Only 18 channels without a box

[Max_Gator]

This is one thing I find particularly irritating. They've set up the channel tiers so that without a box, all you will get are 18 channels.

I really don't want to pay $4/month for a box on tvs that are only used occasionally.

[Harry]

That is the flip side of their being almost totally digital. You need a box to see anything. The good news is that the picture quality is a lot better on a lot more channels.


Harry

[sambo]

Guess it comes out in the wash .. somehow .. I only get 16 channels w/o a box

[Max_Gator]

I think it is a method for verizon to "hide" a cost.

Verizon only makes available - without a box - those channels on the bottom tier. That tier extends to 47 or 48, I don't recall. The only channels in that tier though are 1-17 and 47 (tv guide).

There is no reason for them to tier the channels the way they do aside from trying to cause you to buy a box for each tv.

I used to watch tv on the computer while working (usually sports) - If I want to do that now, I've got to have a box attached to the computer.

If I got boxes for each tv and my computer that would be an additional $12/month.

I had a recent issue with the phone service while moving that was so bad, I just about dropped verizon.

The things that kept me with them are: the improvement of the analog tier to digital; and the fact that my wife and I are big football fans who want espn2 HD, Nfl network HD and Espn U.

[Floyd]

FIOS, being a digital service shouldn't be viewable on any analog TV without a converter. Since you are saying that you can see 16-18 channels without a 'box', does that mean that the ONT outside the house has a D/A converter on those 16-18 channels? Are the local channels included in that group?
When my ONT was replaced last month the technician told me that if I had FIOS TV that only the TVs with a converter box would receive programming.

[LonghornXP]

FIOS, being a digital service shouldn't be viewable on any analog TV without a converter. Since you are saying that you can see 16-18 channels without a 'box', does that mean that the ONT outside the house has a D/A converter on those 16-18 channels? Are the local channels included in that group?
When my ONT was replaced last month the technician told me that if I had FIOS TV that only the TVs with a converter box would receive programming.

Its always been known that any channels available between 1-50 will be in analog for any TVs without a box. To get all other channels beyond those you will need a box at every TV you want channels above 50 on. Also all TVs with a box will get all channels between 1-50 in digital instead of analog as well.

[Floyd]

Even though it's always "been known", is there anyone on here who actually has FIOS that has a tv connected directly to a fios feed from the ONT that can report that they get x number of channels without any converter?

[pilotbob]

Even though it's always "been known", is there anyone on here who actually has FIOS that has a tv connected directly to a fios feed from the ONT that can report that they get x number of channels without any converter?

Yes, actually have my old replayTV hooked to it and it gets 15ish channels. Basically the 6 networks and a couple of local PBS I think.

BOb