20 Mbps, baby!
We just got FiOS. Hooray for us.
So far, it seems to be a big step up from our old DSL connection. In fact, my DSL now reminds me of my blazing fast 1.5 KB/second dial up connection of 1997. So far, it works great with Airport, and took all of 20 seconds to switch the base station over. It also has a 5Mbps/s upload speed, which is pretty darn sweet too.
One thing I DID have to do though, was download Apple’s “Broadband Tuner 1.0″ and install it on my Mac Pro. The Mac Pro is connected directly to Verizon’s router via ethernet, which is apparently the issue. The Tuner reduces latency for hard wired connections like FiOS, but you don’t need to install this on CPU’s connecting via Wi-Fi though, and in fact Apple recommends NOT doing so. Before I installed that Broadband Tuner Update, my upload speed was fine at 5Mbps, but my downloads topped out around 5-6 Mbps, even though I was provisioned for 20.
After the install (and a reboot) I now get 20 on every speed test I can fine.
The FiOS TV seems to be pretty nice as well. I’m coming from a DISH TV background, and while Verizon’s DVR has some quirks compared to the DISH one, it seems like a pretty solid initial offering that can (hopefully) be fixed by some software updates. I’m really just posting this because I am so happy with the new speed and thought I’d gloat a bit, but if anyone has any questions about FiOS, leave me a comment, and I’ll try my best to answer it.
-The Doc
also just got FiOS. much better than the comcast deal i switched from imo.
FiOS’s dvr interface is pretty good, though i’ve never used tivo…
I just checked the Verison website. And it states that you need to have xxx space available on your drive. That’s all fine with me. BUT do they insist in running software on your computer to make it work???
Or can I just hook up my own router to their modem and manage my own network ????
FiOS is amazing in many aspects. We’ve had FiOS internet access for about a year and TV for ~4 months. If you receive the same quality of service we get you will very very rarely have any trouble with your connection. Even though the random dropped connections of DSL and Cable are typically temporary, they are a nuisance – you should pretty much never see this happen with FiOS. That goes for TV as well.
The DVR used to have a horrible interface, but since almost everyone is on the new interface, there isn’t much to complain about. Not only is the DVR easy to navigate, but it looks amazing. Its a better offering than any other DVR I’ve had the misfortune to use (never used a Tivo, so can’t tell there). It does have its quirks, but Verizon acknowledges them and promises continued effort on the software. Verizon has also said they expect to offer viewing and scheduling DVR programs from a PC early next year.
To get to the point, though, you’re going to love FiOS.
Rogier,
Yeah, they kind of try to install stuff, but they don’t push it. On the Windows PC side, it seems the installers have a thumb drive they use to load a bunch of useless crap on and make it easier for them to set up your router/modem. From my conversation with the tech, it seems it is the kind of thing that just brands your browser, so there is a Verizon icon on your Internet Explorer, Start Menu/Desktop, and Verizon is your homepage, etc.
Since that wouldn’t work on the Mac anyway, they used their own Toughbook to set everything up here.
You are supposed to download something, a small app, that helps activate the FiOs on the Mac side, but for whatever reason we didn’t, and I seem to be up and running fine.
One thing I DID have to do though, was install Apple’s “Broadband Tuner 1.0″ and install it on my Mac Pro. Since my Mac Pro is connected directly to their router via ethernet, this was necessary. It reduces latency for hard wired connections. You don’t need to install this on CPU’s connecting via Wi-Fi though, and in fact Apple recommend NOT doing so. Before I installed that Broadband Tuner Update, my upload speed was fine at 5Mbps, but my downloads topped out around 5-6 Mbps, even though I was provisioned for 20.
After the install (and a reboot) I now get 20 on every speed test I can fine.
Hope that helps. (Maybe I should add this to the main article, since many people do not read comments…)
-The Doc
Is Fios similar to cable? I just got a 30Mb cable connection and most times I download from the Apple site at 3.1 MBps but occasionally at just 500k. Is the Broadband tuner for cable too? and should I install it on my G5 tower?
Just got FiOS TV last week. Pass on the mult-room DVR — it’s junk. I wasn’t able to find much info about it online, but I decided to give it a whirl and see what it was all about. If you have a hi-def tv and appreciate hi-def video, this service is not for you.
Here are a couple factoids about FiOS multiroom/media center that you’ll be hard pressed to find elsewhere:
1) If you record a show in hi-def, you WILL NOT be able to view it on anther TV.
2) You cannot program or record any content from a TV other than the unit where the multi-room dvr is sitting. So if it’s late at night and you want to record something on TV — put on your slippers, because unless you’re at the primary TV, you can’t do it…
3) Media Center is ok… for Windows. If you use OS X and have become accustomed to high-quality slide shows and media integration, this is not for you. I tried media center using a VM and it worked fine. It’s just really, really lame.
4) If you’re converting from a dual-tuner satellite rig, be sure to ask the technician to connect both cables to FiOS. In addition to the one plugged into the cable box, you can plug the other directly into your TV (SDTV or HDTV) and view standard and hi-def content straight off the cable. Great for those of you with PiP. Also gives you another watchable stream if both DVR tuners are busy recording.
5) Coming from TiVO, the remote isn’t great, but it does do a decent job as a multifunctional remote to control all the vital functions of your entertainment center.
6) Only one cable is required per box — DVR or not. Satellite with dual-tuner DVRs require two cable runs.
7) The FiOS cable boxes get access to your local network and the Internet by being connected to the coax port on your FiOS actiontec router.
8) At this time, the Sling Box doesn’t have an exact remote for the FiOS set-top boxes. Not sure about how well it controls the boxes — I’ll know more this week.
9) FiOS HD channels are excellent! Internet is excellent!
10) There’s no way that I know of to turn-off channels in the Guide that you have no interest in scrolling thru everytime. There’s a favorites feature, but we all know the first button everyone likes to push is the prominently featured GUIDE button. Verizon: if FAVORITES is such an obvious solution, then why not give this button prominence over the GUIDE button? Or allow a way to switch…
That’s all for now. If you have any questions, please feel free to drop me an e-mail. HTH
RAK