Verizon FiOS HDTV

[stepmback]

Thanks for feedback. I will check things out tonight.

[Marcus Carr]

Since E* is getting INHD, hopefully FIOS will too.

[bfdtv]

It was my understanding that the 6416 is a dual tuner unit, allowing you to record one show while watching another. If this is so, then why would PIP not function? Isn't that a function of the unit itself and not Verizon? By that I mean, if it is dual tuner, then PIP is available. If it is single tuner, then it is not. What would Verizon have to do to enable the PIP?
They would need the software in the box to support PIP, just like your TV's built-in PIP functionality is provided by software. It's a capability that would have to be added at the firmware (think bios) level, as well as in the Microsoft TV software.

At the moment, I don't believe either the Motorola firmware or the support for PiP in the MS software exists.

[Tarheel72]

I thought the dual tuner DVR machines came standard with the PIP software in them. It seems to me it is almost no additional costs. But guess I was misinformed. But I had heard that there are systems out there with PIP. Which providers support them?

[jgantert]

I thought the dual tuner DVR machines came standard with the PIP software in them. It seems to me it is almost no additional costs. But guess I was misinformed. But I had heard that there are systems out there with PIP. Which providers support them?
My Comcast SA8300HD box supported PiP. Too bad the rest of the box software was horrible.
-John

[bfdtv]

Motorola STBs/DVRs represent 85-90% of boxes deployed by Comcast. As the previous poster indicates, no Motorola boxes have the software to support PiP. Most do not have the hardware required either. Obviously you need more than just the tuners -- you need the appropriate video processing, memory, bandwidth, etc.

<rant on>

The only boxes with the software for PiP are the DVRs from Scientific Atlanta. The functionality does not work particularly well, imo. You can't do split screen -- cause the hardware apparently doesn't support it -- and the box's responsiveness when using PiP is not what you'd expect.

In today's world, with DVRs and recording, who really uses PiP anymore? PiP is a relic of the channel surfing days. IMO! I would much rather record what I watch and skip all the commercials. Record a 1pm football game and start watching it at 2-2:15pm. By 3:45pm, you are caught up to live with two minutes left in the 4Q, and you haven't missed one second of the game -- but you've saved an hour of your life that would have otherwise been spent on commercials. With commercials representing 15-20minutes of every hour of TV -- up to 25 minutes per hour in some sports --- you can really cut out the waste by recording everything you watch.

<rant off>

[stepmback]

Motorola STBs/DVRs represent 85-90% of boxes deployed by Comcast. As the previous poster indicates, no Motorola boxes have the software to support PiP. Most do not have the hardware required either. Obviously you need more than just the tuners -- you need the appropriate video processing, memory, bandwidth, etc.

<rant on>

The only boxes with the software for PiP are the DVRs from Scientific Atlanta. The functionality does not work particularly well, imo. You can't do split screen -- cause the hardware apparently doesn't support it -- and the box's responsiveness when using PiP is not what you'd expect.

In today's world, with DVRs and recording, who really uses PiP anymore? PiP is a relic of the channel surfing days. IMO! I would much rather record what I watch and skip all the commercials. Record a 1pm football game and start watching it at 2-2:15pm. By 3:45pm, you are caught up to live with two minutes left in the 4Q, and you haven't missed one second of the game -- but you've saved an hour of your life that would have otherwise been spent on commercials. With commercials representing 15-20minutes of every hour of TV -- up to 25 minutes per hour in some sports --- you can really cut out the waste by recording everything you watch.

<rant off>


PIP is great for sports, particurlly when football games are on at the same time. I went from a Cox SA box that support HD PIP to FIOS. I used the feature during football season all the time.

[bfdtv]

PIP is great for sports, particurlly when football games are on at the same time. I went from a Cox SA box that support HD PIP to FIOS. I used the feature during football season all the time.
Note you can still use the PIP feature of your TV, if it has one.

Buy a 2Ghz splitter at Radio Shack and split the coax right before it enters the DVR. Run one cable directly to your TV and one cable to the DVR. Remember that FiOS carries the local networks and public interest channels in analog on channels 1-50, so you can tune those with your TV. Put the analog broadcast in your PiP window and the HD broadcast on the main screen.

This can be a little tricky to control if you don't have a good universal remote.

[jhoff80]

Just out of curiosity, do the FIOS DVR boxes support firewire output to a computer for archiving purposes?

[HDntheCity]

they do have Firewire but i have read it's not active.

Jim

[dmbatch]

There is an entire thread on the QIP6416 over in the HD Recorders forum.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=617635

[Heynow777]

http://www22.verizon.com/content/fiostv/dvr/media+manager

The media manager is now available. :D

Edit: Only for Multi-Room DVRs.

[madflava76]

I'm surprising myself by how much weight I'm putting on Very Good Standard definitionn picture quality. I thought that my days of SD concerns were well in the past, but now that there is the chance of regaining excellend SD PQ, I'm getting a little excited.

Dish Network's SD channels look very poor on my Plasma. At first I thought that Plasmas just stunk for SD, then then I got some ATSC SD digitals and that PQ was great. So I knew it was the provider and not that plasma that was the cause of my woes. Plus DVDs look great on the Plasma. Dish did have great SD PQ back in 2000 when I first started to use them, but since the over compression of "must carry" its been terrible ever since.

I totally agree. At first I thought SD PQ stunk on my LCD but watching a DVD from my Xbox in 480i looks very good so I was baffled to why my Cox Cable SD PQ sucks at 480i. Now I'm realizing that it's not the HDTV but my cable signal. Fios is already being offered in select neighborhoods around VA. My only concern is that I live in a condo that has only Cox. I'm not sure if Verizon has starrted offering Fios in Condos or Apartments.

[bfdtv]

Already posted to the hardware threads, but for those who do not follow those forums:

Screenshots of the Verizon FiOS DVR user interface (http://mysite.verizon.net/fiosdvr/)

[HDntheCity]

thanx bfdtv those screenshots look great!!!! now if Vz would just speed up the process-for now i can't even get internet.

Jim

[slogun]

Already posted to the hardware threads, but for those who do not follow those forums:

Screenshots of the Verizon FiOS DVR user interface (http://mysite.verizon.net/fiosdvr/)
That's very nice, thanks for that, I wouldn't have seen it elsewjere.

I've had a FIOS TV installation scheduled for Monday, 8/14 for several weeks now. I just cancelled it yesterday however. The wife and I learned that FIOS does not yet have YES HD and we don't want to give up the Yankee games in HD.

Looking forward to getting it after the baseball season.

[GoldenBoy]

Already posted to the hardware threads, but for those who do not follow those forums:

Screenshots of the Verizon FiOS DVR user interface (http://mysite.verizon.net/fiosdvr/)

The interface actually looks pretty good in comparison to the HR10-250 Tivo that I use now. If the UI and features function as smoothly as Tivo and there are no problems with Season Passes and so on, I could see using that.

[Ken Ross]

It actually functions BETTER than the HD Tivo. Whenever we'd record with the HD Tivo, you'd hit the record button and then you could make yourself a sandwich by the time the thing had completed it's record preparation. With the FIOS PVR, it's immediate....and I mean immediate!

The interface is far quicker in all respects than the Tivo. There's no doubt I like this thing better than the HD Tivo. Yes, the UI is not quite as 'slick', but when it comes to pure functionality, the FIOS unit gives up nothing to the Tivo IMO.

[eweiss]

Already posted to the hardware threads, but for those who do not follow those forums:

Screenshots of the Verizon FiOS DVR user interface (http://mysite.verizon.net/fiosdvr/)

My gripe about the FiOS guide/interface is that none of the movie listings include the actors' names. You get the runtime, date made, synopsis of the film, rating (1 to 4? stars), but ... you aren't told who is in the movie.

[mjwedeking]

My gripe about the FiOS guide/interface is that none of the movie listings include the actors' names. You get the runtime, date made, synopsis of the film, rating (1 to 4? stars), but ... you aren't told who is in the movie.

Sometimes you don't even get when the movie was made. It is very rare to see the date on regular shows.

[bfdtv]

My gripe about the FiOS guide/interface is that none of the movie listings include the actors' names. You get the runtime, date made, synopsis of the film, rating (1 to 4? stars), but ... you aren't told who is in the movie.
Have you checked your guide recently? Verizon has been working on their guide data this week.

If you see obvious issues with the guide data this week, particularly flagging errors, please post or pm me because now (while they are working on it) is the time to get it fixed.

[Ken Ross]

My gripe about the FiOS guide/interface is that none of the movie listings include the actors' names. You get the runtime, date made, synopsis of the film, rating (1 to 4? stars), but ... you aren't told who is in the movie.

That's very strange since I get the lead actors' names on my FIOS guide. It's strange that different systems would pull different information. I just had my wife tune to 3 different movie channels and they all had the actors' names. Go figure. :confused:

[bfdtv]

I'm guessing he hasn't checked the guide recently. FiOS just made these changes in the last week (in most if not all markets).

[Ken Ross]

Ah, that explains it. Since I'm a new FIOS customer, I guess I just thought it was always there. It's good to see that they're responsive to these issues as they move forward. Now to only get them to add YES HD in my area! ;)

[eweiss]

That's very strange since I get the lead actors' names on my FIOS guide. It's strange that different systems would pull different information. I just had my wife tune to 3 different movie channels and they all had the actors' names. Go figure. :confused:

I noticed tonight that FiOS is now doing it. I spoke too soon when I wrote my complaint (or maybe they read my complaint!!).

[eweiss]

That's very strange since I get the lead actors' names on my FIOS guide. It's strange that different systems would pull different information. I just had my wife tune to 3 different movie channels and they all had the actors' names. Go figure. :confused:

I noticed tonight that FiOS is now doing it. I spoke too soon when I wrote my complaint.

[PJO1966]

This isn't exactly a programming question... but how is FiOS Customer Service & Tech Support?

[hattrik21]

Yep. I was dead wrong on this one. They still don't have OLN, but maybe that's coming. Who knows.



This is the only channel missing from FIOS TV that I need before I can switch from comcast. I hope it happens before October. :(

[eweiss]

This isn't exactly a programming question... but how is FiOS Customer Service & Tech Support?

They have been very good so far, both for Internet and FiOS TV. But so was Comcast when I had them for both.

[jdowens1966]

No offense Eweiss, but you must not have had to deal with customer support very much yet.

Tech support has been okay, I havent really needed them since I have not had but 1 or 2 issues and they handled them just fine.

It is the customer service that I have a major problem with. A lot of it is not the phone reps fault. Verizon does not empower them with enough access to support the customers. They seem to only have the same view into the billing system that we can see on the internet.

I have been trying for 2 months to get changed over to paper billing so I could just pay my bill with my banks billpay system and it is still just being drawn out of my account. Last month they sent me an email and told me they were unable to draw it from my account and I needed to setup payment so I did. Three days later they drew it out of my account, so I ended up paying my bill twice last month. Now they say they cannot see the payment that I made. I blame their billing system for this. Their system sent back a confimation number to my bank so according to my bank they got their money, but it was never posted to my Verizon account.

This is only one of my issues with customer support. I have been told by 4 different reps that they would research my billing issues and only 1 of them ever called back.

I think they are overwhelmed with complaints and issues that Verizon has not set them up to be able to handle.

It is obvious to me that Verizon rolled out a product that they are just not ready to support and I hope they get the hell fined out of them for doing it the way they did it.

Oh, my friend had FIOS installed the other day and they ran the fiber to the house from the street and told them that someone would be by next week to bury the cable. That is bad wrong, but it is the way they seem to do business.

I think their leadership needs a good kick in the ass and they need to get some managers in there that have a clue.

I have never seen a company so bad at customer service and so messed up in every area in my life.

[stepmback]

I am considering getting a JVC D-VHS recorder with firewire. Can you record HD movies using the mortorola HD DVR from FIOS connected via firewire to the JVC D-VHS? If so how hard is it to setup?

[Chris J]

Does FIOS have a deal like IO/Cablevision with all three services like Internet, Phone and TV? If so what is the price?

Also FiOS seem to be hard to get in contact with.

[eweiss]

No offense Eweiss, but you must not have had to deal with customer support very much yet.

Tech support has been okay, I havent really needed them since I have not had but 1 or 2 issues and they handled them just fine.

It is the customer service that I have a major problem with. A lot of it is not the phone reps fault. Verizon does not empower them with enough access to support the customers. They seem to only have the same view into the billing system that we can see on the internet.

I have been trying for 2 months to get changed over to paper billing so I could just pay my bill with my banks billpay system and it is still just being drawn out of my account. Last month they sent me an email and told me they were unable to draw it from my account and I needed to setup payment so I did. Three days later they drew it out of my account, so I ended up paying my bill twice last month. Now they say they cannot see the payment that I made. I blame their billing system for this. Their system sent back a confimation number to my bank so according to my bank they got their money, but it was never posted to my Verizon account.

This is only one of my issues with customer support. I have been told by 4 different reps that they would research my billing issues and only 1 of them ever called back.

I think they are overwhelmed with complaints and issues that Verizon has not set them up to be able to handle.

It is obvious to me that Verizon rolled out a product that they are just not ready to support and I hope they get the hell fined out of them for doing it the way they did it.

Oh, my friend had FIOS installed the other day and they ran the fiber to the house from the street and told them that someone would be by next week to bury the cable. That is bad wrong, but it is the way they seem to do business.

I think their leadership needs a good kick in the ass and they need to get some managers in there that have a clue.

I have never seen a company so bad at customer service and so messed up in every area in my life.


I guess I've been lucky. Most of my calls have been to Tech Support, though. I've had FiOS Internet for over a year now, and FiOS TV for a few months now.

[bfdtv]

Also FiOS seem to be hard to get in contact with.
Go to their web page to see if you qualify (http://www22.verizon.com/FiOSForHome/channels/FiOS/root/address_entry.asp). If you qualify through that page, they give you the chance of ordering online or over the phone. They can't place your order unless you qualify.

Does FIOS have a deal like IO/Cablevision with all three services like Internet, Phone and TV? If so what is the price?
Verizon FiOS is $79.90 for 200 digital channels and 5Mbps Internet (with 2Mbps upstream). That includes the cost of a SD box if you subscribe for a year, but does not include the cost of the HDTV DVR, which is $12.99/mo. The 15Mbps plan is $10 extra. In some markets, the 5Mbps Internet plan has been upgraded to 10Mbps and the 15Mbps plan has been upgraded to 20Mbps, at no extra charge.

Verizon Voicewing phone service is $19.95/mo for 500 minutes or $24.95 for unlimited minutes, but you get $5.00 off for Triple Play. Hence, the "triple play" price for 200 digital channels, 5Mbps Internet (with 2Mbps upstream), and 500 minute phone service is $94.85/mo. With unlimited phone service, its $99.95/mo.

[jinpsu]

Did anyone in Northern Virginia watch the Redskins game last night on NBCHD? The picture seemed to "jump" a lot. Like it would miss several frames and jump ahead. It was virtually unwatchable. I'm using the HD-DVR and didn't notice a problem in SD. I also couldn't see the problem on any other HD channel.

Any one else notice this on NBCHD?

justin.

[Ken Ross]

Justin, I too had some video stuttering on one of my setups. It was traced back to a bad wire. The stuttering, which looked exactly as you described it, would come and go. Some days it was there and others it wasn't. Once they ran a new wire, it's never recurred.

I think this is an important point in these installations. They tend to use the existing wires and some of these wires are not in great shape. One they replaced had several punctures and kinks. The only mystery is why the stuttering isn't continuous when it does happen.

[fredfa]

Verizon launches Home Media DVR
By Glen Dickson Broadcasting & Cable 8/14/2006

Verizon is now offering customers of its FiOS TV television service the ability to enjoy digital video recorder (DVR) functionality throughout their homes, without having to rent a DVR-capable set-top for each room.

Verizon has launched its "Home Media DVR," a Motorola DVR-equipped set-top that functions as the media hub by networking with other simple set-tops throughout the home via existing coaxial cable.

To watch recorded programs stored on the central DVR and up to two remote set-top terminals simultaneously, customers can pull down a simple menu and browse through a list of recorded programs. The "media hub" DVR also functions as a dual-tuner DVR on which viewers can watch one program while recording another.

Home Media DVR costs $19.95 per month, $7 more than the monthly fee for the standard FiOS DVR.Additional standard-definition set-tops that serve as "clients" in the Home Media DVR network lease for $3.95 per month.

The "Home Media DVR" also comes bundled with Verizon's Media Manager software, a new feature that allows customers access to photos and music from their personal computer, and to play them on their TV.

“Home Media DVR, with its combination of services, is one of the

most powerful and convenient DVRs available,” said Marilyn O’Connell, Verizon senior vice president – video solutions, in a statement.“It breaks through technology barriers and living room walls to let customers enjoy TV on their own terms throughout the home."

Verizon says that future releases of Home Media DVR will increase the number of set-tops that can simultaneously access recorded content, provide playback of protected content, such as premium movies, and permit playback of home videos stored on the PC.

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleID=CA6362225

[dmbatch]

A couple of drawbacks. The HD STB can't be used with the HM DVR. Material recorded in HD can't be viewed on a regular STB - the only one that works with the HM DVR. So, this will work for non-HD material only even though the DVR itself is HD.

The only thing it doesn't say is if the HM DVRs can show programs from each other. If that's the case it might be worth it.

[fredfa]

The Digital Revolution
Verizon DVR Reaches Whole Home
By Karen Brown Multichannel News 8/14/2006

Verizon Communications is unveiling a new digital-video recorder that can serve up three simultaneous streams of video, as well as photos and music, to televisions throughout the home.

The new Home Media DVR, available to Verizon FiOS TV customers this week, will allow customers to set up a home media network with the Motorola QIP6416 DVR set-top box serving as the hub and standard-definition Motorola QIP2500 set-tops as the remote terminals attached to secondary television sets.

Verizon is offering the multiroom DVR service for $19.95 monthly plus $3.95 per month for each added standard-definition box to link to the secondary TV sets.

Media Manager software included with the box can draw photos from the customer’s PC and display them via the TV sets. A beta version of an application allowing them to play music stored on a home computer via TV sets also is being offered, with plans to release a final version later this year.

Verizon also plans to update the service to support more simultaneous video streams that the hub DVR box can serve.

“Home Media DVR, with its combination of services, is one of the most powerful and convenient DVRs available,” Verizon senior vice president of video solutions Marilyn O’Connell said. “It breaks through technology barriers and living-room walls to let customers enjoy TV on their own terms throughout the home. It’s another way that Verizon innovation is changing the way customers watch TV.”

The whole-home DVR service follows on the heels of FiOS TV Widgets, a set of interactive features introduced in June that add local-weather and traffic-information tickers on the bottom of the TV screen.

http://www.multichannel.com/index.asp?layout=articlePrint&articleid=CA6362308

[jinpsu]

Justin, I too had some video stuttering on one of my setups. It was traced back to a bad wire. The stuttering, which looked exactly as you described it, would come and go. Some days it was there and others it wasn't. Once they ran a new wire, it's never recurred.

I think this is an important point in these installations. They tend to use the existing wires and some of these wires are not in great shape. One they replaced had several punctures and kinks. The only mystery is why the stuttering isn't continuous when it does happen.



Ken, did you see it on all channels or one in particular? I could only see it on NBCHD last night and I spent a good amount of time looking on other channels. All of my cabling is brand new RG6 coax and I'm also using HDMI to the tv. Our basement is unfinished so I made sure the installer used new cables. Also only have the one splitter installed by FiOS.

justin.

[fredfa]

A couple of drawbacks. The HD STB can't be used with the HM DVR. Material recorded in HD can't be viewed on a regular STB - the only one that works with the HM DVR. So, this will work for non-HD material only even though the DVR itself is HD.

The only thing it doesn't say is if the HM DVRs can show programs from each other. If that's the case it might be worth it.


It appears you are right. The system apparently just works with SD. I am sure Verizon is working on that. But for the moment it seems to be a killer.

[eq_shadimar]

I got FIOS installed yesterday. The tech was very knowledgeable he spoke to me to determine where best to install their router. It did take all day from 9 am to 5 pm.

~ SNIP ~

2. Is there a way to scroll through channels without changing the channel you are viewing? I am not talking about guide or mini-guide. On Cox, I could push up or down arrow and at very bottom of screen you would see the channel and what they were showing. When I press the up or down arrow it pauses my DVR. Is there a descrete code or fix for this?

~ SNIP~


The issue you are having only affects the DVR models. Here is a possible solution for you:

If you press and hold the channel up/down button (or just press it really quick) the little info bar will come up and let you scroll through the channels. As soon as you let up on the button the STB will change to that channel. No special code required.

To see the current channel and what is playing press the info button. Once the info bar is displayed you can use the arrow keys to go to different time slots.

Hope that helps you out somewhat.

Laters,
Jeff

[eq_shadimar]

Just out of curiosity, do the FIOS DVR boxes support firewire output to a computer for archiving purposes?

The firewire port is active and does work (at least here in TX). Read the long how to record from firewire thread to find out how to acutally connect the two. I use firewire to watch video on my Mits TV and to record via my Mits D-VHS deck.

Laters,
Jeff

[eq_shadimar]

I am considering getting a JVC D-VHS recorder with firewire. Can you record HD movies using the mortorola HD DVR from FIOS connected via firewire to the JVC D-VHS? If so how hard is it to setup?

I don't know about the JVC but it works with my Mits HS-HD2000U. I just plugged it in and it worked.

Laters,
Jeff

[los seres]

Record a Show Downstairs, Watch It Upstairs and Enjoy Photos and Music on the TV - all With Verizon's Home Media DVR

New Feature is the Latest Innovation From FiOS TV

NEW YORK, Aug. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital video recorders (DVRs), which
record TV programs to a hard drive, are transforming the way people watch
television. Now, Verizon is transforming the DVR as the company introduces
Home Media DVR to Verizon FiOS TV customers this week.

Home Media DVR features a multi-room DVR that enables up to three
simultaneous viewings of programs recorded by the device without requiring
customers to set up a complex home network or buy extra equipment. The
recorder is bundled with Media Manager, a new feature that lets customers
easily access photos and music from their personal computer and play them
on their entertainment center where they look and sound the best. Both
functions are made possible by software and technology already built into
the FiOS platform on Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises network.

"Home Media DVR, with its combination of services, is one of the most
powerful and convenient DVRs available," said Marilyn O'Connell, Verizon
senior vice president - video solutions. "It breaks through technology
barriers and living room walls to let customers enjoy TV on their own terms
throughout the home. It's another way that Verizon innovation is changing
the way customers watch TV."

The launch of Home Media DVR follows the June 1 introduction of FiOS TV
Widgets, a free interactive feature that lets subscribers display
text-based local weather and traffic information on their TV screens. More
information about both services is available at
http://www.verizonfios.com/tv.

Watch DVR-Recorded Shows in any Room in the House
Verizon's new multi-room DVR lets customers view recorded programs from
any room in the house with a television and set-top box. In the multi-room
DVR configuration, Verizon's DVR set-top box (the Motorola QIP6416)
functions as the media hub, which records and streams the video, and its
standard-definition set-top boxes (the Motorola QIP2500) are the remote
terminals. To watch recorded programs on the media hub and up to two remote
terminals simultaneously, customers just pull down the menu, click
"recorded TV" to find and select their program, and then press "play." The
media hub also functions as a dual-tuner DVR on which viewers can watch one
program while recording another.

With Media Manager, family and friends can enjoy photos and music on
their TVs rather than crowding around a computer to view them on a small
screen. Verizon-developed Media Manager software automatically detects
photos and music files on the PC and organizes them for presentation on the
media hub TV. When customers want to show vacation photos, for example,
they select "Media Manager" from the Enhanced TV menu and select the PC
where the photos are stored. Customers can also play PC-based digital music
files through their TVs and connected entertainment system. Music playback
is being released as a beta application, with enhancements slated for
release later this year.

'The FiOS Difference' in Home Entertainment
O'Connell said Home Media DVR is the latest example of "the FiOS
difference," which is changing the way people enjoy home entertainment
ranging from watching TV, to purchasing and downloading movies on the PC,
to playing the latest interactive, multiplayer online video games.

"We've deployed the best platform in the industry, from the core of our
fiber-to-the-premises network right through the home to every device on the
network. Now we're adding cool new features that capitalize on the speed
and interactivity that the FiOS platform makes possible," O'Connell said.
"Innovations like the Home Media DVR on the FiOS platform enable Verizon to
deliver on the promise of digital media and convergence."

Home Media DVR is $19.95 per month, only $7 more than the monthly fee
for the FiOS TV DVR. Customers also need a $3.95-per-month
standard-definition set-top box for each TV that will receive recorded
video from the media hub.

Future releases of Home Media DVR will increase the number of set-top
boxes that can simultaneously access recorded programs, provide playback of
protected content, and permit playback of home videos stored on the PC.

FiOS TV provides a broad collection of all-digital programming, two
dozen high-definition channels, up to 2,500 video-on-demand titles and
more. It is delivered over Verizon's fiber-to-the-premises network to
communities in parts of seven states: California, Florida, Maryland,
Massachusetts, New York, Virginia and Texas. Verizon is adding new cities
and states to its FiOS TV network as it obtains local franchises giving it
the legal authority to do so. Several independent studies have shown that
cable companies respond with lower prices in markets where Verizon offers
its highly competitive FiOS TV service.

[rickypicky]

Does anybody know why Howard County, MD FiOS local HD channels are in the 841-849 range while the other areas (CA, TX, VA, FL, MA, NY) are in the 801-809 range? No big deal, I am just curious. I think Howard County is the most recent area with FiOS TV availability.

Speculation is welcome! :)

[Ken Ross]

A couple of drawbacks. The HD STB can't be used with the HM DVR. Material recorded in HD can't be viewed on a regular STB - the only one that works with the HM DVR. So, this will work for non-HD material only even though the DVR itself is HD.

The only thing it doesn't say is if the HM DVRs can show programs from each other. If that's the case it might be worth it.

It would have been great if they networked the HD. Without HD, I have no interest in this multi-room capability.

[Ken Ross]

Ken, did you see it on all channels or one in particular? I could only see it on NBCHD last night and I spent a good amount of time looking on other channels. All of my cabling is brand new RG6 coax and I'm also using HDMI to the tv. Our basement is unfinished so I made sure the installer used new cables. Also only have the one splitter installed by FiOS.

justin.

Justin, it was pretty much on all the channels. If yours was just isolated to one channel, it doesn't sound like the same problem I had.

[dmbatch]

Does anybody know why Howard County, MD FiOS local HD channels are in the 841-849 range while the other areas (CA, TX, VA, FL, MA, NY) are in the 801-809 range? No big deal, I am just curious. I think Howard County is the most recent area with FiOS TV availability.

Speculation is welcome! :)

My guess is that they are using the same distribution network for MD and VA. Howard has locals from Balt and NoVa uses the DC locals.

[slogun]

Is it possible to use a VCR with FIOS?
Or must you only rent a DVR?

[bfdtv]

slogus,

Sure, you can connect a VCR to the FiOS set-top box.

[biker19]

slogus,

Sure, you can connect a VCR to the FiOS set-top box.
Actually, there are analogs (mostly the locals) below ch 50. For those you could connect the VCR directly to the coax.

[slogun]

slogus,

Sure, you can connect a VCR to the FiOS set-top box.
Does that mean you can use the VCR normally, or would you have to manually set the STB to the channel you want to record each time?

[stepmback]

Anyone in northern VA using a FIOS HD DVR firewire port for recording? I am thinking about getting a D-VHS but am worried that if I get one, the port will not be active on the box. If I can't record there is no point in me getting this box.

Thanks

[bfdtv]

Does that mean you can use the VCR normally, or would you have to manually set the STB to the channel you want to record each time?You can use the VCR "normally" for the local channels and public interest stations. For everything else (cable channels), you'll have to manually set the STB to the channel you want to record, if you don't have a newer VCR with an IR control that can change the channel automatically with remote signals.

[SJKurtzke]

Does anybody know why Howard County, MD FiOS local HD channels are in the 841-849 range while the other areas (CA, TX, VA, FL, MA, NY) are in the 801-809 range? No big deal, I am just curious. I think Howard County is the most recent area with FiOS TV availability.

Speculation is welcome! :)
The extra channels are for Baltimore locals (?)

That's what I heard in the local forum.

[slogun]

You can use the VCR "normally" for the local channels and public interest stations. For everything else (cable channels), you'll have to manually set the STB to the channel you want to record, if you don't have a newer VCR with an IR control that can change the channel automatically with remote signals.
I see. I wasn't aware of that feature on newer VCRs.
Was wondering how the VCR would access the channel by timer.
Thanks for the info.

[biker19]

I see. I wasn't aware of that feature on newer VCRs.
Was wondering how the VCR would access the channel by timer.
Thanks for the info.
Hold off on buying any VCR till next spring - those should have ATSC and QAM tuenrs built in buying some future proofness.

[rickypicky]

My guess is that they are using the same distribution network for MD and VA. Howard has locals from Balt and NoVa uses the DC locals.

Hi, dmbatch! On an unrelated topic, I'm having problems with the picture quality of the SD channels on FiOS. I live just off the Fairfax County Parkway fairly close to Dulles Airport.

Are you seeing any PQ issues with FiOS SD in Falls Church??

[dmbatch]

Hi, dmbatch! On an unrelated topic, I'm having problems with the picture quality of the SD channels on FiOS. I live just off the Fairfax County Parkway fairly close to Dulles Airport.

Are you seeing any PQ issues with FiOS SD in Falls Church??

The SciFi channel looked pretty good last night and my wife watches HGTV all the time and it looks about the same as it ever did.

[bfdtv]

Please, if you are mentioning PQ problems, include the channel name/number, program name, and your service area. Verizon can't look into any of these issues unless you provide more specific information.

"I have a problem!"
Verizon: What problem?
"I have a problem!"
Verizon: What problem?
"I have a problem please help!"
Verizon: What problem?

Better yet, make a list of the 10 worst channels you can find.

[rickypicky]

The SciFi channel looked pretty good last night and my wife watches HGTV all the time and it looks about the same as it ever did.

I will look at the ScFi channel tonight. I do remember when I first got FiOS that the SciFi channel did look awesome as well. I haven't really watched it lately.

[rickypicky]

Please, if you are mentioning PQ problems, include the channel name/number, program name, and your service area. Verizon can't look into any of these issues unless you provide more specific information.

"I have a problem!"
Verizon: What problem?
"I have a problem!"
Verizon: What problem?
"I have a problem please help!"
Verizon: What problem?

Better yet, make a list of the 10 worst channels you can find.

Agreed. Tonight, I will look for 10 of the worst channels for SD PQ.

Just as a side note, I remember one time I was watching CSN (the local sports channel) and the PQ was great, then all of a sudden, the PQ went bad. I'm talking one second great, the next pretty bad. :eek:

[hartal]

I got Verizon FIOS in February.

My son and some of his friends like to watch wrestling, and they order the PPV specials each month.

They have had problems almost every time.

The most common problem is that they place the order about 30 minutes before the show. The screen says they have ordered it. Then when the time comes for the show to start, they can't watch it. The box claims they haven't ordered it. But it won't let them order it again either.

I called customer service yesterday to ask if this was going to be fixed. They told me they didn't have any record of this being a general issue.

Has anyone else been having problems using PPV?

[hartal]

I too am disappointed that the Multi-room option does not support HD. I don't understand why they can't downconvert the HD and let people watch that on a standard box. And why not let people with an HD box watch an HD recording. Perhaps we will see those things in the future.

But that isn't what I wanted to post.

One thing in the new option that had my interest was the stated ability to display pictures from my PC on my TV. But I noticed that the on-line description says absolutely nothing about what kind of resolution is supported.

I'd be willing to pay a monthly fee if I could display my pictures nice and sharp on my HDTV. But I wouldn't be willing to pay if I'm going to have blurry SD versions of my pictures on my TV.

So I called customer support to find out what was supported.

Yes, you guessed it. They could not tell me.

Needless to say, I didn't order it.

[davinci06]

One thing in the new option that had my interest was the stated ability to display pictures from my PC on my TV. But I noticed that the on-line description says absolutely nothing about what kind of resolution is supported.



I was able to stream pictures taken using my Canon Rebel. They looked quite ok(640x480) on the TV. Media Manager did a great job down formating the pictures for viewing on my TV.

[arnoldevns]

I was able to stream pictures taken using my Canon Rebel. They looked quite ok(640x480) on the TV. Media Manager did a great job down formating the pictures for viewing on my TV.

Do you have to have this new multi-room DVR to use this function?

[BTDT]

The biggest problem I see with the "Home Media DVR" is that it still includes the default 160GB recording space of the QIP6416 (since it *is* at QIP6416 with updated software).

I am waiting for the rumored box with multiple plug-and-play drives, reported to provide something more like 500GB. The 160GB on my main DVR barely cuts it, and adding more of the recording load off of the other 2 DVRs in the house would just kill.

BTW, reports have been that you can only initiate a recording from the DVR itself, not from any of the remote STBs. I do not think this is the final integrated solution Verizon is aiming for, but just a stop gap of some sort.

The rumor of TiVo software would be nice as well....

[billodom]

Anyone in northern VA using a FIOS HD DVR firewire port for recording? I am thinking about getting a D-VHS but am worried that if I get one, the port will not be active on the box. If I can't record there is no point in me getting this box.

ThanksI archive to D-VHS with the 6416. It works flawlessly recording live programming. Note the distinction between live programming and attempting to record off the hard drive. You can record off the hard drive but it is not reliable and you will have glitches, more specifically audio synch and video dropouts.

[bfdtv]

Has anyone else been having problems using PPV?
Are you using the router supplied by FiOS? All VOD and PPV is done using IPTV -- meaning it is transmitted over Verizon's IP network. If you aren't using their router with its QoS software you may have issues.


Do you have to have this new multi-room DVR to use this function [pictures displayed from PC to TV]?
Yes.

[stepmback]

I archive to D-VHS with the 6416. It works flawlessly recording live programming. Note the distinction between live programming and attempting to record off the hard drive. You can record off the hard drive but it is not reliable and you will have glitches, more specifically audio synch and video dropouts.

Thanks Bill. This is good news. I think I am going to attempt to run a firewire from box to HTPC and then store movies on hard drive and move to DVD as space requires. If this doesnt work, then I will go for a D-VHS.

By any chance are you using firewire on HTPC to store your movies?

[LonghornXP]

I wonder how fast Verizon will drop the price on the multiroom DVR service once Comcast rolls the Tivo software out as from what I'm hearing they will support multiroom viewing. I know it will support it but what I don't know is if you still need your own network wired or wireless (aka current Tivo setup) or if Comcast will use Moca with the Tivo software. Remember the Tivo software is being coded from the ground up so its quite easy to use Moca with the Tivo software. If you want Tivo To Go you might need your own home network though but I could see that trade off occuring. That would greatly lower their support costs and for those who want Tivo To Go will need to work that out on their own. I think it would be the same price for the Tivo HD DVR and I think many would keep Comcast just for the Tivo at the same exact price per box. I'm also hearing that the multiroom viewing with Comcast Tivo boxes will support HD streaming to an HD box and/or HD DVR. An HD recording "cannot" however be played back on a normal digital box because of a lack of an HD decoder. But I'm hearing that the HD DVR can downconvert it to SD and send it over to a normal digital box so that should be interesting. Also in markets where they only offer an HD DVR even for SD customers all DVR boxes can playback anything including HD as the box would downconvert it to SD like it does today. I'm also hearing that four HD streams can be accessed at once (three clients and one server playback support) and because of this I see no way this could be done without it being Moca supported.

[billodom]

By any chance are you using firewire on HTPC to store your movies?No, I have no familiarity with the HTPC universe other than what I have skimmed across on this site through the years. There is a copy protection standard known as 5C in place that limits the type of content you can archive to a PC. This post from the 6416 thread in the HDTV Recorders forum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7962944&highlight=5C#post7962944) should be useful to you. You'll have to go the D-VHS route if you want to archive the premium FiOS content.

[JWhip]

stepmback, I records to D-VHS from the 6412 harddrive with no glitches. Sometimes you have to unplug the D-VHS first but it will give you flawless copies.

[bfdtv]

I'm also hearing that four HD streams can be accessed at once (three clients and one server playback support) and because of this I see no way this could be done without it being Moca supported.AFAIK, the current boxes deployed by Comcast don't support MoCA and neither do their routers. To do MoCA, Comcast would need to install additional hardware in the customer's home.

But I'm hearing that the HD DVR can downconvert it to SD and send it over to a normal digital box so that should be interesting.
Not going to happen. The current boxes deployed by Comcast can't do this.

[davinci06]

Do you have to have this new multi-room DVR to use this function?


Yes you need sign up for Home Media option. Media Manager is part of the package.

[LonghornXP]

AFAIK, the current boxes deployed by Comcast don't support MoCA and neither do their routers. To do MoCA, Comcast would need to install additional hardware in the customer's home.


Not going to happen. The current boxes deployed by Comcast can't do this.

First the 6400 and 3400 series DVR boxes along with the 2500 digital boxes support sharing recorded content over existing cables within the house. They don't use Moca but Motorola does support it via their whole house software. So if Motorola says the boxes can do it they can. Also you can read more about at the link I'll post below. Also I read the tech docs and it fully supports OCAP so that any guide software can be used with this home media solution. So that means that Tivo software ported to these boxes can offer home media features. Comcast may call it home networking option as that is what Tivo calls it but it may still endup using the existing coax cables unlike current Tivo standalone boxes.

http://broadband.motorola.com/whms/design.html

[dunal]

If the HDTV set already has a QAM tuner, since I dont need DVR function for now, is it still mandatory that one need to order HDTV box (or DVR) for $150 extra per yr in order to view HDTV channel?

Thanx

[Ken Ross]

I believe the only HD channels you'll get going direct to the QAM capable TV, is the HD broadcast content (locals). All premium material will require an HD STB.

[bfdtv]

If the HDTV set already has a QAM tuner, since I dont need DVR function for now, is it still mandatory that one need to order HDTV box (or DVR) for $150 extra per yr in order to view HDTV channel?
All the channels, aside from the DTV/HDTV locals (confirmed as unencrypted), are encrypted, and would require either the HDTV STB/DVR, or a CableCard, which FiOS offers for $2.95/mo.

So to answer your question, no, you do not need to order the HDTV STB/DVR if your TV has a CableCard slot. But you would need to pay $2.95/mo for the CableCard. Normally, FiOS will give you the standard (non-HD) set-top box for free when you commit to a year of service. You could ask if they'll give you the CableCard for free instead of that standard set-top box (which normally costs $3.95/mo), when committing to a year of service.

[bfdtv]

First the 6400 and 3400 series DVR boxes along with the 2500 digital boxes support sharing recorded content over existing cables within the house.
Note these boxes can't communicate together on their own, they require additional hardware, namely a coax run and Internet (ethernet) connection to a separate Motorola NIM.

Also I read the tech docs and it fully supports OCAP so that any guide software can be used with this home media solution. So that means that Tivo software ported to these boxes can offer home media features. Comcast may call it home networking option as that is what Tivo calls it but it may still endup using the existing coax cables unlike current Tivo standalone boxes.
The QIP series is the MoCA version of the standard Motorola DCT-series. Search the web for MoCA and QIP6416, QIP6200, or QIP2500 and you will find a number of press releases which discuss the addition of MoCA capability.

Since the QIP series is just a version of the DCT series (used by Comcast) with MoCA, it should be able to do everything the DCT-6416 can, including the use of Tivo's software implementation for Comcast, should FiOS choose to offer it.

[SJKurtzke]

I believe this hasn't been asked yet, so:

Does Verizon offer the PBS subchannels? (Such as WETA World, WETA Create, WETA Kids, MPT Kids, MPT Select, and MPT Learner)

I couldn't find it on their channel lineup, but I remember some kind of a deal was struck a while ago.

[jgantert]

I believe this hasn't been asked yet, so:

Does Verizon offer the PBS subchannels? (Such as WETA World, WETA Create, WETA Kids, MPT Kids, MPT Select, and MPT Learner)

I couldn't find it on their channel lineup, but I remember some kind of a deal was struck a while ago.
Yeah, they are new (around Aug 1) and are in the upper 800's for Howard Co, MD. Maybe different in your area because all of our locals are numbered differently because we get both Baltimore and DC local channels in HD, and it's too many channels to fit in the 810's.

-John

[bfdtv]

Does Verizon offer the PBS subchannels? (Such as WETA World, WETA Create, WETA Kids, MPT Kids, MPT Select, and MPT Learner)
Yes, they do.

[bgooch]

Ontario, CA OKs cable franchise with Verizon

ONTARIO - The city has approved a cable franchise with Verizon, paving the way for two different firms in the city offering cable television services.

Verizon is installing fiber-optic lines in several Inland Valley cities, which will allow for cable and high-speed Internet service that is faster than most cable modems or DSL lines.

Currently, Time Warner Cable is the only cable television service provider in the city.

Satellite firms do not need a franchise agreement with the city.

The agreement with Verizon will give Ontario five percent of gross revenues from cable service in the city. The existing agreement with Time Warner brought $461,000 into city coffers in the last fiscal year.

-- Mason Stockstill, (909) 483-9354
http://www.dailybulletin.com/news/ci_4204609

[TurboDan]

Yeah, they are new (around Aug 1) and are in the upper 800's for Howard Co, MD. Maybe different in your area because all of our locals are numbered differently because we get both Baltimore and DC local channels in HD, and it's too many channels to fit in the 810's.

-John

Wait, REALLY? HoCo is getting both DC and Baltimore locals in HD?!?

This is a HUGE development! The same situation that's been going on in the Balt-DC area has been happening in NJ, where cable companies offer both NYC and Philadelphia locals - but on NYC locals in HD, even though in some areas the majority of sports fans want to see PHL teams (especially the Eagles). I posted a thread about this at BroadbandReports and the cable apologists came out of the woodword to trash me, telling me that due to DMA regs, the cable companies can't carry "significantly viewed" locals for other markets. I knew they were quite wrong just from my limited experience working with a couple media ownership companies, but I couldn't prove it since no one was doing two sets of HD locals.

If it's true that HoCo FiOS users have both sets of HD locals, that is MAJOR news for when NJ gets hooked up this year.

[biker19]

All the channels, aside from the DTV/HDTV locals (confirmed as unencrypted), are encrypted, and would require either the HDTV STB/DVR, or a CableCard, which FiOS offers for $2.95/mo.

Since when are there any clear QAM channels? As of late June FIOS I had no clear QAM channels.

[bfdtv]

Since when are there any clear QAM channels? As of late June FIOS I had no clear QAM channels.
It may depend on your local office, I don't know. But I'm confirmed local DTV channels in the clear on QAM.

[fmsjr]

Wait, REALLY? HoCo is getting both DC and Baltimore locals in HD?!?

...I posted a thread about this at BroadbandReports and the cable apologists came out of the woodword to trash me, telling me that due to DMA regs, the cable companies can't carry "significantly viewed" locals for other markets. I knew they were quite wrong just from my limited experience working with a couple media ownership companies, but I couldn't prove it since no one was doing two sets of HD locals.

If it's true that HoCo FiOS users have both sets of HD locals, that is MAJOR news for when NJ gets hooked up this year.
Yes, that stuff about DMA regs is nonsense. Here in AA both cable companies have carried DC and Baltimore locals for years... albeit in analog only. They also *carry* both in HD but only map Baltimore to channels on the STB. As someone mentioned earlier, hopefully they'll feel the pressure from Verizon and also map DC.

[Marcus Carr]

Comcast in Laurel, MD (where my parents live) has FOX45 Baltimore and FOX5 Washington in HD on their STB. FOX45 is owned by Sinclair, so they added FOX5 during the Comcast/Sinclair pissing match.The other HD channels are from Baltimore.

FIOS is coming to Laurel, probably with both sets of HD locals. Maybe Comcast will then add the rest. But at that point, who cares? Especially if FIOS gets INHD like E* has.

Unfortunately, I'm in Baltimore City and might not get FIOS for a very long time.

[TurboDan]

Yeah, getting big cities wired for FiOS will be a chore, to say the least. I'd suspect certain areas of Baltimore City will be wired as the wiring makes its way in from other parts of Baltimore County.

It's a much stickier situation in NYC. They probably won't have it for a LONG time, while NJ and LI are already getting wired for FiOS.

[Ken Ross]

I noticed a bit of video stutter on my boxes last night. I called tech support and they acknowledged there was a system problem on many of the HD channels last night. Interestingly, ESPN HD was free of any issues. This morning everything seems fine.

Anyone else notice this last night?

[mjwedeking]

Yes, that stuff about DMA regs is nonsense. Here in AA both cable companies have carried DC and Baltimore locals for years... albeit in analog only. They also *carry* both in HD but only map Baltimore to channels on the STB. As someone mentioned earlier, hopefully they'll feel the pressure from Verizon and also map DC.

I am in between LA and San Diego but in the LA area according to the FCC (even though I am closer to SD and work in SD). Therefore any Cable Co's in the area have to carry the LA locals. Some of the Cable Co's in the area will carry some of the local SD channels as well. FiOS does not carry any SD channels. I think the NFL black out rule with the SD Chargers covers both SD and LA.

[ebo]

It may depend on your local office, I don't know. But I'm confirmed local DTV channels in the clear on QAM.Every setup will be different, but I'd be interested to know how many HD locals they put on on RF channel in your area. I have a MyHD MDP-130 PCI HD tuner card that can receive clear QAM and has an option to record either a single subchannel or the entire transport stream. The latter eats up hard drive space like crazy, but my local TWC puts 3 HD locals on 1 RF channel and 2 HD + several SD on another. If there are conflicting shows on 2 or 3 subchannels of the same channel, I can record them all and pick what to watch on playback. That's handy when the nets roll out their new shows and during sweeps.

[david4788]

I have FIOS for internet and LOVE it!! Saves me about $250/yr over Comcast. I wanted to get the FIOS TV as well, but I have 6 TVs in this house and two are custom installed with no room for a box. One is a small under cabinet TV in the kitchen and the other is a 50" plasma with HD tuner and CableCard. I just don't want the fees for all the additional boxes I would need for the other TVs. Anyone have a brainstorm?? I want to dump Comcast bad. They did lower my cable bill to $34/month after I had "a chat" with them.

[wmcbrine]

Comcast in Laurel, MD (where my parents live) has FOX45 Baltimore and FOX5 Washington in HD on their STB. FOX45 is owned by Sinclair, so they added FOX5 during the Comcast/Sinclair pissing match.The other HD channels are from Baltimore.Are you sure your parents don't live in North Laurel (i.e., Howard County, outside the city limits)? Or perhaps in Anne Arundel? I live in the City of Laurel proper, and I haven't been on Comcast since 2000, but I remember there was a big fuss when Comcast here dropped the Baltimore locals. AFAIK that's still the status quo.

FIOS is coming to Laurel, probably with both sets of HD locals. I hope you're right, but this was an issue at the time of the franchise negotiations with the city, and Verizon ended up not agreeing to carry both sets. No real explanation was given. Of course the situation is different for Howard County, or Anne Arundel, or unincorporated Prince George's -- all adjoining the city.

I wanted to get the FIOS TV as well, but I have 6 TVs in this house and two are custom installed with no room for a box. One is a small under cabinet TV in the kitchen and the other is a 50" plasma with HD tuner and CableCard.You can get CableCard with Fios, too, although it does cost $3 a month per card. For the other set(s), you can treat the Fios signal as regular analog cable, if you're content with the channels below 50 (mainly locals and public access).

[fmsjr]

I wanted to get the FIOS TV as well, but I have 6 TVs in this house and two are custom installed with no room for a box. One is a small under cabinet TV in the kitchen and the other is a 50" plasma with HD tuner and CableCard.



You can get CableCard with Fios, too, although it does cost $3 a month per card. For the other set(s), you can treat the Fios signal as regular analog cable, if you're content with the channels below 50 (mainly locals and public access).

If you don't have enough viewers that you need to watch different programs on all or many of the sets at the same time, you might run the RF out from one of the standard STBs to the kitchen... choosing an STB that is within remote control distance. Even if none are nearby, a remote extender might end up being cheaper than $5/month for a dedicated STB.
Our problem is bedroom TVs, PC cards, ReplayTVs, split screen tuners (NTSC only), DVD recorders... we would need about a dozen STBs for all of this junk. Can't justify boxes for sets that are watched just a few hours per month. I may keep Comcast's most basic service in addition to FiOS TV for as long as they have analog...but channels are slowly disappearing to the digital tier.

[Dmon4u]

Local Officials are morons: http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/business/s_467234.html

PA Hearings:

"By Kim Leonard
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Wednesday, August 23, 2006


Local government officials worry that their residents' cable TV service will suffer if Verizon and other providers are allowed to bypass individual negotiations with them and apply for one statewide franchise. Five local officials testified before the state House Consumer Affairs Committee on Tuesday in Pittsburgh, detailing concerns about legislation that telecommunications giant Verizon has been advocating as a quicker way to bring its state-of-the-art FiOS TV service to Pennsylvania.

"The current system of using local franchising agreements is a documented success," Helen Jackson, a New Beaver councilwoman and president of the state Association of Councils of Governments, testified during the hearing at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Downtown.

Cable companies with longstanding franchises argued against the bill, while telecommunications firms and consumer agencies said a streamlined franchising process would benefit customers by ushering in myriad TV choices and lower prices.

Jackson and and Cranberry Supervisor Richard Hadley, Crescent Commissioner David Hays, Washington, Pa., Mayor Ken Westcott and Peters Assistant Manager Paul Lauer contend that the Corporation Bureau of Pennsylvania's Department of State -- which would administer the statewide franchise -- couldn't possibly keep tabs on cable providers as well as local officials have done for more than 20 years.

That means intervening when service calls aren't answered promptly, they say. Controlling and maintaining the rights of way where cables run. Making sure that no-cost service is provided to libraries, schools and community centers, that public, educational and government channels stay on the air and that companies work to provide service to all neighborhoods.

State Rep. Raymond Bunt Jr., a prime sponsor of the House bill and a committee member, disputed their arguments, saying the bill protects all the key points of local control while allowing TV competition that will reduce consumers' bills. "Have you read it?" he asked.

Verizon, as well as dominant cable provider Comcast and any other company that secures a statewide agreement, still would pay communities franchise fees of up to 5 percent of gross revenues, as federal law dictates, said Bunt, R-Montgomery County.

Cranberry's 4 percent fee brings in about $170,000 a year from Comcast, money used to maintain the pathways the company's lines use, Hadley said. Still, Bunt pointed out that constituents, not the companies, actually foot the franchise revenues.

Verizon's ongoing construction of a fiber-optic network designed to deliver voice, Internet and TV service figures into the franchise debate, although bill supporters say any of the state's 36 other phone companies, or other providers, someday may offer TV service. Verizon's new lines now stretch over parts of 200 Pennsylvania communities, including 62 in the Pittsburgh region.

Verizon has obtained TV franchises the old-fashioned way with 25 eastern Pennsylvania communities. None yet has FiOS TV service -- which the company said can sustain 220 high-definition channels -- and offers other pluses over traditional cable.

Negotiations continue with about 125 others -- but Verizon's Pennsylvania territory covers 1,600 municipalities. Verizon Pennsylvania President William Petersen said although the company's "slow pace may be good news for cable companies, it is anything but good news for consumers."

The Consumer Affairs Committee will hold three or four more hearings statewide in September on the House bill, introduced in June by Bunt and state Rep. Joseph Preston, D-East Liberty, also a committee member. The Senate is considering a similar bill.

Bunt said the House version has more than 80 cosponsors, and he hopes the Consumer Affairs Committee will advance it for a vote after the hearing process. "We only have October and November" before the end of the legislative session, he said.

[megadoo1]

Towns make deal on cable TV

By WINSLOW MASON JR.
Bucks County Courier Times

Some local communities could see cable television competition before year's end, according to an agreement reached Tuesday between Verizon and 35 Bucks communities.

The Bucks County Verizon Franchise Consortium, which represents those 35 municipalities, has negotiated a model franchise agreement that would allow Verizon to send television signals over its fiber-optic telephone lines, said group spokesman Robert Pellegrino, who is also the Newtown Township manager.

Highlights of the agreement, which all 35 towns must adopt by ordinance, says Verizon must pay each town 5 percent of the gross revenues it generates in that municipality. Verizon also agrees to make a government access channel available in each town that adopts the ordinance.

Verizon's fiber-optic television service would be the first major competition for Comcast, which is the major provider of cable service in Bucks.

Fiber-optic lines are strands of optically pure glass as thin as a human hair that can carry digital information over long distances.

Some towns will get Verizon's fiber-optic cable service faster than others, Pellegrino said. Verizon has already started building its fiber-optic network in some Bucks communities, he said.

As each town adopts its ordinance with Verizon, it will also get a schedule of when cable service will be available.

Pellegrino said Newtown Township might be able to adopt its ordinance by early fall and have cable competition by year's end or early 2007 because Verizon has already started building its fiber-optic network there.

Other towns in the consortium could see cable competition before the end of 2006, he said, but that depends on how quickly the towns adopt the ordinance and how quickly Verizon installs its network, he said.

“We're happy with the agreement and we're looking forward to bringing competition to our communities,” Pellegrino said.

Verizon spokeswoman Sharon Shaffer said the Bucks agreement comes on the heels of a similar consortium agreement in Montgomery County and individual franchise agreements throughout the five-county Philadelphia metro region.

“Thanks to this latest agreement with the Bucks consortium, Verizon will be able to offer the first real cable competition in Bucks County,” Shaffer said Tuesday. “This is a good day for Bucks residents.”

[FIOS4ME]

Well now I'm REALLY pissed. Yesterday I was driving thru Lindenhurst NY and saw 3 Verizon trucks on a corner. I drove over and asked them when can I tell cablevision to take a hike(not the usual price hike). They said the mayor told them to stop work in the village so they are moving on to Northport. If they receive opposition they just move on to another town.

Now who do I call at Verizon to get info and keep the ball rolling and what do I do at the town level to impress upon the mayor that he can keep his free cable but we want FIOS.

Who can I call at Verizon to see if they are still negotiating with the town? I will go to town hall tomorrow and probably get arrested.

I WANT MY FIOS!!!!!

[GoldenBoy]

Does anyone have any information on when if ever they will come to NYC, in particular Queens?

[BillW]

This is a little off topic but I thought it might be of interest. We got fios internet a year ago the TV a month ago. Today I woke up and no internet connection, but the TV and phone worked fine. After an hour with tech (they were very nice no attitude) they were going to send out a new router. They kept saying the connection between the wall and the router was bad, but switching the cables didn't help. Then I noticed the transformer or wall wart was hot, and it was the transformer from when we only had internet. Then I found the trans. that came with the new router (actiontec), but hadn't been installed. It was rated at the same voltage but rated for 1 more amp output (3). I switched them as presto everything worked. Tech was still on the line and said "well I guess we need to make sure they don't just reuse the old transformer! So check your transformers!!

Bill

[fredfa]

TV Notebook
Verizon, Cablevision skirmish as war nears
By David Lieberman USA Today 8/24/2006

NEW YORK — Nobody would mistake the lush, trimmed lawns of suburban New York City for the OK Corral. But you can almost hear the jingling spurs and blasting revolvers of a corporate gunfight erupting that could affect virtually all consumers.

About a year after telecom giant Verizon fired up its first state-of-the-art broadband network in Keller, Texas, it now is wiring some of the cable industry's most lucrative territories for a rival, cable-like bundle of TV, phone and Internet services it calls FiOS.

"We've got the fire in the belly," says Marilyn O'Connell, Verizon's senior vice president for video solutions. She says FiOS will be available to 6 million homes by year's end, 20 million in 2009. The company expects to eventually win 30% as customers. No. 1 phone provider AT&T (formerly SBC) has similar plans to take on cable TV.

The showdown here is with Long Island-based Cablevision Systems, which is firing back with innovative pricing packages and technologies — including some aimed at Verizon's core phone businesses.

"Cablevision's writing the playbook on how to compete," says Sanford C. Bernstein's Craig Moffett. "They've started playing offense while the rest of the cable industry is still playing defense."

Not for long if they see chunks of their valuable 62 million TV subscribers switching to packages from the formidable former Bells. Verizon generated revenue of $75 billion last year, more than all cable operators combined. Verizon won't say how many FiOS TV customers it has, but Bernstein Research estimates 47,000 homes by year's end, rising to 4 million in 2015.

Cable hoped to avoid a fight. Its investors are impatient to see big profits from the $70 billion the industry spent in the last decade to upgrade its networks to offer more TV channels and two-way services, including phone and Internet. The stocks collectively have appreciated just 4% since August 2003.

"It's very grim," for cable, says former AT&T Broadband CEO Leo Hindery. Serious competition on these fronts from the phone giants means that "in no case will any of (these new) businesses make the margins that were expected."

Few now doubt the phone industry's commitment to spend big on new networks and services. Its current copper phone lines can't handle today's demanding communications services. It's losing voice customers to Internet phone services such as Vonage and Skype, as well as to cable offerings.

Verizon's 47 million local lines as of June 30 are down 7.4% from that point last year. The trend has helped keep shares virtually flat for three years and led to its decision to go all out to build Cable 3.0: a network of fiber-optic lines to each home that analysts estimate could cost $20 billion over the next decade.

The new network "is a play to make sure they're not irrelevant," says Forrester Research analyst Maribel Lopez. "It's not just to offer video."

Verizon ups ante on bandwidth

FiOS has been designed with capacity to offer a lot more. By stringing fiber all the way to users' homes, Verizon has more bandwidth than cable, which typically runs fiber to a neighborhood and cheaper coaxial lines to the homes. As a virtually all-digital system, FiOS doesn't devote gobs of spectrum to analog TV channels as cable operators do (though it does mean customers need set-top boxes for their TVs).

Still, Verizon is adding only about 3 million homes a year to those able to get FiOS, at a cost of nearly $900 per home. When someone signs up, Verizon spends $715 more for the typical five-hour, two-person job to tie the home to the system.

In taking on Cablevision, the phone company faces one of the USA's most famously freewheeling, family-controlled companies, as well as one of cable's most highly regarded operators.

CEO Jim Dolan is best known for his feuds with his father, Chairman Charles Dolan, and with ex-New York Knicks coach Larry Brown (Cablevision owns the team), as well as being lead singer of blues band JD & the Straight Shot.

Cablevision, which generated $5.2 billion in revenue last year, is determined to hang on to its 3.1 million basic TV subscribers. About 80% of them are in Verizon's phone territories, and the overlaps include many of New York's wealthiest suburbs.

Verizon recently began to offer FiOS in Long Island towns including Hempstead, Oyster Bay and Cedarhurst. This month, it won a statewide franchise in New Jersey. At the pace Verizon is rolling out service, Bear Stearns estimates that Cablevision subscriber losses will be about 2.1% by 2010. In a mature industry lacking subscriber growth, that's worth a fight.

Verizon is deploying what it calls a "guerrilla marketing" campaign. It sends salespeople door-to-door, sets up product demonstrations at concerts and community events, and slaps messages on Chinese food containers, pizza boxes and take-out coffee cups.

The company says it has found people across all its markets itching for a choice, with about 10% of all households capable of getting FiOS subscribing in the first six months it's offered.

"I've been around a lot, and I haven't been associated with a product that had that kind of adoption that quickly," O'Connell says. "All of the early indicators are saying that we've got it right."

Many New Yorkers agree.

"We jumped at it," says Hiram Rosas, 32, a teacher in Roosevelt, N.Y., who has Verizon's video, phone and Internet package. "Whenever we had service issues (with Cablevision), it was, 'We'll get to you when we get to you.' "

Verizon's pointed ads pour salt on wounded feelings about cable service, with slogans such as: "All I want is to cut off cable;" "All I want is to get on board with a company I like;" and "All I want is a choice other than Cablevision."

Verizon took a more positive approach to score points with gamers: It sponsored a national video game tournament, flying eight finalists to a championship in Hermosa Beach, Calif., in July.

"They played over the (FiOS) fiber connection on the live Internet, which is unique in gaming tournaments. Usually, they're played over local servers," says Brian Angiolet, FiOS' director of marketing.

HDTV and advanced digital-video recorders also are a marketing draw. More than half of FiOS customers pay extra for a set-top box with a DVR that handles HDTV channels, while an additional 10% get a box that just provides HDTV. This month, Verizon introduced (for an additional $20 a month) a DVR that can transmit recorded shows through the lines to any TV set-top box in the house.

Verizon recently raised the stakes with a free feature called FiOS TV Widgets. Viewers can press a button on the remote to see text under their show that describes local weather and traffic. Coming soon: sports scores, news headlines and stock prices.

Next year, it plans more ethnic programming packages in addition to one it already has for Hispanic viewers. It also is working on HDTV-on-demand, teleconferencing and services that blend TV, Internet and phone, including wireless.

Cablevision says subscriber loss low

Cablevision says it's unfazed, with FiOS getting only 2% of potential customers in Cablevision markets where it has been offered for at least six months. "Verizon is not taking subscribers from us," COO Tom Rutledge told analysts this month. "I don't believe they're taking significant numbers from satellite, either."

Cablevision shrugs off Verizon's boasts about the power of its fiber-optic lines. Because most homes are internally wired with coaxial cable, "fiber-to-the-home translates into a hybrid system that's comparable to ours," says Patricia Gottesman, executive vice president for product management and marketing.

Still, Cablevision is fighting back — although it says that it's responding to competition from a variety of sources, including satellite, not just Verizon.

In late 2003, it became the first cable company to offer phone service to everyone in its territory. It now has more than a million home phone customers, or 22% of the potential market. Cablevision in May began offering a $20-per-month add-on of 500 minutes of call time anywhere in the world.

Cablevision's pre-emptive strike

More broadly, the company is trying to bear-hug consumers with discounted video, phone, and Internet bundles, as well as a few technological innovations, before Verizon wires arrive.

In 2004, it began offering new customers a one-year deal on the video, Internet and phone "triple play" package for $90 a month. The price rises to nearly $117 after the first year, including a $20-a-month discount Cablevision introduced in February 2005.

More than half of all new customers take the "triple play," the company says.

"Initially, I had Verizon for my phone service, and the bill was in the high $80 to low $90 range," says Joseph Lawless, 41, a bond trader in Massapequa Park. Now, with Cablevision, "I get cable, Internet and phone for a little more than I paid for just my phone." Unless Verizon counters with a blockbuster price, "I have no reason to change."

In June, Cablevision completed its effort to keep heavy Web surfers happy by boosting download speeds on its most popular service from 10 megabits per second to 15, more than double the cable industry average, and introducing a higher-priced 30 mbps service. (Verizon offers three speeds: 5 mbps, 15 mbps, and 30 mbps.)

One planned sweetener has been put on hold, pending a court ruling. Cablevision planned to blitz the market with technology, letting any digital cable box function as a DVR by storing recorded programs on Cablevision's servers instead of on a hard drive in the box at each user's home. Hollywood studios sued, saying the service violates program owners' copyrights; Cablevision argues the service is no different than a conventional DVR.

Cablevision soon will introduce additional ethnic TV channels. It also will heavily market low-priced business communications services, a market that Verizon has dominated. "Our customers are conducting more and more business at home," Gottesman says.

Consumers may win features and price

For now, the rivals are touting their technologies and services, but many observers are certain they cannot avoid an old-fashioned price war.

"The products are shockingly similar to the average consumer," Hindery says. And Verizon "has to achieve penetration. When you have to achieve penetration against an incumbent with comparable technologies, then you tend to compete on price."

As long as Verizon doesn't quit, Lopez, says, "the consumer over the next year or two is going to get a good deal."

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2006-08-23-cable-cover-usat_x.htm

[Ken Ross]

I called Cablevision to cancel my internet & phone service since I just switched those 2 to FIOS yesterday. You should have heard the high pressure tactics and B.S. the Cablevision CSR was giving me.....whoa!! They sure didn't sound 'unconcerned' to me! ;)

[65T500]

I called Cablevision to cancel my internet & phone service since I just switched those 2 to FIOS yesterday. You should have heard the high pressure tactics and B.S. the Cablevision CSR was giving me.....whoa!! They sure didn't sound 'unconcerned' to me! ;)

Lucky dog you!!!! I can't wait. I hope they offer it here in Babylon so I have it for the superbowl.

How is the TV? How is the internet?

[arnoldevns]

I called Cablevision to cancel my internet & phone service since I just switched those 2 to FIOS yesterday. You should have heard the high pressure tactics and B.S. the Cablevision CSR was giving me.....whoa!! They sure didn't sound 'unconcerned' to me! ;)

I had the same experience with Comcast in Plano, Texas when we ditched them for FIOS. We got FIOS installed one day, called Comcast to cancel our cable the next day. They wanted to offer me a special deal to keep me as a customer. I said no and turned in the box that afternoon. That evening we got a call from Comcast again offering to give us all the same channels we'd been watching before, but at a significantly reduced rate. In total, they called 5 times trying to get us to come back. Each time they called it sounded slightly more desperate.

Had the made the offer before we'd switched to FIOS, we might have stayed. I'm glad they didn't. :-)

[eweiss]

Lucky dog you!!!! I can't wait. I hope they offer it here in Babylon so I have it for the superbowl.

How is the TV? How is the internet?

FiOS TV is visibly better on some standard channels than either DirecTV or Comcast cable. HD may be better; I never really compared. Internet works just fine. I've had FiOS Internet for about 17 months, and FiOS TV for about 6 months - i.e., as soon as it came to our neighborhood. It costs more than Comcast, plus no free movies on Video On Demand unless you subscribe to a premium channel, but the PQ is definitely better. Some movies on Starz! and sometimes on TCM look near-DVD quality, and I could never say that about Comcast.

[65T500]

Well all I have for tv thru cablevision is their basic analog family plan. I don't even subscribe to their I/O digital service so I am sure that when I get FIOS it will be better. Especially on an uncalibrated 65 inch RPTV. I will have it ISF calibrated the minute I hear FIOS will be available to me.

[Marcus Carr]

Verizon TV Viewers Love HDTV

The telco says 60 percent of its subscribers are leasing High-Definition TV boxes.

By Phillip Swann

Washington, D.C. (August 24, 2006) -- Telecom Verizon's new TV service is connecting with High-Definition TV owners.

According to today's USA Today, Verizon says more than 60 percent of its subscribers are leasing High-Definition TV boxes. More than 50 percent are getting set-tops that include both a Digital Video Recorder and a high-def tuner; an additional 10 percent are getting boxes that just provide HDTV signals.

The telco did not reveal how many subscribers it has at this time. However, the 60 percent sign-up rate for HDTV is roughly three to four times higher than it is for most cable and satellite operators.

Verizon, which launched its TV service this year in selected markets, says it expects to be available in six million homes by year's end and 20 million in 2009. Along with AT&T, which has also launched a TV service, Verizon hopes viewers will drop cable and satellite in favor of telco TV.

Verizon's ultimate goal is to capture 30 percent of the market, the newspaper writes.

The High-Def Strategy

High-Definition TV will be a major part of Verizon's strategy to win over cable and satellite viewers.

In the New York area, Verizon is now offering 23 high-def channels, compared to 21 for Cablevision, the largest cable operator in the area. In addition, the monthly cost for a HD DVR is $12.95 compared to $15.69 for Cablevision, according to USA Today. A standalone HD receiver costs $9.95 a month; Cablevision charges $5.74.

Verizon says it's also planning to launch a High-Definition On Demand service, something already available on many cable systems.

http://www.tvpredictions.com/verizonhdtv082406.htm

[Ken Ross]

Lucky dog you!!!! I can't wait. I hope they offer it here in Babylon so I have it for the superbowl.

How is the TV? How is the internet?

TV is superb. You simply won't see better HD short of HD DVD. In our area on L.I., most SD channels are far better than those we were getting on D*. Internet speeds are about 2 1/2 times faster than I was getting on Optimum for the same price! Color me happy! :)

There is one missing ingredient for me however, no YES HD. I've kept a minimum package with Cablevision so that I can receiver the Yankee games in HD. If you're a Met fan, the same holds true there. They've got both the SD channels for both the Yanks & Mets, but no HD yet. They keep saying 'soon', but I'm waiting.

[Chris J]

Ken is the phone service similar to IO that it connects to the internet modem.


Post 666 :)

[arnoldevns]

For what it's worth, I noticed today that Fios in North Texas has added KDAF's feed of the Tube music video channel on 859. I wonder if this is going on in other "Tube" broadcast markets.

[Jay Bergman]

Ken,

I am having FIOS TV installed on Monday. I want to keep Cablevision (at least temporarily) and need to know how they wired your house and how you managed to keep the cable. They told me they use existing cable and just replace cablevisions outdoor feed with the Fios feed.
Jay

[wmcbrine]

The telco says 60 percent of its subscribers are leasing High-Definition TV boxes.This could be misleading, in that they aren't offering an SD DVR -- who knows how many would choose that, if they did?

Ken is the phone service similar to IO that it connects to the internet modem.No... remember, this is still The Phone Company. They move the connection point for your existing house wiring over to the ONT (the big grey box). It rides a completely separate data stream from the Internet side of the service. I'm told that the line is digitized in the ONT instead of the central office, but is otherwise equivalent to a POTS line. (Some people experience additional echo, but I haven't; and there's less noise.)

Verizon also (or I should say, alternatively) offers a VoIP service; or of course you can use any VoIP provider. Some people say that VoIP works better over Fios than over most providers, given Fios' high upstream bandwidth and low latency. I haven't tried it myself.

[Stingray1]

All the channels, aside from the DTV/HDTV locals (confirmed as unencrypted), are encrypted, and would require either the HDTV STB/DVR, or a CableCard, which FiOS offers for $2.95/mo.

So to answer your question, no, you do not need to order the HDTV STB/DVR if your TV has a CableCard slot. But you would need to pay $2.95/mo for the CableCard. Normally, FiOS will give you the standard (non-HD) set-top box for free when you commit to a year of service. You could ask if they'll give you the CableCard for free instead of that standard set-top box (which normally costs $3.95/mo), when committing to a year of service.

I have 2 Sony DHG HDD 500 DVR's with cable card . Can I use these in place of a STB with Verizon FiosTV? If so, do I get the Fios TV guide thru the CC?

[Hoopnoop]

I have 2 Sony DHG HDD 500 DVR's with cable card . Can I use these in place of a STB with Verizon FiosTV? If so, do I get the Fios TV guide thru the CC?

Hey Stingray!

I know of some people who have succesfully installed the Fios cablecard in their TV so I assume it will work with the HDD 500. I have Fios and am using the HD DVR right now but am trying to find a cable card that will work. Just make sure they bring plenty of cable cards -- my area only has one at this point.

Re: the guide, I live in northern Virginia. I had to type in the zip code for Herndon and I got the Fios channels except for some that aren't listed. I also remapped some channels so I use TNT for TNT HD.

Good luck!

[Ken Ross]

Ken is the phone service similar to IO that it connects to the internet modem.


Post 666 :)

Chris, no, it doesn't connect to the internet modem. To be honest, I'm not sure where the phone connection originates from....perhaps the ONT?

[Ken Ross]

Ken,

I am having FIOS TV installed on Monday. I want to keep Cablevision (at least temporarily) and need to know how they wired your house and how you managed to keep the cable. They told me they use existing cable and just replace cablevisions outdoor feed with the Fios feed.
Jay

Jay, in some instances I had them use an unused D* connection and in other areas I had them use a Cablevision connection. With that said, tell them to run a 'homerun' for any connection you wish to maintain. Don't let them touch any Cablevision connection for any cable setup you want to keep. I'll tell you the truth, I think you're far better off having them run all new cables to your TVs. I had two instances of bad wires from Cablevision that resulted in a stuttering video on FIOS. It was only when these wires were removed that we were able to see kinks and cuts in the insulation. They came back to install homeruns. This way you're ensured of having pristine connections and cables. They'll tend to just install new connectors on existing wires if you don't push it.

[wmcbrine]

Chris, no, it doesn't connect to the internet modem. In fact, there is no modem, unless you consider the ONT to be such. Just an Ethernet line run from the ONT.

[Stingray1]

Hey Stingray!

I know of some people who have succesfully installed the Fios cablecard in their TV so I assume it will work with the HDD 500. I have Fios and am using the HD DVR right now but am trying to find a cable card that will work. Just make sure they bring plenty of cable cards -- my area only has one at this point.

Re: the guide, I live in northern Virginia. I had to type in the zip code for Herndon and I got the Fios channels except for some that aren't listed. I also remapped some channels so I use TNT for TNT HD.

Good luck!

OK, Hoop - thanks for the input.

If anyone is successfully using the Sony HHD 500 with Verizon FiosTV & cablecard please let me know.

[Jay Bergman]

Ken,
Thanks for the advice. I too have Directv and Cablevision wiring throughout the house and should be able to work this out. Can't wait to see REAL Hi-Def again on the old Pio 503.
Jay

[Ken Ross]

Jay, let us know what you think! Good luck.

[biker19]

Verizon also (or I should say, alternatively) offers a VoIP service; or of course you can use any VoIP provider. Some people say that VoIP works better over Fios than over most providers, given Fios' high upstream bandwidth and low latency. I haven't tried it myself.
I have - Vonage works better over FIOS compared to my local cable co (Cox).

[biker19]

Chris, no, it doesn't connect to the internet modem. To be honest, I'm not sure where the phone connection originates from....perhaps the ONT?
The ONT has 3 data streams - video, most of it in scrambled QAM RF form on the F connector (there's also clear analog NTSC signals), Internet, from the RJ45 jack (this is where VOD originates) and analog phone, from the 4 POTS outlets.

[Ken Ross]

Good info Biker, thanks.

[zappa2001]

I want Verizon Fios yesterday.

Their 30mb/15mb internet package is way to expensive for me(175 a month, must sign contract for a year), but the 15mb/2mb is at an awesome price for anybody.(45 a month must sign contract for a year)

Sigh, IF ANYBODY AT VERIZON IS LISTENING MINNESOTA! COME TO MINNESOTA!

[Ken Ross]

Zappa, I'm not sure if it's a local deal in my area, but I'm getting 20mb/4mb for $45/month. It seems to me I recall my installer saying they upped the speeds of the middle package @ the same price.

[Flyer1]

I know this must get asked a lot, but is there a listing if where/when FIOS will be rolling out? I have looked on the Verizon website, but can't find anything useful. I see adds all over the place, there's even a demo in my local mall, but everytime I check it's not available yet. I have been seeing these adds for almost a year now with no new news! There is one area near my they did get it, but that is all.

[Ronin_R6]

Zappa, I'm not sure if it's a local deal in my area, but I'm getting 20mb/4mb for $45/month. It seems to me I recall my installer saying they upped the speeds of the middle package @ the same price.

VZ has done that in a couple markets to counter what the local CC is offering. I believe in NY the $35 package has a 10mb down speed, and the $45 has a 20mb, because they want to top what Cablevision offers.

[fmtrojan]

I have a Sony KDF-E42A10 which has a Verizon FIOS cablecard installed. I also have their HD/DVR on the same TV.


I had 3 techs at my house and none of them had ever installed a cablecard before. In fact, even the directions they give the tech were missing a step...so my cablecard install took about 1.5 hours. I'm sure that will be on the long end of all cablecard installs.

[slogun]

I have a Sony KDF-E42A10 which has a Verizon FIOS cablecard installed. I also have their HD/DVR on the same TV.


I had 3 techs at my house and none of them had ever installed a cablecard before. In fact, even the directions they give the tech were missing a step...so my cablecard install took about 1.5 hours. I'm sure that will be on the long end of all cablecard installs.
So, no problems with the operation of your cablecard?

[Stingray1]

I have a Sony KDF-E42A10 which has a Verizon FIOS cablecard installed. I also have their HD/DVR on the same TV.


I had 3 techs at my house and none of them had ever installed a cablecard before. In fact, even the directions they give the tech were missing a step...so my cablecard install took about 1.5 hours. I'm sure that will be on the long end of all cablecard installs.

Is your Sony DVR the DHG 500? If so, are you also using a Verizon CC in the DVR instead of renting the Verizon settop box(or DVR)? I think the CC is about $9 less than renting the Verizon DVR(which has a much smaller HD than the DHG 500).

[pvent13]

I'm not sure if verizon will be using mpeg4 compession initially but if they are they can blow cable away with the amout of vod & HD channels they can offer even without doing IPTV. If you do some quick math a 870mhz sytem can handle 145 analog channels so lets say they keep 45 channels in analog for legacy perposes. that leaves 100 channels. Let say they carry every RSNHD and general HD channel available being very librial make it 100 HD channels. That will take up the space of 50 analog channels that leaves 50 analog channels. Using mepg2 compession they can offer 10-12 digital channels in the space of one analog channel. 12 * 50 thats 750 digital channels. Now that more than enough for lots of VOD and carry just about every channel available. If they use mpeg4 they can double those numbers to 200HD if ever available and 1500 digital channels. So they have a major advantage on cable companies off the bat. Not to mention they won't have to put analog decoders in any of there boxes since everything will be digital. Now add IPTV into the mix down the line which will give them more bandwidth savings . So lets say every channel decided to do HD next year. They would have the bandwidth to add them if they wanted.
Hi: I'm new to the forum and may be off base....but in my FTTH network we deliver MPEG2 IPTV and the big difference is that using switched video bandwidth takes on different meaning. When i was a cable operator (TCI/AT&T Broadband) we would send all channels to the home and the tuner on the set just rejected what you didn't watch. Now we send only the channel you select so we use the bandwidth much more efficently...so if you have 5 TV's all watching a different HD channel we are only sending you 5 channels and only using that bandwidth.

[mjwedeking]

Hi: I'm new to the forum and may be off base....but in my FTTH network we deliver MPEG2 IPTV and the big difference is that using switched video bandwidth takes on different meaning. When i was a cable operator (TCI/AT&T Broadband) we would send all channels to the home and the tuner on the set just rejected what you didn't watch. Now we send only the channel you select so we use the bandwidth much more efficently...so if you have 5 TV's all watching a different HD channel we are only sending you 5 channels and only using that bandwidth.

I don't think Verizon is using IPTV yet. Or at least not yet on most channels. They are only using IPTV on VOD and PPV. But that is there plan to provide all of the channels via IPTV.

[Jay Bergman]

Well it's been more than 48 hours since the tech first installed Fios.
In the first 24 hours I had a very nice HD picture (ESPN FOOTBALL was quite impressive), however, for some reason I had no picture on channels 803, 804, 805 and 807.
Customer service on Monday night apologized for the problem and promised to get a tech back today (Tuesday). The tech showed at 11:00 a.m. (appointment was 6:00 p.m. but who's complaining) and spent the next 3 and a half hours examining the situation and in discussion with the home office. Needless to say before he left for the day both 807 and 805 had been restored, though there was much pixelation (which the tech didn't appear to be concerned with). When the tech left he told me his boss would be calling in the next two hours to explain, confirm the problem. About four hours later I elected to call customer service.
It was no surprise that they didn't know what was happening and they politely offered to send a tech back tomorrow (Wednesday) to work on the problem. Having spent two days in the house waiting for a tech or a phone call, I suggested that I would rather they fixed the problem on their end before tying up my life for a third consecutive day. "Sir, how can we check what the problem is without a tech in your house," the CSR asked. I told him that they had 3 and a half hours to examine the problem, that it was in fact all of their equipment and that I wasn't sacrificing another day of my life.
I'm hoping they got the message.
I still have my Cablevision connected and tried to compare the signal on matching stations. I found on both ESPN and HBO that the Fios signal had a bit more detail, not much and probably not that noticeable. The picture on CBS (Letterman) was much more dynamic on Fios than I'd ever seen on Cablevision or during my time with Directv.
I'm wondering whether Cablevision is upping the ante on their HD signals in response to the Verizon threat? Fios is clearly better than my Directv, but I believe only slightly better than Cablevision.
Well, hope they can solve my missing channel dilemma by tomorrow. If not it could prove to be a three-strikes your out situation.

[fmsjr]

....I still have my Cablevision connected and tried to compare the signal on matching stations. I found on both ESPN and HBO that the Fios signal had a bit more detail, not much and probably not that noticeable. ...
What set do you have? The differences may not be as obvious on smaller screens, or certain types of displays.

[Ken Ross]

I still have my Cablevision connected and tried to compare the signal on matching stations. I found on both ESPN and HBO that the Fios signal had a bit more detail, not much and probably not that noticeable. The picture on CBS (Letterman) was much more dynamic on Fios than I'd ever seen on Cablevision or during my time with Directv.
I'm wondering whether Cablevision is upping the ante on their HD signals in response to the Verizon threat? Fios is clearly better than my Directv, but I believe only slightly better than Cablevision.
Well, hope they can solve my missing channel dilemma by tomorrow. If not it could prove to be a three-strikes your out situation.

Jay, I agree the disparity in PQ between D* and FIOS is much greater than between Cablevision and FIOS. FIOS is still better than Cablevision, but there is the added issue of more available HD on FIOS. I'm getting HDNet, HDNet Movies, Discovery HD, National Geographic HD and others in HD that I just didn't get with Cablevision.

As far as your issue is concerned, it does sound odd, but my stuttering video was odd too. I guess we run into a different set of issues with FIOS as compared to the issues we ran into with D* and Cablevision. I'll still take FIOS though.

BTW, makes sure you have a homerun from the splitter to your TV. If they used a Cablevision wire, that could be part of the problem.

[Jay Bergman]

Ken,

They didn't use any cablevision wiring. They used Directv wiring.
I did another side-by-side comparison today and found out that there was very little difference between the Cablevision signal and that of Fios on similar channels. I realized that it was my cables that made one appear darker (I confused that as more detail.) When I swapped the boxes the Cablevision signal appeared darker.
Ken I agree there is more HD for the buck, but I don't think that's going to be enough to keep me. I called Cablevision and they offered me a free DVR for a year if I stayed. The DVR is for one of my two standard defin