Verizon Fios

[Maikeru-sama]

Anyone have Verizon Fios?

I just wanted to know what you thought about the product and is it better than Uverse.

Also, I just spoke with a Verizon Fios rep and she said that the installer has to configure at least one computer because one has to kind of the host for the router. Im just worried that if I have to format my harddrive, that I will be forced to pay for them to come out and re-configure that PC.

I was told it has a built in firewall in the router, so I am assuming you can open ports as well.

 

[theogt]

In terms of potential speed and bandwidth, FiOs is inherently better than Uverse, becase it's FTTH rather than FTTP, which basically means you're getting fiber right up to you house, whereas for Uverse you get it to a node, which then runs on a different line (cable or phone) to your house. That doesn't mean Uverse isn't fast, because it is.

As far as which has better service and UI for the television, I have no idea about FiOs, but I love Uverse. They even just updated the system and it's much faster.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Yeah, I can't get Uverse at the new place, I have to get Verizon Fios.

Im happy with Uverse, even though the channels occasionally freeze.

 

[dcdallaschick]

Our area was one of the early rollouts for Fios, so we've had it for a long time (switched from Comcast). Really like the service. I think the computer thing must be a one-time deal. I don't remember it being done when we got ours, and we've swapped computers in and out since then with no need to do anything to the router. You'll be able to use your browser to log into the router control panel and tweak pretty much anything.

My only complaint is with Verizon's billing department. Their setup seems over-complicated to me--to the point where their own people don't completely understand how something's going to work when you make an adjustment on your service. I've often been told that a package change or discount will be reflected on the bill, only to check the next bill and not find it. I call in, and they explain that I wasn't given the right information, and the correction will be on the next bill since the change came in after the current billing cycle started--which usually turns out to be true, just annoying that they can't find some way to simplify the financial end, or get their people trained a bit better. We have their phone/tv/internet, and they all seem to have a different billing cycle. If they could ever sort all that out (which I doubt they will), I'd have no complaints at all.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Our area was one of the early rollouts for Fios, so we've had it for a long time (switched from Comcast). Really like the service. I think the computer thing must be a one-time deal. I don't remember it being done when we got ours, and we've swapped computers in and out since then with no need to do anything to the router. You'll be able to use your browser to log into the router control panel and tweak pretty much anything.

My only complaint is with Verizon's billing department. Their setup seems over-complicated to me--to the point where their own people don't completely understand how something's going to work when you make an adjustment on your service. I've often been told that a package change or discount will be reflected on the bill, only to check the next bill and not find it. I call in, and they explain that I wasn't given the right information, and the correction will be on the next bill since the change came in after the current billing cycle started--which usually turns out to be true, just annoying that they can't find some way to simplify the financial end, or get their people trained a bit better. We have their phone/tv/internet, and they all seem to have a different billing cycle. If they could ever sort all that out (which I doubt they will), I'd have no complaints at all.

I will get Internet and TV with them. Are you saying these will be separate bills?

 

[YosemiteSam]

I don't know about the TV portion as when I was working in Greenwich, CT we had 2 T1, a cable modem and 2 FiOS connections. The FiOS connections were extremely fast. We would host our FTP servers and webservers off of them and was getting around 60+ megs throughput combined.

I have cable at home, but thats because they don't have FiOS where I live...

 

[Yeagermeister]

I don't know about the TV portion as when I was working in Greenwich, CT we had 2 T1, a cable modem and 2 FiOS connections. The FiOS connections were extremely fast. We would host our FTP servers and webservers off of them and was getting around 60+ megs throughput combined.

I have cable at home, but thats because they don't have FiOS where I live...

No shocker

http://img.***BLOCKED***/albums/v316/Yeagermeister/redneckresort.jpg

 

[theogt]

Woah, that's pretty cool.

 

[YosemiteSam]

No shocker

http://img.***BLOCKED***/albums/v316/Yeagermeister/redneckresort.jpg

My abode is the one on top

 

[Tusan_Homichi]

I used to have it before I moved last and it was really really nice. The Internet speed at the time I had it was 15 Mbps down and 2 Mbps up for less than I'm paying now for cable internet through Time Warner. I believe the same package is even faster now on FIOS than it was then.

The TV quality was great as well. Lots of On Demand programming, great picture, nice menu/guide, and responsive equipment.

 

[Hoofbite]

No shocker

http://img.***BLOCKED***/albums/v316/Yeagermeister/redneckresort.jpg

Is that all one house?

 

[kmp77]

From what I've read and customer fanbase, FIOS is top dog on internet service. Not sure about their other services.

 

[Yeagermeister]

My abode is the one on top

Yeah right.....you're the orange and white one on the right :laugh2:

 

[dcdallaschick]

I will get Internet and TV with them. Are you saying these will be separate bills?

It'll be on one bill, but if it's like it is here, the internet portion of the bill may cover a different 30 days than the tv part. Not a huge deal, but just be aware when you make changes. They bill a month in advance for service, so I tried last time to arrange a change in service (we switched to an upgraded internet speed) for the billing date, so I wouldn't end up paying the partial month on the old package plus the prorate for the new service. Turns out the date the person on the phone gave me was the billing date for the phone service, not the internet. So, I get a bill that shows the old internet package. I had to call to find out that they'd given me the wrong date, and I was going to have to wait for the next bill for the package to kick in.

For us, it's been more of an annoyance than anything. It's taken a while to get the three services exactly right, and if we'd just leave it alone, it would probably be fine. My husband likes to tinker with the arrangement when he finds out there's a faster speed or a better package available, and getting the bills/billing cycles straight has been the issue.

 

[Bob Sacamano]

I will get Internet and TV with them. Are you saying these will be separate bills?

there are different packages

you could get TV, Internet and Phone

or you could get TV and phone

TV and Internet

etc. etc.

say you want to only pay 20 dollars a year on phone service with Magic Jack, you can use Verizon to get the TV and Internet

which is probably better anyways since if the power goes out, you're not out of a phone too

edit: so no, no separate bills

 

[trickblue]

Not really too familiar with their service although it sounds cool...

I've always liked DirecTV as their interface and ease of use is unparalleled IMO...

You can only watch one different and record two, but they have definitely cornered the market on ease of use...

That pink and blue Cox interface ran me nuts... not to mention it wasn't user friendly...

Sure you can change the color, but it still sucked...

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Not really too familiar with their service although it sounds cool...

I've always liked DirecTV as their interface and ease of use is unparalleled IMO...

You can only watch one different and record two, but they have definitely cornered the market on ease of use...

That pink and blue Cox interface ran me nuts... not to mention it wasn't user friendly...

Sure you can change the color, but it still sucked...

With DirectTV, do you still have problems when it thunderstorms?

 

[trickblue]

With DirectTV, do you still have problems when it thunderstorms?

To be honest... not really...

I've been with them for over five years and I've probably had four or five hours of interrupted service in that time...

That's very acceptable to me...

It is frustrating at the time... but a very small percentage on the whole...

 

[WoodysGirl]

With DirectTV, do you still have problems when it thunderstorms?

Like Trick, it happens very, very rarely these days...and then only for a short time.

I have DTV, no premium channels, HD programming, HD DVR, four receivers. That's around $80-100. I forget cuz I'm always late paying so I have to pay the late fee.

I've got ATT for my phone and internet services.

I could get u-verse, but I have a problem with doing too much bundling with my services.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Like Trick, it happens very, very rarely these days...and then only for a short time.

I have DTV, no premium channels, HD programming, HD DVR, four receivers. That's around $80-100. I forget cuz I'm always late paying so I have to pay the late fee.

I've got ATT for my phone and internet services.

I could get u-verse, but I have a problem with doing too much bundling with my services.

You have ATT for your Internet but you don't have Uverse? What other Internet Service do they provide?