cmthru
join:2005-03-19
Germantown, MD | reply to foundation00
Re: Montgomery County, Maryland fios tv
Just as an update I called them yesterday to check my status. No record of my previous calls in their system. Supposedly I am now on the list. |
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achilleX4
join:2006-06-29
Damascus, MD | I just called and I'm still on their "priority list". I first called them about 3 weeks ago. So far they still had all my info as to what I wanted to order once FIOS TV becomes available. Make sure you call 800-348-1728. |
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cmthru
join:2005-03-19
Germantown, MD | reply to foundation00
That's the number I called. Seems there's some confusion as they don't really know when installations will begin. |
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xgman
join:2002-07-06
Upper Marlboro, MD
| reply to foundation00
I just called and the rates have gone up lately when I call this pre-order #. For the same services & DVR's Comcast is almost $20 a month lower for me right now. I don't see how they call that competitive, especially for a new service that is likely to raise rates as they grow. No thanks, for now. They need to get realistic. I'm not paying $20 a month more even though the pciture quality may be better than comcast. They need to offer some specials and combo offers like comcast does. It's simple marketing 101. Jeeze . . .  |
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rfalls
join:2007-04-02
Potomac, MD | You need to ask for the Freedom bundles. Prices start dropping the more Verizon services you start adding (e.g., Internet, TV, Landline Phone, Wireless). |
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achilleX4
join:2006-06-29
Damascus, MD
| reply to xgman
xgman is right...I'm kind of having second thoughts on this whole thing. Although I am a loyal FIOS Internet customer (love the uptime and reliability), I made several attempts to increase my service from 5/2 to 15/2. You know what, up to now I don't have it. Never did I get a return call, although every time I called they said they couldn't process the order from their computers and someone would call me back. The increase in speed wasn't really a "must have" for me so I really didn't care one way or another but imagine if someone really had this requirement. Plus, reading the blogs from this forum, I see a lot of issues and broken promises. Maybe VZ is not yet ready for "prime-time", it might take them another 2-3 yrs till they get their act straight. Its kind of sad since I wrote numerous emails to the County supporting VZ in getting their fios tv franchise approved in the county. Oh well, at least it made Comcast offer more at a reduced price...so for that I am happy. |
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legalaliens
join:2007-02-23
Fairfax, VA | reply to foundation00
I went from 5/2 to 15/2 awhile back and if I recall I did it on the phone and the change was immediate (did not require a tech visit). |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| reply to foundation00
FIOSTV Online ordering available for Germantown!
Another Germantown person here
I have my PC setup to check if FIOS TV is available for me every morning. To my surprise this morning instead of the usual "enter your details to be contacted when its available" screen I got the screen to allow me to place my FIOS TV order. Note: I am already a FIOS internet customer.
The earliest installation date available was May 15th but I wanted to have it done on a Saturday so I took the date of May 26th.
Fingers crossed that the date actually holds and I can finally kick Directv to the curb. |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA
 ·Verizon FIOS
| I have to say, if the Verizon installers/techs down your way are the same as they are up here you'll be pleasantly surprised. My installer showed up 15 minutes early (and was an actual Verizon employee - not a sub), and I got set up with TV in about 2 hours. Like you, I had FiOS internet already, and I just switched from DirecTV - actually my DirecTV account is still suspended through the end of the year, but I'm darn near 100% sure that I ain't going back. I really liked my DirecTV service, but the price they wanted for the HD DVR drove me to look at FiOS. And I'm real glad I did (I've been a FiOS TV customer for only about a week and a half now). The reason I'm hedging (holding onto my DirecTV account) is because I want to see where things go with:
a) DirecTV's new satellites - to see what HD offerings they'll have and to see if they start giving away their HD DVRs (doubt it). And to see if FiOS keeps up in terms of content.
b) To see what FiOS's new Interactive Media Guide looks like.
Couple notes to you - just to give you some indication of what to expect. Overall, I find FiOS superior to DirecTV in many ways:
a) Picture quality - DirecTV is good... FiOS is better. I got an HDTV about a month or so ago, and when I tried to watch SD programming on it, I thought there was something wrong with the TV - I couldn't quite get it to look right (I had DirecTV's SD DVR). Then I got hooked up to FiOS, and I realized - Nope, it's not the TV. The SD is amazing, and the HD is breathtaking. Plus no compression with FiOS's signal.
b) VOD - never thought that would be an issue with me, but I really like that feature. My kids watch the free VOD stuff all the time (have yet to order anything from it). I do have an issue with some pixelization on my one TV for VOD, but I'm working that with Verizon now.
c) Multi-room DVR - why DirecTV DOESN'T have this is beyond me. It's a super nice feature. I got tired of doing dual maintenance on my shows (same shows on two DVRs).
d) Customer service - I was a little concerned about this. Verizon has a reputation of pushing folks into a "black hole" of service. But they're doing this the right way. Every time I've called their FiOS service desk (Fiber Service Center), I've gotten through to a live person in a matter of a couple minutes - every person I talked to was nice as all get-out, and extremely knowledgeable. I'm no longer concerned on that front.
e) Local stuff - I really missed having things like Weatherscan Local - which I had with Comcast before going to DirecTV.
There are some downsides - the main one being that I don't think the Verizon hardware is nearly as functional as the DirecTV stuff was. What it does do it does very well, but it's missing some key functionality that I do miss not having. But they're rolling out a new Interactive Media Guide at some point (probably this summer) which will hopefully take care of much of that. |
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bbarrett
join:1999-12-29
Germantown, MD | reply to TheOtherPete
Pete,
Thanks for the heads up! I've been (manually) checking almost every day. I just ordered and I was able to obtain an install date of 4/26--less than a week away. Interesting that you'd be offered one almost 3 weeks further out... |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
4 edits | said by bbarrett  :Pete, Thanks for the heads up! I've been (manually) checking almost every day. I just ordered and I was able to obtain an install date of 4/26--less than a week away. Interesting that you'd be offered one almost 3 weeks further out... Thanks for the info - did you call on the phone or do it online? Maybe I need to call them on phone and see if they have any closer dates...
Edit: I just called on the phone and that automated system offered me Apr 23rd (next Monday), I asked for Apr 28th instead (Saturday) and it accepted (no human involved - very cool) - I have no idea why the online system put me way out in May.
Big thanks for the heads-up bbarrett, you saved me a month of waiting! |
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aa2k
join:2000-10-06
Damascus, MD
| reply to foundation00
Re: Montgomery County, Maryland fios tv
yes! |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| said by aa2k :Cool... I checked yesterday and it said unavailable, I just checked and look!! I bet the close installation dates are going to fill-up fast once the word gets out.
Lots of pent-up demand in Germantown if these forums are any indication. |
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achilleX4
join:2006-06-29
Damascus, MD | reply to foundation00
You're right. I called and spoke to a CSR. Make sure you get an Order # when you make your order. I made my install date for, Monday, 4/23. In fact, if you try doing it online it now says web site is having some issues. |
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bbarrett
join:1999-12-29
Germantown, MD | reply to TheOtherPete
Re: FIOSTV Online ordering available for Germantown!
Pete,
FYI, I ordered online. Given the wackiness being reported with the online install dates (you get May, others are told the website is having issues), perhaps my install date won't hold? We'll see I guess... |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
4 edits | reply to achilleX4
Re: Montgomery County, Maryland fios tv
said by achilleX4 :You're right. I called and spoke to a CSR. Make sure you get an Order # when you make your order. I made my install date for, Monday, 4/23. In fact, if you try doing it online it now says web site is having some issues. My first 2 online order attempts failed on the last step. I was using IE through a http proxy so I tried a 3rd time with firefox without any proxy setup and it worked fine - maybe it was just a coincidence that the 3rd time it worked.
I did receive a confirmation email with the order # though.
bbarrett, I too hope my install date holds
Does anyone know if we automatically get the "triple play" discount for those of us who already have FIOS internet and VZ landline - or is this something we have to request later on? |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA | When I ordered I asked the salesman about the triple play (already had phone and internet service). He said I didn't qualify since I was already a verizon customer, or something like that. You may want to call and ask about it. |
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xgman
join:2002-07-06
Upper Marlboro, MD
| reply to foundation00
I finally got a decent rate by calling the "billing" department and getting more specials. The other people at the reservation call # didn't have a clue on these good rates, or at least the person I spoke to. Anyway I called today and got an install appt. for this coming Wed morning. I hope they show since I have to take off of work. I am surprised that I didn't receive anything about TV being available in my Germantown (Fountain Hills) area like I did when I signed up for internet. Oh well. Does any one know if I can keep my same Personal router on my computer and just uses their's for the TV service only? What would be the best way to not bog down my internet connection any further with more routers but still keep my Linksys? |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| said by xgman :Does any one know if I can keep my same Personal router on my computer and just uses their's for the TV service only? What would be the best way to not bog down my internet connection any further with more routers but still keep my Linksys? Yea I'd like to know how they handle existing FIOS internet customers who are pre-Actiontec and pre-MoCA
I'm not using the supplied DLink router and I dont want to use the Actiontec at all. Will they swap ONT's as part of the install? |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA
·Verizon FIOS
| They replaced my DLink router with an Actiontec. And they kept my existing ONT. They just basically tapped into the ONT with a coax. From there into my crawlspace, where they hooked up the coax to a splitter. They replaced my router with the Actiontec (which is huge, btw), and then he connected a coax from my router to the splitter as well. From the splitter out to my TVs. That was basically it. Most of the time was spent waiting for the programming to download (and the time it took me to get my dog off the installer - no, she didn't attack the installer -- she's insanely friendly, and just wouldn't leave him alone...) |
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