Verizon FiOS HDTV [Text View] - Page 34

aaronwt

11-02-08, 11:36 PM

Its only cheaper if you take the 20/5 internet package. If you had a combo pack with the older 20/20 internet (as I and others did), you pay more for ExtremeHD package as they have moved the 20/20 internet out of the money saving bundle.

And the same with my 50/20 tier. Since they only charge $90 here for the 50/20 tier it doesn't qualify for a bundle. The same was true when I had the 30/5 tier.

SO I recently switched my bundle from landline/TV for $70 to the FLEX bundle with cell and TV for $85. so that raises the cost of my TV services from $35 to $45.
At least my landline will be dropped soon. I just initiated the port from my home phone to my cell phone so that should give me some savings.

AbMagFab

11-03-08, 06:16 AM

So what's the point of having an "upgradE" package? Why not just lower the Premium price??

To force more bundles. It's technically more expensive on it's own, but it has a much higher bundle discount. So it encourages you to get phone and internet from them.

Which seems reasonable to me, and since most (not all) people get that anyway, it's a good deal.

CHolleman

11-03-08, 09:00 AM

You pay less, you just need to change your package to Extreme HD. You won't get it until you convert, but Extreme HD ends up being cheaper than Premium, and even cheaper than Premium + Sports.

People need to stop spreading FUD.

i see. i have the premier package with 5/2 internet and freedom phone service. total every month is ~$142.

do they make you extend your contract when you switch packages?

oh, and why don't i see FXHD in the guide? i'm assuming it's already gone live?

hernanu

11-03-08, 09:14 AM

i see. i have the premier package with 5/2 internet and freedom phone service. total every month is ~$142.

do they make you extend your contract when you switch packages?

oh, and why don't i see FXHD in the guide? i'm assuming it's already gone live?

Give'em a call. I'm pretty sure the Premium package will be no more. The only two packages are Basic and Extreme HD. The Basic has the locals in HD, plus some national HD (I think) and the Extreme HD has all of the HD channels and a lot of sports SD channels.

I switched from the Premium to the Extreme HD since my Premium had run out. I saved money in the transfer, although I did downgrade the internet from 20/20 to 20/5 to fit into the bundle. The extra upload speed hadn't done anything for me, so I'm fine with it. I did sign a one year deal, I actually wanted two years, but they've done away with that.

If you have a long bit to run in your Premium package, tell them that you want something for it, since you already have that package - they may be receptive to switching you without the price hike.

I see FXHD in the guide, maybe you need to reboot your STB.

jeepmatt

11-03-08, 09:36 AM

CHolleman

11-03-08, 10:07 AM

Give'em a call. I'm pretty sure the Premium package will be no more. The only two packages are Basic and Extreme HD. The Basic has the locals in HD, plus some national HD (I think) and the Extreme HD has all of the HD channels and a lot of sports SD channels.

I switched from the Premium to the Extreme HD since my Premium had run out. I saved money in the transfer, although I did downgrade the internet from 20/20 to 20/5 to fit into the bundle. The extra upload speed hadn't done anything for me, so I'm fine with it. I did sign a one year deal, I actually wanted two years, but they've done away with that.

If you have a long bit to run in your Premium package, tell them that you want something for it, since you already have that package - they may be receptive to switching you without the price hike.

I see FXHD in the guide, maybe you need to reboot your STB.

i see. the thing is, i have a contract on a new house a few neighborhoods away that doesn't have fios service yet (new construction) if i can't transfer service, i hope they don't hit me with the cancellation fee. i'd like to get FXHD when it hits, but don't want to extend my contract because of the move.

SQUIDWARD360

11-03-08, 10:37 AM

You are not charged a cancellation fee if you move and your new home does not offer FiOS. It is their fault they don't offer it, not yours.

prth8machine

11-03-08, 11:09 AM

You are not charged a cancellation fee if you move and your new home does not offer FiOS. It is their fault they don't offer it, not yours.

I was told the same thing by the CSR when I called in to get Extreme HD.

kes601

11-03-08, 11:26 AM

CHolleman-
If you're in VA Beach, you're lucky to be in the final 2 areas (VA and Philly Metro) that don't even have FX HD yet.

Not sure when your area will be getting it, but rumors are soon.

Funny how it's now been over 3 months since NY got these channels, eh? :cool:

Yep, supposedly this week, but I am unable to get a concrete date.

Zen_Sinestro

11-03-08, 01:11 PM

gluvhand

11-03-08, 01:14 PM

CHolleman-
If you're in VA Beach, you're lucky to be in the final 2 areas (VA and Philly Metro) that don't even have FX HD yet.

Not sure when your area will be getting it, but rumors are soon.

Funny how it's now been over 3 months since NY got these channels, eh? :cool:

Don't be too jealous of the NY customers. Even with ExtremeHD we need to get the Sports package to receive channels like Versus in HD. I've tried 30 differrent ways with no resolution. This is down state NY.

kes601

11-03-08, 01:24 PM

Don't be too jealous of the NY customers. Even with ExtremeHD we need to get the Sports package to receive channels like Versus in HD. I've tried 30 differrent ways with no resolution. This is down state NY.

Yes, but you are sitting at ~100+ available HDs for less than we are currently paying for ~45 HDs.

HDntheCity

11-03-08, 02:04 PM

i see. i have the premier package with 5/2 internet and freedom phone service. total every month is ~$142.

do they make you extend your contract when you switch packages?

oh, and why don't i see FXHD in the guide? i'm assuming it's already gone live?

hey CHolleman:

see my post(#1131) HERE:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=869878&page=38

based on my experience I think it's very likely you will pay the same as before.

now I had 11 mos. to go on my bundle contract but I still think Vz will work with you.

hernanu

11-03-08, 02:33 PM

I've had the Premier package for over a year now and feel as though I'm getting forced to move to this Extreme HD package. I was told over a year ago about all these new HD channels that were going to be added....I waited patiently and now it feels like a they are taking advantage of me.

In the grand scheme of things, it's only $6 more a month but it's the whole principal that is bothering me the most.

I understand, it threw me a bit in the beginning, but when I worked the new package out with them I actually lowered what I had been paying significantly, especially since I was already getting the sports package a la carte, and it was now bundled in with the new Extreme HD.

I'm not saying it's not a bit jarring to see a price change, but I'd call them, go through the entire thing and see how you come out. I wound up saving about 15% on my overall bill.

C*Tedesco

11-03-08, 02:42 PM

You pay less, you just need to change your package to Extreme HD. You won't get it until you convert, but Extreme HD ends up being cheaper than Premium, and even cheaper than Premium + Sports.

People need to stop spreading FUD.

Yup, just got off the phone with them. Said the Extreme package will drop the price about 5 bucks. Good stuff.

jeepmon

11-03-08, 02:48 PM

I understand, it threw me a bit in the beginning, but when I worked the new package out with them I actually lowered what I had been paying significantly, especially since I was already getting the sports package a la carte, and it was now bundled in with the new Extreme HD.

I'm not saying it's not a bit jarring to see a price change, but I'd call them, go through the entire thing and see how you come out. I wound up saving about 15% on my overall bill.

Agreed!!

My old bill - Premiere Bundle $104.99, Movies/Sports $17.99, HBO/Cinemax $25.00, 2 DVR's $25.98 - Total $173.96.

My new bill - Extreme Bundle $109.99 (sports included). Movies/HBO/Cinemax $30.00, 2 DVR's $12.99 (one free for a year) - Total $152.98.

$20.98 (12%) savings and doubled my internet speed.

Zen_Sinestro

11-03-08, 02:53 PM

kes601

11-03-08, 02:54 PM

Agreed!!

My old bill - Premiere Bundle $104.99, Movies/Sports $17.99, HBO/Cinemax $25.00, 2 DVR's $25.98 - Total $173.96.

My new bill - Extreme Bundle $109.99 (sports included). Movies/HBO/Cinemax $30.00, 2 DVR's $12.99 (one free for a year) - Total $152.98.

$20.98 (12%) savings and doubled my internet speed.

They gave you a free DVR for a year even with being an existing customer?

jeepmon

11-03-08, 03:03 PM

They gave you a free DVR for a year even with being an existing customer?

Yup - it's amazing what you can get when you ask! I really didn't expect to get it, however, I mentioned I just helped someone else (new customer) sign up and they got a DVR free for a year. I have the "on-line conversation" saved into a word document in case their story changes ;).

skipfreely

11-03-08, 03:54 PM

tmembrino

11-04-08, 09:51 AM

hernanu

11-04-08, 10:07 AM

I just got off the phone with a VZ CSR. I can't believe they have no way to get me the Extreme HD plus 20/20 internet. It seems so wrong that I have to downgrade my internet if I want the new channels. I understand I'll save $$ overall if I go to 20/5. I was told they no longer offer 20/20 and the only way I could keep it and get the new HD channels is if I "pay for it with my credit card each month" - meaning it wouldn't appear on my VZ bill and would be a separate, off-line charge at $67.00 per month. That seems odd to me.

Anyway, I'll probably do it in the end. The speed tests lately show I barely get over 10 up anyway. Feels like they've been ripping me off on the 20/20 for most of the year. Never mind that my HBO + movies combo was being charged at $29.00 per month but it's supposed to be $25.00.

On the 20/20 vs. 20/5 - Most people, depending on what they're using the internet for are fine with the 20/5. I asked for the 20/20 to test whether what I was doing (I do network software engineering) would be better served by a faster upload speed. I found that there wasn't any difference, even when I uploaded things like fairly complex web sites. The impact of the extra 15 Mbits/s was not evident for me.

If you are doing something else, then you may need that kind of upload speed. To me, for general internet use, the 20 Mbps down is the most important thing, since that is what's used to download web pages, download video content (youtube?), pull down documents and receive mail. So I found out that 20/5 is just as good as 20/20 for now, for me.

This is not to say that when 50/30 comes within striking distance for me economically, that I won't try it out; mostly for the increased download speed. Right now, since I didn't get any extra benefit from the extra upload speed, I'm fine with rolling back the upload speed to save money and still get the same service.

YMMV though, and if you have a real need for the 20/20, then go for it. As far as the 20/20 being a Verizon ripoff, though - I had to explicitly ask for it, I knew it was more expensive and wanted to see the impact. I don't feel ripped off, just felt I made a decision for a faster service at higher price.

tmembrino

11-04-08, 11:21 AM

On the 20/20 vs. 20/5 - Most people, depending on what they're using the internet for are fine with the 20/5. I asked for the 20/20 to test whether what I was doing (I do network software engineering) would be better served by a faster upload speed. I found that there wasn't any difference, even when I uploaded things like fairly complex web sites. The impact of the extra 15 Mbits/s was not evident for me.

If you are doing something else, then you may need that kind of upload speed. To me, for general internet use, the 20 Mbps down is the most important thing, since that is what's used to download web pages, download video content (youtube?), pull down documents and receive mail. So I found out that 20/5 is just as good as 20/20 for now, for me.

This is not to say that when 50/30 comes within striking distance for me economically, that I won't try it out; mostly for the increased download speed. Right now, since I didn't get any extra benefit from the extra upload speed, I'm fine with rolling back the upload speed to save money and still get the same service.

YMMV though, and if you have a real need for the 20/20, then go for it. As far as the 20/20 being a Verizon ripoff, though - I had to explicitly ask for it, I knew it was more expensive and wanted to see the impact. I don't feel ripped off, just felt I made a decision for a faster service at higher price.

Yea, you're probably right on the benefits of 20/20 vs. 20/5. I think it's mostly a psychological thing with me. I feel like Internet services should be going toward symmetrical offerings as technology improves. In reality there probably isn't alot of overall value to the 20 up. I use it mostly for VPN access to my home network from work, streaming off my music server when I'm remote and online game hosting (mostly Xbox Live stuff). The Xbox stuff is where I've seen the best benefit - particularly with games that have poor network optimization. But for the amount of time I actually spend doing any of those things the extra cost probably isn't worth it in the end. Saving $15/month, getting all the HD and downgrading to 20/5 is probably the "logical" thing to do.

hernanu

11-04-08, 02:35 PM

Yea, you're probably right on the benefits of 20/20 vs. 20/5. I think it's mostly a psychological thing with me. I feel like Internet services should be going toward symmetrical offerings as technology improves. In reality there probably isn't alot of overall value to the 20 up. I use it mostly for VPN access to my home network from work, streaming off my music server when I'm remote and online game hosting (mostly Xbox Live stuff). The Xbox stuff is where I've seen the best benefit - particularly with games that have poor network optimization. But for the amount of time I actually spend doing any of those things the extra cost probably isn't worth it in the end. Saving $15/month, getting all the HD and downgrading to 20/5 is probably the "logical" thing to do.

Hey, who ever said we're in this to be logical, huh? :) If you have a use for it, then it may be worth it. One thing that's interesting, since you're interested in symmetrical internet access, is the test Verizon did last year (I think) in a FIOS setup in Quincy, MA, where they tested (it worked very well) 100/100 internet service. If that ever shows up on a bundle, I'm definitely taking it...

kes601

11-04-08, 03:27 PM

Confirmed date for Hampton Roads and Richmond HD rollout is November 6.

crankerchick

11-04-08, 03:27 PM

I can understand where you guys are coming from, but the only way it works out positive is when you are already paying for the sports package. If you just have the premiere bundle with no additions (besides DVR) there is no way to make out on the deal.

Yes, they will up my internet speed....very nice bonus...but I'm still irked.
Agreed. I was in the premier triple freedom for $99.99 with the 5/2 internet also, and we did not have the sports package. So basically, to get the new HD channels, our bill has to go up $10 base a month to $109.99. If we had been subscribed to the sports package, then it would only be a $5 difference.

Of course I forgot when I called that people had been getting the DVR free for a year, didn't think to ask specifically for that. But I did tell them I thought it was carp for me to have to pay more for channels that were "coming soon" when I signed up a year ago and that I could hop over to comcast right now and have those channels for $100 bucks. They offered the movie package free for a month. The free DVR for a year is of course a better deal, though, wish I had remembered that and asked specifically for it.
I have your position: I'm a little irked to have to pay more for channels that I was led to believe I would get at no additional cost when I signed up, and and even after they added the last round of channels. No notice or anything that things were changing, just up pop new channels that I can't tune to...

coyoteaz

11-04-08, 04:22 PM

jeepmatt

11-04-08, 05:43 PM

Confirmed date for Hampton Roads and Richmond HD rollout is November 6.

And confirmed Philly Metro (VHO8) will indeed be very last, and will go on 11/17.

maxman

11-04-08, 06:12 PM

And confirmed Philly Metro (VHO8) will indeed be very last, and will go on 11/17.

Of course! That's the section I live in.:rolleyes:

jamieva

11-04-08, 09:14 PM

Nov 6 excellent just in time for the last 2 truck races on Speed HD.

DCFan

11-05-08, 08:05 AM

Question for the group; after the last last VHO gets upgraded to 100 HD channels on the 17th, what's the next advancement that we can look forward to with FiOS?

maxman

11-05-08, 08:07 AM

Question for the group; after the last last VHO gets upgraded to 100 HD channels on the 17th...

I thought it was the 17th for VHO8?

DCFan

11-05-08, 08:08 AM

I thought it was the 17th for VHO8?

Sorry, I edited my question while you were posting. ;)

dougotte

11-05-08, 09:19 AM

Question for the group; after the last last VHO gets upgraded to 100 HD channels on the 17th, what's the next advancement that we can look forward to with FiOS?

I've been wondering, too. At this point, more HD channels similar to Sci-Fi, Disney, Bio, A&E, etc. provide diminishing returns because the content is rarely actually HD. And, all the additional movie channels just provide the same content, but slightly time-shifted. With a DVR, the benefit there is nil.

I'd like to see them improve the PQ of the HBO HD channels, if possible. The artifacts w/ fast motion are very annoying. Of course, as more knowledgable posters have told us, FiOS might not be able to improve it unless they can start streaming MPEG-4.

Doug

jamieva

11-05-08, 09:26 AM

Hopefully adding the NBA and MLB packages

jeepmatt

11-05-08, 09:27 AM

DC Fan-
Look for the addition of NHL Network and NBA TV in HD. Other than that, I have no insider info.

(Actually, i'm hoping / expecting to also see these 2 on the 17th in the Philly area)

maxman

11-05-08, 10:07 AM

bull3964

11-05-08, 10:15 AM

I've been wondering, too. At this point, more HD channels similar to Sci-Fi, Disney, Bio, A&E, etc. provide diminishing returns because the content is rarely actually HD.

Still though, there are a handful that we still don't have like Spike! which shows quite a bit of HD content. I also wouldn't mind an the Cartoon Network HD as well (even if HD content is rare.) I know that Adult Swim has required any new seasons of any of their shows to be produced in HD from this point forward so we should be seeing more and more HD content there.

Often times too, even if there isn't HD content, we can get a picture quality boost by having an HD version of a station showing unconverted content.

Really though, I hope verizon has a lot of excess capacity waiting for when other stations come online. There are still a few like Comedy Central that don't have an HD counterpart but you know they are coming eventually. I would like to see verizon be able to add them almost immediately or even be launch partners for some of them.

CHolleman

11-05-08, 12:06 PM

Anyone have the new Fios Flex plan with 20/5 internet and Extreme HD? Since we don't use the home phone much if at all, I was thinking about switching the the Flex, but the CSR told me that it would trigger the $200 termination fee on my account if I remove services. I currently pay ~$142/mo including taxes for the Freedom plan. The Flex plan is $80/mon. That's $60/mon savings assuming taxes are cheaper for the Flex since I wouldn't have phone service. It would take me about four months to break even and 5 to come out ahead assuming the savings are actually $60/mo.

While I was on the phone with them, they did upgrade me to the Extreme HD and 20/5 while reducing my bill a little. Still having a service we don't use is just a waste imo.

dougotte

11-05-08, 12:12 PM

I wish they'd address some of the issues with the remote (need a 4th (faster) fast-forward speed; immediate stop when fast forwarding/rewinding - it jumps all over the place; easier control of favorite channels; stop popping up the channel display every time you exit a function; add a 'zoom' feature; etc.:)

The Aspect button cycles through 2 stretch modes, then a zoom mode. However, it only zooms once - to roughly fill letterboxed content to the 16:9 frame (with some chopping off the top and bottom). I think the Aspect button only works w/ the HD box, though.

Doug

maxman

11-05-08, 01:23 PM

The Aspect button cycles through 2 stretch modes, then a zoom mode. However, it only zooms once - to roughly fill letterboxed content to the 16:9 frame (with some chopping off the top and bottom). I think the Aspect button only works w/ the HD box, though.

Thanks - didn't realize that.

slybarman

11-05-08, 03:31 PM

Heck - I'm just thrilled to have FX in HD while the Shield is still on.

craig_wagner

11-05-08, 04:38 PM

Anyone have the new Fios Flex plan with 20/5 internet and Extreme HD? Since we don't use the home phone much if at all, I was thinking about switching the the Flex, but the CSR told me that it would trigger the $200 termination fee on my account if I remove services.

I recently switched from one triple play package to another. I had to 'sign' another agreement, which I actually took the time to read. There was a clause in there that said if I terminated the current agreement but replaced it with another package the termination fee would not apply. I didn't see anything in there about dropping services. I think you should check with another CSR.

CHolleman

11-05-08, 04:54 PM

I recently switched from one triple play package to another. I had to 'sign' another agreement, which I actually took the time to read. There was a clause in there that said if I terminated the current agreement but replaced it with another package the termination fee would not apply. I didn't see anything in there about dropping services. I think you should check with another CSR.

thanks. would this agreement be the TOS that you electronically agree to via email?

edit: nevermind, i found it.

# The Early Termination Fee will not apply if you cancel your FiOS Bundle or terminate a Service and, at the time of such termination, order and agree to a new FiOS Bundle.

edit2:

crap:

If you cancel one FiOS Bundle and move directly to another FiOS Bundle, a 15 day grace period for the Early Termination Fee does not apply and the applicable Early Termination Fee will apply if you terminate your new FiOS Bundle at any time prior to expiration of your Minimum Term.

one contradicts the other, no?

stevec325

11-05-08, 05:57 PM

CHolleman

11-05-08, 08:45 PM

I don't think so. I think the second paragraph is telling you that you don't have a 15 day grace period with the new bundle - as you did with with your initial bundle order. The Early Termination Fee would be charged, if you cancel the NEW bundle, even within 15 days of ordering it.

Either that, or they can cut off your arm :)

lol, so as long as i order another bundle, they cannot charge the ETF it seems. I just lose the 15 day grace to cancel my order/bundle (presumably to deter dubious people from changing bundles and then cancelling their order to get out of their agreement)

craig_wagner

11-05-08, 09:32 PM

would this agreement be the TOS that you electronically agree to via email?

Yeah, that's the one. And that clause you quoted is the one I was thinking of.

lol, so as long as i order another bundle, they cannot charge the ETF it seems. I just lose the 15 day grace to cancel my order/bundle (presumably to deter dubious people from changing bundles and then cancelling their order to get out of their agreement)

That's how I read it as well. I agree with Steve's assessment of it, and I suspect your reasoning is probably why they do it. As long as you're willing to sign up for the new bundle (which requires a one-year commitment) they're happy to change your services around.

CHolleman

11-05-08, 09:37 PM

Yeah, that's the one. And that clause you quoted is the one I was thinking of.

That's how I read it as well. I agree with Steve's assessment of it, and I suspect your reasoning is probably why they do it. As long as you're willing to sign up for the new bundle (which requires a one-year commitment) they're happy to change your services around.

thank you for the clarification. i think i'll call CS tomorrow and keep the TOS open and handy.

pg60

11-06-08, 12:40 AM

coyoteaz

11-06-08, 01:29 AM

DirecTV's PQ is going to be somewhat inferior to FiOS. Whether or not it's enough to notice will depend on your TV, how far you sit from the TV, and your eyesight. The cost will probably end up being more if you've currently got a bundle with Verizon, and especially if you've got premium channels.

I haven't had FiOS for very long, but I'm ready to start asking for everything from CSRs in writing before I let them off the phone. Every person on the phone says something different, and no one seems to be able to override the system to follow through on any promises made that never happen. At least with written confirmation you can take it to the BBB, local news, or court when they try to screw with you a few days later.

BeachComber

11-06-08, 02:22 AM

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker here but don't post much. I'm looking for some emergency advice and don't have the luxury of time to search through threads and make thoughtful decision, so I apologize in advance if I am asking about things that have already been discussed in depth.

I have had FIOS HD for over a year, picture is great, lots of new channels, but the customer service is *horrible* (and it ain't cheap).

They just hit me with $80 tech service charge to swap out a HD box for a HD DVR box. :mad:

They told me the swap itself was free when I placed the order and initially agreed to remove the charge. But some manager denied the credit. The CS rep sees in the notes where they told me it would be free, but apparently their CS system is so screwed up he cannot give me credit for anything over $50 without it being approved by someone else. Even a supervisor appears powerless to give me the credit even though he admits they screwed up.

So I am ready to cancel. 5 hours on the phone trying to resolve this has me at my limit.

Am I cutting off my nose to spite my face? Can anyone who has had both FIOS and DirectTV tell me if I am being stupid here? My priorities are picture quality, overall cost, and # of channels in that order.

I would really appreciate any advice while I continue to research how much DirectTV would really cost for 2 TVs with HD DVRs.

Thanks in advance for any replies! :)

While E* and D*'s CS are a nightmare, Verizon FiOS is a Nightmare with Sequels, as you have found out.

Eventually, especially as the economy continues to tube, they will have to do something about this. Most customers see all cable and satellite providers as interchangable and most will not deal with the BS that Verizon puts them through (though the problem is D* and E* continue to put people through other issues as well, though not to the extent FiOS does).

It comes down to choosing your poison.

If PQ is your end game, D* will not match FiOS.

jamieva

11-06-08, 07:06 AM

They charged you $80 to swap the box, did they have a tech come out to do it? When I did that they just mailed me the HD DVR box and I mailed back the old box.

jamieva

11-06-08, 07:08 AM

And Richmond, VA has the new HD rollout as of this morning. Guide is not updated.

kes601

11-06-08, 07:12 AM

kes601

11-06-08, 07:12 AM

And Richmond, VA has the new HD rollout as of this morning. Guide is not updated.

Yep, live in Hampton Roads also. If you reboot your box you will get the updated guide.

I cannot tune to one of the HBOs, one of the Cinemaxes, and 2 of the Showtimes seem to be the same feed (866 and 868).

CHolleman

11-06-08, 08:24 AM

Yep, live in Hampton Roads also. If you reboot your box you will get the updated guide.

I cannot tune to one of the HBOs, one of the Cinemaxes, and 2 of the Showtimes seem to be the same feed (866 and 868).

I checked this AM quickly before work and saw TBS HD and ANPL HD. i thought FX was supposed to be included in this upgrade?

jeepmatt

11-06-08, 08:26 AM

i thought FX was supposed to be included in this upgrade?

Should be on 553.

kes601

11-06-08, 08:43 AM

I checked this AM quickly before work and saw TBS HD and ANPL HD. i thought FX was supposed to be included in this upgrade?

As Jeep said, it FX HD is there. TBS HD and ANPL HD were already there from the August rollout.

mat123

11-06-08, 09:02 AM

Yep, live in Hampton Roads also. If you reboot your box you will get the updated guide.

I cannot tune to one of the HBOs, one of the Cinemaxes, and 2 of the Showtimes seem to be the same feed (866 and 868).
Is there a way to reboot without unplugging the box from the wall?

Lee11

11-06-08, 09:05 AM

Hi everyone,

They just hit me with $80 tech service charge to swap out a HD box for a HD DVR box. :mad:

They told me the swap itself was free when I placed the order and initially agreed to remove the charge. But some manager denied the credit. The CS rep sees in the notes where they told me it would be free, but apparently their CS system is so screwed up he cannot give me credit for anything over $50 without it being approved by someone else. Even a supervisor appears powerless to give me the credit even though he admits they screwed up.

I would try this, take the initial $50 credit the CSR can give you... then in a few days call back and see if another CSR can give the additional $30. If not at least you may get the $50 credit and the tech service charge would then only cost you $30.

FWIW: I have had a good experience with FiOS so far, only minor issues and love the offerings. CS is not great I agree but I haven't had any major issue to be resolved.

Good Luck.

pg60

11-06-08, 09:06 AM

pg60 -- Did they offer to do the swap via mail? If they did and you turned them down then they would charge you for a truck roll.

There is a $79.95 charge for a truck roll that is not tech support related, trading boxes is supposed to be a user serviceable item, that is why they would have charged you.

Now, if they said it was free in the first place that is a different story, but normally that would be a charge.

Now, if you were having a problem with a box and they came out and swapped boxes for the same type of box that would be a tech service and no charge.

I called them and requested the upgrade, very willing to pay the additional monthly rental charge. First question I asked them is would the swap itself be free. They said it would. What infuriates me is that the CSR/Supervisor see this in thie ticket notes, put in for the credit, and someone up above denies the credit. The supervisor just re-submitted so I have my fingers crossed but am not really that hopeful.

It is all about the PQ for me, my TV watching time is limited and I want the best. I just really struggle with taking pipe on a bogus $80 charge. That's real money. Plus the DVRs lose sync with online guide all the time, contacting their support is just an ongoing nightmare that is even pissing off my wife. I refuse to call them when the bedroom DVR get stuck and make her call ;)

stevec325

11-06-08, 09:18 AM

Call back, talk with a CSR, when they tell you that they cannot issue the credit, ask to speak with a supervisor. If that supervisor cannot/will not issue the credit, ask to speak with his/her manager. Eventually, you will get a person authorized to issue the credit.

If it's documented in the notes that this was to be free - it may take a while, but you should finally get someone on the phone who will issue the credit.

hernanu

11-06-08, 09:38 AM

I called them and requested the upgrade, very willing to pay the additional monthly rental charge. First question I asked them is would the swap itself be free. They said it would. What infuriates me is that the CSR/Supervisor see this in thie ticket notes, put in for the credit, and someone up above denies the credit. The supervisor just re-submitted so I have my fingers crossed but am not really that hopeful.

It is all about the PQ for me, my TV watching time is limited and I want the best. I just really struggle with taking pipe on a bogus $80 charge. That's real money. Plus the DVRs lose sync with online guide all the time, contacting their support is just an ongoing nightmare that is even pissing off my wife. I refuse to call them when the bedroom DVR get stuck and make her call ;)

A couple of things:

1. I had D* before the switch to FIOS, FIOS is much better PQ on SD (didn't have HD on D*), but D* support was much worse for me. It may have taken me a bit of time now and again, but I was able to have all my issues fixed with FIOS, where D* I basically had to take it or walk, which I eventually did.

2. Keep at it if the $30 is worth it. I would, just to avoid the feeling of being screwed.

3. The guide data comes in through the router via IP. Try resetting the router and all of the STB's (power off, wait ~45 s, reconnect), so give your MoCa network a fresh start, that may fix your issues.

pg60

11-06-08, 10:00 AM

thanks everyone. the message I am getting is that I should continue to fight the battle with FIOS because the PQ is worth it. I may just shutoff Showtime to recoup the $, my wife watches Dexter/Weeds but we can rent the season DVDs eventually from Netflix.

Hernau: Thanks for the tip on resetting router. I live in FL, router is in the garage, and the router had to be swapped once because of lightning damage. They just put a new&improved surge suppressor on it. It is weird they will swap the router out without a complaint but charge me $80 for the privilege of paying more monthly fees for the DVR.

Marcus Carr

11-06-08, 10:17 AM

More Hockey on Verizon FiOS TV

Posted by Eric Rabe in Video on October 28, 2008, 10:12 AM EST

There’s good news for all the hockey fans who have posted here asking for more hockey on Verizon FiOS TV. We’ve added NHL Center Ice to the lineup, and we’ll add NHL Network to the lineup soon.

Available by subscription, NHL Center Ice includes up to 40 out-of-market National Hockey League games per week and select games from the first two rounds of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. If NHL Center Ice broadcasts a game in high definition, FiOS TV will carry it in HD.

NHL Network offers hockey coverage 24 hours a day, including 75 live regular-season games in 2008-2009 – all in HD.

Granted, we’re already a few games into the NHL season, but we’re pleased to bring you the action ahead. As I’ve said before, TV content negotiations are complex and often take many months to complete. We’re talking to programmers about additional sports content, and we’ll let you know when there’s more we can announce.

Meanwhile, FiOS TV will make hockey fans feel like they’re rink side. Let me know how you like it.

http://policyblog.verizon.com/PolicyBlog/Blogs/policyblog/EricRabe9/545/More-Hockey-on-Verizon-FiOS-TV.aspx

Larry L

11-06-08, 12:25 PM

hernanu

11-06-08, 02:09 PM

I signed up for a free 30 day trial period for the Movie Package at the same time I switched from a SD STB to HD STB. After activation, things seem to work fine for the HD STB. We have movie channels as listed. However, my other Verizon Digital Converter Box and SD STB do not have the movie channels.

Is this the way it is supposed to work, or should all STBs have the movies?

Do I need to reset something?

You should have the movie channels (in the SD positions in the guide) available to the SD STB. The Digital Converter Box I don't think will receive the Premium content, which the movie package is, so you won't see it there.

I don't think you should need to reset it, but maybe it won't hurt.

DCFan

11-06-08, 02:23 PM

Verizon adds 53 high-def channels to FiOS in Hampton Roads (http://hamptonroads.com/2008/11/verizon-adds-53-highdef-channels-fios-hampton-roads)

but only to those who have the Extreme HD package. If not for this board I wouldn't have known about that.

billnj

11-06-08, 02:43 PM

Hi everyone,

Long time lurker here but don't post much. I'm looking for some emergency advice and don't have the luxury of time to search through threads and make thoughtful decision, so I apologize in advance if I am asking about things that have already been discussed in depth.

I have had FIOS HD for over a year, picture is great, lots of new channels, but the customer service is *horrible* (and it ain't cheap).

They just hit me with $80 tech service charge to swap out a HD box for a HD DVR box. :mad:

They told me the swap itself was free when I placed the order and initially agreed to remove the charge. But some manager denied the credit. The CS rep sees in the notes where they told me it would be free, but apparently their CS system is so screwed up he cannot give me credit for anything over $50 without it being approved by someone else. Even a supervisor appears powerless to give me the credit even though he admits they screwed up.

So I am ready to cancel. 5 hours on the phone trying to resolve this has me at my limit.

Am I cutting off my nose to spite my face? Can anyone who has had both FIOS and DirectTV tell me if I am being stupid here? My priorities are picture quality, overall cost, and # of channels in that order.

I would really appreciate any advice while I continue to research how much DirectTV would really cost for 2 TVs with HD DVRs.

Thanks in advance for any replies! :)

Hi,

If they did not swap out your box and you did it yourself by picking it up or mailing it, they will credit you the $80. I have gone to the local store to swap two boxes over the last two months. Both times they charged me the $80 and both times they took it off saying it is an automatic billed charge that needs to be fixed.

You should call back and ask for the "retention department", explain the situation and tell them to give you the credit. Tell them about all your calls and ask why you should stay with Verizon and see if they will give you some sort of monthly credit for your troubles. They did for me!!

I know Verizon CS can suck but the "retention department" seems to have their act together. Call back, they will give you the credit unless someone actually installed the box for you.

billnj

11-06-08, 02:51 PM

I signed up for a free 30 day trial period for the Movie Package at the same time I switched from a SD STB to HD STB. After activation, things seem to work fine for the HD STB. We have movie channels as listed. However, my other Verizon Digital Converter Box and SD STB do not have the movie channels.

Is this the way it is supposed to work, or should all STBs have the movies?

Do I need to reset something?

You should see all SD channels (including Movies and Premium) on all boxes (digital adapter, STB, HD, DVR).

Try unpluging the router and all the other boxes, if that does not work, call verizon.

pg60

11-06-08, 03:18 PM

Hi,

I know Verizon CS can suck but the "retention department" seems to have their act together. Call back, they will give you the credit unless someone actually installed the box for you.

There's the rub, they did "install" the box for me. I naively assumed this was like Brighthouse cable where they do that sort of thing for free. I mean the "install" is unplugging the box and connecting a new one. 5 minutes.

When I called to make the request, I was told it was free (this is in their notes), and I was never given any options for how to go about swapping the box. Now of course I know to never let a Verizon tech guy in my door or it will cost me $80.

I will try the "retention department" approach all the same because they do have in their notes that I was told it would be free.

billnj

11-06-08, 03:31 PM

There's the rub, they did "install" the box for me. I naively assumed this was like Brighthouse cable where they do that sort of thing for free. I mean the "install" is unplugging the box and connecting a new one. 5 minutes.

When I called to make the request, I was told it was free (this is in their notes), and I was never given any options for how to go about swapping the box. Now of course I know to never let a Verizon tech guy in my door or it will cost me $80.

I will try the "retention department" approach all the same because they do have in their notes that I was told it would be free.

Ok, well, like someone else said, a credit of some kind would be better than none. As far as, Direct TV vs Verizon, the CS is worse at Direct TV according to friends of mine who I help switch over to Verizon. They also said that they love the picture quality of FIOS over Direct TV (plus Fios Internet and phone, is much much better than the DSL and local phone that they used to have). FYI

pg60

11-06-08, 04:05 PM

bogdanmi

11-06-08, 04:14 PM

If they did not swap out your box and you did it yourself by picking it up or mailing it, they will credit you the $80. I have gone to the local store to swap two boxes over the last two months. Both times they charged me the $80 and both times they took it off saying it is an automatic billed charge that needs to be fixed.

Hold on, let me get this straight. If I swap a SD box for a HD box myself, no tech involved, they still ding you for $80 and you have to complain about it? Higher rental fee notwithstanding, that's insane.

pg60

11-06-08, 04:20 PM

Hold on, let me get this straight. If I swap a SD box for a HD box myself, no tech involved, they still ding you for $80 and you have to complain about it? Higher rental fee notwithstanding, that's insane.

yeah, have to agree that is even more insane then my case. if you want to add to the fun, try getting them to even access your account if you don't have verizon phone.... we use Vonage because it is much cheaper.

kes601

11-06-08, 05:03 PM

billnj

11-06-08, 05:47 PM

Hold on, let me get this straight. If I swap a SD box for a HD box myself, no tech involved, they still ding you for $80 and you have to complain about it? Higher rental fee notwithstanding, that's insane.

No. If you are upgrading boxes and you have them mail you the box there is no charge involved.

If you require them to send a truck with the box to your house you are charged an $80 truck roll fee.

They are not supposed to charge the $80 for self install but a software glitch (which I was promissed would be fixed really soon) charges you anyway, and you need to call to get it removed.

kes601

11-06-08, 05:49 PM

They are not supposed to charge the $80 for self install but a software glitch (which I was promissed would be fixed really soon) charges you anyway, and you need to call to get it removed.

I did a box swap from SD to HD a month ago and was not charged.

billnj

11-06-08, 05:50 PM

thanks Bill!

Asking for the retention department seems to have broken down a wall. While the credit is not formally approveed yet, i was pretty much guaranteed that it would be based on a personal relationship the retention rep has with the manager who denied the credit. plus I am getting the DVR box for free for 3 months. Not out of the woods yet but I am feeling much more optimistic that this will be resolved.

You are welcome!! If Verizon could only get their CS educated about the products and fix their growing pains it would be an all around great service. Cross your fingers that they are learning from their mistakes :)

billnj

11-06-08, 05:53 PM

I did a box swap from SD to HD a month ago and was not charged.

When I swapped a box by mail, I was not charged. But when I went to the store (both times) and swapped one, I got charged, which was removed as soon as I called.

kes601

11-06-08, 06:12 PM

When I swapped a box by mail, I was not charged. But when I went to the store (both times) and swapped one, I got charged, which was removed as soon as I called.

Now I understand :)

Of course we have no store to even make that possible....

hokie93

11-06-08, 06:48 PM

How much more is it a month from the regular HD to the Extreme HD?

stevec325

11-06-08, 07:08 PM

How much more is it a month from the regular HD to the Extreme HD?

Most folks bundle prices go DOWN :)

SeijiSensei

11-06-08, 07:50 PM

Question for the group; after the last last VHO gets upgraded to 100 HD channels on the 17th, what's the next advancement that we can look forward to with FiOS?

I'm still waiting for a better package of free, on-demand HD movies. I visited my brother-in-law the other day who is a Comcast subscriber and was reminded how much I enjoyed the array of free movies Comcast offers. Watched a bit of The Fifth Element in free HD on-demand. For those of us who migrated from Comcast, the difference in on-demand movie offerings is still pretty sizable. More HD versions of current SD channels provoke a big yawn here.

On the subject of upgrades and box exchanges, I traded up from an HD STB to an HD DVR the other day and swapped boxes in a local sales office. Got three free months for the DVR as well even though I was actually dropping services. (Went from Premier to Extreme but dropped the movies package.) Guess I'd better check next month's bill to make sure I'm not getting charged the $80 fee.

we use Vonage because it is much cheaper.

I dscovered that, even though we don't have residential Internet (I have business FiOS), the voice service is still quite competitive. I'm paying about $30 for the Freedom Essentials plan with long-distance and features like caller ID. I was paying about the same amount for my local calling plan over copper with no long-distance and no features. I switched when I discovered it cost me nearly $20 to make a one-minute long-distance call because of paying the various overheads for LD service. (I rarely make LD calls.)

I don't really see the need for more than 5 Mbit upload speeds. There are few places on the Internet where you could upload data at speeds beyond that. I have a number of clients with Internet services, but few with connections much beyond T1 (1.5 Mbit) speeds. Even torrents for Linux distributions don't come close to breaking my 5 Mbit upload speed.

hernanu

11-06-08, 09:20 PM

You should see all SD channels (including Movies and Premium) on all boxes (digital adapter, STB, HD, DVR).

Try unpluging the router and all the other boxes, if that does not work, call verizon.

Really? on the digital adapter? I thought that was basically a QAM tuner and did not have the ability to get the premier channels.

URFloorMatt

11-06-08, 10:30 PM

Today, Richmond and Hampton Roads VA rolled up to 100 HD.

Their PDFs (https://www22.verizon.com/NROneRetail/NR/rdonlyres/D0E1553C-DABA-4BA3-A2B0-8E5CFC93C8E6/0/RICH_1106.pdf) include several new channels with the "Coming Soon" label. They are:

Starz Indie (SD)
Starz Retro (SD)
CBS College Sports (SD)
Chiller (SD)
Blue Highway TV (SD)
Encore HD
Crime and Investigation HD
HSN HD
HD PPV Events
Hot Choice PPV
MLB/NHL HD (i.e. Game HD)
MLS/NBA HD (i.e. Team HD)
NBA/MLS/MLB League Pass

afiggatt

11-06-08, 11:17 PM

include several new channels with the "Coming Soon" label. They are:
Encore HD
Crime and Investigation HD
HSN HD
...
MLB/NHL HD (i.e. Game HD)
MLS/NBA HD (i.e. Team HD)

Good catch. So these should be the next HD channels added, probably after or when the Philadelphia market gets the HD expansion. But where is AMC HD, Cartoon Network HD, Spike HD?

URFloorMatt

11-06-08, 11:24 PM

HSN isn't launching until 2009. And this list doesn't include the six Byron Allen/Entertianment Studios channels announced for 2008, nor NHL Network, which is supposed to launch this month.

I'm not sure what to make of this list, especially since we're getting CBS College Sports but not the HD version. But, as we know from the 100 HD roll out, often they forget channels on these lists. I only copied it (from DSL Reports) because, as far as I know, they never listed channels we didn't ultimately receive (save MOJO, which is shutting down and MSNBC, which hasn't launched yet).

VARTV

11-07-08, 07:45 AM

NHL Network, which is supposed to launch this month.Ummm, this has been on over a year. Do you mean "launch" on FiOS?

cat6man

11-07-08, 09:01 AM

ridgefamus

11-07-08, 12:55 PM

Really? on the digital adapter? I thought that was basically a QAM tuner and did not have the ability to get the premier channels.

billnj is correct.I got a free month of HBO and Cinemax when I moved up to the Extreme package. My little converter box pulls in all the channels in SD including the added sports group and HBO/Cinemax.

hernanu

11-07-08, 01:13 PM

billnj is correct.I got a free month of HBO and Cinemax when I moved up to the Extreme package. My little converter box pulls in all the channels in SD including the added sports group and HBO/Cinemax.

Very cool - you live and learn, I guess.

yangc

11-07-08, 04:53 PM

I was in the premier triple freedom for $99.99 with the 5/2 internet also, and we did not have the sports package. So basically, to get the new HD channels, our bill has to go up $10 base a month to $109.99. If we had been subscribed to the sports package, then it would only be a $5 difference.

FWIW, I had been paying $104.99 for the Triple Freedom bundle with Premier and 5/2 internet. I called CS and they upgraded me to Extreme HD and 20/5 at the same rate. They initially said it would be $109.99, but then agreed to keep it at $104.99. I'm receiving all of the Extreme HD channels and my online bill is now showing "Extreme HD" and the $104.99 rate.

FAZ8218

11-08-08, 12:36 AM

Ummm, this has been on over a year. Do you mean "launch" on FiOS?
"Ummmmm" considering this is a Fios thread, I think that's what he meant.

Bytehoven

11-08-08, 11:11 PM

Anyone have the new Fios Flex plan with 20/5 internet and Extreme HD?

Yes, we just installed that package.

The 20/5 internet speeds are real. Each time I have check I have been getting atleast 19+MB down and 4.5+MB up.

The HD content selection is good. The live HD content quality has been great. However, I tried watching Casino Royal from the On Demand/Showtime HD library and it was artifact city on any action scenes. Basically useless.

I haven't tried the paid HD content yet, I hope it's as good as live or we won't be buying any.

Would I go back to Comcast? No, however FIOS has some room for improvement.

Frank J Manrique

11-09-08, 01:11 AM

Would I go back to Comcast? No, however FIOS has some room for improvement.

...and FIOS is confusing as heck too; their latest sales pitch/HD channels listing is missing the MGM and HDNet Movies HD channels this time around. And I was about to order their full tri-package--argh! :rolleyes:

-THTS

stevec325

11-09-08, 01:19 AM

...and FIOS is confusing as heck too; their latest sales pitch/HD channels listing is missing the MGM and HDNet Movies HD channels this time around. And I was about to order their full tri-package--argh! :rolleyes:

-THTS

They are coming... I wouldn't let that stop me from switching from Comcrap. The happiest day of my TV viewing life, was the day I dropped off my DVR to the local Comcrap office, after FIOS was installed.

Is FIOS perfect? No. Does it have some issues? Yep.

That said, it does have the absolute, unquestionably best picture quality. And, at the end of the day - for me, that's what it is all about.

BTW,once they get complete new HD roll out (including the channels you are looking for), they will have 100+ HD channels. Of course, most of them are junk - but :)

Frank J Manrique

11-09-08, 02:00 AM

They are coming... I wouldn't let that stop me from switching from Comcrap. The happiest day of my TV viewing life, was the day I dropped off my DVR to the local Comcrap office, after FIOS was installed.

BTW,once they get complete new HD roll out (including the channels you are looking for), they will have 100+ HD channels. Of course, most of them are junk - but :)

The confusing part for me is that in their website they list both HD Net and HDNet Movies plus MGM HD channels for their Southern California listing, as have all previous sales pitches...yet the one I got in the mail today (boy, are they persistent! :D ) is totally devoid of those two HD channels! :eek:

No matter; am going to call Verizon and see what's going on.
And I too will have the immense pleasure of telling DN to stuff it...for good. Dish Network has priced (and never mind the lies plus bait-n-switch practices :mad:) itself out of the TV signal providing business as far as I am concerned...

-THTS

DCFan

11-09-08, 12:45 PM

Is FIOS perfect? No. Does it have some issues? Yep.

That said, it does have the absolute, unquestionably best picture quality. And, at the end of the day - for me, that's what it is all about.
Couldn't agree more. The bundle package price, the PQ, and the internet are what's got me hooked with FiOS.

I could care less about Verizon's CSR's because they're no better and no worse than any others out there. Nowadays, anytime you have to make that 1-800 call for anything you instinctively know you're in for a rough ride (partly because you don't know on what part of the planet your call will be answered). That's the way it is but I don't let it become the be all and end all for making my buying decisions for me.

Disclaimer: I don't work for Verizon, I'm just a satisfied customer. :D

Bytehoven

11-09-08, 12:51 PM

Does everyone know about saying "agent" to get to a live customer service?

Give it a try.

I might also mention, the Verizon "retention" team is full effect right now, and they are highly motivated to provide a range on incentives if a FIOS customer is contemplating defection.

Billing discounts of $35/mo for 6 months is one retention incentive, as is the "Complete Movie Pass", all the movie channels for 90 days.

RockStrongo

11-09-08, 03:45 PM

Anyone know when Fox News channel and others are gonna be on in North Texas? I still dont get them!

coyoteaz

11-09-08, 04:16 PM

Been live for a month. Reboot your box, and if they don't come on, call Verizon and have them upgrade you to Extreme HD.

dtv757

11-09-08, 05:50 PM

Nowadays, anytime you have to make that 1-800 call for anything you instinctively know you're in for a rough ride (partly because you don't know on what part of the planet your call will be answered).

Disclaimer: I don't work for Verizon, I'm just a satisfied customer. :D

as far as i know all FiOS related calls are done in some foreign country called the "US of A", never India or any other third party country. I know for HSI tech support is some third party country but not for FiOS.

jwheeler

11-09-08, 10:26 PM

Anyone know when Fox News channel and others are gonna be on in North Texas? I still dont get them!

Had them here in Plano for several weeks now. They did go live one day but a week later said that I was not subscribed. You have to call FIOS and have them upgrade your service.

Marcus Carr

11-10-08, 10:35 AM

MLB Network Secures Agreement With Verizon FiOS TV

Verizon FiOS TV Also to Carry 'MLB Extra Innings Package'

NEW YORK, Nov. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Major League Baseball and Verizon
announced Monday (Nov. 10) that MLB Network and the MLB Extra Innings
Package will be offered on Verizon's FiOS TV service as a result of new
multiyear agreements.

MLB Network will be available to all Verizon FiOS TV customers as part
of the Essentials and Extreme HD packages on Channel 86, when it debuts
Jan. 1, 2009. Verizon also will offer a high-definition (HD) simulcast of
the MLB Network on Channel 586. MLB Network -- which will air live games,
original programming, highlights, classic games and coverage of baseball
events -- is expected to be available to approximately 50 million homes on
TV systems across the country, the largest launch in cable history.

In addition, Verizon and Major League Baseball have entered into a new
multiyear agreement to provide the MLB Extra Innings package on FiOS TV,
offering baseball fans up to 80 out-of-market Major League Baseball games
per week. The two agreements mark the first television arrangements between
Major League Baseball and Verizon.

"We are looking forward to launching MLB Network on Verizon FiOS TV,
which is the fastest-growing television provider in the country," said Tony
Petitti, MLB Network president and CEO. "MLB Network will offer baseball
fans an insider's perspective that has never been seen before. This
partnership further expands on our ability to bring the ultimate coverage
of the national pastime to fans on a 24 x 7 basis."

Terry Denson, vice president - FiOS TV content and programming, added,
"Verizon FiOS TV is the best place to watch sports. Baseball fans will be
able to keep up with their favorite teams and rivalries, with access to 80
games from around the country each week. And FiOS TV's stunning rock-solid
picture will make fans feel like they're sitting right behind home plate."

Chris Tully, Major League Baseball senior vice president, broadcasting,
said, "The MLB Extra Innings package plays a key role in our continuing
effort to provide fans around the country with access to as many MLB game
telecasts as possible. Adding Verizon FiOS TV to our roster of MLB Extra
Innings distributors provides our fans with more choice in accessing the
package."

MLB Network and the MLB Extra Innings Package join Verizon FiOS TV's
extensive channel lineup, which offers customers more than 400 total
channels, including a growing number of HD channels, with 100 HD channels
already available in most markets. FiOS TV also offers more than 11,000
video-on-demand titles each month - 8,500 of which are free of charge.

Verizon, the nation's fastest-growing television service provider,
delivers FiOS TV over the country's most advanced fiber-optic network
straight to customers' homes and businesses. Verizon's FiOS TV service was
selected as the top-ranked residential television service provider in the
Northeast region by J.D. Power for 2008. FiOS TV is currently available to
more than 8.2 million homes in 14 states: California, Delaware, Florida,
Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon,
Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Virginia and Washington.

The MLB Extra Innings agreement is subject to ratification by the Major
League Clubs.

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/11-10-2008/0004921794&EDATE=

hernanu

11-10-08, 10:35 AM

The confusing part for me is that in their website they list both HD Net and HDNet Movies plus MGM HD channels for their Southern California listing, as have all previous sales pitches...yet the one I got in the mail today (boy, are they persistent! :D ) is totally devoid of those two HD channels! :eek:

No matter; am going to call Verizon and see what's going on.
And I too will have the immense pleasure of telling DN to stuff it...for good. Dish Network has priced (and never mind the lies plus bait-n-switch practices :mad:) itself out of the TV signal providing business as far as I am concerned...

-THTS

I've had HDnet Movies and HDnet for a long time now (2 years?), long before the HD expansion (it was one the things that wowed me from the beginning). I would think your area would have that.

It is part of the Extreme HD package. Now maybe I'm mistaking HD Theater for the HD Movies, but I know I've had two HDnet channels for a while.

jamieva

11-10-08, 12:18 PM

Good to see MLB added, now we need NBA.

Larry L

11-10-08, 12:32 PM

You should have the movie channels (in the SD positions in the guide) available to the SD STB. The Digital Converter Box I don't think will receive the Premium content, which the movie package is, so you won't see it there.

I don't think you should need to reset it, but maybe it won't hurt.

I signed up for a free 30 day trial period for the Movie Package at the same time I switched from a SD STB to HD STB. After activation, things seem to work fine for the HD STB. We have movie channels as listed. However, my other Verizon Digital Converter Box and SD STB do not have the movie channels.

Is this the way it is supposed to work, or should all STBs have the movies?

Do I need to reset something?

Just a quick follow-up:
Thurs night I called tech service and he waas able to get SD-STB to see Movie channels by sending a signal. He was not able to get small Digital Adapter box to work. He referred problem to the "Video Department" and said it would be resolved next day.

Friday I got a call from Verizon confirming the problem. Within 10 minutes movies were on all boxes. ;)

hernanu

11-10-08, 12:46 PM

Just a quick follow-up:
Thurs night I called tech service and he waas able to get SD-STB to see Movie channels by sending a signal. He was not able to get small Digital Adapter box to work. He referred problem to the "Video Department" and said it would be resolved next day.

Friday I got a call from Verizon confirming the problem. Within 10 minutes movies were on all boxes. ;)

That's great! I've gotta say the movies channel is the best deal available. All of those movie channels for a low price. Enjoy.

YesJim

11-10-08, 12:49 PM

Last night I ordered "Superman2 HD" via On-Demand. The PQ itself was fine but there was something really screwy going on with the frame rate - at times it seemed ask if playback was skipping frames so motion was herky-jerky.

I had never seen this before, although the last time I viewed on-demand content was pre STB version 1.6.

Anyone else see this before? It was so bad I got the $5 fee credited back.

carljanderson

11-10-08, 06:00 PM

FiOS is finally installed (at least the internet).

So far, the installation process has been smooth. There was (is) one small hiccup. I guess there was inventory this past weekend and they emptied the boxes off of the trucks. My installer has left and is coming back soon with a SD STB for the kid's room, so my boxes aren't active.

however, the internet is up (20/5), and I do not have the Actiontec router, but the Westell Ultraline Series 3. SO far so good.. about 30 minutes into the internet.

DCFan

11-10-08, 07:14 PM

however, the internet is up (20/5), and I do not have the Actiontec router, but the Westell Ultraline Series 3.
802.11N. Nice. :D

hernanu

11-10-08, 08:38 PM

ccotenj

11-10-08, 09:04 PM

Pretty nice specs - does it have Gigabit interfaces?

yes i'd like to know that as well...

DCFan

11-10-08, 10:13 PM

So... is the westell the new standard MoCa router? Pretty nice specs - does it have Gigabit interfaces?

Gigabit optional (http://www.westell.com/images/products/ultraline3_moca_ds.pdf)

ccotenj

11-10-08, 10:14 PM

wonder if vz sprung for the optional gigabit ports?

if they did, my actiontec router is going to "break" sometime soon... ;)

URFloorMatt

11-10-08, 11:13 PM

As I recall, Verizon doesn't lease routers. It sells them to you after so many months of charges.

hernanu

11-11-08, 08:37 AM

wonder if vz sprung for the optional gigabit ports?

if they did, my actiontec router is going to "break" sometime soon... ;)

I know, my internal network is Gigabit now, if this option has been picked up, my router might be picking up a terminal cold.

aaronwt

11-11-08, 09:09 AM

As I recall, Verizon doesn't lease routers. It sells them to you after so many months of charges.

I've had my Actiontec for clsoe to 15 months now. How long until you own it?

stevec325

11-11-08, 09:56 AM

As I recall, Verizon doesn't lease routers. It sells them to you after so many months of charges.

When I received my first bill, a few months ago, they billed me $139 (?) for the router. Then on the next line there was a credit for $139.

So, I am assuming I got mine free,as there is is no recurring charge for equipment on my bill... just the monthly access +++++++ all the "fees".

DCFan

11-11-08, 10:11 AM

As I recall, Verizon doesn't lease routers. It sells them to you after so many months of charges.

When my neighbor was transferred to Colo. and they cancelled their service (well after their 1st year) they were going to get zapped with (I believe it was) a $200 fee if they didn't turn in their actiontek router.

bull3964

11-11-08, 10:13 AM

Pittsburgh finally got IMG1.6 last night.

I have to say, I didn't notice any degradation in SD quality like some were saying. Is it possible the post processing that's done to the image isn't done if you are having it output SD at 480i rather than have the STB upscale it for you? I'm also using component rather than HDMI.

stevec325

11-11-08, 10:30 AM

bull3964

11-11-08, 11:40 AM

I've read that tech's description of the issue before, but I don't see where he mentions that it's an HDMI issue only (unless it's revealed later in the thread).

Really though, if that's all you need to do is bypass HDMI to get around the post processing junk, I would just connect the SVIDEO port along with the HDMI port and watch SD stuff off the Svideo port. Any modern TV is probably better at upscaling and de-interlacing than any software in these STBs.

In my case, I'm just using component because I've run out of HDMI ports with other devices and don't feel like picking up another HDMI switch.

carljanderson

11-11-08, 11:44 AM

802.11N. Nice. :D

Verizon, at least in this round of Westell's, hasn't licensed the 802.11N capabilities. The router only has one antenna, and looking at the spec sheet, it looks like N is achieved with multiple antennas.

So... is the westell the new standard MoCa router? Pretty nice specs - does it have Gigabit interfaces?

I don't know if it is the new standard, but I was expecting an actiontec.

As far as the Gigabit port, I don't know. I am too lazy to check. Since I didn't want to re-do my home network, I just have my Buffalo WHR-G125's WAN port connected to a LAN port on the Westell. The connection is 100Mb/s Full Duplex.

My WHR-G125 is bridged to another WHR-G125 which connects my receiver and BD player to the internet. :)

I don't see in the admin screens the ability to bridge wireless access points.

I don't see in the admin screens the ability to hard code the speed on the LAN ports.

URFloorMatt

11-11-08, 12:08 PM

When I received my first bill, a few months ago, they billed me $139 (?) for the router. Then on the next line there was a credit for $139.

So, I am assuming I got mine free,as there is is no recurring charge for equipment on my bill... just the monthly access +++++++ all the "fees".

Yeah, that's what it was for me. The router was free. No idea what the standard policy is, and it very well may have changed by now.

CHolleman

11-11-08, 12:09 PM

Yes, we just installed that package.

The 20/5 internet speeds are real. Each time I have check I have been getting atleast 19+MB down and 4.5+MB up.

The HD content selection is good. The live HD content quality has been great. However, I tried watching Casino Royal from the On Demand/Showtime HD library and it was artifact city on any action scenes. Basically useless.

I haven't tried the paid HD content yet, I hope it's as good as live or we won't be buying any.

Would I go back to Comcast? No, however FIOS has some room for improvement.

I appreciate the feedback. The CSR upgraded me to Extreme HD since she said going to the Vz Flex would incur a $200 ETF. Re-reading my TOS, there is no wording in the doc that says you can't downgrade packages and incur an ETF, just that you have to purchase another bundle. I want to drop phone service since I don't use it at all. Could you tell me how much your monthly bill is with the Flex plan? Also, is it on one bill or do they bill you with two separate ones?

gdeep

11-13-08, 03:33 PM

Per somebody on dslreports...new hd channels are showing up in certain areas.

so far Encore and HSN are up. Can somebody please verify?

Marcus Carr

11-13-08, 03:46 PM

Verizon plans TV service in Philadelphia

By Bob Fernandez

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Philadelphia residents could see some real pay-TV and high-speed Internet competition.

Verizon Communications Inc. said today that it has negotiated a deal with the city to offer FiOS in Philadelphia, a market dominated by cable giant Comcast Corp., which is headquartered here.

City Councilman Darrell Clarke introduced a bill today to award a 15-year cable franchise to Verizon. He introduced the bill on behalf of Mayor Nutter, who took office in January. The measure faces hearings and Council approval.

Verizon says that it could offer city residents FiOS TV service within a few years of being granted a video franchise.

FiOS TV carries the Comcast SportsNet channel, which has rights to Phillies, Flyers and Sixers games. Satellite provider DirecTV, the nation's No. 2 pay-TV company, does not have Comcast SportsNet in Philadelphia, a bone of contention for city sports fans who say they are forced into Comcast.

Comcast spokesman Jeff Alexander said, "Competition is nothing new for us. Verizon is typically the fourth or fifth entrant in a market. We continue to compete every day on every level of our business."

Comcast would innovate new products and won't be distracted by something the "phone company may or may not do in coming years," he said.

Verizon will offer the FiOS service to about one-third of Philadelphia residents within three years of city government's approval of a video franchise, the company says.

FiOS includes high-speed Internet.

The initial service area will include parts of West, North and South Philadelphia, Germantown and the Greater Northeast, the company said.

Verizon has faced criticism that it has launched FiOS mostly in wealthier towns and neighborhoods. As of February, the service was available in 182 towns in the Philadelphia suburbs.

The franchise agreement sets aside 15 public, educational and government-access access channels for Philadelphia, or its Public Access Corp.; payment of franchise fees equivalent to 5 percent of gross revenues on pay-TV service; financial support for public-service channels; and four service centers.

Verizon said that it approached the city in April and negotiations began in June.

"Philadelphia residents for too long have suffered from a lack of choice for their cable TV news, information and entertainment," Gale Y. Given, president of Verizon Pennsylvania, said in a statement today. "We will change that in a big way, with a significant investment over the next seven years."

The telephone giant has spent billions building a fiber-optic network for its FiOS service and offers it throughout the Philadelphia suburbs.

http://www.philly.com/inquirer/breaking/business_breaking/20081113_Verizon_plans_TV_service_in_Philadelphia.html

dneily

11-13-08, 04:00 PM

Per somebody on dslreports...new hd channels are showing up in certain areas.

so far Encore and HSN are up. Can somebody please verify?

The following channels were just added to my guide (Washington DC area), all with a "Coming Soon" label:

NBA TV
NHL Network
ES TV
Cars.tv
pets.tv
destination.tv
recipe.tv

aaronwt

11-13-08, 04:09 PM

I appreciate the feedback. The CSR upgraded me to Extreme HD since she said going to the Vz Flex would incur a $200 ETF. Re-reading my TOS, there is no wording in the doc that says you can't downgrade packages and incur an ETF, just that you have to purchase another bundle. I want to drop phone service since I don't use it at all. Could you tell me how much your monthly bill is with the Flex plan? Also, is it on one bill or do they bill you with two separate ones?

I just dropped my landline and signed up for the Flex cell and extreme HD bundle. I was told that I would not incur any early termination fees. Time will tell though. And I'm already pissed that once you drop your landline you have to create another account with a different user name so your exisiting services can be moved to it. I specifically asked two reps about this and was told my transisition would be transparent which it hasn't been.

So they created a final bill for the account with my landline, which surprsingly looks correct, but i need to wait until I get a bill with my new account to find out if they try to screw me. Since I don't know if they will try to raise my cable card fees or anything else since it is a different account. At least I have the info from the reps that told me the erroneous info so I can fall back on that if they try to raise my rates.

HDDAVID

11-13-08, 04:19 PM

I also noticed the new coming soon channels listed on the guide. But who are these channels? Never heard of any of them.

rickypicky

11-13-08, 04:19 PM

Per somebody on dslreports...new hd channels are showing up in certain areas.

so far Encore and HSN are up. Can somebody please verify?

Verified (Encore and HSN) in Northern VA. Other channels are showing as "Coming Soon" - Crime & Investigation, Comedy, ...

URFloorMatt

11-13-08, 04:34 PM

From DSL Reports, these are in the guide in VA/MD/DC either live or listed as "Coming Soon":

87 NHL
89 NBA
348 INDIEPL - Active Now, with guide data
349 RETROPL - Active Now, with guide data
558 ES TV
587 NHL NET HD
589 NBA HD
599 CARS.TV
633 Pets.TV
651 HSN HD - Active Now, with guide data
674 MYDESTN TV
676 RECIPE TV
682 C&I HD
695 COMEDY TV
850 ENCORE HD - Active Now, with guide data

NBATV confirmed!

DCFan

11-13-08, 05:22 PM

From DSL Reports, these are in the guide in VA/MD/DC either live or listed as "Coming Soon":

BONUS! That's a roughly 10% increase in HD channels that no one even knew was on the way. :D

URFloorMatt

11-13-08, 05:30 PM

Yes, but as far as I'm concerned the .TV channels are trash. I'd rather have the Viacom or Rainbow Media channels.

NHL, NBA, C&I, and Encore are all welcome though.

EDIT: It looks like more action is still going on (or we're just looking past some of these additions), but Game and Team HD both have coming soon on the guide now as well.

coyoteaz

11-13-08, 06:38 PM

Nothing new here in North Texas yet, even after a reboot. :(

Ron2

11-13-08, 07:19 PM

Ditto for Richmond, Va. Nothing new.

GregAnnapolis

11-13-08, 07:40 PM

I can confirm that the new channels are appearing as described above, in Anne Arundel County, MD. Can't wait for 587 and 1474 to go live (The two NHL channels).

chitchatjf

11-13-08, 07:51 PM

nothing in Boston either :(

barth2k

11-13-08, 08:04 PM

why all the crap channels while more mainstream ones like amc hd and cartoon are still missing?

i know it's all about deals and signings but come on. if you want to be in the tv business, act like you have a clue about tv

SQUIDWARD360

11-13-08, 08:20 PM

After NHL and NBA, SpikeTV is #1 for me. I don't really need more HD channels that don't show anything in HD right now.

URFloorMatt

11-13-08, 08:22 PM

Cartoon Network is oddly absent, given that we have all the other Time Warner properties (HBO, Cinemax, CNN, TBS, TNT). I suspect an agreement with Viacom is imminent, since those channels seem to be making the rounds with other providers. I wouldn't be surprised if Verizon already has an agreement for the Comcast channels, since Golf and Versus are splitting and that probably requires some kind of new agreement.

At what point do we start worrying about capacity again though? Estimates pegged the new QAM additions as capable of 150 HD channels. These new additions put us at 106 national channels, plus slots reserved for 4 RSNs and 14 local HDs. That's 124, and Showtime is launching the rest of its channels in HD in Q1 2009, which I suspect Verizon will add given their track record. That would put us at 134, and only 16 shy of capacity.

By the time you add up MLB Network, Cartoon Network, Viacom (Spike, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, MTV, VH1, CMT), Comcast (Golf, E!, G4, Style), and Rainbow Media (AMC, WE, Fuse, IFC) (assuming that's doable given disputes with Cablevision), that's all she wrote for system capacity if we're working with 150 HD channels.

jwheeler

11-13-08, 09:43 PM

I just dropped my landline and signed up for the Flex cell and extreme HD bundle. I was told that I would not incur any early termination fees. Time will tell though. And I'm already pissed that once you drop your landline you have to create another account with a different user name so your exisiting services can be moved to it. I specifically asked two reps about this and was told my transisition would be transparent which it hasn't been.

So they created a final bill for the account with my landline, which surprsingly looks correct, but i need to wait until I get a bill with my new account to find out if they try to screw me. Since I don't know if they will try to raise my cable card fees or anything else since it is a different account. At least I have the info from the reps that told me the erroneous info so I can fall back on that if they try to raise my rates.

Good luck with that! I switched from the triple play to verizons Voip voicewing two years ago and everything went to hell after that. I can pay my bill online but thats about it. It shows no ballances due or charges. I have had a couple of trouble tickets in with the e-billing center but nothing has ever been fixed. No problems until last weekend when they first shut off my e-mail and then the internet. Of course there is no one home in billing on the weekend. They had no clue as to why i was cut off cause averything was paid.

chief-j

11-13-08, 10:33 PM

Those of us in the Washington DC area (Montgomery County for me), don't forget about 1001 - HD PPV being added. That shows in my guide right now. Also, I saw 695 - COMEDY TV. What is this channel? I know it's not Comedy Central, but don't know what else it could be...

chitchatjf

11-13-08, 11:45 PM

What about SDV?

bull3964

11-13-08, 11:58 PM

What about SDV?

Verizon won't do SDV because they have no implementation of it now. What they WILL probably do is bump some less popular SD channels to IP based steaming like their VOD content (Verizon would really like to go video over IP for everything eventually).

Another thing that someone on DSL reports pointed out is that the 7xxx boxes can do MPEG4 and many providers are actually distributing in MPEG4 now (Verizon transcodes back to high bitrate MPEG2). So, verizon could start replacing 15mbs MPEG2 streams with 9mbs MPEG4 streams untouched from the distribution source. This obviously creates a problem for people on 6xxx boses (which is what I got even though I was just installed 3 weeks ago). So, they would either have to replace those boxes completely, or (shudder) create yet another HD tier and only swap out the people that subscribe to it.

Actually, that gives me an idea. They could bump all the movie channels to MPEG4 (many are distributed that way anyways) and only swap out the boxes of people who subscribe to the movie channels. That should give a chunk of breathing room for awhile without upsetting the apple cart.

gdeep

11-14-08, 12:19 AM

no new channels here in Seattle yet....

POWERFUL

11-14-08, 12:20 AM

Does the 7xxx has workable firewire?

afiggatt

11-14-08, 02:18 AM

Actually, that gives me an idea. They could bump all the movie channels to MPEG4 (many are distributed that way anyways) and only swap out the boxes of people who subscribe to the movie channels. That should give a chunk of breathing room for awhile without upsetting the apple cart.
Not very practical from a business perspective. You want to make it easy for current subscribers to add HBO, Cinemax, or the Movie package with a phone call. You want to entice people with free preview weekends and one month free on initial sign-up to Fios. Can't do that if current subscribers have to swap out boxes to get all the premium HD channels.

One drawback to a switch to MPEG-4 is that TVs with cable cards won't be able to get the MPEG-4 channels. The HD Tivo will be OK because it is MPEG-4 capable. Verizon has been handing out DCT700 STBs left and right this year, and it is not MPEG-4 capable. But it is a SD only box and using MPEG-4 for some HD channels only would be reasonable plan. I expect Verizon will eventually implement MPEG-4 for some of the national and premium HD channels, but it will be several years off. Have to wait until the current 6416s and HD STBs are only in use by a modest percentage of the subscriber base, so they can manage the swapping out to whatever HD-DVR they ave at the time.

afiggatt

11-14-08, 02:56 AM

At what point do we start worrying about capacity again though? Estimates pegged the new QAM additions as capable of 150 HD channels. These new additions put us at 106 national channels, plus slots reserved for 4 RSNs and 14 local HDs. That's 124, and Showtime is launching the rest of its channels in HD in Q1 2009, which I suspect Verizon will add given their track record. That would put us at 134, and only 16 shy of capacity.
Just did a QAM channel scan with the Samsung TV and Verizon added several new QAM channels this week (been out of town). I think the 150 HD channel number is for national and premium movie HD channels. Does not include the HD locals. Back in the spring, when we still were at 56 here or 63 QAM channels elsewhere, IIRC, my estimate was that if Verizon filled out all 134 QAM channels (2-135), they could get to 150+ national HD channels using a base of 2 HD/QAM, depending on how many SD channels they added (I did not take into account stuff like Center Ice or Extra Innings which will take up room). An aspect of any discussion of QAM capacity has to take into account how many QAM channels have to be reserved for digital local stations. Independent and low power stations are increasingly going digital and many of them may choose to utilize all of their 19.4 Mbps bandwidth with multiple SD sub-channels (or even a HD sub) and ask Verizon to take 1/2 of a QAM slot to provide all the sub-channels from the local.

I am somewhat concerned about Verizon managing the choice of HD channels to add as they get close to filling up the QAM bandwidth. Verizon did a lousy job of predicting HD growth and selecting HD channels when they went with a 63 QAM limit and gave us channels such as Wealth HD and Lifetime Movie Network HD rather the HD version of a far more watched cable network.

I am now in a market with the most HD channels on Fios. (AbMagFab may be overwhelmed!) Time to do a detailed analysis and report of which QAM channels are in us and where all the HD channels are, using the diagnostics screen to find them. I already noted where ~50 HD channels were earlier before the big expansion hit here. And list where all the clear QAM sub channels are for the Washington Metro market.

jeepmatt

11-14-08, 06:17 AM

BONUS! That's a roughly 10% increase in HD channels that no one even knew was on the way. :D

Well, some of us knew they were coming. :)

cat6man

11-14-08, 06:54 AM

Does the 7xxx has workable firewire?
+1 on this.........i use firewire for channel changing via pc

DCFan

11-14-08, 11:44 AM

Well, some of us knew they were coming. :)

Doesn't count if it isn't posted here beforehand. ;)

bull3964

11-14-08, 01:12 PM

Have to wait until the current 6416s and HD STBs are only in use by a modest percentage of the subscriber base, so they can manage the swapping out to whatever HD-DVR they ave at the time.

I don't know if that will realistically happen on it's own though without some sort of plan. They are still actively installing 6416s in the field. My fios install was just the 28th of October and I got a 6416, brand new out of its original box. So, it will be really long into the future before they switch to MPEG4 then if they are going to passively wait until 6416s are in a minority.

No matter how they do it, it's not going to be great from a business perspective. If they go the extra tier route with new channels, requiring those with 6416s to swap out boxes and everyone else to upgrade service they are going to catch flack for adding an HD tier plus people will need to do an equipment swap. That's why I thought it would be easier to just bump the Premium (HDs only) to MPEG4. You could swap out the boxes of everyone that's currently subscribed and have HD so there would be a smaller subset and then you would get more and more in the field as you go. Yes, if an HD customer wanted to add the movie packages, they would need the box to get them in HD (but they could have them in SD instantly). Free previews could be handled by only giving the SD versions or they could do IP streaming of the free preview channel. Besides, don't you only typically get the primary station on a free preview? They could leave the primary MPEG2 and move all the extras to MPEG4.

Regardless though, I can see them shoving a bunch of SD stuff over IP first before they go MPEG4.

URFloorMatt

11-14-08, 02:02 PM

Yep, I got a 6416 in the mail on Wednesday. Nobody is thinking about MPEG4 at Verizon.

chitchatjf

11-14-08, 03:00 PM

I Free previews could be handled by only giving the SD versions or they could do IP streaming of the free preview channel. Besides, don't you only typically get the primary station on a free preview? .

during the HBO/Max preview 52 additional channels were available in unencrypted QAM all the channels BOTH SD AND HD!

GeekGirl

11-14-08, 05:01 PM

Reminder to catch HDNet's coverage of this NIGHT launch. Should be spectacular. Coverage starts at 7:30 PM ET.

7:30 PM ET NASA on HDNet
Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-126 Launch

ccotenj

11-14-08, 06:22 PM

thanks gg... set the dvr, as we're off to see bond shortly... :)

digital_dilemma

11-14-08, 10:22 PM

in quality. They look down rezzed to the extreme. Awful!!!! :mad:

jeepmatt

11-15-08, 09:06 AM

The VHO8 rollout is a GO for Monday.

At this time, I am not 100% certain of what all we'll be receiving, but it will contain the "remaining 15 HD's" plus additional ones.

AbMagFab

11-15-08, 09:51 AM

dougotte

11-15-08, 11:20 AM

I just checked, and only "Encore HD" is in my area (DC/MD). Plus a handlful of SD channels not listed above, and some channels in the 1000+ range. What's up with that?

I'm in the DC area, too. I believe only Encore is active so far, but the others are all listed in the guide as "coming soon."

Doug

AbMagFab

11-15-08, 01:01 PM

I'm in the DC area, too. I believe only Encore is active so far, but the others are all listed in the guide as "coming soon."

Doug

"The Guide" = FIOS DVR/STB guide? Okay, that makes sense. I have only Tivo's, so I never see "Coming Soon".

I've got to go back to eating crow, or my hat, or whatever, while watching all the HD channels here...

URFloorMatt

11-15-08, 03:04 PM

The VHO8 rollout is a GO for Monday.

At this time, I am not 100% certain of what all we'll be receiving, but it will contain the "remaining 15 HD's" plus additional ones.

Any idea if now that all the VHOs are upgraded, channel rollouts will be on a national basis? They did it for ESPNU, the Olympics channels, USA, and CNBC, so it can be done. I just don't see why channels need to be on a market-by-market basis. Guide updates, yes, even channel realignments, but not channel additions.

AbMagFab

11-15-08, 03:06 PM

Any idea if now that all the VHOs are upgraded, channel rollouts will be on a national basis? They did it for ESPNU, the Olympics channels, USA, and CNBC, so it can be done. I just don't see why channels need to be on a market-by-market basis. Guide updates, yes, even channel realignments, but not channel additions.

Assuming they upgraded all the CO's to the same level, definitely. And you'd hope that's what they did, but who knows.

maxman

11-15-08, 03:43 PM

Any idea if now that all the VHOs are upgraded...

We're not all upgraded yet. I'm VHO8 and we're supposed to get the upgrade in 2 days.

maxman

11-15-08, 03:44 PM

The VHO8 rollout is a GO for Monday.

At this time, I am not 100% certain of what all we'll be receiving, but it will contain the "remaining 15 HD's" plus additional ones.

THANK YOU jeepmatt!:):):)

POWERFUL

11-15-08, 06:42 PM

+1 on this.........i use firewire for channel changing via pc

Now I'd just like to know if you can record from it on the 7xxx box?

BeachComber

11-15-08, 08:22 PM

So... is the westell the new standard MoCa router? Pretty nice specs - does it have Gigabit interfaces?

Yes, the Westell is the new standard as soon as the current supply of the Actiontec Routers are exhausted.

Also, the 7xxx box will become the single stb Verizon will use in the near future for all installs as soon as their current supply of STBs run out which is one of the reasons for the small 160GB Hard Drive.

As a customer switches from SD to HD, they will only have to make a call and have HD activated. Same for DVR. Thus no truck roll or equipment swap out. Also solves inventory and repair problems (think of Southwest flying only one type of aircraft).

In the future when they switch to passing the MPEG4 HD Channels natively without converting them to MPEG2, these units will also allow this so they are futureproofed in that area as well.

SQUIDWARD360

11-15-08, 08:32 PM

I'm in the DC area, too. I believe only Encore is active so far, but the others are all listed in the guide as "coming soon."

Doug

We also have Home Shopping Network HD. YES!

afiggatt

11-16-08, 12:03 AM

We also have Home Shopping Network HD. YES!
But so far I only seen stretched upconverted SD on HSN HD (651) the few times I've checked. A shopping channel in stretched SD. What a great use of bandwidth. :rolleyes:

SQUIDWARD360

11-16-08, 12:19 AM

But so far I only seen stretched upconverted SD on HSN HD (651) the few times I've checked. A shopping channel in stretched SD. What a great use of bandwidth. :rolleyes:

According to the grid HD content is not expected until 2009.

jeepmatt

11-16-08, 09:22 AM

THANK YOU jeepmatt!:):):)

No problem Max.

We're not getting 100% of what they were aiming to launch tomorrow (it's a pretty damn nice sized addition), but those couple will show up in the short-term after tomorrow.

URFloorMatt

11-16-08, 03:41 PM

Yes, the Westell is the new standard as soon as the current supply of the Actiontec Routers are exhausted.

Also, the 7xxx box will become the single stb Verizon will use in the near future for all installs as soon as their current supply of STBs run out which is one of the reasons for the small 160GB Hard Drive.

As a customer switches from SD to HD, they will only have to make a call and have HD activated. Same for DVR. Thus no truck roll or equipment swap out. Also solves inventory and repair problems (think of Southwest flying only one type of aircraft).

In the future when they switch to passing the MPEG4 HD Channels natively without converting them to MPEG2, these units will also allow this so they are futureproofed in that area as well.

Wow, that actually seems like a pretty smart move. Why has no one bothered to try this one-box-fits-all approach before? Are we just reaching the point where this is economically viable due to falling costs on HD STBs?

Although, based on anecdotal evidence, it seems like Verizon's supply of "legacy" boxes is still pretty ample.

bull3964

11-16-08, 07:39 PM

Personally, I think it's a little early for a "one size fits all" box because of exactly that, the size. With the way I have thing setup right now in my bedroom, I wouldn't even have room for the HD-DVR.

The SD box is large enough as it is, the HD box is even larger, gets quite hot, and sucks down power.

Personally, I think this move should be held off until the hardware matures a bit more. When the HD-DVR shrinks to about the size of a Wii and can do things like shut down the hard drive when DVR service isn't enabled and when the box is off and not actively recording, then I think it's time to use the same box everywhere.

stevec325

11-16-08, 09:07 PM

all that said... I'd just rather they fix the problems with the current hardware/software first.

mat123

11-17-08, 12:20 AM

Whats the HDD size on the 7xxx box?

BeachComber

11-17-08, 04:14 AM

Whats the HDD size on the 7xxx box?

160GB - same as the old one :mad:

BeachComber

11-17-08, 04:19 AM

Wow, that actually seems like a pretty smart move. Why has no one bothered to try this one-box-fits-all approach before? Are we just reaching the point where this is economically viable due to falling costs on HD STBs?

Think of it this way. Why buy large amounts of QIP2500s when HDs are in roughly 33% of the homes and it will grow every year. You are spending capital on a SD box that is soon to be history. As DVRs hit 20% of the homes (and 20% is the level where you pass the early adopter stage in technology) it makes more sense to just put cheap 160GB hard drives in all the boxes so it can be activated with the flip of a switch from a CSR.

Also, they can give the DVR for 3 months etc and then downgrade them without changing equipment.

Finally, think of how easy it is to only have one STB on a truck (not to mention Inventory control).

jeepmatt

11-17-08, 05:04 AM

Well, the day has finally arrived for VHO8. It seems we were given a "hybrid" of Phases today. As of 9am, Channel guide listings have been updated. So far, this is what we have received:

New Channels As of 4:50am

94 CBS College Sports
192 Current TV
193 Chiller
246 Blue Highway TV
247 RFD TV
277 CCTV-9
348 Indieplex
349 Retroplex
553 FX HD
568 WGN HD
572 ESPN News HD
583 Speed HD
617 Fox Biz HD
618 Fox News HD
629 Bio HD
650 QVC HD
651 HSN HD
668 Planet Green HD
670 Travel Channel HD
699 ABC Family HD
740 Hallmark Movie HD
744 MGM HD
780 Disney HD
781 Toon Disney HD
850 Encore HD
1001 HD PPV
1005 Hot Choice PPV

And now here is what is NOT LIVE, however is expected or is on PDF's "somewhere" ..and are marked "Coming Soon" in the IMG:

558 ES.tv
87 / 587 NHL Network
89 / 589 NBA TV HD
599 Cars.tv
633 Pets.tv
674 MyDestn.tv
676 Recipe.tv
682 Crime & Investigation HD
695 Comedy.TV
1474 NHL Center Ice HD
1489 NBA League Pass HD
1490-99 NBA League Pass

I was aware that NHL Network and NBA TV were not going to be ready today, however they are a priority and "should" show up in the near term.

Not sure why C&I HD is not up today on 682 (this is the only "surprise"), and we also did not receive any of the 6 "Byron Allen" HD channels that were in the DC/MD lineup as Coming Soon. Also, it appears that NBA League Pass, and the Game HD channels for it and Center Ice are not live either.

So, in the end - 8 new SD channels, 17 new HD channels (bringing us to 104), and 1 HD PPV channel. Which, I guess brings us to 105.

Enjoy VHO8!

barth2k

11-17-08, 07:17 AM

could someone from CA who has the triple bundle tell me how much they pay for the phone portion (calle simply "Verizon" on page 1)? thanks.

AbMagFab

11-17-08, 07:47 AM

Well, the day has finally arrived for VHO8. It seems we were given a "hybrid" of Phases today. The channels are not yet mapped, but can be tuned by individually typing in the numbers. So far, this is what we have received:

New Channels As of 4:50am

94 CBS College Sports
192 Current TV
193 Chiller
246 Blue Highway TV
247 RFD TV
277 CCTV-9
348 Indieplex
349 Retroplex
553 FX HD
568 WGN HD
572 ESPN News HD
583 Speed HD
617 Fox Biz HD
618 Fox News HD
629 Bio HD
650 QVC HD
651 HSN HD
668 Planet Green HD
670 Travel Channel HD
699 ABC Family HD
740 Hallmark Movie HD
744 MGM HD
780 Disney HD
781 Toon Disney HD
850 Encore HD
1001 HD PPV
1005 Hot Choice PPV

And now here is what is NOT LIVE, however is expected or is on PDF's "somewhere"

558 ES.tv
87 / 587 NHL Network
89 / 589 NBA TV HD
599 Cars.tv
633 Pets.tv
674 MyDestn.tv
676 Recipe.tv
682 Crime & Investigation HD
695 Comedy.TV
1489 NHL Center Ice HD
1490-98 NBA League Pass
1499 NBA League Pass HD

I was aware that NHL Network and NBA TV were not going to be ready today, however they are a priority and "should" show up in the near term.

Not sure why C&I HD is not up today on 682 (this is the only "surprise"), and we also did not receive any of the 6 "Byron Allen" HD channels that were in the DC/MD lineup as Coming Soon. Also, it appears that NBA League Pass, and the Game HD channels for it and Center Ice are not live either.

So, in the end - 8 new SD channels, 17 new HD channels (bringing us to 104), and 1 HD PPV channel. Which, I guess brings us to 105.

Enjoy VHO8!

Has anyone received the channels VH08 didn't receive? I'm not aware of anyone with those new new channels. I think perhaps now they'll turn them on for everyone at the same time?

maxman

11-17-08, 08:04 AM

Well, the day has finally arrived for VHO8...Enjoy VHO8!

Thanks again. I wondered where the new channels were. Once I read your post, ah, they ARE here!

Marcus Carr

11-17-08, 09:04 AM

FiOS to add CBS College Sports HD in 2009:

The deal with FiOS encompasses the rollout of the standard-definition CBS College Sports Network this year, ahead of the 2009 launch of an HD version, according to Bob Rose, executive vice president, distribution, CBS College Sports Network.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6615009.html?desc=topstory

afiggatt

11-17-08, 09:54 AM

Well, the day has finally arrived for VHO8. It seems we were given a "hybrid" of Phases today. As of 9am, Channel guide listings have been updated. So far, this is what we have received:

651 HSN HD
...
850 Encore HD
...

And now here is what is NOT LIVE, however is expected or is on PDF's "somewhere" ..and are marked "Coming Soon" in the IMG:
...
Not sure why C&I HD is not up today on 682 (this is the only "surprise"), and we also did not receive any of the 6 "Byron Allen" HD channels that were in the DC/MD lineup as Coming Soon. Also, it appears that NBA League Pass, and the Game HD channels for it and Center Ice are not live either.

You got the 2 new HD channels that were added to VHO4 last week. Although HSN-HD appears to be entirely stretch-o-vision at this time - which makes it a double waste of bandwidth. We do not have C&I-HD here either, so that and the stupid sounding six *.tv channels (pets.tv? really?) are future adds for all markets. If Verizon adds NHL and NBA HD soon, that should keep the sports fans happy.

The good news is that with the expansion to 100 HD channels in VHO4, that the big HD expansion was finally completed on Novermber 17. Everyone has 100 HD channels, including Fort Wayne and Pittsburgh, correct? If so, Verizon did indeed get 100 HD channels to all markets before the end of 2008, despite some nay sayers on this forum.