Verizon FiOS Installation & Hardware - Master Topic! - Page 9

I think the cheapest is the manual switch which should be mechanical so there should be be a problem. That would be better than pluggin and unplugging things.

Otherwise, I would call monoprice and see what they have to say and check out the return policy.

- Rich

or perhaps Zucco should look into upgrading to one of the new sets with dual HDMI inputs, like the Sony SXRD (just an example of one that has this)? He has had his plasma for at least a couple of days. It must be obsolete by now .

billodom: Yes, this is a fun environment for spending lots of money on little cool toys. I also enjoy the seemingly "free" toys that pop up too, like the latest QIP firmware update. I added the 30-second skip to my remote even though I don't really like to use it. But I just had to have it !

I can't get that to work, on my QIP6416 with my One-For-All remote. I send EFC 173, which everything I can find says is the Skip code, but box does nothing. Could you outline how you got that to work? Thanks.

So we still have to find someone that actually asked for it and got it to work (or I should say that *I* do).

My main reasoning is to save on cost AND hopefully when a Tivo Series-3 is released, use the cable card with that and the FIOS.

I asked about cable card support when I had FiOS TV installed 2 weeks ago. The installer said he had Cable Card 1.0 in his van. CC 1.0 does not support VOD, interactive program guide, or any other 2 way communications. CC 2.0 will support 2 way communications. TiVo Series-3 is planned to use CC 2.0 when it comes out.

I came from (still have) DirecTiVo and miss it badly. I will be the first one to buy a series 3 box when they come out later this year.

i live in brandon, florida and had requested a cc along with 4 stb when i signed up in feb. i was told the cc would not be available for 1 to 3 months and that i would be placed on a list and contacted when available. there would be no install fee on the cc when it became available. got the 4 stb install on march 12 without problems (i already had fios internet).

i called v* last week and spent 30 minutes back and forth on hold while the rep talked to other people. finaly told it was available, would be installed this week, they had no knowledge of a waiting list and the install would cost 24.95. ok.

tech showed up last wed with the cc and said he had never installed one. called hq to activate and got a tech on that end that had never installed one. my tech put the cc in the philips lcd tv which immediately found it. the next 4 hours were spent with the two v* techs trying to get the cc to identify the v* signal. they finally gave up and said it was a bad cc.

Yesterday a different tech showed up with a new cc. he too had never installed a cc. this time the conversation between the tech and hqs lasted two hours. I now get the analog channels and the hd channels (some with no sound). all the channels in the mid range between analog and hd are not present. however, the cc has mapped all channels to the correct display number and identifies them on the channel info header. V* says the cc is working, the set has a good signal and the tv is seeing the cc. they think the problem is in the settings at hq and have escalated the issue to a supervisor.

I suspect it will magically start working correctly in the next day or two when someone makes the right tweak. I like V* but the cc install is not going smoothly. will update after the next round.

Thanks Dorsey, that is very helpful!

By the time they get FIOS rolled out here (we're supposed to have internet stuff this spring, but I think it'll be more like summer), hopefully they'll have the kinks worked out.

I'm hoping that we'll get FIOS TV before year's end as I'm tired of Time Warner jacking up my cable bill every 6-12 months.

wow there are 9 pages of comments. I've had FiOS internet when it's available here in NY. About to jump for FiOS TV. I've been reading a lot of this thread so I have a good understanding of what I'm in for.

However, I'm wondering whether I'll be able watch TV without the DVR or a cable box using just the RG6 line from the wall to a TV once the service is installed.

Also, Is anyone using FiOS TV with Windows MCE 2005? How's that been working out? (Either using the DVR Box through component or a digital tuner)

Yeah, you can watch TV without the box, only 2-50 though. Verizon broadcast 2-50 analog as well as digital up in the 64.102+ range, all unencrypted. There is also the networks in HD. For example I get ch 2 CBS analog on ch 2, HD CBS on 2.1 and digital CBS on 64.102 I have also seen the Music Choice channels with the digital tuner somewhere.

Yes you can watch without the stb, but the channel line-up and the need for the stb is the dirty little secret of fios pricing. i paid ~$65 per month for bhn and got about 50 channels on all my tvs with no stb. these included channels i like such as history, discovery, etc. the standard fios tv is ~$35 per month for all tvs but that package gets you 17 channels, mostly local. If you want to watch other channels, you must pay for a stb at $4.95, for which you get about 200 channels. If your tv has an advanced tuner, you can receive more than the standard 17 channels but not all 200 channels providing you are paying for the stb. one of my tvs has advanced tuners - without the stb service i got 17 channels, with it activated and the stb disconnected i got about 50.

I have 5 tvs and i pay for 4 stb and 1 cablecard which adds about $23 per month to the $35 standard fee. not much different than bhn for the channels i really want. the difference is the V* customer service is far better and you get some additonal channels beyond the bhn standard offering. Of course, it also depends on how many tvs you have and how many are hd. the hd stb is $9.95 per month.

Dorsey,

Good point.

I am not happy with the limited set of analog channels. For example, the news stations require a box. That equals no sale for me, just in terms of size. I like to bring up the news on my PC. That would be out of the question.

I think once Verizon hits more towns you are going to see better deals for multiple TV households. Still competition is a good thing.

- Rich

I gotta do another scan to check this, but here, there's no clear HD signals as of last month - just the analogs and their digital equivalents. Like other cable companies the lineup depends on location.

That is odd. I believe they are required to provide the local channels without encryption.

-- Rich

Here's is the procedure I followed:

A. First, you must program your remote control the 6416:

1. Press "P" for 2 seconds until light blinks twice
2. Press "Cable/Sat" button
3. Enter "0476", which is a General Instruments code that works with the 6412 and 6416.
4. Light should blink twice, indicating setting is successful

B. Then, you can add the 30-second skip:

1. Press "Cable/Sat" button to put the remote into cable mode
2. Press and hold "P" for 2 seconds until light blinks twice
3. Type in code "994", telling the remote you are encoding an advanced code (EFC)
4. Press (but do not hold) the "P" button
5. Type in the code "173" for 30-second skip
6. Press button you wish to assign the 30-second skip function to
7. Light should blink twice indicating success

The above worked for me. Note that I have had my RS remote for a few years now, and it is possible they don't come with the nice programmable functions anymore. Note that the manual for my remote doesn't even mention the ability to do this (!).

Below is a link to a site that defines a bunch of codes for the "0476" device type. I tried "swap" as well, but this isn't recognized by the 6416 at all.

Remote codes for 6412/6416

Note that I also programmed in a series of 6 skips into a macro button on my MX-600, but am not pleased at the results. Either the 6416 can't handle the commands that fast or the remote is not issuing them fast enough (probably the latter). I end up getting six skips but with moments of picture and sound between each one. It made my wife ask "What the hell are you doing?". I may work on this more later, since a clean 3-minute skip would be a nice feature during regular network programming.

Thanks for taking the trouble to spell out these details. The procedure is the same for my OFA remotes. I'm using setup code 0476 for the device (the 6416) and EFC 173 for the Skip code, same as you are. I'm now completely convinced I'm sending the right code, but my 6416 is not responding. In fact I've tried 3 different remotes (admittedly all OFA) and have now even tried all 256 possible key codes, and my 6416 stubbornly refuses to Skip. I do have the latest firmware (17.08).

So, what's different about my box? Maybe it's bad; but it's otherwise working great. I'm in MD & you're in TX; surely Verizon wouldn't have used different firmware versions with same version number in different regions? Could it be that some of the 6416's have the hardware Skip function & some don't? Mine is probably one of the newest; I've had it for only 3 weeks. Did you power-off (unplug) reset the box after the firmware update? I'm a little reluctant to try that since everything else is working great (ain't broke, don't fix etc.).

Guess I'll give up on this. FF with the new slight rewind at end works fine. Just bugs me that I can't make it do something that it's (maybe) supposed to be able to do.

rayjc1:

I don't think there is anything special about my box. It just works, and I would note that software even has an icon for it (the little skip-forward arrow rather than the skip-back arrow for REPLAY). Did you code the 0476 code to your remote's "Cable" button. I think this is the only way it works, for some reason.

I agree that the addition of the "jump back" feature to the FF function satisfies most of what I am looking for, as this behave exactly as my HD-TiVo used to. I added the 30-second skip function simply because it was there....

Hey Folks,

Haven't posted in awhile. Looked back a few pages and didn't see anything about this so here goes:

I was playing around with my FiOS DVR, went into the Menu (power -> menu)

Went into
Additional HDMI Settings->Audio Output

I changed the setting from Auto to Pass Thru.

I now GET Dolby Digital sound to my receiver thru the optical output ! I am using the HDMI out w/ a DVI adapter. My receiver has always said Pro Logic up until this change, now thinks it is getting DD. And my rear speakers are now way more "active". Haven't "proven" full DD yet, just did this last night.

Just fyi for others to try.

I have FIOS in Flower Mound, TX and all the local stations (both analog and digital) are clear as well as all the music channels.

I have the 6416 STB and notice that it does not function quite as smooth as my previous 6412 STB from Comcast. Also the 6412 remote is much better than the 6416.

Overall the PQ is great in HD and Very good in SD, in fact sometimes I have been watching a network show in justified SD and thought it was HD. I have compared PQ using HDMI and Component inputs and the only thing I can tell is that the audio is more stable via HDMI. PQ appears the same.

Welcome back, McDuff. Please migrate over to the HDTV Recorders forum where we're discussing this very issue.
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=617635

Hi all,

This is going to sound weird but here goes. I just switched from Cox Communications cable to Verizon Fios (triple play). I went with the phone, internet (30 Mbps down and 5 Mbps up), and all the channels except Cinemax and LaConexcion.

The internet is working just fine.

The phone has a minor yet very annoying problem. On some of my outgoing phone calls I get an echo of my voice in my ear. The person I am talking to does not hear the echo of my voice and I do not have an echo of their voice.

Here is the set up:

The box is a Motorola QIP6416 and the TV is a Mitsubishi Diamond WS-73909. The two are connected through component video cables directly; not through a receiver.

Now for the really fun stuff! The HD channels that I receive are AWESOME. The analog channels are not good, not great, but definitely better than the Cox Communications analog channels. The digital channels are where the nightmare begin. They are randomly the same quality as the analog channels. I get ghosting, pixelization, and a generally poor picture. The digital channels that do come in fine are just as good as the Cox Communications channels were.

Here is what I know:
1. All of the meter readings are good.
2. A feed was run directly to the box from the outside with no change.
3. The signal splitter was replaced with no change.
4. The cable box itself was switched out and only got other and worse problems.
5. The cable box itself was switched out and got a new direct feed and only got other and worse problems.

Here is what I am looking for:
1. PLEASE HELP ME!!!!! What should I do next?

P.S. The Verizon people, aside from not telling the next tech what has already been done, is great. That is a really big plus over Cox Communications. Also, the Verizon techs are very knowledgeable and extremely courteous.

Well, they finally got the cc working after 4 tech visits of 16 hours total. that does not count the multi-party conference calls verizon had with my tech while on site. turns out that cc #1 was indeed bad. cc #2 was never entered in the Verizon equipment database and so could not be activated. Unfortunately, the techs and headend people don't know that the card is not in the system and get no warning message. After being escalated 4 levels, some engineer in Dallas finally figured it out when he tried to send a reactivation signal. They put cc #3 and it functioned properly. Verizon is still in a learning mode on cc but I will tell you this - no other cable company would have devoted the time and effort they did for a $2.95 a month cable card. I was never told that the TV was at fault or pressured into switching to a STB. The tech told me on visit 3 that he would take ownership of the problem and get it fixed and he did. I am highly impressed by the Verizon customer service and the picture quality of the cc is great.

Ricky,

I live in the Springfield area about 5 miles north, via the Fairfax County Parkway, of Springfield Mall.

Side note to all:
The actual people that have been coming out have been very nice. The phone operators are the absolute worst! The most infuriating thing so far is their lack of ability in leaving a call back number.

The other interesting thing is that one of the phone operators told the tech at my house that my TV was the problem because it was so big. That was one of my favorite lines from Cox Communications.

Elliott

Ask tech to clean fiber.Dirty fiber is a killer.

Well, seems all is now well with the Motorola - thanks for the post about the Pass Through option.

va_locksmith - As I understand it, there is no analog stations. All signals are digital.

rickypicky - I haven't experienced channels changing PQ while watching, that seems like something I'd let Verizon know about. You could have a loose connection somewhere.

The PQ for HD is fantastic, non-HD is not better than the source. I noticed several digital channels that looked exactly like Cox, so I assume this is a source problem, not a Verizon problem. I suspect a lot of sources do compression in the original stream since they sale to bandwidth limited satellite and cable companies. This is sad, but I guess this is a new way of business for now. I've noticed the stations are not the "popular" channels. Sci Fi has an incredible, near DVD picture, same with USA, TNT, locals, etc. However, secondary channels like Nick2, etc. do seem over compressed.

I suggest if your not getting good PQ, check the 480i override setting in the system menu (the menu that you select with the unit off). After playing with this setting I got some great improvements. I won't suggest anything, since each TV in my house is different, I just tried each option, and set these to what looked good for me. They were not set well by the installers, so messing with them is very important for the best PQ for your set.

I just want a video pass-through option, thats the only option the Motorola doesn't have that I'd be VERY happy to see.

Yes there are clear digital channels, but these are the digital versions of the analog channels not the HD channels that are in the 8xx range on the STB/DVR.

They do - but it's the digital version of the analog, not the HD version.

- Channel Update -

Even though this may not be 100% hardware related, I am very excited to say that I now have 24 channels of HD with FiOS. They just added National Geographic HD and HDNet - Fios Rocks!

I think you are incorrect. The broadcast version is what is required.

- Rich

The analog version is also broadcast so that would suffice. I just did a rescan - this only applies to the No VA area.

21 analog channels, 318 digital channels of which 69 are in the clear.
Of the 69 clear digital channels about 40 are the audio only channels, about 20 are the digital versions of the analogs and a few weird ones are sprinkled in there (like HBO Latino). None, repeat, none of them are in HD.