Resubscribed to Fios TV+

[gomets1969]

Recently resubscribed to Fios TV service and received the following new equipment:

Two 4100 DVRs. These are the newest models that have no HDMI connection. They are only used as servers.

Two Verizon Stream (V2) devices.

I have since found out this is what's called Fios TV+, and it is a different animal from the regular Fios One TV service.

Setup and initialization were smooth. The Stream (V2) boxes are fast and responsive. The 4100 DVRs function properly as DVRs and servers. The wireless signal between the Stream (V2) and new 4100's is strong. (Only the Stream (V2) gets connected to the TV via HDMI.)

The problem is with the video processing. All 720p channels (examples: all the ESPNs, FS1, FS2, local ABC and FOX) look terrible with live programming. The signals appear to be coming through the Stream (V2) boxes at 30FPS instead of at 60FPS. When I connect coax directly to my TV and tune to ABC and FOX, the picture looks normal. 

There is no way to change any settings with the new 4100's. The Stream (V2) boxes have very minimal settings that can be accessed, none of which involve changing the picture quality.

I realize this is a new way for Fios to deliver TV programming, but someone needs to know about the 720p issue. Hopefully it will only require a software update. 

For those that are wondering, I have Fios GB internet. This is not IPTV, or VIP, as the channels are still delivered via  QAM/RF through the coax connected to the 4100. Customers with the Fios 2GB internet service receive actual IPTV/VIP. I was told this service just started being used in my area of NJ last week for new TV customers.

[MMDDMM]

Fios tv+ is awful they do nothing but buffer and use bandwidth from your router.

[GL43]

I just 'resubscribed' to FiOS (1Gbps, TV) and as original poster said, I wound up getting the new FiOS TV+ equipment. All went well with the install however, the 4k and 1k picture quality is not good: dim, colors are bland and resolution is eh.

I know it's the FiOS TV+ since my previous FiOS equipment produced a fine picture quality AND I have a *real* antenna hooked up to my primary TV and comparing over the air HD signal for a broadcast channel (NBC, CBS, Fox, etc.), the picture quality is great.

Anyone else notice this? Any suggestions on what to do? I spoke to Verizon and they said they could send a tech out but it would cost $ since everything is "working".

[clem21]

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@GL43 wrote:

I just 'resubscribed' to FiOS (1Gbps, TV) and as original poster said, I wound up getting the new FiOS TV+ equipment. All went well with the install however, the 4k and 1k picture quality is not good: dim, colors are bland and resolution is eh.

I know it's the FiOS TV+ since my previous FiOS equipment produced a fine picture quality AND I have a *real* antenna hooked up to my primary TV and comparing over the air HD signal for a broadcast channel (NBC, CBS, Fox, etc.), the picture quality is great.

Anyone else notice this? Any suggestions on what to do? I spoke to Verizon and they said they could send a tech out but it would cost $ since everything is "working".

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You probably already went through the video and device device settings under the gear icon on the main screen by now. Not much there to fix your issue I,m afraid. If there was a passthrough your TV would be doing the upscaling, not the Fios box. Have you checked what resolution and format the Fios box is sending to your TV? Are you using a High-Speed certified HDMI cable? Is the input on the TV setup for" full color" or something similar to that? Does the TV see a Dolby HDR signal, HLG or an HDR 10 signal when tuned to 4K sources? So far the OLDER 4100 series boxes are the best bet for someone looking for the best reliability and accessibility. If you can't fix the issues with the new stream boxes, ask if it is possible to get the older 4100 series boxes.

[GL43]

Hello @clem21  -thanks for the response. Yes, I went thru every possible setting including the video and device settings and nada, nothing helps/fixed it. Yes, also checked the resolution and format the FiOS box is sending to the TV and it is 4k resolution and my home theater receiver verifies that it is getting a Dolby HDR format audio stream(the blue LED lights up and I do get special effects coming out of the rear speakers on content with such effects).

That really is pathetic if the older 4100 series boxes provide a better quality picture (not the way technology is supposed to work).

What was interesting is when I talked to a real human at VZ Support, the guy told me these "new" 4100 VMS boxes and WiFi streaming settops have had some "issues" (they work but...).

Will try speaking to VZ Support again and see what happens.

Just IMHO, it ain't right that one has a 4k TV, and the picture quality you get from VZ is "eh".

[clem21]

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@GL43 wrote:

Hello @clem21  -thanks for the response. Yes, I went thru every possible setting including the video and device settings and nada, nothing helps/fixed it. Yes, also checked the resolution and format the FiOS box is sending to the TV and it is 4k resolution and my home theater receiver verifies that it is getting a Dolby HDR format audio stream(the blue LED lights up and I do get special effects coming out of the rear speakers on content with such effects).

That really is pathetic if the older 4100 series boxes provide a better quality picture (not the way technology is supposed to work).

What was interesting is when I talked to a real human at VZ Support, the guy told me these "new" 4100 VMS boxes and WiFi streaming settops have had some "issues" (they work but...).

Will try speaking to VZ Support again and see what happens.

Just IMHO, it ain't right that one has a 4k TV, and the picture quality you get from VZ is "eh".

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The older 4100 series boxes work better in my opinion because there has been a LOT of time to fix their issues. The new boxes and system are starting from day one, not much known about them. I don't have a way to access the service menu on them yet, so I can't make any suggestions how to fix PQ issues. Usually the upscaler in the TV was the better way to watch TV, which you could do by using the bypass feature, but that doesn't exist on the new boxes.....yet. I supppose you could tweek the settings for 4K HDR on your TV, but that would throw off the picture for streaming. So the only other thing with the stream boxes is if you are having connectivity issues there is a MoCa converter available for them that eliminates the connection problems. As far as 4K quality from Verizon, it has always been an issue, even with the older boxes. They rely mostly on HLG, which isn't as good as DV or HDR10. I'd stream from the provider whenever available for best PQ in 4K. Another thing with the stream boxes is the techs have limited experience with them as compared to the earlier 4100 series so you may get a better support experience on the older boxes.

[GL43]

Well, I found the cause of the degraded picture!

I have a Samsung 4k TV. One of the features  that Samsung provides is something called, Input Signal Plus. It is on by default. It's purpose (according to Samsung) is to  "expand the input signal range for HDMI connections".

I turned it off and wow, the picture quality is back to where it should be.

Completely illogical that a function that expands the range of HDMI connections does the exact opposite.

Also learned from talking with VZ techs that the new VMS4100 (which talks to the new streaming settop via WiFi) has a weakness where it will grab any Verizon WiFi signal (versus giving you the choice of ensuring it's connecting to YOUR Verizon WiFi  router), causing serious issues with picture quality.

What basically happens is if your neighbor also has Verizon service, the VMS4100 may use your neighbor's Verizon WiFi router and not yours. It will still work BUT of course the signal is probably weaker and thus get horrible picture quality.

Totally incompetent design by Arris(manufacturer of the VMS4100 and the new streaming settops).

[clem21]

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@GL43 wrote:

Well, I found the cause of the degraded picture!

I have a Samsung 4k TV. One of the features  that Samsung provides is something called, Input Signal Plus. It is on by default. It's purpose (according to Samsung) is to  "expand the input signal range for HDMI connections".

I turned it off and wow, the picture quality is back to where it should be.

Completely illogical that a function that expands the range of HDMI connections does the exact opposite.

Also learned from talking with VZ techs that the new VMS4100 (which talks to the new streaming settop via WiFi) has a weakness where it will grab any Verizon WiFi signal (versus giving you the choice of ensuring it's connecting to YOUR Verizon WiFi  router), causing serious issues with picture quality.

What basically happens is if your neighbor also has Verizon service, the VMS4100 may use your neighbor's Verizon WiFi router and not yours. It will still work BUT of course the signal is probably weaker and thus get horrible picture quality.

Totally incompetent design by Arris(manufacturer of the VMS4100 and the new streaming settops).

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Also as far as WiFi  goes with the new stream boxes, make sure the main box is at least 5 feet from the router. It seems if the signal is too hot, they will overload and crash, causing drop-outs and freezes. I suggest getting the MoCa adapters from fios and use the existing cable in the house to wire them. That is the most reliable too.

[GL43]

@clem21 - just to confirm, by 'main box', assume you mean the VMS4100?

[clem21]

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@GL43 wrote:

@clem21 - just to confirm, by 'main box', assume you mean the VMS4100?

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Yes the VMS box. It seems they can be overloaded by getting too strong a WiFi signal. Go figure!