Question about all our old TVs

[epw]

Our family is at a crossroad.  We have been using Comcast standard TV distribution, and all of the TVs in our house are (analog) cable ready.  We are interested in changing our service to include the digital and HD channels.  We know we don't want satellite, and we'd prefer not to have a set-top box for anything, but we're willing to endure the box for TV in the living room.  I have been asking Verizon when FIOS will be available in our neighborhood for nearly a year now, and I am not pleased with their inability to project a date...  so we're considering going with Comcast digital, including internet, digital TV, and phone.  I know that with Comcast, the remaining TVs in the house will still pick up analog cable, while the living room gets the digital stuff... minimal intrusion of boxes, and the analog stuff still works.  My hope would be that FIOS terminates at the house, and that distribution through the existing cables in the house would operate just like cable, with both analog and digital channels.

I am hoping you can tell me...

1)  Is FIOS worth waiting for?

2)  With FIOS, will all of the remaining analog TVs stop working?

3)  With FIOS, willl I need a box for every TV?  Will the boxes work for our old analog TVs?


Thanks

EPW

[Mposadastx]

Our family is at a crossroad.  We have been using Comcast standard TV distribution, and all of the TVs in our house are (analog) cable ready.  We are interested in changing our service to include the digital and HD channels.  We know we don't want satellite, and we'd prefer not to have a set-top box for anything, but we're willing to endure the box for TV in the living room.  I have been asking Verizon when FIOS will be available in our neighborhood for nearly a year now, and I am not pleased with their inability to project a date...  so we're considering going with Comcast digital, including internet, digital TV, and phone.  I know that with Comcast, the remaining TVs in the house will still pick up analog cable, while the living room gets the digital stuff... minimal intrusion of boxes, and the analog stuff still works.  My hope would be that FIOS terminates at the house, and that distribution through the existing cables in the house would operate just like cable, with both analog and digital channels.

I am hoping you can tell me...

1)  Is FIOS worth waiting for?

2)  With FIOS, will all of the remaining analog TVs stop working?

3)  With FIOS, willl I need a box for every TV?  Will the boxes work for our old analog TVs?


Thanks

EPW

question number 1:

i only know enough to tell you that fios tv is still being "worked" on.
to my understanding there's new features comming up in 07 in regards to the tv guide
i have seen screenshots and it looks amazing
also the media manager has been implemented, which lets you choose several folders in your computer to be viewed on your dvr so you can play music and view pictures on your tv.
a neat feature i think, for those who have a sorround sound system in the home.
so yeah....
just little perks like that.
i'd say it can only get better
but who knows at this point.

question number 2:

you CAN hook up your tv's without a set top box but you would only recieve the local channels.

question number 3:

you won't have to get rid of the old tv's
verizon uses motorola set top boxes
much like the cable companies.


hope this helps...

[NealA]

1)  Is FIOS worth waiting for?
Yes, the digital signal quality is great and will even make your old analog TV look better.


2)  With FIOS, will all of the remaining analog TVs stop working?

Depends on where you live.  In Oregon Verizon Fios TV is ONLY carrying DIGITAL signals, no analog as the rest of the country is getting, at least until Feb 2009.  You will need a digital-to-analog converter box to be able to use your old analog TVs.  Verizon claims that they have the only box (Motorola DCT-700) that will work with their FIOS TV, contrary to what I've read on this forum and Verizon's own website.  They charge an extra $3.99/mo for the box.  OF course they don't tell you that when you sign up for FIOS TV.

The federal government has a coupon program for $40 toward the purchase of qualified converter boxes that you can purchase at most electronic stores like Best Buy, Circuit City, RadioShack.  The price averages about 59.99, and with the $40 coupon will only cost you $19.99.  See these website for more details, www.dtv.gov and www.ntiadtv.gov,


3)  With FIOS, willl I need a box for every TV?  Will the boxes work for our old analog TVs?

Yes, you will need a box for every TV, regardless if its analog or digital.  See answer to #2 above.

[pfh]

regarding question 3:  You DO NOT need a box if your TV has a digital tuner.  I've got a kitchen TV with a straight coax connection receiving 18 local digital channels in SD and HD!  Your provider is required to provide local digital channels, however, they are not required to upgrade all your tv's that have analog tuners that can't receive digital signals.  I know it's a little confusing.  Another little less talked about issue is the fact that many digital tuners also have QAM ability but not nesc. a cable card slot.  Even though it isn't listed in advertising specs.  QAM is a way of allowing your digital tuner assign and separate the providers assigned channels.  That is to say, you'll see assigned numbers like 9-0, 9-1, 9-2, 7-1, 5-2, etc.  These corraspond to the digital equivalent of the exisitng analog numbers like 9, 7, 5, etc.  QAM + cable card allows two way and scrambled content communication with your provider.