Questions about FiOS TV conversion to Digital Service

[Jaime_Lee]

Congress has mandated that all television broadcasting be transitioned by June 12, 2009.  Verizon has already converted to 100% digital TV.  This means that if your TV is an older model, it may need additional equipment (such adapter DCT 700) as so that it can receive the digital signals that TV networks will broadcast.  You can purchase digital adapters by calling 1-888-591-6075. 

To place an order on your verizon.com account, follow these steps:

  1.  Go to:   https://www22.verizon.com/myverizon/

  2.  Sign In.

  3.  Choose the 'My Services' Tab, and select 'My TV' from the menu.

  4.  Select the 'Add/Return Equipment' link under the My TV Equipment section.

[skierrob2]

I am disappointed that an administrator would post this.  {please keep your posts courteous}  Congress did not mandate that all cable tv programming be digital by June 12.  The FCC only mandated that analog OVER THE AIR broadcasting cease by June 12.

My cable company still broadcasts analog signals, for example, and will do so for years to come.

Forcing people to get a digital converter for FIOS was a choice of Verizon's.  Not a congressional mandate.  Not something they had to do except to possibly get more bandwidth since an analog channel's signal takes more space than a digital one.  That, and it's a profit center for Verizon by charging $4 per month for these boxes.

Please remove your inaccurate post or correct it to be accurate.

Message Edited by ElizabethS on 06-25-2009 04:22 PM

Message Edited by skierrob2 on 06-25-2009 04:27 PM

[CharlesH]

All cable companys will be switching to a "digital" signal (QAM).  Comcast (and other cable companys) has already started this in several markets.

[skierrob2]

Please see this article for more information of what I am talking about:  http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2008-12-17-digital-cable_N.htm?csp=34

I quote..... "Cable TV operators' decision to move analog channels to digital frees them to use their network bandwidth for more high-definition content and other services. It is not related to the national switch to digital broadcasting. Regulators are investigating whether providers are misleading customers into thinking the two events are linked, which could prompt more people to opt for digital video services."

[Keyboards]

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@skierrob2 wrote:

Forcing people to get a digital converter for FIOS was a choice of Verizon's.  Not a congressional mandate.  Not something they had to do except to possibly get more bandwidth since an analog channel's signal takes more space than a digital one.  That, and it's a profit center for Verizon by charging $4 per month for these boxes.

Please remove your inaccurate post or correct it to be accurate.

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Actually, Verizon got several concessions from the FCC by agreeing to go all digital (i.e. - delaying the requirement for separable security for STBs).  So it is half true at least.

[prisaz]

Verizon has required the use of a Set Top Box or Digital Adapter since they went all digital last year. Verizon has always been 100% digital and only provided the Analog Channels as a convenience to customers, and then dropped them last year, yes to provide more HD. At that time you could have called the GoDigital phone number they provided to get the DCT-700 for free as long as you had FIOS service. I think the posting was to let customers know that they can call the phone number provided, to get these devices, if the customer chooses to add these TVs that were recieving broadcast channels prior to June 12, and not connected to FIOS. The GoDigital phone number is no longer active.

Of course people can get the ATSC convertor box to continue to get broadcast channels from and antenna, or get the FIOS box and connect the TV to FIOS they already have.

Jamie Lee Posted "Congress has mandated that all television broadcasting be transitioned by June 12, 2009. "

Many cable companies are going all digital now to get the same benifit. But they are playing catch up.

Message Edited by prisaz on 06-27-2009 08:54 PM

[arg24]

     What is most disturbing was that I and many customers were under the impression that the conversion boxes would be free,  but verizon charges 3.99/mon per box.  I even remember reading VZ ad's that state it was free, but, surprise,  that may have been only in specific markets where it was enforced by law (New York).  You'll note this is omitted in the fine print.   The sales person on the phone was also vague as he possiblely could be when it came to what I was getting with the adaptor,  as a he thought it was a set top box .     

It is a shame the VZ viewpoint is that way,  it deters customers,  and leads them to look elsewhere.   

   ( Perhaps that is why they have the new termination fee's)  

[arg24]

I found the link that Verizon was using to give free digital adaptors.   2 Free DCT 700 - "Free for life" digital set top boxes.   ( no dates or deadlines posted,  so offer stlll should be good.)  

  http://teleproducts.verizon.com/godigital/

If you called in to customer service like I did,  you pay the $3.99 a month for life per box.   

[Keyboards]

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@arg24 wrote:

I found the link that Verizon was using to give free digital adaptors.   2 Free DCT 700 - "Free for life" digital set top boxes.   ( no dates or deadlines posted,  so offer stlll should be good.)  

  http://teleproducts.verizon.com/godigital/

If you called in to customer service like I did,  you pay the $3.99 a month for life per box.   

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AFAIK the GoDIGITAL promotion ended around the end of 2008 (maybe a little off on the date, but it definitely ended).  I believe for VHO8 (my area) that it ended around the end of October 2008 - varied by when each VHO converted to all digital.

EDIT:  Following your link and then following the link on that page one gets the following:

Thanks for visiting the Verizon Go Digital website. Verizon's digital conversion is complete. You can now visit us online at www.verizon.com/myaccount/ to place an order for any equipment you may need or to get more information.

This offer was only for the initial period when Verizon transitioned to all digital (note the copyright on the page you linked to is 2008!).  That was completed and the offer has long since expired.

Message Edited by Keyboards on 08-24-2009 10:14 AM

[arg24]

I see.  So  I and many other customers could have saved  $189.36   ( 2 adaptors @7.89  x 24months )  if we had gone thru a website and not called customer service as was in the letters.  Lesson learned.  

hum..   I understand I am renting the adaptors and not actually purchasing them as stated above.  (purchase digital adapters by calling 1-888-591-6075),  So I can return or replace them at anytime,  so technically it must not be much of a profit center for verizon.