mikefischer99
@verizon.net
| CableCard TiVoHD install
Picked up a Tivo HD today at Best Buy. Called Verizon and asked for CableCard and they were very helpful. In fact, they said they would be here tomorrow to deliver and install the card (or cards, don't know yet)! I'll reply once the install is done and summarize how the process went.
While I was on the phone I added telephone to my service, bringing me up to Verizon triple play level. Previously I was just using TV and Internet through Verizon (had telephone through Cox Cable).
Have had a few months experience with the Motorola DVR so hopefully I can make a few comparisons once the TivoHD is working. |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA | If they bring MCARDs, you just need one. If they bring the older 'S' CableCards, you need two. |
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX
| reply to mikefischer99
Yep I picked up a TivoHD and my cablecard appt is next tuesday. You officially suck.
In the meantime I can just have the box record some of the analog channels.
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Mac Chatter
»www.macchatter.net |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA | reply to KenAF
I've got a stupid question with regard to this. Wouldn't that impact your monthly lease fees? I mean if they bring MCARDs you're leasing 1 card. If they bring the older cards, you're leasing 2. Just wondering. |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
3 edits | said by JPL  :I've got a stupid question with regard to this. Wouldn't that impact your monthly lease fees? I mean if they bring MCARDs you're leasing 1 card. If they bring the older cards, you're leasing 2. Just wondering. That's right.
If your local Verizon office only has the older 'S' CableCards, then you are stuck paying 2x2.99= $5.98/mo. If your Verizon office has depleted their 'S' CableCard stock and you get an MCARD, then you only pay $2.99/mo.
All you can do is ask the sales rep to add a note for the installer ("bring MCARD if available") to your order.
(As of April, Motorola ships nothing but MCARDs so eventually that is all FiOS will have.) |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA | Thanks for the info, Ken. Good to know. I'll keep that in mind if I ever decide to swing for a tivo. |
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DGGSLF
join:2007-04-14
Lynn, MA
| reply to KenAF
Hey KenAF.
I have two CableCARDs in two seperate TVs. My install happened back in early March 2007. Here's my question: How do I tell by looking at the Version of the CableCARD (accessible via the TV menu), if I have an "M" card or "S" card? Right now it says I have a Motorola Version 04.21 cards.
Are they "M" cards? |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
1 edit | The MCARDs clearly say MCARD in large letters on side with the text. If you don't see that, you have the older 'S' CableCards. I don't think there is any way to tell from the TV menu, you would have to pull it out.
As far as I know, Verizon didn't take any shipments of MCARDs until Motorola stopped shipping the older 'S' CableCards in April. |
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mikefischer99
@verizon.net
| reply to mikefischer99
The installer only had SCards. I wonder if in a few months there will be a way to trade up for a single MCard to cut the monthly fee in half.
Install went pretty smoothly, and all my channels seem to be working fine! Already feeling the stress level drop as my wife is happy to have the Motorola box out of the house... she's programming the TiVo for our shows as I type... |
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harley3k
join:2007-04-10
Flower Mound, TX
| said by mikefischer99 :
Install went pretty smoothly, and all my channels seem to be working fine! Already feeling the stress level drop as my wife is happy to have the Motorola box out of the house... she's programming the TiVo for our shows as I type...
Good to know.... what part of the country are you in?
-h |
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PetDude
Premium,Mod
join:2001-02-20
Annapolis, MD
clubs:
Host:
Speakeasy
Philadelphia & Nor..
HughesNet Satellite
WildBlue Satellite
Other Satellite
| reply to mikefischer99
Exact same situation here in MD. I picked up the Tivo HD at the local Best Buy Monday morning. Called VZ and they scheduled the tech for today. Tech arrived and installed two SCards (no MCards available here either). The install took about 45 minutes. The tech then waited around for the next 25 minutes or so for the guided set-up to complete in order to make sure all was well with the install, and it was. All channels look great! And like at your house, the whine level here has dropped significantly. I have to admit, I'm pretty stoked to have the Tivo back as well.
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Free your mind and your ass will follow |
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX | reply to mikefischer99
Install is tomorrow. I'll update when everything is done.
--
Mac Chatter
»www.macchatter.net |
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NOCMan
Verizon Fios User
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Flower Mound, TX
| reply to mikefischer99
Installed and working in less than 30 minutes..
Works great so far. Flower Mound Tx.. They had moto cards so hopefully I'm not going to see the issues others have had with the sci atl cards.
--
Mac Chatter
»www.macchatter.net |
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mikefischer99
@verizon.net | reply to harley3k
Harley, I'm in Northern Virginia (Fios's DC area).
My only complaint now is the typical "one channel much louder than another" issue. |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
1 edit | reply to mikefischer99
If you haven't upgraded your drive already.
Upgrade utility and instructions here:
»www.mfslive.org/forums/viewtopic···&start=0
Just be sure to buy a drive that doesn't run too hot or loud. I got a Seagate DB35 (SCE). |
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JeepMatt
Delaware Fios
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Wilmington, DE | My one question with TIVO is, I'm assuming none of you care(d) about On Demand?
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"ONE team - ONE city - ONE dream!!" |
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KenAF
join:2006-01-23
Arlington, VA
4 edits | said by JeepMatt :My one question with TIVO is, I'm assuming none of you care(d) about On Demand? It's not that I don't care about 'On Demand.' I just think Verizon's 'On Demand' is inferior to what I get with the Tivo. For me, the Tivo is a superior 'On Demand' box.
With the 'On Demand' programming on FiOS, you are limited to categories and content setup by Verizon. Someone at Verizon or TVN defined those categories and they maintain them by recording and copying content from their channels into those categories. This is exactly what a Tivo does. In fact, many VOD providers use what is essentially a "lite" version of Tivo -- equipped with massive drive arrays -- to maintain their 'On Demand' content.
A Tivo equipped with a large hard drive is like having an 'On Demand' system customized specifically for your tastes. You decide what categories of content you want on the box. You decide when content expires and is replaced.
The concept of of content-based recording -- recording based on content, without regard for date, time, or channel -- isn't easy for some to understand. Some are so accustomed to recording based on program title or from a specific channel at a specific time that they can't comprehend a method of recording that ignores the date, time, channel, and even the title. Most cable company DVRs, including the Verizon DVR, do not support any form of content-based recording.
The Verizon DVR
- won't record all presidential debates and stick them in a 'Presidential Debates' folder.
- won't record all cancer-related news and programming and stick them in a 'Cancer / Health' folder.
- won't record all arthritis-related news and programming and stick them in a 'Arthritis / Health' folder.
- won't record all 2007 Action movies in HD and stick them in a '2007 Movies / Action / HD' folder.
- won't record all interviews with Paris Hilton and stick them in a 'Paris Hilton Interviews' folder.
- won't record all documentaries on global warming and stick them in a 'Global Warming / Educational' folder.
- won't record all programs on the Battle of the Bulge and stick them in a 'Battle of the Bulge / History' folder.
- won't record all Jazz concerts in HD and stick them in a 'Jazz / Music / HD' folder.
- won't record all new series pilots and stick them in a folder for you to sample.
You get the idea. The Tivo does.
Some now have HDTV Tivos with 320+ hours of HD storage and 2000+ hours of SD, and hard drives continue to increase in size and fall in price. Verizon's VOD system currently has "thousands of hours" of SD available via VOD if you subscribe to all premium packages. At the moment, they have no HDTV VOD.
I do agree that VOD is advantageous for situations where you subscribe to a new premium channel and immediately have access to all episodes of a past season. But most people don't change their programming package on a regular basis. And if you are subscribed, the Tivo will grab content that you've requested without you having to know about it or schedule a recording for it. |
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blue_trooper
join:2007-04-17
Exton, PA
| said by KenAF :said by JeepMatt :My one question with TIVO is, I'm assuming none of you care(d) about On Demand? It's not that I don't care about 'On Demand.' For me, the Tivo is a superior 'On Demand' box. With the 'On Demand' programming on FiOS, you are limited to categories and content setup by Verizon. Someone at Verizon or TVN created those categories and they maintain them by recording and copying content from their channels into those categories. Verizon may define the categorization but the content is defined by the networks. e.g. You can go to HBO.com and see what is available onDemand and that will hold for Comcast, Verizon, etc.
There is also onDemand content that is not in regular broadcast rotation. HBO will often have old seasons of current or former series that they are not actively broadcasting (e.g. you can watch Carnivale onDemand right now if you are so inclined). Also there is always a good selection of kids shows (from Nick, etc.). I'd rather pull up onDemand and ask my daughter which Blue's Clues she wants to watch than have my DVR cluttered with episodes (besides, OnDemand has the vintage "Steve" episodes and not the new ones with the lame "Blue's Room" segments!).
Music videos are something else I watch onDemand. If I get tired of channel surfing or if SportsCenter isn't on I'll scroll through the 100's of available videos and find a few I'm interested in seeing.
IMO - We don't have the perfect solution yet. |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| reply to JeepMatt
said by JeepMatt :My one question with TIVO is, I'm assuming none of you care(d) about On Demand? Correct.
Is VZ's On Demand programming in HD? I didn't think so but maybe something has changed. |
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JeepMatt
Delaware Fios
Premium
join:2001-12-28
Wilmington, DE
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
| Hey guys-
I've always been up on technology  but never thought about Tivo.
One last question-
Since you have the cable cards and all in the system - do you still need to have a phone line or ethernet connected to these new guys?
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"ONE team - ONE city - ONE dream!!" |
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