1 edit | Did I get screwed (old gen Set Top Box)? I just got FiOS installed a week ago, and was setting up my universal remote. While googling my STB box number, I came across people complaining about getting it, instead of new ones. The scary part is that the posts were from 2 years ago...
The STB/DVR I got is: Motorola QIP6416-2, and I hated it from the moment I saw it. It stands out like a sore thumb in my setup, with its shitty 'silver' finish (I refuse to buy any electronic device that's not matte black). It's something I would expect to get from a cable company in the 90's, not FiOS in 2013. Here's a pic and link to specs:
»www.motorola.com/Video-Solutions···16_US-EN
Anyway - I saw pictures of the supposedly newer generation Cisco STB's and they look sharp.
What are my options at this point to upgrade to one of those? Do I call Verizon? Do I have to pay? What ARE the newer devices I should be asking them for? |
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| As a side note - The remote that comes with that box is impossible to use. You have to point it directly at the box to work, half the time the presses don't register because I'm either off, or don't press the button hard enough. It was only after I programmed my universal Harmony remote, that I was able to enjoy watching the TV. |
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navyson
join:2011-07-15
Upper Marlboro, MD | reply to JohnGalt21
You should be able to upgrade to the new boxes for a fee. |
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LibraPremium
join:2003-08-06
USA
kudos:1 | reply to JohnGalt21
Also, see this thread...you may qualify to get a newer set top box for free depending on whether you require it to view the channels you are subscribed to.
»Verizon is Offering to Change STB because of Lineup changes
When I got Fios installed in September I was told that I had to order the QIP7232 online (I specifically wanted it for the larger harddrive.) I had difficulty ordering it. While the actual install was going on I called Customer Service for help and they were very kind and arranged for me to get the 7232 without charge. A tech brought it in a couple of days.
Good luck.
Sincerely, Libra |
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 PoloDudePremium,VIP
join:2006-03-29
Northport, NY
kudos:3 | reply to JohnGalt21
CAll in and demand a new STB. The 7232. It is black with a 500gig HD.
That box only has a 160gig HD. It also does not support a full screen HD guide. Nor does it support the MPEG channels. |
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 birdfeedrPremium,MVM
join:2001-08-11
Warwick, RI
kudos:8 | What ever happened to firm insistence? Demand seems overused lately.
There ought to be a smiley here but I can't make up my mind what it should be. |
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| reply to PoloDude
Polo. You can't demand the 7232 without paying the $40 upgrade fee. We can do a feather swap upgrade that will give them a 7216 possibly with the 500 gig hard drive. They have been upgrading them on drop ships.
Edit....you can also do the upgrade yourself by going to an mpeg4 channel. I think the MLB package channels.(I think like channel 1472).
Also mpeg4 upgrades are talking 5-7 days. We are running out of boxes and waiting for more from Motorola. Vz didn't anticipate such demand. |
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 MuDvAyNePremium
join:2002-03-02
Brooklyn, NY
 ·Verizon FiOS
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Call up and just say you were interested in purchasing MLB extra innings and was excited to check out the free preview but you can't because your box does not support it. Explain that you wanted to check out the free preview before making a decision on the purchase. I bet you get a new box in no time.
--
Mets, Cowboys, Devils |
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 DareiusIt's a beautiful day in the neighborhoodPremium
join:2002-11-12
Elmhurst, NY | reply to JohnGalt21
I wrote a letter to the one of the Vice Presidents of the company when I received the same older generation FiOS box shown above as a new customer. They called me back within 3 business days and were more than helpful in replacing the box with the 7232.
Unfortunately, dealing with Verizon's customer service was non-helpful, very rude, and going to charge me to upgrade to a 7232 as a brand new customer.
Just write a sincere letter to a division head if you cannot get anywhere with the customer service replacing the box.
In my opinion, new customers to FIOS service should not be getting old Motorola boxes. They should especially not be charged for an upgrade when the customer discovers they were issued older equipment. |
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| reply to JohnGalt21
Thanks for all the replies. I definitely won't qualify for the swap due to lineup, because I have the most basic plan (Select HD), with extra HBO. I will try giving them a call though, asking for QIP7232 and let you know how it went. 'First World Problems'... |
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| Lineup doesn't matter. You still can get it. But your not gonna get the 7232 unless you pay the $40 fee. There is no override for it. If you call, tell them you got the email about the mpeg upgrade and they will send you the 7xxx series box. Just not the 7232 |
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| I may just eat the $40, what's the main difference between 7232 and lower 7xxx? |
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| Well the old 7216 has a 160 gb hard drive. But 7216s beings shipped out now have 500 gb hard drives. The 7232 is a faster box little smaller in size and is black. |
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| reply to JohnGalt21
Re: How About Old Technology G-Wireless Modem/Hub? By giving you the 64xx instead of more up to date 72xx STB, you will be unable to expand DVR storage using an eSATA drive (relatively cheap.) So you got screwed there!
Did you also check to see if the supplied modem/hub is using N-Wireless? I have been stuck with a G-Wireless (Westell 9100EM) for the last 3 years when N-Wireless had already became certified (2009) beyond its draft standard. The distance and speed from G to N is greatly increased. Due to the length and distance from the install point VZ unit I needed to hang and additional N-Wireless, anyway, to the other end of my house where I do most of my PC usage.
Make sure VZ also gives you the latest N-Wireless technology instead of G! |
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4 edits | This is turning into one big pain in the a**. Called verizon, and the billing department told me they can upgrade me for free to the 'latest and greatest', but the person had no idea what the model number was. He said they can ship it for free right away.
I said, I'd rather pick it up in a store so I can see if I want it first, so he gave me a confirmation order to pick it up from a store. I called the store, and it turns out the replacement was 7216. Better, but still that crappy silver finish, so I'm not interested.
At this point I decided to upgrade online, and just pay for the black 7232, but when I went online, I can't do it, because it tells me I have a 'pending order'. Turns out the pending order is the order for the 7216 from the store.
The store can't cancel it, told me to call billing. Spent half an hour on the phone with billing, and the lady finally says she thinks she managed to cancel. But it still shows as 'pending' when I try to upgrade. She claims it may take up to 1 hour for it to update, so we'll see. Not holding my breath though - something tells me I'll be spending another hour on the phone with Verizon either later today, or most likely tomorrow...
EDIT:
Just came across this gem:
»forums.verizon.com/t5/My-Verizon···p/384709
Looks like I'm in for a ride trying to get that 'order pending' BS, one guy mentions talking to 8 different reps...
EDIT:
As expected the 'pending order' is still there after 2 hours. Didn't feel like calling again today, so used online chat instead. The chat service person claims it takes 24 hours for the system to update. $20 says it still won't work then. I WANT to give you guys money, why make it so hard... |
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| John, just wait for the 7216, it might come with a 500Gig HD and its much faster than a 6416. Is the Silver finish really that big a deal? |
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| Lol. I'm a little OCD on that point. In fact if I had a choice between a 500GB silver box and a 160GB black box, I wouldn't think twice about going with the black one. I even waited with buying Kindle until 3rd generation, because I wanted a black version.
This probably wouldn't matter as much if I had a closet to put all equipment in, but my setup is all out in the open, and all other devices are black. |
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| Here in this part of NY 80% all the boxes being installed are 6000 series boxes, some don't activate, some look like ass, some just power cycle.
Now it even seems like there are more refurb onts than new ones going out into the field.
Once in a while new boxes will come in, but don't last long.
This has been the case since around Nov. figured it was just belt tightening during last quarter as usual, but it's only gotten worse lately.
Don't know what VZs plan is , but it seems like they just don't care to fix it or give any explanation. |
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 Zero
join:2009-07-01
Collegeville, PA | reply to JohnGalt21
Re: Did I get screwed (old gen Set Top Box)? You should be able to qualify for a free STB exchange since you do have HBO. The automated upgrade process through your STB should be the easiest way to go about that if you haven't already tried. |
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| Well it took 2 days for the 'pending order' crap to get cleared, and was finally able to pay $40 for STB upgrade. Unfortunately the website doesn't tell you what model you're paying for. I asked in another service chat if I will definitely be getting the black 7232, and he assured me that I am. Still, I have a feeling when the package arrives at my house in a few days, it will be the silver 7216, and I'll have to deal with customer service again trying to return it... |
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