Verizon FiOS HDTV - Page 57

I just download the TV Channel listing for Penna and Comcast HD is listed. As well as WGN in Chicago!!

I got a letter in the mail with an offer to preorder for priority installation. I called yesterday and they took the details of what I wanted (equipment+package). I asked about when my "priority" date would be and they said they didn't have actual install information. Only that I would get a call on/about Jan 15 to schedule an installation date. I guess they are trying to guage customer interest? I don't really care since I waited this long, whats another month or so. I can't wait to ditch my D*. I have wanted to add HD to my service forever it seems but the cost of the D* HD DVR coupled with the premium charge for crappy HD has stopped me. The price they quoted me for Fios TV worked out to be about $15/mo cheaper than what I am paying D* plus I get HD included at no extra cost. Seems to be a no brainer to me.

anyone kniw how many/what chans you get on. tvs without stbs?

I have a bunch of tvs and 3 hd boxes with comcast 2 of which are dvr and the reg hd box is free. don't want to get/pay for more then 3 or 4 boxes and watch in kitchen a lot on tv without box. picture on the 26'' flat lcd in kitchen connected with coax looks almost hd and gets all the basic cable chans including espn cnbc , mtv etc. which I watch in there a lot.

if verizon only gets 12 chans on sets without box that is n.ot matching comcast and would be a major dealbreaker.

my other programming questions would be in how vz fios hd chans compare to comcast. same amount of hd chans or more?

also same or on demand content. I heard verizon doesn't have as much hd content as comcast. and what size hdd do the fios dvr boxes use? 160 I think I heard which while not as good as two 120's (if we were getting ine dvr box for free or at least no extra charge from comcast) is still better for single dvr box at 160 and the fact that it can play on the other non dvr hd boxes. at least that's what they said. is it true. can content recoreded on your hd dvr box play in other rooms on non dvr hd boxes?

how else does vz fios programming stack up against comcast?

Comcast has alot more HD on Demand from Comcast, at least for now. Comcast should be rolling out some HD on Demand from Disney and they have some CBS HD stuff and some free movies. There is no reason FiOS can't strike similiar deals. FiOS only carries the local broadcast channels in analog, about 14 or so I believe. The DVR has a 160 gig hard drive. Doing a comparison of the SD service on each, FiOS has a much better picture with much less noise and blocking. The HD PQ is about equal. If I had to give one an edge, it would be very slight in favor of FiOS but until I see it on my set, I will reserve jusdment. A neighbor has it on his 42" plasmas and it looks excellent. HDNet looks much better than it does on D*

With FiOS TV, you can get channels 2-49 with an NTSC tuner. You can get the digital / HD locals with a (clear) QAM tuner. All other channels (including the 'extended basic' cable channels you mentioned like espn, cnbc, mtv. etc.) you either need their STB or a CableCard equiped host (TV, Tivo S3, whatever).

What phone number did you call?

ok I'm on the mobile version of the site evn though my HTC Hermes pocket pc phone can handle thbe full site especially on wifi but I think the reg site freezes or crashes on mobile devices for some reason which is maybe why they offer the mobile link in the email notification which is very convenient/helpful and even on fast wifi the mobile site loads quicker and has less bloat as its more simplified.

anyway point is I can't see your msg that I'm tryin to quote here and just took a call but will try to remember.

bottom line is the situation with fios on tvs without box doesn't look good in comparison to comcast.

most important specifically for me and I'm sure others I end up watching a lot of tv in kitchen. on a 26'' flat lcd which has an almost hd like picture on sd chans just with coax plugged in. I don't really need hd in there or dvr on demand etc. I just watch live espn or cnbc mostly while eating breakfast in the morn. sometimes mtv or something in evening while eating something I don't feel like bringing in main living room with 60'' which incidentally is close enough (adjacent room with both tvs on same side of room though not touching corners)

point is I won't have those chans (espn, cnbc,mtv etc) on the tv in kitchen with fios without box it sounds like. I wonder what verizon will offer as a solution but if nothing that alone is a deal breaker.

I mean I still want to go ahead while installation is free and try it out figuring if we don't like as much as comcast we can switch back. does verizon make you sign a 1 year contract or anything? if so I should cancel. I don't want to be stuck with something that is inferior in aspects that are more important and only superior in ways that aren't as big of a deal.

speaking of fios being superior to comcast, it seems that is mostly in the area of sd picture. which is a great thing and one of ppls biggest gripes and problem with hdtvs especially larger ones is that the sd looks like garbage and then all you want to watch is the hd chans.

sounds like jury is still out on hd picture comparison between fios and comcast with fios maybe hav ing a slight edge.

I know its a newer technology and better format larger pipeline etc but it sounds like that is the only advantage on the tv side. the better sd pic, and at what cost?

no basic cable chans on tvs without boxes. less on demand hd content as mentioned in your post. that could be changed later as fios catches up to comcast in that and other depts. but for now is a downside to fios. to me hd content is king (even if sd looks better on fios) and the more the better. when nothing good is on the hd chans you can go to the on demand hd content which is also a nice way to show off/share hd with your guests with your choice of program from available choices instead of just whatever is on at the time.

I will be really interested to see what if anything verizon offers for my tvs without box as I'm not paying for more then 3. as it is I get an hd box free from comcast. I will see what they can do at time of installation and check all tvs not just the ones with boxes.

have 2 dvr boxes now with comcast but think they are 120 gb (couldnt be less could they) but with fios 160gb box that is networked to the others that you can supposedly play recorded content off main box on other non dvr boxes in other rooms enavles us to not really need the 2nd dvr box. but need it in main room and one in bedroom (3rd most watched tv/room after living room and kitchen).

which leaves up for grabs which room to put 3rd box. well you'd think if kitchen is 2nd most watched tv/room then put it there but problem is that the ed plasma in our office has no tuner and therefore needs a box (even though its mostly used for xbox). plus after finishin.g basement next month we will def want a box down there on the 60'' 720p/1080i tv.

I don't think tht tv has any qam tuner and def no cable card so prob will have 3rd box on that. maybe the samsung lnr (yes last years lnr series lcd which seem to have a much better sd pic through coax then the newer samsung lns series lcds I tried) lcd in kitchen has a qam tuner or something. I can. maybe get one of those x10 wireless receivers to share the cable box in room next to it as one solution.

and for office tv can maybe buy an hd tuner for the ed plasma with no built in tuner but not sure what chans I'd get on that. I'm assuming all basic cable chans just no extra hd chans or anything which would be fine I guess.

overall I just don't know that fios is going to be worth it just for better sd pic and at the expense of losing certain other things (basic cable chans on tvs w/o box and the more on demand hd content on comcast).

I still want to try it ans take advantage of free installation but hope I can cancel if we don't like it as much. I know comcast doesn't make you sign contract and you can cancel at any time so if verizon makes then its just not worth the risk of being stuck with it so I won't go through with installation.

There is no installation fee if you agree to a one year comittment but you can still cancel after 30 days if you are still unhappy. If you want to watch cable you need a box as their analog service consists of broadcast channels only. You should be advised that Comcast also eventually plans toi move most of thier analog channels to digital as well leaving the broadcast channels in analog only. THis is probably two years down the road.

PBS Kids Sprout (linear channel) showed up today for me on channel 222.

The kids will be happy ...

Those of you in the N.Y. area, great news, YES HD has been added to the FIOS channel lineup.

Again, half as long.

Would you ever watch the kitchen & living rm sets at the same time (on different channels)? If not, share the same box... use HDMI for one, component for the other. Or a component splitter if necessary... we use a 4:2 switch. Or if not living room, maybe the 3rd STB, with long cables. We're using 50' component cables with no significant loss in PQ or AQ (audio.) You might have to use an IR extender though, which can be a bit painful.

Say what?
WGN-DT is a Chicago station that only broadcasts HD CW programming, and the Chicago Cubs home games in HD. WGN Superstation (the feed that esentially everyone else gets, which excludes CW programming) is not HD.

Anything else to change to the chart?

New York City Area
FSN New York: _____HD Feed Carried_________CableVision
MSG: _____________Carriage Agreement, not yet available (Only covers SD!)________CableVision
SportsNet New York: HD Feed "Testing"________________________New York Mets, Time Warner, Comcast
YES Network: ______HD Feed Carried_________________________New York Yankees, Goldman Sachs

Southern California
FSN West: ________HD Feed Carried___________NewsCorp
FSN Prime Ticket: ___HD Feed Carried___________NewsCorp

Philadelphia
CSN Philly: ________HD Feed Carried___________Comcast

North Texas
FSN Southwest: ____HD Feed Carried __________NewsCorp

Boston
NESN: ____________SD Only_________________Boston Red Sox, Boston Brunes
FSN New England___Carriage Agreement, not yet available_CableVision

Washington/Baltimore Metro Area
CSN Mid Atlantic: ____Carriage Agreement, not yet available___________Comcast
MASN: ____________No HD Available_________________Peter Angelos, Washington Nationals

Florida
FSN Florida: _______HD Feed Carried__________NewsCorp, Comcast
Sun Sports: _______HD Feed Carried__________NewsCorp, Comcast

oh no, MSG not available on fios? Your talking about the SD version, right?

I think it needs a little more clarification vis-a-vis SD and HD in the following cases:
1) FSN New York and MSG will be carried but only in SD according to the terms of the agreement between Rainbow/Cablevision and Verizon.
2) FSN New England, once available, will be carried in both SD and HD.
3) CSN Mid Atlantic is SD only currently, although the just-announced carriage agreement gives Verizon the HD channel.
4) The NewsCorp-owned FSNs are event-only channels when HD games are shown. Not sure about the two Florida RSNs.
Kind of confusing, huh?
The above four items are subject to confirmation.

BTW, Yes HD and FSN HD have just been added in NY. 816 & 815.

Comcast has the 3416 now in my area.

Verizon hasn't even started construction in any area of Baltimore City, according to their online Maryland pages. Meanwhile, nearby counties have franchise agreements with them.

that is a good point and i think i've heard of that but in meantime thats 2 years of having all basic cable chans on my other low use tvs that dont have a box hooked up where as with fios i'll have nothing but just local chans which while ppl say is 2-49 or whatever is just like 12 local chans for most ppl like their abc nbc cbs then pbs and whatever other couple local chans.

hm so it is a one year contract. that is lame. comcast doesn't do it. seem verizon is trying to make you stuck like with their cell phone contracts.

oh well hopefully 30 days is enough time to try it out and we'll know if want to keep it or go back to comcast but i have a bad feeling my wife especially will ant to go back to comcast. for certain reasins

i wont mind for having all basic cable chans on other tvs without box and for having more on demand including more hd on demand content. and the other pluses of comcast over fios. hopefully i wont miss the better sd chan pic though.

yes sometimes i'm eating something and watching in kitchen while my wife is watching in living/family room and yes on a diff chan though actually she would prob like if i could watch the same thing shes playing in there in the kitchen tilli come in because a l ot of time shes watching something on the dvr and i cant in kitchen so i just watch wahtever till i get in there and catch up.

the living room and kitchen tv are semi close and same side of each room but opposite non touch corners. connecint them together means running a cable of som sort across a kitchen tile floor in front of a door out to deck with nowhere to hide it.

if verizon wants to fish wires and install all this just so i can share boxes and solve my no basic cable chans problem on kitchen tv where i'm not paying for another box for no matter what then fine, if not, there is just less and less reason to switch from comcast to fios.

i really want to try fios and excited for better pic on sd chans but just dont think that one redeeming benefit is worth all the trouble and at the expense of all these things this issue of basic cable chans on tv w/o box being the main thing is worth the switch unless fios is less then comcast but its not.

I was told when I called to preorder that installation was free and I got a discount on service ($3.95/mo) if I signed a 1 year contract.

I'm very disappointed all the information regarding NESN, FSN, etc. comes from this forum rather than Verizon!! You can't get any sound information from them at all regarding when FSN & NESN HD WILL be available. I've had Fios-tv for several months and their refusal to specifically announce any firm dates for these additions are wearing on me! NESN-HD was supposed to be available at the middle of November...hasn't happened! At the very least they could tell us what the lead time would be after the "carriage" agreements to availability. I'm going to give it one more month! Very surprised that a company like Verizon has such terrible PR & CR regarding FIOS.

crap... i did month to month, cause the lady said it was 3 bucks cheaper. she never said anything about an installation fee. havent gotten the first bill yet...

Not yet. Verizon and the owner of MSG have recently signed a carriage agreement, but it only covers the SD channel. So, when it does show up, no HD.

(I'm so glad I don't care about sports, you guys really have to FIGHT for your channels )

After being away from home for 4 days, I was surfing channels last night and much to my surprise the YES network was being broadcast in HD! This is great news for Yankee fans!

Cooool! kids will be waay happy. I was wondering since they added some PBS kids content on VOD but they dont change it very much. I sure wish Verizon would at least send you an e-mail or something when they add channels.

Any word on if and when they will add the NASA channel?

Man, I'm wondering this myself, NASA... plus why no AMC? The fiber might not be passing by my house for another year or so, hopefully they'll add those by then!

I am in Lynbrook, NY and have Fios TV.

I have a 1 year old Pioneer 5060 plasma hooked up via HDMI. I have noticed since installation on 10/27 that the picture "jumps" on any channel every once in a while. It can happen within minutes and it can take longer at times. It is very subtle and there is no loss of video or audio. It's not pixelation. I did NOT have this problem with the Cablevision hookup.

To eliminate my hookup as the cause, I have used both component and HDMI. I have also had 3 STB's (HD-DVR).

Verizon came back and gave me a "home run" (direct run to the TV) and a new splitter.

None of these things has fixed the problem.

Do you notice this on your set up?

I wouldn't be disappointed, nor would I expect any company to tell you about their future plans. Proprietary information is kept under wraps for a variety of reasons, and generally companies aim to provide information to the public in accordance with their marketing plans. It's hard enough competing in this environment as it is -- no sense in making it even harder by putting out information without any sense of control or strategy. While it would be great to have everything all worked out long in advance, the reality is that even in large companies, there isn't unlimited resources available for everything. Instead, people need to do their jobs as well as they can, nine-to-five, and when they're reached the point in their work when it is time to provide you the information you want, then that is the right time for them to provide it to you. Until then, if you get it from other means, they can still disclaim it, because they didn't provide it to you. You're basically taking full responsibility for the information when you obtain it that way, including for your disappointment if you get the information wrong or if they decide to change direction after you learn something through unofficial channels but before they public announce it.

I've (politely) asked Verizon when they'd stop cherry-picking within Burlington and offer me and my neighbors service, and they (politely) declined to answer, and I respect that. While I think it is wrong to promise the town that they'll provide service to-the-town but instead just provide service to the rich center of town, it isn't wrong for them to decline to tell me when they'll finally start offering us service here in the southeast.

I get this same thing and I have mine connected via component. This happened a few weeks ago and was really noticable on the HD channels especially when you had a news crawl across the screen which was jerky. Video kind of looks like you would get over the net. I called a verizon CSR and they reset the box which fixed the problem but its comming back now. I noticed on an HD recording of American Chopper that the vid would stutter and its really anoying. I guess i will try a reset and see if it fixes the prob. Another gripe I have is the info on programing really sucks. Where does verizon get the programing info from?