School me on Verizon Fios
 

They just laid the fiber optics in my hood and I am wondering if it is worth.


Anyone one's thoughts would be appreciated...


I have had DTV and currently Comcast. the DTV sucked due to my location and signal the Comcast has been ok but their equipment is so old and useless. The on screen menu is so awful and the DVR makes me want to puke.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I have Fios tv but will be getting rid of if in a week, but its not because i dont like Fios tv.[/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana] [/FONT][/COLOR]
[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I think its the best choice of the 3. The picture quality is as good or better then satellite and when you change channels its as fast as cable. Its the best of both worlds with only 1 major draw back..... The inital customer service SUCKS. The worst ive ever dealt with in my life. Once you get everything installed in your house youre good to go though. [/FONT][/COLOR]

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

I'm stuck with Comcast now after having to leave FIOS. I contemplate suicide daily.

One thing to keep in mind, you can haggle them down a bit at the beginning. Make sure to haggle when you start up the contract. You can get a really good price.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

I have had DirecTv and Comcast; I currently have FiOS (I live in Howard Co., MD). So far everything has been great. Comcast is super expensive in these areas and DirecTv's signal sucks. I have their TV/Internet/Phone bundle for about 150 bucks (including HBO and Cinemax). I like their picture quality and availability of channels. I think their On Demand stuff could be better. However, the best thing for me is being able to get DC Channels (which I couldn't get with DirecTv). I really haven't had customer service issues, and when my contract was up, they gave me a bundle discount that was pretty similar to what they were giving new people.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=Ruhskins;804063]I have had DirecTv and Comcast; I currently have FiOS (I live in Howard Co., MD). So far everything has been great. Comcast is super expensive in these areas and DirecTv's signal sucks. I have their TV/Internet/Phone bundle for about 150 bucks (including HBO and Cinemax). I like their picture quality and availability of channels. I think their On Demand stuff could be better. However, the best thing for me is being able to get DC Channels (which I couldn't get with DirecTv). I really haven't had customer service issues, and when my contract was up, they gave me a bundle discount that was pretty similar to what they were giving new people.[/quote]


Ok sounds good. I get DC Fox right now on Comcast in Harford County so I am hoping that holds true with Fios.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=mredskins;804067]Ok sounds good. I get DC Fox right now on Comcast in Harford County so I am hoping that holds true with Fios.[/quote]Do you get it in HD? I have Comcast in Howard County and I get the DC stations but only in SD. On the one hand its good because I can always watch the Skins play but on the other hand watching SD on an HDTV sucks.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=ArtMonkDrillz;804070]Do you get it in HD? I have Comcast in Howard County and I get the DC stations but only in SD. On the one hand its good because I can always watch the Skins play but on the other hand watching SD on an HDTV sucks.[/quote]


On Comcast I get both SD and HD DC Fox. I am looking at Fios channel line up for Harford County, looks like I only get B-more Fox.


According to the lineup for Howard you should get it on 517 in HD.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=mredskins;804071]On Comcast I get both SD and HD DC Fox. I am looking at Fios channel line up for Harford County, looks like I only get B-more Fox.


According to the lineup for Howard you should get it on [B]517 in HD[/B].[/quote]Um, maybe it's new. Over the last month or so Comcast in my area has added a ton of HD channels.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

I have comcast and have never had anything else. Mostly 'cause I just don't feel like messing with it.

Just curious as to what people's issues with Comcast are. What's better about DTV or FiOS? (Other than "Everything"). They've been responsive, price is a little high but I have always negotiated the stated price down.

Just curious why they have such a bad rep?

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=JoeRedskin;804089]I have comcast and have never had anything else. Mostly 'cause I just don't feel like messing with it.

Just curious as to what people's issues with Comcast are. What's better about DTV or FiOS? (Other than "Everything"). They've been responsive, price is a little high but I have always negotiated the stated price down.

Just curious why they have such a bad rep?[/quote]

I've always found Comcast to be very expensive compared to DirecTV and FiOS. DirecTV is probably the cheapest, but I think their service sucks. I got tired of having to cross my fingers during the rain so I wouldn't lose my signal.

Also, I thought the picture quality for Comcast wasn't that great. I also think FiOS gives me more options with HBO and Cinemax Channels (like the East and West coast version of all of their channels). But as I said, I always felt that money was the main issue.

I will say that I liked Comcast On Demand options a bit better than FiOS, but I can live with FiOS on demand options.

And I do get both DC and Baltimore Channels in HD with FiOS in Howard County.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=mredskins;804071]On Comcast I get both SD and HD DC Fox. I am looking at Fios channel line up for Harford County, looks like I only get B-more Fox.


According to the lineup for Howard you should get it on 517 in HD.[/quote]Just got home - No dice on the Fox DC in HD. Rat farts.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

The level of suckyness of service depends on the space-time continuum and your customer service agent. Comcast is pricey around here but calling and threatening to cancel usual gets the job down. Comcast service quality in my area is top notch (flawless HD, Upload/Download speeds), "Verizon" not so much because they [URL="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009217129_webfrontier13.html"]sold their interest[/URL] in the area.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

I pay $150 for Comcast a month includes phone, internet 2DVR boxes and two HD boxes. No premium channels.

My issue with them is mainly their old equipment. The DVr will make you want to pull your hair out it is so awful, especially if you come from a Tivo box.

Now they are upgrading the menu this week so we shall see.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=JoeRedskin;804089]I have comcast and have never had anything else. Mostly 'cause I just don't feel like messing with it.

Just curious as to what people's issues with Comcast are. What's better about DTV or FiOS? (Other than "Everything"). They've been responsive, price is a little high but I have always negotiated the stated price down.

Just curious why they have such a bad rep?[/quote]

JR:

First of all, the picture is much, much better with FiOS. The first time I fired FiOS up I thought I had accidentally switched TVs with someone the picture was so much crisper. I think the whole XFINITY thing has started to combat the picture quality, but still not there.

Equipment. FiOS receivers are quick, intuitive and sleek looking. Comcast receivers seem to take forever to switch channels, their menu is hideous and difficult to use. The only issue with FiOS is the actiontec router to me, not a huge fan of it -- but I've seen worse!

Channel lineup: I found FiOS has a lot more of the channels I want to watch. This comes down to personal preference, but to me the lineup is superior.

Internet. FiOS internet runs circles around Comcast. End of story.


One thing I want to say to wrap it up is all my dealings with both companies (I've basically moved every year for the past 6ish years, so seen both a few times.) have been in Northern VA.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=Daseal;804151]JR:

First of all, the picture is much, much better with FiOS. The first time I fired FiOS up I thought I had accidentally switched TVs with someone the picture was so much crisper. I think the whole XFINITY thing has started to combat the picture quality, but still not there.

Equipment. FiOS receivers are quick, intuitive and sleek looking. Comcast receivers seem to take forever to switch channels, their menu is hideous and difficult to use. The only issue with FiOS is the actiontec router to me, not a huge fan of it -- but I've seen worse!

Channel lineup: I found FiOS has a lot more of the channels I want to watch. This comes down to personal preference, but to me the lineup is superior.

Internet. FiOS internet runs circles around Comcast. End of story.


One thing I want to say to wrap it up is all my dealings with both companies (I've basically moved every year for the past 6ish years, so seen both a few times.) have been in Northern VA.[/quote]

Am I missing something here? How the hell is the picture quality better? Is Comcast downscaling? Is Verizon doing 1080P? The digital signals are the same, the TV's you watch it on are not.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=saden1;804192]Am I missing something here? How the hell is the picture quality better? Is Comcast downscaling? Is Verizon doing 1080P? The digital signals are the same, the TV's you watch it on are not.[/quote]


Maybe it is the fiber optic cable vs. coaxial but of course once the Fios signal hits your house it goes to coaxial, unless you wired or re-wired your house fiber optics.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=mredskins;804199]Maybe it is the fiber optic cable vs. coaxial but of course once the Fios signal hits your house it goes to coaxial, unless you wired or re-wired your house fiber optics.[/quote]

It's digital signal so noise isn't an issue...plus comcast has fiber-optic lines too.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

Not sure exactly how. The complex I was living in at that point was built to work with FIOS so it was Fibre straight to the box. All I know is one day the signal looked like shit, the next it didn't.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=saden1;804224]It's digital signal so noise isn't an issue...plus comcast has fiber-optic lines too.[/quote]


Then maybe it is the crappy Scientific Atlantic boxes. I honestly see a differnce between my Comcast and my sister's Fios.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=mredskins;804241]Then maybe it is the crappy Scientific Atlantic boxes. I honestly see a differnce between my Comcast and my sister's Fios.[/quote]

Looks like Comcast is cheating customers in certain markets and it looks like N. VA is one of those markets.

[URL]http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1008271[/URL]

That is some shady shit!

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

You should get Fios Internet if you do a lot of downloading. I've read that usenet users dl at 5 mb/sec!

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

So the "new" Comcast guide was add to my service last night, wow just as crappy as the last one but now a shade of blue vs. pea soup green.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

@mredskins - I have the Motorola boxes from several years ago, and you should be able to go into Setup and change the color of the guide. Every once in a while I change it to see if my wife notices.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;804661]@mredskins - I have the Motorola boxes from several years ago, and you should be able to go into Setup and change the color of the guide. Every once in a while I change it to see if my wife notices.[/quote]


Dude I still have the Scientific Atlantic boxes, they are awful!

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=mredskins;804664]Dude I still have the Scientific Atlantic boxes, they are awful![/quote]

You should call them ask about the Motorola [URL="http://www.motorola.com/Video-Solutions/US-EN/Products-and-Services/Video-Consumer-Premise-Equipment/All-Digital-Set-Tops/DCH3416_US-EN"]DCH3416[/URL] box.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;804661]@mredskins - I have the Motorola boxes from several years ago, and you should be able to go into Setup and change the color of the guide. Every once in a while I change it to see if my wife notices.[/quote]

and she probably never does right? I used to do the same thing.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=saden1;804680]You should call them ask about the Motorola [URL="http://www.motorola.com/Video-Solutions/US-EN/Products-and-Services/Video-Consumer-Premise-Equipment/All-Digital-Set-Tops/DCH3416_US-EN"]DCH3416[/URL] box.[/quote]


u can only get those in b-more county

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=Mattyk;804692]and she probably never does right? I used to do the same thing.[/quote]
LOL. Not at first, but eventually she would catch on. I haven't done it in a while...might have to do it when we get back from the beach.

@saden - I have the older cousin of that box (DCT6400). I tried using a HDMI cable with it, but couldn't get the settings right. I'll have to run over to the office one afternoon here soon and see if they have the DCH3416 in this area.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

I did some comparing of them with other TV providers on besttvforme.com. I was surprised by what I found and it’s helped me to decide to keep the DISH network service I get as an employee. It is possible that they're right for you but definitely look over facts and opinions.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

Bumping this thread because FIOS just became available in my neighborhood. Just curious for those of you with FIOS, what do you think of it? Me and my pops are paying 130 a month for the Directv basic package and Comcast for internet. I think 70 a month for DTV and 60 a month for Comcast. It used to be 140 a month for all the movie channels we were getting, but we saved 70 by cutting out all our movie channels. What is the customer service like with FIOS? My dad is locked into a dispute with Dish right now for them charging us while we waited 3 months for them to send us a box to send their cable box back in, and I know right now we're on a 2 year contract with DTV, so we'd have to pay a cancellation fee to get out of it. Just curious as to whether or not it's worth it.

As far as internet goes my dad doesn't do any downloading whatsoever, so I'm the only person who d/l's anything. Pretty much the only thing I d/l nowadays is music torrents. I get good speeds ever since I bought an ethernet cable online and ran it from my modem to my computer. We have 3 tv's in the house, and our main tv is still a big box 32' stereo tv. Me and my roomy have HDTV's, mine is running at 720p and his at 1080p.

Anyways to make a long story short is it worth it? My dad doesn't want to at this point because a neighbor of ours got it and doesn't like it.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

my parents switched from cox to fios and switched back... for them (springfield va) it didn't add anything and the internet wasn't any faster, but the weird channel line up (ie instead of 1-102, it was 103, 527, 1024, 634, etc) and a few missing channels they liked killed it for them.

the installation can be a bit of a pain too, but the actual tv quality/speed, etc wasn't an issue... it was the little things they weren't used to and the fact that it didn't seem very different from what cox offered for less.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

So FiOS was finally available in my area this month (look back to my OP ate). It was all dug in but they didn't offer it until now.

So I have had it now for a few weeks. I will have to say at least for me it has been a improvement over Comcast. The on demand service is light years ahead of Comcast. I pay roughly about $20 less a month then Comcast and they gave me a $500 gift card for signing a two year contract.

I will miss my DC Fox though (I live near B-more)! =(

The internet seems a bit faster then Comcast as well. My files seem to download very quickly now and I have zero streaming issues.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=mredskins;896968]So FiOS was finally available in my area this month (look back to my OP ate). It was all dug in but they didn't offer it until now.

So I have had it now for a few weeks. I will have to say at least for me it has been a improvement over Comcast. The on demand service is light years ahead of Comcast. I pay roughly about $20 less a month then Comcast and they gave me a $500 gift card for signing a two year contract.

I will miss my DC Fox though [B](I live near B-more)[/B]! =(

The internet seems a bit faster then Comcast as well. My files seem to download very quickly now and I have zero streaming issues.[/quote]

I live in Howard Co. and I get DC and Baltimore channels.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=Ruhskins;896992]I live in Howard Co. and I get DC and Baltimore channels.[/quote]


On FiOS? I live in Harford County. I got both those on Comcast not FiOS.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=mredskins;897104]On FiOS? I live in Harford County. I got both those on Comcast not FiOS.[/quote]

Yup, on FiOS. It is the main reason I switched. DirecTV only gave me Baltimore channels. Although, I think living in Harford Co. I can see why they would give you just Baltimore channels.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=Ruhskins;897125]Yup, on FiOS. It is the main reason I switched. DirecTV only gave me Baltimore channels. Although, I think living in Harford Co. I can see why they would give you just Baltimore channels.[/quote]

Yeah but the odd part is Comcast has both DC and B-more Fox in Harford County; they must have the exclusive right to do so.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=mredskins;897152]Yeah but the odd part is Comcast has both DC and B-more Fox in Harford County; they must have the exclusive right to do so.[/quote]

That's weird. Have you called FiOS about it?

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=Ruhskins;897160]That's weird. Have you called FiOS about it?[/quote]


Yeah, they had a big neighborhood sign up in my area and when I was there I talked to a servce rep manager and she said yes that is true and they were unable to secure it. A few folks dropped out of line when i brought it up.


It usually pans out to a few games a year if that. Actually it never came into to play last year but I was blacked out a few times when the Skins were on CBS and the Ravens were playing.

I always have a few plan B's. One is my older neighbor who will never switch from Comcast becasue he is old and well old people don't like change. He is a Skins fan and invites me over for nearly every game. Second I can literally walk to several bars that have the ticket. And my worst case scenario is just to watch the Red Zone.

Right now though I have two small children so even if I got every game watching every game is not a reality either. The last thing my 4 year old wants to do on a nice Sunday September afternoon is sit in the house and watch football; quiet frankly neither do I.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

Glad you are digging FiOS. Since in my neighborhood, Comcast is the only player in town for internet (either that or dial up. No DSL, no FiOS), I'm about ready to scale back Comcast to just internet and basic cable and start doing more streaming via Netflix/Hulu/Amazon/etc. I'm going to invest in either Roku or Apple TV boxes. I'm just sick and tired of paying the amount of money I'm paying and not getting a whole helluva lot in return.

I've got my 2 daughters (and wife for that matter) trained that Sundays in the Fall are football Sundays. They know Daddy gets to watch football all day (even at dinner), and even got my wife to start enjoying the Sunday Night game no matter who's playing. Granted if it's nice out, I'll take the girls out after a 1pm Skins game. Because you're right, if it's nice Sunday afternoon, gotta get outside even if it's just for a little bit.

Re: School me on Verizon Fios
 

[quote=BDBohnzie;898952]Glad you are digging FiOS. Since in my neighborhood, Comcast is the only player in town for internet (either that or dial up. No DSL, no FiOS), I'm about ready to scale back Comcast to just internet and basic cable and start doing more streaming via Netflix/Hulu/Amazon/etc. I'm going to invest in either Roku or Apple TV boxes. I'm just sick and tired of paying the amount of money I'm paying and not getting a whole helluva lot in return.

I've got my 2 daughters (and wife for that matter) trained that Sundays in the Fall are football Sundays. They know Daddy gets to watch football all day (even at dinner), and even got my wife to start enjoying the Sunday Night game no matter who's playing. Granted if it's nice out, I'll take the girls out after a 1pm Skins game. Because you're right, if it's nice Sunday afternoon, gotta get outside even if it's just for a little bit.[/quote]

If you're planning on increasing your usage due to Netflix and Hulu I would recommend getting their business class. With 4 people streaming movies all month you're at risk to go over their 250 GB residential limit. Business customers on the other hand have no limit. Plus if you're a residential customer and they find you going over 250GB "X amount of times" they'll ban you for a year and they won't give you the option to switch to business class.

Comcast is evil but unfortunately for a lot of people they're the only game in town.