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Review by SparkChaser See Profile

  • Location: Downingtown, Chester, PA, USA
  • Cost: $180 per month (12 month contract)
  • Install: about 7 days
Service seems consistant
Set top boxes, loose copper line
Addition of TV and package deal made the difference.
Pre Sales Information:
Install Co-ordination:
Connection reliability:
Tech Support:
Value for money:
(ratings match consensus)

Update 5/17/2013
Cost still too high, if it was up to me TV be gone in a minute and phone soon to follow.

The speed is good, as is consistency, but the cost is too high.

Update 6/28/2011

Cost remains at $170.

Speed is fairly consistent 25/25.

STB DVR is has low capacity.

Happy with the service would like a lower cost.

Nothing has changed, I still think the cost is too high and I am looking on what I can do to reduce it.

Update 05/21/2009

New STB firmware improved the picture quality and I would rate it as good to excellent.

The internet has gone down a couple of time the longest being close to a day. Other than those it has been consistent. The speed is always at 20/5.

Update 11/16/2008 New and improved TV HA!!!
the latest upgrade from VZ to the set top DVR made a great picture quality bad. It was better with Comcast. Hope they fix it soon.

Update: 9/28/2008 New Install

Decided it was time to give Verizon another chance. I ordered the package with 20/5, telephone and TV and a HD DVR.

They appeared to have made good progress in the past 18 months. I had the ONT still installed from previous install which made it easy for the tech. The internet came right up as did the TV. The Actiontec router is still a bit of a beast but better than before. It's wireless is still not good and I have installed the Linksys in it's place. Internet speed is consistent, though for normal browsing I don't see any difference from CC.

TV quality is better than Comcast, particularly on HD.

Don't use their software to optimize. DSLR tools will get you better performance.

Account creation worked first time without any CS person. (change from first try)

Email works, not sure if it's reliable but so far it has been

Previous install:
Instalation was well coordinated with about 4 weeks from order to install. Install of ONT took about 3 hours with another hour to get the computer talking to Verizon. After that, connection was reliable. Verizon email is a nightmare. It took several days to get it set up due to password problems. After that, it didn't work reliably for the entire month I had it.

Customer service was pleasant, non-English speaking as a first language but communicated well. There seemed little they could do to solve email problems and finally suggested that I should be using MSN or Yahoo.

I cancelled FIOS and kept Comcast.

UPDATE:
In reading the forum, I see that my decision was correct. Still email problems and still customer service problems. In looking at the latest prices there is nothing to be gained from switching except getting locked into a year contract. If they would lower their phone rates as a bundle, I consider a switch. as it looks right now, I'll probably go with CDV.

member for 23.7 years, 11294 visits, last login: a few hours ago
updated 10.8 years ago


ahhhh564
@optonline.net

ahhhh564

Anon

Email problems?

You canceled because of verizons crappy email service? lol i would have never even think of using an isp's email address because your stuck to it if you want to switch like you did. i would have just used my regular gmail account as normal without even thinking. but hey, if they still couldnt fix a simple email problem and lost a customer because of it, then its their loss.

btw, why is an isp's email service so important to you? just wondering..

SparkChaser
Premium Member
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA

SparkChaser

Premium Member

Re: Email problems?

said by ahhhh564 :

You canceled because of verizons crappy email service? lol i would have never even think of using an isp's email address because your stuck to it if you want to switch like you did.
Yeah, I've been told that many times. The fact is I also have a Gmail account and a domain name with mail. It was stubbornness and principle . I figured they advertise it they should provide it. Second, the fact that they seem to have no desire to correct the email problem which seems to have existed for ages (see Verizon DSL) didn't give me a warm feeling. Third I got pissed when they suggested I should go elsewhere for email.

For most things the ISP email doesn't matter. I use the domain email for business. We kind of got use to using Comcast email almost like a messenger (it's that fast) between family members.

As far as Internet service, it seems to vary a great deal from what I read in the forum. Where I am FIOS did not have any advantage over Comcast. The situation may be totally different in another geographic area.

kyramilan
join:2006-11-26
Pensacola, FL

1 recommendation

kyramilan

Member

Re: Email problems?

Hate to say it, but only a moron uses any ISP for email.

SparkChaser
Premium Member
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA

2 edits

1 recommendation

SparkChaser

Premium Member

Re: Email problems?

said by kyramilan:

Hate to say it, but only a moron uses any ISP for email.
Don't hold back, tell me what you really think

I'll refrain from additional comments believing in the adage, "Never argue with an idiot. They bring you down to their level and beat you with experience".

Une bonne et heureuse nouvelle année
Reverick
join:2006-02-16
Warwick, RI

Reverick to SparkChaser

Member

to SparkChaser
When they suggested MSN or Yahoo, they really mean that we provide free MSN premium or Yahoo. The yahoo portion is still @verizon.net sa an e-mail address but the server and format is Yahoo. I actually quite like the new beta Yahoo format too, reminds me of outlook express, but web-based.

Riot2102
@198.252.240.x

Riot2102

Anon

A Sin Has Been Commited

Come on beeron, everyone should know by now that as soon as you say the slightest thing negative about Fios it will be just a matter of seconds before you are prosecuted by the Fios fanbase

SparkChaser
Premium Member
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA

SparkChaser

Premium Member

Re: A Sin Has Been Commited

said by Riot2102 :

Come on beeron, everyone should know by now that as soon as you say the slightest thing negative about Fios it will be just a matter of seconds before you are prosecuted by the Fios fanbase
Yeah, I do know, America, apple pie and FIOS

EnzonE
join:2000-03-23
Indiana, PA

EnzonE

Member

Re: A Sin Has Been Commited

Hey I applaud your efforts to me your actions say 'sure FiOS presumably has much faster speeds compared to Comcast at a lower affordable price but as one of your preferences being their tech support was crossing the line enough to switch back'. That's what I'm talking about you let them know I can brush you off my shoulder at the drop of a dime and not even care; props!
soothsayer15
join:2002-03-01
Irving, TX

soothsayer15

Member

Not Really a hard issue

Tech Support is as good as the people working it, or the customer receiving instructions. I know having worked tech support for cable and DSL before. It irks be when people say, "they told me" like the company is some Borg collective. Every ISP has good tech support reps and bad ones.

If you were having password problem in Outlook Express, the problem is quite possibly with Outlook Express. Besides, Verizon as do most ISPs, have web mail now for users that aren't technically inclined.

No one ever reads the instructions anymore.

SparkChaser
Premium Member
join:2000-06-06
Downingtown, PA

SparkChaser

Premium Member

Re: Not Really a hard issue

said by soothsayer15:

If you were having password problem in Outlook Express, the problem is quite possibly with Outlook Express. Besides, Verizon as do most ISPs, have web mail now for users that aren't technically inclined.
I assure you I'm technically inclined and OE is not exactly a cerebral challenge. Three Verizon reps tried to get it the password to work without luck. The password isn't even the point. The point is Verizon can't (more likely won't) get their email working correctly. If they can't get it working then why should I trust them to maintain a much more complicated system. If they won't do it, just say so and don't advertise 9 email accounts. I have no problem with any ISP pushing off some services to others, just say you are doing it.
patt2k
join:2009-01-16

patt2k

Member

well

just wondering how are you paying 170$ for tv and internet 25/25?

I have:

TV Prime HD + Fios Sports Pass (+9.99)
75/35
Cablecard 1x

my bill will be about 98$

Would it not be better for you to buy your own setboxes? example the same I use silicondust and have 1 box stream to 3 devices?

I bet you do have a laptop you could connect via HDMI to pc and then you can use windows media center buy yourself a remote and have it all nicely.

Just a tip

Fishead1
Premium Member
join:2001-05-08
Bronx, NY

Fishead1

Premium Member

Re: well

patt2k are you still on original contract?He is probably past the original contract and usually the price jumps a lot.
When I first got the Cablevision Triple Play package is was about $90 and change.But after the one year contract was up it went up to $150 and that's with no fancy TV channel package.
That's why I jumped to Verizon.But you know after my 2 year contract with Verizon is up the price will jump up too.