Easy Cable Card Setup with FiOS

[V7Goose]

Just wanted to share how easy the CC setup has been on my S3 with Verizon FiOS. At lease with FiOS in North Texas, there does not seem to be any "pairing" involved. After the tech inserted the cards and enabled them, it was only a matter of waiting about 1 - 2 minutes for the cards to start working.

I do have some problems with pixelation on some channels (see this thread: http://www.tivocommunity.com/tivo-vb/showthread.php?t=337442), so I had the tech come back and put in two new cards. Just as easy, but didn't fix the problem.

TiVo sent me a replacement S3 box. I just popped the cards out of the old one and put them into the new box - didn't call anyone or do anything except wait a minute, and each card worked fine in the new box. Unfortunately, the same channels had the same problems, so I pulled the top card out and put it in my TV. Again, it began working without any setup or calls of any kind.

[bigk96]

I also have FIOS in North Texas and had two cable cards installed with no problems other than pixelation issue on some channels. The channels I have had a problem with so far or 96,97 and 823. I have readed in some of the other articles in this forum the pixelation might be caused by too high of a signal. I put another spilter on the cable line for my S3 and at first it didn't make much difference but lately those channels have been coming in okay.

[V7Goose]

The issue with the signal strength and TiVo is not as simple as it seems. While troubleshooting the pixelation problems with my S3 box, I tried adding a signal booster, but it made no difference. Then I accidentally noticed that the pixelation stopped when the booster was still hooked up but NOT PLUGGED IN. TiVo showed the signal strength on the bad channels dropped from about 85 average to 60, seeming to support the idea that the signal was too strong. But other channels that had been perfect with 100 signal and no pixelation would not work at all with the booster not plugged in. As soon as I plugged it it, those good channels went right back to 100 and started working, but the bad channels went bad again.

One of the strange things I have noted is that all of the bad channels show wavering signal strength on the TiVo, but when I move one of the cable cards to my TV, those channels work perfectly and the signal strength is rock solid. In the TV, all the channels show the same signal SNR.

[bigk96]

I have noticed the same thing about the signal strength on the pixelation channels. I would see around 86-97 sihnal strength then it would dropped to 0 for maybe a second or two then go back to 96 or 97. I agree thought this issue may not be as simple as signal strength.

[acvthree]

The signal coming out of the ONT is pretty hot. My installer put an 8 way splitter from the main cable to bring the signal levels down. The only pixilization I'm seeing is occationally on the Fox OTA signal.

Al

[drhump]

i too have to say that my verizon cablecard install went way smoother than i was expecting. i ordered 4 CC's for my2 new S3's and 2 standard def cable boxes. the installer had never seen an S3 before. i thought i was in for a long day. i gave him the 1 page instruction sheet for CC installation.

long story short.... he was out of there under 2 hours (i should disclose that i have had FIOS internet for over a year, so i didn't have to mess with the ONT install this time). i had to reboot one of S3's, but that was the only tivo related issue. i think we spent more time getting one of the SD boxes working with my dingdong Media Center PC than both S3's combined.

the best part of the whole thing was since the guy finished early i was able to get to the time warner office before they closed to turn in my old equipment. not sure why i got so much satisfaction out of that.

i have to say that verizon is kicking some tail with this service. the picture is unbelievable, HD or SD. i haven't had a single internet issue in the over 12 months that i've had it. what's even more unbelievable is their 'Encore' customer service -- i think you get this if you have at least two of the services.... perhaps all FIOS customers get it; i don't know. but anyway, every time i've had to call them, they have been extremely helpful and knowledgeable. the lady who took my order for TV service not only got it all done correctly, but she also found a way to save me another $20 on my phone bill. with bundling discounts, my total phone/internet/tv programming/tivo monthly spend is about $50 less than it was a month ago.