Verizon FiOS HD DVR Features

snjlapaz

Hi,

I'm considering switching from Dish Network to Verizon FiOS. I asked the sales person some questions about Verizon's HD DVR features so I could compare them to Dish Network DVR, but he didn't know and advised me to try teq support. I finally got through to teq support and spoke to what sounded like a very young girl. She couldn't answer my questions either. I asked her if she was teq support and she said yes she was but I was asking hard questions. I thought they were pretty basic for anyone that knows the DVR features.
I thought I'd try asking here to see if anyone can help with my questions.

1. I was wanting to know if Verizon HD DVR has besides the fast forward, the skip forward feature? I prefer using the skip forward for going through commercials.

2. How long can you pause live TV or recorded shows? The Dish Network DVR lets me pause SD TV for up to two hours.

3. If I stop watching a recorded program in the middle, does it have a resume play feature so I don't have to start over again?

If anyone else has a dish network DVR and now has a Verizon DVR, how do the two compare?

Thanks so much,
Susan

snjlapaz

Sorry, in my last post it should of read "Tech" support

SOBAY310

Hi Susan,

1. It does have a skip forward feature, but it's kinda tricky. I would say I use the fast forward method instead because skipping forward doesn't really work well for me.

2. Going on memory, I beleive it's 30 minutes. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong.

3. Yes, you can resume play where you left off.

Hope this helps a little.

Joe

Justin

As it stands right now, with the current software in the DVR:

1) The DVR has it. However, it depends on which remote you have whether it works now. I have just gotten one of the new remotes last week (for my existing DVR) and there is a 30 second skip forward and about a 5-6 second skip backwards - works very well. With either of the two remotes Verizon has previously supplied, there was not skip. But I understand you can go buy the comcast "silver" remote (I think that is the one) from eBay for $10 or so and the skip works, and you can buy the expensive programmable remotes and get the skip.

2) Don't know, I have only paused for maybe 5 to 10 minutes.

3) Yes. I use it regularly.

There is rumored to be new software coming soon for the DVR (working in Indiana I think) that will have new features, but since I don't have it yet I can't tell you how that might affect the answers to your questions.

I came from cable to FiOS so I can't compare the DVRs. However, despite the fact that some folks seem to hate the Verizon DVR, I think it is just fine - records everything I ask it to, PQ is terrific, responds quickly to commands, can record one channel and watch another, record two channels at the same time and even watch a pre-recorded program while doing that, etc. But of course YMMV.

I am a very satisfied FiOS TV, internet, and phone customer.

__________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV and Internet
Motorola QIP6416 DVR
Sony KDL-V40XBR1 LCD
Sony SLV-D360P DVD/VCR

snjlapaz

Thank you both for your responses, they were very helpful. It seems that I will like the FiOS DVR. Justin, I hope if your new remote has the 30 second skip forward feature that we'll get the same one as a new customer. The only possible issue I see right now is if I can't pause live TV for more than 30 minutes. With the Dish DVR for SD it's 2 hours and with shows and sporting events that we haven't previously recorded, many times we will put it on pause for an hour or so and go do something else. When we come back it's there waiting for us and we can then just zip through the commercials.

Susan

Justin

Susan,

I imagine that you will get the new remote, but????

After thinking about it a little bit, I doubt that you can pause for that long. I think the DVR has a fairly small buffer that will hold maybe 15 minutes of HD and 30 minutes of SD (but as I said, I have never tried to pause for very long). A quick and easy circumvention would of course be to simply begin recording the program, you could then easily come back and view the remainer of the program at your leisure. And recording a program you are watching with this DVR is easy, you just push one button once, the Record button.

__________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV and Internet
Motorola QIP6416 DVR
Sony KDL-V40XBR1 LCD
Sony SLV-D360P DVD/VCR

E55AMG

Susan, I just switched from Dish to FiOS yesterday. I have not had the chance to see how long I can pause but w/ Dish you had a long time!! LOL!

One thing I really like about Dish (I guess it's because I was used to it) was their guide. So far, a little disappointed with verizon.

As you know w/ Dish you could create several "favorites" guides like "sports", "movies", "kids", etc. - whatever you wanted to call them and group them how ever you wanted.

With fios you only have one "master" guide. There is a favorites section but as far as I can see, only one.

I hope the new interface coming out will improve upon this. Anyone know if this will be addressed?

rkkeller

I dont think so but http://verizonfios.com/img/ this more than makes up for it if you ask me.

snjlapaz

E55AMG, for Dish we like having our multiple favorites too...music, sports, and movies.
Could you tell me what's different about the FiOS guide you don't like as much?
How is your picture quality compared to Dish?

Susan

snjlapaz

I'm still wrestling with my decision to keep Dish Network or switch to FiOS. I have another question if someone can answer I really appreciate it.
If I get the multi media HD DVR for using two TV's and I tape programs in HD on TV #1, can I watch those same recorded HD programs on my SD TV #2 or only those programs that are recorded in SD?

Susan

Justin

Susan,

I do not have the MR DVR, but I have read quite a bit about it before making the decision not to get it, at least at this time.

If you get one MR DVR you can watch any recorded SD broadcast on any SD STB, up to 3 or 4 I think. You cannot view recorded HD material via an SD STB.

If you have two HD DVRs you cannot view any of the material recorded on one of those on the other. Of course, if you also get some SD STBs, one of the HD DVRs could be MR.

So if you want MR, get one HD DVR and however many SD boxes.

I keep hoping that Verizon is going to improve this in the future.

__________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV and Internet
Motorola QIP6416 DVR
Sony KDL-V40XBR1 LCD
Sony SLV-D360P DVD/VCR

E55AMG

doesn't look like they address it. This looks nice but I really like the feature of creating my own multiple lists. It shouldn't be that difficult to do?

E55AMG

Well Susan, like you said - the multiple favorites you have with dish, that you creat, is not available with fios.

With Dish as you know you have the "all channels" and "all subscribed" or something to that effect. That basically puts every channel into one giant guide. Just like you I had my own separate lists i.e. "Basic" which was our basic, everyday channesl, then "movies", "kids", and "sports".

With fios it's like the all channels you have with dish. There is a "favorites" button on the remote that will allow you to create 1 list and that's it.

As far as PQ it's hard to say. The day I hooked up fios was also the same day I hooked up my Pioneer 5080 plasma. This is the first HD TV i've had so it's hard for me to compare directly. I'm still breaking in the TV but HD looks stunning and SD isn't quite as bad as I had expected.

To do a better comparison i'll have to spend some time watching TV in one of the other two rooms that is not HD and has the same TV as before.

JPL

Regarding #2, no that's not right. According to the documentation, the DVR has a 70-minute buffer for SD, and 17 for HD. You can kinda tell just by watching a movie on live tv, or something with a long slot in the program guide. Leave it on that channel for a while, then hit the play button. You get the progress bar - and you can see how far back it goes for that program. I never tested out the 70-minute limit for SD, but for HD, I can attest that 17 minutes is about right.