YOU MUST UPGRADE YOUR SET TOP BOX ASAP!

Good Morning, I keep seeing these annoying alerts saying I must upgrade my set top box before it becomes obsolete. Is this mandatory? Does any one know the date Verizon is going to turn off my set top boxes? When i called to inquire the representative didn't know when this will happen and went over my plan and said I would lose a lot of my channels bc I have an old bundle plan. He said I should be good for now but I have grown tired of seeing these alerts and they seem urgent. Please advise...

Accepted answers

Nilsa_VZ

Verizon official response:

The Cisco Set-Top Boxes will no longer be supported on the network starting in the early part of the 3rd quarter of this year (3Q2024). To make sure there is no interruption in your video service and to provide you with an even better viewing experience, we encourage you to upgrade your current set-top box prior to June 30, 2024. In some cases, a new router may be required. You must have Verizon router model numbers CR1000A, CR1000B, G3100, or G1100 router to use new video equipment.

Additional information can be found here.

Thanks.

All comments

pacmusicman

As far as I know, Verizon hasn't announced a "drop dead" date.

Support for older set-top boxes (Motorola and Cisco) is slowly winding down. The Arris 4100 series are the latest STB models.

mrbaseball09

I got the same message and upgraded my Fios Cisco boxes to Fios One and Fios One Mini. The mini is supposed to work on wifi without coax so it intrigued me. Stay away unless forced! These new arris boxes are junk and a pain to setup. I have the Fios One keeps turning my one TV back on unless I leave the HDMI cable unplugged. And so far in 3 days I cannot get the Fios One Mini to activate over WiFi or Coax. Im tempted to plug my old Cisco boxes back in and return this new stuff to Verizon.

pacmusicman

While the 4100 mini-STB can be connected via Wi-Fi, a hard-wired connection is preferred. What happens when attempting to connect via coaxial cable?

mrbaseball09

@dexman
wrote:
While the 4100 mini-STB can be connected via Wi-Fi, a hard-wired connection is preferred. What happens when attempting to connect via coaxial cable?

When I plug my mini in via Coax where my Cisco box was working perfectly fine, it says it cannot find the router.

pacmusicman

Two possibilities come to mind:

. The router is an older model. I have a G3100. Our 4100 VMS and (2) 4100 mini STBs connect to it without any issues.

. If there are any coaxial cable splitters in use, it/they could be older than MoCA 2.0...which is the minimum for 4100 series hardware.

Evangelin1

now the alert is saying video on demand will expire on 1/31

gudguy1a

Personally, I am waiting for a DEFINITIVE response from Verizon on this.

Saying that it is going to be obsolete and forcing people to replace it - likely with a cheap, flimsy replacement that "might" ONLY last 3 - 4 years.... That is something...
My DVRs have been going strong since we got the two (2010 or 2013, I cannot recall, have to get my notes out). And I bought a G3100 in 2020.

Only a couple of minor issues with one of the routers that were resolved by the central office rejuicing (sending a force signal) down the pipes to the box. No issues ever with the router.

Not sure why Verizon is in a panic (putting out BIG, BOLD characters on the screen) on this because they ARE NOT saying anything public that I am aware of.
Something DEFINITIVE would be VERY USEFUL for us customers.

As @dexman
stated earlier in this discussion about a couple of the reasons.

Could THE REASON be the ROUTER that is at fault?
DVR parts no longer in stock?
Connectivity issues - splitters...?

Purple9

I'm worried/concerned about this too. I just saw the notice saying:

"In 2024, your Set-Top Box and DVR equipment will be retired. Video on Demand service on this set top box will end on or around 1/31/2024.

You must upgrade your equipment in order to keep your TV service."

Then it goes on to advertise/push their fios one and what routers are needed, etc.

We have a cisco, and I have stuff on the DVR that cannot be transferred or re-recoreded. Until I can finish transcribing some documetaries, find dvds/bluray for various seasons of some shows, if the limited holiday specials are available on any of those dvds, write down all my dvr settings/stats for series recordings, and document some other info, I cannot upgrade.

The new boxes also lack features I need, like color coded guide and closed captions (from what I heard). Not as big a deal as the dvr content, but makes watching tv more difficult with certain disabilities.

Another major issue is that currently my cousin is the account holder and I give her money towards it. We have two separate dvr harddrive boxes. Hers downstairs, mine upstairs. We cannot share 1 box for the house. For privacy, we need to keep them separate. I don't see her stuff, she doesn't see mine. I was told by a rep in a chat that the new boxes are not independent. And the rep couldn't understand what I meant by being independent. Smh

Old school explanation...Rather than having 1 VCR for the household to share, we each need our own VCR to record independently. 1 upstairs, 1 downstairs.

Sharing wouldn't work. At any given time, my dvr is at 90-93% filled.

I don't have the time right now to transcribe and document my dvr. I'm not feeling well and going to ER tomorrow, I need to renew my medical insurance, which I just received the paperwork today and has to be in by Feb 12, nor do I have the money to buy all the dvds etc.

Also, my cousin & I cannot afford all that is required to upgrade, especially if they somehow let us have 2 separate/independent dvrs. It'smore than just swapping out stbs. Upgrading will require a tech visit and new router and possibly other equipment. I'm disabled on a fixed income and I can't afford to give my cousin more money towards it. Its not like the cable companies do what the phone companies do and have a discount for those with disabilities.

Even if we are forced to upgrade, I am keeping my old cisco box so that as I have time and feel better, I can transcribe/document stuff and research dvds, etc.

They really are compelling customers to look elsewhere either switch to competitors, cord cutting streamers or other means.

But what about areas that cannot use the new technology? I read certain areas can only use the older boxes & fios will still supply those areas. Idk where I read it, either these forums or an article.

Will our dvr stop working? Will I no longer be able to access my dvr content? Will our tv service just shut off? The rep I spoke to online a couple months ago said not to worry it was just a reminder and that our service wouldn't be shut off and we wouldn't stop be able to access our dvr content

Though I really can't afford to, I'd pay extra just to have my dvr content transferred to another dvr and/or cloud. Like any amount within reason. It may not seem important to most people, but someone that's mostly home bound and in pain hal the time...it means a lot. Wishful thinking.

Nilsa_VZ

Verizon official response:

Additional information can be found here.

Thanks.