boiledice
@verizon.net
| FIOS Analog to Digital Conversion
I currently have FIOS TV in my house. I have two TV's with set-top boxes and one TV without. Verizon recently converted my area (SE Pennsylvania) to all-digital. The TV without a set-top box used to receive the local channels but now displays a message directing you to call 888-GO-DIGITAL to receive a free converter box. When I called to get my free box I asked if I could use a box that you could get with the government coupon. I was told that the "government" box wouldn't work. I asked if I could purchase a new TV with a built-in QAM tuner. I was told that would NOT work either. Their website says the built-in tuner on new TV's will work. Does anyone know which answer is the right one? |
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darcilicious
Cyber Librarian
Premium
join:2001-01-02
Forest Grove, OR
 ·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
edit:
July 3rd, @12:25PM
| said by boiledice :
I asked if I could purchase a new TV with a built-in QAM tuner. This will work ONLY for the following channels:
2-49
Your local HDs
The all digital music channesl
Local Plus channels
Everything else is encrypted and requires a STB of one kind or another from Verizon (the gov't coupon one is for over-the-air ATSC channels, not for digital cable QAM channels). |
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boiledice
@verizon.net
| reply to boiledice
Thanks for the reply.
All I want are the local channels (2-49). I was just surprised when the customer service rep said that the ONLY way to receive any channels was to use a set-top box or their converter equipment. She specifically said that the built-in tuner would NOT work, despite what their website says. I wanted to get a small new TV set for the space but I want to make sure it will work for the local channels without the converter box before I get it. |
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chewypgh
join:2007-12-17
Pittsburgh, PA
| reply to boiledice
The digital adapter Verizon is offering will get you all of the channels that you subscribe to, not just channels 2-49. The limitions are that you cannot get HD channels, VOD or the channel guide using the digital adapter.
Like darci said, the government box is for over-the-air channels only, not cable. |
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JohnA
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Pittsburgh, PA |
So chewypgh, were your digital adapters free once you sorted it out? |
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chewypgh
join:2007-12-17
Pittsburgh, PA | Yes, they were. I'm really surprised - a Verizon mistake in my favor for once. No charges on my last two bills for the adapters. |
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JohnA
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Pittsburgh, PA |
Thanks. |
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Mencar
join:2008-06-10
Fort Worth, TX
| reply to boiledice
Remember this Verizon FiOS billing department will try to sell you as many boxes as you can cause it makes that person look good wen they can. Now when you talk to tech support the only time they mentios those boxes is when you ask them something about it. |
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dick white
Premium
join:2000-03-24
Annandale, VA
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to boiledice
Note that the digital adapter (a Motorola DTC 700) is free only if you call the Go Digital group. If they succeed in getting your order properly placed into their fulfillment system, the adapter will arrive by UPS in a few days. (If it doesn't arrive promptly, it means they fubared your order, so you have to call again until they get it right.) If, on the other hand, you order the same adapter through the regular sales channel, you will be charged something like $3.99/month for it and you will never get the billing straightened out with them. So a word to the wise, get it through the Go Digital group.
As others have noted, the local stuff on 2-49 can now only be picked up with a QAM tuner or with a VZ-provided STB. The free DCT-700 will tune the full selection of channels available on other STBs except HD. But it does not bring in the widgets, the media guide/info box at the bottom of the screen, or video on demand (but you didn't get it on that TV anyway...). So for free, you are a net winner with more channels on that TV.
dw |
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