Question about switching from DTV to Verizon FIOS

JeremyE · 02-09-2007, 12:58 PM

I have been a DTV customer for 3 years and I am switching to Verizion FIOS because I can get HD programming plus HD DVR for $51/mo, the same price I'm currently paying for standard programming from DTV.

My question is this: I live in a townhouse that has no known coax cable infrastructure. AFAIK there are no cable runs throughout the house. So 3 years ago DTV mounted the dish on the roof and ran the coax cable on the *OUTSIDE* of the house, along the outside of the vinyl siding and then drilled holes directly into our living room.

The second piece of the story: I am currently a Verizon FIOS internet subscriber. The ONT is already installed on the outside of the house, but on the complete opposite side of where the DTV coax cable goes into our living room. The Verizon battery backup box is in the basement, and the Verizon FIOS D-Link router is in my office not too far from the battery backup.

From all of your experiences, how do you think they will run the line to my living room since I have no pre-run coax cable in my house? Will they have to tap into the DTV-laid cable somehow?

I just want to be as prepared as possible for Tuesday's install date.

Many thanks.

clearday · 02-09-2007, 01:36 PM

They will probably try to use the existing cable if there is any way possible. Sometimes if you ask in a friendly manner they will run a new line inside and down the wall if there is no firebreak in the wall blocking the way. The installer might say it will cost more to run a new line, but just ask if they can do it for no charge, the guys are pretty nice about things. I don't know if they have any rules about having to run the cable inside. You might want to call their 800# and check that so you can be sure it is done right.

RedSIinPA · 02-09-2007, 01:43 PM

if you say nothing, they may continue to run outside the house, which I assume you don't want. (Who would.) The two installers that were at my house were very diligent and used all the existing coax in my house w/o problems. There was however a request for a new outlet as part of my order. I had recently remodeled my walk-up attic and needed an outlet up there. They did their homework and found a drainstack in my house that essentially provided a channel from my basement, thru floor 1 and 2, and up to the attic. They fished up that channel and nothing is hanging on the side of my house.

So in short, if you know of possible areas in your basement that provide access points to the rest of the interior of the house, "encourage" your installer to use that and have wife (if applicable) "mention" how much she hates cable on the outside, just within earshot of them. I've also tipped installers who heed my 'advice.'

JeremyE · 02-09-2007, 01:50 PM

Thanks a lot for the info. The basement where the battery backup is located is mostly unfinished and I think I already know a way he can just run it in the joists of the basement ceiling and all he would have to do is drill from the living room down into the basement. Maybe I will push for that, it should be fairly easy, then he won't have to deal with running cables outside. I can't imagine having coax cable sitting outside in sub-zero temperature is good for the signal...

Sorry, another fundamental questions I am still unsure of. I already have Verizion FIOS internet but the D-Link FIOS router is in my office, not in the basement where the battery backup is located. I am quite fuzzy as to where they run the coax cable from? The batter backup, or from the router in my office?

tampa22 · 02-09-2007, 03:02 PM

My installer was fantastic and I did tip him 50 bucks. In hindsight I should have tipped more.

rlstjohn · 02-09-2007, 05:55 PM

Should be from the router. That has the built in NIM which will provide your channel guide and VOD.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JeremyE

Sorry, another fundamental questions I am still unsure of. I already have Verizion FIOS internet but the D-Link FIOS router is in my office, not in the basement where the battery backup is located. I am quite fuzzy as to where they run the coax cable from? The batter backup, or from the router in my office?

wormbait · 02-09-2007, 08:19 PM

The Tech will run coax from the ONT to a spliter. Then the tech will run a coax line to your router. From the spliter the tech should run home runs to the STB's. If your basement is open there should not be a problem. Since you have a D-link router the tech could use the NIM 100 for the coax connection. Some times the tech will replace it with a new Actiontec router. Good luck and be patient.

DallasDan · 02-10-2007, 08:41 AM

The Verizon installers were the best installers of any TV/Internet service I have ever experienced. They ran new cables where needed, without even asking. The only thing I told the TV installer is that I bought a 2000 dollar HDTV, and I wanted the best signal I could possibly recieve. He delivered the best signal.

JC1 · 02-16-2007, 06:07 PM

Just a FYI...DON'T ever tip a VERIZON installer...if they truly work for Verizon, it could cost them their job. Also, they SHOULDN'T be accepting ANY kind of gratuity... period! In some areas the Verizon technician is making over 100K a year and should know better than to take a tip. If these techs are from a contracted firm, not much can be said about what they are told they can accept.
Sorry for sounding upset but as much as you may want to show your appreciation for a good job done, a call to their boss should be enough reward. No old time telco employee would ever have accepted a tip for doing their job.

wormbait · 02-17-2007, 06:54 AM

WOW! Over 100k a year? I have to quit my job at the bank and work for Verizon fios.

mluntz · 02-17-2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JC1

Just a FYI...DON'T ever tip a VERIZON installer...if they truly work for Verizon, it could cost them their job. Also, they SHOULDN'T be accepting ANY kind of gratuity... period! In some areas the Verizon technician is making over 100K a year and should know better than to take a tip. If these techs are from a contracted firm, not much can be said about what they are told they can accept.
Sorry for sounding upset but as much as you may want to show your appreciation for a good job done, a call to their boss should be enough reward. No old time telco employee would ever have accepted a tip for doing their job.

Now I see the difference in the quality of work between them and D*!!

JC1 · 02-17-2007, 01:16 PM

Lol!! Thought that would open some eyes. Not ALL Verizon techs make that much. In the Northeast, quite a few do with OT included. Don't know about the other parts of the country but I would venture to say, they are paid pretty good throughout Verizon.
Point being, no tip should be necessary. Good money is made whether one job is done in 6 hrs or 3 jobs are done in 6 hrs. They are paid by the hour, not the job.

And I will add, there are many real good and conscientious Verizon techs working out there. This FIOS is as new to them as it is to the consumer and once they and the service centers understand and know it more, they will be extremely proficient and knowledgable in doing the work. They are getting it very quickly as Verizon rolls this out more and more. As long as the product's quality is as good as it is supposed to be, these techs will be very busy with work.

drdumont · 05-07-2007, 02:48 PM

WHen I had the service installed, the saleslady asked me to Email her when the install was done and let her know how things went. I did so, and apparently the comments went further along the chain, as I saw the installer a couple of weeks later. He thanked me "For the Roses".

Apparently VZ is in a big customer satisfaction push. I had a 30 hour outage of TV a month ago, had some SERIOUS issues with their "repair service". Went all the way to the "You have until Noon tomorrow to restore service or else" stage. Service back up about 2 hours later, and the next bill had a $25 credit, which I had not requested. I was impressed. They have a little way to go on the repair service front, but once you get through their script readers, things do move along, it seems.

--Doc

Rick-F · 05-08-2007, 06:27 AM

" I can't imagine having coax cable sitting outside in sub-zero temperature is good for the signal..."

Actually, the colder it gets the better-- lower temperature, higher conductivity . . .

02-09-2007, 12:58 PM	#1
JeremyE ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 67	Question about switching from DTV to Verizon FIOS I have been a DTV customer for 3 years and I am switching to Verizion FIOS because I can get HD programming plus HD DVR for $51/mo, the same price I'm currently paying for standard programming from DTV. My question is this: I live in a townhouse that has no known coax cable infrastructure. AFAIK there are no cable runs throughout the house. So 3 years ago DTV mounted the dish on the roof and ran the coax cable on the OUTSIDE of the house, along the outside of the vinyl siding and then drilled holes directly into our living room. The second piece of the story: I am currently a Verizon FIOS internet subscriber. The ONT is already installed on the outside of the house, but on the complete opposite side of where the DTV coax cable goes into our living room. The Verizon battery backup box is in the basement, and the Verizon FIOS D-Link router is in my office not too far from the battery backup. From all of your experiences, how do you think they will run the line to my living room since I have no pre-run coax cable in my house? Will they have to tap into the DTV-laid cable somehow? I just want to be as prepared as possible for Tuesday's install date. Many thanks.

05-07-2007, 02:48 PM	#13
drdumont Long Journey into HD Join Date: May 2007 Location: Dallas Area Posts: 39	Question about switching to FiOS WHen I had the service installed, the saleslady asked me to Email her when the install was done and let her know how things went. I did so, and apparently the comments went further along the chain, as I saw the installer a couple of weeks later. He thanked me "For the Roses". Apparently VZ is in a big customer satisfaction push. I had a 30 hour outage of TV a month ago, had some SERIOUS issues with their "repair service". Went all the way to the "You have until Noon tomorrow to restore service or else" stage. Service back up about 2 hours later, and the next bill had a $25 credit, which I had not requested. I was impressed. They have a little way to go on the repair service front, but once you get through their script readers, things do move along, it seems. --Doc

02-09-2007, 01:36 PM	#2
clearday Samsung LCDs Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: N. Texas Posts: 1,804	They will probably try to use the existing cable if there is any way possible. Sometimes if you ask in a friendly manner they will run a new line inside and down the wall if there is no firebreak in the wall blocking the way. The installer might say it will cost more to run a new line, but just ask if they can do it for no charge, the guys are pretty nice about things. I don't know if they have any rules about having to run the cable inside. You might want to call their 800# and check that so you can be sure it is done right.

02-09-2007, 01:43 PM	#3
RedSIinPA hd junkie Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Outside Phila. Age: 31 Posts: 899	if you say nothing, they may continue to run outside the house, which I assume you don't want. (Who would.) The two installers that were at my house were very diligent and used all the existing coax in my house w/o problems. There was however a request for a new outlet as part of my order. I had recently remodeled my walk-up attic and needed an outlet up there. They did their homework and found a drainstack in my house that essentially provided a channel from my basement, thru floor 1 and 2, and up to the attic. They fished up that channel and nothing is hanging on the side of my house. So in short, if you know of possible areas in your basement that provide access points to the rest of the interior of the house, "encourage" your installer to use that and have wife (if applicable) "mention" how much she hates cable on the outside, just within earshot of them. I've also tipped installers who heed my 'advice.'

02-09-2007, 01:50 PM	#4
JeremyE ... Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 67	Thanks a lot for the info. The basement where the battery backup is located is mostly unfinished and I think I already know a way he can just run it in the joists of the basement ceiling and all he would have to do is drill from the living room down into the basement. Maybe I will push for that, it should be fairly easy, then he won't have to deal with running cables outside. I can't imagine having coax cable sitting outside in sub-zero temperature is good for the signal... Sorry, another fundamental questions I am still unsure of. I already have Verizion FIOS internet but the D-Link FIOS router is in my office, not in the basement where the battery backup is located. I am quite fuzzy as to where they run the coax cable from? The batter backup, or from the router in my office?

02-09-2007, 03:02 PM	#5
tampa22 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 38	My installer was fantastic and I did tip him 50 bucks. In hindsight I should have tipped more.

02-09-2007, 08:19 PM	#7
wormbait I like beer in HD! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: North Jersey Posts: 69	The Tech will run coax from the ONT to a spliter. Then the tech will run a coax line to your router. From the spliter the tech should run home runs to the STB's. If your basement is open there should not be a problem. Since you have a D-link router the tech could use the NIM 100 for the coax connection. Some times the tech will replace it with a new Actiontec router. Good luck and be patient.

02-10-2007, 08:41 AM	#8
DallasDan I Love HD! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 55	The Verizon installers were the best installers of any TV/Internet service I have ever experienced. They ran new cables where needed, without even asking. The only thing I told the TV installer is that I bought a 2000 dollar HDTV, and I wanted the best signal I could possibly recieve. He delivered the best signal.

02-16-2007, 06:07 PM	#9
JC1 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 32	Just a FYI...DON'T ever tip a VERIZON installer...if they truly work for Verizon, it could cost them their job. Also, they SHOULDN'T be accepting ANY kind of gratuity... period! In some areas the Verizon technician is making over 100K a year and should know better than to take a tip. If these techs are from a contracted firm, not much can be said about what they are told they can accept. Sorry for sounding upset but as much as you may want to show your appreciation for a good job done, a call to their boss should be enough reward. No old time telco employee would ever have accepted a tip for doing their job.

02-17-2007, 06:54 AM	#10
wormbait I like beer in HD! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: North Jersey Posts: 69	WOW! Over 100k a year? I have to quit my job at the bank and work for Verizon fios.

02-17-2007, 01:16 PM	#12
JC1 High Definition is the definition of life. Join Date: Dec 2006 Posts: 32	Lol!! Thought that would open some eyes. Not ALL Verizon techs make that much. In the Northeast, quite a few do with OT included. Don't know about the other parts of the country but I would venture to say, they are paid pretty good throughout Verizon. Point being, no tip should be necessary. Good money is made whether one job is done in 6 hrs or 3 jobs are done in 6 hrs. They are paid by the hour, not the job. And I will add, there are many real good and conscientious Verizon techs working out there. This FIOS is as new to them as it is to the consumer and once they and the service centers understand and know it more, they will be extremely proficient and knowledgable in doing the work. They are getting it very quickly as Verizon rolls this out more and more. As long as the product's quality is as good as it is supposed to be, these techs will be very busy with work.

05-08-2007, 06:27 AM	#14
Rick-F 58" & 50" PDP / 2 32" LCD Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Louisville, KY Posts: 1,836	" I can't imagine having coax cable sitting outside in sub-zero temperature is good for the signal..." Actually, the colder it gets the better-- lower temperature, higher conductivity . . .