DVR Limits
steeler1212
Enthusiast - Level 1

When will Verizon expand the number of shows that can be recorded at the same time as well as watch a program.

Cablevision 4 plus 1 live, Direct 6 programs!! Will it be years before this issue is resolved? Is there no forward thinkers within the organization?

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Re: DVR Limits
retiredme
Specialist - Level 1

 When I was with DISH as a customer, it was nice to be on the leading-edge of technology; but DISH developes their equipment in-house whereas VZ outsources to suppliers like Cisco and Motorola.I don't know if they are developing a new expanded-capability DVR or not.

Usually VZ is very secretive about their future plans and we are left to draw inferences about what may transpire from current events. VZ has made vague announcements about future entertainment options, but it's a guess as to whether they will remain committed to mechanical DVRs or emphasize streaming. With the recent rollout of Quantum internet, the acquisition of Redbox, the sorry state of the current VZ VOD system, I can't help but wonder if all this isn't leading to a heavy emphasis on streaming entertainment, like a superNetflix or superHulu. I even suspect that the next DVR might be a hybrid, with DVR, cloud storage, and full streaming abilities beyond VZ's offerings, perhaps with some new partnerships.

VZ has already announced a halt to their territorial acquisition, but that still leaves about 85% of the country non-VZ, and you know they want to be there. And laying fibre is slow and expensive; so how best for a big telco to get new customers? Some kind of streaming service will give fairly quick access. It's all just supposition at this point, but the world does seem to be moving towards a stream-on-demand-rather-than-physical-media kind of operation. Fun to think about. 

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Re: DVR Limits
jorge281
Enthusiast - Level 2

I am also wondering if Verizon plans to be competitive with its competitors.  You can't blame them for the lack of anything worth watching because they don't create content, they just deliver it.  But in our household it seems that the shows that my wife and I want to watch are often on at the same time on the same night, and the limitation of two tuners on the DVR means that our big screen HDTV is unusable.  We have to head off to other rooms and older SD TV sets to watch a third or fourth program while the DVR records two more programs.  I believe that Verizon FIOS is the laggard among all the options, and the only one with the two tuner limitation.  I've been a Cablevision customer and won't go back, but DirectTV and XFinity (Comcast) are starting to look good, as is cutting the cable and getting SmartTVs.  As subscribers get more frustrated, FIOS might start to see a major exodus.

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Re: DVR Limits
sangs1
Specialist - Level 2
Get a second DVR - problem solved.
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Re: DVR Limits
optivity
Contributor - Level 3

January 7, 2013

Verizon & Motorola Partner on Next-Gen FiOS TV Media Server

http://newscenter.verizon.com/residential/news-articles/2013/01-verizon-motorola-fios-tv-media-serve...

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Re: DVR Limits
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

@sangs wrote:
Get a second DVR - problem solved.

At  an annual cost of $203.88 for anywhere in the FiOS footprint (except the NYC metro area).  Get a TIVO and cable card for improved guide listings and more tuners (only loss is ON DEMAND and other IP functions like Widgets).

Re: DVR Limits
sangs1
Specialist - Level 2

@Keyboards wrote:

@sangs wrote:
Get a second DVR - problem solved.

At  an annual cost of $203.88 for anywhere in the FiOS footprint (except the NYC metro area).  Get a TIVO and cable card for improved guide listings and more tuners (only loss is ON DEMAND and other IP functions like Widgets).


That works too. Although you're burying the costs associated with a Tivo. 🙂 

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Re: DVR Limits
Keyboards
Master - Level 3

@sangs wrote:

@Keyboards wrote:

@sangs wrote:
Get a second DVR - problem solved.

At  an annual cost of $203.88 for anywhere in the FiOS footprint (except the NYC metro area).  Get a TIVO and cable card for improved guide listings and more tuners (only loss is ON DEMAND and other IP functions like Widgets).


That works too. Although you're burying the costs associated with a Tivo. 🙂 


Well let's see, drop the existing DVR (won't need it with the increased number of tuners) and that's an annual savings of $407.76 for 2 DVRs - forevever (or at least as long as you subscribe and that cost is likely to go up in the future).  That more than covers the monthly subscription fee for TIVO and a cable card and in about 1 1/2 to 2 years you've recouped the upfront cost of the TIVO hardware.

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Re: DVR Limits
sangs1
Specialist - Level 2

And should something go wrong with the Tivo hardware (outside its warranty period) are the good folks at Tivo going to drop ship or come out and install a new replacement for free? Also, FiOS runs many DVR specials. I currently have one free for life and I know they've been running ads in my area for DVRs free for 12 months as well.

Look, I'm not trying to dump on Tivo - I give them all the credit in the world for starting the DVR craze and when I had one with Directv I enjoyed the hell out of it. It's just a bit disengenous to make it sound as if it's a huge money saver, that's all. 

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Re: DVR Limits
ocean25
Specialist - Level 1

@steeler1212 wrote:

When will Verizon expand the number of shows that can be recorded at the same time as well as watch a program.

Cablevision 4 plus 1 live, Direct 6 programs!! Will it be years before this issue is resolved? Is there no forward thinkers within the organization?


   DVR Recorders have come down in price, but I hear what you're saying!

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