Verizon Fios?

Portugue · #1 (**permalink**) 12-11-2007, 10:10 AM

Anyone in Mass (metrowest area) switched over to Verizon Fios? They have some killer deals right now, free hd tv, wireless router etc etc. I am currently using comcast and my bundled rate is over so my payment is going from 130 to 170...ouch! Verizon can do everything for 120.

Anyone have the service? Likes, dislikes? Do you still need a box at every TV or can you still get the standard channels without a box? The verizon guys said I will only get 4,5,7 without the box....I think its BS.

Any help would be great! Thanks.

Joey

sarasota2k4 · #2 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 06:05 AM

I don't live in Mass. (use to) but live in Sarasota and recently switched to FIOS. I saved a bunch by switching my internet, TV and phone. Overall, I am very satisfied with the service. I have four TVs connected, as follows:

2 - HD DVRs
1- HD Receiver
1 - No box (yes, you will get about 10 channels w/o box, ABC, CBS, FOX, NBC, PBS, etc)

For an extra $2.99 or $3.99 they will rent a little converter that can provide you with all the digital channels (no HD, On Demand, etc).

I've been on it for 2 months, only feature I miss from Comcast service is the PIP. From what I understand VZ is working on an update for PIP.

imjin · #3 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 07:12 AM

I'm in VA and switched from Comcast to Verizon FiOS about 6 months ago and it was the best move I ever did. I already had Vonage, so I didn't take them up on their telephone option, but I'm on the 15mb Internet and FiOS-TV with a movie channel package for about the same price that I was paying Comcast for a fixed 5mb Internet and basic cable with about 70 channels.... FiOS has about 500 channels, although 1/2 of em are in a language I don't speak. I was with Comcast for about 13 years with their Internet and a standard cable package and IMHO, FiOS is going to be the Comcast killer if Comcast doesn't get it's head out of it's a$$. FiOS has just about zero signal loss in my house whereas cable was a crap shoot .

Portugue · #4 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by imjin

I'm in VA and switched from Comcast to Verizon FiOS about 6 months ago and it was the best move I ever did. I already had Vonage, so I didn't take them up on their telephone option, but I'm on the 15mb Internet and FiOS-TV with a movie channel package for about the same price that I was paying Comcast for a fixed 5mb Internet and basic cable with about 70 channels.... FiOS has about 500 channels, although 1/2 of em are in a language I don't speak. I was with Comcast for about 13 years with their Internet and a standard cable package and IMHO, FiOS is going to be the Comcast killer if Comcast doesn't get it's head out of it's a$$. FiOS has just about zero signal loss in my house whereas cable was a crap shoot .

Thanks for the feedback. I am a little nervous switching, but Im saving about 40 bucks a month. I called comcast and point blank told them that I will be switching to verizon if comcast can't meet their price. They couldn't do it. I said its not the service (well it kinda is), its just about saving $$.

One myth that I have been reading is that when they do the install, they have to run new phone lines inside the house to your jacks? Then I've also read that you can use the traditional copper wiring, and finally I read that they run new wiring and they pull the old out. Obviously if they yank the old out, there's no going back. What did they do at your place?

bounsmith21 · #5 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 10:08 AM

Hey Joey, I had the Fios bundle installed at the house back in July. I have been very satisfied with the service. ( have HD DVR and a standard box.) From what I have heard, compared to comcast, there is less programming available on the on demand. The wireless router they provided provides coverage to the whole house (and have heard that if there are dead spots they will give you another to cover it)

When the do the install they have to install a new junction box either on the side of your house or in the basement that the fiber terminates in. From there they just connected to the existing wiring in the house. In the basement they also install a power supply and a battery back up for the system (just needs to be plugged into 120V).

Brian

Portugue · #6 (**permalink**) 12-12-2007, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bounsmith21

Hey Joey, I had the Fios bundle installed at the house back in July. I have been very satisfied with the service. ( have HD DVR and a standard box.) From what I have heard, compared to comcast, there is less programming available on the on demand. The wireless router they provided provides coverage to the whole house (and have heard that if there are dead spots they will give you another to cover it)

When the do the install they have to install a new junction box either on the side of your house or in the basement that the fiber terminates in. From there they just connected to the existing wiring in the house. In the basement they also install a power supply and a battery back up for the system (just needs to be plugged into 120V).

Brian

Hey Brian! Thats good to know about the wiring and phone service. Our basement isn't finished so it should be easy for them to wire everything up. I think they'll have to run the new fiber optic line from the pole to our house, but everything is overhead.

We've got a Cape style home, and we have a linksys wireless router and the range isn't great at all. I have it on the first floor and the signal gets dropped about 50-feet away. Hope the verizon one is better!

Hows that exhaust?

Joey

sarasota2k4 · #7 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 06:27 AM

Brian is correct; they only need to add the one box to the side of the house and one other small power supply box in the inside. They include a new wireless router and it provides much better coverage than my old D-Link.

When they tested my signal they did it at every TV connection to ensure I was getting a good signal.

Not sure if you are a sports fan, but FIOS in Mass. is good because you get NESN AND the NFL Network with the basic package. Down here Comcast charges extra for NFL Network. The Pats v. Giants game is only on NFL Network! (Hopefully 16-0). Good luck!

Portugue · #8 (**permalink**) 12-13-2007, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sarasota2k4

Brian is correct; they only need to add the one box to the side of the house and one other small power supply box in the inside. They include a new wireless router and it provides much better coverage than my old D-Link.

When they tested my signal they did it at every TV connection to ensure I was getting a good signal.

Not sure if you are a sports fan, but FIOS in Mass. is good because you get NESN AND the NFL Network with the basic package. Down here Comcast charges extra for NFL Network. The Pats v. Giants game is only on NFL Network! (Hopefully 16-0). Good luck!

I noticed that about comcast....I swear I had the NFL network last year, then it dropped this year.

Go Pats is right! I seriously hope the pats run up the score this weekend. Just think its funny how the worse NFL team this season (thats has no stadium) had to pull this stunt with the pats. Man-gina is a douche!!

Portugue · #9 (**permalink**) 01-02-2008, 08:11 AM

Finally got it installed last weekend! So far I like it. There was an issues with the phone service, apparently no one set up the order, so that will come in a week. The fios tv has a much better picture and I'm not running HD. The menus, dvr functions are really different than comcast so it will take a little time to get used to.

Now on the internet. It came with the wireless router, works great for the desktop that is connected directly to it. Our laptop is brand new and runs Vista. It sees the wireless connection, connects to it, then disconnects. Really frustrating...I've tried everything. In reading a bunch of forums, Vista has a ton of compatibility issues. I looked at the router's website and it mentions nothing about vista which makes me think there is an issue there. They are sending a new one, but I have my doubts. Right now I piggy-backed my linksys to it so the internet works. Works great so far!

Anyone else running Fios wireless on Vista machine? I thought it was a hardware issue, but since it runs perfect with the linksys, it must be just that router.