Re: [CGUYS] Verizon TV Box
http://www.lynxbroadband.com/ has a number of products that help in this area to move content without having extra stb's. John -Original Message- From: Computer Guys Discussion List [mailto:computerguy...@listserv.aol.com]on Behalf Of Tom Piwowar Sent: Thursday, May 07, 2009 5:42 PM To: COMPUTERGUYS-L@LISTSERV.AOL.COM Subject: Re: [CGUYS] Verizon TV Box Are there aftermarket boxes which will work? The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires that aftermarket boxes work. They have to supply a CableCARD for a nominal fee. Like many other laws under Bush, this requirement has not been effectively enforced. Nice article on this at Wikipedia. Can we use one box and distribute it around the house to the other TV's? Yes, but all sets would get the same channel as the box contains the tuner. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** * No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.238 / Virus Database: 270.12.21/2101 - Release Date: 05/07/09 18:05:00 * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Verizon TV Box
Apparently, it is just a software change that would allow PIP on Verizon DVR and they choose not to install it. http://forums.verizon.com/vrzn/board/message?board.id=FiOS_TVmessage.id=1022 Verizon has a no frills box for $3 that only does channel surfing. It will NOT give you the channel info, lineup, OnDemmand/PPV. Using this as a second tuner and feeding your TV with a second stream should give you the PIP ability. The only catch is, the IF signal to change channels might be the same for both boxes and you would have to angle the device some how, so you don't change both Tuners. Mike MrMike6by9 wrote: Just because they use the word FiOS doesn't mean the company policies/motives differ from those of the cablecos. The laws and regs (they helped to deveop them through lobbying, etc.) only mandate that you can get a signal that works with your equipment but it doesn't require those firms to give that signal to you for free. Thus, it is rare, if not impossible, for you to be able to purchase an interface device that the provider is required to let you use for free access to the provider's content. They are free to charge you for that interface device on a recurring basis (aka monthly rental) and are not required to sell it to you or to authorize your privately acquired device(s) on their system. The old, analog OTA, was grandfathered in but that is going away with the digital transition. Comcast is converting the analog tier to digital because of the capacity competition from Verizon. Up to 6 digital channels fit in the space required for 1 analog channel. Think business model. It is not unlike the old days of the Bell monopoly when you were required to rent their devices to use on their systems to make/receive phone calls. Maybe something similar will happen there ... we can only hope. I just switched from Comcast (Baltimore County) to Verizon 2 days ago. because of the rebate for my bundle and the fact that Comcast had already begun to disable my ability to use my DVDR's Tivo's for time-shifting/viewing WETA and the Cartoon Network. No jokes please, I happen to like Adult Swim. I can eventually get cablecards for my Series 3 but, for now, I'm using the FiOS DVR's to see if I'd prefer use them (rentals) vs. renting the cable cards needed for the Series 3 since cable cards do not currently support OnDemand (which I occasionally use) and PPV (never used). In answer to the second question, you would get the same channel on all outlets. YMMV PS - I miss my PiP, especially during intense sports seasons. YMMV, part deux --- This scotch tastes incredibly expensive . . . I can practically feel my bank account being emptied with every subsequent dram . . . note the rich character . . . he is now a poor character. . . -- Subject: Verizon TV Box Is it possible to buy the Verizon TV box rather than leasing them? I would like to take advantage of the great deals Verizon is pushing right now, but the leasing of a box for each TV is a deal killer. Are there aftermarket boxes which will work? Can we use one box and distribute it around the house to the other TV's? Thanks in advance, * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Verizon TV Box
Are there aftermarket boxes which will work? The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires that aftermarket boxes work. They have to supply a CableCARD for a nominal fee. Like many other laws under Bush, this requirement has not been effectively enforced. Nice article on this at Wikipedia. Can we use one box and distribute it around the house to the other TV's? Yes, but all sets would get the same channel as the box contains the tuner. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Verizon TV Box
I would guess that a nominal fee would still involve a monthly charge. I'd rather just pay once up front. Understood about the single box = single channel. How would the distribution be done? Is there a recommended device? Thanks in advance. Richard P. Are there aftermarket boxes which will work? The Telecommunications Act of 1996 requires that aftermarket boxes work. They have to supply a CableCARD for a nominal fee. Like many other laws under Bush, this requirement has not been effectively enforced. Nice article on this at Wikipedia. Can we use one box and distribute it around the house to the other TV's? Yes, but all sets would get the same channel as the box contains the tuner. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Verizon TV Box
I would guess that a nominal fee would still involve a monthly charge. I'd rather just pay once up front. It might. I vaguely remember something like $2. Understood about the single box = single channel. How would the distribution be done? Is there a recommended device? Standard coax splitter I would think. It depends on the signal strength and the number of taps you need. Worse case you get a distribution amplifier. * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Verizon TV Box
Just because they use the word FiOS doesn't mean the company policies/motives differ from those of the cablecos. The laws and regs (they helped to deveop them through lobbying, etc.) only mandate that you can get a signal that works with your equipment but it doesn't require those firms to give that signal to you for free. Thus, it is rare, if not impossible, for you to be able to purchase an interface device that the provider is required to let you use for free access to the provider's content. They are free to charge you for that interface device on a recurring basis (aka monthly rental) and are not required to sell it to you or to authorize your privately acquired device(s) on their system. The old, analog OTA, was grandfathered in but that is going away with the digital transition. Comcast is converting the analog tier to digital because of the capacity competition from Verizon. Up to 6 digital channels fit in the space required for 1 analog channel. Think business model. It is not unlike the old days of the Bell monopoly when you were required to rent their devices to use on their systems to make/receive phone calls. Maybe something similar will happen there ... we can only hope. I just switched from Comcast (Baltimore County) to Verizon 2 days ago. because of the rebate for my bundle and the fact that Comcast had already begun to disable my ability to use my DVDR's Tivo's for time-shifting/viewing WETA and the Cartoon Network. No jokes please, I happen to like Adult Swim. I can eventually get cablecards for my Series 3 but, for now, I'm using the FiOS DVR's to see if I'd prefer use them (rentals) vs. renting the cable cards needed for the Series 3 since cable cards do not currently support OnDemand (which I occasionally use) and PPV (never used). In answer to the second question, you would get the same channel on all outlets. YMMV PS - I miss my PiP, especially during intense sports seasons. YMMV, part deux --- This scotch tastes incredibly expensive . . . I can practically feel my bank account being emptied with every subsequent dram . . . note the rich character . . . he is now a poor character. . . -- Subject: Verizon TV Box Is it possible to buy the Verizon TV box rather than leasing them? I would like to take advantage of the great deals Verizon is pushing right now, but the leasing of a box for each TV is a deal killer. Are there aftermarket boxes which will work? Can we use one box and distribute it around the house to the other TV's? Thanks in advance, * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
Re: [CGUYS] Verizon TV Box
On Thu, May 7, 2009 at 7:20 PM, Tom Piwowar t...@tjpa.com wrote: I would guess that a nominal fee would still involve a monthly charge. I'd rather just pay once up front. It might. I vaguely remember something like $2. Might be $3/month/card but that is the right ball park. A TiVO series 3 needed two cable cards and would not work with the multi cable card. Understood about the single box = single channel. How would the distribution be done? Is there a recommended device? Standard coax splitter I would think. It depends on the signal strength and the number of taps you need. Worse case you get a distribution amplifier. You need to hook your router/modem as supplied by Verizon to the cable wires in the house. I have a pretty gnarly collection of wires from the Cox/Media General cable days that they hooked the cable feed to from the outside FIOS box. It worked fine in SD all over the house until they went all digital. I now need a QAM decoder to watch what cable channels are in the clear and a box that will either accept a cable card or a box from Verizon. I think there are boxes that you can tell VZ something like a MAC address but I haven't researched that yet. John Duncan Yoyo ---o) * ** List info, subscription management, list rules, archives, privacy ** ** policy, calmness, a member map, and more at http://www.cguys.org/ ** *
