 Review by dancy70 
UPDATED: 126 days ago
member for 3.4 years, 523 visits, last login: 12 days ago
 North Reading,Middlesex,MA
 $104 per month (24 month contract)
 about 60 days
 Verizon (ex GTE)
 "Highly reliable connection and speeds. Easy install. Very good TV service"
 "Tech who installed FIOS TV not aware of capabilities of new router. UPS supplied short time for Internet."
 "Good value. Just updated to FIOS in FL - now happy with both MA and FL installations"
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(ratings above consensus)
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(6)
UPDATE 3/21/2008: Long "days from order" figure was my choice - long lead time, then had to postpone. Have just updated from Verizon DSL to FIOS [Phone, TV & Internet] here in FL. The install went smoothly and everything worked the first time. The tech was clueless when it came to security - insisted that WEP was OK and did not know that both WPA and WPA2 existed on the router he was installing. He initially still thought he had to use one of the computers to load software, etc. Not so - just plugged the router in and it worked. Change from default WEP to WPA was equally easy and quick. The fellow who did the install did a good job with the mechanical parts of the operation - knew his stuff with respect to that and his test equipment. Total operation took just over 3 hours - the cable, with termination, had been previously run from the street. Speed is just over 10 MPS, as advertised for the tier purchased, with the wired connection to the router, but seems to be limited to between 6 and 7 MPS on wireless - I suspect it is the wireless cards in the computers as it was the same in the MA location with 20 MPS service. So, I am a happy camper with Verizon FIOS in two locations.
(5)
UPDATE 10/2/07: A few months ago TV was installed at the MA location on the FIOS fiber drop. All went well except the tech who came to do it was unfamiliar with the router - he said only WEP encryption was available for the wireless link, which I viewed as unacceptable. Ultimately, it was installed with WEP & I went to FL. Upon return, I did some digging and found the router was capable of a couple levels of WPA - security changed and there have been no issues. Even after the rare power outage, the system (Internet & TV) comes back nicely. The short time on the supplied UPS is still a bit of an issue, but the outages are rare enough so the issue is not major. I just changed phone plan to VERIZON FREEDOM that included FIOS. The speed checks done after that was changed was instituted report I now have 20 meg down 2 meg up to 20/6, depending on the server - without asking for it - must come with the Freedom package. A check of Verizon's site shows I do, indeed, have 20/5. Of course, I have not seen the first bill yet, so don't know if they also upped the price on that. I am still happy with the service and the TV over the fiber has worked out great as well. Along with the fiber install for the TV, the other phone line coming into the house was moved over to fiber. For the time I have been at the FL location with DSL, there have been no issues there either.
(4)
UPDATE 12/25/06: It has been almost 8 months now and I have had almost zero difficulty with the FIOS service. The only down side has been the very short life for the internet connection on the Verizon-provided battery back-up. The system seems to be designed like our bodies - there are critical services that take priority - in this case, telephone service overrides internet. Phone stays live for many hours, whereas the internet service dies after 10-15 minutes on battery. Conversations with Verizon tech support indicate this is as-designed. When questioned about daisy chaining another UPS ahead of Verizon's batter back-up, the tech said that would be acceptable - something I have yet to do. Overall, I am still happy with the service. Speed down exceeds by up to 100k the advertised rate, speed up is on the order of 200k below advertised. For my purposes, this is acceptable. The set-up remains unchanged from the previous review. Verizon is scheduled to install TV service from this fiber drop later in the week.
I also have DSL service from Verizon in Florida and will probably get FIOS when the system is built-out in my county. Verizon has been granted a franchise for Pasco county where I live most of the time now, so it is only a matter of time until the fiber is pulled.
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(3)
UPDATE 3/31/06: Verizon changed their tune and allowed installation of fiber to replace only one of the two phone lines coming into the house (we share the house with another couple and they were hesitant to give up line-powered phone service because of power failures, etc.) so I gave myself and the rest of the house FIOS for Christmas. Install went smoothly and beyond not using the provided router (mine has a built-in firewall, where Verizon's did not), the system has been trouble-free since. One thing to be aware of, however, the UPS provided for the interface may give you phone service for a matter of hours, but the internet function ceases to operate after about 20 minutes of power failure. Since I have a separate UPS on the router and non-laptop computers, they were not an issue - only the interface. I suppose I could put anther UPS in front of Verizon's to extend the time, but .... BTW, Verizon did come through with a $50 rebate and the monthly fee was reduced by $10 to $29.95 for 5MPS service.
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(2)
Since this review was initially written, I have had some difficulties with the service. However, tech support, etc. were quite responsive. I was provided a new modem and a new wireless router ( free after rebate, which I did get) to see if that were the problem. Connect problems still existed because the new modem was "smart" and was supposed to be able to detect there was a router. It turned out to not be all that smart, so there was a conflict. Ultimately, after many phone calls, went back to a NetGear router and the original modem from Verizon.
I have had many mailings and a few phone calls about FIOS. The only hang up here is the individuals to whom I have spoken can not understand why I am concerned about going completely digital with phone, etc. because of the limited time of battery back-up provided. Overall, still happy with the service and with the staff with whom I have had dealings.
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(1)
Initial order in MA was 768/128. Dynamic IP address. Installed with Linksys 4-port router and Wintel modem (ISP provided). No problems during ordering or install and have had virtually no down time for the connection in the year and a half it has been active. There was a question as to whether the software had to be installed on all of the computers on the network. Tech support was called and a technician answered on the 3rd ring and was able to provide info. However, the first tech provided the wrong information or misunderstood the question. The second tech corrected the problem and even volunteered to help set up the router. I have had some difficulty with e-mail going down from time to time. Strange thing is 4 accounts on e-mail and not all go down at the same time. During a call to Verizon for another reason (I bought a package that included local, LD, and DSL), contact volunteered that 1.5/128 was available and made the change at no extra charge. Price was/is $30. The extra $9 is for access to the account via dial-up when away from home. Tech at the time of adding that feature volunteered a toll-free 500 number for the northern half of the east coast and indicated a VK/ had to proceed the user name when I was south of the Washington DC area. He thought, at the time, the 500 number was destined to go nationwide, which has yet to happen. Pleased enough with the service so that Verizon was used when DSL was installed in a house I own in FL. The only problem with the setup in FL was the idiot behind the keyboard. Overall, I have been happy with both companies - Verizon and the Verizon-old GTE.
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