New Fios and Series 3 HD Tivo setup questions

[markp750]

I'm coming from Directv Tivo to Fios and Series 3 HD Tivo. I will receive the new Tivo befor Fios install date. When do I sign up for Tivo service? Before, during or after Fios install day? I know I need two Cablecards.

Should I set up Tivo service before Fios install. I know I won't be able to watch anything but will the early setup work with just the phone line?

And...Is HD included with Fios Premier lineup or is it an extra cost?

TIA,
Mark P.

[jtrain]

You've made an excellent choice. I've been running an S3 with FiOS TV since late December '07 and have had no issues. I suggest installing the box, signing up for service, and running guided setup prior to getting the cablecards installed. The cablecards are $3.99 per month for each card installed.

Guided setup will work with a phone line (and will take a bit longer than if connected to broadband service), but I highly suggest going broadband eventually if you can.

As for HD channels, the premier package of FiOS TV carries many national HD channels and more are to be added over the next couple of months...there is not a separate price for these "national/local" HD channels.

Now if you want movie/sports packages (and movie channel HD equivalents), those are extra.

You're going to enjoy your viewing experience. FiOS TV and the S3 are a great match.

[webin]

Yes, set up your tivo before the install date. Go through the "guided setup" and get tivo all ready to go before the install date.

HD is included with the Premiere lineup. It would cost extra to add the sports or movie packages.

[bcaslis]

I just got the FIOS service a week ago and it's been working fine so far (former Comcast sufferer). I got the FIOS HD DVR and it seems OK, although my wife seems to have problems working it. I'm considering getting the Tivo HD, mainly to make it easier for her. I'm interested in anyone who have had problems or no problems with FIOS and Tivos. FIOS is going to be adding channels in the Portland area in July. Will that be handled automatically or would there be issues that an installer needs to come out and update the cable cards? How is the image quality through the Tivo? Is it just as good as using the Verizon equipment?

[webin]

Your asking a lot of questions there bcaslis
In my humble opinion, and that of many forum regulars here, the TivoHD is about, oh, infinity times better than the FiOS DVR. The only real issue you might potentially have is the "pixellation" issue, which you can mitigate with attenuators like I do.

When the channel listing gets changed and upgraded in July, Tivo should handle it all without intervention. It will remap your scheduled recordings to their new channels, and probably send you a message about your lineup being changed. Nothing to worry about there.

Image quality, partcularly on HD channels, is excellent compared to Comcast, and Tivo will have no affect on that.

[acvthree]

I've had Fios and Tivo (the other high def one, the series 3) since December of 2006. They have worked flawlessly through a number of channel line up changes and me adding or removing some of hte premium channels. Everything happens auto-magically.

I think the conbination of Tivo and Fios high speed internet really works well together for all the additional features like Amazon Unbox.

I predict you will be very happy with the combination.

Al

[bcaslis]

Thanks for the feedbacks. I've had a Pioneer Series 2 with DVD burner Tivo for years now. But I've read lots of the posts about pixelization problems with FiOS and Tivo. Honestly, it sounds like voodoo and not something easily or consistently solved by inline termination. I know this will sound bad but I don't think the FiOS HD-DVR is as terrible as some make it sound. I don't have enough time with it to know yet if there will be problems. But the cost of a Tivo HD along with another activation cost (Tivo refuses to move my old lifetime subscription to a new machine) and the possibility of issues makes me very very hesitant.

[acvthree]

I think the vast majority have no pixilization problems.

The ONT (the box on the side of the house) does run hot, but most installers understand this (my installer stated that the moment he started on the coax portion of the install) and test to make sure that the signal strength is correct (mine used an 8 way splitter when I have only 4 coax runs to attenuate the signal). In some cases the installer doesn't do that or does a poor job. In those cases, simple, inexpensive attenuators (radio shack) seem to work well. After all of that, there are left a few instances where people seem to have lots of problems and, bizarrely, the ONT power seems to change from time to time. I think the odds are very good that you won't have a problem and, if there is a problem, it is easily fixed. Then again, a few people also win the lottery.

Al