Cable Card and stand alone DVR (?'s)

[Like2Plan]

We recently upgraded our internet service to one of those bundle deals with verizon. I haven't received the first bill, so I don't exactly how much it is going to be with the tax and all (one of the reasons I resisted upgrading for so long. ) but I think it is going to be roughly $20 more per month than what we had been paying for the phone/long distance and internet together. We signed up for phone/long distance/internet and basic HD channels.

We are receiving one HD box at no charge and we are renting another one for $9.99 per month. We have another TV for which we have another box (not HD) for 3.99 per month.

Verizon has Cable cards advertised on their web site for $3.99 per month. Can these cards be plugged in directly to the TV somewhere? (I don't notice any slots on my Sony's though) Do they descramble the signal without needing the HD set top box. Or, do they plug into another device you purchase--like a stand alone DVR. I don't care that the Cable card communication is only one way and you can't get on demand content (I consider that a bonus, actually. )

I would like to add a stand alone DVR--one that you don't have to pay a subscription fee (like TIVO) or rent (like 20.00/month from Verizon). I don't care if there is no online programming guide--I'm just looking for something that I can program to turn on and off at certain times (like the old vcrs). Does anyone use a stand alone DVR with a cable card? If so, what are you using to accomplish this? Those rental fees seem pretty high to me--year after year it seems like you would pay for the unit many times over.

In my research I have noticed that you can turn your "old" computer (LOL-I'm on my "old" computer) into a DVR using a TV tuner, a cable card and windows 7 media center, but I am not sure how you get your content over to your TV in that configuration.

[Like2Plan]

Does everyone who has cableor FIOS just rent a box and/or DVR instead of using a cable card?

[phantom]

Does everyone who has cableor FIOS just rent a box and/or DVR instead of using a cable card?

I don't know what "everyone" does, but that's what I do. I have FIOS and rent two boxes, one HD box for our big HD TV and one non-HD box for our little TV. I've never looked into the cable cards. I don't use a DVR because all of the programs I watch are either sporting events that I don't care to see if I can't see them live, available on demand, or replayed several times during the week.

[Like2Plan]

I don't know what "everyone" does, but that's what I do. I have FIOS and rent two boxes, one HD box for our big HD TV and one non-HD box for our little TV. I've never looked into the cable cards. I don't use a DVR because all of the programs I watch are either sporting events that I don't care to see if I can't see them live, available on demand, or replayed several times during the week.

Thx Phantom,
Have you been happy with your FIOS service?

[phantom]

Thx Phantom,
Have you been happy with your FIOS service?

Not entirely. When it working, it's great. But, we've had some problems with it.

We had some issues when we first went to HD. We didn't realize that the basic HD package had fewer channels than the old basic package that we had been grandfathered into. So, we lost some of our favorite channels when we "upgraded," and their system wasn't set up to be able to give us our old package back. After several angry phone calls, we got them to give us a new package with the channels we lost and a statement credit to make up the difference in cost, and after several more angry phone calls we got them to actually give us the promised credit. So, it all worked out in the end, but it was a huge hassle.

Then the box that connects our house to the FIOS service started failing. About once a week, we would come home to find our internet service was gone. We would have to call, go through their automated process of resetting the router (which never worked), convince a CSR that resetting the router again wouldn't help, and convince the CSR to remotely reset the box that needed to be reset. After this happened several times, we convinced them to replace the box, which didn't help because the replacement box was also faulty. But, once we convinced them to replace the replacement box, that did fix the problem.

If I thought we'd have better luck with another company, I might switch. But, I've heard enough horror stories to be convinced that the competition is no better customer service wise, and I really do like Verizon FIOS it's working. The TV picture quality is good, the on screen menus are intuitive and easy to use, and the internet is always fast (when it works). But, if my husband and I weren't so attached to watching baseball and hockey on TV, we might drop the TV service all together and be done with the cost and the hassle.

[Like2Plan]

If I thought we'd have better luck with another company, I might switch. But, I've heard enough horror stories to be convinced that the competition is no better customer service wise, and I really do like Verizon FIOS it's working. The TV picture quality is good, the on screen menus are intuitive and easy to use, and the internet is always fast (when it works). But, if my husband and I weren't so attached to watching baseball and hockey on TV, we might drop the TV service all together and be done with the cost and the hassle.

I know what you mean. We've never had cable before and I feel like maybe I've gone over to the dark side. Used to be I could only get 2 channels and the programming is pretty lame during the day--so there were no distractions to get going. We have a bunch of home rennovation projects coming up so I find myself watching HGTV a lot. (I keep hoping they'll run out of new episodes). It's actually given me some ideas on our kitchen makeover, though.