Verizon Fios Motorola 7232 - Page 3

Hey there Jenz... I think I noticed your postings in a Tivo Community forum as well.


I just wanted to get your thoughts on what you though about the new 7232 FIOS box vs the Tivo Premiere.

I actually have both also and trying to make a decision. Long story short, Im leaning towards Tivo just because the functionality seems nicer (Im a long time Tivo user) and is much cleaner. However its nice to have a little extra space as well.

Im debating having either 2 7232 DVRs, or 2 Tivo Premieres. Or maybe one of each?

Any and all thoughts you have is personally appreciated since I havent used the 7232 too much yet, but it just seems hard to use and look at (from a guide standpoint) but I know there is a new guide coming out soon supposedly.

Thanks in advance!
Hayden

The new HD guide is pretty sweet! I'm part of the "Sneak Peak" testers and got 1.9 IMG last night. So far it I'm liking it!

Did they give you any schedule for your feedback, or for how long they'll be testing 1.9? That may give some indication as to when the rest of us might get it.

Also, have you tried to hook-up an eSATA drive?

We are supposed to get and email today on how to submit our feedback to them. No I have not hooked up and eSATA drive....yet. I don't have one and want to wait till I hear from them on what will work before I go get one. I have the 7232 box. I'll post here when I get some info.

Hey Grizz... thanks for the update! I have the 2 of the 7232 boxes too and debating if I should hold on to them or my Tivo Premieres.

Just curious what else you can tell me about the 1.9 update. Have you used Tivo or Tivo Premiere before?

Despite being a wide screen guide, is it an easier guide to use than 1.8? What are some of the main differences and how is the search functionality?

Sorry for all the questions, but any further details or comparisons you can make are truly appreciated.

Thanks so much!

1.9 isnt out yet, and if it is, it isnt in every market

Its out for us Beta testers.

Just switched over from Comcast. Installer seemed surprised I knew to ask for the 7232 but said it's all their bringing in the trucks around here.

Oh yes. It's real and it's spectacular.

how did you get on the list. I see the page for device info but there is no signup form that I can see.

Talked to a friend that is a vz tech and he said that in Hershey area they don't have the 7232 boxes on their trucks.

I would get one of the 7232s and wait until the 1.9 software comes out Q1 before you ultimately decide, but for now, I say get one of each.

We have been a long time Tivo house, but the recent step back from Tivo (slow/buggy Premiere HDUI) and step forward from Verizon (1.9, 500GB in 7232, lots of VOD content) makes the 2 pretty close IMHO, as it does not read like you want to be able to move shows to your PC, etc.

Thanks for the update. I think my biggest hesitation is in the actual video watching functionality. I love how Tivo almost always goes to the exact point where a show starts after commercial right when you hit play after seeing it come back on (like it a bounces back a few seconds)... where as the 7232 I have just leaves off exactly where you hit play after fast-forwarding it. (Really annoying and ruins shows or sporting events I'm trying to watch. Also, I like the 8 second skip back of the Tivo vs 30 second skip back of the 7232.

Have any of these things been added to the 1.9 software functionality? Or are they options that can be changed?

You can change the "skip back" to 10 seconds.

After spending a lot of time on the phone with Verizon's customer support, tech support, and billing departments, it seems there is no way for them to just send me a 7232 to replace my problematic 6416.
They said I could go to the store to swap it out, but the stores in my area don't have the 7232 yet. I don't want to swap it for a 7216, because I would have to re-do all of my series recordings, and then do it again when the 7232 becomes available.
If they were to send a tech out to swap the box, instead of shipping me a replacement box (which would either be another 6416, or maybe a 7216), they said they would probably have to charge me for the truck roll. Yes, I know people have done that, and the tech has just swapped the box out at no charge, but I have no way to guarantee that would happen for me, and no way to be sure the tech that comes out would have a 7232 on their truck.

Does anyone know how I can get in touch with a nearby tech directly?
If I could find one working in my neighborhood, I'd certainly just go ask them if they would be willing to swap it out for me (tech support said this was okay to do). However, I have no idea when or if I might find a tech working nearby to ask.

Does anyone know any of the techs who work in the Silver Spring/Wheaton, MD area, and would be willing to try and help me get in touch with one of them?

Is anyone here using an IR eye with the 7232?
I know there is a jack for it on the back, and I was told that Verizon will send you one if you ask them.

1) Does plugging the IR eye into the back disable the built-in one on the front?
2) Is it possible to take two of the IR eyes, connect them in parallel, and have either one control the box? I am currently using three IR-to-RF-to-IR sets, but I was hoping to be able to get a few of the IR eyes (if I can ever get a 7232, that is), extend the wires, and wire them up in parallel to the input port.

Anybody have any idea if this would work?

Good Question.

I have the Harmony 890, and it is using RF to an IR converter/blaster, and then send the IR signal down 1 of 4 ports to the device.
Since I switched out the old DVR for a 7232P2, I notice that I have some skips when in menu or guide. I wonder if I could connect the RF/IR device directly to the DVR, and eliminate this issue.

Just to be clear, are you using the IR receiver that plugs into the back of the DVR, or an extender that has an emitter that you stick over the front IR receiver on the DVR?

I have an extender that has an emitter that is stuck to the front of the DVR.
I'd like to connect the extender into the back of the DVR.

I just got the 7232 this morning.
I have a stick-on emitter on the front, but I'm wondering if anyone is using the remote eye (the one that plugs into the back), and if that disables the eye in the front.

Thanks.

Well, I called Verizon, and they are sending me the remote eye (free). I asked if they could send me more than one, as I want to use a splitter to have remote eyes in more than one room. The rep told me they can only send out one at a time, but I could call back the next day, and request another one.

While waiting for the eye to show up, I did a quick test this morning.
I have a stereo headphone extension cable, which is the same type of plug as the remote eye.
I plugged it into the back of the box (with nothing at the other end), and it disabled the eye on the front. That tells me that in all likelihood, plugging an actual remote eye into the box will also disable the eye on the front.

That sucks for me, as I wanted to use the remote eye (and if I could get three of them, and have them all work with a splitter) to get the remote signal from the three other rooms where I pump the DVR output.
Currently, I'm using a Jensen IR->RF->IR system, and it is decent (but not perfect). It also looks ugly to have the emitter stuck to the front of the DVR.
However, if plugging in the eye disables the front eye, then I would need a fourth eye in the same room as the DVR, for local control.

Has anyone tried plugging two remote eyes into one DVR, using a headphone splitter?

I just converted from Comcast (Moto 6416 DVRs) to Verizon FiOS and received two Motorola 7232 DVRs (did not want multi-room).

The new equipment and service is light years ahead of what I had but I am struggling with a few functions that I'm to get resolved here.

The Swap button
The remote for the Moto 6416 had a Swap button which allowed me to flip back and forth between the two tuners. This is especially useful when two recordings are going simultaneously and you want to flip to watch the other recording rather than the one being presented. How do you do this on the 7232?

Series Recording
On the 6416, all you did was press the Record button twice to enable a series recording. On the 7232, it seems that the first press of the button starts a recording immediately and then the second press calls up the Record Series dialog. Ending up with recordings of a minute that need to be deleted. Is this just fat fingering or am I doing something wrong?

DVR Recordings - Icons
When I review recordings, some have icons next to them that look like green shields with + signs in them. What does this mean?

DVR Recordings - Playback
On the 6416 when you selected a DVR recording, you could select play from current position or restart from beginning. Pressing Info would allow you to do this at any point in the playback. Does this functionality exist in the 7232?

Scheduling Conflicts
When a recording scheduling conflict comes up and you end up having to cancel a recording, is there a way for it to automatically suggest or locate an alternate viewing time for the same program?

FiOS Mobile app
Installed the app on my iPad. Was able to register my account properly. I think I had to run with widget on each DVR and register those with the app. Both DVRs and my other SD box are all listed in Settings/My Set-Top Boxes. I ran Remote Control Setup for each DVR but only one STB (the second one I configured) shows up under Select Set-Top Box. Can't the app allow me to select remotes from both STB1 and STB2? If so, what did I do incorrectly?

Learning the new system has been a bit overwhelming but it seems to have so much more functionality than Comcast and the picture quality is stunning. My install was not without trouble however. The installer had to drill through an exterior masonry wall to run the fiber(?) to the main box and in the process nicked my electrical trunk! Had to dispatch an electrician to make a temporary repair then two days later came back to remove and replace the whole cable from my power meter to my main breaker box.

Unfortunately, the FIOS DVR does not have the same function. If you manually change the channels one time, then you can use the "Last" button to go back and forth between the two.


I haven't found that on mine at all. I'll have to test it again.


I think those are the ones you "protected" so they won't be deleted if more space is needed.


You can "play from start" while you are in the middle of watching a recording. Otherwise, "play" picks up where you left off.


Nope. I wish there were. I try to go through the scheduled recordings every week or so, and resolve as many conflicts as I can. I'm annoyed that FOX changed American Idol to Wednesday/Thursday this season. I'll be forced to watch a few shows online (CBS.com), or to watch them live on a different TV.


I don't use the iPad app, but I think it is limited to one DVR at a time.


I hope Verizon paid for the repair, not you!

Thanks for your response!

Yes, Verizon has taken care of everything. As soon as the installer hit the cable (he could have been seriously hurt but only nicked it), he called his supervisor who was onsite withing 20 minutes. They took charge of the incident and had an electrician there within a few hours to make it safe and subsequently to effect a final repair. Verizon has followed up with me several times to make sure everything was ok and all services are being billed to them directly.

Things happen. They responded well and have been proactive throughout. I didn't even have to raise my voice once.

Not sure I understand. If two programs are recording simultaneously, does manually changing channels (using the Channel +/- key) just take you the other channel being recorded? If so, that is ok, I think.

Unlike the Comcast DVR (which I had before I went to FIOS), the FIOS DVR doesn't let you switch between the two tuners at will, unless you are recording two shows at once.
Let me try to break it down. Here's the scenario:
You are recording two programs. One on channel 4, and the other on channel 120.
The DVR is currently on channel 4.
If you manually change to channel 120 (by going through the guide, or by typing it in manually on your remote, or by using the "Last" button - if you were on channel 120 before it went to 4), that will switch you over to the other tuner, and you'll be watching the live recording of channel 120.
Once you do this, you can keep switching back and forth between the two tuners using the "Last" button.
If you try to change to a channel other than 4 or 120, you will get a popup asking what you want to do. As I recall, it will ask you if you really want to change channels, and stop recording whatever it is you are recording on the current channel, or if you want to cancel (and go back to the live feed of the currently recording channel).

If the two channels are consecutive (4 & 5, or 120 & 121), the CH+ / CH- would work. Otherwise, you can use the guide or press the number buttons to switch between the two.

Thanks for clarifying, that makes sense now. As much as I found the Swap button sort of archaic, it was handy when you wanted to perform specific actions. Just need to get used to the new way though I wonder if there is some hidden key sequence or code to simulate swap tuner command.

I just needed to reconfigure and both STBs are now present and usable. The app is very powerful and really complements the system well. Doesn't do everything yet but is a terrific start.

7232's are available in many NJ FiOS stores as of today.

I called the local verizon store, and they do have the 7232's. Thing is, the guy said there's a $39 "upcharge" to exchange my 7216 for a 7232. Lame.. I guess this is normal?

I am a new Verizon Fios Customer located in Hermosa Beach, CA. I had the installation of the Verizon "Double-Play" promotion this morning for FIOS Television and Internet. I received 3 brand-new Motorola QIP7232 set-top boxes. The technician said this was the standard box being deployed in this area now. Just thought I would pass that info on.

A recommendation to potential customers is to ask for the remote control that can also control accessory components. The technician only had the basic remote, and it is not programmable to operate my stereo receiver (ie. volume). The unit I received is the "VZ P265v1.1 RC".