in Technicolor® wrote:
> Does anyone here use the FiOS Cable Service in the ****tland, Oregon
> Area? I'm currently a Dish HD user, but with the offers right now from
> Verizon, I may be able to save a whole lottta loot if I switch to the
> light pipe. I just wondering if they have a decent HD DVR and good
> image quality on both the SD and HD channels. If I can get the same or
> more channels with the same or better quality for a better price, then I
> will probably jump ****p.
>
> TIA
At this point, you will have fewer HD channels with Verizon Fios.
Verizon is expanding the distribution system to provide a lot more HD
channels from their Super Head End (SHE) to the VHOs to the Central
Offices. But at this time, Verizon has 16 national and 5 premium HD
channels along with the local HD channels. The latest rumor is that the
long awaited HD expansion will start in June. Since the ****tland market
is already all digital with no analog channels, it is likely to be in
the first group of markets that will get the additional HD channels.
Verizon has stated they intend to have the capacity for 150 HD channels
by the end of 2008, but they have slipped in their announced schedules
for HD VOD and the software updates to the STB & DVRs.
Dish has the HD Voom channels. Verizon does not and is unlikely to any
time soon as the Voom channels are controlled by the Dolans &
CableVision. Verizon Fios is in direct competition with CableVision in
the New York area markets. Check the Fios channel line-up and options at
http://www22.verizon.com/content/FiosTV/.
The picture quality on Verizon is as good it will get. Verizon p*****
through the signal they get from the source - local stations and
national cable channels - without additional recompression. If the
national cable channel provides a 18-19 Mbps HD feed, that is what you
get at the TV. Coming from Dish, you will see better picture quality for
the SD and HD channels.
The Verizon HD-DVR is the 160 GB Motorola QIP 6416 DVR. The guide
accuracy and the software are still being improved, but now work ok -
in my opinion anyway. The DVR has only a 160 GB drive with a total
capacity of 20-25 hours of HD recording. It does not sup****t an external
HD and there have been no re****ts when or if it ever will. The limited
capacity of the DVR, IMO, is one of the biggest limitations with Verizon
Fios and one that they should fix. However, TivoHDs will work fine with
Verizon Fios and a number of people have gone that route. You have to
lease two cable cards (or a single M-card whenever Verizon finally
carries it) for each TivoHD.
You get a lot more info on Verizon Fios and read all the complaints at
http://www.dslre****ts.com/forums/54.
avsforum.com is also a very useful
resource for info.
Alan F
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