Verizon FiOS got user-reviewed
posted October 11th 2005 9:25AM
The bonus of this whole Internet thing is knowledgeable users can sometimes peep things that we don't have access to—like the very lucky and privileged few who already have Verizon FiOS fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) that we've been hearing (and hoping, wishing, dreaming) about for way too long now. One of the first cities with an active rollout is Keller, Texas, and resident Craig J.'s got a sweet first-look user review of the IPTV service, which has 20 HD channels and apparently the best picture quality dude's ever seen, including non-HD channels (to paraphrase). Just to tempt you a little more to move to an area with service, you can also pick up 30/5MBps fiber Internet access, if you recall. Oh, cruel metropolis with constantly-going-out 5/0.3MBps Internet, we curse thee!
just got the 30/5 service for $55/month (i think, haven't gotten a bill yet). outstanding! d/l'ed solaris 10 from sun and was getting 3.2megs a second. a 450meg iso image d/l'ed in just over 2 minutes! it's like a t3! like i said, outstanding! can't wait for tv sevice to be available. the modem has the video out on it allready. funny, cablevision is offering free upgraded service in fios competition areas i hear. too late! and for people crying about pots, who cares, use your cell phone...
Here I am in Woburn Massachusetts waiting for fios rollout in Jan 2006
When FiOS was offered in my neighborhood, I called Comcast and told them I was considering switching.
They offered me Internet service for $19.99 for 12 months, which I accepted.
I do have HD service with them, which I'm sure helped. I'm still paying about $90/mo. for cable, HD, Internet, fees, etc.
#34
Comcast does have a DVR dual tuner DVR setup box with HDMI. It's the DCT 3412. The SATA port, however is not active. This new box has the same outputs and features as the DCT 6412 Phase III DVR setup box. The DCT 3412 box is only available in areas that have digital simulcast available as this box has no ability to display analog channels.
Verizon sucks! I've been using them for my office in New York for almost a year now and we've had problems with our copper wire service because the wires buried under the street are bad. When I tried to switch to FIOS, Verizon made the order, they were supposed to come in and install it and never did. They didn't even bother to tell me they cancelled! They just didn't show up! Turns out that they couldn't install it because the building we're in is a multi-office building, even though the fiber lines sit right above our office. Weird! Finally after weeks of complaining to them they decide to do it anyways. Just as I as about to have Verizon put in the FIOS lines, a second time, A CableVision guy stops buy and gives me a better deal, with no contracts on phone service and Internet is included. To be honest, I really don't need the 30 MB download speeds from FIOS. Cable will do just fine. In fact, cable will be upping their speeds beyond FIOS pretty soon. Besides, there are no contracts unlike Verizon. Everything is a contract with Verizon! Verizon sucks because their service and support sucks!
I just had FIOS installed this week. The installer wanted to use my old NID as an interface between the FIOS ONT and my homes existing copper wiring. I did not want 2 boxes on my home so I had him remove the old NID and disconnect the underground copper service to the house. This required that he run an additional 4 conductor phone line from the outside ONT to the interior of my home to which he installed a phone jack into which I connected my homes copper phone lines.
The install took about 5 hours.(probably because I was asking too many questions)
The installer did a great job and I am happy with the service so far.
I subscribed to the low cost FIOS package and am getting the advertised speed of 5mbps down and 2 mbps up.
As for FIOS backup power you could increase this time by pluging the power supply into a UPS power supply.
I'm a Verizon FIOS installer in New York. AS far as removing the old copper wires. we do it only from the pole to the house. If a customer request to have it left in place we have no ploblem leaving it up. As far as cable tv goes we will reuse your existing coax in the house as long as it is RG 6 or better. In this part of NY we don't have TV yet but will be offering it in some areas by March of '06.