Comments on: Equipment Options for FiOS TV

By: Jackie Morris

Jackie Morris — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 12:55:24 +0000

I recently purchased a JVC HD TV to replace an old TV in the bedroom. Initially it worked as expected. Then I was unable to get a signal on the HDMI input (this TV has three of them). I attached coax between the STB and the TV and was able to get the signal.

I contacted JVC about the HDMI problem and they instructed me to take it in to a service center. It was determined that the circuit board that the HDMI is on was bad and it was replaced.

Took the TV home, hooked everything up for HDMI and it didn’t work. Tried to use coax again but it did not work this time. I moved the TV to the den where my other TV is on a DVR and still had the same problem. At this point I took the TV back to the JVC service center and after 3 or 4 days they called to inform me that they could not find a problem with it.

This lead me to believe that I might have a bad STB so I moved the STB in the bedroom to the den and it worked just as expected. Picked up the TV from the service center, brought it home, hooked it up, and it still gives me an error message that a signal can’t be found. And coax is not working either.

The service center had suggested that I hook up another HDMI device to it to see if that works or not. So I went out and bought a new DVD player with HDMI and what do you know, it works as advertised, with no problems.

The JVC service center that there are some TVs that don’t work well with the STBs but they were not aware of any JVC TVs being that way. That leads me to believe that the signal that I am getting from my FIOS is not strong enough for the JVC to detect it. My other TV is a more expensive set and most of the time it does not have an issue. Of late I do have to completely down the DVR to force it to reset so that I can use it but otherwise it seems to work find.

I would like to know what I need to do to get the HD STB in the bedroom to provide a signal that the JVC TV will detect?

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 04:30:34 +0000

we had someone steal our Motorola DCT 700 STB which we leased from Verizon for $3.99 month. It is used on an old TV, now I need to replace it and would rather just buy one, than pay out an additional $3.99 month. If I bought one from eBay or another source, will they be compatible with FIOS or is a special card required or some proprietary software? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks.

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:16:50 +0000

Hi, I have the Motorola QIP 7216-1 and I wanted to know if DVR storage can be expanded by using the eSATA port. I am also curious about what function the USB port on the front serves?

By: ed harrison

ed harrison — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:21:12 +0000

can you recommend any under the counter tv’s that are cable card ready

By: Ed V

Ed V — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:23:25 +0000

I am really upset by the whole digital TV/service provider mess. The TV industry touts the great new technology with digital tuners and the providers render them completely useless. I have several wall mounted QAM tuner equipped HDTVs. I have no place to put a set top box. How do I get HD programming?

I am currently an extremely upset Comcast subscriber. Over the past month I have watched the value of the service just disappear before my eyes. You can’t even get the weather channel without a cable box! I am considering switching to FIOS but if I have to lease 10 cable boxes, why bother?

By: admin

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:33:00 +0000

Steve, I can’t see any reason why this would not work. The DCT-700 is exactly what you need since it un-encrypts all the channels, and can be controlled via IR. The only question is the ability of your IR blaster to send the right codes to control the DCT-700.

By: admin

admin — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 02:29:49 +0000

Sully, unfortunately there will be no way to share programming since Verizon has to keep recordings on lock down (so they can’t be shared on the internet, etc). These are restrictions imposed by the broadcasting companies.

By: Sully

Sully — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 03:51:14 +0000

Just converted to FIOS. Have a multi-room DVR in living room, works fine. However, will shortly replace one of my HD STB with a new TIVO Premier box in den. It uses cablecard, allowing me to eliminate the more expensive HD STB. My question is – will I still be able share, in any way, the recorded programming on the multi-room DVR? (I suspect not)

By: Steve

Steve — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 18:47:09 +0000

I’m considering a change from Comcast digital cable to Verizon FiOS. Everything has been fine & dandy re: using Win 7 MCE to watch TV/record shows via Hauppauge HVR-1250 card. Now Comcast has encrpyted Ch. 29 & up. I have used MCE (Dell) remote and IR receiver + IR blaster to control Comcast’s DC50 digital adapter. Can select and set up recordings via remote or onscreen Guide. Need to know if I can do the same thing with Verizon Motorola DCT-700 adapter. Anybody done this?

By: William

William — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 22:25:03 +0000

Re #27.

I have been through two of the Media Center DVR boxes. I got one on 90 day trial, and they exchanged it when they couldn’t get it to work. I never could get the HDMI/DVI to work other than as you described. Fourth call, the service rep came back and said “there’s a known issue with that box. Use the composite (3 wire) video.”

My projector doesn’t have them, so I can’t project HDMI. 5.1 sound sounds great on digital audio, though.

Three cable video is analog, HDMI/DVI is digital, similar quality I understand, but converting is a bit of a challenge, and not worth the investment.

90 days is almost up, so it goes back. I hope that a QIP 7100 will work with HDMI correctly.