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Fios TV+ picture quality with Samsung TVs

I upgraded to the new Fios TV+ from the previous generation Fios TV platform. Primary difference is the new TV+ has a settop box that has no wires except for power and the HDMI cable to the TV (it talks via WiFi to a new box called the VMS4100). The VMS4100 is wired to your new Fios router.

I immediately noticed the picture quality on my Samsung 4k TV was "lower quality":

colors were 'flat'
picture brightness was 'flat'
resolution was 'eh', could not really see much difference between 1k vs. 4k content

Went through ALL possible settings on the Verizon equipment and the Verizon techs did same with me.

Everyone is totally stumped.

Verizon shipped new splitter and new VMS box thinking it might be the cause.

Before the new equipment arrived, decided to look through the Samsung TV settings (nothing had changed from previous Verizon equipment).

Noticed a setting on the Samsung TV called ISP(Input Signal Plus). It's on by default. According to Samsung manual, it expands the dynamic range of the HD signal. Assume that it's supposed to improve the picture quality.

Well, it was the problem. Turned it off and the picture quality is bright, colors are good and resolution is as expected.

Why the new Verizon equipment does the exact opposite with the Samsung ISP function, I have no idea. The old Verizon equipment operated just fine.

Thought I'd post this to help others in the community if they run into this.

Comments

clem21

@GL43
wrote:
I upgraded to the new Fios TV+ from the previous generation Fios TV platform. Primary difference is the new TV+ has a settop box that has no wires except for power and the HDMI cable to the TV (it talks via WiFi to a new box called the VMS4100). The VMS4100 is wired to your new Fios router.
I immediately noticed the picture quality on my Samsung 4k TV was "lower quality":
colors were 'flat'
picture brightness was 'flat'
resolution was 'eh', could not really see much difference between 1k vs. 4k content
Went through ALL possible settings on the Verizon equipment and the Verizon techs did same with me.
Everyone is totally stumped.
Verizon shipped new splitter and new VMS box thinking it might be the cause.
Before the new equipment arrived, decided to look through the Samsung TV settings (nothing had changed from previous Verizon equipment).
Noticed a setting on the Samsung TV called ISP(Input Signal Plus). It's on by default. According to Samsung manual, it expands the dynamic range of the HD signal. Assume that it's supposed to improve the picture quality.

Well, it was the problem. Turned it off and the picture quality is bright, colors are good and resolution is as expected.
Why the new Verizon equipment does the exact opposite with the Samsung ISP function, I have no idea. The old Verizon equipment operated just fine.
Thought I'd post this to help others in the community if they run into this.

Thanks for posting your solution. It sounds like the Fios box was trying to convert non-HDI programming to HDI and your TV was decoding it as HDI. This used to happen with the older 4100 mini from the Fios One boxes, guess it is still happening with the new system. There was a setting in the older mini: Main Menu > Settings > Audio & Video > Video Settings > HDR Setting that you had to turn off, except when watching HDR content. By disabling the expanded color setting in your TV you effectively did the same thing. I do have a question, how is your VMS 4100 wired to the router? Stream boxes are supposed to be ALL wireless. You would have to get a USBC to coax adapter with the box to wire it, and they have to be requested. Are you sure you got the new stream boxes when you were signed up for Fios+? This is a drawing of the Stream box:

Screenshot 2024-07-05 at 09-16-02 Verizon Stream TV User Manual (Page 3 of 14) ManualsLib.png

GL43

@clem21
- you are correct. The stream box(settop) that feeds the TV is only connected physically with power and HDMI cables. It communicates with the VMS wireless.

The VMS box is connected via coax to the router.

I'm not aware of any way to get to the VMS box directly. Through the several Verizon tech support calls, they told me there was no way for me(the customer) to access directly.

clem21

@GL43
wrote:
@clem21
- you are correct. The stream box(settop) that feeds the TV is only connected physically with power and HDMI cables. It communicates with the VMS wireless.
The VMS box is connected via coax to the router.
I'm not aware of any way to get to the VMS box directly. Through the several Verizon tech support calls, they told me there was no way for me(the customer) to access directly.

I see now what I think you have equipment wise. Is it this?

https://www.verizon.com/support/residential/tv/equipment/fios-tv-plus

If so, what I said about the mini wouldn't apply. It still is trying to convert everything to 4K HDR, but there is no way to stop it other then the way you did with your TV. I'll check with one of my support contacts to see if there is a way into the menu of the VMS server.

GL43

@clem21
- the link you provided with the pic of the VMS box is exactly what I have (connected via RG-6 coax to the router).

I'm sure there is a way to access the menu of the VMS box (one of the techs I was troubleshooting with implied as much with his statement, "...no way for you(customer) to access". For all we know, a VZ tech may have some device they can connect via the RJ45 terminal(Ethernet) to access.

Speaking as a retired electrical engineer, I find this 'design' by Arris "less than well thought out"...

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