Questions about the in-house installation of FIOS

[StevenA]

Verizon has just started offering FIOS service in my neighborhood (Upper Tampa Bay area) and I'm thinking of getting a FIOS TV, HD DVR and internet package. Before I do, I have some questions about the in-house installation of the equipment used by Verizon to get the signal from the fiber optic cable to the tv. As I understand, the normal installation involves hooking the fiber-optic cable that comes into a wireless broadband router going to be located near where the cable comes nto the house, most likely the garage.

1) Is the connection from the router to the set top box/HD DVR wireless, does it use the existing cable tv coax, or are new ethernet cables run through the house?

2) If existing cables are used, is the signal available at all the cable outlets in the house? (I currently have only one tv, but may add a second for the bedroom in the future.) If it's wireless, has anyone had any connectivity issues due to the distance and number of walls between the router and tv, or due to interference from other wireless devices (e.g., cordless phones)?

3) For DVR capability, are people satisfied with Verizon's set top box/HD DVR unit, or would I be better off getting a standalone set top box and going to Tivo or some other third party for DVR capability?

Thanks in advance for any info on what the in-house installation consists of.

[Bschneider]

The infrastructure is similar to BHN. Each setup box will be using a coax cable (RG6) using a standard cable splitter to provide the cable run. The router is used to provide the guide and/or internet. The router can be located anywhere in the house as long as Verizon can reach it using a Cat5 cable and the coax cable.

Since the infrastructure is similar to BHN then the signal will be at all the cable outlets in the house provided that you have used the same splitter and just replaced the main cable. I know of several users of the Verizon wireless router. Some like it and others don’t. For those that do use it, including myself, no connectivity issues.

My home has two FiOS DVR units. I personally do not like the DVR but you will find other users who do like it. I just received the TIVO Series3 to replace the main DVR that we use. You can read several threads on several forums, including this one, that talks about the issues that we have seen using the FiOS DVR. For example, last week there was two ‘new’ episodes of Bones that was broadcasted. The FiOS DVR only recorded the first show and not the second. This has happened twice in the last three weeks.
Hope this helps.

[StevenA]

Thanks, Bschneider. The day after I posted my message, my next door neighbor got FIOS installed at his house for internet and phone, and plans to get FIOS cable TV once his D-TV contract expires. I was able to talk to the Verizon installer and see how the installation is done. One thing I had not realized is that, with the internet service, Verizon will run a Cat-5 cable from the router to wherever in the house your primary computer is located. I had considered upgrading my current DSL service with a local ISP, Rapid Systems, to FIOS since they are also offering the internet service (they are a Verizon reseller), but aside from being a couple of dollars more expensive than Verizon for the same service, and not offering the cable TV, they charge installation and activation fees that add up to over $200, whereas Verizon has free installation and is currently waiving their $19,95 activation fee.

Since I don't know much about DVRs, I'm going to go initially with Verizon's DVR offering even though it's gotten only lukewarm reviews at best. Maybe later, after I've learned more, I'll switch to some other DVR, or figure out how to transfer recordings to the media PC that I'm planning to build (I think there's some information about how to do that over on the AVS forum).

I called Verizon yesterday and tried to order the FIOS service. However, the woman I talked to was unable to complete the order. She said the problem was that her network was down, and that she would call me back later (which she never did). For a company that advertises itself as having the most reliable networks in the industry, that's not a very auspicious start. I also hope that her failure to call me back is not indicative of the quality of service I can expect from Verizon.

[pilotbob]

Since I don't know much about DVRs, I'm going to go initially with Verizon's DVR offering even though it's gotten only lukewarm reviews at best.

The FIoS DVR is ok. But, when you compare it to the alternative, an $800 Tivo S3 plus $19.95/mo for Tivo Service plus $5 a mo for two cable cards... the FIoS DVR for 12.95 a month is awesome!

BOb

[Bschneider]

The FIoS DVR is ok. But, when you compare it to the alternative, an $800 Tivo S3 plus $19.95/mo for Tivo Service plus $5 a mo for two cable cards... the FIoS DVR for 12.95 a month is awesome!

BOb

I paid $680.00 shipped for the S3 from www.buy.com (http://www.buy.com). I am also paying $8.57/mo for the Tivo service (3/yr prepay) and the $5.00/mo for the two cards. So besides the out of pocket $680, I am paying almost the same as the FiOS DVR per month. In my household the $680 is well worth it knowing that the guide is correct and it will always record the shows.

[pilotbob]

I paid $680.00 shipped for the S3 from www.buy.com (http://www.buy.com). I am also paying $8.57/mo for the Tivo service (3/yr prepay) and the $5.00/mo for the two cards. So besides the out of pocket $680, I am paying almost the same as the FiOS DVR per month. In my household the $680 is well worth it knowing that the guide is correct and it will always record the shows.

I didn't know you could get the TiVo fee down that low, but you had to pre-pay... so that means you paid another $310 up front for the fee.

How is the TiVo working? What size hd comes with it? $680 seems good but still high, I'll have to keep an eye on it.

Also, did Verizon let you return your rented DVR/box? On the phone they told me I had a contract and couldn't return one of the boxes I realized I didn't need because I can get the first 20 channels without it.

BOb

[Bschneider]

I didn't know you could get the TiVo fee down that low, but you had to pre-pay... so that means you paid another $310 up front for the fee.


I know some that found even a lower price. Somewhere around $550 mark. I know Amazon was selling them for around that price with a American Express coupon. True I paid a little more upfront but for us it was worth it.


How is the TiVo working? What size hd comes with it? $680 seems good but still high, I'll have to keep an eye on it.


The TiVo is working like it should. No drop outs in video or sound. What I mean is that I have recorded the same program on the TiVo and FiOS DVR and every time there is a audio drop out on the FiOS DVR there isn't one on TiVo. It comes with a 250gb hard drive. But for $140 something I upgraded it to the 500gb hard drive. It took 2 hours for the upgrade from start to finish.


Also, did Verizon let you return your rented DVR/box? On the phone they told me I had a contract and couldn't return one of the boxes I realized I didn't need because I can get the first 20 channels without it.

BOb

I could have returned it. In fact they wanted to take it but I told them I still wanted the FiOS DVR. I am still using it for when there are three programs on at the same time. Or for the VOD or Pay-Per-View. Or just to compare.

[Josh-NewTampa]

I paid $680.00 shipped for the S3 from www.buy.com (http://www.buy.com). I am also paying $8.57/mo for the Tivo service (3/yr prepay) and the $5.00/mo for the two cards. So besides the out of pocket $680, I am paying almost the same as the FiOS DVR per month. In my household the $680 is well worth it knowing that the guide is correct and it will always record the shows.

Hey Bschneider,

I'm thinking about getting the newest Tivo (I soooo miss my old Tivo) and I was wondering if you could tell me about your experience with the cable cards from Verizon.. how did you get them? Install easy? How's the reception? So many questions!! :-) Thanks in advance,

Josh :confused:

[Bschneider]

Hey Bschneider,

I'm thinking about getting the newest Tivo (I soooo miss my old Tivo) and I was wondering if you could tell me about your experience with the cable cards from Verizon.. how did you get them? Install easy? How's the reception? So many questions!! :-) Thanks in advance,

Josh :confused:

All cable cards installs whether from Bright House or Verizon requires a Tech visit. You can't just pick them up and do the install yourself. I just called up Verizon and requested two cable cards. They had no problem with taken the order and scheduling a visit.

I called the day before the scheduled visit and confirmed that they were coming and that they had two cable cards. The phone CSR said that is what the order stated.

I called about an hour before the scheduled visit and asked the same thing and received the same response. However, when they techs arrived they had no cable cards. They had on the order to swap out the DVR. They guys stated that there must have been some mix up during the order from the CSR and the Service Order.

Anyway, the tech said that they cant go get any cable cards since it was after 4:00p, the time the service pick up counter for the techs were closed. He would pick them up in the morning and call me and that he would stop by at my convenience. Which he did.

He came by the next day and folloed the instruction that came with the Tivo and viola it was working, I got all my channels that I am suppose to be recieving. So yes very easy install once they actually brought them.

The reception is great. No dropouts unless its from the source. I think the picture looks better than the Verizon DVR.

I hope that answers some of your questions.