Verizon Set Top Box Shortage

hoopitup2000 · 12-19-2012, 06:42 AM

Just tried to order any type of available set top box & the earliest date for p/u is Jan 4 (WTF) The earliest for a digital adapter or cable card is the 7th. Is Verizon struggling or what???? I can't believe there is such a shortage of boxes, especially right before the Christmas crunch. I guess once under contract, you kinda screwed.

I have a friend that did not return equipment when leaving Fios. Think Fios would let me activate that on my account?

Thx!!

hoopitup2000 · 12-19-2012, 07:28 AM

UPDATE-Went through chat & they do in fact have boxes readily available at the store. I guess if you order over the phone, boxes are shipped to the store. I guess they would rather charge the 19.99 fee & ship direct to customers
(NOT)

zip2play · 12-19-2012, 11:19 AM

Digital adapters and Cable Cards are on their way to obsolescence. If you need them get them while you can because they won't be around long.

Shark2k · 12-19-2012, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zip2play

Digital adapters and Cable Cards are on their way to obsolescence. If you need them get them while you can because they won't be around long.

What makes you say that about CableCards? As long as Tivo is around, I doubt they will be going away anytime soon. And then there is the fact that the FCC requires separable security, which at this point in time is the CableCard.

-Shark2k

zip2play · 12-20-2012, 06:17 AM

Verizon isn't big on promoting TIVO devices, nor do I think they they very much interested in keeping analog sets going with adapters.
They want their STB's on every set, and every set digital.

As for delays, my initial setup took me a VERY LONG 6 weeks to cope without communications of any kind...and coincidentally it was also over the holidays. (I called them December 20, 2010...Coincidence, eh?

) It's just the nature of the beast.

JPL · 12-20-2012, 10:21 AM

Is separable security still a requirement? I'm asking because Verizon keeps sending out boxes that don't have it (the digital adapter). And I also think the cable card's days are numbered. All of these providers are moving to an over-the-top type of home gateway approach, providing IP feeds within the home of their content. The FCC just provided requirements on those standards - basically they took Verizon's recommendation. There was some word that the FCC would pick a set standard (based off of, say, DLNA) and would make all the providers follow that standard.

Verizon pushed back, saying that all of these providers were already working on their own standards (e.g. Verizon's new set of boxes that they're set to release early next year, in addition to their streaming apps for things like the iPad), and forcing a change of direction midstream would be costly and would bring about delays. They recommended that the FCC allow providers to use their own standards, but just make them totally open. And fully spec'd/documented. That way third-party box makers (e.g. TiVo) would be able to develop interfaces with each provider's standards. That's exactly what the FCC decided to do. And they just announced that a couple weeks ago.

I think this will push the CC into obsolescence. It won't happen anytime soon (there are way too many TiVos and other devices out there that use them), but I think it's clear that the CC was never really an optimal solution for anyone. I think the FCC was smart to basically jump onto the IP- streaming train to implement what they've wanted to implement all along - the ability to allow you to get a third-party device for TV service, without the need to pay your cable company for any kind of device/box (e.g. STB or cable card). This gets you most of the way there. The industry was moving that way anyway, and the FCC decided to go along for the ride.

12-19-2012, 06:42 AM	#1
hoopitup2000 No Static At All Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Centreville, Va Posts: 760	Verizon Set Top Box Shortage Just tried to order any type of available set top box & the earliest date for p/u is Jan 4 (WTF) The earliest for a digital adapter or cable card is the 7th. Is Verizon struggling or what???? I can't believe there is such a shortage of boxes, especially right before the Christmas crunch. I guess once under contract, you kinda screwed. I have a friend that did not return equipment when leaving Fios. Think Fios would let me activate that on my account? Thx!!

12-20-2012, 06:17 AM	#5
zip2play Fireman, Save My TV Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York City Posts: 850	Verizon isn't big on promoting TIVO devices, nor do I think they they very much interested in keeping analog sets going with adapters. They want their STB's on every set, and every set digital. As for delays, my initial setup took me a VERY LONG 6 weeks to cope without communications of any kind...and coincidentally it was also over the holidays. (I called them December 20, 2010...Coincidence, eh? ) It's just the nature of the beast. Last edited by zip2play; 12-20-2012 at 07:11 AM.

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12-19-2012, 07:28 AM	#2
hoopitup2000 No Static At All Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Centreville, Va Posts: 760	UPDATE-Went through chat & they do in fact have boxes readily available at the store. I guess if you order over the phone, boxes are shipped to the store. I guess they would rather charge the 19.99 fee & ship direct to customers (NOT)

12-19-2012, 11:19 AM	#3
zip2play Fireman, Save My TV Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: New York City Posts: 850	Digital adapters and Cable Cards are on their way to obsolescence. If you need them get them while you can because they won't be around long.

12-20-2012, 10:21 AM	#6
JPL High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 2,132	Is separable security still a requirement? I'm asking because Verizon keeps sending out boxes that don't have it (the digital adapter). And I also think the cable card's days are numbered. All of these providers are moving to an over-the-top type of home gateway approach, providing IP feeds within the home of their content. The FCC just provided requirements on those standards - basically they took Verizon's recommendation. There was some word that the FCC would pick a set standard (based off of, say, DLNA) and would make all the providers follow that standard. Verizon pushed back, saying that all of these providers were already working on their own standards (e.g. Verizon's new set of boxes that they're set to release early next year, in addition to their streaming apps for things like the iPad), and forcing a change of direction midstream would be costly and would bring about delays. They recommended that the FCC allow providers to use their own standards, but just make them totally open. And fully spec'd/documented. That way third-party box makers (e.g. TiVo) would be able to develop interfaces with each provider's standards. That's exactly what the FCC decided to do. And they just announced that a couple weeks ago. I think this will push the CC into obsolescence. It won't happen anytime soon (there are way too many TiVos and other devices out there that use them), but I think it's clear that the CC was never really an optimal solution for anyone. I think the FCC was smart to basically jump onto the IP- streaming train to implement what they've wanted to implement all along - the ability to allow you to get a third-party device for TV service, without the need to pay your cable company for any kind of device/box (e.g. STB or cable card). This gets you most of the way there. The industry was moving that way anyway, and the FCC decided to go along for the ride.