Vios Hd Pq Vs Comcast

[spinn74]

Has anybody compared the VIOS HD picture quality vs Comcast? I have Comcast now and the PQ is great... but would rather switch to FIOS if it is comparable or better.... thanks.

[bkdtv]

FiOS does not use rate shaping on its high-definition, so they offer the highest picture quality available in the U.S. That said, quality should be comparable on Comcast, so long as you live in the ~90% of Comcast service areas with modern 750-860MHz systems. Older systems acquired from AT&T, Time Warner, and/or Adelphia may not offer the same quality. Thus far, Comcast -- unlike Dish Network, DirecTV, Charter, Cox, and Time Warner -- has decided not to trade quality for quantity [on its newer systems] when it comes to high-definition.

My Verizon FiOS bill with 15Mbps Internet, FiOS Premier, one HDTV DVR, and one STB is $99.72/mo, of which $4.30 is taxes and fees. FiOS Premier includes 200+ digital channels and 25 HDTV channels. All high-definition channels are at full resolution and full bitrate.

High definition channels (no extra charge)

801 FOX HD
802 CBS HD
803 ABC HD
804 PBS HD
805 MYNetworkTV HD
806 PBS HD
807 NBC HD
808 CW HD
825 TNT HD
826 ESPN HD
827 ESPN 2 HD
828 NFL Network HD
833 HD Net
834 HD Net Movies
835 Universal HD
836 Discovery HD
837 Wealth TV HD
838 National Geographic Channel HD
839 MTV HD
840 FOOD HD
841 Lifetime Movie HD
845 HGTV HD

Premium HDTV channels (not included)

851 HBO HD
852 Cinemax HD
853 Showtime HD
854 TMC HD
855 Starz HD

FiOS currently has an overwhelming advantage when it comes to channel capacity. FiOS dedicates 860MHz system for traditional 256QAM digital cable service. FiOS' VOD, PPV, VoIP, and Internet is provided by a separate wavelength of fiber that does not take away any capacity from digital television service. At a glance, the capacity isn't that different from Comcast, which now has 750MHz and 860MHz systems in most markets. Of course, Comcast must divide its bandwidth between television, VOD, PPV, VoIP, and Internet, something FiOS does not have to do.

The substantial difference in capacity between FiOS and Comcast is due primarily to the number of analog channels on the respective systems. Each analog channel consumes 6MHz bandwidth. The average FiOS system has about 15 analog channels, leaving 860MHz - 15(6MHz) = 770MHz exclusively for digital SD and HD. In contrast, the average Comcast system has 70 analog channels, leaving 860MHz - 70(6MHz) = 440MHz or 750MHz - 70(6MHz) = 330MHz to divide between digital SD and HD, VOD, PPV, VoIP, and Internet.

Comcast is working to transition customers to digital service, so they can eliminate analog channels and free up capacity for new HDTV channels. At full quality, 1080i HDTV channels consume 3MHz and 720p HDTV channels consume 2MHz (assuming 256QAM). Hence, every 6MHz analog channel on Comcast consumes the equivalent of two 1080i channels or three 720p HDTV channels. Once Comcast eliminates many of its analog channels -- as they recently did in Chicago, reducing their analog lineup from 69 to 34 channels --- they'll be in a much better position as far as HDTV channel capacity.

In the meantime, FiOS offers more high-definition channels with equal or better quality -- at a lower "regular price." Comcast service areas often match FiOS in cost with promotions, but those promotions don't last forever.

FiOS offers CableCards, just like every other provider, and unlike Comcast, they have no intention of ever using Switched Digital Video (SDV). That said, there is a serious issue with FiOS and the Tivo Series3. The current Series3 v8.1 software is not 100% compatible with all FiOS channels in many areas; on those channels, you get constant pixelization. This must be a Tivo problem, because you do not see this pixelization with the FiOS Motorola DVR, nor do you see it with the CableCard tuners built into many TVs. FiOS and Tivo are reportedly working together to figure this out, but it's not known if or when there will be a solution.

FiOS currently has nine regional video distribution hubs. It would be good to know which of these exhibits pixelization on certain channels, and which do not.

Current Status

Fort Worth TX Metro (ex: locals)
Tampa FL Metro (ex: TNT, ESPN, ESPN2, NFL, HDNET & HDNET Movies)
Southern California (everything fine except Fox Sports Net 830?)
Boston Metro
NYC Metro
North Jersey
DC / Balt / N. VA
Philly(PA) / DE / S. Jersey Metro (ex: 6, 82, 100, 144, 179)
Richmond / Norfolk (ex: UHD, DHD, Wealth, and sometimes NGHD)

Markets in green no longer exhibit the pixelization issue. Markets in red still exhibit the pixelization issue with the Tivo Series3 and other CableCard DVRs. The status in other areas is unknown.

Most forum posters don't specify where they live, so I can't tell what other markets were fixed as well.