Verizon Fios

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That only works if they are getting an analog signal from their coax connection. In most areas, FiOS provides the local channels (only) as an analog signal, so they'd be able to do the same thing in order to watch local channels live. However, in a few places, Verizon is abandoning the analog signals and making their FiOS TV signal digital only. If the TV supports decoding the digital signal directly, they'd probably still be able to tune in their local channels (again, only).

I've gone through so many TiVos that I don't remember which boxes came with which accessories. I know that I got a serial cable (⅛" jack to DB-9) with one of my TiVos, but I can't remember if it was my Series 2.

You may be able to use a serial connection to the Motorola set-top box that Verizon will provide, but you can also use an infrared blaster if you've already got that available. (The serial connection might be disabled as well, so you may end up being forced to go infrared anyway.)

 

Sort of. It will work, but only for the analog channels. And as noted many times here, on Fios, only channels 2 through 49 are available over analog. (I doubt that the TV in question has a digital tuner, but even if it does, it won't get many more channels than that, unless it also has a CableCard slot. And CableCard rental is extra.)

Moreover, even these relatively few analog channels are going away in the near future -- maybe next year. So, don't count on them.

 

Ok cool thanks guys. Since I will be the one who will connect everything, I will stick around here. I am sure I will have more questions but I should definetly read more threads.

 

I just hooked up an S2 to FiOS on Wed. The serial cable should have come in the S2 box, and it controls my standard FiOS box just fine. Just make certain the Serial is connected to the Motorola box turned off, then turn it on.

 

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Great. So I guess they still have the serial unlocked. Now what is the benenfit of serial connection over IR? Almost every feature will still work on Tivo right?

 

A serial connection allows the TiVo to control the set-top box much more reliably. The downside to the IR blaster is that on rare occasions, a digit might get missed and the set-top box won't tune to the right channel. The serial control interface eliminates that concern.

 

D*Tivo to FIOS DVR to (FIOSTivo?) Thoughts...

When D* lost Tivo functionality a while back so I decided to live w/o the NFL package and went FIOS. Ugh.

The FIOS DVR is abysmal, especially if you have used Tivo in the past. It's buggy, slow and doesn't record consistently. If I were a competitor to Verizon and wanted to design a DVR that would hose them, I would design this one.

Yes, widgets are cool....for 10 minutes. I can get more reliable weather and traffic on my laptop and I don't see any plans for new ones. They seem to spend more effort on perfecting the 'marketplace' functionality so I can efficiently spend more money on crap. (Yeah, as if!)

Yes, OnDemand has potential. But the idea of keeping it in case I want to watch Ace Ventura Pet Detective at any time (for $2.99) isn't quite worth it. (Sorry Jim) The primetime showcase is cool but the on demand isn't HD and they only capture the last few shows.

The FiosDVRs are $12.99each/month and that doesn't include Multi-Room Capability. ($19.99@ for that!) Oh yeah, if you're a show hoarder like me the HDD is too small with no expandability.
Yes, I saved ~$40 by bundling, but they set my account wrong and it took two calls and an hour to straighten it out. (Though I have yet to receive a correct bill so the jury is still out.)

To top it off, I've seen the upgraded D*TV and DVR and though it's no Tivo, it's not bad. (And has more HD channels...wtf?)

Since I'm in a one year contract that I can't whine my way out of, I'm spending my early termination penalty on an TivoHD. I hope it works out like it has for so many of you, though I secretly pray that Verizon plays dumb about the cable card so I can be obnoxious. Is that wrong?

 

The TiVoHD works great with FiOS. You won't regret it.

 

You neglected to mention the restriction that the multi-room DVR functionality only works for SD content. While the main DVR that serves out the content to the other set-top boxes is itself an HD receiver, the remote receivers are SD only.

 

They do have a serial cord!

 

Hi, I've trying to use the Verizon serial conection with my TIVO 2, but can't get it to work, can you please share with me how you got it to work, Thanks!

 

Did you try the instructions in post #31?