Technology Reviews and Perspectives

34 Responses

1. jeff

   July 31st, 2007 at 4:58 pm

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   Any idea if Verizon is planning to upgrade the disk space for the DVR or if there is a way to hack it? Their website shows a capacity for only 18 hours of HD. My wife will have that full in about 3 days!

2. Sy Chinsky

   August 5th, 2007 at 7:12 am

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   Even Verizon will remove the analog broadcast of local channels on FiOS by February 2009 to comply with new FCC regulations. According to these new laws all TVs will require a digital tuner, either an external set top box, or a built-in tuner or cable card. This is something to keep in mind.

   The above quote seems to say to me that I will not be able to continue to use the 2 extra VCR’s beside the one I have hooked up through the STB. The 2 extra VCR’s record my local channels very nicely. Without this capability, I would only be able record thru the 2 STBs I am paying for. This would greatly limit my recording choices. Could you please elaborate on my possible future recording choices? I do NOT have a DVR.

3. Duane

   August 5th, 2007 at 11:14 am

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   This is correct. According to the planned DTV transition deadline, all analog broadcasts will cease by February 17th, 2009. All analog tv’s or vcr’s will require a digital converter box to receive programming. The STB’s provided by Verizon is a digital converter. In order to record multiple programs at the same time, you would need that many STB’s (each connected through your VCR). You should consider DVR for ease of recording. Also, one DVR STB has two tuners built in. The only advantage to using a VCR is for archiving video tapes. For more info on the DTV transition, visit: http://www.dtv.gov/

4. Bob W

   August 10th, 2007 at 4:22 pm

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   I am considerin gthis service. One reason is they carry NFL Network at no extra charge. If I have only analog TV’s will the QIP 2500 box be sufficient? Do I need to rent one for each room?

5. Duane

   August 11th, 2007 at 5:37 pm

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   To receive a channel like NFL Network, you would need a set top box (QIP 2500, etc).

6. Phil

   August 20th, 2007 at 2:48 pm

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   Weird question if I may. What happens If I don’t get the Fios TV but only get the Fios internet and I hook up a tv to the coaxial outlet. Will I get any channels? Just curious…. Thanks!

7. Robert

   August 20th, 2007 at 6:50 pm

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   Duane, do you have any “inside” knowledge on sports packages that will/might be added to FIOS? In my case, I’d be interested in NHL Center Ice.

8. jason

   August 20th, 2007 at 10:42 pm

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   oo ahh I all ready have verizon tv and there Microsoft look sucks, so how do i get this will there be some software update to wait for or do i have to buy something new??

9. dc

   August 31st, 2007 at 11:28 am

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   new img is a poor replacement for the previous program. it has many bugs and does not perform well at all. frame by frame advancement isn’t possible without a pop up info window in the middle of the screen.

10. Ken

    September 4th, 2007 at 4:50 pm

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    Our house was built about 2 1/2 years ago with fiber optics. I don’t have the problem with having to switch the wiring around. What’s so frustrating is knowing that I’m wired but not having the service in my area. Verizon is supposed to “notify” me when it does become available. How does Verizon determine when to make available the service? Any suggestions?

11. Pat

    September 11th, 2007 at 7:45 pm

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    Regarding Roberts question… ,”Weird question if I may. What happens If I don’t get the Fios TV but only get the Fios internet and I hook up a tv to the coaxial outlet. Will I get any channels? Just curious…. Thanks”!

    You will not getany channels out of the coaxial connection if you do not order FiOS TV. The optical terminating unit that goes on the side of your house must be provisioned to receive FiOS TV broadcasts. Also, most FiOS installs are now done using MOCA technology which utilizes the coax connection for Internet and TV. You would still need to subscribe to FiOS TV to get channels even with MOCA. All said… Verizon FiOS TV blows everything else away in regard to picture quality and has unlimited bandwidth potential as more HD channels are added to the line up.

12. Duane

    September 12th, 2007 at 1:32 pm

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    Hey dc, what area are you located? I know the new IMG has not been released nationwide (I don’t have it yet). They released it in certain areas first to work out the bugs. We’ll see if those get worked out before nation-wide rollout.

13. David

    September 20th, 2007 at 7:57 pm

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    Is the FIOS Service and te cable cards compatible with TIVO Series 3 HD DVR? What features do you loose?

14. neb

    October 4th, 2007 at 10:10 pm

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    I have the HD DVR and an unusual problem. The picture on CNN and especially the Larry King show continually breaks up. The tech that came out said the install was perfect but gave me a new box anyway but it still does it. This was the only channel it happened on until tonight I noticed the same thing on TBS and the baseball playoffs. Anyone have any ideas on what’s wrong or how to fix it?

15. Dianne

    October 11th, 2007 at 9:23 pm

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    Had Verizon FiOS installed today and am happy with the features and channel lineup over my tired old cable, analog service. I have the Premier package and did not include DVR capabilities. I use my VCR every day and on the old system routed the cable IN to the VCR, VCR OUT to the cable box, cable box to TV. This makes the VCR “cable ready,” allowing me to tape one channel, while watching another. Unfortunately, with the Verizon set top box lacking a channel 3 for aux. use, it appears I cannot route the cable IN directly through my VCR and watch/record channel through the VCR. This means I have to babysit every show I want to tape, making sure the cable box is set on whatever channel I want to record, and the timed VCR programs set to record channel 3. This sux, especially when I’m going to be out all day and want to tape more than one show on different channels. I don’t have a HD TV and don’t plan on getting one. Should I dump the VCR and upgrade with Verizon to get the DVR? Any other suggestions?

16. bob

    October 29th, 2007 at 10:40 am

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    I am thinking of getting FIOS ( triple play ) I have 4 VCR’s. I plan on having 3 set top boxes now with two VCR’s out of these 3 sets. Will I be able to tape different programs on each of the 2 TV sets with set top boxes and local channels on the other 2 VCR’s?

    Then, what happens in 2009 with these 4 VCR’s? I am assuming if I have 2 set top boxes for the 2 connected via these set top boxes these do not change but the 2 with local channels only will require an analog converter? I do not want to pay addtional set top box charges to get and tape local channels only. Appreciate your response.

17. Duane

    November 20th, 2007 at 10:59 pm

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    Dianne- I would definitely recommend the DVR. It is so much less hassle. Just select your show in the on screen guide and click record. There is no charge for DVR service. You just have to pay for the equipment lease, which is $12.99 per month for the HD + DVR set top box.

    bob- Yes you can record different channels with each set top box plus any local channels via analog. Come 2009, I expect there will be additional equipment lease/purchase options, but yes any analog device will require a converter, even to receive local stations via an antenna.

18. FredW

    December 8th, 2007 at 12:07 am

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    Are you sure about Verizon discontinuing the analog channels in February 2009? The FCC mandate to shut off all analog broadcasts applies to “over-the-air” broadcast stations only, not cable providers. According to the FCC run site, DTVanswers.com, one way for people to keep their old TV and VCRs, connected to an off-air antenna, working is to subscribe to cable or satellite tv (the other two being buy a new TV and/or get an ATSC digital off-air set-top box). So I tend not to believe what you said about the analog channels on FiOS TV going off the air in 2-17-2009. If this was the case, why bother to have a limited package of analog channels in the first place. I suspect companies like Comcast will be cutting down their analog packages since they need the bandwidth for more HD digital content. Here in Portland, they already cut five channels out of the lineup and I suspect more will be cut in the future.

19. Duane

    December 8th, 2007 at 1:14 pm

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    Thanks Fred, yes actually its a little more complicated than that. The February 2009 deadline is for over the air broadcasts, so theoretically it should not affect Verizon FiOS. However, Verizon has agreed to convert to all digital by the February 2009 deadline to comply with a special waiver granted by the FCC to Verizon for a different deadline that requires all set top boxes after July 2007 to NOT have integrated security: http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6458134.html. The integrated security is a total different mandate, which is explained here: http://www.multichannel.com/article/CA6396723.html.

    You are correct regarding cable companies and the February 2009 deadline. While the cable companies would like to stop analog broadcasts so they can require their customers to upgrade to a set top box, the FCC is, ironically, requiring them to continue broadcasting analog channels until 2012: http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070912-fcc-to-cable-you-must-support-analog-tvs-until-2012.html

20. FredW

    December 16th, 2007 at 2:44 am

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    Thanks Duane, I just found out much of that information on the AVS forum discussion and the fact that FiOS here in Oregon does not have any analog channels at all. Considering that Fiber Optics can carry much more data (up to 14 Terrabytes a second) then what Verizon is going to use, I would believe that there is no capacity barrier preventing FiOS from having all the analog channels they want to offer. Its even possible to have all of the channels in analog if they wish to. Probably would require using additional wavelengths and coax outlets on the ONT but suspect this would be quite costly compared to using all QAM digital. But would give subscribers a choice.

21. RobN

    January 11th, 2008 at 1:17 pm

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    The Verizon FIOS folks told me that after Feb, 2009 I will need a set top box to receive local channels. Does this mean that local channels will now be scrambled? I have a TV with a QAM tuner that is capable of receiveing digital broadcasts. The only way this TV could not receive local channels in the future is if FIOS scrambles the digital signal. Is a change in the works to scramble local digital broadcasts?

22. Tom

    January 22nd, 2008 at 9:31 am

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    Thanks for the info Duane! My current setup is verizon phone, DSL, and directv w/ TIVO (through verizon). FIOS just came to my area, and I recently purchased an HDTV. Though Directv has better HD lineup (for now), it was expensive ($20 more per month than verizon, plus a $100 set up fee, even though I’ve had directv for years). Your review was very helpful in making a choice- I am going Fios

23. violet watson

    January 26th, 2008 at 2:01 pm

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    I have had FIOS since March 2007, and it has been an extreme source of aggravation for my family and I. One of the main problems has been the billing. The advertisement of $95 per month for the “bundle” is very misleading. Every month since I have had FIOS I have been charged exorbitant fees, and each time I call Verizon regarding the bill I am told that my “bundle” discount was not not included.Then the bill is adjusted. Why after almost a year do I have to put up with this annoyance?

    Regarding the FIOS upgrade—I do not like it for three reasons. 1.The guide is more difficult to see (I have to get off my bed and move closer the TV to see it. The print is smaller and too jumbled together.
    2. The widget for the weather guide used to display the weather for all of the days of the week. Now only ONE day at time can be seen.
    3. The time is no longer displayed on the set top box while the TV is on. Instead, the channel only is displayed. Also, the upgrade should have included a simple one-step method, utilizing the power button ONLY, instead of (90%) of the time to hit both the TV/power, or the stb/power. It’s really an annoying process turning on the TV.

    Please give these issues your prompt attention.

    Violet Watson

24. bill

    February 5th, 2008 at 6:35 am

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    I live in sw florida — verizon is slowly installing throughout our area and I expect them to be on my street within a month or two.
    I’ve had Comcast TV/Cable for five years — reliability is excellent, but customer service and poor user interface of tv service are making me excited about FIOS coming to our neighborhood.
    Question — is it possible to get Verizon FIOS Tv only? And not get the high speed internet? Do they market it that way?
    Another concern is giving up forever my copper telephone wires. This is the only way to ensure telephone service if power goes out. Not too impressed with Verizon’s “battery backup” plan for phone service.
    Any thoughts about this?
    Thanks

25. Duane

    February 5th, 2008 at 10:00 am

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    Bill- Once you order FiOS, Verizon will switch your phone service to the FiOS network, which does not make a difference in the service itself, except for like you said, the phone service cannot be powered over fiber optic cable like it is over copper. I don’t think this is a big concern, or at least it is certainly outweighed by the benefits of fiber looking to the future. The fiber optic network is set to eventually replace the outdated copper network. Besides, even though phone service on copper is powered by the phone line itself, and therefore will work in a power outage, even that service is only designed to last for a few hours when the neighborhood switch loses power. It too uses a battery backup.

    You can in fact order FiOS TV without ordering FiOS Internet, but like I said, Verizon phone service would then be provided over FiOS (unless you got some approval otherwise). This also means you would not be able to order DSL since that technology is served over copper wires.

26. robin

    March 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm

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    Duane,
    Not true re analog/copper telephones about not lasting if the neighborhood switch loses power. We had an ice storm in MD/DC area where power was out for about a week, government closed for 3 days etc. Our phones worked the entire time the power was out about 6 days - our daughters talked and talked and talked since it was the preferred form of entertainment in an ice storm. How can you explain it?

27. Duane

    March 25th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

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    Robin, you most likely live within a couple miles of a central office. This is the case in most older areas where phone service was first established. Most central offices have diesel generator backups that can keep the equipment operational as long as they can there’s gas in the tanks. Most suburban areas are fed by remote “neighborhood switches” which do not have backup generators. In some cases even with remote switches, the phone company may even bring a portbale backup generator to a remote switch when an extended power outage occurs.

28. rosalie hale

    April 2nd, 2008 at 6:24 pm

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    Is the PIP able to be used yet?

29. John

    May 3rd, 2008 at 11:17 am

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    We should all rise up against this move to DTV because of the way “providers” intend to implement it. Other than for enabling a two-way communication with the provider (so they can take even more of your money for PPV, etc.), there is no technoligical reason why they can’t provide unencrypted digital channels the same as is now done for analog. In theory all one would need is a digital capable (i.e., QAM-tuner equipped) TV to receive digital channels much in the same manner as an analog sets now receive analog channels. But the providers clearly don’t want that to happen. Most of those 60-or-so analog channels you can now receive with regular analog TV will not be receivable by a mere “digital TV” because most of the channels will now be encrypted (as well as being converted to digital) thus forcing you to rent a decryting STB for each TV you have, and neither the FCC nor Congress appear to be doing anything to stop this. In other words, the change to digital will provide a new means for the providers to collect more of your money, even though aout 80% of the TV content they now provide comprises re-runs. Get prepared to get ripped off by the TV “provider” industry.

30. George Isaksen

    May 23rd, 2008 at 2:21 am

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    I have FIOS TV, Internet, and phone service. It’s great! Lately I have been looking for Media Center or Personal Video Recorder (PVR) software to use with this service. I am legally blind, and this woulld allow me to watch TV on my computer (inches away to easily view). Is there a Verizon product available for sale or monthly rental?

31. Keith

    June 18th, 2008 at 12:12 am

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    Just an update:
    Verizon has switched Fort Wayne IN totally over to the digital service. They must have contacted me up to five different times to make sure that I was all set for the switch, and if I needed any help with the configuration of my TV’s to get ready for it.

    They have also been adding more HD channels. From what I understand, there is another block of them coming in a few days.

    Also, I would not bet the farm that you must have a desktop box to receive the FIOS signal. I am receiving it just fine through an HD tuner that I have connected to my computer.

    That said, it is no match for the ease of operation that I am getting from my set top box.

    Also for those that want to use a VCR with FIOS… forget it. More hassle then it is worth, get the DVR instead. If for no other reason, with FIOS, you can get and record a quality digital signal. A VCR records a POOR analog signal. Kind like the difference between writing with a quality pen, and the big lead pencils that we were issued in 1st grade. Once you get use to the DVR, you can never go back to the klunky VCR.

32. Phil

    June 27th, 2008 at 10:52 am

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    I am considering switching from my cable provider to FIOS but want to keep my hispeed internet.
    Why do they need to install a router if I just want tv?

33. Duane

    July 2nd, 2008 at 2:27 pm

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    rosalie, Still no PIP.

    John, the reason for the DTV transition is to free up space for more and better programming. Analog takes up much more compared to digital signals. Also, it is my understanding that at least the FiOS local channel set is viewable with a digital QAM tuner (no STB required).

    Phil, the router is installed with FiOS TV because its used to download guide data (seamlessly). You could keep high speed internet from another provider, but not Verizon DSL. DSL is a copper technology, and I do not believe Verizon is allowing service from both copper and fiber simultaneously at a single location.

34. alan

    July 2nd, 2008 at 5:35 pm

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    Great Thread.
    I currently have split the cable before it hits the cable modem and have it hooked up to a Hauppage wintv box(analog tuner). This, plus windows MCE gives me TIVO for free.
    Will I be able to do the same thing if I get fios tv and internet?