Verizon Activates DVR Anywhere Streaming!

fios-tv-dvr-anywhere

With the rollout of FiOS TV IMG software 3.0, Verizon is bringing new capabilities to us television customers. However, to pull this off you’ll seemingly need both FiOS TV set-box and router hardware in the mix… as the Quantum DVR becomes a video gateway.

fios-tv-dvr-listings

Within the home, our entire channel lineups will be available for mobile app streaming – versus the subset of channels Verizon has historically offered. And, as you can see from the pics above, we’ve tested it on an iPhone and iPad. However, Android is also supported – including Amazon Fire variants. Beyond live television, we’ll also have access a certain amount of shows recorded on our Quantum DVRs both in the home or on the go, similar to what Xfinity and TiVo offer. As to the various relationships and remote limitations, we’re just going to have to wait and see.

In your home
Watch every single live TV channel, plus all your DVR content virtually anywhere in your home.

Out of your home
Watch almost all of your DVR content and stream many channels outside your home.

In order for DVR streaming to work, you must first sign in to the Fios Mobile app while connected to your home router.

28 thoughts on “Verizon Activates DVR Anywhere Streaming!”

  1. First, I don’t think our region has received the update yet. Looks like further north… Next, you’d make sure you connect your mobile device directly to your FiOS router, not some other router – some how that authenticates it.

  2. Oh I assumed you got it based on the post. Does the fios router just have to be a gateway or will using another AP connected to it not work?

  3. A friend in PA got it and alerted me. I have TiVo, so I’ll be left out. Well, not entirely give my Roamio’s capabilities. But I’m still pining for a Roku app! If/when it comes, hope it doesn’t require a Quantum DVR. If so, I’d have a tough decision to make…

    My friend hangs a router/AP off his Verizon hardware. Streaming didn’t work until he authenticated to the Verizon router once. After that, I think he was fine on his preferred wireless device.

  4. Will be interesting if their licensing, including security considerations, will extend to “set-tops” — if so, I assume a Fire TV app would be first. And, even before they’re ready, I’m sure we could try sideloading. Of course, with the bigger screen picture quality, resolution, audio channels will become factors.

  5. Any idea if it only works for the Quantum DVR or also the older non-Quantum variety? We never felt the need to pay for the more expensive option.

    Interesting how the double NAT scenario (non-VZ router behind VZ router) will require a workaround.

  6. Pretty sure at this point it requires the Quantum DVR. Not sure about the NAT-ing. My friend has the Google router hanging off the Verizon router with no problems. But I don’t know if both are issuing IPs or if Google just passes the traffic to he Verizon unit (and I can’t remember how I set it up with the Asus, when I had that in the mix). But you will have to initially connect your mobile device to the Verizon router to authenticate and I assume that will periodically time out.

  7. Yeah, I was half heartedly trying to sideload, but wasn’t working. But any set top box this comes to is probably an instant buy for me. I’d like to get rid of all the client boxes in my house if I could.

  8. IIRC didnt Fox channels switch to copy once on Fios? So if I understand this correctly did they change the CCI or just not require their own software to respect it??

  9. Yeah, they did make all Fox owned channels (except locals) protected. Makes using HDHomeRun/CableCard a pain now, unless you’re using Windows Media Center. I think Tivo is fine.

  10. Thinking about it a bit more it seems the net result is blocking Tivo’s OOH viewing given their interpretation of copy-once. I guess getting access to Fox and maybe the premiums are the difference in using Quantum DVR for OOH viewing.

  11. “Doesn’t Copy Once still allow streaming though? Which is how these client boxes basically get around it?”

    At least with TiVo, Copy Once allows MRV, but not out-of-home streaming…

    (I think this principle applies more broadly, but I’m nowhere near 100% sure.)

  12. Ah cool. I really don’t care that much about out of the home streaming. I mean whatever I can get would be nice, but I don’t travel enough for this matter. But if I can get rid of client boxes, I’d save some money and put TVs in more rooms.

  13. “But if I can get rid of client boxes, I’d save some money and put TVs in more rooms.”

    Ananth,

    I’m confused. What would you replace the client boxes with?

  14. “I really don’t care that much about out of the home streaming.”

    But if you did, that’s reason #412 to go TiVo. They’ve got a brilliant copy ‘n’ delete scheme to get around ‘Copy Once’ to get stuff one your mobile device…

  15. Yeah, I just fall into the TiVo sat on it’s ass too long camp, even though I have owned the first 3 generations of TiVo. These higher end cable boxes are close enough to offering everything TiVo does, all for the same monthly cost with out the hardware upfront cost and with out losing on demand. It’s really too bad.

  16. Chucky, if they add these apps to the FireTV, Roku, Apple TV, or whatever then I would just go with server and theses on TVs. I already have two xbox ones, so if they just update the app to work the same i wouldn’t need the clients attached to them (I know that sounds excessive, but in my Defense I combined Microsoft’s Trade in deal for Launch 360 and their Black Friday Deal last year to spend like 150 bucks for new one)

  17. Chucky, if they add these apps to the FireTV, Roku, Apple TV, or whatever then I would just go with server and theses on TVs … These higher end cable boxes are close enough to offering everything TiVo does.”

    ‘Close enough’ is only good enough in horseshoes and hand grenades.

    Reason #413 to go TiVo is that they’ve already got a Fire TV app.

    (Reasons #166 through #247 all have to do with OnePass, but that’s something I understand won’t sell you since you won’t be familiar with the power and the glory…)

  18. TiVo’s Fire TV app isn’t very good yet… I wouldn’t want it as a full time client around the house. Best use case is to watch something DVR-ed on a Fire TV stick while stuck in a hotel or similar.

  19. “TiVo’s Fire TV app isn’t very good yet… I wouldn’t want it as a full time client around the house.”

    That’s what I expected. And I assume that state of affairs will continue for some time, both for TiVo and also for Verizon if they ever produce a streamer box client. Which is partially why I was initially confused about Ananth’s plan to eliminate MRV clients.

    Seems as if dedicated MRV clients are the way to go, unless you’re both extremely cost-constrained and want 17 tiny teevees positioned around your home…

  20. I have the quantum DVR and actiontec I.

    I saw the roll-out date for this area was 12/8 in the DSL reports thread, so I tried it when i got home from work last night. The DVR software had been updated so then I was able to watch a few DVRd shows from both Iphone 5S and ipad mini.

  21. I was able to access dvr shows while at home, but unable outside of the home. Anyone else have these issues? Does the main dvr box need to be plugged into router. Currently, we have router in separate location.

  22. Anthony-

    I have the same issue. Fine in house. Can’t do it out of house. I reported the issue via the app this morning so hopefully it will get resolved.

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