HD 868
SHOWTIME 2 HD 869
SHOWTIME 2 W HD 870
SHOWTIME EXTREME HD 873
SHOWTIME EXTREME WEST HD 874
TMC W HD 886
TMC EXTRA HD 887
TMC EXTRA W HD 888
HBO W HD 901
HBO2 HD 902
HBO2 W HD 903
HBO SIG HD 904
HBO SIG W HD 905
HBO FAM HD 906
HBOI FAM W HD 907
HBO COMEDY HD 908
HBO COMEDY W HD 909
HBO ZONE HD 910
HBO ZONE W HD 911
HBO LATINO W HD 912
HBO LATINO W HD 913
MAX W HD 921
MORE MAX HD 922
MORE MAX W HD 923
ACTION MAX HD 924
ACTION MAX W HD 925
THRILLER MAX HD 926
THRILLER MAX W HD 927
WMAX HD 928
AT MAX HD 929
5 STAR MAX HD 930
OUTER MAX HD 931

SHOWTIME CHANNELS AVAILABLE FOR TESTING BEGINNING ON 7/29
100 Channel goal will be reached 7/31-8/1"

Friggin' awesome! The Shield in HD - can't wait!

You know, it's funny. If you look back about 4-5 days, and read the comments about what Verizon ISN'T doing, what Verizon DOESN'T have, how they are so behind the rest, and then flash forward literally hours to see what they are doing it's amazing. If you take into consideration that this is a new venture for this company, and the fantastic job they have been doing so far in bringing us good quality HD streams I would think that we would want to give them a break. I want it all, but I'm realistic enough to understand that it's gonna take some time. It just seems to me that every time we complain about what's missing, it gets added in a brief amount of time. All we have to do is wait, and then we'll stop looking silly in our posts ranting about what "free" programming we don't have (yet).
My 2 cents.

you may feel less sanguine if you live in CA and won't have anything new til october.

also, how does finally catching up to D* (and D* is about to add more) make you the HD leader? Plus, like it or not, D* still has the NFL (no fault of Verizon), and that's important for some people. I'm happy Verizon is catching up and my patience will be rewarded, but let's not anoint them yet.

Looking ahead, what's V*'s next step after the analog shut off for even more bandwidth?

you may feel less sanguine if you live in CA and won't have anything new til october.

also, how does finally catching up to D* (and D* is about to add more) make you the HD leader? Plus, like it or not, D* still has the NFL (no fault of Verizon), and that's important for some people. I'm happy Verizon is catching up and my patience will be rewarded, but let's not anoint them yet.

Looking ahead, what's V*'s next step after the analog shut off for even more bandwidth?

Well, actually I never said anything about them being the leader, but they're definitely not in last place right about now, and being the last one to the party, that makes them pretty darn good. Let's not anoint them yet? I will. Why sit back with the "lets see what happens" attitude? Why not enjoy what we have now? More will come.

DirecTV has about 35+ more HD channels about to launch next Wednesday or the following Wednesday. They will have over 130+ HD channels by the end of summer according to a script Joe Buck read on the MLB's All-Star Game telecast. I'm thinking DirecTV will be slightly ahead of FiOS. It's the NFL's Sunday Ticket in HD that's really keeping me with DirecTV and not switching to FiOS...

That may be true, but the last time I checked, the satellite guys charged for their HD. Verizon doesn't.

I didn't see anyone else post, but if you look on Verizon's site:

http://www22.verizon.com/content/fiostv/channel+lineup/channel+lineup.htm

down at the bottom right are PDFs for different marketplaces, dated with the new channel listings.

I'm in Hampton Roads, the new listing is dated as 8/14 for us.

I see those in NY talking about their new channels, pdf listed as 7/23 on the site.

The channels to be added as per the 7/21 pdf on Verizon's web site (currently not showing up) are:

591 Outdoor Channel 2 HD
640 Lifetime HD
682 Mojo HD


I'm sure they're tagging along somewhere out there and will be added soon, but I'm certainly not missing much on any of those channels unless someone can fill me in...hehe.

I didn't see anyone else post, but if you look on Verizon's site:
http://www22.verizon.com/content/fiostv/channel+lineup/channel+lineup.htm
down at the bottom right are PDFs for different marketplaces, dated with the new channel listings.
Those PDF files and effective dates were last updated at that webpage almost 2 weeks ago on July 11. However, the PDF files for the new line-ups are not accurate as they don't agree the national channels for starters. People in NY, Fort Wayne and Portland have reported that they get a more accurate list of the current HD channels they now have by entering their zip code. Verizon has been updating that webpage late on Fridays for the PDF files and listing the conversion dates for the next VHOs. So check that webpage tomorrow night or Saturday night; I expect the Philadelphia VHO will be added for a late August re-alignment and there may be major changes to the PDFs with the new channel line-ups.

you may feel less sanguine if you live in CA and won't have anything new til october.

Everyone got something new in the last two days, in CNBC HD, USA HD, and two HD Olympics networks.

also, how does finally catching up to D* (and D* is about to add more) make you the HD leader?

Verizon doesn't compress its picture, that's how it becomes the HD leader when it has the same number of channels as DirecTV.

Looking ahead, what's V*'s next step after the analog shut off for even more bandwidth?

QAM upgrades, which are occuring as we speak, and, in the long term, shifting digital SD networks to IPTV delivery.

Everyone got something new in the last two days, in CNBC HD, USA HD, and two HD Olympics networks.

I don't think everyone has these. At least in DC/MD we don't have them yet. The channels are there, but there's no content on them yet.

I don't think everyone has these. At least in DC/MD we don't have them yet. The channels are there, but there's no content on them yet.
What is weird is that some people in the Washington Metro area have reported being able to watch USA-HD and CNBC-HD, although with no guide data. One report from Herndon, one from Maryland. But I still get not available here in the Sterling CO. As of last night, there were no new QAM channels to carry them either. There were posts at dslreports from FL earlier this week that some had those channels, but others did not. I think in some VHOs, USA-HD and CNBC-HD are being added by CO, not the entire VHO the same day as has been the usual procedure. So many of us are still not getting USA-HD or CNBC-HD. I'm still perplexed by the odd channel locations for these 2 in the markets that have not been re-aligned. Why not put them at 823 and 824, ahead of TNT-HD?

DirecTV has about 35+ more HD channels about to launch next Wednesday or the following Wednesday. They will have over 130+ HD channels by the end of summer according to a script Joe Buck read on the MLB's All-Star Game telecast. I'm thinking DirecTV will be slightly ahead of FiOS. It's the NFL's Sunday Ticket in HD that's really keeping me with DirecTV and not switching to FiOS...

The problem is that many of the original HD channels, some of them quite good, remain on the original sats and are still bit-starved. No such thing with FIOS. I sure as heck wouldn't switch to D* now. :)

also, how does finally catching up to D* (and D* is about to add more) make you the HD leader? Plus, like it or not, D* still has the NFL (no fault of Verizon), and that's important for some people. I'm happy Verizon is catching up and my patience will be rewarded, but let's not anoint them yet.




As far as I'm concerned, many of you guys are missing out on a key point, PQ. To be the HD leader you don't simply have the most HD channels, you have the most that are also the best in PQ. D* still has legacy HD channels on the original sats and those are still bit-starved and still pixellate.

So I for one never really cared how 'many' they had, but rather how those channles looked. Yes, the channels on the new sat are quite good, but not so the old sats.

The problem is that many of the original HD channels, some of them quite good, remain on the original sats and are still bit-starved. No such thing with FIOS.I think it's 7 or 8 channels. It's heavily rumored those will move to the new sat next Wednesday or the following Wednesday... But, again it's NFLST-HD keeping me with DirecTV...

FiOS tech support in SE Virginia used to be superb. Not so now. Over the past several weeks, I have been trying to fix a TV problem. FiOS has not reported back their investigative findings to me by phone twice and they have failed to meet me at my home twice (the latest being today) which has resulted in two wasted afternoons. When I call to find out why this is happening all I get is the "I sorry that happened" answer. After having Cox, D* and FiOS service over the years, I must say that SE Virginia FiOS customer service now clearly rests at the bottom of my list. :mad:

Well we got the new advertised HD here on L.I., but I see no trace of the additional HD channels that the other site is talking about. Looking on the FIOS site and punching in my zipcode, brings up no other channels other than the ones they just added.

someone posted the following in the dslreports web site, for NY and Northern NJ markets:

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20837341-

"The announcment states:

NY and Northern New Jersey
New HD Channels

USA HD 550
TBS HD 552
FX HD 553
WGN HD 568
ESPNews HD 572
SPEED CHANNEL 583
BIG TEN HD 585
TENNISS CHANNEL HD 587
VS/GLOF HD 590
OUTDORR CHANNEL HD 591
WORLD FISHING NETWORK HD 597
MAV TV HD 598
CNN HD 600
CNBC HD 602
FOX BUSINESS NETWORK HD 617
FOX NEWS 618
THE WEATHER HD 619
THE SCIENCE CHANNEL HD 622
THE SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL HD 625
HISTORY CHANNEL HD 628
THE BIOGRAPHY HD 629
ANIMAL PLANET HD 630
TLC HD 639
LIFETIME HD 640
QVC HD 650
PLANET GREEN HD 668
TRAVEL CHANNEL HD 670
SCI FI HD 680
BRAVO HD 685
ABC FAMILY HD 699
HALLMARK CHANNEL HD 740
MGM HD 744
DISNEY HD 780
TOON DISNEY HD 781
STARZ EDGE HD 840
STARZ KIDS HD 845
STARZ COMEDY HD 847
SHOWTIME WEST HD 866
SHOWTIME SHOWCASE HD 867
SHOWTIME SHOWCASE W HD 868
SHOWTIME 2 HD 869
SHOWTIME 2 W HD 870
SHOWTIME EXTREME HD 873
SHOWTIME EXTREME WEST HD 874
TMC W HD 886
TMC EXTRA HD 887
TMC EXTRA W HD 888
HBO W HD 901
HBO2 HD 902
HBO2 W HD 903
HBO SIG HD 904
HBO SIG W HD 905
HBO FAM HD 906
HBOI FAM W HD 907
HBO COMEDY HD 908
HBO COMEDY W HD 909
HBO ZONE HD 910
HBO ZONE W HD 911
HBO LATINO W HD 912
HBO LATINO W HD 913
MAX W HD 921
MORE MAX HD 922
MORE MAX W HD 923
ACTION MAX HD 924
ACTION MAX W HD 925
THRILLER MAX HD 926
THRILLER MAX W HD 927
WMAX HD 928
AT MAX HD 929
5 STAR MAX HD 930
OUTER MAX HD 931

SHOWTIME CHANNELS AVAILABLE FOR TESTING BEGINNING ON 7/29
100 Channel goal will be reached 7/31-8/1"

All of these have not been added yet here in Rye, NY. We did the regular upgrade they told us about last night though.

One pretty major disappointement for me thus far: Versus/Golf HD, 590 appears to be a part-time deal. Coverage of golf from Golf Channel HD was available this morning and afternoon. Then, after live coverage of the Avian LPGA tournament was over, 590 went into "Currently Unavailable" mode. The program guide lists repeat showings of the golf through the evening and night but there is no program showing. So I guess unless you record from the live broadcasts, you're SOL for watching them later.

Perhaps this is how Verizon is getting around the fact they include the Golf Channel in the sports package while adding it to their HD offerings in the Premier pkg.

Edit: Just tuned to 590 again (8:55pm PDT) and 19th Hole is on. Could have just been a hiccup at my CO. We'll see if the repeat of actual golf begins at 9:30 as the guide says.

Edit 2: LPGA coverage is being repeated at 9:30, as the guide said. Seems the earlier problem was temporary.

I think more than disappointment of a part time channel are the number of "HD" channels that have upconverted SD a good portion of the time. Many of these new channels fit that category. That was one of the reasons I was never too gung ho about all the new HD channels that D* offered. If an HD channel offers upconvert SD most of the time, who cares?

I think more than disappointment of a part time channel are the number of "HD" channels that have upconverted SD a good portion of the time. Many of these new channels fit that category. That was one of the reasons I was never too gung ho about all the new HD channels that D* offered. If an HD channel offers upconvert SD most of the time, who cares?

It is an important step. (Chicken vs egg thing) If the provider has HD distribution in place, they will (hopefully) begin spending the bucks to do HD. If they have no distribution in place, then why waste the dough. It was exactly that way with Network Sports in the early days. (and I guess to a small extent, still is)

I don't know that I've ever seen this asked, but now that the Seattle area is starting to get FiOS/TV, is there a chance Fox Sports Northwest HD will follow?

It would be kinda nice to get our regional sports network on HD here in the Portland area...

I don't know that I've ever seen this asked, but now that the Seattle area is starting to get FiOS/TV, is there a chance Fox Sports Northwest HD will follow?

It would be kinda nice to get our regional sports network on HD here in the Portland area...

eventually it will be IMO. Vz has to know people want their RSN(s) in HD if available.

it looks like our market will FINALLY get ours(Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic-HD) months after other markets in their region. as I understand it the delay was at least in part due to working out blackout restrictions, & also IMO the upgrades to our video CO.

For those in the Central PA area who have been waiting almost three years now, Verizon is testing (?) TV service around the 2600 Derry Street area of Harrisburg.

Got the mailer here in Richmond, VA today that the rollout is 8/13 and included the new channel lineup guide.

Got the mailer here in Richmond, VA today that the rollout is 8/13 and included the new channel lineup guide.

confirmed.
and for other fios folks in the rva...: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=14369867#post14369867

Verizon updated the channel line-up web page sometime overnight. A number of new conversion dates and PDF line-ups have been posted, but it looks as if the SE PA part of the Philadelphia market and the Washington Metro market are not going to get the HD expansion any earlier than mid-September. Damn. NY got changed from 7/23 to 7/28 (reported high profile press publicity roll-out for NYC on Monday), northern NJ from 7/30 to 7/31. The national HD channel line-ups between the markets getting the new HD channels are different, may be some time before all the VHOs are back to the same national channel line-ups.

Here is the current set of upgrade dates officially shown on the Verizon web page. Delaware is broken into 3 markets, hence the 3 conversion dates.

As of July 26 on Verizon website
6/30 Fort Wayne IN
7/21 Portland OR
7/28 New York
7/31 Northern NJ
8/06 Pittsburgh
8/13 Richmond VA
8/14 Hampton Roads VA
8/20 Massachusetts
8/21 Rhode Island
8/26 Northern NJ Enhanced
8/27 Mercer County, NJ
9/02 Southern Delaware
9/04 Central Delaware
9/08 Southern New Jersey
9/15 Northern Delaware

I don't know if I'm in the right place but I have a question about fios. I have a Panasonic 42PX600U plasma with a cable card running on fiostv. Since the new lineup change on 7/24 (I am in Westchester County, New York) I can't get any data from the TV Guide on screen built into this tv. I believe Verizon is stripping off the vertical blanking data now from our local PBS station. When I go into the setup screen for TV Guide it searches for tv channels for about two minutes and then just exits to the main setup screen again. Anybody have any ideas about this and possibly getting around this? Called Verizon's fiber solutions center and they just wanted to sell me a dvr. Any help would be appreciated. Thnx, Bob D.

I don't know if I'm in the right place but I have a question about fios. I have a Panasonic 42PX600U plasma with a cable card running on fiostv. Since the new lineup change on 7/24 (I am in Westchester County, New York) I can't get any data from the TV Guide on screen built into this tv. I believe Verizon is stripping off the vertical blanking data now from our local PBS station. When I go into the setup screen for TV Guide it searches for tv channels for about two minutes and then just exits to the main setup screen again. Anybody have any ideas about this and possibly getting around this? Called Verizon's fiber solutions center and they just wanted to sell me a dvr. Any help would be appreciated. Thnx, Bob D.

Since the analog-digital conversion, I don't think it is capable of carrying the guide via your PBS station, I don't think it is Vz stripping off the data.

I could be wrong, but I am fairly certain that is the case.

I don't know if I'm in the right place but I have a question about fios. I have a Panasonic 42PX600U plasma with a cable card running on fiostv. Since the new lineup change on 7/24 (I am in Westchester County, New York) I can't get any data from the TV Guide on screen built into this tv. I believe Verizon is stripping off the vertical blanking data now from our local PBS station.
The analog channels are gone in NY. No vertical blanking data to "strip off" for the analog station. The TV Guide stuff is supposed to work with information embedded in the digital ATSC signals for the newer hardware that supports that. I would think a Panny PX600 would be new enough to be able get the TVGOS data digitally. But you need to find out which local station is providing that data and whether the TV setup is configured correctly. I understand that some CBS stations are passing that data on. You should ask for help in the HDTV technical forum, I suspect this is not necessarily a Fios issue.

Since the analog-digital conversion, I don't think it is capable of carrying the guide via your PBS station, I don't think it is Vz stripping off the data.

I could be wrong, but I am fairly certain that is the case.


I asked TV Guide this very question at CES last year and they were very specific and said that the data would be in the digital stream. The analog data gets encoded in digital just like any other bit of information in the stream and then decoded at the other end.

Here (http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/10/hands-on-with-the-latest-tv-guide-software-comcast-dvr/) is the post I wrote about my visit to the TV Guide booth, but this fact was just a footnote (second paragraph) to the new DVR software they were showing.

I asked TV Guide this very question at CES last year and they were very specific and said that the data would be in the digital stream. The analog data gets encoded in digital just like any other bit of information in the stream and then decoded at the other end.

Here (http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/01/10/hands-on-with-the-latest-tv-guide-software-comcast-dvr/) is the post I wrote about my visit to the TV Guide booth, but this fact was just a footnote (second paragraph) to the new DVR software they were showing.

What if Vz is converting the analog signal to digital before sending it? As in, they are not actually receiving a digital signal from the PBS station.

Bobdro, I'm surprised to hear you have FIOS and used to get the TVGOS data via FIOS ....you're the first reference I've ever seen of someone who at least used to get tvgos data via fios. When I switched to fios TV I immediatelly stopped receiving tvgos data on my panasonic dvr and my pio plasma. From postings in avs & other forums I scoured the consensus seemed to be fios didn't pass on the tvgos data. I have a second antenna input on my tv so i could get the tvgos data ota via rabbit ears , but that stopped working about 2 weeks ago.

What if Vz is converting the analog signal to digital before sending it? As in, they are not actually receiving a digital signal from the PBS station.

The data is in the analog stream sent from the affiliate, so when verizon encodes it, it gets encoded to. So when the digital adapter (or any STB) converts it to analog it stays in the stream.

Now I should note that the people who work at the booth are not always 100% correct, as they are not engineers. So if an engineer posted something to the contrary here at AVS, I'd believe them first.

I hope that the updated info is not up to date for some areas. Why should some areas get more HD channels then others? I saw that the NY/NJ areas have much more then we will have in RI, why is that? And I am not talking about regional programming either.

I hope that the updated info is not up to date for some areas. Why should some areas get more HD channels then others? I saw that the NY/NJ areas have much more then we will have in RI, why is that? And I am not talking about regional programming either.

It will be added everywhere eventually. Vz is launching service in NYC this week, they want to make a big splash, can't blame them.

I have been told that Richmond/Hampton Roads will get the "second wave" the first week of October. That is about a month and a half after the initial update here.

So anyone in MoCo, MD getting USA HD yet? I've got them on my cable cards, but when I tune them in, they're just blank.

I really want USA HD, pretty please...

just outside Boston here and have been trying to keep up on the new HD additions! Mine are slated for 8/20/08 but I noticed last night that I am now as of the last few days getting CNBC and USA HD, not the whole new package but I definitely didn't have them before!

just outside Boston here and have been trying to keep up on the new HD additions! Mine are slated for 8/20/08 but I noticed last night that I am now as of the last few days getting CNBC and USA HD, not the whole new package but I definitely didn't have them before!

They were added early because of Olympic coverage. You also have 2 dedicated Olympic channels on 896 and 897.

They were added early because of Olympic coverage. You also have 2 dedicated Olympic channels on 896 and 897.
thanks!:D

Thnx all for the info on tv guide with fios. I was able to receive the guide data until the new ch realignment. I will post on the other forum as suggested. Thnx Again!

Anyone know how the new HBOs and Cinemax's will be handled? I read somewhere that the will originate at MPEG-4 streams. If true Verizon will have to reencode them to MPEG-2.

Any info on this?

This is FiOS! This is the Big Apple!

Verizon FiOS TV Makes its New York City Debut

Market-Leading 100 HD Channels, Special Pricing Usher in New Age of
Television Entertainment and Value

FiOS TV Goes on Sale in 108 Neighborhoods Across the City;

Verizon Employees Stage Live 'It's the Network' Event at Grand Central
Terminal

NEW YORK, July 28 /PRNewswire/ -- There's finally home entertainment
that's big enough for The Big Apple as Verizon begins offering FiOS TV
service today in New York City.

"New Yorkers at long last have a better choice for TV," said Maura
Breen, Verizon general manager for New York. "We've had great success in
the suburban areas around the city. Now it's time to put the Verizon FiOS
TV show on Broadway -- and eventually every other street, avenue and
boulevard in the city -- so New Yorkers can kiss old-fashioned cable good
bye."

(Note to media: A webcast news conference will be held today at 11 a.m.
ET at http://www.verizonwebcasts.com/vzt/fioslaunch, or 1-888-577-8991, passcode
7049390. In addition, for local New York City media, video and photo
opportunities are available from 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. at a Verizon "It's the
Network" event at the entrance to Grand Central Terminal at Vanderbilt
Avenue and 43rd Street.)

Verizon will offer 100 high-definition channels to the metro New York
market. (Note: See separate Verizon news release headlined, "Verizon FiOS
TV Delivers 100 High-Definition Channels to New Yorkers - on the Network
Built for HD.")

"Our advanced fiber-optic network was built for HD, and we're offering
more HD options than Time Warner or Cablevision" said Virginia Ruesterholz,
president of Verizon Telecom. "With all-fiber connections running straight
to their homes and apartments, viewers get eye-popping, jaw-dropping TV in
both standard and high definition."

Verizon is initially offering FiOS TV to parts of each of the five New
York City boroughs. For residents in parts of the first 108 launch
neighborhoods (list at end of news release), FiOS TV means an unparalleled
viewing experience that comes with unmatched, red-carpet customer service.
With this initial launch, some 300,000 households will be able to order and
enjoy FiOS TV service and Verizon's FiOS triple-play bundle of FiOS TV,
FiOS Internet and wired, reliable telephone service. By the end of 2008,
the company expects to have half-a-million homes open for sale in New York
City.

Nationally, FiOS Internet is available in parts of 16 states, and FiOS
TV is offered in parts of 13 states.

Over the past several weeks, Verizon has been advertising in local
newspapers and mailing and placing promotional materials in the initial
launch neighborhoods to enable consumers to pre-order the FiOS TV service
once the company was given final regulatory approval, which was granted on
July 16 by the New York Public Service Commission.

Customers in these neighborhoods have been signing up early for FiOS
TV, and Breen noted, "These advance orders blew past all of our
projections." Verizon will start installing FiOS TV in customers' homes
beginning Wednesday.

Over the next few years, Verizon will place fiber down every street and
avenue across all five boroughs to reach all 3.1 million households in the
city.

To help launch FiOS TV in New York City, Verizon is offering a
selection of power-packed bundles of services, including one for just for
just $94.99 a month that features:

-- FiOS Internet service with a maximum connection speed of 20 megabits
per second (Mbps) downstream and 5 Mbps upstream.

-- Verizon Freedom Essentials telephone service with unlimited local
and long-distance calling.

-- FiOS TV service with 54 free HD channels.

Other bundles are available that include even faster Internet service
of 20/20 Mbps, plus all standard- and high-definition premium channels.

To mark the kickoff of FiOS TV in the city, scores of Verizon
employees, outfitted in Verizon FiOS TV gear, will greet New Yorkers at
Grand Central Terminal today -- a live version of the company's "It's the
Network" team seen in company advertisements. The employees and sales
consultants will be on hand all day at the Vanderbilt Avenue. (at 43rd
Street) entrance to Grand Central to take orders and schedule installation
appointments for FiOS TV and the company's triple-play bundle.

Mass media advertising for FiOS TV is scheduled to begin today.

Verizon has met the unique challenge of installing fiber optics
directly to multiple dwelling units (MDUs) within the five boroughs.
Through the use of bendable fiber, the company is able to creatively snake
fiber around curves and tight spaces, without loss of the fiber signal.

Said Breen, "Our engineering and installation teams have been able to
wire some 800 MDUs already. Using this innovative technology has really
given us a boost in designing build plans for these buildings. And we're in
discussions with hundreds of other building and property owners to bring
FiOS to their properties. It's a huge marketing advantage to have
apartments that are FiOS-ready."

[For more information, including a podcast on how Verizon is using
bendable fiber in MDUs in New York City, see press kit at
http://newscenter.verizon.com/kit/fios-in-nyc/.]

Breen added: "New Yorkers love to do business with the home team.
Verizon is as New York as New York gets, with 12,000 city residents
employed by the company, and dozens of work centers, garages and switching
centers in seemingly every neighborhood. Verizon is intrinsically tied to
the everyday hustle and bustle that is only New York City."

FiOS TV is Currently Available in Parts of the Following NYC
Neighborhoods

THE BRONX
Baychester
Bronxdale
Eastchester
Edenwald
Laconia
Norwood
Olinville
Wakefield
Williamsbridge
Woodlawn

BROOKLYN
Bergen Beach
Canarsie
Flatlands
Georgetown
Gravesend
Homecrest
Madison
Manhattan Terrace
Marine Park
Midwood
Mill Basin
Mill Island
Paerdegat Basin

MANHATTAN
Battery Park City
Carnegie Hill
Chelsea
Chinatown
Clinton
East Harlem North
East Harlem South
East Village
Flatiron
Hudson Yards
Lenox Hill
Lower East Side
Midtown
Midtown South
NoHo
Union Square
Upper East Side
Roosevelt Island
West Village
Yorkville

QUEENS
Auburndale
Bayside
Bayside Hills
Bay Terrace
Beechurst
Cambria Heights
Clearview
Douglaston
Douglaston Manor
Far Rockaway
Floral Park
Fresh Meadows
Glen Oaks
Laurelton
Little Neck
Malba
New Hyde Park
Oakland Gardens
Rosedale
South Brookville
Springfield Gardens
Whitestone

STATEN ISLAND
Annadale
Arden Heights
Arlington
Arrochar
Bloomfield
Charleston
Clifton
Dongan Hills
Eltingville
Emerson Hill
Fort Wadsworth
Fox Hills
Granitville
Grasmere
Great Kills
Grymes Hill
Heartland Village
Huguenot
Lighthouse Hill
Mariners Harbor
Midland Beach
New Brighton
New Dorp
New Springville
Oakwood
Oakwood Beach
Old Town
Pt. Ivory
Prince's Bay
Port Richmond
Richmond Valley
Rosebank
Rossville
St. George
Silver Lake
South Beach
Stapleton
Todt Hill
Tottenville
Travis
Westerleigh
West New Brighton
Woodrow

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/07-28-2008/0004856355&EDATE=

So anyone in MoCo, MD getting USA HD yet? I've got them on my cable cards, but when I tune them in, they're just blank.

I really want USA HD, pretty please...

I'm in Mont Co with a Tivo HD. what channel # are you trying to tune? I'll check and post back.

I'm in Mont Co with a Tivo HD. what channel # are you trying to tune? I'll check and post back.
For the markets that have not yet gone through the channel re-alignment & HD expansion (most of us), USA-HD has been at 884 and CNBC-HD is at 879. Odd place to put them, mixed in with SD locals plus channels. A lot of HD viewers may not know they are there during the games. They are still shown as not available here in Sterling, VA (northern VA), although they have been in the guide as coming soon for over a week.

I'm still on the fence regarding the FIOS here in NYC. Time Warner has that huge subscriber base, getting them to convert will be tough and cumbersome (cancelling Time Warner box, setting up appoitments to remove and re-install with FIOS will be a pain), I'm not sure if the price package that FIOS is offering will be enough to entice a switch to FIOS from Time Warner. I'll wait to see some feedbacks in this forum to see if its worth it.

Hopefully this will be a similar national lineup:

1. ABC Family HD

2. Action Max

3. Action Max West

4. At Max

5. Bio. The Biography Channel HD

6. Disney Channel HD

7. ESPNews HD

8. Five Star Max

9. Fox Business Network HD

10. Fox News Channel HD

11. FX HD

12. Hallmark Movie Channel HD

13. HBO 2 HD

14. HBO 2 HD (West)

15. HBO Comedy

16. HBO Comedy West

17. HBO Family

18. HBO Family West

19. HBO Latino

20. HBO Latino West

21. HBO Signature

22. HBO Signature (West)

23. HBO Zone

24. HBO Zone (West)

25. Mav TV

26. MGM Channel HD

27. More Max

28. More Max West

29. Outer Max

30. Planet Green

31. QVC HD

32. Sho2 HD

33. Sho2 HD West

34. Showtime HD West

35. Showcase HD East

36. Showcase HD West

37. Showtime Extreme East

38. Showtime Extreme West

39. Speed HD

40. Starz Comedy HD

41. Starz Edge HD

42. Starz Kids & Family HD

43. Superstation WGN HD

44. The Travel Channel HD

45. Thriller Max

46. Thriller Max West

47. TMC HD - West

48. TMC Xtra East

49. TMC Xtra West

50. Toon Disney HD

51. Wmax

52. World Fishing Network HD

53. Animal Planet HD

54. Big Ten Network HD

55. CNN HD

56. Cinemax West HD

57. HBO West HD

58. USA HD

59. Bravo HD

60. Outdoor Channel 2 HD

61. Smithsonian HD

62. TBS HD

63. The History Channel HD

64. The Learning Channel HD

65. The Science Channel HD

66. The Weather Channel HD

67. Versus / Golf HD

68. CNBC HD

69. SCI FI HD

70. Lifetime HD East

71. TNT HDTV

72. Universal HDTV

73. HD Net

74. ESPN HDTV

75. ESPN2 HDTV

76. NFL Network HDTV

77. Discovery Channel HD

78. National Geographic Channel HD

79. HD Theater

80. Lifetime Movie Network HD

81. Food HD

82. HGTV HD

83. Wealth TV HD

84. A&E HD

85. MHD

86. HD Net Movies

87. Starz HDTV

88. Showtime HDTV

89. The Movie Channel HDTV

90. HBO HDTV

91. Cinemax HDTV

92.ABC HD

93. CBS HD

94. CW HD

95. FOX HD

96. MY NETWORK HD

97. NBC HD

98. PBS HD

99. YES HD

100. SportsNet NY HD

I have a TiVo HD and a S3 TiVo and both guides continue to be off one week after the re-alignment. Many channels (USA, USA HD, Disney Channel, VH1 Soul, just to name a few) are on East Coast time (3 hours ahead of what they should be for the West Coast).

I have a Season Pass for IN PLAIN SIGHT on USA, which should record at 10p.m. on Sunday nights (west coast time). My TiVo kicked on to record it at 7p.m. last night and that's when I realized it...I started checking several other channels and noticed the guide was not matching up with the actual programming.

I've sent an e-mail to a few people at Verizon, so hopefully they're aware of it and can get it resolved with Tribune.

Hopefully this will be a similar national lineup:

1. ABC Family HD

...

100. SportsNet NY HD

Are @Max West, Five Star Max West, OuterMax West, Wmax West, Starz Comedy West, Starz Kids & Family West, and Starz Edge West missing because they aren't available, or did the person who put that list together just forget them? I ask because there are 7 of them, and if you throw out ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, My Net, CW, and PBS (7 HD locals) you've got 100 national HD channels (well, 98 plus two regional sports networks).

I guess with all the channel realignment going on the guide data has become un reliable. About 80 % of my season pass recordings do not show as being scheduled to record.
Hopefully it will settle out fast.

Are @Max West, Five Star Max West, OuterMax West, Wmax West, Starz Comedy West, Starz Kids & Family West, and Starz Edge West missing because they aren't available, or did the person who put that list together just forget them? I ask because there are 7 of them, and if you throw out ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, My Net, CW, and PBS (7 HD locals) you've got 100 national HD channels (well, 98 plus two regional sports networks).

I just looked online and the West version of those channels don't exist.

Hopefully this will be a similar national lineup:

1. ABC Family HD
...
100. SportsNet NY HD

How many of these are now LIVE in NY?

I'm still on the fence regarding the FIOS here in NYC. Time Warner has that huge subscriber base, getting them to convert will be tough and cumbersome (cancelling Time Warner box, setting up appoitments to remove and re-install with FIOS will be a pain), I'm not sure if the price package that FIOS is offering will be enough to entice a switch to FIOS from Time Warner. I'll wait to see some feedbacks in this forum to see if its worth it.

as one who had TWC for cable & internet I can tell it WILL be worth the hassle. having new cable et. al. installed will be a major improvement in the long run.

TWC's NYC infrastructure(at least in my old neighborhood-Hell's Kitchen) was/is antiquated. getting a "self-install" for Roadrunner was a MAJOR PIA that eventually grew into THREE visits by TWC techs before it worked(because only the last tech knew what he was doing).

which leads into one of my points-it's not just the TV. FiOS internet is just plain better than what TWC is offering AFAIK. you guys also look like you're getting a NYC-discount that's $10 less than the going bundle discount for any other FiOS market($94.99 vs. $104.99 for the triple play).

one caveat-I've found Vz service can vary from region to region & from person to person. I never had a bad experience with Vz service in NYC but that was only for problems with my landline phone. as always YMMV.

as for the ch-lineup you guys up there luck out-looks like you'll get HD chs the rest of won't see til at least October.

and afiggatt & AbMag-FYI USA-HD & CNBC-HD+ have been live here in Hampton Roads(chs 884 & 879) since at least this past Thurs.-tho we still have no info in the guide!!

and afiggatt & AbMag-FYI USA-HD & CNBC-HD+ have been live here in Hampton Roads(chs 884 & 879) since at least this past Thurs.-tho we still have no info in the guide!!

I opened a trouble ticket about this. They are apparently still "testing" the video signal and did not want to put actual guide info in there because there is a chance the signal could go away and you would miss recordings. No ETA on when it will be populated.

How many of these are now LIVE in NY?

According to some posts on DSLReports, most of them are active, they may not be in the guide, but you can manually punch in the channel numbers.

Let's hope our October time frame is correct.

I wonder what's holding up carriage agreements with Paramount and Rainbow media, as they seem to be the only missing links in the HD lineup.

Verizon updated the channel line-up web page again with a new entry: Southeastern PA effective 9/11. So we now have upgrade dates for all parts of the Philadelphia market. See http://www22.verizon.com/content/fiostv/channel+lineup/channel+lineup.htm (warning not everyone necessarily sees the updated page; Verizon appears to be very slow in propagating updates to all their servers).

How many of these are now LIVE in NY?

Almost all of them! :)

The old saying "too much of a good thing" almost applies here. You can now spend the night just surfing the menu and wind up not having time to watch anything! The weird thing is that the channels all show up in the menu and you can tune to them by selecting them in the menu, but when you surf using the channel up & down buttons, you wind up skipping over many of the new channels. So it looks like somehow the receiver isn't totally updated.

One thing everyone needs to realize is that a number of these channels are not showing much in the way of HD. Channels like Fox News HD, CNBC HD and a few others are showing SD upconvert insets and HD graphics.

Of course the huge number of movie channels are true HD most of the time. All in all it's an HD dream and all of this with FIOS quality...not too bad!!

Almost all of them! :)
...
Of course the huge number of movie channels are true HD most of the time. All in all it's an HD dream and all of this with FIOS quality...not too bad!!

How about of the 100, which ones are not active?

This is what I'm waiting for... I can usually find some movie to watch...

With all those choices, I guess I'll have to look for better online TV Listings...

How about of the 100, which ones are not active?

This is what I'm waiting for... I can usually find some movie to watch...

With all those choices, I guess I'll have to look for better online TV Listings...

From what I have read the only ones not active are a handful of Showtime and TMC channels, all of the others are active...

Yup, only a handful of Showtime & TMC channels, all of which say "Coming Soon".

Anyone seen a schedule for the update / HD roll-out for So. California?

Anyone know how the new HBOs and Cinemax's will be handled? I read somewhere that the will originate at MPEG-4 streams. If true Verizon will have to reencode them to MPEG-2.

Any info on this?

Yes.

Motorola has a new IRD which replaces the DSR4400MD which most MSOs now use for HD Feeds of Digicipher programming.

The DSR-6050 will receive MPEG4 signals and transcodes them to MPEG2 on the fly for distribution to the cable plant (see attached if really interested).

Directv and Dish can use the DSR4410MD which is capable of receiving MPEG4 but does not need transcoding to MPEG2 (as can others systems that want MPEG4 and distribute it in the future).

But you should also remember that the specs for FiOS next line of STBs include MPEG4.

Anyone seen a schedule for the update / HD roll-out for So. California?
There has been no confirmed re-alignment & HD expansion date released for CA yet, but the preliminary schedule that was leaked months ago had California the last market to get the upgrade on October 9. The preliminary schedule has slipped for other markets so it might be mid-October. I hope Verizon has plans to add TBS-HD to the markets that have not been upgraded by the start of the MLB playoffs. Maybe they will add in the place of one of the temporary Olympic channels after the games are over.

Ok, this is a little weird. Verizon finally added the live feed for USA-HD to channel 884 this morning in the Sterling, VA CO of the Washington Metro market. But instead of CNBC-HD on channel 879, I am getting Sci-Fi HD! Sci-Fi HD is running a second season Eureka marathon in HD today, so I set the DVR to record some of it. I rather keep Sci-Fi HD over CNBC-HD, but I suspect that will be 'fixed' soon. No guide data beyond coming soon on either channel. I also now have test patterns for the 2 temporary Olympic channels on 896 and 897.

This roll-out of USA-HD and CNBC-HD (?) has been extremely fragmented, going apparently by Central Office, not the entire VHO at one time. All people can do in the markets that have not been upgraded is to check 884 and 879 every day to see if they have been added yet.

Just so long as Sci-fi HD is back in time for BSG!

Ok, this is a little weird. Verizon finally added the live feed for USA-HD to channel 884 this morning in the Sterling, VA CO of the Washington Metro market. But instead of CNBC-HD on channel 879, I am getting Sci-Fi HD! Sci-Fi HD is running a second season Eureka marathon in HD today, so I set the DVR to record some of it. I rather keep Sci-Fi HD over CNBC-HD, but I suspect that will be 'fixed' soon. No guide data beyond coming soon on either channel. I also now have test patterns for the 2 temporary Olympic channels on 896 and 897.

This roll-out of USA-HD and CNBC-HD (?) has been extremely fragmented, going apparently by Central Office, not the entire VHO at one time. All people can do in the markets that have not been upgraded is to check 884 and 879 every day to see if they have been added yet.

So how the hell is Verizon doing this without adding any QAMs?

Anyone have any info on the new HD rollout in NY area? A number of the new channels aren't operational yet. I talked to Fios and they admit there are a number of issues they are working on, but no ETA. Any inside info leaked as to what is going on and when it's going to be fixed?

Any news on Tampa area?

Yes.

Motorola has a new IRD which replaces the DSR4400MD which most MSOs now use for HD Feeds of Digicipher programming.

The DSR-6050 will receive MPEG4 signals and transcodes them to MPEG2 on the fly for distribution to the cable plant (see attached if really interested).

Directv and Dish can use the DSR4410MD which is capable of receiving MPEG4 but does not need transcoding to MPEG2 (as can others systems that want MPEG4 and distribute it in the future).

But you should also remember that the specs for FiOS next line of STBs include MPEG4.R,

Does MPEG2 have to be completely decoded to be transcoded into MPEG4 (or vise versa)? Or can it be transcoded without decoding?

Ok, this is a little weird. Verizon finally added the live feed for USA-HD to channel 884 this morning in the Sterling, VA CO of the Washington Metro market. But instead of CNBC-HD on channel 879, I am getting Sci-Fi HD! Sci-Fi HD is running a second season Eureka marathon in HD today, so I set the DVR to record some of it. I rather keep Sci-Fi HD over CNBC-HD, but I suspect that will be 'fixed' soon. No guide data beyond coming soon on either channel. I also now have test patterns for the 2 temporary Olympic channels on 896 and 897.

This roll-out of USA-HD and CNBC-HD (?) has been extremely fragmented, going apparently by Central Office, not the entire VHO at one time. All people can do in the markets that have not been upgraded is to check 884 and 879 every day to see if they have been added yet.

I hope they have it added it Woodbridge too. I had checked this morning at 9AM but nothing was there. The sooner they add more HD channels the sooner I can drop Comcast and use that extra money toward my 50/20 connection.

So how the hell is Verizon doing this without adding any QAMs?
They added 3 QAM channels at my CO last night. I did a QAM scan at lunchtime today with a 19" Samsung I have hooked up and found 3 new QAM channels that were not there yesterday. The channels were at the same QAM channels reported in other markets that have not undergone the great re-alignment. Used the diagnostics of the 6416 to confirm the QAM frequency for the 4 new HD channels.

884 USA-HD 555 MHz = QAM 79
879 CNBC-HD (Sci-Fi HD?) 561 MHz = QAM 80
896 Temp Olympics HD 1 567 MHz = QAM 81
897 Temp Olympics HD 2 567 MHz = QAM 81

There is only 1 sub-channel each at QAMs 79 & 80. Verizon now has room at the CO level to provide 2 more HD channels. Would be nice if they were to add 2 more HD channels for everybody ahead of the re-alignments and then 2 more after the temporary channels go away after the Olympics are over.

Any news on Tampa area?

The last I heard it was on Oct 2nd, yeah so a long time.

They added 3 QAM channels at my CO last night. I did a QAM scan at lunchtime today with a 19" Samsung I have hooked up and found 3 new QAM channels that were not there yesterday. The channels were at the same QAM channels reported in other markets that have not undergone the great re-alignment. Used the diagnostics of the 6416 to confirm the QAM frequency for the 4 new HD channels.

884 USA-HD 555 MHz = QAM 79
879 CNBC-HD (Sci-Fi HD?) 561 MHz = QAM 80
896 Temp Olympics HD 1 567 MHz = QAM 81
897 Temp Olympics HD 2 567 MHz = QAM 81

There is only 1 sub-channel each at QAMs 79 & 80. Verizon now has room at the CO level to provide 2 more HD channels. Would be nice if they were to add 2 more HD channels for everybody ahead of the re-alignments and then 2 more after the temporary channels go away after the Olympics are over.

Thanks Afiggatt, I will check tonight to see if I'm getting USA-HD and Sci-Fi HD. :)

UPDATE: Just checked - I am getting USA-HD on 884 and CNBC-HD Plus on 879. And yes it is indeed really CNBC-HD Plus programming!

Go figure...

Guide just says "coming soon...".

Ok, this is a little weird. Verizon finally added the live feed for USA-HD to channel 884 this morning in the Sterling, VA CO of the Washington Metro market. But instead of CNBC-HD on channel 879, I am getting Sci-Fi HD! Sci-Fi HD is running a second season Eureka marathon in HD today, so I set the DVR to record some of it. I rather keep Sci-Fi HD over CNBC-HD, but I suspect that will be 'fixed' soon. No guide data beyond coming soon on either channel. I also now have test patterns for the 2 temporary Olympic channels on 896 and 897.

This roll-out of USA-HD and CNBC-HD (?) has been extremely fragmented, going apparently by Central Office, not the entire VHO at one time. All people can do in the markets that have not been upgraded is to check 884 and 879 every day to see if they have been added yet.

It is the same here too. I set my TiVo to record Eureka in HD from FIOS and have compared a couple of scenes with the on going recording from SciFi HD on Comcast. The FIOS one is slightly better , but I could only tell from pausing it.

Looks like VZ has started the channel re-assignment last night in north jersey. Guide data does not match the channel, over a dozen channels have the parental lock signal on them and channels I had a subscription to now show "no subscription please call VZ for access".
I guess I will try a reboot of all the boxes this evening.

This update looks like fun. :eek:

Does MPEG2 have to be completely decoded to be transcoded into MPEG4 (or vise versa)? Or can it be transcoded without decoding?

I had originally *assumed* it had to be decoded and re-encoded when I first heard of the unit some time ago, but the specs on the Motorola unit specifically says transcoded and so that is how I refer to it.

However, as a good Motorola/GI encoder (thats like saying military intelligence) would seem to add a VERY high cost to the unit (more than the standalone IRD by itself), I am *guessing* that it is indeed somehow transcoded.

As Network affiliates take MPEG2 back to baseband off the satellite distribution feeds, I assume that MPEG4 can somehow be transcoded to MPEG2 as they are in the same "family".

879/SciFiHD: DVR'ed the premier of Eureka last night. Really hope they 'keep' testing 879 with SciFiHD. Eurkea, SG Atlantis and monster movie of the week for me at least. BSG when it returns but by then SciFiHD will be part of regular lineup.

that's odd derek. when I checked last night 879 was still CNBC HD+. are you in NOVA?

Ok, Verizon is playing musical chairs with the new HD channels here in the Washington Metro area. I now have CNBC-HD on 879, USA-HD on 884, but Sci-Fi HD is on 896, USA-HD again on 897. The guide for 896 and 897 state that these are temporary channels for the Olympics starting on August 8. If Verizon is not going to add another channel for Sci-Fi HD, I hope they leave it on there until August 8. However I wonder if they might be adding Sci-Fi HD because the fact that they are showing it here indicates that they have the feed going to the VHOs and COs that have not been upgraded or had their analogs shut off. Are we going to see a guide remap next week, once all the markets have these HD channels in place, with USA-HD, Sci-Fi HD, CNBC-HD going to open channels in the 820-849 range? That would make more sense than leaving them at 879, 884, and 896. But maybe not.

CNBC HD+, USA-HD, and the two NBC olympic channels now live here in CA!

VZ delivered the all the channels as announced and + here in northern NJ. Now i can watch F1-racing in HD. very happy customer.

no wonder Cablevision was very aggressive getting people to switch over the last two weeks.

R,

Does MPEG2 have to be completely decoded to be transcoded into MPEG4 (or vise versa)? Or can it be transcoded without decoding?
The DSR-6050 decodes the MPEG-4 downlink all the way to baseband. Although there are bitstream manipulation transcoding solutions out there, none of them are very mature. Also, many of the bitstream manipulation transcoding solutions are targeting MPEG-2 -> MPEG-4, not MPEG-4 -> MPEG-2

By just gluing a real-time HD MPEG-2 encoder to an MPEG-4 IRD, Motorola is able to get this product in the field as soon as possible. It's a crucial stepping stone for provider MPEG-4 deployment.

Here's a paper that suggests that MPEG-2 -> MPEG-4 bitstream manipulation transcoding solutions may not be the way to go and decoding to baseband is preferred.

http://www.ambarella.com/docs/Transcoding.pdf

Ron

Ok, Verizon is playing musical chairs with the new HD channels here in the Washington Metro area. I now have CNBC-HD on 879, USA-HD on 884, but Sci-Fi HD is on 896, USA-HD again on 897.

I have the same thing in Richmond...
... the guide now say "moving to channel xxx on 8/13"

VZ delivered the all the channels as announced and + here in northern NJ. Now i can watch F1-racing in HD. very happy customer.

no wonder Cablevision was very aggressive getting people to switch over the last two weeks.

The new channel lineup is impressive. I'd be happy if only these DVRs weren't worthless. Not only is the interface weak, but they don't bother to record half the things I tell them to. Total garbage. And yes, I know about Tivo, but I'm stalling to see what the story with the Series 4 is. I didn't think the DVR could be this bad, but after a week it's obvious I was wrong.

I also have to figure out how to print the new channel lineup better since the PDF assumes a 8.5 by 16.4 inch sheet of paper and shrinking it to an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper makes it really tough to read.

When was a Series 4 TiVo announced? If they plan on introducing one, I wouldn't expect it until sometime in 2009.

All or most of the new channels are up in Central NJ as of yesterday.

As of this morning, TiVo has not changed the guide. Re-running guided setup doesn't help. Hope they get it done soon. Tuning in stations is a PITA til they do.

Just to update, I think everyone who was getting Sci-Fi HD yesterday on channel 896 got switched to a test pattern. Test patterns on both temporary HD channels 896 & 897. So Verizon has the capability to provide Sci-Fi HD to markets that have not gone through the re-alignment, but probably won't.

I wouldn't hold your breath on the yet to be announced Series4, as the main advantage over the current models is tru2way support, which Verizon hasn't announced any plans to support. Verizon likes to pretend it isn't a cable co' (they use QAM after all) and since the FCC hasn't officially required tru2way support -- yet -- who knows if/when it'll be supported on FiOS.

Here is just a another data point for those experiencing this problem:
1. Problem is heavy tiling on only a couple of channels (3 in my case) and perfect PQ on all others.
2. TiVo recently issued software change 9.3 was supposed to fix it according to a TiVo CSR. In my case, it did not. 9.4 was no help either.
3. Other AVS Forum readers have said heavy FiOS cable attenuation will do the trick. They are right.
4. Using the S3 built-in diagnostics signal strength and SNR meters, my readings initially were 100 strength and 36 dB SNR.
5. The fix: added attenuators until the picture disappeared (-26 dB of attenuation). Then removed one 3 dB attenuator which resulted in good PQ (-23 db of attenuation, signal strength of 55-59 and SNR of 25 db).
6. All is well. Thanks AVS! :)

I had periodic pixelliztion for a couple of days after the new channels. I called FIOS tech support and they did a forced software push and the problem went away. :)

This thread caught my eye:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1054514

It's not specifically about FiOS - but a Pace Box, but it deals almost exactly with an issue I see on FiOS.

Is the time on the DVRs around the country about :30 slow - or is it just in some certain areas?

If you are unsure, its pretty easy to tell if the first few seconds of your shows are usually cut off - especially at 8:00pm.

Trying to gauge how widespread the problem is so I know which contact in FiOS to go to and try to get it resolved. Not worth dealing with on the local level if it is from TV Guide as this other poster says.

I *assumed* the time was synced at the local VHO.

I don't have a DVR, but my set-top box has always run about half-a-minute slow. I really don't understand why the boxes don't sync with a Network Time Protocol host the way all my computers do.

I don't have a DVR, but my set-top box has always run about half-a-minute slow. I really don't understand why the boxes don't sync with a Network Time Protocol host the way all my computers do.

They should. A reference master clock is critical for more than just DVR functions in the digital world.

But I had *assumed* the Master Clock was run at a local level as I could not believe it was off nationwide and not have been fixed by now.

If the problem is widespread, then the source is wrong (and thats where it needs to be addressed).

What state are you in?

Hi all. I noticed that, here in Rockland County, NY, we haven't gotten all the listed HD channels in the list of channels to be added. One example would be Disney. Was this supposed to be a partial roll-out with channels being added over time? Thanks for any replies.

Hi all. I noticed that, here in Rockland County, NY, we haven't gotten all the listed HD channels in the list of channels to be added. One example would be Disney. Was this supposed to be a partial roll-out with channels being added over time? Thanks for any replies.

I'm in Nassau County, and they started the rollout on the 23rd and I didn't have all of them until a couple days ago.

I just switched from DIrectv to Verizon Fios and did so because it had several advantages. There are two disadvantages that weigh into whether or not I will keep it.

One is no ascept ratio adjustment. The more TV's you have the more likely one will not be able to produce a resonably full screen minimally distorted picture. I have one hi-def CRT that now must be watched in standard def. Some TV's have aspect ratio adjustments but some do not. bIt's mind boggling that Fios does not.

The secord disadvantage of Fios is the menu. In my opinion Directv's menu is clearer to see, easier to navigate, and has more information, actors names/ year of program, etc. The difference is startling. One grows accustomed to a nicely organized menu.

What to do?

I just switched from DIrectv to Verizon Fios and did so because it had several advantages. There are two disadvantages that weigh into whether or not I will keep it.

One is no ascept ratio adjustment. The more TV's you have the more likely one will not be able to produce a resonably full screen minimally distorted picture. I have one hi-def CRT that now must be watched in standard def. Some TV's have aspect ratio adjustments but some do not. bIt's mind boggling that Fios does not.

The secord disadvantage of Fios is the menu. In my opinion Directv's menu is clearer to see, easier to navigate, and has more information, actors names/ year of program, etc. The difference is startling. One grows accustomed to a nicely organized menu.

What to do?

I could be wrong, but I think most tv's don't have much aspect ratio control over hidef content. What we get from the head-end is what we have to display. How many cable boxes allow you to change the aspect ratio on a hi-def program?

I could be wrong, but I think most tv's don't have much aspect ratio control over hidef content. What we get from the head-end is what we have to display. How many cable boxes allow you to change the aspect ratio on a hi-def program?

My newer TV's all let me zoom/stretch/etc. any picture, include HD content.

The Verizon Fios dvr does have a twin buffer, If yours is not working (common problem), try to record two shows at the same time, it will work after that.The only problem with the twin buffer right now is the inability to pause one channel and then go back to it later at the paused stage, this is supposedly fixed in the new software update ( sceduled to hit my area (vho5) on sep 09).

.........

Here is just a another data point for those experiencing this problem:
1. Problem is heavy tiling on only a couple of channels (3 in my case) and perfect PQ on all others.
2. TiVo recently issued software change 9.3 was supposed to fix it according to a TiVo CSR. In my case, it did not. 9.4 was no help either.
3. Other AVS Forum readers have said heavy FiOS cable attenuation will do the trick. They are right.
4. Using the S3 built-in diagnostics signal strength and SNR meters, my readings initially were 100 strength and 36 dB SNR.
5. The fix: added attenuators until the picture disappeared (-26 dB of attenuation). Then removed one 3 dB attenuator which resulted in good PQ (-23 db of attenuation, signal strength of 55-59 and SNR of 25 db).
6. All is well. Thanks AVS! :)


So then I guess the 10db attenuator I just ordered isn't going to be enough?
Bummer, I should have ordered that kit that had two of each size 3/6/10/20 db.

bytor99999

Actually FIOS now says they do NOT recommend attenuation anymore. Proper adjustments should be done to prevent the need for attenuation at the STB. I'm not sure what that entails.

On another note, does anyone not have the periodic loss of dual buffers and if so, what did you do other than the already known tricks to temporarily restore it? I'm looking for a permanent fix. Here in N.Y., even though we've got all the new channels we still have this issue and I also don't have the ability to pause on a dual buffer and retain the pause.

Actually FIOS now says they do NOT recommend attenuation anymore. Proper adjustments should be done to prevent the need for attenuation at the STB. I'm not sure what that entails.Your STB doesn't give a hoot about what Verizon says. It's only going to be happy when the signal level at the RF input is in spec. Details and a how-to are over on DSL reports: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20493706- (to see the whole thread: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20487152-10-way-splitter). The output power of the ONT is fixed, so it's perfectly acceptable to use an attenuator as the installation requires.

More appropriate for the Verizon FiOS Installation & Hardware - Master Topic! thread if you have more questions: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=621323&page=103

There's also an HD-DVR thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=617635&page=121

Is it my imagination or did we loose a week's worth of posts?

Thank you to everyone who replied about swapping between tuners on the DVR. It is a drag that you can't flip between the two with the "swap" button like you could on Comcast.

Your STB doesn't give a hoot about what Verizon says. It's only going to be happy when the signal level at the RF input is in spec. Details and a how-to are over on DSL reports: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20493706- (to see the whole thread: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20487152-10-way-splitter). The output power of the ONT is fixed, so it's perfectly acceptable to use an attenuator as the installation requires.

More appropriate for the Verizon FiOS Installation & Hardware - Master Topic! thread if you have more questions: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=621323&page=103

There's also an HD-DVR thread: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=617635&page=121

Thanks GeekGirl for the links. Do you have any info regarding the dual buffer issue?

Is it my imagination or did we loose a week's worth of posts?
You missed the major announcement at the top of the forum pages: http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/index.php. They lost all posts from August 2 through the 10th.

Maybe we should try to put up a summary:
In the markets that have not gotten the channel re-alignment, we have four new HD channels:
879 CNBC-HD (some of were getting Sci-FI HD instead)
884 USA-HD
896, 897 - Temporary HD Olympic channels for all basketball & soccer games

Pittsburgh was supposed to get the HD expansion on August 6, was delayed until August 12, reports are that Pittsburgh did indeed get the re-alignment & a bunch of HD channels today.

IMG V1.6 has been pushed to the Portland, OR market. After a test period, it will get pushed out to the rest of the markets from mid-August to the end of September, several VHOs a week.

NY and northern NJ have gotten up to 100 HD channels, the rest of us will have to wait. What else did I leave out?

When are the rest of Verizon folks suppose or rumored to get all new HD channels?

When are the rest of Verizon folks suppose or rumored to get all new HD channels?
There have been no new dates posted on the Fios channel line-up webpage for several weeks. The latest reports have the Philadelphia market getting the channel re-alignment on August 25, but not the new HD channels until the dates listed below for each area.

As of July 28 on Verizon website:
6/30 Fort Wayne IN
7/21 Portland OR
7/28 New York
7/31 Northern NJ
8/06 Pittsburgh (delayed until 8/12)
8/13 Richmond VA
8/14 Hampton Roads VA
8/20 Massachusetts
8/21 Rhode Island
8/26 Central NJ Enhanced
8/27 Mercer County, NJ
9/02 Southern Delaware
9/04 Central Delaware
9/08 Southern New Jersey
9/11 Southeastern PA
9/15 Northern Delaware

TBA: Washington Metro, Anne Arundel/Howard County MD, Baltimore MD, Florida Gulf Coast, Southern CA, North TX.

Your STB doesn't give a hoot about what Verizon says. It's only going to be happy when the signal level at the RF input is in spec. Details and a how-to are over on DSL reports: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20493706- (to see the whole thread: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20487152-10-way-splitter). The output power of the ONT is fixed, so it's perfectly acceptable to use an attenuator as the installation requires.
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Thread on DSL too old to reply to.

1) Are those levels listed on dslreports - (as well as the +5 the sweet spot) for ALL 3 of the FiOS boxes?

2) If using amps and spliters, one can get a +7 or a +3 (+/- 2db on both sides, do you recommended to go high or low?

Hopefully Richmond is still on track for tomorrow.

I just switched from DIrectv to Verizon Fios and did so because it had several advantages. There are two disadvantages that weigh into whether or not I will keep it.

One is no ascept ratio adjustment. The more TV's you have the more likely one will not be able to produce a resonably full screen minimally distorted picture. I have one hi-def CRT that now must be watched in standard def. Some TV's have aspect ratio adjustments but some do not. bIt's mind boggling that Fios does not.

The secord disadvantage of Fios is the menu. In my opinion Directv's menu is clearer to see, easier to navigate, and has more information, actors names/ year of program, etc. The difference is startling. One grows accustomed to a nicely organized menu.

What to do?

Responding to your second disadvantage: I AGREE TOTALLY. It appears to be the result of disinterest by Verizon. Certainly, if DirecTV can get the data, so can Verizon. Even my morning newspaper often has more menu information.

I can confirm the Philly area is getting the channel realignment on Aug. 25th and 26th as I had a system message on my box. Not sure about getting the new HD channels at the same time but I'm excited to get them by September if we fall under the South Eastern PA list.

I recently got notification in the mail of the new lineup coming to Massachusetts on 8/20. It included an updated version of the PDF that's available online (http://www22.verizon.com/NROneRetail/NR/rdonlyres/95EF496F-ABE1-4975-B749-166E8BA96543/0/MASS_P1_82008.pdf), with the HD HBOs (900 and up) and VOD (999) in their proper places.

Also, in the full channel guide, each channel that's going to move shows where the new location is going to be - a nice touch.

I recently got notification in the mail of the new lineup coming to Massachusetts on 8/20. It included an updated version of the PDF that's available online (http://www22.verizon.com/NROneRetail/NR/rdonlyres/95EF496F-ABE1-4975-B749-166E8BA96543/0/MASS_P1_82008.pdf), with the HD HBOs (900 and up) and VOD (999) in their proper places.

Also, in the full channel guide, each channel that's going to move shows where the new location is going to be - a nice touch.

VOD stays on 900 with HBOHD going to 899.

Personally I would put VOD on channel 1.

VOD stays on 900 with HBOHD going to 899.

Personally I would put VOD on channel 1.

Disagree. Prefer it at 900.

VOD stays on 900 with HBOHD going to 899.

Personally I would put VOD on channel 1.

Since that is how Comcast does it, I doubt that FiOS would want to copy them.

Also putting VOD on Channel 1 would kind of screw with the whole FiOS One thing.

Whether it's 1, 10, 100, 888, 900, 10000 it doesn't matter. It's just a number. I never hit any number to access the VOD. I just hit the VOD button. I don't care what channel number it is. Just like I have no idea what the channel numbers are for the channels I watch. I have them in my guide and I look to see whats on. It has the name of the channel next to the programming. It makes no difference what the channel number is.

The only time the channel number matters to me is when I'm time shifting a program with my RS VCR Commander remote and my D-VHS deck hooked up to the 6200. It's an easy lookup.

Richmond has begun. All sorts of new HD channels popping up.

Whether it's 1, 10, 100, 888, 900, 10000 it doesn't matter. It's just a number. I never hit any number to access the VOD. I just hit the VOD button. I don't care what channel number it is. Just like I have no idea what the channel numbers are for the channels I watch. I have them in my guide and I look to see whats on. It has the name of the channel next to the programming. It makes no difference what the channel number is.

I would generally agree with you, but since the addition of all the new HD, the movie channels are all over the place instead of being grouped all together. That makes no sense and makes surfing in the guide more difficult.

I would generally agree with you, but since the addition of all the new HD, the movie channels are all over the place instead of being grouped all together. That makes no sense and makes surfing in the guide more difficult.

And this would be one of the few times I look at the channel numbers. When we have the major realignment here I will have a sheet in front of me with the channel numbers. Once I add them to my favorites, it's in the trash and I will only look at my favorites list. If I do any surfing it's only channels in my favorites, nothing else.

Richmond has begun. All sorts of new HD channels popping up.

How do they look? Which are the best?

Inquiring minds want to know...:)

VOD stays on 900 with HBOHD going to 899.Interesting - I see from the Guide that HBOHD will be 899 - it's too bad the flyer they sent to me has the wrong channel number for it and VOD:

http://img110.imageshack.us/img110/5081/machannellineupvb6.th.jpg (http://img110.imageshack.us/my.php?image=machannellineupvb6.jpg)

Whether it's 1, 10, 100, 888, 900, 10000 it doesn't matter. It's just a number. I never hit any number to access the VOD. I just hit the VOD button. I don't care what channel number it is. Just like I have no idea what the channel numbers are for the channels I watch. I have them in my guide and I look to see whats on. It has the name of the channel next to the programming. It makes no difference what the channel number is.

Yes, its is just a number... and I don't use that number to get to VOD, I just use the ON Demand button.

I don't know which one is more correct, the realignment mailer had HBO at 900, VOD at 999, the pdf has HBO at 851, VOD at 900. The realignment that happended today has HBO at 899, VOD at 900 (no move).

With that being said, I don't like the VOD being right in the middle of the HBO block, if it was at 999, then it would be after the Premium block and before the PPV block. It seems like a logical place, hopefully they will change it once they have completed the phase 1 roll-out (realignment).

Richmond has begun. All sorts of new HD channels popping up.

Any word on how quickly Tivo is reacting to the new lineups?

I only had the chance to quickly scan through the new HD here in Richmond this morning before work, so many of the new channels did not have on HD content at that time in the morning.

But TWC HD...the ladies of TWC in HD is niiiccceeee :D

Thanks GeekGirl for the links. Do you have any info regarding the dual buffer issue?
IRT all of the above replies in reference to my TiVo/FiOS interface issue: While the attenuators worked at first, they are no longer effective. I have tried various levels and nothing is working now for those 3 channels. The TiVo software update, which was supposed to fix the FiOS problem, had no affect at all. I am "scheduled" to get the FiOS HD channel changes tomorrow. Before going to bed tonight, I am going to do a clear and delete on the STB also (seems like the best time to do something so drastic). With a completely cleared and reprogrammed STB and new channels, I am hoping my problem will go away. If not, then I am going to invite FiOS back to my house. Will keep you posted.

Is Richmond getting what's on the PDF, is it getting more, is it getting the full 100 like NY?

Any word on how quickly Tivo is reacting to the new lineups?

Nothing yet. I called TiVo to check, and the CSR indicated it would take 3-5 days, same as others have been told. Hope it happens quicker. CSR said FiOS realignment has been causing them a lot of headaches, though I didn't get the sense he had any specific information about Richmond.

Is Richmond getting what's on the PDF, is it getting more, is it getting the full 100 like NY?

Smaller (non-NY package). Very similar to the PDF, though no MOJO. I don't have the movie package, but some are reporting that the PDF's extra Starz/Showtime channels haven't shown up, as they have not in other markets.

Has anyone thought why Tivo is so slow to respond to the channel realignment when most here knew days in advance of the new channels and their #s? I don't buy Tivo's explanation that they weren't informed.

Has anyone thought why Tivo is so slow to respond to the channel realignment when most here knew days in advance of the new channels and their #s? I don't buy Tivo's explanation that they weren't informed.


Tribune gives TiVo the guide info. FIOS gives tribune the info. When Tribune gets it, then TiVo will have it correct.

Thanks GeekGirl for the links. Do you have any info regarding the dual buffer issue?Only what's in the HD-DVR thread. I did a quick search on Broadbandreports.com and came up with a new thread: http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r20890519-HDDVR-Dual-Buffer-Issues. See if this help you any.

Thread on DSL too old to reply to.

1) Are those levels listed on dslreports - (as well as the +5 the sweet spot) for ALL 3 of the FiOS boxes?

2) If using amps and spliters, one can get a +7 or a +3 (+/- 2db on both sides, do you recommended to go high or low?
1) I don't know if that's for all 3 boxes. But since they are all variants on a theme (Motorola) and Verizon doesn't seem to make any differentiation among them, I'd say it's pretty darn close.

2) I'd stick a bit on the high side, but avoid going over the +7 dBmV (that's the units for RF power, it's really another way to say Watts) when you take the worst-case variation into account. You've got enough range to play with, so you should be OK.

If you search the forums, you should find lots of info on RF levels. I know it's been discussed ad nauseum in the local (city) forums.

got(most) of the new HD chs here in Hampton Roads!! no MOJO & no expanded Starz!/SHO HD tier as of yet, but as fas as I can tell everything else.

guide sure is a mess tho!

question for markets(other than NY-BTW how's it feel to "have it all"?) ;) with the upgraded/updated ch lineup:

how long before the guide clutter from the old listings is removed?

and will the Starz!/SHO-HD expanded tier not be added until then?(since the designated ch #'s for them are currently being used for the "this ch now at ch xxx" messages)

FYI we DID get HBOw-HD & MAXw-HD. tho IMHO the #'s make no sense(i.e. HBO-HD @899, HBOw-HD @901 with VOD[ch 900] in between) why couldn't VOD be moved to ch 999 as originally indicated?

I couldn't agree more. The channel alignment looks more like it was put together with darts. Reminds me a bit of my Dish Network days.

question for markets(other than NY-BTW how's it feel to "have it all"?) ;) with the upgraded/updated ch lineup:

how long before the guide clutter from the old listings is removed?



Took about 2 -3 weeks for the mapping of old channels to disappear. Have fun!

Took about 2 -3 weeks for the mapping of old channels to disappear. Have fun!

did you guys get the Starz!/SHO HD tier afterward?

Took about 2 -3 weeks for the mapping of old channels to disappear. Have fun!

I wish they would go away now!!! They really don't need them.

I still only have single movie HD channels (movie package). showtime, starz, etc. Hampton Roads, VA market.

I wish they would go away now!!! They really don't need them.
You have to think about the people who are on vacation, travel, or just busy and don't turn on the TV for up to several weeks after the re-alignment. Verizon needs to keep the channel change info up there for several weeks to allow for that. We had these channel change displays up there for several weeks the last time Verizon did a channel re-shuffle and yes, they did get irritating after several days. What Verizon should have done is provided an option in the STB & DVR software to be able to turn off the channel move info so people could kill it when they want to.

You have to think about the people who are on vacation, travel, or just busy and don't turn on the TV for up to several weeks after the re-alignment. Verizon needs to keep the channel change info up there for several weeks to allow for that. We had these channel change displays up there for several weeks the last time Verizon did a channel re-shuffle and yes, they did get irritating after several days. What Verizon should have done is provided an option in the STB & DVR software to be able to turn off the channel move info so people could kill it when they want to.

Why? Tivo automatically updates season passes and such, and I assume FIOS DVR's do the same.

Who cares if I come home after a vacation and the channels are different?

I saw this in the program guide

"Athletically gifted individuals gather at Beijing to participate ..... "

And here I thought it was a D&D tournament!

Ahhhh! Can someone PM or post a phone number to get Cable Cards activated?

The tech just came by, couldn't figure anything out. After an hour and nothing accomplished I asked him what the issue was since for my other 8 cable cards it took like 5 minutes per card, and he asked me if I wanted him to leave. I said yes, just leave the cards and I'll activate myself.

So I call FiOS, and the CSR says they can't activate cable cards in Tivo's. I explained I have 8 cable cards in Tivo's, and he just sounded like he didn't believe me.

HELP!!! I'm about ready to cancel FIOS (which I won't do, but I'm really irritated)...

Ahhhh! Can someone PM or post a phone number to get Cable Cards activated?

The tech just came by, couldn't figure anything out. After an hour and nothing accomplished I asked him what the issue was since for my other 8 cable cards it took like 5 minutes per card, and he asked me if I wanted him to leave. I said yes, just leave the cards and I'll activate myself.

So I call FiOS, and the CSR says they can't activate cable cards in Tivo's. I explained I have 8 cable cards in Tivo's, and he just sounded like he didn't believe me.

HELP!!! I'm about ready to cancel FIOS (which I won't do, but I'm really irritated)...

You have no choice but to go thru the regular tech support #. Just tell them that the tech told you to call. You may or may not need the pairing info depending on whether the tech got that far. You'll certainly need the CC s/n.

Tell them you want to re-initialize and authorize in case the original authorization went awry.

Before you do anything, make sure you have a locked OOB (Out Of Band) signal on the CC diagnostics screen. If your OOB is "unlocked" you won't get anywhere. I had that issue because of an attenuator that verizon had inserted causing too low an OOB signal.

FiOS techs usually activate the cards via software on their laptops.
Make sure you write down the cable card number, and repeatedly call until you get a CSR who knows what they're talking about, which is really hit or miss. Ask to be transferred if they tell you it isn't possible, to someone who specializes in dealing with Tivo/cablecards.

When I called to setup FiOS, the CSR repeatedly told me I didn't even need cablecards to view tv on my tivo, that they'd just set it up. And I repeatedly responded that I absolutely needed either a multistream cablecard or two singlestreams, and they were necessary. I said several times to make sure he included those on the order. When the tech arrived at the house, he had no cablecards, and they weren't on the order.

Hopefully you can get through to one of their few CSR's who knows what they're talking about.


Ahhhh! Can someone PM or post a phone number to get Cable Cards activated?

The tech just came by, couldn't figure anything out. After an hour and nothing accomplished I asked him what the issue was since for my other 8 cable cards it took like 5 minutes per card, and he asked me if I wanted him to leave. I said yes, just leave the cards and I'll activate myself.

So I call FiOS, and the CSR says they can't activate cable cards in Tivo's. I explained I have 8 cable cards in Tivo's, and he just sounded like he didn't believe me.

HELP!!! I'm about ready to cancel FIOS (which I won't do, but I'm really irritated)...

The program guide was completely out last night and this morning in Richmond.

Yes. It can be very quick since they enter the info through the laptop.
My only problem was on of my 8 cable cards died a few hours later so they had to come back out with another one. SInce then I've been fine. No problems all year with any of my cable cards.
FiOS techs usually activate the cards via software on their laptops.
Make sure you write down the cable card number, and repeatedly call until you get a CSR who knows what they're talking about, which is really hit or miss. Ask to be transferred if they tell you it isn't possible, to someone who specializes in dealing with Tivo/cablecards.

When I called to setup FiOS, the CSR repeatedly told me I didn't even need cablecards to view tv on my tivo, that they'd just set it up. And I repeatedly responded that I absolutely needed either a multistream cablecard or two singlestreams, and they were necessary. I said several times to make sure he included those on the order. When the tech arrived at the house, he had no cablecards, and they weren't on the order.

Hopefully you can get through to one of their few CSR's who knows what they're talking about.

I still only have single movie HD channels (movie package). showtime, starz, etc. Hampton Roads, VA market.

so far the only premium HD movie chs added are HBOw-HD & MAXw-HD.

Verizon said FIOS will be available to me in September (I have Comcast). I asked how many HD channels they have and he said something like "16 and 65 premium channels". I'm confused - I thought they had a lot more non-premium channels available. What can I expect? Do they have different channels available in different areas??? Any help would be appreciated (please feel free to PM). Thanks!

PS: What box does FIOS use?

Yes. It can be very quick since they enter the info through the laptop.
My only problem was on of my 8 cable cards died a few hours later so they had to come back out with another one. SInce then I've been fine. No problems all year with any of my cable cards.

I know... I have 8 cable cards that are fine. This new tech wasn't the brightest bulb. After an hour, he got nowehere.

I finally got through to tech support, and they even were able to take over the card he had started. Sadly, the other card had the dreaded repeating-161-4 error, so they're sending me a replacement.

One more question - For the heck of it, I got one of the free converter boxes (DTC700 or whatever) (for my one remaining Tivo Series 2). FIOS claims they activated it, but all I get is a blue screen when I plug it in, then a black screen. I can turn it on/off using the remote, but I get nothing on the screen except black (and a little 2-inch white line in the bottom center of the screen). I'm using RCA cables.

Anyone use one of these super small cable boxes? Is there some switch I'm not flipping or some button on the remote or something?

What box does FIOS use?

Motorola

Verizon said FIOS will be available to me in September (I have Comcast). I asked how many HD channels they have and he said something like "16 and 65 premium channels". I'm confused - I thought they had a lot more non-premium channels available. What can I expect? Do they have different channels available in different areas??? Any help would be appreciated (please feel free to PM). Thanks!
PS: What box does FIOS use?
Verizon used to have and eventually will have the same national channel line-up in all markets (with a few specific exceptions). Up until the HD expansion hit Fort Wayne, IN we all had 16 national HD channels and 5 premium movie HD movie channels. Of course, different markets had different HD locals and RSNs. Verizon is in the middle of a prolonged channel re-alignment and HD channel expansion to all markets. So it is difficult to keep track of who has what. By the end of the 2008, we may all get back to the same national channel line-up with 100+ HD channels.
Check your current channel line-up at http://www22.verizon.com/content/FiosTV/.

Burlington County NJ is in southern NJ, part of the Philly market, and should see the first round of HD expansion in early September.

As for the boxes, Verizon uses Motorola STBs and DVRs. The DVR used to be the QIP 6416, but they are now supplying a 7xxx series model. The biggest drawback to the DVR is the limited 160 GB capacity for 20-25 hours of HD recording. The rumors are that Verizon will finally enable the eSATA port on the DVRs (well, the units that have eSATAs) later this year so people can add the DVR expander HD. TivoHDs work fine with Verizon as well if you were asking about DVR options.

man, the guide is excruciatingly confusing here in VA. the 800's direct you to the 500's. then the 500's direct you to the 1500's. all the HD channels are grouped within the same 100 block, right?

Verizon used to have and eventually will have the same national channel line-up in all markets (with a few specific exceptions). Up until the HD expansion hit Fort Wayne, IN we all had 16 national HD channels and 5 premium movie HD movie channels. Of course, different markets had different HD locals and RSNs. Verizon is in the middle of a prolonged channel re-alignment and HD channel expansion to all markets. So it is difficult to keep track of who has what. By the end of the 2008, we may all get back to the same national channel line-up with 100+ HD channels.
Check your current channel line-up at http://www22.verizon.com/content/FiosTV/.

Burlington County NJ is in southern NJ, part of the Philly market, and should see the first round of HD expansion in early September.

As for the boxes, Verizon uses Motorola STBs and DVRs. The DVR used to be the QIP 6416, but they are now supplying a 7xxx series model. The biggest drawback to the DVR is the limited 160 GB capacity for 20-25 hours of HD recording. The rumors are that Verizon will finally enable the eSATA port on the DVRs (well, the units that have eSATAs) later this year so people can add the DVR expander HD. TivoHDs work fine with Verizon as well if you were asking about DVR options.

Thanks for the extensive reply. I just hope the fiber tech I spoke with was telling the truth about it being available to me in September. What piqued my interest was that they are showing a channel guide for my zip code and township for the first time on their website.

I see the news that Verizon FIOS will have NFL Network Game Extra. Is that something we don't have yet?

Took about 2 -3 weeks for the mapping of old channels to disappear. Have fun!

I have a list of favorites. After Wednesday I will reset them to map ONLY to the "New" channels.

man, the guide is excruciatingly confusing here in VA. the 800's direct you to the 500's. then the 500's direct you to the 1500's. all the HD channels are grouped within the same 100 block, right?

On mine the HDs are in the 500s, 600s, 700s, 800s and 900s. Within some groupings of 100 you can have movie channels or other types of channels. Why do you think this is confusing. :D

Why? Tivo automatically updates season passes and such, and I assume FIOS DVR's do the same.

Who cares if I come home after a vacation and the channels are different?

There may be stipulation in the franchise agreement(s) that require VZ to keep the changes posted for a certain amount of time.

There may be stipulation in the franchise agreement(s) that require VZ to keep the changes posted for a certain amount of time.

That's fine, but that's not what the previous poster was saying. He said it made sense to keep the old channels for example, for the people that are on vacatoion in August.

man, the guide is excruciatingly confusing here in VA. the 800's direct you to the 500's. then the 500's direct you to the 1500's. all the HD channels are grouped within the same 100 block, right?

The HD channels are the SD channel + 500, with the exception of HBO HD which is HBO + 499 because of VOD being on 900.

WVEC-DT is 513 because WVEC is 13. USA HD is 550 because USA is 50, Sci Fi HD is 680 because Sci Fi is 180, etc.

On mine the HDs are in the 500s, 600s, 700s, 800s and 900s. Within some groupings of 100 you can have movie channels or other types of channels. Why do you think this is confusing. :D

just the redirection on the guide. if you go to the 800's, it says channel relocated to 500's. then the 500's redirect you to the 1500's, unless i'm reading something wrong. anyways, are there anymore plans for additional channels? looking forward to FX :D

The HD channels are the SD channel + 500, with the exception of HBO HD which is HBO + 499 because of VOD being on 900.

WVEC-DT is 513 because WVEC is 13. USA HD is 550 because USA is 50, Sci Fi HD is 660 because Sci Fi is 160, etc.

that makes sense. i just liked how all the HD's were clustered together before and not scattered.

just the redirection on the guide. if you go to the 800's, it says channel relocated to 500's. then the 500's redirect you to the 1500's, unless i'm reading something wrong. anyways, are there anymore plans for additional channels? looking forward to FX :D



that makes sense. i just liked how all the HD's were clustered together before and not scattered.

Ya, the problem with that was the lack of available slots to group categories together(like only 6 or 7 slots for sports channels 826-832). Just think that everything between 500 and 999 is reserved for HD now.

that makes sense. i just liked how all the HD's were clustered together before and not scattered.
But the HD channels are still "clustered" together in the new channel line-ups. The cluster now runs from 500 to 9xx, that's all. When we have 100+ HD channels, can't cluster them that tightly anymore!

The PDF line-ups still have the weird bit of the VOD channel still at 900 with HBO-HD moved off to 899 or 851 while the HBO SD channels start at 400. Could there be a IMG software issue with moving VOD from 900 to something like 999? I almost never tune to 900 to get VOD menu, I just select it from the menu. Then sometimes read the newspaper or a magazine while waiting on the VOD menus. :D

The HD channels are the SD channel + 500, with the exception of HBO HD which is HBO + 499 because of VOD being on 900.

WVEC-DT is 513 because WVEC is 13. USA HD is 550 because USA is 50, Sci Fi HD is 660 because Sci Fi is 160, etc.


Well that makes sense.:rolleyes:

I'm glad I don't have to deal with channel numbers. That would be too confusing.

Thanks for the extensive reply. I just hope the fiber tech I spoke with was telling the truth about it being available to me in September. What piqued my interest was that they are showing a channel guide for my zip code and township for the first time on their website.

maxman you could do what I did & check their website on a weekly basis for available FiOS services.

if you have Verizon service already just enter your phone #, otherwise enter your address.

CHolleman the reason the 500's are so stuffed with redirections is because the 500's used to be the Spanish-language tier(La Connexion) which are now the 1500-1700's.

plus the 600's were the old home of Music Choice & URGE(now 1800-1900's).

I wondered what the heck, etc. until I remembered that.

so the guide will be a bit messy for awhile.

and for me just as we get these new chs the !@#$%^ lamp on my JVC LCoS blew last nite!!!!!

fortunately I have a backup HDTV but still a PIA. hopefully the replacement lamp will ship Mon.

Anyone have news about North TX? I looked on Verizon's site and dont see much. We recently got CNBC and USA. Last I heard, its September timeframe, but I havent heard anything else. Any links that anyone has?

man, the guide is excruciatingly confusing here in VA. the 800's direct you to the 500's. then the 500's direct you to the 1500's. all the HD channels are grouped within the same 100 block, right?

The HD version is now the SD channel plus 500, except HBO apparently.

The HD version is now the SD channel plus 500, except HBO apparently.

Is there an echo in here :)

why couldn't VOD be moved to ch 999 as originally indicated?It's goofy. I would've removed it altogether, since it's not a real channel (unlike on a typical cable system), and there's already a dedicated button for it on the remote. The fact that they didn't change it makes me wonder if they can't change it -- if the boxes are hardwired (or firmwired, or just softwired, and they didn't want to tie the realignment to a software upgrade) to respond to 900 as VOD.