TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| reply to JPL
Re: Montgomery County, Maryland fios tv
said by JPL  :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. Ok, I know I've seen other alternate configurations posted here where you use the Actiontec to do what it needs to do for the TV/VOD but still use your existing router for the internet - I never paid much attention to those posts until now, time to dig them up and see what I will have to do after the installer leaves... |
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aa2k
join:2000-10-06
Damascus, MD
| reply to foundation00
29.99 |
I am confused about the 9.99/m on FiosTV, is this for a limited time (6months or 1 year?) I cant find info on that... |
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phugit2
join:2007-01-31
Olney, MD
| My understanding is the $9.99 discount is for one-year only cause you committ to one year.
I assume, and could be really wrong, that once your year is up you can recommitt to a year and still get $9.99.
Though I have only had TV for 10 days, so I can't be 100% sure.
I did have a question though for MC Fios TV installs ... did you get $100 credited on your bill?
My online bill has a line reading STB Hardware Credit .... $100? I am going to wait until I get the paper one to confirm what I see online. |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA | reply to TheOtherPete
Yeah, my old router is now collecting dust somewhere (whereever my wife moved it to). |
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rosh400
join:2004-01-14
Potomac, MD
| reply to TheOtherPete
Depends on what you are trying to do. For ethernet connections, I have not had any problems with the actiontec but wireless performance is mediocre. So I hung my other wireless router as an access point off of the actiontec.
First you hookup the router you want to be your wireless access point and connect it as your primary router. Change the default IP address to an address that's in the actiontec IP distribution range but not assigned to any other devices.
Second, turn DCHP off on this router.
Third, hook your actiontec as your primary router. Turn wireless off and connect the your wireless access point to the actiontec going from LAN port to LAN port.
In advanced settings, assign the IP adress you chose for your access point as a fixed IP address.
Finally, type that IP address in your browser to access the interface, turn wireless on and configure your wireless settings.
I did this with my zyxel x-550 and it works like a charm eventhough zyxel said this router could not serve as an access point. |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
1 edit | said by rosh400 :Depends on what you are trying to do. For ethernet connections, I have not had any problems with the actiontec but wireless performance is mediocre. So I hung my other wireless router as an access point off of the actiontec. First you hookup the router you want to be your wireless access point and connect it as your primary router. Change the default IP address to an address that's in the actiontec IP distribution range but not assigned to any other devices. Second, turn DCHP off on this router. Third, hook your actiontec as your primary router. Turn wireless off and connect the your wireless access point to the actiontec going from LAN port to LAN port. In advanced settings, assign the IP adress you chose for your access point as a fixed IP address. Finally, type that IP address in your browser to access the interface, turn wireless on and configure your wireless settings. I did this with my zyxel x-550 and it works like a charm eventhough zyxel said this router could not serve as an access point. Thanks, I also am doing something similar to add wireless to my current network (using a DLink wireless router in a LAN-LAN configuration so its basically just a straight wireless AP) however I don't want the Actiontec to be my internet-facing device.
I have a PIX ASA that I use as my border device and I trust it a lot more then the Actiontec so really I want the Actiontec to do what it needs to do with the STB but other then that it wont be used in my network, nothing hanging off its LAN ports, wireless disabled.
From what I gathered from some reading other threads, I should be able to put the Actiontec behind the ASA (Actiontec WAN port connectioned to ASA LAN port) and it will work.
Of course I'll let VZ doing their normal install and reconfigure it that way after they leave. |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| reply to foundation00
»biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070423/nym0···ml?.v=92
Nearly 32,000 Additional Households Can Choose FiOS TV as Verizon Expands Availability in Montgomery County, Md.
One-Third of County Households Now Have Access to FiOS TV, Delivered over Nation's Most Advanced All-Fiber Network Straight to Customers' Homes
SILVER SPRING, Md., April 23, 2007 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Nearly 32,000 additional Montgomery County consumers now can drop their cable provider for good, as Verizon expands its industry-leading FiOS TV service to portions of Ashton, Damascus, Germantown, Olney and Sandy Springs. |
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achilleX4
join:2006-06-29
Damascus, MD
| Finally got the house lit for FIOS TV today. Talk about quick, called Friday, 4/20 when I found out we can order FIOS TV, arranged the install for today, 4/23. Tech arrived a little past 10, rollin by 1115. Now, I can use the HDMI connector from my tv to the HD STB. Couldn't do that on Comcast since they only offered HDMI on their DVR/STB. My wife said the pix qual is super! Attached is the HD STB specs. |
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aa2k
join:2000-10-06
Damascus, MD
| Hi,
Did you get the phone lines moved to FIOS? is it ok? I did order on line and it seems they will move it, I am planning on calling and see if I can have that changed and leave the pots as it is... I am not sure how reliable that is.. I have my setup for 5/11... |
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achilleX4
join:2006-06-29
Damascus, MD
| aa2k,
We got rid of our land line 5 yrs ago when we got the family share plan on Verizon Wireless. It was great since we no longer got those annoying tele-marketer calls. Reading from other post, your work order is pretty routine. They just transfer your phone line from copper to fiber. I'm not sure if they resolved the power issue when the electricity goes out though. I heard the backup battery only has a 3 to 5 hour life so basically you wouldn't have phone service when there is no electricity and the backup battery power is drained. Maybe others who have experience w/ this can shed more light on it. |
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JTRockville
Data Ho
Premium,MVM
join:2002-01-28
Rockville, MD
clubs:
 ·LINGO
 ·Sprint Mobile Broa..
 ·surpasshosting
 ·Verizon FIOS
| reply to aa2k
said by aa2k :Hi, Did you get the phone lines moved to FIOS? is it ok? ... Hi aa2k , I had FiOS installed a few months ago and they moved the phone line to the FiOS network. I only ordered the internet because TV wasn't available at the time, but I don't think it should matter - the phone transition is the same whether or not you order TV.
Frankly, I can't tell the difference - same crystal clear quality I've always had.
There is a teeny tiny small issue though - now my really old antique phone won't ring. It still functions fine otherwise. I can DIAL a number (it has a METAL dial) and the call goes through. I can answer a call with the old phone, but it no longer rings so I have to rely on the other phone's ringer to know a call is coming in. I don't use it much, but it's fun to have around, especially if it works.
Bottom line: I've no regrets.
---
I still want to know who's *brilliant idea* it was to design a state-of-the-art fiber system with a *lower* REN (or anything else) than the copper system. |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA
·Verizon FIOS
| Yeah, I don't think you have a choice. When we first ordered FiOS internet some 15 months ago, I got into a discussion with the sales rep on the phone, who told me that when you make the switch to fiber for internet, you make it for your phone too (can't have the first without the second). One issue that some folks have is that if they switch to FiOS internet, and then decide that they want to go back to copper for DSL that they can't since the copper is no longer strung to their house.
Personally I can't tell any difference in phone quality. Once the fiber gets to your house, the signal goes over your normal copper wires anyway. |
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bbarrett
join:1999-12-29
Germantown, MD
| If you have existing voice or DSL service from a CLEC like Cavalier, Covad, etc. then they can't touch your copper. But it's pretty difficult to keep Verizon residential POTS service on copper when making the switch. In order to still have a copper voice line after ordering FIOS, you'd have to have 3 or more lines, a business line, or a special medical "lifeline" requirement of some kind, I think. |
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SD6
join:2005-03-26
| said by bbarrett :If you have existing voice or DSL service from a CLEC like Cavalier, Covad, etc. then they can't touch your copper. But it's pretty difficult to keep Verizon residential POTS service on copper when making the switch. In order to still have a copper voice line after ordering FIOS, you'd have to have 3 or more lines, a business line, or a special medical "lifeline" requirement of some kind, I think. Not true, at least in NY. There's no option for keeping your phone on copper when ordering, but you can make those arrangements when the day of installation rolls along. |
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aa2k
join:2000-10-06
Damascus, MD | reply to foundation00
Thanks guys for your replies, I will go for the change then, there is always cellulars right?  ... I hope the install goes easy... (fingers crossed). |
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achilleX4
join:2006-06-29
Damascus, MD
| aa2k,
You will absolutely love FIOS. I went home to watch FIOS TV for the first time and was totally amazed. The PQ was out of this world. Also a surprise treat, 3 new HD channels (HGTV, Food Network, and Lifetime) will be available by the end of this week.
Tip: When I called Comcast last night to cancel my service, they tried persuading me to stay and was willing to reduce my monthly service cost. For those of you still waiting for FIOS why not give Comcast a call and tell them you are thinking of leaving maybe they will offer the same discount. In fact, I called maybe a month or so ago and just told them I would be switching to FIOS once its available. They immediately gave me the HBO channels for free. |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA
·Verizon FIOS
| reply to SD6
I don't think that's true in PA, either. You can probably make the arrangement with the installer when he comes to do the work. Some will leave the copper, I'm sure, if you request it. But when they did my install, the phone box I had on the outside of my house went away - the replaced it with the ONT to handle all the stuff over the fiber lines. Even if they kept the copper strung to your house, I would imagine that they would disconnect the actual phone line attached to your house, and everything would still go through the fiber (this is based on my rudimentary understanding of this technology).
My brother, who lives in NJ and who also just got hooked up with FiOS, was a little concerned about all this. He thought "this will tie me into Verizon's telephone service." Never mind DSL, he was concerned that he wouldn't be able to switch phone providers if he wanted to. My response "no, that's not true - around here, anyway, Verizon is responsible for maintaining the actual phone lines. It's their job to get the call to your house, no matter WHO your service provider is... the mechanism that they choose to use really shouldn't matter - whether fiber, copper, or morse code - as long as the call gets through to your house, that's all that matters - and that's what Verizon would be providing. If you want to sign up with a different phone company for service, it'll still be Verizon that handles the phone lines for you." |
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TheOtherPete
join:2001-06-28
Boyds, MD
| said by JPL :My response "no, that's not true - around here, anyway, Verizon is responsible for maintaining the actual phone lines. It's their job to get the call to your house, no matter WHO your service provider is... the mechanism that they choose to use really shouldn't matter - whether fiber, copper, or morse code - as long as the call gets through to your house, that's all that matters - and that's what Verizon would be providing. If you want to sign up with a different phone company for service, it'll still be Verizon that handles the phone lines for you." As an aside to your earlier post, in my area they are not removing copper (its underground) and they are leaving the original NIDS where the copper terminates so copper is not being ripped out everywhere.
Anyway, I don't think you are correct above, if you are referring to local telephone service (not sure, maybe you meant long distance service)?
If they remove the copper and you want local dialtone service from different a company like Cavalier then Cav must pay to have copper installed - Verizon is under no obligation to allow CLEC's use the fiber to offer services (they may choose to do so but they are not required, unlike the copper infrastructure)
At least that's what I've gleaned from a few years of reading stuff here... |
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JPL
Premium
join:2007-04-04
West Chester, PA
·Verizon FIOS
2 edits | Then it may be different for each state. Based on my understanding, around here Verizon is the company that maintains the phone lines. They're the ones responsible for getting the call to your home. The service provider you use just uses the phone lines that Verizon maintains. When we had MCI (before they got bought out by Verizon) we had two sections on our bill - one for the phone service, and one for wire fees. They all went to one place - MCI - but it was still Verizon that handled the actual transfer of phone calls to my house. Of course that was all under copper - you may be correct with regard to fiber.
Sort of like power suppliers. When they deregulated electricity in this area, they made available other electrity providers to get in the game. PECO was still responsible for getting the power to your house. And really, you weren't necessarily getting power from that other supplier, per se. PECO was required to purchase electricity in accordance to what the customer base was using. So if 10% of the electricty used in the area was from customers who had, say, Green Mountain Energy, then PECO was required to buy 10% of the electricity transmitted from Green Mountain. That's they way I understand telephone deregulation around here to work as well. I could be wrong - but I thought that, by law, Verizon couldn't prevent another company from using its lines to get phone calls to your house. In fact, as the de facto phone utility company for this area, they're required to allow the calls to go through. Again, that's my understanding, and if I'm wrong, please feel free to correct me (I'd rather have the right answer ). And the mechanism that Verizon chooses to get service to your home is separate from the service provider you choose.
And as for removing copper - you're correct. They're not removing it everywhere. I was talking about the run from the pole to your house (our wiring is above-ground). They removed the copper coming from the pole to my house and replaced it with the fiber run. |
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SD6
join:2005-03-26 | JPL, the rules are different for the fiber. Your brother was right. Once he goes to fiber, he cannot go back to copper even for phone service. |
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