FiOS TV Dual Tuners?

[Jjjakal]

We got the whole FiOS package earlier today, finally all set up, and I love the speed of the internet, I love the phone, but I have yet to be amused by the TV. 

I like all the features Verizon offers, but what about Dual Tuners?  I have no idea how to work them, and cant find any place on the internet that tells how. 

How can I simply pause one tuner, and switch to the other to watch a different show?

[NawthShaw]

I don't think you can (despite the misleading existence of a toggle button for just that purpose, in the lower righthand corner of the remote).  By "dual tuners," FiOS simply means that you can select (from the on-screen Guide) a program to record in the background, on one channel - with no live viewing privileges! - while watching and/or recording a different channel in the foreground.  And, of course, you also can record on both tuners, simultaneously, while viewing a previously recorded show.  But, unlike Comcast's "Swap"-button feature, the FiOS "Change" button is but an inert hoax.


As for FiOS' ability to pause live programming on its lone live tuner, let me say this about that: Have you noticed that the "pause" effect lasts only 20 minutes - even though the buffer maxes out at 45 minutes (just half the time afforded by each of Comcast's two live tuners, by the way) - and that, if the FiOS pause feature expires before you've had a chance to release it manually, it jumps you ahead to present time (rather than proceeding along, at a 20-minute lag)?


Question 1): If FiOS furnishes the same dual-tuner Motorola DVR that Comcast provides, and its remote already includes the necessary tuner-changing button, why the devil can't they activate the flaming feature that would allow us former Comcasters to continue to flip-flop/pause between two live tuners?


Question 2): If FiOS furnishes the same dual-tuner Motorola DVR that Comcast provides, why can't each live tuner's buffer max out at a more generous 90 minutes (instead of the currently stingy 45 minutes)?


Question 3): Regardless of the buffer-length, why on earth can't the "live" pause feature last for precisely that duration (instead of bailing out, after an arbitrary 20 minutes that doesn't even allow for a decent plumbing, uh, "pitstop")?


Question 4): And, if FiOS furnishes the same dual-tuner Motorola DVR that Comcast provides, why the blazes does an expiring "live" pause, then, auto-release forward to present time (thus, requiring me to rewind back through the buffer, in a usually vain attempt to locate my original point-of-reference)?  Had I desired "here-and-now" viewing, I wouldn't have bothered pausing, in the first place!!!  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/pinkno.gif)  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/thumbdown.gif)

[Justin]

I don't think you can (despite the misleading existence of a toggle button for just such purpose, in the lower righthand corner of the remote).  By "dual tuners," FiOS simply means that you can select (from the on-screen Guide) a program to record in the background, on one channel - with no live viewing privileges! - while watching and/or recording a different channel in the foreground.  And, of course, you also can record on both tuners, simultaneously, while viewing a previously recorded show.  But, unlike Comcast's "Swap"-button feature, the FiOS "Change" button is but an inert hoax.

I don't understand your statements, could you please explain further? I regularly:

1) Watch two channels (not recording anything), flipping between them using the "Last" button, or looking at others. When I do this there is limited or no ability to go back and watch earlier portions of any channel, as the Verizon DVR only starts temporarily saving a channel in the buffer when you switch to it.

2) Record one channel and watch it or others. I can then go back and view ealier parts of the recorded channel, to the point where I began recording it.

3) Record two channels and flip between them. I can then go back and view ealier parts of either recorded channel, back to the point where I first began recording each. When two channels are being recorded, I cannot watch another channel, but I can watch another pre-recorded program.

Of course at the end I have to delete the recordings if I don't want to keep them.

My experience seems to contradict at least some of your statements.

[NawthShaw]

What you're extolling as virtues, are merely poor man's work-arounds to compensate for some of FiOS' DVR deficiencies.  How do I know this?  Because, as a longtime Comcast customer who's recently converted to FiOS, I'm aware of the capabilities of that particular Motorola DVR model (used by both companies).


The "Last" button is no substitute for the Comcast remote's "Swap" button (comparable, instead, to the FiOS remote's unnecessarily de-activated "Change" button).  As you, yourself, have noted, employing the "Last" button, erases any buffer that may have existed for the program you are departing; whereas, the program you are revisiting, already has lost its buffer, and must establish a new one (that you'll only just purge, when, yet again, you hit "Last").


On the other hand, Comcast's "Swap" button allows you to flip back-and-forth, between two channels - each of which, in turn, you can pause, if you wish - without losing either buffer, in the process.  This is especially helpful, in the case of "spontaneous" events that are not pre-programmed into the Guide for recording purposes; e.g., a breaking news item, such as a terrorist attack, an assassination attempt, or a weather catastrophe.  "Swap" allows you to pause, or begin recording, something you were in the middle of watching, in order to toggle over to a news channel that's covering the news eruption; likewise, you might want to juggle between opposing perspectives, as reflected by competing news organisations both covering a sudden, dramatic event or, for example, a state funeral.  These are topical items that not only don't lend themselves to recording and, later, watching in reheated form, but, quite often, simply can't be recorded, because of their unexpected - and, therefore, unpre-programmed - nature.


I'm afraid that having to resort to the "Last" key, and falling back on recording everything else, is rather like beating my clothes against a rock down by the river, after I've become accustomed to the functionality of an automatic washer-and-dryer (i.e., Comcast's "Swap" key).  This, alas, would not be so infuriating, if not for the fact that FiOS' dual-tuner Motorola DVR, in conjunction with the "Change" key on its remote, is as capable of this feature as Comcast's, but for its wilful de-activation.  What's more, the FiOS sales rep who dealt with me, chose to misrepresent this particular function, when I sought specific clarification.



By the way, which aspect of my prior post - as illustrated by the portion that you quoted, at the beginning of your own post - contradicts your experience? when, in fact, your bullets 2) and 3):

2) Record one channel and watch it or others. I can then go back and view ealier parts of the recorded channel, to the point where I began recording it.

3) Record two channels and flip between them. I can then go back and view ealier parts of either recorded channel, back to the point where I first began recording each. When two channels are being recorded, I cannot watch another channel, but I can watch another pre-recorded program.

. . . seem to corroborate my statement (again, as quoted by you, yourself):

I don't think you can (despite the misleading existence of a toggle button for just such purpose, in the lower righthand corner of the remote).  By "dual tuners," FiOS simply means that you can select (from the on-screen Guide) a program to record in the background, on one channel - with no live viewing privileges! - while watching and/or recording a different channel in the foreground.  And, of course, you also can record on both tuners, simultaneously, while viewing a previously recorded show.  But, unlike Comcast's "Swap"-button feature, the FiOS "Change" button is but an inert hoax. . . .

Now, I'm confused . . . !  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/yelrotflmao.gif)


Remember, Jjjakal asked, "How can I simply pause one tuner, and switch to the other to watch a different show?"  He didn't want to know, "How do I trash one crime-show's suspenseful buffer, in order to catch the late ball scores on the fly?"  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/winkani.gif)


Still, none of this, ultimately, addresses the "live" pause issues I also have with FiOS, . . . .

[Justin]

By the way, which aspect of my prior post - as illustrated by the portion that you quoted, at the beginning of your own post - contradicts your experience?

Well, the one where you said "By 'dual tuners,' FiOS simply means that you can select (from the on-screen Guide) a program to record in the background, on one channel - with no live viewing privileges! - while watching and/or recording a different channel in the foreground" (my highlighting and underlining). I don't understand what "no live viewing privileges" means; I can record one and watch it, switch to and from it at any time and watch it, or record two at one time and switch between them at will for "live viewing privileges." At least as I understand the terms. But maybe "live viewing privileges" means something else...

As to the "live buffer" stuff, maybe I am just not as dedicated a TV viewer as you are, but I suspect I represent a very large majority of the viewers out there; we just want to be able to watch programs, switch between channels, and record a program or two when we want; "live buffer" just isn't that important.

If the scenario of a disaster should occur as you desribed, when I became aware of it and if I really wanted to be able to go back and watch what I had been, I would simply 1) begin recording it and then 2) go watch the disaster. So simple, easy to do, I truely don't understand what benefit you think you would see, other than maybe one less key press.

As to others (Comcast) have the funcionality you want but Verizon not having it, my understanding is that the original programming for the Verizon DVR was done my Microsoft, and the new guide is being done inhouse. Who did Comcast's? Maybe they just used a smarter programming outfit.

If Verizon chooses to fix the issues you have, fine, won't help (or hurt me), but I suggest maybe the best thing to do for you would be to go back to Comcast and then you would have your wonderful "live buffer." I have things I am far more interested in getting: specifically, more HD channels and HD VOD.

[NawthShaw]

Well, because I have neither the eyesight nor the video rig to appreciate HD, I suppose I care as much about HD penetration, as you care about dual buffers.  I guess I just didn't realise  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/dunno.gif)  , though, that Verizon can't walk and chew gum, at the same time (especially since, as I've observed before, the FiOS equipment already has dual-buffer capability that simply needs re-activation).


I, personally, would have thought it in Verizon's best interests, to retain as many as possible, those Comcast customers that have been seduced by the expanded FiOS channel-offerings.  But, no,   (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/duh.gif)   . . . I'm beginning to realise that, by far, the more successful business model, is to de-activate, gratuitously, box/remote features to which former Comcasters have become accustomed, and, then - by all means! - mislead these pigeons with promised services that, in fact, have been discarded.  After that, be sure to pit old customer against new, by making each believe that any advancement in the other's preferred technological direction, is coming at guess-whose expense.  Mission accomplished!


For good measure, however, don't forget to charge an à la carte fee for almost every On Demand movie listing (no matter how pathetically shopworn) - yes, Tatum O'Neal, of Little Darlings fame, this sly reference tolls, resoundingly, for the likes of thee! - even though the customer in question already doles out for the most comprehensive subscription movie-package configuration offered (which, in itself, should exempt said customer from any O/D movie fee not associated with a very recent theatrical release).  No doubt about it, . . . nickel-and-diming new customers for that which used to be gratis, over at the competition, is just the ticket for elevated retention rates.  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/yellownod.gif)  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/Incredulous.gif)


Believe you me, a Comcast homecoming, yet, may be in my future, although - given the involved song-and-dance of my recent FiOS installation (as well as my desire, in any event, to retain FiOS internet) - I'm rather disinclined to revert to Comcast, until an anticipated household move, about six months from now (when wiring considerations, under blank-slate conditions, won't seem so overwhelming).  By that time, I'll have decided whether Verizon's making enough progress toward perfecting those TV features that matter most to me; factored into which decision, will be how many of FiOS' extra channels I end up considering indispensable (quite possibly, none).


Needless to say, had my FiOS sales rep been either more candid, or better informed, concerning my quite specific performance-related questions, I might have left well enough alone, and postponed all such conversion decisions 'til the scheduled move.

[Justin]

What a BS Rant. Not worth crap. Please, please, please go back to Comcast ASAP and leave us satisfied FiOS customers in our ignorant peace. Please...

[NawthShaw]

. . . [L]eave us satisfied FiOS customers in our ignorant peace. Please...

You said it; I didn't . . . !  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/SpewingLiquid.gif)



So, enlighten me, if you would (oh, y^e of 38-posts-and-counting), . . . .  This forum is confined, exclusively, to testimonials from satisfied customers ("True Believers," if you will)?  This message board was not intended as a troubleshooting medium, as well as an outlet to vent and/or lobby for some (IMO) much-needed FiOS improvements?


Still, I'm not altogether certain why you're taking, so very personally, my particular criticisms of FiOS TV's functionality (as though I were insulting your mother's honor)!  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/dunno.gif)  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/pinkno.gif)


But, then, I see that I, in turn, shouldn't hasten to take your slurs, toward me, personally, either, inasmuch as you appear to have anger-management issues (http://http:/www.fiberexperts.com/forums/index.php/topic,267.msg770.html#msg770) with anyone who dares to cast aspersions upon your chosen viewing platform:

http:/www.fiberexperts.com/forums/index.php/topic,267.0.html (http://http:/www.fiberexperts.com/forums/index.php/topic,267.0.html)

Perhaps, poor hessian (http://http:/www.fiberexperts.com/forums/index.php?action=profile;u=531) and I should form a support group for "Verbally Abused n00bs," . . . .  (http://http:/www.boomspeed.com/carshaw/bulbidea.gif)