As the owner of a brand spanking new home, we had the unique opportunity to decide which provider would run cable into our humble abode. After weighing the pros and cons, we selected Verizon FiOS over Comcast Xfinity for both television and Internet services. And, from start to finish, it was the least painful process we’ve experienced in this realm. No hiccups… even the CableCARD pairing went smoothly. Also, at a mere 75 minutes, it was very efficient — handily beating our prior six hour FiOS retrofit.
What follows is the tweet archive of our install:
- So this is where FiOS comes from… pic.twitter.com/K0i1t8VJ
- We have FiOS on the wall. Almost. pic.twitter.com/OgtxhxaB
- Alcatel GPON today. pic.twitter.com/macoibZY
- FiOS router on the time out chair. pic.twitter.com/1dR5KsZU
- FiOS backup battery going in above our wiring panel… though we didn’t opt for voice service. pic.twitter.com/ny7SYTNr
- And… we have now have blazing fast FiOS Internet. CableCARD is next. pic.twitter.com/KLVFQiIS
- All done! A mere 75 minutes to install FiOS ONT, backup battery, router, and CableCARD. pic.twitter.com/B9gFAGfe
I’m glad it went well for you. I recently upgraded from the 35/35 tier to the 150/65 tier. And my Internet and telephone services went down for five days and my TV service was down for three. I had to call the executive customer service to get it resolved.
Five years ago when I first got FiOS I also had other issues. I had Comcast as well. FiOS cut the FiOS line three times and Comcast cut the FiOS line three times. Once was on purpose. I would have reported that instance but my service wasn’t active yet so it wasn’t a big deal at the time.
Over all I have been happy with my FiOS service. I had 99.99% uptime over the last five years until that five day outage.
I meant FiOS cut the Comast line three times as well as Comcast cutting the FiOS line three times. Back then FiOS would not run their fiber line in duct in my area. It wasn’t until a couple of years later that they started using duct to protect the fiber underground in my area. My line is still buried without any protection. So the first time one of my neighbors goes back to Comcast I’m sure they will cut my FiOS line again.
I have my FiOS BBU unit conencted to an APC UPS. That way I can get 15 hours or so of runtime before the FiOS BBU will kick in. That way I can continue watching Tv or using the Internet during an outage. I live in a condo so I can’t have a generator. So I have all my electronics connected to APC UPS units with extended runtime batteries.
Interested to know how much battery is required to get those 15 hours of runtime – what’s the model of that UPS?
I use the 1500XS/RS(old model) and the BR1500G(newer model. Along with the extended runtime battery BR24BPG(newer model) Not sure what the older model number is for the extended runtime battery. I use combinations of these. Currently in use with my ONT and router I use the older 1500XS along with the newer BR24BPG extended battery. The newer units have a different size so in some of my locations I can’t use the newer models because the are longer than the older model. But the older models are taller.
So with just the ONT and my router on the one UPS with extended runtime battery I can get around 15 hours or more during a power outage. My other network equipment is on another UPS with the extended battery so I can get around 15 hours or more for those devices.
I recently replaced most the internal batteries and most the extended runtime batteries. Since many of them were five to eight years old. The extended ones are sealed and cannot be replaced like the batteries in the main unit.
With the Derecho storm that came through the DC area in June here, I realized that it was time to change out my batteries since I didn’t not get the runtime I used to. Plus I was using more wattage from some MoCA adapters I had added which further reduced my runtime. So I stopped using the MoCA adapters and went back to just my GigE backbone and Wi-Fi for all my devices.
I hope you opted to get a ethernet line out of your outside fios terminal instead of coax. I just hated their actiontec router. Yes, you can do this.
also, please be aware of the limitations of verizon’s actiontec and how your router’s wep password is crackable.
http://youtu.be/nrcvBs16v4s
The actiontec can be configured for WPA2. It is not clear in the instructions but it does work, my FioS router is set up this way.
Evan, Can’t recall the last year I ran WEP. Been WPA2 for a long while. So far, I’ve had good luck with the router (and am using WPA2). Easily set up port forwarding for my surveillance cam. I also specifically asked for MoCA throughout, given the placement of the Ethernet versus coax jacks and the gear I have. Although I can flip it to Ethernet if/when I need to.
aaronwt, I opted for the 50/25 tier. Figured that was sufficient. Though $5/mo more for 75/35 is very tempting… At our old house, we had 25/25, then 35/35, then 25/25. It’s fine for my needs.
Still sticking with the TiVo eh? Personally I don’t think the extra monthly cost gets you anything FiOS doesn’t offer. Even their remote scheduling mobile apps are much improved now.
TiVo has lower monthly costs in the long term than the FiOS DVRs. I’ve had FiOS for five years now. If I would have been using FiOS DVRs during that time instead of TiVos, I would have paid much more money. Plus the TiVos with lifetime service have a high resale value. So when a new model comes out, you just sell the old one to cover most if not all of the cost of a new TiVo with lifetime service.
John, Yeah sticking with TiVo for now. TiVo seems closer to a whole-home DVR with the new Stream and upcoming Mini. That’s my priority. I know Verizon is working on a streaming iPad app and more of a DVR hub, but I’m not sure what the timing is.