Travel Technology - Verizon FIOS TV Service

The news came this week that Verizon has government approval to offer fiber optic TV (as well as internet and telephone) service throughout New York City.

Right now, most of us have no choice when it comes to cable. You either have Time Warner or Cablevision depending on who was awarded your neighborhood.

I am wondering if there are any FIOS customers here who can tell me what type of set top box/DVR they are using. Both of the other companies use the Scientific Atlanta EXplorer 8300, which, let's just say, is no TiVo.

I am also wondering about two features I heard they have, namely, the ability to record three programs at once and the ability to access recordings on the box in one room from the box in another room. I have two cable DVRs and this is not possible except by the roundabout cumbersome method of making a copy in real time and carrying it to the other room.

Of course, please also let me know if you are happy with their service.

With the franchise being issued what is the lead time for Verizon to actually be able to offer the service around town? I heard about them offering the service in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village (http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/3/verizons_fios_heads_to_stuy_town_vz) starting soon, but nowhere else in the City. Or do you already live in one of those and just want to rub it in. ;)

The point is that Verizon has to install additional equipment in order to offer FIOS. They have to install Fiber Optic cable to your house and your house needs a special converter unit in the basement which also contains an emergency battery so your phone works for a few hours in case of a power outage. So it will probably take some time before FIOS is available.

About your questions: Don't know about the three simultaneously recordings but yes you can watch your recorded programs on every TV in your house as long the TV is connected to a Receiver which itself is again hooked up to FIOS.

About Scientific Explorer 8300. Doesn't Time Warner use the same model? I think when a friend got Time Warner in Manhattan she got this model.

i live in dc area, and just had fios installed to replace comcast. boxes look the same. the comcast remote worked on the fios just as it worked on the comcast. we mostly "watch" the music channels. there is no comparison. fios is sending a much more expanded signal, with much better separation. it seems to be full 5.1, whereas comcast was 2 channel at most.

I have FiOS here in the N. Dallas-area and love it.

The one thing I noticed right away when we got the service over 1 year ago was how clean and crisp the TVs looked (standard def). It blew the Comcast (now Time Warner) cable away!

Just got small Motorola boxes (DCT 700) for the each of the bedrooms as they prepare for digital conversion that gives us all our channels on all our TV's. Previously we could only get all our channels in the TV room with the main Motorola set top box (2500 series).

I do not have the FiOS DVR as we still have a TiVo Gen 1 that works just fine and we have the lifetime service on.

Here's a list of the Motorola boxes they offer:
DCT 700 Digital Adapter with power supply
2500 series Standard Definition
2708 series SD Digital Video Recorder
6200 series High Definition
6416 series HD DVR

FiOS just showed a commercial last night (first time) about their DVR starring Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics claiming that you CAN record on one DVR and see the program anywhere in your home that has a similar DVR connected.

As caspritz78 said, they do have to run the fiber drop from the street to your home and then install a converter box to deipher the optical signal, they also install battery back-up for phone and drop an ethernet port if you have their internet service as well. (I used to chat with someone from Karlsruhe)

I don't know the model number, I'll check it when I get home. I have FiOS with the standard definition DVR. The FiOS set top box is actually a network device, and it even shows up on my LAN as if it were a computer hooked up to the network. We have only recorded one show at a time, so I'm not yet sure of its max capabilities, but we've been really happy with the service so far.

They did not drop any ethernet ports in our home, but they connected their router (on which I disabled the wifi broadcast in order to use my own wifi router) to their network via coaxial cable. I'm eventually going to see if I can hack the coax network to extend my wired LAN throughout the house.

FiOS just showed a commercial last night (first time) about their DVR starring Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics claiming that you CAN record on one DVR and see the program anywhere in your home that has a similar DVR connected.


I can confirm this. My brother lives outside of D.C. and has FIOS' multi-room DVR. He swears by it.

I have FIOS for my phone and internet, but won't given up DirecTV as I'm a Sunday Ticket subscriber. And, after I added up all of the options that I'd need with FIOS to equate to my DTV service, the cost was almost identical. But, if DTV ever fails me for some reason, I won't hesitate to go to FIOS. I was able to leverage this stance with DTV and got a healthy discount on my monthly bill for the next year.

FiOS just showed a commercial last night (first time) about their DVR starring Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics claiming that you CAN record on one DVR and see the program anywhere in your home that has a similar DVR connected.
That commercial has been running on ESPN (at least in NYC) for a while now.

As caspritz78 said, they do have to run the fiber drop from the street to your home and then install a converter box to deipher the optical signal, they also install battery back-up for phone and drop an ethernet port if you have their internet service as well. (I used to chat with someone from Karlsruhe)

I know about the hardware required, which is why I raised my original question above. It is great that they got the franchise licenses, but I am really curious as to what the time line is going to be for actual deployment in NYC. Sty-town and Peter Cooper are first on the list, and I would assume that other high-rises will happen before the smaller brownstone/tenement-style buildings. Also of note is that for the NYC apartment buildings the fiber will go to the building, not to the apartment, in many cases. Verizon will convert it to copper to get in to the unit so as to not have to pull new fiber up the shafts. Plus they only need a battery in the basement. At least that is one of the stories I have heard.

It'll be interesting to see how that plays out, though I'm not expecting it to be in my apartment any time soon.

[QUOTE=sbm12;10054495]I know about the hardware required, which is why I raised my original question above. It is great that they got the franchise licenses, but I am really curious as to what the time line is going to be for actual deployment in NYC. Sty-town and Peter Cooper are first on the list, and I would assume that other high-rises will happen before the smaller brownstone/tenement-style buildings. Also of note is that for the NYC apartment buildings the fiber will go to the building, not to the apartment, in many cases. Verizon will convert it to copper to get in to the unit so as to not have to pull new fiber up the shafts. Plus they only need a battery in the basement. At least that is one of the stories I have heard.QUOTE]

sbm,

sorry about that, I was detailing my experience to the OP. I imagine you're close on your guess about the setup in the high-rises vs. the brownstones.

Our single-family, detached home here in Dallas has fiber to the outer wall, then conversion box (Class 1 Laser device, so the box says) and then coax throughout the house to each of the Set top boxes. Basically, they ported their conversion box outside to the coax.

With the franchise being issued what is the lead time for Verizon to actually be able to offer the service around town? I heard about them offering the service in Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village (http://www.alleyinsider.com/2008/3/verizons_fios_heads_to_stuy_town_vz) starting soon, but nowhere else in the City. Or do you already live in one of those and just want to rub it in. ;)

I wish I had the service. It is not yet available in Western Brooklyn. On the other hand, my friend in Marine Park has FIOS internet service.




About Scientific Explorer 8300. Doesn't Time Warner use the same model? I think when a friend got Time Warner in Manhattan she got this model.

Yes, I believe Time Warner and Cablevision both use it although I have Cablevision. It's an awful product.

I've have Verizon FIOS for 16 months (telly & i-net). Love it. Just walked into the living room to check; the HD DVR is a Motorola. I can record 2 shows simultaneously (and often do). You do get a discount if you bundle the services (telly, i-net, phone). I just did the telly/i-net combo.

Cheers.

Does anyone know if/when Verizon will offer FIOS service in the Seattle-Tacoma area, of if there is another vendor offering a similar service?

Fios is great. The DVR, however, is no TiVo.

Get a TiVo Series3 or HD, and cablecards from Verizon. You give up on demand but get TiVo in return. Access through the TiVo to Amazon Unbox partially makes up for it - and they're supposedly working on HD downloads.

Fios is great. The DVR, however, is no TiVo.

Get a TiVo Series3 or HD, and cablecards from Verizon. You give up on demand but get TiVo in return. Access through the TiVo to Amazon Unbox partially makes up for it - and they're supposedly working on HD downloads.

At least Verizon has the option of Cablecards, our area is getting AT&T uVerse (in addition to Comcast) but they don't offer Cablecard :(

At least Verizon has the option of Cablecards, our area is getting AT&T uVerse (in addition to Comcast) but they don't offer Cablecard :(

A bit off-topic, but AT&T uVerse is running a few sweepstakes (presumably to promote the service). I won a $50 Best Buy gift card. Ok, it wasn't the HDTV I was hoping to win, but a win is a win :D

Back on topic: I've never had Tivo so I can't compare it to the dvr.

Cheers.

Does anyone know if/when Verizon will offer FIOS service in the Seattle-Tacoma area, of if there is another vendor offering a similar service?

There is fios on the Eastside, but not everywhere. I believe there are deployments elsewhere in the Seattle area, but no TV yet.

I've have Verizon FIOS for 16 months (telly & i-net). Love it. Just walked into the living room to check; the HD DVR is a Motorola. I can record 2 shows simultaneously (and often do). You do get a discount if you bundle the services (telly, i-net, phone). I just did the telly/i-net combo.

Cheers.

Let's say I have two three DVRS.

1. Can I record six separate shows simultaneously?

2. Can I record two shows on on DVR and while in the same room, watch a third show?

At least Verizon has the option of Cablecards, our area is getting AT&T uVerse (in addition to Comcast) but they don't offer Cablecard :(

The reason that Uverse can't support cable card is that it is an IPTV platform. Cablecard can't decode that, as it is too robust to do. The Uverse boxes run Microsoft CE (in some fashion) that handles all the decoding.

I've heard that FiOS won't be able to support cablecard once they switch the tv service to a switched channel environment, vs the full broadcast one they are using today.

Let's say I have two three DVRS.

1. Can I record six separate shows simultaneously?

2. Can I record two shows on on DVR and while in the same room, watch a third show?

I don't know the answer to # 1. # 2 is no to the 3rd show unless the 3rd is something you've previously recorded, but not 3 live.

Cheers.

Let's say I have two three DVRS.

1. Can I record six separate shows simultaneously?

2. Can I record two shows on on DVR and while in the same room, watch a third show?

The way I understand it, Fios is basically the same as cable TV except that it uses fiber to get to your home rather than coaxial cable. The Fios set top boxes have the same capabilities as cable TV boxes. There are boxes with two tuners in them, but no boxes with three tuners. So with each box, you can watch one program and record a second program, or you can record two different programs. So with three set top DVRs you can record six programs. AT&T Uverse is technically quite different, although a typical customer might not notice the difference.

I don't know the answer to # 1. # 2 is no to the 3rd show unless the 3rd is something you've previously recorded, but not 3 live.

Cheers.

With my current DVR it's two things at once, either record two (although you can watch one of them) or record one and watch one. You can NOT record two and watch a different one at the same time on the same DVR. Please read further. . .

The way I understand it, Fios is basically the same as cable TV except that it uses fiber to get to your home rather than coaxial cable. The Fios set top boxes have the same capabilities as cable TV boxes. There are boxes with two tuners in them, but no boxes with three tuners. So with each box, you can watch one program and record a second program, or you can record two different programs. So with three set top DVRs you can record six programs. AT&T Uverse is technically quite different, although a typical customer might not notice the difference.

Okay, but then Fios seems to be offering the ability to "send" a recording from one room to another. I can't do that with my Scientific Atlanta DVR.

Also, considering the networks in the past year adopted stupid "anti-TiVo" measures like having one program end at 10:02 PM (thus blocking you from using that slot to program a recording of a show starting on another network at 10:00), why is there no "box" that will let you do three at once?

I am very confused about all this.

With my current DVR it's two things at once, either record two (although you can watch one of them) or record one and watch one. You can NOT record two and watch a different one at the same time on the same DVR.

You can record two and watch a different recorded show with Tivo S3 or HD. (And with the dual tuner standard def Tivo.) I'm pretty certain there are cable co DVRs with that same feature. They only need the tuners to record or watch a live TV broadcast. You don't need one of the tuners to watch a recorded program. (Just to be clear, I'm not doubting what you are saying about your own specific DVR.) Most of these boxes work the same way. There are two tuners, and you can use them any way you want. If you watch a recorded show, you aren't using a tuner, so you can record 2 programs and watch a recorded show at the same time. If you watch live TV, you are using one of the 2 tuners to watch live TV, so you can only record one show when watching live TV (or 2, if you include the show that you are watching.)


Also, considering the networks in the past year adopted stupid "anti-TiVo" measures like having one program end at 10:02 PM (thus blocking you from using that slot to program a recording of a show starting on another network at 10:00), why is there no "box" that will let you do three at once?


Tivo has already adapted to this and will clip the beginning or end of an overlapping show. The one that gets clipped is the one that's lower in the season pass list. Before the software offered that feature, people figured out how to deal with it in other ways.

Most of the cable box software can't/won't adapt to that. They could, if they had decent software and a decent UI, but they don't. They would if the cable companies that are there real customers, insisted on it.

The networks don't really think of that padding as anti-DVR measures. They do it for the additional commercial revenue they get from the more popular show which is the one that has an extra minute or two of programming.

-David

You can record two and watch a different recorded show with Tivo S3 or HD. (And with the dual tuner standard def Tivo.) I'm pretty certain there are cable co DVRs with that same feature. They only need the tuners to record or watch a live TV broadcast. You don't need one of the tuners to watch a recorded program. (Just to be clear, I'm not doubting what you are saying about your own specific DVR.) Most of these boxes work the same way. There are two tuners, and you can use them any way you want. If you watch a recorded show, you aren't using a tuner, so you can record 2 programs and watch a recorded show at the same time. If you watch live TV, you are using one of the 2 tuners to watch live TV, so you can only record one show when watching live TV (or 2, if you include the show that you are watching.)

The Explorer 8300 works this way as well; I've used this functionality. We had two recording and watched a third that was previously recorded.

The Explorer 8300 works this way as well; I've used this functionality. We had two recording and watched a third that was previously recorded.

I thought so. I have a cable co HD-DVR in the living room, and I think it works that way also. Though, the only time I use it it is to show other people how to use it, and that's when I really appreciate my Tivos.

-David

Fios is great. The DVR, however, is no TiVo.

And TiVo is no UltimateTV. Too bad, however, that Microsoft gave up on the concept after just a few years. I still have an UltimateTV receiver and think the interface and controls are far superior to anything on the market today.

With my current DVR it's two things at once, either record two (although you can watch one of them) or record one and watch one. You can NOT record two and watch a different one at the same time on the same DVR.

That's basically what I said in my post. Sorry for any confusion. I can, however, record 2 at the same time & watch previously recorded shows while the 2 live ones are being recorded, as LIHPrem details in his excellent post (and the reasons why).

Cheers.

The Explorer 8300 works this way as well; I've used this functionality. We had two recording and watched a third that was previously recorded.

Interesting. I have two Explorer 8300 boxes with my Cablevision Brooklyn service and neither can do this.

Do you have Time Warner?

Interesting. I have two Explorer 8300 boxes with my Cablevision Brooklyn service and neither can do this.

Do you have Time Warner?

Yup...Time Warner boxes. One is HD and the other is not. AFAIK both support this.

Yup...Time Warner boxes. One is HD and the other is not. AFAIK both support this.

The Time Warner Scientific Atlanta can definitely record two different programs while you watch a third one you recorded previously. I think the box isn't too bad. It is just very slow to boot after a complete reset or power loss. The coolest feature that Time Warner offers is that you can record a complete show even if you tuned in late. I think it works up to 30 minutes into the show.

With the Verizon dvr you can also record a complete show if you turned in late. I think the 30 minute timeframe is the same as caspritz78 mentioned. I know there have been a few times I've tuned in late & been able to record the entire show, and other times it just picked up from when I started. I couldn't figure out quite why, but the 30 minute timeframe probably explains it.

BTW - TimeWarner is promoting its HD digital cable. In the mailer I received yesterday there was a DVD w/ a full episode from The Closer Season 3. I'm still keeping FIOS, but enjoyed watching the episode & will mail it to my sister so she can watch it.

Cheers.

Yup...Time Warner boxes. One is HD and the other is not. AFAIK both support this.

The Time Warner Scientific Atlanta can definitely record two different programs while you watch a third one you recorded previously. I think the box isn't too bad. It is just very slow to boot after a complete reset or power loss. The coolest feature that Time Warner offers is that you can record a complete show even if you tuned in late. I think it works up to 30 minutes into the show.

I have to say that I am stunned to find that indeed I can record two programs at once while simultaneously watching a third pre-recorded program.

Whether this has always been the case or was the result of a software download, I don't know.

What I would like, if I can't have the simultaneous recording of three programs is to be able to record two while watching one.

Does any television signal provider or set top box offer this?

With the Verizon dvr you can also record a complete show if you turned in late. I think the 30 minute timeframe is the same as caspritz78 mentioned. I know there have been a few times I've tuned in late & been able to record the entire show, and other times it just picked up from when I started. I couldn't figure out quite why, but the 30 minute timeframe probably explains it.



Here's how it works on Cablevision with the Scientific Atlanta 8300.

Let's say you came home 30 minutes after the start of "The Closer." IF, and this is a very big IF, you previously left the box tuned to USA (Channel 38 here), you can press the red and white button on the remote and the entire show will be recorded.

As far as I know, if your box was set to a different channel you are SOL (sadly out of luck).

I have had Verizon FiOS TV for about a year now and only switched when I was sure that it would work with the then-new TiVo HD units. I have two of them in the house, both with two single stream Cablecards.

I can record two programs in HD simultaneously and watch a third without any issue. The newer TiVo systems allow you to view the other TiVos on the home network and transfer videos from TiVo to TiVo. I also use the TiVo Transfer application in OS X's Toast 9 add-on burning suite to download and transfer movies to my iPod Touch.

Only issue with FiOS is, oddly, how powerful it is. The Motorola boxes seem to have a higher tolerance for signal strength than the TiVo HD. Because they convert the signal to Coax in your basement, it comes in real hot, so I've had to dampen it about 9 dB before it gets distributed through the house. Otherwise, you get an occasionally jumpy signal due to the distortion of signal. YMMV. Verizon, if asked, will dampen it with both standard attenuators and low-frequency filters. I found a SNR (signal to noise ratio) of 32 to be perfect for me. It puts the signal strength in the high 70s. When I was at 99, it seemed to malfunction constantly.

PM me if you need more info.

Timothy

If only DirecTV had a modern TiVo box, I might have stayed. C'est la vie.

Here's how it works on Cablevision with the Scientific Atlanta 8300.

Let's say you came home 30 minutes after the start of "The Closer." IF, and this is a very big IF, you previously left the box tuned to USA (Channel 38 here), you can press the red and white button on the remote and the entire show will be recorded.

As far as I know, if your box was set to a different channel you are SOL (sadly out of luck).

Same approach on TW Explorer 8300s. I've used it a few times. I believe that the old boxes used to cache 2 hours of content; I don't know how far back the new ones go.

I also heard from 2 people their FIOS signal was too strong. Verizon put attenuators in the line and all was fine. One was the normal FIOS box and the other a Tivo Series3 DVR

MisterNice

Here's the Verizon press release from this morning announcing the start of FIOS TV service in New York City: http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2008/this-is-fios-this-is-nyc.html

My neighborhood is not included.

Here's the Verizon press release from this morning announcing the start of FIOS TV service in New York City: http://newscenter.verizon.com/press-releases/verizon/2008/this-is-fios-this-is-nyc.html

My neighborhood is not included.

My neighborhood is listed but when I put my actual address in I get DirecTV instead of FiOS. They're basically only going into big apartment buildings, with 800 on-net right now, based on the info in the press release:
Said Breen, "Our engineering and installation teams have been able to wire some 800 [apartment buildings] already. Using this innovative technology has really given us a boost in designing build plans for these buildings. And we're in discussions with hundreds of other building and property owners to bring FiOS to their properties. It's a huge marketing advantage to have apartments that are FiOS-ready."

Unless you're in a super-size apartment building I wouldn't bet on seeing service any time soon.

My neighborhood is listed but when I put my actual address in I get DirecTV instead of FiOS. They're basically only going into big apartment buildings, with 800 on-net right now, based on the info in the press release:


Unless you're in a super-size apartment building I wouldn't bet on seeing service any time soon.

Not in Brooklyn. My colleague in Marine Park has FIOS internet in his one family house.