Wow, AMC-HD is horrid. I don't know what the issue is but the resolution is really poor and it's like there's a lag to the image. This is the only channel exhibiting this problem. What a waste of a channel if this is simply what you get from AMC-HD.
I fixed my severe pixelation problem with AMC-HD and 716 Fuse-HD this morning. Unscrewed the 3 connections in my cable run that I could access and reconnected them, including the co-axial connection to the DVR which was not completely tight. Presto, the constant pixelation went away and the error rate was zero for 731 at 69 MHz (physical cable channel 4) in the diagnosis menu for over a minute. The last time I did a QAM channel use list, way back in January, the lowest physical channel frequency in use was QAM 98 which starts at 98 MHz (cable channels 95 to 99 are mapped to a block at 90 to 120 MHz just above channel 2 to 6 which are matched to the broadcast VHF 2-6 frequencies). So a poor connection in my case was responsible for the problems with getting the new digital channel added down at the low end of the frequency range.

My suggestion for anyone having problems with reliable reception for only the AMC-HD and Fuse-HD channels is to recheck your cable run and connections. Since they are at 69 MHz on cable channel 4, it will be more prone to interference as well as has been posted here. Even if you don't care about AMC-HD, Verizon will be using the other physical cable channels in the 2-6 and 95-97 range to add more HD channels in the future.

This afternoon, AMC-HD was showing a movie The Rookie. No stretching, 16:9, picture quality was ok based on a quick check, but it might have been a upconverted widescreen SD source. With all the commercial breaks on AMC-HD, I doubt that I will be watching movies on it. Maybe just their series programs.

afiggatt, good to hear you got your 'low frequency' problem sorted out! :)

*sigh* To reiterate what I posted in the past, EPIX is cropping NEWER films. Older films will be OAR because those masters have been circulating for a while. For example, all newer films are cropped on HBO/CINEMAX...but STAR TREK: GENERATIONS and EVENT HORIZON are shown on those channels in OAR because they had those masters before they started cropping films.

So most catalog films will be OAR, but IRON MAN, INDY 4, THE DUCHESS, etc. etc. are being cropped. If that is something you are ok with, then by all means, feel free to pay them for it when the channel launches.

I for one won't be paying them for butchered movies.

My Tivo sees the new Rainbow media channels in the guide and I can tune to them and watch them but there is no data. Thus I can't schedule a recording...

I tried to force a connection several times but so far no program info on these channels. I have had the channels without data for 4 or 5 days now...

Verizon gets its sports packages, including NHL CI, from iNDEMAND, so any crappiness is due to iNDEMAND's cramming too many channels into limited space. DirecTV has their own deal with the league to get the games directly from the RSNs since they already carry all the RSNs for local viewers.

I'll second that. I had NHL CI with Comcast, and the SD feeds were awful on an HD set. Of course, with Comcast, there was no GAME HD or NHL Net HD in my area, so I stopped buying the package since the iNDemand feeds are so bad. Anyway, the live games on NHL Network HD and GAME HD are really good, but probably the only thing I can stand to watch. I was kind of disappointed that NHL Network didn't upgrade to all HD like MLB Network, but I can live with it since it's the only U.S. channel that shows NHL highlights.

Should we expect the NBA games to be the same quality as NHL? I am very interested in the nba package but if it is as bad as what i saw on the nhl ones, i wont bother. might just get the internet version.

Should we expect the NBA games to be the same quality as NHL? I am very interested in the nba package but if it is as bad as what i saw on the nhl ones, i wont bother. might just get the internet version.

In theory it should be a tad bit better, Indemand stuffs the 14 MLB/NHL SD channels on one C-Band transponder which is why they look awful. The NBA transponder only has the 10 channels on it.

Will wait and see what it looks like during the preview week

As long as it shows at least one piece of content in HD, it is not worthless.

That only makes sense if channel capacity is unlimited. Otherwise the operators are making choices among the available options. Using up an HD channel allocation for a service that carries little or no actual HD programming is a waste of space, especially for services already available in HD like AMC.

That only makes sense if channel capacity is unlimited.

And that's only an issue if the remaining stations that we DON'T have are any better. Even if verizon were to add all of the remaining available HD stations that we don't have, we wouldn't be at capacity.

The ratio of terrible to good HD content on every remaining channel is pretty much the same as the ones we just got. All of the low hanging fruit has been picked. Why waste time getting upset over the bad content on stations like IFC or AMC (the later which has edited movies anyways) when it really doesn't hurt anything? Be happy for the people that can now watch Breaking Bad or Mad Men in HD. Be happy that this is one less thing that can be used against FIOS by the competitors, be happy that this drive for more stations is actually driving other providers to beef up their offerings.

We are all better off for it.

Is there nothing Verizon can do to add capacity without going to IPTV and putting 3+ HD channels to 1 QAM channel? I like the way they do it now because I can use CableCard with Media Center, not to mention the great picture quality.

I may be totally off here, but recently Time Warner in my area went to a 1Ghz network and from what I know Verizon uses only 870mhz for TV. Can they increase this capacity?

And that's only an issue if the remaining stations that we DON'T have are any better. Even if verizon were to add all of the remaining available HD stations that we don't have, we wouldn't be at capacity.

The ratio of terrible to good HD content on every remaining channel is pretty much the same as the ones we just got. All of the low hanging fruit has been picked. Why waste time getting upset over the bad content on stations like IFC or AMC (the later which has edited movies anyways) when it really doesn't hurt anything? Be happy for the people that can now watch Breaking Bad or Mad Men in HD. Be happy that this is one less thing that can be used against FIOS by the competitors, be happy that this drive for more stations is actually driving other providers to beef up their offerings.

We are all better off for it.

Agree completely. No matter the amount of HD on any one channel, I am not going to sit on it exclusively, especially given the number of HD channels on FIOS. If I have 133 choices (and I watch SD as well), then I can't possibly fill my time with every possible offering on every channel. If I have the choice of seeing a movie on HDNet or on another channel, I most likely will choose HDNet. If AMC offers an interesting movie I haven't seen, even if it's cropped, I'll watch it, knowing that I might buy the bluray if it I like it enough. I have HBO, Showtime and Cinemax mostly for the series (Curb your enthusiasm, Entourage, Weeds, etc.), the movies are secondary. Some channels FX, for example I only use for Rescue Me, HGTV HD is my wife's favorite channel, and the HD shown on it is pretty good (no longer stretched).

So while some of the HD channels won't get any play from me given lower quality in comparison to some, I figure that it's better to have them and pass judgement by lower viewership than to not have them at all. I don't think we've reached the point where we need to exclude channels, especially if they carry a great show (Mad Men) that makes the rest worth while.

Just my opinion, of course until a channel I want is excluded due to not having enough resources. I don't see where that will happen, if the technology is used right.

Ieko-
VZ will pursue IPTV before even considering 3 HD's to a QAM. It's being looked at now as an option.

They take alot of pride in the fact they still only assign on a 2 to 1 basis.

Is there nothing Verizon can do to add capacity without going to IPTV and putting 3+ HD channels to 1 QAM channel? I like the way they do it now because I can use CableCard with Media Center, not to mention the great picture quality.

I don't think IPTV is a robust enough technology to use on HD channels, and I doubt they would use it on significantly viewed SD channels. They'd use it on stuff with really low click-through, like the international/foreign language channels.

The original Aussie version has been shown in HD on a couple channels in the past, so hopefully IFC will do the same. But I must say that, so far, the PQ of their offerings I've seen look like cr#p!! And why stretch a movie that is 1.78:1??? God only knows what THE PRISONER will look like tomorrow.

It was horrible. I recorded two episodes, but as soon as I started watching, I deleted them because:
1) they were from old, scratchy masters;
2) they were upconverted from SD;
3) they were stretched!

No thanks, IFC-HD!
Doug

There are a few different strategies that Verizon can use to increase their capacity. One, as mentioned, is IPTV on lesser subscribed to channels.

Most of the others center around the hardware they deploy. All but the 6 series boxes and the small digital adapters are capable of MPEG4. I would suspect that Verizon will target 6416 users for the Cisco box rollout to start removing non-mpeg4 capable hardware from the field. Once that is done, the client hurdle to moving to MPEG4 encoding is gone.

Verizon was also talking about standardizing around a single HD-DVR for ALL deployments so upgrades to HD or DVR service can be done over the phone and without shipping or a truck roll. Once that is widespread, Verizon can eliminate the SD counterparts of all the HD stations which frees a few QAM channels too.

These are just steps that are easy to extrapolate from today's technology. What it really comes down to is it's going to be next to impossible to completely saturate the bandwidth that comes into the house with content. It really just becomes a local distribution problem at that point which can be a little challenging, but not insurmountable. For example, they can fire up another wavelength of light and swap out the ONTs for a model that can create a dynamically generated set of QAM channels at the house level either customized by the user (or the stations they are subscribed to) or controlled by the boxes (if they are subscribed to everything.) Imagine if you only had your favorites broadcast over your coax network, you would probably never want for capacity.

Now that I got myself thinking, it's really interesting what Verizon could do with their local network if they wanted to.

Really, every VHO should have the ability to deliver any of the current stations via IP stream. Why? Think of what they could do with that. This is assuming that the network could handle every household watching a single IPTV stream from the VHO, but I've seen no evidence yet to suggest that it couldn't (AT&T manages to pull it off.)

They could develop a client side application that allows you to watch live TV from your computer by tapping into that IP stream. Suddenly, a notebook becomes a mobile wireless TV that you can take anywhere in your house. Combine that with the multi-room DVR functionality, and now that client app can access the recordings on your DVR as well for streaming playback.

Also, providing an IP stream of all the channels gives the boxes a really neat extra feature. You know how you can watch OnDemand content while recording two programs because OnDemand doesn't use a tuner (at least, I think you can, I haven't tried it)? Well, you just extend that concept so that the STB automatically tunes to an IP stream when both tuners are occupied. With no new hardware, they could suddenly allow people to watch a 3rd live program while recording two others.

I would definitlely leave FIOS if they did that. I don't want to be forced to use their lousy DVR. If I can't have TiVo software on my DVR then that provider is useless for me.

I wouldn't count on long term compatibility with Tivo from FIOS in any case. The next step is tru2way and verizon isn't going in that direction. It's possible a tru2way capable tivo will work with just a cablecard, but it's not certain.

It's really a happy chance that Verizon ultimately decided to go with a traditional QAM setup in the first place since they initially intended to go pure IPTV.

Outside of a governmental mandate that tells verizon they need to sick to a traditional QAM setup (and I doubt that will happen) there's no motivation for them to bend over backwards for Tivo compatibility. Only 443,000 cablecards have been issued nationwide out of over 100 million cable subscribers. That means that Tivo has less than a 0.5% market penetration. In fact, it's probably closer to 0.3% once you consider all the S cards and the fact that not everything that uses a cablecard is a tivo.

Basically, it means that 3rd party DVR users aren't really going to matter to the bottom line of any cable company.

Most of the others center around the hardware they deploy. All but the 6 series boxes and the small digital adapters are capable of MPEG4. I would suspect that Verizon will target 6416 users for the Cisco box rollout to start removing non-mpeg4 capable hardware from the field. Once that is done, the client hurdle to moving to MPEG4 encoding is gone.I doubt that's the plan. I would bet the Cisco box will be a premium option for the multiroom subscribers. But I think you're right that we're close to reaching the point where Verizon will no longer deploy 6 series STBs. The 7 series boxes that it reclaims from Cisco upgrades can filter their way, however slowly, down to subscribers that formerly had 6 series boxes whenever there's a need for an STB swap.

I wouldn't count on long term compatibility with Tivo from FIOS in any case. The next step is tru2way and verizon isn't going in that direction. It's possible a tru2way capable tivo will work with just a cablecard, but it's not certain.

It's really a happy chance that Verizon ultimately decided to go with a traditional QAM setup in the first place since they initially intended to go pure IPTV.

Outside of a governmental mandate that tells verizon they need to sick to a traditional QAM setup (and I doubt that will happen) there's no motivation for them to bend over backwards for Tivo compatibility. Only 443,000 cablecards have been issued nationwide out of over 100 million cable subscribers. That means that Tivo has less than a 0.5% market penetration. In fact, it's probably closer to 0.3% once you consider all the S cards and the fact that not everything that uses a cablecard is a tivo.

Basically, it means that 3rd party DVR users aren't really going to matter to the bottom line of any cable company.

If they ever drop TiVo compatibilty they will lose me as a TV customer. I would still keep wireless and internet service, but I would be forced to go back to Comcast or DirecTV(Which has re-embraced TiVo) for TV service.

If they ever drop TiVo compatibilty they will lose me as a TV customer. I would still keep wireless and internet service, but I would be forced to go back to Comcast or DirecTV(Which has re-embraced TiVo) for TV service.

That's well within your right, all I'm saying is Verizon isn't likely to care. Given the number of cablecard deployments in total, it wouldn't surprise me if there were fewer than 10,000 Tivo Series 3/HD/HD XL in use through Verizon's entire base.

Ultimately though, you may HAVE to go back to cable (or DirecTV) to get an updated Tivo down the line. I give Tivo about 2 years life left in their retail operations. The Best Buy announcement, legal strategy, and the general stagnation of their hardware are clear signs they don't care to continue selling Tivos to the end users (and I don't blame them given what their sales must be.) They are going after Motorola, Cisco, and Scientific Atlantica's marketshare. I suspect that by 2012 the only way you are going to get a new Tivo is through your service provider.

Is there nothing Verizon can do to add capacity without going to IPTV and putting 3+ HD channels to 1 QAM channel? I like the way they do it now because I can use CableCard with Media Center, not to mention the great picture quality.

I may be totally off here, but recently Time Warner in my area went to a 1Ghz network and from what I know Verizon uses only 870mhz for TV. Can they increase this capacity?To my knowledge, the 1550 fiber frequency that VZ uses for TV can only hold an 850 MHz pipe. However, this pipe is used only for QAM TV; the Time Warner pipe must carry QAM TV, plus phone and Internet data.

Numbers aren't the whole story when you're talking about something that's so absorbed into the American lexicon as TiVo. They have that same pride for TiVo that Verizon has for not placing three HD channels on a QAM. It's not unreasonable to think that people will regard some theoretical Verizon executive saying, "But Verizon offers their own DVR" in the same vein as a theoretical TV executive saying, "We'll put some comedian on at 10 to maximize profit margins". It's just not the same product. It's just not worth the risk to disavow TiVo users; there's too much bad publicity and word of mouth that could happen, which no advanced boardroom figures could quantify.

That said, Verizon might be able to get away with taking just the international premiums to IPTV, since so few people with HD sets or TiVos subscribe to any of those channels. By my estimation, that would open room for six MPEG-2 HD channels.
_________________________________________

Fortunately for Verizon, they can add room for HD channels in other ways. For one, they could decrease SD resolution to 544x480i, and fit more SD channels into each QAM. But my personal favorite method involves deploying a MPEG-2/MPEG-4 hybrid HD channel rollout. Under this tactic, Verizon passes through (without re-encoding) any MPEG-4 feed sent by a premium movie provider (Starz, Showtime, HBO, etc.). This would allow four HD premium movie channels to fit into one QAM. For every four HD channels that are moved to MPEG-4, room for two MPEG-2 HD channels become available. TiVo users wouldn't mind this switch, since TiVoHD and Series3 boxes can decode MPEG-4.

But why take only the premium movie channels to MPEG-4? Two reasons:

1. Verizon wouldn't be forced to switch out as many MPEG-2-only HD boxes, saving them money. Remember, not all HD subscribers have HBO or Showtime. All HD subscribers have ESPN.

2. Any MPEG-4-incompatible splicing equipment at the Verizon headends wouldn't need to be replaced before the end of their usable life, saving Verizon money. Localized content/commercials are never inserted onto premium movie channels, but they are inserted onto ESPN.

Of course, Verizon could go all MPEG-4 for HD; they just don't need to go that far anytime soon.

Thanks for all the replies.

I actually do subscribe to international programming so moving those to an IPTV tier would be a huge pain for me.

MPEG-4 may be a slightly less bad solution since I think it's possible for WIndows Media Center 7 to decode this.

As far as adding more QAM channels, is it a limitation of the current wavelength used or a standards limitation? Or to ask in another way, could they just throw up another wavelength and then suddenly have more QAM channels without having to modify the ONT and swap out boxes?

I doubt Verizon is interested in adding more QAM, given the enormous outlay that must've been required to build out every VHO to 850 Mhz just last year, especially considering that at some point MPEG4 will double Verizon's existing QAM capacity anyway.

Most SD channels will soon (loosely speaking) fall by the wayside. Verizon will probably shift those without an HD counterpart to IPTV distribution at some point in the future, as they need to claim more bandwidth for HD.

That leaves the full compliment of 135 QAM channels for HD channels (at least in theory), amounting to 270 HD channels in MPEG2 or 540 HD channels in MPEG4. That kind of capacity will fulfill Verizon's needs literally forever (forever being until IPTV distribution of HD channels is commercially viable).

What's our current assessment as far as how much QAM is still available for national HD channels? Counting Epix HD and League Pass HD, Verizon has allocated 59.5 QAM channels for national HD channels.

I actually do subscribe to international programming so moving those to an IPTV tier would be a huge pain for me.

MPEG-4 may be a slightly less bad solution since I think it's possible for WIndows Media Center 7 to decode this.Note that you're a niche case, even more so than TiVo. There are maybe ten VZ subscribers out there with your subscription and setup. Additionally, Windows Media Center isn't as culturally revered as TiVo. Don't expect Verizon to make decisions with you completely in mind.

Most SD channels will soon (loosely speaking) fall by the wayside. Verizon will probably shift those without an HD counterpart to IPTV distribution at some point in the future, as they need to claim more bandwidth for HD.There are too many DCT-700's out there that will complicate that matter. SD is here to stay for a very long time. SD counterparts of HD channels may be the first one to get bitrates and resolutions reduced, but I don't think they'll be moved to IPTV. I think that Verizon would rather take some HD channels to MPEG-4 before taking SD channels to IPTV (with perhaps the exception of international premiums).

That leaves the full compliment of 135 QAM channels for HD channels (at least in theory), amounting to 270 HD channels in MPEG2 or 540 HD channels in MPEG4. That kind of capacity will fulfill Verizon's needs literally forever (forever being until IPTV distribution of HD channels is commercially viable).Even if it's commercially viable, I don't think that Verizon would ever feel the need to go IPTV for linear HD; there will be so much space on that QAM pipe. Why would VZ want to go IPTV if there's enough room for QAM?

Even if it's commercially viable, I don't think that Verizon would ever feel the need to go IPTV for linear HD; there will be so much space on that QAM pipe. Why would VZ want to go IPTV if there's enough room for QAM?

Keep in mind though that they don't have to abandon QAM if they chose to offer the channels over IPTV. From a bandwidth perspective, linear channels over IP are no worse than VOD, they just need to be able to account for higher utilization. There's no reason why they couldn't exist side by side.

Why they would do that? The big reason would be greater flexibility in the equipment used by the end user.

As I mentioned before, providing the linear channels via IPTV opens up some interesting possibilities. Verizon could create client app or even a portal webpage (like netflix) for watching live TV from any computer on your local network with no additional equipment. They could also start deploying N routers and incorporate wireless into upcoming STBs. The use of tuners on these STBs could be optional if they provide 3 interfaces for networking (coax, cat5, or wireless) which would allow installers to deploy STBs nearly anywhere in a house without installing additional wiring.

I'm not saying any of this is ever going to happen, but it honestly seems like a waste to me if Verizon doesn't start REALLY leveraging the uniqueness of their infrastructure to offer services that no other service provider can.

Why they would do that? The big reason would be greater flexibility in the equipment used by the end user.

I'm not saying any of this is ever going to happen, but it honestly seems like a waste to me if Verizon doesn't start REALLY leveraging the uniqueness of their infrastructure to offer services that no other service provider can.

Well, this is Verizon you're talking about. As in: "We're the phone company. We don't care. We don't have to." Why should they care about flexibility for the end user?

Somehow, someone with foresight got them to stumble into FiOS. Which was so extraordinary that something like that might never happen again in the history of the universe. Speaking of universe, the typical phone company solution is U-verse!

You're right. Verizon does have a unique infrastructure. But I'll give 10:1 odds that they absolutely won't be smart enough to leverage it.

P.S. I'm bitter because Verizon sold us out to Frontier Communications.

As I mentioned before, providing the linear channels via IPTV opens up some interesting possibilities. Verizon could create client app or even a portal webpage (like netflix) for watching live TV from any computer on your local network with no additional equipment. Exactly. Interactive TV is going to make a comeback in a big way over the next decade, I would imagine, and Verizon is in the best position to offer the capability fully to its subscribers.

There are too many DCT-700's out there that will complicate that matter. SD is here to stay for a very long time. I'd wager that sometime in the next five years Verizon will have swapped out enough DCT-700s that they could begin a reclamation effort for the rest. Verizon basically only used the DCT-700s for its digital conversion effort in the first place, and discontinued use months ago.

By that point (five years in the future) they could probably swap them with leftover QIP-2500s at almost no cost.

I still have no Guide Data on AMC HD, WE TV HD, IFC HD and Fuse HD on TiVo.
That's a pain.

Anybody notice that NHL Network-HD (587) has had no audio for about an hour? NHL Network SD (87) has audio, but I can't stand the poor PQ.

I still have no Guide Data on AMC HD, WE TV HD, IFC HD and Fuse HD on TiVo.
That's a pain.

The TiVo Gods awoke.
I'm feeling much better now !

Anybody notice that NHL Network-HD (587) has had no audio for about an hour? NHL Network SD (87) has audio, but I can't stand the poor PQ.

I am experiencing small drop outs today so they must be having issues with the audio. I don't know what it is but I have more issues with this channel than any other. :(

I gather by your recent post that you are a big hockey fan. :)

I still have no Guide Data on AMC HD, WE TV HD, IFC HD and Fuse HD on TiVo.
That's a pain.

it's been on my TiVos for a while now. I think the guide data showed up two days after the channels were active.

Anyone in Virginia seeing the 1.7 update yet? I still haven't.

Also, any news on BBC-A in HD? Top Gear goes HD starting in November so I finally have a reason to want BBC-A HD. :-)

I still have no Guide Data on AMC HD, WE TV HD, IFC HD and Fuse HD on TiVo.
That's a pain.

Ha...I'm still awaiting FIOS HD channels from the upgrade about six months ago for TV-Guide on screen! Well I guess you get what you pay for (noth'n in my case.)

it's been on my TiVos for a while now. I think the guide data showed up two days after the channels were active.I got guide data on those channels ~48 hours after they launched, or roughly 36 hours after I submitted the lineup change form (http://www.tivo.com/setupandsupport/contactsupport/lineup_tool.html).

Anyone in Virginia seeing the 1.7 update yet? I still haven't.


Someone on DSLReports had posted that VHO4/9 was to get the update in mid-November, but now those two are the only ones without an unofficial date.

Also, any news on BBC-A in HD? Top Gear goes HD starting in November so I finally have a reason to want BBC-A HD. :-)

BBCA HD is NOT in the 2009 plans. Sorry.

Someone on DSLReports had posted that VHO4/9 was to get the update in mid-November, but now those two are the only ones without an unofficial date.

Can you provide a link? I'd like to see when Mass. is getting it.

Can you provide a link? I'd like to see when Mass. is getting it.

Sure.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23129983-


Schedule (unofficial):
9/29 VHO1,3
10/13 VHO2,11
10/20 VHO5,6
10/22 VHO7,8
10/27 VHO12,13
11/3 VHO10
11/10 VHO14,15
xx/xx VHO4,9

List of VHOs:
VHO01 Carrollton, TX
VHO02 Temple Terrace, FL
VHO03 Pomona, CA
VHO04 Silver Spring, MD
VHO05 Queens, NY
VHO06 Burlington, MA
VHO06a Rhode Island
VHO07 Freehold, NJ
VHO08 Philadelphia, PA
VHO09 Richmond, VA
VHO09a Norfolk, VA
VHO10 Fort Wayne, IN
VHO11 Pittsburgh, PA
vho12 Portland, OR
VHO13 Seattle, WA
VHO14 Harrisburg, PA
VHO15 Buffalo, NY

Also just posted there...

...latest rumor is that VOD issues occurred in CA/TX and delayed future deployments by another week or two...

what does VHO mean?

I'm having a problem with one of my TVs - SD channels keep switching back and forth from color to black and white. The TV (a 4 year old JVC LCOS) is connected via HDMI.

I swapped out the DVR already. HD channels are fine. I'm assuming it's a HDMI compatibility problem. Has anyone else seen anything similar?

what does VHO mean?
local Video Hub Office

Sure.

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23129983-


Also just posted there...

Thanks, appreciate it.

thanks grampy i went back a few pages and found out what VHO means!

Does Fios have on screen caller ID? No big deal but I had it with TW and kind of got used to it.

I should have come here first and read through everything. I wasn’t aware that there is a major hand shake issue with the moto STB and various brand displays. Having to use a component cable is not an option for me on one setup and is a mess on another. The upgrade is due for 10/20 in my neighborhood, so I’ll live with it now but this is a bad way to start a new relationship.

Does Fios have on screen caller ID? No big deal but I had it with TW and kind of got used to it.Not yet, I believe it is promised for a post 1.7 release.

Does Fios have on screen caller ID? No big deal but I had it with TW and kind of got used to it.

I should have come here first and read through everything. I wasn’t aware that there is a major hand shake issue with the moto STB and various brand displays. Having to use a component cable is not an option for me on one setup and is a mess on another. The upgrade is due for 10/20 in my neighborhood, so I’ll live with it now but this is a bad way to start a new relationship.

For what it's worth, I have three Samsung sets, all of which are allegedly subject to the HDMI handshake issue. But it's only happened two or three times in two years since I got FiOS, and both times all I had to do was remove and reinsert the HDMI cable, and it worked fine. Both issues occurred after I had not turned on the set for a couple weeks. Granted, for others, it has rendered the HDMI port useless, so YMMV.

For what it's worth, I have three Samsung sets, all of which are allegedly subject to the HDMI handshake issue. But it's only happened two or three times in two years since I got FiOS, and both times all I had to do was remove and reinsert the HDMI cable, and it worked fine. Both issues occurred after I had not turned on the set for a couple weeks. Granted, for others, it has rendered the HDMI port useless, so YMMV.Thanks,:cool: that’s good to hear but I’m not having such luck. I have a Pio Kuro and two Panny G10s. If I’m lucky, I get a minute of picture and then it goes directly to a green screen.

The problem is, I have the Pio set up as a wall mount with the cables snaked through the wall. Not the end of the world dangling component for a couple of weeks until the Oct. 20th update but it isn’t what my wife expected to see, considering the cost for all of the installations.

However, the real problem is, in another room I have a G10 set up with full audio. This audio and STB are used for another G10 in a different room that is about a 30 foot HDMI run away. Therefore, since I don’t have a set of real long component cables lying around in my milk crates full of spare crap, that display is useless until the upgrade.

I'm just kicking myself for not reading about this problem. The moment Fios became available to me I jumped. I would have waited for the install if I knew.

Not yet, I believe it is promised for a post 1.7 release.

I've seen people on dslreports say it will come with the IMG 2.0

Any scheduling update on the rollout for Epix HD, NBA TV HD, and League Pass HD? It's my understanding that Epix is having some trouble getting up and running on time, but the NBA season kicks off two weeks from tomorrow.

Any scheduling update on the rollout for Epix HD, NBA TV HD, and League Pass HD? It's my understanding that Epix is having some trouble getting up and running on time, but the NBA season kicks off two weeks from tomorrow.

Coincidently... Epix...

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23171680-

Matt-
No word on Epix - but NBA TV HD and LP will launch the week of 10/27 across the footprint - similar to the last one with AMC HD, etc.

Epix launches on October 30th.

Just re-signed with FIOS, knocked $15 off per month, upped the internet speed from 20/5 to 25/15 and the world is good.

I asked if the Epix channel(s?) would be a Premium channel or bundled into the movies package, and the rep said that they hadn't been told yet, but that given that the "smaller" channels tend to get bundled into the movies package, that's where she expected it to go.

Just re-signed with FIOS, knocked $15 off per month, upped the internet speed from 20/5 to 25/15 and the world is good.

I asked if the Epix channel(s?) would be a Premium channel or bundled into the movies package, and the rep said that they hadn't been told yet, but that given that the "smaller" channels tend to get bundled into the movies package, that's where she expected it to go.

Were you at the end of your 2 year agreement? I think mine expires the end of this month and wondering if I should be pro-active to at least keep my rates the same.

Just re-signed with FIOS, knocked $15 off per month, upped the internet speed from 20/5 to 25/15 and the world is good.

I asked if the Epix channel(s?) would be a Premium channel or bundled into the movies package, and the rep said that they hadn't been told yet, but that given that the "smaller" channels tend to get bundled into the movies package, that's where she expected it to go.

Do you have Double play or Triple play?

Were you at the end of your 2 year agreement? I think mine expires the end of this month and wondering if I should be pro-active to at least keep my rates the same.

I was at the end of a one year agreement. I called up and said that I was getting dinged by D* and Comcast to come back, what could they do for me. gdeep - I'm on triple play (TV, Internet, phone) and have a lot of services, 3 HD DVR's and a set top box. They came up with the $5/mo discount, and by going with the "better" tripple play @ 120, it dropped my overall bill by $10. I skipped getting the triple play with showtime ("best") , since I got it on a separate package anyways. All suggested by the rep, so it played out well.

I'm dumping D* for the triple play, since i already have the dbl play. I'm going to be using a TIVO HD DVR. How easy is the process for getting the M-Card delivered and get it up & running to enjoy Fios TV? I have a delivery scheduled/install for this saturday. Once they arrive will they call their in house peeps to register the card or am i on my own with getting it going?

I'm dumping D* for the triple play, since i already have the dbl play. I'm going to be using a TIVO HD DVR. How easy is the process for getting the M-Card delivered and get it up & running to enjoy Fios TV? I have a delivery scheduled/install for this saturday. Once they arrive will they call their in house peeps to register the card or am i on my own with getting it going?

Just make sure they know to bring M cards for the install. If you don't tell them to bring them they might not have them. Give them a call and confirm.

As to how easy it is, it's very easy. Just ask and they will bring them and install them. During the install they will call dispatch and handle the handshaking for you. They will not leave until your Tivo is up and running with the M card.

Just make sure they know to bring M cards for the install. If you don't tell them to bring them they might not have them. Give them a call and confirm.

As to how easy it is, it's very easy. Just ask and they will bring them and install them. During the install they will call dispatch and handle the handshaking for you. They will not leave until your Tivo is up and running with the M card.M-Cards are what they carry - I needed an S-Card (old TV) and they could not provide it.

I recently switched from Comcast and miss the 'List by Channel' guide capability that displays upcoming shows for a single channel.

I've seen a few posts here that indicate that FIOS does not have that feature, but I have found a reasonable workaround.

Simply use the 'Search with Keyword' function with the channel name or number.

Just make sure they know to bring M cards for the install. If you don't tell them to bring them they might not have them. Give them a call and confirm.

As to how easy it is, it's very easy. Just ask and they will bring them and install them. During the install they will call dispatch and handle the handshaking for you. They will not leave until your Tivo is up and running with the M card.

I'm dumping D* for the triple play, since i already have the dbl play. I'm going to be using a TIVO HD DVR. How easy is the process for getting the M-Card delivered and get it up & running to enjoy Fios TV? I have a delivery scheduled/install for this saturday. Once they arrive will they call their in house peeps to register the card or am i on my own with getting it going?

Let me add that, if they don't have the M-Cards for some reason, you'll need TWO S-Cards. Either way works fine, but it's preferable to have the M-Card since you'll only have to pay for the one card. I have a Tivo HD and Tivo HD XL, the first has the 2 S-Cards and the XL has one M-Card. Both work great.

As far as the install, it really IS easy, but don't expect the Fios tech to know what to do, so be sure to review the instructions from Tivo before they show up. Bascially, you need to insert the cable card into Slot 1 and your set should display a screen with various access codes once it reads the card. Once the tech phones those in to activate the cards (only took about 5 minutes for mine), you should be good to go. Make sure you check any premium channels in particular while they're still there to make sure you're getting everything. If you end up doing 2 S-Cards, activate the one in slot 1 first. Once that one is working, repeat the set up using slot 2. Good luck.

I hope SD looks better on the TiVo HD box then the fios moto hd dvr we test drove a few months back......it was god awful! I think this TiVo has the same gpu as the HR20 im about to drop...............and the SD over my LG PDP isn't that bad really.

I hope SD looks better on the TiVo HD box then the FiOS moto HD DVR we test drove a few months back......it was god awful! I think this TiVo has the same gpu as the HR20 I'm about to drop...............and the SD over my LG PDP isn't that bad really.

SD looks like crap no matter what you put it through. Granted, through my video processor it helps, but SD is SD which is crap when you are used to watching HD.
I've been watching HD since 2001, and ever since I started watching HD, SD has always looked like crap from everything, whether it's an HD set or an old analog tube TV. No detail in an SD picture.

I hope SD looks better on the TiVo HD box then the fios moto hd dvr we test drove a few months back......it was god awful! I think this TiVo has the same gpu as the HR20 im about to drop...............and the SD over my LG PDP isn't that bad really.

SD with the moto boxes looks very good on my set-up. It is better than Comcast from which I had previously.

One of the older IMG versions had the "enhancement" settings cranked up, resulting in worse than usual SD quality. I think it was fixed with 1.6?

One of the older IMG versions had the "enhancement" settings cranked up, resulting in worse than usual SD quality. I think it was fixed with 1.6?Actually, it was 1.6.0 that screwed up the PQ for SD. That was around October of 2008. Finally, six months later, 1.6.2 fixed the problem. BTW, the SD PQ on all QIP7XXX STBs was never affected. Only the QIP6XXX boxes had the SD PQ problem.

Thanks for the details. With 125 HD channels, my concern for SD picture quality is somewhere between "little" and "none" :D.

Epix launches on October 30th.

As long as they are cropping new widescreen movies, I can do without this channel.

Just saw a commercial for Epix SD, Epix HD & EpixHD.com. The Channel will be having a free preview beginning on October 30th. Channel 395 SD and Channel 895 HD. Note, during the commercial, the price is never mentioned by the "voice", just in tiny writing in the fine print below the picture.

FINE PRINT READS:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Premiering October 31st on EPIX (On screen is video of Indian Jones.)

Watch this movie available on EPIX in 2009-2011 (Different movies shown)

Free Preview 10/30/2009 to 11/1/2009 Only

EPIX requires $9.99 monthly subscription. Other restrictions may apply.<--(emphasis added by me):mad:

Watch this movie available on EPIX in 2009 & 2010 (On screen is video of Iron Man & video of Madonna)

I currently subscribe to the HBO, Cinemax, and Movies package for $35/month. I might, possibly, maybe consider adding Epix for another dollar on top of that, at least for the first month since it seems like they have a fairly good movie slate lined up initially. But I certainly wouldn't pay anything more.

Although, after the NFL RedZone fiasco, I wouldn't be surprised if Verizon set some outrageously high price. Are we even getting a West Coast feed out of this at 896? Doesn't seem like it based on anything we've seen so far.

Just saw a commercial for Epix SD, Epix HD & EpixHD.com. The Channel will be having a free preview beginning on October 30th. Channel 395 SD and Channel 895 HD. Note, during the commercial, the price is never mentioned by the "voice", just in tiny writing in the fine print below the picture.

FINE PRINT READS:
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Premiering October 31st on EPIX (On screen is video of Indian Jones.)

Watch this movie available on EPIX in 2009-2011 (Different movies shown)

Free Preview 10/30/2009 to 11/1/2009 Only

EPIX requires $9.99 monthly subscription. Other restrictions may apply.<--(emphasis added by me):mad:

Watch this movie available on EPIX in 2009 & 2010 (On screen is video of Iron Man & video of Madonna)

Are there even multiple HD channels. What is so special about EPIX? Otherwise $10 would be extremely high for only one HD channel.

Are there even multiple HD channels. What is so special about EPIX? Otherwise $10 would be extremely high for only one HD channel.

The VOD HD free preview has some pretty good choices, but with all of the subscriptions I have, paying another $10 for just another channel, especially given the coming of HBO HD VOD, I don't really feel the attraction. I'd pay the 10 for a service that had current releases (even time offset by a couple of weeks) than for another movie channel that doesn't really differentiate itself from HBO, Cinemax, Showtime, etc.

Are there even multiple HD channels. What is so special about EPIX? Otherwise $10 would be extremely high for only one HD channel.

An extra ten bucks to see croppped versions of INDY 4 or IRON MAN?? No thanks.

Although, after the NFL RedZone fiasco....

Why was it a fiasco?
They just had a free trial Sunday afternoon a week or two ago.
You could decide to sign up for it or not.
I didn't, so maybe I'm missing something?

Where do I go to complain about HD channels that show SD content?
I have the FiOS HD Extreme package, but this isn't really a FiOS complaint.
Specifically, ESPN2 HD was showing a live SD 4x3 feed of the Penn State-Michigan volleyball game yesterday; faces in the stands were mere blobs.
They filled out the width of the screen with their "ESPN2HD" logo.
There oughta be a law against this sort of thing...

Where do I go to complain about HD channels that show SD content?
I have the FiOS HD Extreme package, but this isn't really a FiOS complaint.
Specifically, ESPN2 HD was showing a live SD 4x3 feed of the Penn State-Michigan volleyball game yesterday; faces in the stands were mere blobs.
They filled out the width of the screen with their "ESPN2HD" logo.
There oughta be a law against this sort of thing...

Try ESPN!

PS: If it was that bothersome, I would of changed the channel. Myself, if it is not HD, I skip right by it.

I've been following this thread for a while, but don't think I've posted before - thanks for all the info. I've had FIOS for 6 months now - love it. My wife's sister just had it installed, and repeated something she was told my the installing tech that I was wondering if anybody could verify - he needed to make sure her TV worked before starting the install, because if he couldn't confirm AFTER, he would have to buy her a new TV. Has anybody heard of this before?

Why was it a fiasco?
They just had a free trial Sunday afternoon a week or two ago.
You could decide to sign up for it or not.
I didn't, so maybe I'm missing something?

I was referring mostly to the cost that Verizon opted to charge. While every other provider that picked it up added it to an existing tier, Verizon decided to offer it a la carte at an outrageous price ($49.99/season). Fiasco may not have been the best word to describe it, but you get the idea.

Matt - remember, it was added to other companies' "extra-cost" sports tiers. FIOS does not have a sports tier (other than the weird situation in NY).

This argument really can't continue much longer....

I’m using the Fios Multi room DVR with component cables and have a problem. The box seems to switch from 1080 to 480i on its own-- frequently.

I’ll be watching something and all of a sudden it looks soft. I go into settings and see that it’s back on 480. I’ll reset it to 1080 and later on it will reoccur.

Not sure if it’s an issue with component cables, however, they are pushing through an update here this week that will enable the HDMI cable to finally function properly. I’ll probably have them swap out the box this week too.

Any ideas?

Where do I go to complain about HD channels that show SD content?
I have the FiOS HD Extreme package, but this isn't really a FiOS complaint.
Specifically, ESPN2 HD was showing a live SD 4x3 feed of the Penn State-Michigan volleyball game yesterday; faces in the stands were mere blobs.
They filled out the width of the screen with their "ESPN2HD" logo.
There oughta be a law against this sort of thing...

Truly absurd. You really have not been in touch with how HD works. What makes you think that every HD channel is entirely in HD. Very few are in actuality. HBO, etc have always been a mixture of HD and SD programming on their HD channels. It's been improving, but may never be 100%. And to think there should be a law about this thing, well...... BTW, what are your thoughts about a law regarding showing 2.35 movies as 1.85? Would executions be justified in these situations?

Perhaps a new feature for the STB would be a Setting that only allows you to see pure HD source material on an HD channel !

Just sayin'

Perhaps a new feature for the STB would be a Setting that only allows you to see pure HD source material on an HD channel !

Just sayin'

No way to do that. Upconverted SD would still be broadcast in an HD resolution. ANd besides, the majority of people don't care.

If The Wizard is complaining now, he should have been around watching the HD channels in 2001. Although even in 2001, 45% of the content I watched was HD. With all the channels now and HD content available, it's easily over 90% now.

Truly absurd. You really have not been in touch with how HD works. What makes you think that every HD channel is entirely in HD. Very few are in actuality. HBO, etc have always been a mixture of HD and SD programming on their HD channels. It's been improving, but may never be 100%. And to think there should be a law about this thing, well...... BTW, what are your thoughts about a law regarding showing 2.35 movies as 1.85? Would executions be justified in these situations?

This site http://www.whereishd.com/ shows the percentage of HD programming the networks have. There are a couple of them (TBS, TNT) that say they have 100%, but there is a footnote saying those numbers are disputed.

I don't know what time period is used for this percentage, but it seems to change.

The future of television has arrived for more than 25,000 additional homes and businesses in Baltimore County as Verizon introduces FiOS TV via the company's revolutionary all-fiber-optic network.

...The new areas to get Verizon's revolutionary FiOS triple play of TV, Internet and voice services are Arbutus, Catonsville, Dundalk, Edgewood, Hunt Valley, North Point and Woodlawn.

...In Maryland, Verizon's FiOS TV and FiOS Internet services are available to dozens of communities in Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Charles, Harford, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George's counties, including Aberdeen, Annapolis, Bel Air, LaPlata and Rockville.

http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2009/move-over-cable-tv.html

BTW, what are your thoughts about a law regarding showing 2.35 movies as 1.85? Would executions be justified in these situations?

Yes! But barring that, I'll just avoid signing up for the EPIX channel

Is it me or is the guide actually getting worse the last 2-3 weeks?

I still have not gotten the latest update. But, the Guide was working faster for a few weeks and now it gets stuck for a second or two when scrolling through it - worse than ever.

Seems to be slow until it caches the logos for all the channels. After that, scrolling is fine. I miss the old days of not having any logos.

Truly absurd. You really have not been in touch with how HD works. What makes you think that every HD channel is entirely in HD. Very few are in actuality. HBO, etc have always been a mixture of HD and SD programming on their HD channels. It's been improving, but may never be 100%. And to think there should be a law about this thing, well...... BTW, what are your thoughts about a law regarding showing 2.35 movies as 1.85? Would executions be justified in these situations?

I'm not playing dumb here.
I get both regular ESPN2 (74) and ESPN2-HD (574).
They showed that game on both channels Sunday, SD on both.
If they can't afford proper equipment for a live b/c in HD, then they should just go dark on ESPN2-HD for that program, or run a message: Please visit SD ESPN2 for this programming.

As for any broadcaster screwing with the aspect ratio or chopping the sides off a 2.35 movie, execution of the responsible individual is indeed warranted, correct...

If they can't afford proper equipment for a live b/c in HD, then they should just go dark on ESPN2-HD for that program, or run a message: Please visit SD ESPN2 for this programming.

No way, people set their dvr's to record stuff and would not be very happy if instead of what they recorded they get 3 hours of a dark screen or 3 hours of some message. Now if the programming guide and the DVR were smart enough to record the SD version thus saving space then it would be useful.

Can't agree about the warning label...just show the same thing on both channels and be done with it. We aren't at the point yet where HD will always be broadcast.

If they can't afford proper equipment for a live b/c in HD, then they should just go dark on ESPN2-HD for that program, or run a message: Please visit SD ESPN2 for this programming.



One of the strangest and unrealistic, and unnecessary, suggestions I've heard.

I'm not playing dumb here.
I get both regular ESPN2 (74) and ESPN2-HD (574).
They showed that game on both channels Sunday, SD on both.
If they can't afford proper equipment for a live b/c in HD, then they should just go dark on ESPN2-HD for that program, or run a message: Please visit SD ESPN2 for this programming.


why? what difference would it make? what possible advantage could there be to doing this?

the only thing it would do is aggravate those of us who don't have the "sd" version of the channels stored as favorites... not to mention aggravate people who are doing straight resolution passthrough with hdmi re-syncs as the res changes...

sometimes, i think people go looking for "problems"... :rolleyes:

Odd....Verizon out of the blue mailed me a new power cord for my router. Totally unsolicited.

Odd....Verizon out of the blue mailed me a new power cord for my router. Totally unsolicited.

Same here. I got one last week. They were having problems with the old power supply so they have been sending out replacements. Just throw the old one away.

Odd....Verizon out of the blue mailed me a new power cord for my router. Totally unsolicited.
Mine failed and they had to send out a new one. They then sent me another new one when they mass mailed. I guess they didn't keep track. I guess they were having a high failure rate.

One of the strangest and unrealistic, and unnecessary, suggestions I've heard.

Actually, what I'd really like is for Verizon (since this topic is about them) to remove all SD channels from their lineup, as long as the same programming is on the HD version of that channel.
So if ESPN-HD is on 570, then we don't need ESPN-SD on 70. Get rid of it and free up some bandwidth.
Get rid of SD set-top boxes as well, we don't want 'em, don't need 'em.

All this WILL happen eventually, of course, just not for a few years...

...All this WILL happen eventually, of course, just not for a few years...
Wizard, you are a joker! Did you hear that this was the first year for digital, and that the government had to give away the adapter box fees? Is every set in your home high def...or do you only have the one???

Wizard, you are a joker! Did you hear that this was the first year for digital, and that the government had to give away the adapter box fees? Is every set in your home high def...or do you only have the one???

This was not the first year for digital (ATSC).
It was the LAST year for analog (NTSC).
If I was in charge, the whiners would've been ignored and the plug pulled on analog broadcasting a good year before it actually was.

At home, I've got three TVs:
a 58" Samsung plasma connected to FiOS
a 50" Samsung plasma just for OTA and DVDs
a 31" Sanyo tube TV sitting in the corner waiting to be thrown out.

Actually, the only question is: can my high-def FiOS set-top box down-convert HD channels to feed a picture to my old Sanyo via coax.
I'll try it in a while.
If so, then this is how poor people who can't afford a new HD TV would get their programming...

Is it me or is the guide actually getting worse the last 2-3 weeks?

Hard to believe, isn't it?

Actually, the only question is: can my high-def FiOS set-top box down-convert HD channels to feed a picture to my old Sanyo via coax.


The box doesn't have coax out. That doesn't mean it's not possible though.

I have the composite output of my HD-DVR feeding into an RF modulator that then goes into a 2nd coax jack behind my TV. This goes to my basement where it is split and distributed to rooms in my house where I don't have a box. I can connect anything with an NTSC tuner and tune to channel 3 to watch what my HD-DVR is outputting.

The only annoying thing is 4:3 content on HD stations is window boxed on the SDTVs.

What I find annoying is no manufacturer has ever decided to pass the currently tuned channel out a coax jack on an HD box as a single unencrypted QAM channel, sort of the equivalent of the channel 3/4 setup of VCRs of old. If they did that, I could skip the RF modulator, buy an HDTV for my office room, and get HD output from the living room without getting another box.

Hard to believe, isn't it?

And they claim they are working on it, but since they started "working" on it, I've seen more and more wrong listings.

Is it me or is the guide actually getting worse the last 2-3 weeks?Seems about the same to me.

The information always seems worse when it affects something you actually want to watch / record. But the guide data is bad on many channels, year round.

The box doesn't have coax out. That doesn't mean it's not possible though.



I have the Motorola HD set-top box without DVR from Verizon and it does indeed have coax out.
In fact, I remember it now: I upgraded back in early July, ordered the second Samsung TV online and ordered the FiOS upgrade from SD box to HD box on the same day.
I got the HD set-top box a few days before the new TV arrived so we connected the coax from the old Sanyo CRT to it and it worked. So it does down-convert HD content to low-def on the coax.
(Obviously I use an HDMI cable to connect to the Samsung...)

I have the Motorola HD set-top box without DVR from Verizon and it does indeed have coax out.

You must have a 7xxx box then because my 6xxx box does not have a coax out.

I actually find it strange that they would put coax out back on the 7xxx boxes, maybe they are doing that in preparation for phasing out SD boxes.

Haven't checked the DVR box, but my 6200-2 non-DVR high def box does have a coax out.

This link shows RF out (coax) on all four current-model receivers:
http://www22.verizon.com/residential/fiostv/EquipmentDetails/EquipmentDetails.htm?Media=2

I don't expect to see any immediate price cuts once FiOS drops the SD receiver and eliminates the redundant SD channels from their lineup.
But I still think they should do it...

Haven't checked the DVR box, but my 6200-2 non-DVR high def box does have a coax out.

The DVR box does not have it.

The QIP6416-2 stb has a coax out connection;

Motorola schematic (http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Products/TV%20Video%20Distribution/Set-tops/Hybrid%20QAM-IP%20Set-tops/QIP%206416/_Documents/Static%20Files/QIP6416_User_Guide_-_521696-001-b_New.pdf?localeId=33)

The QIP6416-2 stb has a coax out connection;

Motorola schematic (http://www.motorola.com/staticfiles/Business/Products/TV%20Video%20Distribution/Set-tops/Hybrid%20QAM-IP%20Set-tops/QIP%206416/_Documents/Static%20Files/QIP6416_User_Guide_-_521696-001-b_New.pdf?localeId=33)

All your schematics and links on Verizon's site are great and all, but I have a QIP6416-2 HD-DVR and as you can plainly see by the picture i posted of the actual back of the STB (that I took last night of my very own DVR), it does not have an RF Coax output.

It's not like I'm imagining that it's not there.

Regarding my issues…

As a reminder, I’m running two set ups, a Pioneer 151FD with a Yamaha RZ-7 receiver and a Panasonic G10 with a Marantz receiver (this is also sending 5 channel audio and video to another G10 in a different location with a 30’ HDMI cable).

While using the HDMI cable, the screen goes to green after a few seconds. I have to use component cable to get the video to function.

Another problem I’m experiencing with the Pio set up is that the moto set top box switches back to 480 whenever it is powered down. I have to manually reset it for 1080.

Today I had a Verizon tech here playing with everything for about 4 hours. It turns out, when we bypass the receiver and go HDMI from the STB directly to the display, there is no problem. The green screen is gone and the box stays locked on 1080.

Apparently the receiver is the “problem” in the chain.

I don’t know what to do now. I spoke to a higher up tech on the phone and he is going to determine if the new software upgrade that is going to happen very soon, has anything to do with receivers.

Are there other folks out there that have had this “HDMI green screen” issue? Are these folks also running things through a receiver too?

Feedback is welcome.

I have the green screen with the HDMI going straight from the box to the TV. I haven't tried hooking it back up for a few months now.

Bad news for some in Central PA: http://www.pennlive.com/news/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/news/125626110543260.xml&coll=1

Carlisle and Harrisburg "... we are taking a pause in those franchise negotiations and re-evaluating where we go next." company spokesman Lee J. Gierczynski said.

I have the green screen with the HDMI going straight from the box to the TV. I haven't tried hooking it back up for a few months now.Thanks for the reply.:) A Verizon tech told me yesterday that they’re up to version 1.7C. Hopefully, the testing this week in Texas will be a success. If so, they will roll it out the following week in NY. I didn’t ask about other areas but I would guess that if it is bug free then it would be a wide rollout.

NBA TV HD (Ch. 589), League Pass HD (Ch. 1489), and Epix HD (Ch. 895) are all live in VHO4.

On Epix I get the "Not Subscribed" screen. We'll see how that free preview pans out this Friday through Sunday.

To tag onto Matt's post...

NBA TV HD (589) along with the League Pass HD (1489) and remaining LP channels are live this morning out of VHO8.

Also, Epix SD/HD (395/895) are now in the guide - however i'm also receiving a "Not Subscribed" message.

I'm not sure if this is an indication that VZ will be charging us separately (as rumored) for Epix, or if it's simply a matter of the billing codes not being fully updated yet.

FiOS TV Takes Breather In Q3

Telco Ends Q3 With 2.7 Million Video Subs

By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 10/26/2009 9:18:48 AM

After packing on 599,000 subscribers in the first half of 2009, Verizon's FiOS TV slowed its growth rate in the third quarter, adding 191,000 video subscribers in the period to stand at 2.7 million overall.

The telco's net video additions of 191,000 for the quarter "were a clear disappointment versus consensus expectations of 253K, and were down -18.0% from last year and down -36.3% from the 300K additions in Q2, despite still aggressive promotions and advertising," Sanford Bernstein senior analyst Craig Moffett wrote in a research note.

Still, FiOS TV is on pace to surpass Cablevision Systems -- the fifth-biggest U.S. cable operator with 3.1 million video subscribers -- within the next two quarters.

FiOS TV penetration increased to 24.9% by the end of September, with the product available for sale to 10.9 million households, versus 19.7% penetration in the year-ago period. On the broadband side, Verizon added 198,000 net new FiOS Internet customers to end the quarter with 3.3 million (a 49.2% year-over-year increase).

The growth in FiOS hasn't been enough to offset the decline in Verizon's traditional landline business. Third-quarter operating revenue in the wireline segment was $11.6 billion, down 4.8%, as the telco shed 695,000 net residential access lines in the quarter to end the period with 18.96 million.

Earlier this month, Verizon consolidated its two former Wireline business groups, Verizon Telecom and Verizon Business, into a single organization.

Overall, Verizon reported $27.3 billion in revenue -- 58% of which is from the wireless division -- up 0.6% vs. the same period last year excluding Alltel, which Verizon acquired in January 2009. Net income attributable to Verizon fell to $1.69 billion, a 9.3% decline compared with the same period last year.

Wireless continued to be a major growth area: Verizon Wireless, a joint venture with Vodafone, had 1.2 million net additions in the quarter to stand at 89.0 million, an increase of 25.7% year over year (6.3% on a pro-forma basis). The company is the biggest U.S. wireless carrier.

"Even through the worst of the recession, we have continued to raise our dividend and to add new customers, expand markets and grow revenues based on the power and innovation of Verizon's wireless, broadband and global networks," Verizon chairman and CEO Ivan Seidenberg said in announcing the third-quarter earnings.

Despite the ongoing landline declines, which have led Verizon to target 8,000 jobs for elimination by the end of 2009, the company pointed to bright spots in its wireline segment.

Broadband connections totaled 9.2 million at the end of the third quarter, a net increase of 63,000 from the second quarter as FiOS Internet adds offset a decrease in DSL connections. In addition, revenue growth from broadband and video services boosted consumer average revenue per unit (ARPU) to $75.04 in the quarter 2009, a 12.6% year-over-year increase.

However, Moffett noted, Verizon's loss of 135,000 DSL subscribers in the third quarter was its worst on record -- again, despite targeted promotions including offering DirecTV's Sunday Ticket "free" this season for new subs who take certain DSL-based triple-play bundles. The 63,000 net broadband additions were 51% lower than the third quarter of 208 and down 89% sequentially.

Verizon said FiOS ARPU is now more than $137, driven primarily by triple-play bundles. Of the approximately 32 million total households in areas covered by Verizon's wireline network, FiOS triple-play bundles were available to 10.9 million, compared with 8.2 million at the end of the third quarter 2008. As of the end of the quarter, the FiOS network passed 14.5 million premises and the telco said it's on track to reach the end-of-year target of 15 million.

Meanwhile, Verizon Wireless said its LTE network deployment plans progressed in the quarter with the completion of test data calls over its 700-MHz spectrum in Boston and Seattle. The company plans to offer commercial LTE-based service in the U.S. in 2010 in as many as 30 markets. In addition, Verizon Wireless in the third quarter announced a partnership with Google to counter AT&T's iPhone with the expects to launch two Android-based devices before the end of the year.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/366278-FiOS_TV_Takes_Breather_In_Q3.php

Hi all, on our 6413 we get a loud screech everytime VZ switches between local and national commercials, it sounds like the first beep of the emergency broadcast system alert. Anyone else hearing this?

I haven't noticed it. Are you in Richmond or Northern Virginia?

I hear it all the time, particularly on ESPN HD. Very annoying.

So i'm watching the NBA games, but NCIS is one so my DVR is supposed to be recording it. Just noticed no red light. I go into the menu, it shows the next scheduled NCIS is to be taped 7/7.

It's not going to record NCIS: LA either.

What the hell Verizon? Your guide has screwed me again!!!! Fix it already!

Both NCIS shows are in repeats this week and next week. Did you set it to record First Run only?

Yeah. Why are they showing repeats in October?

I haven't noticed it. Are you in Richmond or Northern Virginia?

northern VA.

Yeah. Why are they showing repeats in October?

Many shows tend to air their first 4 or 5 new episodes for the season with a repeat around the end of October. In most cases, the World Series plays a key role and some shows would rather air a repeat than compete with the WS with a fresh new episode.

Many shows tend to air their first 4 or 5 new episodes for the season with a repeat around the end of October. In most cases, the World Series plays a key role and some shows would rather air a repeat than compete with the WS with a fresh new episode.

SO instead of me watching any programming I don't turn on the TV. Most people I know have no desire to watch any baseball. They need some counter programming that doesn't include repeats. Although I guess the November sweeps start soon so everything should be new.

And i believe that the World Series schedule days are set in stone when the playoffs begin. So they put on repeats on a night they knew the World Series would not be on. Brilliant

And i believe that the World Series schedule days are set in stone when the playoffs begin. So they put on repeats on a night they knew the World Series would not be on. Brilliant

They want to save the new episodes for November sweeps. november sweeps start on October 29th this year.

SO instead of me watching any programming I don't turn on the TV. Most people I know have no desire to watch any baseball. They need some counter programming that doesn't include repeats. Although I guess the November sweeps start soon so everything should be new.

Ummm.... So what do you do when the new season is over and there are no new episodes of your favorite series? Do you not watch TV during that entire time? You indicate over 300 HD DVDs. How about those 100's of channels on Fios. You mean that if there isn't a new episode of Numbers, you can't find anything else to watch amongst your DVDs or all the other channels, both SD and HD. How about sampling the History channel HD? Or some other channel you never watch. And sitting down to read a good book when you feel bad that a new episode isn't available wouldn't be a bad idea.

november sweeps start on October 29th this year.

You know how I knew that without looking it up or seeing your post first? Local news has been hawking some ridiculously scary story for Thursday's newscasts. That tells you sweeps begins when the news gets stupid and starts advertising their stupidity heavily.

SO instead of me watching any programming I don't turn on the TV. Most people I know have no desire to watch any baseball. They need some counter programming that doesn't include repeats. Although I guess the November sweeps start soon so everything should be new.Unless you live in the home market of the World Series teams. I'll put in my opinion to keep this series at the 4 game minimum as long as Philly is on top. ;)

northern VA.

I just noticed it last night during the hockey game on Vs. It's pretty quick, but noticeable whenever they switch to a local commercial. It's not isolated to your VHO though.

And i believe that the World Series schedule days are set in stone when the playoffs begin. So they put on repeats on a night they knew the World Series would not be on. BrilliantYou've got to factor in rain delays/postponements and the fact that the World Series messes with your typical promotion strategy, such that viewers who normally watch CBS programming might be watching Fox instead.

I know it's out of their control, but the picture quality on the NBA league pass games is terrible. Is anyone going to buy that?

what game were you watching? the celtics bobcats game on directv HD looked great to me!

Gotta love the trolls that bring nothing to the topic.

Celtics-Bobcats but it was in SD. The SD PQ is horrible

Ummm.... So what do you do when the new season is over and there are no new episodes of your favorite series? Do you not watch TV during that entire time? You indicate over 300 HD DVDs. How about those 100's of channels on Fios. You mean that if there isn't a new episode of Numbers, you can't find anything else to watch amongst your DVDs or all the other channels, both SD and HD. How about sampling the History channel HD? Or some other channel you never watch. And sitting down to read a good book when you feel bad that a new episode isn't available wouldn't be a bad idea.

I don't watch the show Numbers or DVDs. I stopped watching DVDs in 2005.(with the rare exception)

I do most of my theater movie watching in the Summer.
I also do more gaming during repeat season and the Summer.

FIOS doesn't have hundreds of HD channels(they have over 100, but not hundreds). I only watch HD channels with the exception of one or two channels.
Most of my TV watching has been in HD since 2001.

I only do my book reading when traveling. That is the only thing I like about having to travel for work. Although we don't travel like we did in the last century. But I never liked traveling every week anyway.

I also spend more time online now than I did in the mid 90's. In 1995 I used dialup but then in 1997 I got a 5mbs down/1mbs up connection. Which seems so slow compared to what FIOS has now.

FiOS TV Prices Epix At $9.99

Verizon Service Taking Orders For New Movie Service Monday

by Kent Gibbons -- Multichannel News, 10/29/2009 6:27:55 PM

Verizon's FiOS TV will charge $9.99 per month for Epix, the premium movie service, starting Monday after a free preview weekend.

Verizon announced the pricing in a blog post. Previously, including recently, Epix's only affiliate had said merely that it would be positioned as a premium service.

IronMan300A joint venture of Paramount Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Lionsgate, which decided to shift their product to a new channel after output deals with Showtime expired, Epix will be seen on FiOS TV Friday night through the end of Sunday for free on its regular locations: standard-definition channel 395 and high-definition channel 895, Verizon said. Iron Man (pictured) is among the content slated to air this weekend.

A subscription to Epix also includes access to its Web site, where movie content will be streamed.

Pali Research analyst Rich Greenfield, in a note to clients Thursday, said he estimates Verizon is paying a $1 monthly fee to Epix for each of 2.7 million FiOS TV subscribers. At that rate, FiOS would need to sign up 270,000 Epix subscribers paying $9.99 per month to break even. That won't be easy: Epix is a newcomer with no original programming as yet. HBO has achieved 30% penetration and Showtime is at 17% penetration, by contrast, Greenfield said in the note. FiOS TV charges $16 per month for HBO and $14.99 per month for Showtime, Starz and Sundance bundled, according to Greenfield.

Dish Network, according to reports and speculation, could be the next Epix affiliate. Epix CEO Mark Greenberg (left) has said talks are ongoing with most major multichannel TV distributors, and downplayed negative comments about Epix from executives at DirecTV, Comcast and Cablevision.

http://www.multichannel.com/article/366884-FiOS_TV_Prices_Epix_At_9_99.php

I'll check out the free preview but I don't see how they can justify $10 for one HD channel. I'd rather get Showtime if I have to pay $10. At least I would get multiple HD channels.
Unless EPIX gets the movies faster than the other premium channels. that is the only way I could justify $10.
Otherwise what are the people at FIOS smoking?

EDIT: I just went to the EPIX website to see what they have. FIOS is definitely crazy for charging $10 for just one HD EPIX channel. There is nothing special with their movie list. Nothing special at all. the most interesting thing I saw was the Madonna concert.
I'll record the Madonna concert during the free preview but I don't see anything to record in the list of movies that I can't see easily by other means.

Typical quality of iNDemand.

I'll check out the free preview but I don't see how they can justify $10 for one HD channel. I'd rather get Showtime if I have to pay $10. At least I would get multiple HD channels.
Unless EPIX gets the movies faster than the other premium channels. that is the only way I could justify $10.
Otherwise what are the people at FIOS smoking?

EDIT: I just went to the EPIX website to see what they have. FIOS is definitely crazy for charging $10 for just one HD EPIX channel. There is nothing special with their movie list. Nothing special at all. the most interesting thing I saw was the Madonna concert.
I'll record the Madonna concert during the free preview but I don't see anything to record in the list of movies that I can't see easily by other means.

I've got to say, I'm a little intrigued. My first instinct is to say that they'll get this $10 from my cold dead hands, but I looked at their movie library and there were a lot of movies I'd like to see... some that I haven't seen on any premium channel and some that are huge favorites (Godfather... Indiana Jones... Jack Ryan series). I have to say I am getting a bit tired of seeing the same movie across several premium channels (if I see Juno again, as much as I like it... ) and if I can get access to MANY movies on demand, especially archived ones (Poltergeist??? Joan Crawford?) they may have hooked me.

I'll be taking in the preview and see the number of movies. If it's low or uninteresting, then no way. And if they muck with the HD quality, same thing.

EPIX = EPIC FAIL
Sorry, I'm already shelling out >$200 to V monthly.

I'll be taking in the preview and see the number of movies. If it's low or uninteresting, then no way. And if they muck with the HD quality, same thing.

Going by the free preview, they've certainly mucked with newer, widescreen
movies. Both IRON MAN and INDY 4 were cropped.

Going by the free preview, they've certainly mucked with newer, widescreen
movies. Both IRON MAN and INDY 4 were cropped.

they should be paying us to watch EPIX if they intend to crop the movies.

Going by the free preview, they've certainly mucked with newer, widescreen
movies. Both IRON MAN and INDY 4 were cropped.

The free preview hasn't started yet (???)

The free preview hasn't started yet (???)

I'm sure he was referring to the On Demand free preview.

I'm sure he was referring to the On Demand free preview.

Exactly.

The preview is on now, and Iron Man is cropped. Which means Epix is an EPIC FAIL!

The preview is on now, and Iron Man is cropped. Which means Epix is an EPIC FAIL!

Indeed. +1

EPIX is filling the entire screen on my TV. Is it still an epic fail?

EPIX is filling the entire screen on my TV. Is it still an epic fail?


People seem to be upset that Iron Man isn't in OAR.

EPIX is filling the entire screen on my TV. Is it still an epic fail? Well if they didn’t crop it and it was filling your 2.35:1 screen, then I’d call it a success but since they did and it fills a 16X9 size, then I’m in agreement with “It fails” camp.

People seem to be upset that Iron Man isn't in OAR.

It's not just IRON MAN...they've also cropped INDIANA JONES and THE DUCHESS (which you'll see when those films run). It's an issue about the EPIX policy. So, when they get, say, STAR TREK, you can expect at least 30% of the picture to be missing. SHOWTIME never did that...they always showed the movies properly. So this is a major loss for movie fans, and not one that I'd be willing to pay an extra $10 a month for. Paying more for less is not what I'd consider a bargain.

On the other hand, based on the OnDemand preview they made available, 16:9 cropping is clearly not the default at EPIX either, like it is at HBO. So it's a mixed bag.

On the other hand, based on the OnDemand preview they made available, 16:9 cropping is clearly not the default at EPIX either, like it is at HBO. So it's a mixed bag.

It is a default, as all new films are cropped. (Tune in to INDIANA JONES tomorrow). Older films already have widescreen masters, before channels started cropping, sso they are shown properly. SO, old films without new masters or restorations will be OAR. But anything new will be cropped, based on what EPIX has done so far.

Too bad epix decided to ignore OAR and cater to J6P and the screen fillers, who are NOT movie lovers. I turned off this channel at 5:05 PDT today, as soon as I was convinced their first movie was butchered, and it will never be turned on again. Epix you lost my money.

It is a default, as all new films are cropped. (Tune in to INDIANA JONES tomorrow). Older films already have widescreen masters, before channels started cropping, sso they are shown properly. SO, old films without new masters or restorations will be OAR. But anything new will be cropped, based on what EPIX has done so far.

Well, Star Trek: Generations will be on today. It was recently released on Blu Ray, but it aired in OAR on HBO/Cinemax back in December/January.

Too bad epix decided to ignore OAR and cater to J6P and the screen fillers, who are NOT movie lovers. I turned off this channel at 5:05 PDT today, as soon as I was convinced their first movie was butchered, and it will never be turned on again. Epix you lost my money.

There on Twitter give them your 2 cents.

Well, Star Trek: Generations will be on today. It was recently released on Blu Ray, but it aired in OAR on HBO/Cinemax back in December/January.

THAT film will be in OAR as well. :)

http://corp.epixhd.com/contact/

...I turned off this channel at 5:05 PDT today, as soon as I was convinced their first movie was butchered...

That's about the same time I changed channels too. The anticipation level was high until the movie started. Now it's proven to be just another lame movie channel.

Why are some so surprised by this? Since when do premium channles or any channel for that matter adhern to the wishes of us folks here. So yes they will do what J6P wants if they are in the business to make a profit. Have we not learned this by now!

I'll just look at it as saving me from spending $10 more on my bill!

Why are some so surprised by this?
I guess, personally, I was expecting a new channel on a higher level. I base this on all of the fanfare and marketing for their launch—the countdown timer, etc. :rolleyes: I figured they were going for the “Blu-ray” crowd. What do I know? It’s just another stupid premium channel with either stuff I already watched (Iron Man) or wouldn’t watch (Madonna).

Why are some so surprised by this? Since when do premium channles or any channel for that matter adhern to the wishes of us folks here. So yes they will do what J6P wants if they are in the business to make a profit. Have we not learned this by now!


SHOWTIME (which, before now, had the rights to these films) WOULD listen. They always showed the films in OAR. And, in the few cases when they had a cropped master, they would get the OAR version when subscribers let them know. So EPIX is a downgrade, but with an additional charge. Basicaslly, a subscriber must now pay more for less!

personally, I see little point in Starz, TMC, and now epix. they only have movies from certain studios, they're not committed to quality presentation, and they don't serve any special interest, like IFC or TCM. why not just get netflix and get any movie you want in proper format.

Let's be honest. If they did OAR, we'd all still complain about the intermittent bug and the free preview scroll. Bottom line is, for the best HD presentation, it's Blu Ray or bust.

Now if only we could get the studios to release more titles faster.

Let's be honest. If they did OAR, we'd all still complain about the intermittent bug and the free preview scroll. Bottom line is, for the best HD presentation, it's Blu Ray or bust.

Now if only we could get the studios to release more titles faster.

Well, the scroll is just for the preview so there's no problem there. But no OAR is a deal-breaker in my book. I just won't support this practice financially any longer. But you're right, Blu-Ray (or HD-DVD) are the best options.

I was watching Drillbit Taylor during the free preview of Epix and the movie stopped mid-way and I can't get the channel back.

Now if only we could get the studios to release more titles faster.

Too true. Everyone's excited about 'Iron Man'; it was released in theaters 2 May '08 and the DVD was out a year ago. Big freakin' whoop!:rolleyes:

http://corp.epixhd.com/contact/
or
EPIX Fan Mail
1515 Broadway
New York, NY 10036

LET THEM KNOW!
I intend to subscribe ANYWAY. WHEN they go ALL OAR many others would as well (IMHO) :)

personally, I see little point in Starz, TMC, and now epix. they only have movies from certain studios, they're not committed to quality presentation, and they don't serve any special interest, like IFC or TCM. why not just get netflix and get any movie you want in proper format.

Let's be honest. If they did OAR, we'd all still complain about the intermittent bug and the free preview scroll. Bottom line is, for the best HD presentation, it's Blu Ray or bust.

.

Of course BD is the best way to go. But I often don't know just when I'll have time to watch a movie and therefore plan in advance to rent something. There are times, I'll just find I suddenly have the time to watch something, and that's when a channel such as HD Net Movies and Epix (if OAR) become very valuable to me. I want as many choices of good movies as I possibly can have when I find that time to watch something. Not everyone has many hours a day to sit in front of a display as so many on this forum seem to have.

Of course BD is the best way to go. But I often don't know just when I'll have time to watch a movie and therefore plan in advance to rent something. There are times, I'll just find I suddenly have the time to watch something, and that's when a channel such as HD Net Movies and Epix (if OAR) become very valuable to me.

Plus, many movies aren't out on BD. This Halloween, for example, MGM-HD has a great line-up of horror films, ranging from 50s B&W to Hammer films to the original LAST HOUSE ON LEFT, right up to a few more recent films. The overwhelming majority are NOT on Blu or even HD-DVD. But it's good to know that I can tune in to any of them and not have to worry about OAR. For example, a 2008 film called ASYLUM is on right now...not a big film, no stars, and yet it's being broadcast correctly in 2.35:1. It is comforting to know that with MGM (and HDNet), one can watch any film and be pretty secure in the fact that it's being shown properly.

Plus, many movies aren't out on BD. This Halloween, for example, MGM-HD has a great line-up of horror films, ranging from 50s B&W to Hammer films to the original LAST HOUSE ON LEFT, right up to a few more recent films. The overwhelming majority are NOT on Blu or even HD-DVD. But it's good to know that I can tune in to any of them and not have to worry about OAR. For example, a 2008 film called ASYLUM is on right now...not a big film, no stars, and yet it's being broadcast correctly in 2.35:1. It is comforting to know that with MGM (and HDNet), one can watch any film and be pretty secure in the fact that it's being shown properly.
I look forward to FMC going HD next year. That channel always shows in OAR.

With Epix coming online I wouldn't expect MGM-HD to hang around much longer.

With Epix coming online I wouldn't expect MGM-HD to hang around much longer.

Why would MGM-HD go away?

Why would MGM-HD go away?

I think it is just an assumption, since MGM (along with Lions Gate and Paramount) is part of the EPIX coalition. But, since Lions Gate offers their smaller films to FearNet and SyFy as well, I don't see why MGM-HD can't continue. (Their Halloween weekend programming has been exceptional!)

Why would MGM-HD go away?Same properties. They'd rather have you pay $10/mo than give it away for free. You're right, it's only a guess, but an educated one. Most of us on the forum have been postulating this move for quite a while.

I disagree completely. Saying that MGM doesn't need MGM HD because it has Epix is like saying Time Warner doesn't need TNT because it has HBO.

There are plenty of catalog titles for Epix and MGM to coexist.

It is different in this case because Epix is only 1 channel and they have no other properties other than movies. If you notice what they're offering online, it is pretty much exactly what has been offered on MGM-HD in the past. That's why I say MGM-HD's days are numbered.

It is different in this case because Epix is only 1 channel and they have no other properties other than movies. If you notice what they're offering online, it is pretty much exactly what has been offered on MGM-HD in the past. That's why I say MGM-HD's days are numbered.

I know it's not an HD presentation, but to those that can get the THIS network thru local subchannels(or some other way), their programming is entirely the MGM library, and free. Often times I cruise by something I like on THIS and say, cool, it should be on MGM HD sooner or later. And, usually it is.

It is different in this case because Epix is only 1 channel and they have no other properties other than movies. If you notice what they're offering online, it is pretty much exactly what has been offered on MGM-HD in the past. That's why I say MGM-HD's days are numbered.

As opposed to it simply disappearing, odds are just as good MGM HD is renamed Epix 2 HD or Epix Classic HD, etc.

Regarding my issues…

As a reminder, I’m running two set ups, a Pioneer 151FD with a Yamaha RZ-7 receiver and a Panasonic G10 with a Marantz receiver (this is also sending 5 channel audio and video to another G10 in a different location with a 30’ HDMI cable).

While using the HDMI cable, the screen goes to green after a few seconds. I have to use component cable to get the video to function.

Another problem I’m experiencing with the Pio set up is that the moto set top box switches back to 480 whenever it is powered down. I have to manually reset it for 1080.

Today I had a Verizon tech here playing with everything for about 4 hours. It turns out, when we bypass the receiver and go HDMI from the STB directly to the display, there is no problem. The green screen is gone and the box stays locked on 1080.

Apparently the receiver is the “problem” in the chain.

I don’t know what to do now. I spoke to a higher up tech on the phone and he is going to determine if the new software upgrade that is going to happen very soon, has anything to do with receivers.

Are there other folks out there that have had this “HDMI green screen” issue? Are these folks also running things through a receiver too?

Feedback is welcome.

I had FIOS installed yesterday, and I have the green issue on one TV and am now running Component cables to solve it. I have a TV connected through a reciver with no problems.

I had FIOS installed yesterday, and I have the green issue on one TV and am now running Component cables to solve it. I have a TV connected through a reciver with no problems.
Do you have HDMI through to the receiver or component?

As opposed to it simply disappearing, odds are just as good MGM HD is renamed Epix 2 HD or Epix Classic HD, etc.Could be, but either way I doubt they will offer MGM-HD for free, odds are it will just be absorbed into the Epix package in some way.

Thanks for the replies to my question.

I have the extreme package but no additional movie channels and I watch MGM HD regularly. It'll suck if they move it to a pay package because I'm not adding a movie package to my current service. Oh well.

Do you have HDMI through to the receiver or component?

HDMI through Receiver to TV

HDMI through Receiver to TV

That’s good. I hope that after the 1.7 upgrade, this will be resolved for me.

quick q on qip7216 box...

is the "ir input" port on the back of the box active?

if so, is it just a standard mono cable connection?

yes, i know i can try... :) but getting to the back of things in my setup isn't easy...

thanks!

Verizon launches FiOS TV in Allentown, PA

http://www.hd-report.com/2009/11/05/verizon-launches-fios-tv-in-allentown-pa/

Any news on the 1.7 rollout? I'm interested in Mass, but generally also.

Is it just me or does it seem like it's been a while since the last word on any new channel additions ?

Is it just me or does it seem like it's been a while since the last word on any new channel additions ?I think it's just you? ;) Verizon just added a half-dozen channels last month. The additions for 2009 are done.

GMC says Verizon will carry GMC HD on Nov. 27. Is that incorrect, bfdtv?

Granted, I don't care either way, but it was recently announced. Of course, CBS College Sports HD put out a press release almost a year ago now, and apparently they still don't even have an agreement.

GMC says Verizon will carry GMC HD on Nov. 27. Is that incorrect, bfdtv?

Granted, I don't care either way, but it was recently announced. Of course, CBS College Sports HD put out a press release almost a year ago now, and apparently they still don't even have an agreement.Yes, GMC is still in the works for the end of the month.

BFD-
You sure of that? My sources said nothing more for 2009. The quiet period is about to begin.

Also, is GMC "Gospel Music Channel"?

Any news on the 1.7 rollout? I'm interested in Mass, but generally also.

A poster on dsl reports says he was told mid-November on the phone. He didn't say what year or who he was talking to on the phone. :D

A poster on dsl reports says he was told mid-November on the phone. He didn't say what year or who he was talking to on the phone. :D

Thanks, hopefully before 2012, based on the movie.

BFD-
You sure of that? My sources said nothing more for 2009. The quiet period is about to begin.

Also, is GMC "Gospel Music Channel"?

Very sadly, I believe it is. If Fios adds a lot of wailing, crying, and screaming before TCM HD, I'll be very disappointed in Verizon.

Very sadly, I believe it is. If Fios adds a lot of wailing, crying, and screaming before TCM HD, I'll be very disappointed in Verizon.

Oops, be careful.

As Jerry and George said, "Not that there's anything wrong with that!". :rolleyes:

Very sadly, I believe it is. If Fios adds a lot of wailing, crying, and screaming before TCM HD, I'll be very disappointed in Verizon.

While i have no interest in GMC, I'm also in no rush for TCM-HD. Don't get me wrong...I'm very anxious to have this channel. But right now, except for one or two exceptions, TCM currently isn't broadcasting anything in in HD. When they get up to speed, it will be #1 on the must-have list...but till then, I can wait.

Oops, be careful.

As Jerry and George said, "Not that there's anything wrong with that!". :rolleyes:

It's a gospel channel, not a gay channel!:D

While i have no interest in GMC, I'm also in no rush for TCM-HD. Don't get me wrong...I'm very anxious to have this channel. But right now, except for one or two exceptions, TCM currently isn't broadcasting anything in in HD. When they get up to speed, it will be #1 on the must-have list...but till then, I can wait.

I'm aware of their very limited HD offerings. But who will decide what % HD is needed before you or someone else is interested in watching this channel and when Verizion will feel the channel is "HD enough" to be worthy of carrying?

No! Get it now. When it reaches the x % you want, it'll be there for you. And when it reaches the smaller y % I need, it'll be there for me. To wait for some magic number just doesn't make sense to me.

I'm aware of their very limited HD offerings. But who will decide what % HD is needed before you or someone else is interested in watching this channel and when Verizion will feel the channel is "HD enough" to be worthy of carrying?

No! Get it now. When it reaches the x % you want, it'll be there for you. And when it reaches the smaller y % I need, it'll be there for me. To wait for some magic number just doesn't make sense to me.

No magic number...just more than 2 or 3.

Well, since TCM HD probably isn't going to come alone but with the rest of the Time Warner HD channels that Verizon doesn't have, I hope Verizon is going after those channels next. There are four in total, by far the largest missing link (in terms of common ownership) from the Verizon lineup.

Here's an update on what we don't have and what's out there:

Announced HD Channels

Comcast: 3 - E!, G4, Style Network (rumored for 1H 2010)
Other: 2 - TBN (???), Gospel Music Channel (Nov. 27)

Remaining Available HD Channels

A&E Networks: 2 - Crime & Investigation Network, History International
CBS: CBS College Sports Network
Discovery Communications: 2 - BBC America, Investigation Discovery
Fox: Fuel TV
NBC Universal: 2 - MSNBC, Oxygen
Time Warner: 4 - Cartoon Network, HLN, truTV, Turner Classic Movies
Viacom: 3 - BET, Centric, Logo
Other: 5 - Fashion TV, Jewelry TV, RFD-TV, Shorts HD, TV One

Coming Soon

EWTN (Dec. 2009)
Sundance Channel (Dec. 2009)
Hallmark Channel (2010)
Nat Geo Wild (Spring 2010)
Ovation TV (July 2010)
Cooking Channel (Q3 2010)
ReelzChannel (Q3 2010)
Oprah Winfrey Network (2011)

So my Tivo updated with the channels for that new movie channel, but there's nothing on the channels themselves.

I have HD Extreme and all the movie packages. I'm in Montgomery County, MD.

Any reason why this one channel (well, 2 - HD/SD) isn't showing up?

Thanks!

So my Tivo updated with the channels for that new movie channel, but there's nothing on the channels themselves.

I have HD Extreme and all the movie packages. I'm in Montgomery County, MD.

Any reason why this one channel (well, 2 - HD/SD) isn't showing up?

Thanks!


EPIX is a separate channel. You need to pay the $9.99 a month to receive it. It is not part of any movie package.

EPIX is a separate channel. You need to pay the $9.99 a month to receive it. It is not part of any movie package.

Seriously? $10/month for *one* channel?

Am I missing something? Is anyone subscribing to this thing?

Seriously? $10/month for *one* channel?

Am I missing something? Is anyone subscribing to this thing?Welcome to the (much demanded) world of 'a la carte' cable TV ;)

Poll: Will you pay $9.99/mo to sign up for EPIX?

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23273787-Poll-Will-you-pay-999mo-to-sign-up-for-EPIX

I might consider paying $1.99/month, but even at that price it may still NOT be worth the incremental cost. Consider that for $30/month you get all the HBO/MAX/Starz/SHO/++ channels, plus their VOD's.

IMHO, $10/month is larceny for this channel.

You are not alone in your opinion.

Seriously? $10/month for *one* channel?

Am I missing something? Is anyone subscribing to this thing?

I wouldnt give them $0.01 a month. What is this? Directv?

I'm a TV freak. I'm a movie freak. And I'm very frivolous.

I'll buy just about anything that lets me watch more HD movies on my TV. I have NetFlix, I tried UnBox, I tried BlockBuster VOD. I have every movie channel available. Give me more!

However $10/month for one HD channel is absurd, even to me. I never thought there'd me something that provided movies on my TV in HD that I wouldn't buy, but this is it. That's about 10 BluRay discs a year - will there be 10 movies a year on this channel that I absolutely have to watch, and can't get any other way?

Again, what am I missing? I'm about as extreme as it gets with this stuff, and this isn't even a borderline question for me. Yet I see a few people on the linked to thread said yes???

They also butcher many of the movies by cropping them.

At least that was the case during the free preview, premier weekend.

I don't care about them cropping the movies. As far as I'm concerned, cropping is just part of a movie being on TV. If I was a purist, I'd buy the Bluray in widescreen. I did order the EPIX though, and even though the on-demand library is pretty small now, it's supposed to get really big over the next year. Watching movies on the computer is cool, but nothing more than a novelty for me.
What makes EPIX different from the other pay channels is that everything will be available on demand. If everything is already available, I don't need more linear channels rotating the same selection.
I am also in a situation where EPIX costs me the same as if I were to add Cinemax. For me, EPIX is a much better value.

Before anyone wants to argue about that, remember I said it was a better value FOR ME, personally.

Am I wrong in believing that pretty much everything that airs on HBO is available via HBO on Demand? I've noticed that's not true for Starz/Showtime/Cinemax.

I wouldnt give them $0.01 a month.

Of course you would. So would everyone. If you never watched, you'd lose all of 12 cents a year.

I don't care about them cropping the movies. As far as I'm concerned, cropping is just part of a movie being on TV.

But it needn't be...and shouldn't be.

But it needn't be...and shouldn't be.

Besides cropping movies is not being a part of watching on TV. I have dozens of HD movies I recorded from OTA bewteen 2001 and 2004. they are not cropped. If a broadcast network can show them in the OAR then a pay channel can.
Although the thing about those HD recordings is that they have commercials. But the quality is better from then since more bandwidth was allocated back then compared to now.

Sorry. I still don't care if it's cropped. The only thing I cannot watch is a movie that stretched to fit the screen like AMC HD likes to show.

As far as HBO, I can tell you that not everything is available on demand, only because I was looking for a movie this week the day after it was on. It will probably be available soon, but until then I'll just need to look for it on one of the HBO channels and record it on the DVR if I want to see it. The big gimmick with EPIX is that it will be available as soon as it's on. Something else I heard about EPIX was that movies (from the member studios of course) would be coming to the channel the same day they were released on Bluray. Currently, Verizon and other providers sell new movies on demand for $5 and $6 each. Getting all the EPIX new releases for $10 a month is a pretty good deal if you are buying 2 movies a month.

Sorry. I still don't care if it's cropped. The only thing I cannot watch is a movie that stretched to fit the screen like AMC HD likes to show....

.

yes that is even worse. Although with the cropping it's annoying having peoples heads partially cut off, or missing from a scene they are in.

...........Something else I heard about EPIX was that movies (from the member studios of course) would be coming to the channel the same day they were released on Blu-ray. .

This would be extremely surprising if true.
Unless the BD release is delayed along time after the DVD release. For them to release it the same day as as disc release would really cut into their sales.

Now if they offered it for an additional price, i would understand.

I know, we'll have to wait and see what movies are released that way too. It might just be bombs that come out.

I voted "No," too. What a strange business model. It will be interesting to see if it succeeds.

Regarding the cropping of 2.35:1 et al movies to fit a 16:9 screen - I hate it but will tolerate it for free with a movie that I'm only casually interested in (and which I don't own in the proper ratio). I would never pay an additional $10 per month for the "privilege" to watch it in that condition.

Doug

This would be extremely surprising if true.
Unless the BD release is delayed along time after the DVD release. For them to release it the same day as as disc release would really cut into their sales.

Now if they offered it for an additional price, i would understand.

They're getting $2.5 million every month ($1/sub) from Verizon, allegedly. I don't think they're hurting for money. Aside from transponder space, it costs literally nothing for Paramount/MGM to program and run this channel.

2.5 million is not alot is it?

How does that compare to other premium channels?

I'm a TV freak. I'm a movie freak. And I'm very frivolous.

I'll buy just about anything that lets me watch more HD movies on my TV. I have NetFlix, I tried UnBox, I tried BlockBuster VOD. I have every movie channel available. Give me more!

However $10/month for one HD channel is absurd, even to me....
You and I went to different schools together! :D I also have just about everything except foreign language channels, and I'm very surprised that this one channel is not bundled with the "whatever precious metal" service that I now pay for. No to me also, but what bugs me is that I have to pass through this channel on my way up and down the listings. Why wasn't it given a different style numbering system if it was a singular class of channel???

Why wasn't it given a different style numbering system if it was a singular class of channel???

Because not having it would eat at you every time you pass it by. You also have to look at what's on the linear channel as you scan the guide. I wouldn't doubt that the channel position (in between premiums) was something that the channel required in negitiations.

When everyone talks about how expensive this channel is, remember that people will pay $50 a year for NFL Red Zone, which only exists on Sundays. Plenty of people also pay $50 for one night of UFC fighting. I think that Verizon's way of thinking is that if you have their service, price just might not be as much of an issue as someone with basic cable. I know that a lot of people here don't agree with movies being shown to fit the screen, and that's fine. Just a thought as far as the price though.

In Epix's case, however, there is an obvious competitor and substitute: Netflix. A Blu Ray-enabled one-at-a-time Netflix subscription is just $10.99 a month. Frankly, the notion that Epix is comparable in value to Netflix is laughable, so much so that it must be negatively affecting general opinion of Epix.

I understand, but they're going for the people like me that don't do Netflix. I'm just not interested in signing up for another service like that.

Aaron:

I did a search, and found your post (among several others) to be very informative, thank you!

You can just use your current TiVoHD with a FIOS cable card. And if you want VOD you can rent a FIOS STB which gives you the same VOD capability as the FIOS DVR . . . Personally I have four TiVos with eight cable cards on FIOS.

I recently moved to a Los Angeles-county, FiOS-wired community (FHO3), but I'm currently with TimeWarner cable and have only recently been considering the switch to FiOS. My current cable bill is pretty high because I have a lot of STB rentals on the bill (x2 HD DVR STBs, x4 HD STBs). It would be a great relief to be able own my own STBs (not permitted by TimeWarner). I see from this thread that you can use an "M-card" to "activate" a TiVo DVR. But, even with a network Verizon DVR, I would still continue to rent five additional non-DVR boxes to accommodate all of the viewing areas around the house (I much prefer local control, and multiple program sources, over a complex, expensive matrixed set-up). A few of quick questions:

1. What do the M-cards rent for per month?
2. Is there no non-DVR, M-card compatible, STB for sale on the market?
3. Is one expected?
4. Are there any future compatibility issues/caveats for those considering buying their own TiVo boxes, vis-a-vis, future FiOS upgrades?

FIOS doesn't restrict any programming so you can easily transfer all the recordings to your (for burning to disc or permanent storage) or another TiVo.

What is the available I/O for doing that? Is there a Firewire400 port?

P.S. I'm also a Netflix subscriber and plan to buy two Sony BDP-N460 "network" players, plus three Roku boxes for Netflix viewing around the house.

Thanks for any replies!

Good News for Central PA !
Apparently they are still working around the edges of Harrisburg:

http://www.centralpennbusiness.com/view_release.asp?aID=3356

"Verizon has expanded its award-winning FiOS TV service to more than 7,500 households in parts of Highspire Borough, Lower Swatara Township, Penbrook Borough, Steelton Borough, Susquehanna Township and Swatara Township, bringing consumers a wide array of programming, 129 high-definition (HD) channels, and more video on demand (VOD) and faster Internet speeds than old-fashioned cable TV."

...remember that people will pay $50 a year for NFL Red Zone, which only exists on Sundays....
And, for only about 18 weekends per year! Great service to follow your fantasy football players, but not worth much to anyone that doesn't play the football pools at the office!

The guide is still a complete joke.

Was watching The Beat on NBA tv the other night, the description was that it was various blues music legends taped on site in Nashville, TN. Nope....it's a basketball show...it's on NBA tv.

Watching America's game today on NFL Network. The description said it was a collection of great baseball players.

Whoever Fios has to provide the guide info to them...if you don't know what the show is about, just don't put in any description.

The guide is still a complete joke.


The guide is more then just a joke, its a downright mystery. Some of the entries are so puzzling that it just boggles the imagination. Seriously are they paying someone to do this work?

How about this screw up. Currently on HBO West, it says Bill and Ted's bogus journey is on. Its actually Bill and Ted's excellent adventure. It also says that its on for 3 hours and 5 minutes. In reality its both movies back to back.

Not much of a surprise. The Movie Channel has been airing that horrible 2008 remake of Day of the Dead, but the Verizon guide has continually identified it as the original 1985 Romero film Day of the Dead.

Not much of a surprise. The Movie Channel has been airing that horrible 2008 remake of Day of the Dead, but the Verizon guide has continually identified it as the original 1985 Romero film Day of the Dead.

That was corrected a week or two ago.

Not much of a surprise. The Movie Channel has been airing that horrible 2008 remake of Day of the Dead...

Horrible? I LOVE the remake!:)

That and the Dawn of the Dead remake!

Watching Spike...guide says CSI.

Nope it's CSI:NY

Similart error with the HDNet HAIRSPRAY...guide lists it as the recent Travolta/Pfeiffer film...it is actually the John Waters original.

New feature on the tv available today to those with IMG 1.7. On screen caller ID.

That and the Dawn of the Dead remake!

I like the Dawn of the Dead remake a lot. The Day of the Dead remake is awful.

I know that FIOS is not slated to receive any more channels, with the exception of Gospel Music Channel HD, in crystal clear high definition. That said, I find it disconcerting that they're not going to add forthcoming or current channels like History International HD, Investigation Discovery HD, BBC America HD, and Sundance HD. I'd like for them to add this by the 1st quarter of 2010 as well as the Comcast channels, Crime and Investigation HD, CBS College Sports HD and Turner networks that aren't in their lineup yet. I figure their war with Cablevision regarding MSNBC HD will last for some time before any action's taken.

Yuda,
They're about to hit the quiet period for the rest of the year. Also, to add all the HD you listed, they're going to have to find room somewhere for all of that. QAM space is tight.

HDMI not ready for FIOS

Is there anyone out there with FIOS successfully using HDMI cables with the Motorola box? Or is everyone running through component cables?

Verizon is well aware of the fact that HDMI cables don’t work with the majority of displays. I spoke to several of their technicians and there is no fix in the works. The eventual 1.7 software download has nothing to do with any sort of fix for this issue either. They know all about it and quite frankly they don’t care.

I had no problem with TW and HDMI with the same displays. I can’t get them to work with FIOS. My problem is that I have displays wall mounted with HDMI already snaked throughout the house. Now I have to rewire everything. If I knew about this green screen issue I never would have switched over. Now I'm locked in for a year.

This green screen HDMI issue seems to be one of the best kept secrets on this forum. :rolleyes: It amazes me that there is no chatter here regarding this crap.