FIOS TV one Clock Display

[RLutwk]

While it doesn't get much fanfare, accurate timing is one of the most valuable services that FIOS provides (it makes everything else possible). The Verizon timing network is the envy of the high-speed communications world. From dedicated long-haul point-to-point fibers, to cesium beam frequency standards in central offices, to the fiber in your basement, your FIOS TV one box probably knows what time it is to within a few tens of microseconds.  This is a magnificent demonstration of technology and human accomplishment. Kudos to the engineers and technologists for the development and maintenance of this remarkable capability, which we customers pay for with each monthly bill. 

The time display on my TV set-top box is my little window into this magnificent technology.  The time is trustworthy and resilient, it always gets daylight savings right and resets itself accurately after a power outage. I'll also admit to unabashed technophilia - I don't need milllisecond timing in the bedroom, but it's cool to have.  

Removing the time display from the TV one box was not only dumb, it was also stupid. The Verizon Marketing department should be replaced for incompetence. If they don't recognize the marketing value of having "Millisecond Time by Verizon" in my continuous view, they should consider alternative careers.

I can't come up with a stupid enough metaphor - a stereo without speakers? a beer keg with no tap? A TV with no screen?  None of these are dumb enough.  We're talking about $2 worth of parts in something for which you're charging me $10/month.

If this is all about the size of the box, then how about giving us time out of the USB port and an aftermarket choice of clock displays to sit on top of it?

[clem21]

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@user4321 wrote:

While it doesn't get much fanfare, accurate timing is one of the most valuable services that FIOS provides (it makes everything else possible). The Verizon timing network is the envy of the high-speed communications world. From dedicated long-haul point-to-point fibers, to cesium beam frequency standards in central offices, to the fiber in your basement, your FIOS TV one box probably knows what time it is to within a few tens of microseconds.  This is a magnificent demonstration of technology and human accomplishment. Kudos to the engineers and technologists for the development and maintenance of this remarkable capability, which we customers pay for with each monthly bill. 

The time display on my TV set-top box is my little window into this magnificent technology.  The time is trustworthy and resilient, it always gets daylight savings right and resets itself accurately after a power outage. I'll also admit to unabashed technophilia - I don't need milllisecond timing in the bedroom, but it's cool to have.  

Removing the time display from the TV one box was not only dumb, it was also stupid. The Verizon Marketing department should be replaced for incompetence. If they don't recognize the marketing value of having "Millisecond Time by Verizon" in my continuous view, they should consider alternative careers.

I can't come up with a stupid enough metaphor - a stereo without speakers? a beer keg with no tap? A TV with no screen?  None of these are dumb enough.  We're talking about $2 worth of parts in something for which you're charging me $10/month.

If this is all about the size of the box, then how about giving us time out of the USB port and an aftermarket choice of clock displays to sit on top of it?

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The Fios One boxes are a stock item from Arris. Verizon had NOTHING to do with their design, they only purchased them from Arris. You need to give Arris a hard time about the clock, as it was their choice to eliminate it. You can still get the time if you shut off the box and look at the screensaver though, as inconvenient as it may be. Or get an atomic clock, which is as accurate as the Verizon was.

[dexman]

I don't know if the decision to remove the ToD clock is Verizon's or not. The company may simply go with whatever the manufacturer (Arris) offers.

With the ongoing steady decline in cable TV subscribers, I'm not sure if future STBs will have much in the way of innovating features. 🤔

[dexman]

With Commscope prepared to jettison its consumer product division, the name on STBs will likely change to something else.

[yamvmax]

There are clocks everywhere these days.

[RLutwk]

I'm kind of liking the idea of a clock display that plugs into the USB on the back of the TV one box and sits on top. Then I could pick something that matches the decor and function of the installation.  Verizon (or Arris) would need to provide firmware support for this.

[gs0b · Accepted solution]

Do you have a cell phone?  It's clock is synced to NIST's Ft. Collins CO master clock through the GPS timing receivers in the cell networks.  Unless you're Gibbs using a 1990's flip phone on a soon to be decommissioned network.  🙂

Another option is to buy an "atomic" clock.  They all sync to NIST using WWVB.  I've a La Crosse weather/time station on my desk that does this.  Cost about $40 on Amazon and is way more useful than the clock I used to have on my set-tops.

[dexman]

The WWVB option would depend upon the OP's location. Here in the Boston area it has been more than a year since any of my devices have been able to pick up the transmission from the station.

At one point, there was a discussion to have another transmitter erected in Alabama, but the plan fell through.