Review by bsangs 
member for 10.7 years, 817 visits, last login: a few hours ago
updated 6 days ago
 Montclair,Essex,NJ
 $158 per month- (24 month contract)
 "Picture, speed, installation, On Demand, selection, reliability" "DVR picture hiccups can be annoying" "Great internet service, TV side is serviceable"
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(ratings match consensus)
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UPDATED 5/13/13
That didn't take long. Not sure how many times I'm going to fall for Directv's promises only to be disappointed. (My wife insists that better be the last time.) Anyway, back with FiOS for everything after another round of buggy DVR, signal loss and other issues with Directv for three months. I will miss the 5-tuner capabilities of the Directv Genie and hope that FiOS gets on the ball with their server.
UPDATED 4/23/13
Well, made the change back to Directv because of the free equipment offer PLUS free MLB Extra Innings and free NFL Sunday Ticket. Still keeping FiOS on the cheapest TV plan - the Select Plan ($74.99) - since I have a lifetime free DVR and since the internet and DV itself still costs that much alone.
Directv's 5-tuner Genie DVR is a tremendous improvement from anything FiOS offers. It has five tuners. Coupled with another DVR that gives me 7 tuners. Also, Directv charges much less per TV than FiOS. With Directv I have two DVRs and three Genie clients boxes - which costs only $6.99 per TV - plus the fee for the first one is waved. That's a total of $27.96 per month. Similar set up with FiOS costs $47.96 - and would be $67 if not for the lifetime DVR. (Directv does charge a weird Advanced Receiver Fee of $25, however you can save $15 per month off that when you sign up for auto pay.) Now we'll see if I end up regretting this switch back when the next storm rolls through.
FiOS internet still has no equal however. Still on the 50/35 plan and still getting speeds around 60/40.
UPDATED 1/26/13
OK, the DSL Reports system manager wants me to update my original review. Here goes.
-- Still have FiOS, even though I've sampled DirecTV during the last year as well. The best thing about FiOS remains its reliability. It is rock solid. Even during Hurricane Sandy, when we lost power, the FiOS never went out, until the backup battery died.
-- The DVR's have been greatly improved since I originally joined in 2010. Faster, better looking, larger HDs, ability to connect an external drive. The interface - now 1.9.1 is much better than the old 1.8 interface.
-- TV picture remains pristine and although FiOS doesn't offer some HD channels that people clamor - whine - for, it carries every one I enjoy watching, save for CBS SportsNetwork.
-- Also upgraded internet speed to 50/35, although it measures more like 60/40 at most times, which is great.
-- Multi Room DVR service works great, although what can be annoying are audio/video dropouts when watching a program from a different DVR. It is quickly remedied by rewinding the program, but still, it's bothersome. (Doesn't happen all the time though, which is weird.)
-- Recent software update to DVRs has improved the interface speed. For a while there were some issues, but all appears to have been fixed (knock wood).
-- Only wish there would be more HD offerings for sports subscriptions. Still limited when compared to DirecTV, which is the only reason I'm leaning toward going back to DirecTV when baseball season starts.
-- Also in our area, the Ultimate package includes every premium channel - HBO, Cinemax, Starz, Showtime, TMC, Epix - which is a steal if you're into those channels.
-- My monthly price includes three DVRs - one free for life - and a free SD STB, also included free for life with the package I originally received. DVRs run $19.99 per month for the main MRDVR and $16.99 for regular DVRs. (HD STBs - non-DVR - are $6.99.)
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