Verizon to go all Digital in August for Tampa Bay Area

[Bschneider]

Verizon to go all Digital in August for Tampa Bay Area

For those Verizon FiOS customers, you should be getting a letter in the mail in the next few days. This letter will come in a large black, red, yellow and white envelope.

This letter will explain to you that you will need a Verizon-issued digital adapter, Set Top Box or CableCARD for each television that you have in your home after August or you will be unable to receive FiOS TV for that television.

For those televisions that don't have one of those devises listed above, Verizon will, for a limited time, offer you FREE equipment (a simple digital adapter) as long as you are a Verizon customer and reside at your current address. You will have until 7/17/08 to call Veizon for your free equipment.

Although the letter does not state it, you will be only be able to receive up to three (3) FREE adapters.

http://www.tampahdtv.com/images/fios/Verizon_GoDigital.jpg

[bdraw]

Sweet, the sooner they turn off the analog channnels the sooner we'll get the new HD channels like the rest of the country.

[Bschneider]

Update:

They have been told to tell their customers to just offer 1 free adapter. If you actually need more than 1 please keep firm to your ground and tell them you need 2/3. They will provide them to you.

[bdraw]

I like how it includes CableCARDs in the email. I wonder if it's possible to get the one I have for free from now on. Doubt it's worth the $3/mo to call and hassle them.

[StevenA]

The following list is from the GoDigital web page. You will need one of the following in oder to view channels from Verizon once they go all digital. Note that the free digital adapter (second on the list below) will only let you view SD channels. You will still need to rent a HD STB in order to get HD.
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* Verizon-issued set-top box: Verizon has many choices of set-top boxes ranging from standard-definition STB to high-definition (HD) DVR. Set-top boxes provide access to programming and the full range of interactive features available on FiOS TV.

* Verizon-issued digital adapter: Smaller than our set-top boxes, the Verizon digital adapter lets our FiOS TV customers view local, national and premium standard-definition channels available on other set-top boxes in the home. It doesn't support high-definition or interactive services like video on demand or our interactive media guide.

* Verizon-issued CableCARD: This device—slightly larger than a credit card—plugs into a Digital Cable Ready (DCR) device like a TV or DVR to provide access to certain encrypted high definition and standard definition digital programs without the need for set-top box. CableCARDs currently enable one-way operation and don't support video-on-demand, the FiOS TV interactive media guide (IMG) and other interactive features.

* TV with a built-in digital QAM tuner: A QAM tuner is an electronic tuning device in some of the newer digital TV sets. It enables a TV to tune into the channels included in the FiOS TV Local Package (channels 1-49 and the local HD channels) without the need for a digital adapter or set-top box. We are advising customers to check their TV's manual to determine if it has a QAM tuner.

[DSquare]

Update:

They have been told to tell their customers to just offer 1 free adapter. If you actually need more than 1 please keep firm to your ground and tell them you need 2/3. They will provide them to you.

Received the letter today and called about getting the adapters. They asked how many tvs I had total and then how many are connected with a stb. I told them I had 4 and only 1 was connected with a stb. No problem what so ever she said they would ship 3 adapters out.

[Bschneider]

No problem what so ever she said they would ship 3 adapters out.

Cool, no hassles. I know of two people that when they called they are just offering one. So its like any other...it depends on who you get on the phone.

[Bschneider]

A second letter went out last week. Basically it stated the same thing except now the date is 08/18. I'll post the letter later today.

[Kendo]

I heard 8/18 too, but I was checking the radar on Verizon weatherscan and the creep line stated 8/5? You think it's a type-0 or are they running ahead of schedule?

[Bschneider]

Saw 8/5 on the Verizon WeatherScan too.. I looked this morning and analog is still on.

[pilotbob]

Does any one know if I call and ask for 3 of the "free" digital adapters and then return the two I am paying for if I can save myself $8 a month? I don't need the PPV or VOD features of the ones I have, I never use it.

BOb

[Bschneider]

Yep.. can be done.. I know of few that have done just that..

[Kendo]

Does any one know if I call and ask for 3 of the "free" digital adapters and then return the two I am paying for if I can save myself $8 a month? I don't need the PPV or VOD features of the ones I have, I never use it.

BOb

Ask your PAM if they can take the two off your bill - they probably won't give you a refund for past usage, but maybe they can stop charging you after the digital conversion.

[pilotbob]

Ask your PAM if they can take the two off your bill - they probably won't give you a refund for past usage, but maybe they can stop charging you after the digital conversion.

How do I contact my PAM?

BOB

[Kendo]

How do I contact my PAM?

BOB

Go to http://www.vzpam.com

Click on the link in the lower right hand corner.

[UnixPimp]

I called the 1-888-GO DIGITAL number over 2 months ago, and they agreed to send me 2 digital converters. I did not get anything from Verizon for 3 weeks, so I called them about the status of the order. They had no record of the order, even when I gave them the order number. They agreed again to send 2 digital converters, and they gave me a new order number. It has been over 3 weeks since that last call to Verizon.
Now I guess I have to call these clowns again. How much you want to bet that they have no record of the order, and they will not find the order number in their system?

This is very annoying because other than this snafu, I am very pleased with their TV service when compared to what I used to get from Brighthouse.

[Kendo]

I've never heard of that issue before - most of the time they just try to reduce the number of boxes (but they do send them). Most people I spoke to get them in 2-3 weeks. Mine took 2 weeks, I was shocked to find them at my door that quickly. Keep on them, maybe one day you'll find 4 at your door.

[UnixPimp]

I had to call them again about the free digital converter boxes. They could not find the service order number again, so they placed another order. This time they gave me an expected delivery date.

I asked for two boxes, so I hope the come this time. Maybe 3 shipments of 2 boxes will show up?

The service rep on the phone is on a really strict script, and they do not like to deviate from it. I cannot fault the person on the phone for the loss of the previous order, but this is trying my patience. If this happens again, I will have to file a complaint about this repetitive screw up.

[UnixPimp]

The bozos finally did deliver my two free digital adapters. I guess the 4th call was the charm. As a helpful hint to others out there, I would insist on asking for a delivery date from the customer service rep.

The digital adapter is no frills. No interactive guide. It only has RF output and composite video output. No HD support. It does not even have a channel changer button or a power button. You must use the remote, so don't lose it or misplace it.

The picture with the digital adapters looks better than the analogue signal on regular SD tube TV's. It is a great deal for a free box, but if I had to pay for it, I would rather pay the extra $2 a month for the full-blown SD digital set top box.

[Bschneider]

Congrats on finally getting you boxes! I am no longer surprised at how long things take to get done with simple things like shipping out these adapters.

[pilotbob]

Go to http://www.vzpam.com

Click on the link in the lower right hand corner.

Did. Asked for 3 digital adapters and if I could get the bad cable connected to my NIM repaired. What it would cost, etc.

The fairly quick response was, "Just a quick question when you say NIM what are you describing? Sorry I don't understand what that abbreviation is for?"

Sigh.

BOb