RJS861
@verizon.net
| [northeast] FIOS
I have verizon FIOS and have five boxes in my house attached to my television> Verizon has a monopoly on these boxes as they charge you $10.00 a month per box. Is there a way to replace these boxes either with aftermarket boxes or something else that I can purchase with a one time fee. Verizon will be enriched when renting these boxes and I want to reduce by bill, any ideas? |
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joe01880
join:2007-10-26
Wakefield, MA
 ·Verizon FIOS
4 edits | If your TV has a QAM tuner you can hook the cable up directly to your TV and you will get local SD and HD channels plus some of the music channels.
Your next choice would be renting the DCT 700 STB from Verizon, I think its 3.99 a month (Thanks Mat). With that box you get no guide and no VOD.
Another choice would be purchasing a Tivo, if you do not need HD a series 2 can be bought refurbished for around $79 each or if you want HiDef you would need the Tivo HD that costs $299, sometimes they can be found on sale for close to $200 each. Either Tivo player will need cards from Verizon that you would have to rent for i think $3.99 each, if you can only get S-cards you would need two. If you can get an M-Card you would only need one. Also with Tivo you must pay for their guide service that if you prepay for the year would be 10.99 a month for the first box, im sure they cut you a break for addional box's after the first.
There is also a Windows Media Computer that accepts cable cards (that you would have to rent) that can also be used in place of a Verizon STB, sounds very pricey to me.
If you do not already do it you can look in to bundling Verizon services, TV, Phone, Internet and even Wireless (cell phone) all together and get cheaper rates and maybe even negotiate the cost of some of those box's out of the contract, you will have to agree to a contract, probably for one year.
You could also reduce costs by eliminating some STB's that do not get used often and have those TV's just get local programing.
Hope that helps
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matcarl
join:2007-03-09
Franklin Square, NY
| said by joe01880  :Your next choice would be renting the DCT 700 STB from Verizon, I think its 5.99 a month. With that box you get no guide and no VOD. It's $3.99 a month, even better! |
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birdfeedr
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-11
Warwick, RI
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to RJS861
Joe covered most of it, but another item that's not always evident: All outputs on an STB are enabled. If a tv is seldom used and picture quality is not an issue, you can run some coax on RF Out of an SD box to a TV in the next room at the same time component video is connected to the TV in this room. Both TVs will only show what the STB is tuned to. That scenario might work for you.
I think the same is true on a HD STB. Obviously with different outputs. |
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keyboards
join:2001-02-14
Doylestown, PA
·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
| said by birdfeedr :I think the same is true on a HD STB. Obviously with different outputs. Just a quick clarification - 6416 HD DVR does not have an RF output. I believe the 6200 HD STB and 7216 HD DVR do.
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REMEMBER: Stupidity should be painful !! |
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