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Post by chenrikson on Apr 1, 2011 13:52:33 GMT -5
I thought it might be useful to have a single place to report/discuss technical "issues" or problems with our new FiOS TV service. OK to say good things too!
First off -- the picture quality is outstanding!. Whereas there was a noticable difference between OTA and Cable with TWC, this is no longer the case. -- Just great.
I am having a couple of problems with handshaking. With my main set (a Samsung) all is well unless you turn on the TV before the DVR, in which case there is no picture. Obviously no big deal, but the SA boxes didn't do it with this set. My second set is a Vizio, which has well documented handshake problems with HDMI. With the Vizio I can get the guide and all the menus, but no program feed unless I change the channel -- then things are fine.I was not able to get component video to work at all, tho it was OK with the TWC Cisco box (but no HDMI handshaking at all with that one. This is the HDTV box - not a DVR.
I also note that all the DVR boxes currently being supplied by VZ seem to be multi-room -- with the multi-room feature switchable from the head end. Mine works fine.
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Post by Chris Miller on Apr 1, 2011 20:35:49 GMT -5
I'm noticing a bit of a lag switching between the STB and my TiVo HD with my Sony . I think the Sony is negotiating resolutions, it's not terribly with that. The TiVo is set to push everything out at 1080i, upscaling SD to 1080. Can the FiOS STB and DVR be locked to 1080i and upscale SD programming?
It's enough of a lag to be noticeable, not long enough to make it unusable. We don't go back and forth a lot between the STB and the TiVo, so it's not a huge issue.
I'll second the comment on the picture quality, you can really tell the difference between a HD channel on TWC and the same channel on FiOS. I got sucked into watching the The Terminator the other night on the HD Net Movies channel, it looked pretty good for a movie from the early 80s.
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Post by hurnik on Apr 2, 2011 9:31:50 GMT -5
Chris, when you say a lag between the STB and Tivo, do you mean that you've somehow "chained" the TivoHD and the Verizon STB to your TV? (I didn't think the TivoHD could do that)
or do you mean that if you compare the two (ie, STB connected to TV and your TivoHD is ALSO connected to the TV and by comparison, the STB is more "laggy" than the TivoHD when changing channels?)
Or is is you mean the lag on the Sony TV when you switch inputs (STB and TivoHD still connected directly to the Sony TV)?
If it's the last one above, can I ask why you're using both STB and TivoHD on the Sony TV? It kinda sounds like you've still got TW Cable "somewhere" so perhaps you're comparing (ie, TW is on the Tivo and Verizon is on the STB or vice versa)?
Thanks!
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Post by chenrikson on Apr 3, 2011 13:45:19 GMT -5
Some more thoughts! The supplied remote certainly works but has buttons that require a long push in comparison to the TW (URC) control. You will probably want to get a different remote (my Harmony 1 works fine) and/or a mobile phone app. I am using the Android app - much faster and easier!
I had hoped to be able to replace my several year old ActionTec router with a newer and faster version. Unfortunately, the installer didn't have any routers on his truck (sigh). I suspect this situation will improve as more installations take place. Does anyone know where I can take the one I have to trade up?
Still LOVE the picture quality.
Seems to me a bit more documentation could have come with the install. All I got was the channel list and the directions for the remote (which don't bother to tell you what the honkin' big FiOSTV button is for) Yes, I know there are manuals online (I havent watched the 2-hour instructional video yet), but the channel list seems better suited for advertising purposes. TWC has a very nicebooklet that lists all the available channels on one easy-to-use fold-out page. And it took me 2 days to find out what the small red "v" letters are for (look on the back).
And why is WMHT channel 11??? :-)
Love the service in spite of my reservations.
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Post by Chris Miller on Apr 3, 2011 21:00:54 GMT -5
The installer that I had spent about 20 minutes going over the remote. Though he did miss the "skip 30 second" buttons, he wasn't aware of that functionality. The skill level of the installers will vary.
If the installer doesn't have the right hardware on the truck, he can request to have someone run out the correct hardware while he is doing the install. My cablecard was listed on my install request order, a manager actually drove out with one. He then hung out a bit because he hadn't see one being installed before.
As a long time TiVo bigot, I was pleasantly surprised with the functionality of the DVR. The biggest drawback is that you can only set which show to record from the DVR itself, it would be nice if the STB could control the DVR to that degree. However having the iPad app does make adding shows to record a piece of cake.
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Post by chenrikson on Apr 4, 2011 12:27:40 GMT -5
The iPad app is great so far as it goes, but one cannot watch streamed TV on the iPad - even tho that was supposed to be a feature when the app was announced.  I prefer the TiVO remote -- but am dropping my TiVO sub. |
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Post by Chris Miller on Apr 4, 2011 22:11:22 GMT -5
Last August, Verizon demoed an app for the iPad that allowed you to view live TV over your FiOS WiFi network. My guess that the engineering is done and VZ is still hammering out agreements with the content providers. |
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Post by Skaggs on Apr 5, 2011 7:46:18 GMT -5
Chris Miller posted an in-depth description of his FiOS installation experience, as well as comparisons to TWC service, on his blog. Link to Chris Miller's AnotherLab blog: One week with FiOS TV |
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Post by Chris Miller on Apr 6, 2011 7:05:11 GMT -5
The installer that I had was very professional and has performed a lot of FiOS TV installs. He gave me his permission to give out his cell number if anyone wanted to request to have him do the install.
If anyone orders FiOS service (TV and/or Internet), once you have the order number for the installation you can call him. He'll then try to get that order added to his list of installs. No guarantee that he would be available, but there's no harm in asking.
For his own sanity, I'm not going to post his number in a public forum. Just send me a PM and I'll send his name and number.
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Post by chenrikson on Apr 27, 2011 8:19:15 GMT -5
It appears that enough "issues" have surfaced during the rollout of the new software that VZ has put further deployment nationally on hold for several weeks. I don't know what these issues are, but suspect that we will be getting a minor upgrade within the next few weeks.
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Post by chenrikson on May 4, 2011 8:14:56 GMT -5
On another issue, has anyone managed to get caller ID to work? I can't and the problem seems to be pretty widespread and being commented on nationally - see the FiosTV section of DSL Reports (a very good forum for discussion of FiosTV).
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Post by Skaggs on May 4, 2011 17:57:42 GMT -5
Can you get caller ID on TV when using a cable card & FioS TV?
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Post by Chris Miller on May 5, 2011 6:19:16 GMT -5
No, I think you have to have the FiOS STB or DVR and FiOS Digital Voice, instead of Freedom Essentials.
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Post by chenrikson on May 5, 2011 8:43:07 GMT -5
Chris -- I'm not sure that one needs Digital Voice but I find that I can't change to Digital Voice from Freedom Essentials in any case - VZ says it is not available on my line, even tho others within 200 yards of me are getting DV!!! (Sigh)
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Post by Chris Miller on May 5, 2011 14:35:12 GMT -5
You are right, Digital Voice is not required. With Freedom Essentials, you can enable onscreen caller id (supposedly) by adding the free Verizon Call Assistant service. I found some info here. At any rate, it's only supported on VZ suppied STB/DVR boxes and you enable caller id on a box by box basis. I'm not eligible for Digital Voice, but a neighbor around the corner from me was able to get it. |
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