<p>So after experiencing some problems with our cable TV service earlier in the week, and receiving a “we’re raising your rates” letter from Time Warner the week before I’ve started looking into other options (this is for the NYC metro area). Verizon recently launched their FiOS service in our neighborhood and I’m seriously considering switching over.</p>
<p>Verizon was able to quote me a price, locked in for two years, that is less than what Time Warner could offer me. When I pushed Time Warner to tell me what they could offer me that Verizon couldn’t I wasn’t too impressed. They basically said they have:</p>
<ul>
<li><p>New York 1 (nobody actually watches this channel and I certainly don’t)</p></li>
<li><p>Start Over <a href=“this%20can%20actually%20be%20somewhat%20useful;%20however%20it%20doesn’t%20seem%20to%20work%20half%20the%20time–‘please%20try%20again%20later’–%20and%20any%20programs%20I%20really%20want%20to%20watch%20are%20already%20being%20recorded%20by%20the%20DVR%20anyway”>you push a button and the current program restarts</a>.</p></li>
</ul>
<p>On other issues, I’m really annoyed by the less than stellar picture quality on some of Time Warner’s HD channels as they’re obviously being subjected to some heavy compression to conserve bandwidth. </p>
<p>The internet connection is also much faster with FiOS, although I can’t say I’m unhappy with Time Warner in this department (apart from the very slow ‘up’ speed).</p>
<p>I imagine if I really pushed, Time Warner would lower their rates to match Verizon (or even try to beat them) but I’d still be willing to pay a few bucks more a month in the HDTV picture quality was better.</p>
<p>So has anyone out there recently made the switch from big cable to FiOS and if so is FiOS as good as some people seem to say it is?</p>
<p>We moved our TV and computer to Fios, and have been very satisfied. The installation was longer than we thought, but they told us in advance it would take a long time - we just didn’t believe them. Their installation was well done, and the reception and picture quality just fine. No regrets. And we saved money. We also like the DVR.</p>
<p>Rocket-- I live in NYC. Our building is currently adding FiOS, and the main drawback for us is that at this time, here in NYC, there is no TV with FiOS, just Internet and phone. Be careful that you have TV, because that is what you are talking about. The Verizon guy said it would be summer or later before TV would be included. So we didn’t switch. Pretty happy with Time Warner, I suppose.</p>
<p>We could have had TV, but don’t because we don’t want it. We don’t watch TV. The rest of the family says it’s faster, I really haven’t noticed a difference. No service losses that I’ve noticed. It cost us the same or less as what we had before (Verizon DSL). It took most of the morning to install. Think about a good location for the (fairly sizable) box, I wanted it in the basement, but our foundation walls were too thick for them to cope with.</p>
We don’t live right in the heart of the city and there is TV with FiOS where we’re at including over 100 HD channels. </p>
<p>
I honestly didn’t think anyone actually watched this channel, but I stand corrected ;-)</p>
<p>
I’ve read reviews about the installation and there are some places where they could put the equipment. Verizon was very upfront saying that the installation is quite involved and can take several hours, but that they work with you to meet your needs. I’m quite the technogeek so part of me just likes the coolness factor of having fiber optics wired right into our house. We already have a home network up and running and they said the FiOS ethernet could interface directly with this.</p>
<p>My neighborhood is being offered FIOS. Sharing your horror stories has become the new bonding experience. I’d planned to get it and still may–Time Warner is also less than perfect–but I’m really hesitating because of what has been happening to my neighbors. It’s been a real horror story. I’ll send you a PM with some info.</p>
<p>Fios…we has it! I live near D.C., though. The speed is great, the TV recording is easy-peasy and getting better all the time as they keep adding new features. Now I need an HD TV…</p>
<p>Also near DC; dropped cable and bought all 3 FIOS services in September. We’re very happy with it. Glad we did it as soon as it came to our neighborhood…the initial deal was the best.</p>
<p>Cox cable was after us at least for a month to stay with/return to them. Lots of promises and offers. No way.</p>
<p>We just switched, too - as advertised, the TV picture is crystal clear(a noticeable difference from both cable and satellite) and the internet connection is lightening fast. The only issue we’ve had is with the billing - first month’s bill came with lots of inaccuracies, including charges for a DVR that was supposed to be free for six months, unauthorized installation charges and more. I had to deal with a supervisor to get results, however she was great and offered us another $30/month for six months just because of the mistake and promised that all the changes would be reflected on the next bill. The jury is still out though since they have still not disappeared on the online version of the bill!</p>
<p>I’ve been told to keep a close eye on the bills, especially in the first few months. On the flip side, if they are caught out making a mistake in these markets where FiOS is going head to head with big cable the customer finally has a lot of leverage to push these companies around and demand decent bonus discounts and other perks so you don’t switch.</p>
<p>If you search Google for “Comcast HD Quality Reduction: Details, Screenshots” select the first hit and you can see some nice screen captures that someone has done comparing the image quality between cable and FiOS. This is exactly the sort of thing I was talking about above in terms of HDTV image compression artifacts that I’m seeing with Time Warner.</p>
<p>No FIOS in Philadelphia yet. I hope they come here soon, so I can use that as a bargaining chip for Comcast not to raise their rates constantly. </p>
<p>I would REALLY like to be able to tell them to keep all their sports channels off my tv because I think those are the ones that cost the most and I do not need ESPN and the Golf channel. I do not watch sports ever. Give me Nat GEO or the Science Channel anytime</p>
<p>this is from last year
Per-subscriber fees paid monthly by cable companies for selected national and regional sports networks.</p>
<p>Network Fee
ESPN $3.26
SportsNet Phila. 1.97*
NFL Network 0.80
Big Ten Network 0.70**
ESPN 2 0.46
NBA TV 0.36
Fox College 0.32</p>