| reply to vee130
Re: Verizon FIOS Battery Backup I don't know about you guys, but I just waited till I saw a tech across the street, walked up and said "Hey, you have a spare battery? Mines Dead", he said "Sure, here ya go". Free, no hassle.  |
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| said by matthewh16:I don't know about you guys, but I just waited till I saw a tech across the street, walked up and said "Hey, you have a spare battery? Mines Dead", he said "Sure, here ya go". Free, no hassle.
That was the same experience I had with them on the first battery replacement. They replaced it again a few months back when I upgraded to 150/65 and they installed all new equipment.
As to the original point of this thread, if you are too cheep to spend ~$35 on a battery every 3-5 years then I wish you luck trying to find another option that will provide you what you need. The only suggestion that I have is you spend some real money and put in a standby generator so that you do not need a battery when the power fails as going forward that will be the only option to ensure you have continuous power. |
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| reply to vee130
This is becoming an issue more and more since we are provided equipment that does need some maintenance from time to time. Like a car battery, these battery backups need to be changed. I had a friend who had an APC backup for his computer and was ready to toss it out and buy another one just because the battery died in it after 2 years. I told him all he needed was another battery but even at half the cost, he said he wanted another one. Took his old one, put in a new battery and used it myself.
Face it, if the power does go out, people would still blame Verizon for the service not working because "it used to work when I had a phone years ago."
And I do keep a regular phone on hand just in case the power goes out and I need to make a call. To not do so would be unwise. |
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 aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
 ·Verizon FiOS
| reply to Mac973
said by Mac973:All the phones in my house are cordless so the battery backup is completely useless. I disconnected it to silence that annoying alarm.
Put your cordless phones on their own back up. I've been doing this since the 90's. And been able to use my cordless phones during a power outage. |
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aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
1 edit | reply to mark_e
Re: 4 batteries in b/u! said by mark_e:When I added a 3rd phone line, my ONT was swapped and a GIANT (14" x 24") power supply installed. There are 4 batteries with space for 4 more.
Which leads me to 2 questions:
1) Will I be responsible for replacing all 4 when time claims their life? (I would guess YES)
2) For the VZ techs, will installing 4 more batteries double the run time and/or keep the data service up?
The only good news is that there's a switch to turn the audible alarm on and off! 
If it's the same size batteries as the smaller BBU, they are very inexpensive. Around $14 each online. Since they are the same batteries my APC backups use. I get them in pairs for around $28 a pair. Last year I replaced a couple dozen of the APC batteries in my UPSs. And I also replaced my BBU battery. But when the FiOS power supply died, they replaced the power supply and put a new BBU in as well with a new battery so I got my battery back.
But I also have the FiOS BBU connected to my own UPS which gives me 16 to 18 hours of runtime before the ONT BBU will have to use it's own battery. I could remove the battery from the ONT BBU but I see no point since the batteries are so inexpensive. The last battery lasted five years. So $14 over five years is only 23 cents a month. If people can't afford that then they really should not even have cable TV or internet service. |
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 danclan
join:2005-11-01
Midlothian, VA | The larger issue here is that it's a change from the 100+ year old status quo. The Customer is now responsible for ensuring up time, whereas before the supplier was.
While not a huge deal in the big scheme it reflect a significant shift to your average consumer.
Could V have added a 2nd battery and doubled the up time? Sure but to what end. The average power outage was just under 3 hours in the US and is on the decline. The "super outages", those affecting 50,000 or more had a huge increase, but even those are very short lived and are back on the decline due to increased federal oversight.
Only special events (hurricane, tornado etc) warrant longer up time than the 8hrs they expect the single 12v batter to provide. You can argue that copper may be up after 8 hours as some suggest but it's typically on the same power as your home and even with generators it may be out as well due to damages infrastructure. Overall copper is more unreliable than fiber even if it is cheaper. And, in areas struck by infrastructure damage outages, fiber is far faster to restore due to fewer strands needed to supply service to many to be repaired.
I'd beat this horse some more but im all out of whips this week... |
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Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
1 edit | reply to vee130
Re: Verizon FIOS Battery Backup I skimmed through this so if the point is being repeated, I apologize.
The FiOS BBU battery has ALWAYS been the customers responsibility after one year, but the gray area is this: if someone has a regular , regulated phoneline (not digital voice) on FiOS, Verizon could be responsible for the battery. In NY, Ive heard that Verizon is regulated to provide at least 8 hours of battery backup for the phone service, whether its on copper or FiOS.
As an example, Verizon is migrating copper customers to FiOS, when they do this its NOT digital voice. (voice service only) Taxes and fee's are still the same, calling features, etc. Why would they be exempt from supplying 8 hours of Battery backup?
Now keep in mind, its not economical to keep a regulated phoneline over FioS, you will save a lot more on taxes and fee's by swithcing it to "digital voice" . These batteries can last as long as 6 years, thats like .25 cents a month for a new one. Set up a direct deposit savings account for your next battery.  |
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hubrisnxs
join:2009-12-30
Fountain Valley, CA
kudos:1 | reply to vee130
ALLLL this heartache and raised blood pressure, over a $12 dollar battery huh?
smh |
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| reply to PoloDude
said by PoloDude:Again,why are the Cable Cos not held to the same standard?
It's called regulation - same reason POTS lines are taxed. Cable Cos are not regulated. |
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mets18
join:2008-10-15
New York, NY Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
 ·RCN CABLE
| reply to aaronwt
said by aaronwt:Put your cordless phones on their own back up. I've been doing this since the 90's. And been able to use my cordless phones during a power outage.
Or just buy a regular old corded phone for $10 and keep it handy. |
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aaronwtPremium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| said by mets18:said by aaronwt:Put your cordless phones on their own back up. I've been doing this since the 90's. And been able to use my cordless phones during a power outage.
Or just buy a regular old corded phone for $10 and keep it handy. And be tethered to a line? I prefer to not use the phone if a corded phone is the option. I walk around and do other things while I'm on the phone. Which is difficult to do while tethered to the wall outlet. |
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danclan
join:2005-11-01
Midlothian, VA | he meant for emergencies when power dies....not regular usage... |
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| reply to aaronwt
I had a corded phone hooked up for five years and never used it since we never had an outage over a couple hours in that time. If we have an extended outage we may be able to still use our cell phone in an emergency, depending on the extent of the outage.
I am not concerned about the battery cost. Amazon has one for well under $20. I replaced my battery last year after about five years. I am a bit concerned with the replacement procedure. I'm over 80 and it's tough to lie down on the floor to replace the battery. The box is mounted just above the baseboard in our family room. Actually getting down isn't the problem; it's getting up afterwards 
I first tried turning off the sound but a day later the alarm started buzzing again. |
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vee130
join:2013-01-16
Dumont, NJ | reply to vee130
First off its regardless of how much a battery costs its the point. When do the extra fees stop, why is Verizon changing things and then later on down the line make their customers pay for them? Oh please about the more customers, the more the equipment costs, blah blah blah, these companies ALWAYS make money, it's just sad how they take advantage of their customers to fulfill their big quarter earnings. And just so you know that Verizon quoted me $38 + $ 9 for s/h.... And how is that fair when you can buy them online line as some people mentioned for around $20? So once again why should I be paying to maintain THEIR equipment? They used to do it but now they realized that was just another way for them to make more money. I look at my bills all the time and it just pisses me off that what I pay to have Verizon FIOS but I also have them as my cell phone provider, and they really want to nickel and dime me for the cost of a battery! So it's more about the point of the company doing the right thing for THEIR customers rather than the 'its only about $.28 per day' cost for a battery. It's just enough with their charges... We already pay enough to keep these companies very very rich... How about they cut us a break for a change? |
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Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| Vee, if its that big an issue, switch to the cable co's that dont even provide a battery backup. Verizon isnt getting "very very rich" on Fios, in fact, they are barely breaking even with the product. They are certainly not making money on batteries, its an incredible cost for them to begin with. |
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 rtcyFACTS only pleasePremium
join:1999-10-16
Norwalk, CA | reply to PoloDude
said by PoloDude:Again,why are the Cable Cos not held to the same standard?
Dude you need a reboot, remove the cooler from your brain, put new silver paste to cunduct heat away from your logic center.
"because cable has a box hanging at a pole a couple of blocks from you with a big car battery in it, and then they send you a good OLD cable signal down a 20 or 30 year old coaxial cable tha probably has cracked insulation from ultra violet radiation to your house , therefore negating your need of a battery. |
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rtcyFACTS only pleasePremium
join:1999-10-16
Norwalk, CA
1 edit | reply to zippoboy7
said by zippoboy7:said by matthewh16:I don't know about you guys, but I just waited till I saw a tech across the street, walked up and said "Hey, you have a spare battery? Mines Dead", he said "Sure, here ya go". Free, no hassle.
That was the same experience I had with them on the first battery replacement. They replaced it again a few months back when I upgraded to 150/65 and they installed all new equipment. As to the original point of this thread, if you are too cheep to spend ~$35 on a battery every 3-5 years then I wish you luck trying to find another option that will provide you what you need. The only suggestion that I have is you spend some real money and put in a standby generator so that you do not need a battery when the power fails as going forward that will be the only option to ensure you have continuous power. here if you must lay down for Verizon and buy it your selves here is just one of many links
»www.apexbattery.com/apc-rbc43-7a···-rw.html
BTW i had a very nice tech over to fix my power supply, the wires inside the battery back up were loose and arching, called them up(actually it's been doing it for a while and I had to take a day off from work) but the gent put in a new power supply, new battery, and I told him I was having issues with the 6 year old router and that I use a silicon dust box (he saw it next to the router and I needed GIGABIT. voila I know have a new ver I router and I am a happy camper. that's rare for this grumpy old fart, but I am happy, the guy did a great job re-wiring the night mare I had from when I got my install 6 years ago and drilled into a water pipe. I wa supposed to call them back and rehang everything and never did till now.
and this is 14amp hour battery double size and double duration that I use on a unnamed company's equipment for alarm system backups to keep smart thieves on their toes
»www.apexbattery.com/scooterteq-6···ery.html |
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hubrisnxs
join:2009-12-30
Fountain Valley, CA
kudos:1 | When you silence the battery, that only kills it for 24 hours.
quote:
The alarm can be silenced for 24 hours by pushing and holding the blue button on the front of the power supply for three seconds.
Sometimes it's a false negative so check by unplugging the AC power, disconnect th ebattery, and leave it disconnected two minutes, and then put it back together. If it stops beeping then it was just a false negative.
Otherwise you legitmately need a new battery
If you expect someone to replace your battery on principle, then I don't know what to tell ya. ALL battery's have warranty's, the TOS explicitly states how long the battery warranty is.
Do I wish they would replace it, sure.
Is it worth 12 dollars and a little elbow grease to avoid having a coronary and having to wait on hold with Customer service? I think so. |
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lijacobs
join:2010-07-30
Lawrence, NY
kudos:1 Reviews:
·Verizon FiOS
| reply to vee130
said by vee130:First off its regardless of how much a battery costs its the point. When do the extra fees stop, why is Verizon changing things and then later on down the line make their customers pay for them? Oh please about the more customers, the more the equipment costs, blah blah blah, these companies ALWAYS make money, it's just sad how they take advantage of their customers to fulfill their big quarter earnings. And just so you know that Verizon quoted me $38 + $ 9 for s/h.... And how is that fair when you can buy them online line as some people mentioned for around $20? So once again why should I be paying to maintain THEIR equipment? They used to do it but now they realized that was just another way for them to make more money. I look at my bills all the time and it just pisses me off that what I pay to have Verizon FIOS but I also have them as my cell phone provider, and they really want to nickel and dime me for the cost of a battery! So it's more about the point of the company doing the right thing for THEIR customers rather than the 'its only about $.28 per day' cost for a battery. It's just enough with their charges... We already pay enough to keep these companies very very rich... How about they cut us a break for a change?
You really sound soooo unhappy. The best thing that you could do to alleviate your anguish is to switch to another service provider. I'm sure that you'll be much happier. |
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| reply to hubrisnxs
said by hubrisnxs:When you silence the battery, that only kills it for 24 hours.
quote:
The alarm can be silenced for 24 hours by pushing and holding the blue button on the front of the power supply for three seconds.
Sometimes it's a false negative so check by unplugging the AC power, disconnect th ebattery, and leave it disconnected two minutes, and then put it back together. If it stops beeping then it was just a false negative. Yup, I've had the false negative on my replacement battery twice so far. It's a pain to get down on the floor to unplug, disconnect, wait. reconnect and replug. |
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