 
major marco
Res Firma Mitescere Nescit
Premium
join:2003-02-13
Mission Viejo, CA
clubs:
| Yawn HD is a joke. It's just another way consumers are getting shafted for the delivery of the same stale television programming we've suffered through all along. Save your money and don't run out and buy that next 300" plasma flat panel and you won't waste your money on DVR for the HD. | |
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ColorBASIC
8-bit Fun
Premium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA | Re: Yawn After a few years of having HDTV, I hate SD and avoid SD programming. | |
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| CycloneGT
join:2001-11-15
Boyds, MD | The only joke is those stupid people still watching 1960's technology TV. Do you still play pong too? | |
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BIGMIKE
"I do not know with what weapons World W
Premium
join:2002-06-07
Westminster, CA
edit:
May 23rd, @05:00PM
| said by CycloneGT  :The only joke is those stupid people still watching 1960's technology TV. Do you still play pong too? Some of the best TV shows occurred during the 1960’s and 1970’s and gladly many of them were in reruns during the 1970’s and 1980’s, some even in the 1990’s and beyond. »www.tvparty.com/fall67.html
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»www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMqd5EQXD-g
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TechieZero
Tools Are Using Me
Premium
join:2002-01-25
Wesley Chapel, FL | "You gotta have 1080p!!!" is the real joke.
Save your money and settle for 1080i hardware, save some $$$, then in a few years upgrade when 1280p or whatever comes out with even less programming. | |
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ColorBASIC
8-bit Fun
Premium
join:2006-12-29
Corona, CA
 ·RoadRunner Cable
 ·Covad Wireless
edit:
May 23rd, @01:24PM
| Which is why I don't have FiOS TV As I commented in another thread, FiOS TV programming rates are fairly competitive but their HW and DVR service rates are very high, especially for people who need more than 1 DVR or a few HD boxes.
In my case, FiOS TV would be nearly $50 more than I pay with E* similarly equipped and FiOS still wouldn't be able to provide all of the services my E* equipment does (albeit with likely the most horrid software interface ever).
Verizon FiOS ain't the end all be all they would have us believe. Verizon is just a cable company redux, especially in the price hike arena.
Come on, Verizon is first and foremost an ILEC and the requirement to keep the title is to bend your customers over a barrel and screw them as hard and as often as possible. And if they try to get away, charge them an $80 "How dare you not want your monthly raping?!?" penalty.
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Macintosh Users Group Serving the Inland Empire | |
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CrzyCrakr
Premium
join:2005-06-24
Edgewater, MD | Re: Which is why I don't have FiOS TV In my area they are less expensive and have a better service then the other options in my area. | |
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Toadman
How do you like these Apples
join:2001-11-28
Medina, OH
·Armstrong Zoom In..
| Re: Which is why I don't have FiOS TV said by CrzyCrakr :In my area they are less expensive and have a better service then the other options in my area. Agree,
I pay 6.00 a month for my 6412 ver 3 ad 4.00 a month for HD. | |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
 ·Verizon FIOS
| said by ColorBASIC :As I commented in another thread, FiOS TV programming rates are fairly competitive but their HW and DVR service rates are very high, especially for people who need more than 1 DVR or a few HD boxes. In my case, FiOS TV would be nearly $50 more than I pay with E* similarly equipped and FiOS still wouldn't be able to provide all of the services my E* equipment does (albeit with likely the most horrid software interface ever). System: 1 HD DVR, DVR for a 2nd SD TV, 1 year commitment:
Verizon FiOS TV (42.99) + 1 HD MR DVR (19.99) + 1 SD (Included in 42.99 price) - Yearly subscription discount (5.00) = 62.98/month
Verizon FiOS TV (42.99) + 1 HD DVR (15.99) + 1 HD DVR (15.99) - No SD receiver (4.99) - Yearly subscription discount (5.00) = 64.98/month
Dish Network AT250 (52.99) + HD Package ($20.00) + Locals ($5.00) + DVR Fee (5.98) = 83.97/month (Rebate for $20/month available for subscribing to HD package bringing price down to 63.97/month.
DirecTV Plus HD DVR Package ($69.99) + SD DVR Lease Fee ($4.99) - 12-month subscription rebate ($10.00) = $64.98/month
Comcast Preferred ($76.99) + HDTV $7.00 + 2 DVRs $23.90 = 107.89
Time Warner DIGIPic 1000 ($58.35) + DVR Service ($9.95) + HD DVR ($9.95) + HD Tier ($6.95) = $85.20/month
CableVision Family Cable ($46.95) + iO package ($9.95) + HD Receiver ($6.25) + 1 SD Receiver ($6.25) + 2 DVR Fees ($19.90) = 89.30/month
To me, for a two-tv system where one tv is HD and both tv's need some type of a DVR, Verizon, Dish, and DirecTV are all pretty much the same when you can compare programming packages as much as possible. Exact comparisons are not possible as each provider's packages are slightly different. Prices shown above are regular price unless a yearly commitment price was shown on the website.
And if they try to get away, charge them an $80 "How dare you not want your monthly raping?!?" penalty. As others have pointed out, you can opt to just drop off the receivers at a local drop off point or UPS them back to Verizon at Verizon's cost. The ONT can remotely disable the coax signal. So unless you are incapable of unscrewing a coax line and pulling out the power plug, there is no reason that you have to have a service call.
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nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
| Re: FIOS Is Not Free said by ninjatutle :FIOS IS NOT FREE The greatest achievement of the United States in its over 200 years of history is FIOS. FIOS has become recognized as the cutting edge around the world. It's why so many people around the world strive to come here. It's also why so many countries hate us. Our FIOS comes with a price and from time to time we will have to fight to defend the fastest internet known to humanity, FIOS. That what the border-crosser are whispering in your ear, "we came for FIOS"?
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Everyday, thousands of new cars are delivered to their new owners with poorly-selected radio station presets. | |
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basshive
True-Playaz
join:2001-02-26
Waterford, WI | I hope you are kidding, otherwise, you clearly have never neen outside of the United States. Like say to Japan or Korea  | |
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DreamWraith
Premium
join:2004-04-07
Mount Vernon, WA | Re: FIOS Is Not Free so, 50/2 to your doorstep is the fastest of any ISP in the world? Hah! | |
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join:2005-03-18
Springfield, VA | yea,lets ask our government to take over and give us a break on the internet and see how far we get | |
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MadMANN
Premium
join:2005-08-19
·Comcast
| said by ninjatutle :FIOS IS NOT FREE The greatest achievement of the United States in its over 200 years of history is FIOS. FIOS has become recognized as the cutting edge around the world. It's why so many people around the world strive to come here. It's also why so many countries hate us. Our FIOS comes with a price and from time to time we will have to fight to defend the fastest internet known to humanity, FIOS. People make big money in advertising and marketing coming up with stuff like that. It's a shame you do it here for free. | |
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ninjatutle
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA
·AT&T U-Verse
 ·AT&T Yahoo
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
| . "FiOS at last! FiOS at last! Thank God Almighty, we have FiOS at last!"
"My country, 'tis of thee, sweet land of liberty, of thee I sing. Land where my fathers died, land of the pilgrim's pride, from every mountainside, let FiOS ring."
And if America is to be a great nation this must become true. So let FiOS ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let FiOS ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let FiOS ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania!
Let FiOS ring from the snowcapped Rockies of Colorado!
Let FiOS ring from the curvaceous slopes of California!
But not only that; let FiOS ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia!
Let FiOS ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee!
Let FiOS ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let FiOS ring.
And when this happens, When we allow FiOS to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the spiritual, "FiOS at last! FiOS at last! Thank God Almighty, we have FiOS at last!" | |
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NJxxxJon
something good. or your mom.
Premium
join:2005-10-22
00000 | Going Up Damn..........and its not even available in some places in central jerz yet. HA! | |
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MysticGogeta
The Robot Devil
Premium
join:2005-03-14
League City, TX
clubs: | Re: Going Up By the time its available the price will be very high | |
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nixen
Rockin' the Boxen
Premium
join:2002-10-04
Alexandria, VA
·Cox HSI
| Do I Get My Copper Back, For That? Nearly $80 to disconnect service and I won't get my copper back or be able to have HSI from any but satellite or my cable company, afterwards. Gee, what a freaking bargain.
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Everyday, thousands of new cars are delivered to their new owners with poorly-selected radio station presets. | |
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| b10010011
Whats a Posting tag?
join:2004-09-07
Bellingham, WA
edit:
May 23rd, @01:50PM
| Re: Do I Get My Copper Back, For That? Agreed, they should have to reinstall the copper if they removed it.
Quite frankly I would not let them remove it. They can put their service right along seid the copper, just like the cable company does. | |
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brooklynman4
join:2004-09-07
Brooklyn, NY | Re: Do I Get My Copper Back, For That? By time i se it in bronx we wil be paying $200 amonth for service what it looks like. | |
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| | DMS1
join:2005-04-06
Carrollton, TX
| said by b10010011 :Agreed, they should have to reinstall the copper if they removed it. Quite frankly I would not let them remove it. They can put their service right along seid the copper, just like the cable company does. The whole point of FiOS is to retire the copper network and replace it with something that's more modern, more capable, longer lasting and requires less maintenance. There is no way that Verizon would go back to copper for a FiOS equipped property. | |
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John T
@verizon.net
| It's the pick up the equipment fee... The company has also announced that starting July 13 there will be a $74.99 charge if a technician visit is needed to fully disconnect service
Yeah, got that letter in the mail. It says that if you call a technician to come and pick up your boxes it's around $80. It appears that they've started drop boxes for people to go by their office and return the equipment, which is free.
Cox has a similar setup here; charge if the tech comes out to give you the equipment or to return it, free if you pick it up/return it yourself. | |
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GlennAllen
join:2002-11-17
Richmond, VA
·Verizon FIOS
| Mo' money Let's assume that the current interface sucks; and let's also assume the new interface is the be-all and end-all of interfaces. If any part of a price increase is related making an interface what it should have been in the first place as opposed to improved content delivery, then give me back the old interface, please.
Thank you for your support.
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brooklynman4
join:2004-09-07
Brooklyn, NY | Re: Mo' money Now its achance for cable comapnies to shine with there prices. | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
edit:
May 23rd, @02:48PM
| HDTV will be a ripoff scheme. $250 a month anyone? HD is the next big shafting of consumers.
The Original plan was that HD was replace SD. Ie same channel, same content, better picture and sound but most importantly, SAME PRICE. Ie, call it an "upgrade" if you will.
But like everything else, it's being marketed as "Better" and that means "We're going to charge you more". I predict by the time SD dies out and everything is HD that Pay TV Programming will cost somewhere between 300% to 400% more per month then SD packages did.
It's kinda like when CD's replaced Albums and tapes. Same music, better quality, result = big price increase.... same thing happening with "DVD-Audio" too. Same Music, higher priced again.
The idea of HD merely phasing in replacing SD is dead. The idea of HD as the next big way to grow profit margins is firmly entrenched in the provider's mindset... and since there's no real competition, there is nothing to keep prices low. So you can bet the charges, fees, prices all are going to grow, and your wallet will get thinner... | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| Re: HDTV will be a ripoff scheme. $250 a month anyone? said by djrobx :With most cable companies, HD network channels are free. Yeah, because they are HD OTA, lol.
I'm talking about as the current channels (not premium movie channels) convert to HD. I'm not even really worried about equipment costs being higher due to more powerful CPU's, more storage requirements, etc. Mass manufacturing will drive those down in costs. Hell you can build em now pretty cheaply.
What I'm concerned about is that as we switch over from SD to HD the providers will simply charge a ton more for the channels and service because they can. They will say it's better so you need to pay more.... but that wasn't how it was originally supposed to be. It was supposed to be just a change in standards from the old to the new, better standards. It wasn't supposed to be something that will cost 3x or 4x more per month. But the writings on the wall... it will.
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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en102
Canadian, eh?
join:2001-01-26
Valencia, CA | I still have to find a decent way to burn them to my DVDR.
It does come with HDMI output.. but only S Video / input.
If it can be done with a DVD-R, why pay for a TiVo or HD-DVR.
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Canada = Hollywood North | |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
edit:
May 23rd, @02:44PM
| Keep in mind FTTH costs... This news article left out one small piece of information:
quote:
Verizon also notified FiOS customers that if they fully disconnect service and a technician visit is required, there will be a $74.99 charge, again effective July 13. But FiOS customers can return the equipment free-of-charge at Verizon locations or at United Parcel Service locations using a Verizon prepaid label.
There's no cancellation charge if you drop off the equipment yourself, or request the pre-paid mailing label and ship it to them.
There's a reason why everyone isn't doing fiber-to-the-home. It's expensive!
Every FiOS install is said to cost Verizon anywhere from $1200-$1600. About half of that is the equipment alone, including the ONT (not cheap!) on the side of your home. Verizon also supplies the Actiontec MI-424WR -- one of the top performing routers according to SmallNetBuilder.com -- as part of the free install.
Verizon is pushing the entire suite of services -- Internet, TV, and phone -- with bundle discounts for a reason. It's difficult for them to recoup their investment with just one or two services. There's talk that Verizon will soon offer FiOS customers additional incentives (another bundle discount?) to add Verizon wireless phone service. | |
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cdru
Go Colts
Premium,MVM
join:2003-05-14
Fort Wayne, IN
·Verizon FIOS
| Re: Keep in mind FTTH costs... said by KenAF :Every FiOS install is said to cost Verizon anywhere from $1200-$1600. About half of that is the equipment alone, including the ONT (not cheap!) on the side of your home. Verizon also supplies the Actiontec MI-424WR -- one of the top performing routers according to SmallNetBuilder.com -- as part of the free install. I believe those are outdated numbers. Initially those were correct, but when I had my data line installed (Dec 05), it was down to around $800. I can't imagine it has gone up that much since then, even with newer/better equipment.
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Go Colts | |
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tmc8080
join:2004-04-24
Floral Park, NY
| can't wait to see.. The HD-DVR boxes should be standard!! Network DVR should actually cost more.. set-top boxes should not be more than $10 per month.. because it's increasingly not as if you have a choice between getting one and not getting one.. Honestly, making a HD-DVR set-top is only at MOST $100 more per box on the wholesale level, and that's with a 500gb hard drive (let's not forget hard drive prices went DOWN, NOT UP).
I just can't wait to see cablevision and others jump on these added "DISCONNECT" and "INSTALLATION" and "CHANGE OF SERVICE FEES" as another VERIZON MONEY GRAB!! AND IT WILL BE THEIR OWN FAULT FOR BEING SO STUPID!!!
FYI: I haven't seen improvement #1 yet with FIOS TV.. and no truly local channels either. Also, 98% of widgets and added features FORCE YOU INTO A DVR BOX costing you lots extra.. so the customer backlash against high prices will commence very soon! | |
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JeepMatt
Delaware Fios
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Wilmington, DE
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
| Don't forget this is for NEW customers only Let's also clear up this increase is for NEW customers only. (Or new DVR additions for existing customers after July)
All of us out there today with a DVR will continue to pay the $12.95 rate.
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"ONE team - ONE city - ONE dream!!" | |
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danclan
join:2005-11-01
Midlothian, VA | Re: Don't forget this is for NEW customers only and most of us im betting can drive to a drop off point....thus saving 75$ and moving on with our lives...comcast was going to charge me 50$ to come get my boxes i said no thanks i can manage to find the drop point.... | |
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russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA | Free alternative MythTV box + antenna = $0 monthly cost.
Installation cost is a quite a bit greater though.
Commercial skip: Still priceless. | |
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inteller
Sociopaths always win.
join:2003-12-08
Tulsa, OK | Re: Free alternative antenna.....hrm, so how does your antenna pick up ESPNHD, MHD, NHD, and DiscoveryHD.
Please don't promote mediocre alternatives. | |
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| | Timmn
join:2000-04-23
Tinley Park, IL | Re: Free alternative Ah, but you can't beat the price!
Frankly, the ONLY reason I have a satellite dish is so that my Mother can watch Animal Planet and Court TV. The alternatives are not mediocre if you don't watch all that other stuff. | |
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| russotto
join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA
| I used to have cable but found I never watched any of the cable-only channels. $50+/month down the drain for nothing, more if I actually wanted HD service (I did get UHD with the $52 (and increasing) "extended basic", but that's mostly bad to mediocre movies Universal couldn't sell anywhere else, plus a few HD TV series) | |
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compton
join:2002-02-08
Brooklyn, NY | Verizon will always act like a Baby Bell. This is Verizon we are talking about; so, why would anyone be surprised when Verizon raise fees. FIOS fan boys (of which I am probably one) will have a rude awaking when Verizon start jacking up those fees. | |
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johndoe303
join:2003-01-01
Boca Raton, FL | I wish. I'll take FiOS in any form at any price, just bring it!  | |
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grays
join:2006-02-14
Rochelle Park, NJ
| think about it verizon is in a war with cable.I hope they are not that poorly managed that they price the cable companies back into the game.some of the decisions they have made suck.taking away the pensionsof the 1st level bosses may have saved them 50 million over 10 years however now all the 1st level bosses do not give a crap about the company & it shows.the techs have no one checking on them other then the occasional private eye[yea that will motivate them ].the hd channels are great however the major networks channels are smaller then the other channels .you can't access the multi-room dvr from a hd box .the dvr does not have a coax out [small problem].they have no specialist to work on the challenging jobs .They should listen to the techs & customers who are more in touch with reality . | |
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ninjatutle
join:2006-01-02
San Ramon, CA | No fees for Uverse's DVR Uverse gives you a DVR, Modem and WIFI router included for no extra chargers. You get a max of 1 DVR and 2 extra regular boxes for free with service. Can add extra boxes for $5. | |
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toolman12
join:2004-05-16
Rockwall, TX
 ·Vonage
| Love affair w FIOS is over I knew it wouldn't last long, after all we're talking about Verizon. They loved me when I was one of the first in the country to take on Fios TV. Yes, they were nice at first. Customer service was excellent and the service was awesome. Then came the price hike and the crappy Customer service is back. Oh, and dare I mention the 3 pushed firmware upgrades that disrupted my service without any warning or apology from Verizon.
I did what I had to do and disconnected the whole shebang. As of last week there now hangs a 3' oval thing on the roof line of my beautiful new home. Sure it's ugly, but it gets the job done better than ever. Love those disco lights on the HD-DVR and the SATA port on the rear of the unit to add a super huge external drive is freaking awesome. I know where I belong from now on. I was kidding myself in thinking Verizon had changed their ways. It was fun while it lasted. | |
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| ITALIAN926
join:2003-08-16
Stratford, CT
| Re: Love affair w FIOS is over quote:
As of last week there now hangs a 3' oval thing on the roof line of my beautiful new home.
What a downgrade dude ! LOL . I just love when a storm runs through my area and I lose my TV service for hours at a time . Screw DirecTV and DishN . LOL . I'm hopefully moving to an area with FiOS. | |
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toolman12
join:2004-05-16
Rockwall, TX
·Vonage
| Re: Love affair w FIOS is over said by ITALIAN926 :What a downgrade dude ! LOL . I just love when a storm runs through my area and I lose my TV service for hours at a time . Screw DirecTV and DishN . LOL . No, Fios just pushes faulty firmware upgrades that knocks out all your guides and features of all your receivers for a couple of weeks. Nothing like rebooting 6 receivers on a daily basis. Not laughing here. | |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
·Cox HSI
·AT&T Southwest
| said by ITALIAN926 :What a downgrade dude ! LOL . I just love when a storm runs through my area and I lose my TV service for hours at a time . Screw DirecTV and DishN . LOL . I have Dish Network, and I've heard about this over and over and I've found it's INCREDIBLY RARE and only during super bad storms AND it lasts only a few minutes, tops.
I've heard of people talking about it going out at the drop of the hat and staying out for hours or most the night. Frankly, at least with Dish Network (I haven't tried DirecTV) it's not accurate. I wonder if a lot of these people suffer from poorly aligned dishes and low signal strength to begin with.
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"Regulatory capitalism is when companies invest in lawyers, lobbyists, and politicians, instead of plant, people, and customer service." - former FCC Chairman William Kennard (A real FCC Chairman, unlike the current Corporate Spokesperson in the job!) | |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12
|  Who cares, Its FIOS!
HOW DARE anyone in this thread BLASPHEME FIOS! They can do no wrong and never have.
Let them raise rates-
let them cut every utility from here to Saskatoon in their roll out-
Let them get their statewide franchises and go virtually unregulated throughout your cherry picked communities!-
At the end of the day you can all have the choice of 30/15.. for $250.00 a month. NOW THATS CHOICE!
So once again Verizon slipped from "Cheaper" then CableTV to On Par with CableTV.. and the next step beyond that is Pricier then CableTV. Apparently it looks to be another rate increase away.
Odd.. apparently it DOES cost money to maintain and deploy services?
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CableFAQ.org/Technicians Unplugged
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| mglunt
join:2001-09-10
Fredericksburg, VA | Re: Who cares, Its FIOS!
30/5 is $55 in Va.
...and the TV is still waaaaaay cheaper than comparable Comcast Digital.
Not to mention Comcast HSI is $57.95 for 4Mbps if you don't bundle it with TV. | |
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CableTool
Poorly Representing MYSELF.
Premium
join:2004-11-12 | Re: Who cares, Its FIOS! Not in my town. | |
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| | | dsljunky7
join:2007-05-24
Denver, CO
| Re: Who cares, Its FIOS! Depending on the distance from the curb to the house it will run the customer between 800-3000 dollars to get the fiber to the house. Thats a huge investment and what people arent realizing is that FIOS has issues just like any other ISP is going to have. If I didnt know better I sounds like Jesus Christ himself invented FIOS and blessed all you technologically challenged people into believing. | |
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FiOS HD-DVR Price Hike
FIOS Is Not Free
