Verizon FIOS or Comcast Cable?

[Burgundy Burner]

Ok, I've had Comcast for eleven years now (TV - eight on the cable modem) and just learned that FIOS will be installed in this neighborhood next month. I saw the other thread, but wanted to get varying and honest opinions.

Which do you think is better? I have basic/extended service on the TV and FIOS may offer more HD (especially local affiliates) on their basic package.

[Mark The Homer]

I still don't have HD - but I would say FiOS is better because it has more channels. It also has the NFL network.

[MattFancy]

don't get comcast!!! i haven't had fios, but comcast is horrible. they don't have as many hd channels as directv and their service is crap!

[HOF44]

Get FIOS and never look back.

[Burgundy Burner]

For anyone who has FIOS - what is your take?

Thanks for the responses.

[Who Del]

I had FIOS previously before I had Comcast.

And when I say it's finitely better, I mean it's FINITELY better.

[hokie4redskins]

FIOS and it's not even close. Better HD quality. I spend roughly the same per month with FIOS as I did with Comcast but now I have all the HD movie channels.

Internet-wise, I guess it's slower than Comcast, but not enough to notice.

One draw back though, FIOS customer service seems incompetent. But then, so was Comcast's.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

And make sure you get your services bundled. Much cheaper that way.

[Mufumonk]

For anyone who has FIOS - what is your take?

Thanks for the responses.


FIOS all the way. The picture quality is much better than Comcast's. The internet speeds are faster as well.

[LegionOfDoom]

I love the FIOS! I had Comcast before and I will never go back.

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

FIOS or Directv?

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

fios or directv?

fios.

[JetSkins]

how is it not available where i live in fairfax? do most apartment complexes not have it?

[.Guy.]

My parents have Fios and I have comcast.

Verizon customer service is 100% inept. We got incorrect bills every other month, they dont show up when service is requested. Just generally a bad experience. Also the internet is SLOW compared to comasts. The ****ty router combo thing they gave us dies all the time and needs to be reset. POS cant handle a load. I mean it may be able to download a file at 2.0mbps vs my 768K but it pings way slower then comcast so a webpage in comast will load in .3 seconds verses .8 in fios.

Comcast on the other has been nothing but perfect for me. They come out fix stuff the next day and when they say so... bill has always been correct and they even suggest ways to make it lower. I like comcast.

Fios was good when everyone didn't have it... they are overloaded now and its apparent from the slide in the quality of service.

so Comcast > Fios

[FLRedskins]

I can not stand comcast worst customer service ever!!

[DallasBlowsBig]

is FIOS available in all areas?

[Forehead]

I have Comcast and can't really say I have too many complaints. Some disagreements here and there, but nothing too major. Overall, I wouldn't call them awful, and the techs who have come out have been good. It's kind of expensive though.

What are the costs for FIOS service once all the deals and everything are not in play?

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

is FIOS available in all areas?
No. Not yet.

Click this link to see if it's available in your area.

http://www22.verizon.com/Residential/FiOSTV/Check_Availability/Check_Availability.htm

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

What are the costs for FIOS service once all the deals and everything are not in play?
Much cheaper than Comcast due to the fact that most folks bundle thier services.

[Gator Bait]

I hate Comcast with a passion! They screw up my bill every month. I have a Samsung 1080p TV w/ comcast HD...and I think my picture is flawless....so I can't see how FIOS could be better. But FIOS seems to offer more HD channels and the whole house DVR (I currently pay $40 a month for my two HD DVRs)

I can't see how FIOS could be any worse than comcast when it comes to anything...so I'm making the switch.

[MattFancy]

I have Comcast and can't really say I have too many complaints. Some disagreements here and there, but nothing too major. Overall, I wouldn't call them awful, and the techs who have come out have been good. It's kind of expensive though.

What are the costs for FIOS service once all the deals and everything are not in play?

My girlfriend had a comcast tech come out to her apt that didn't know how to install wirless internet :doh:

[Shilsu]

I'm on cable now because I moved and FIOS is not available, but FIOS is much much better. The word is their customer service sucks, though I've never had any problems the few times I called. The only time that pissed me off was when I first had to get it installed... Earliest they could come was in two weeks. Then they no-showed, and I had to reschedule for a month later.

[BRAVEONAWARPATH]

I hate Comcast with a passion! They screw up my bill every month. I have a Samsung 1080p TV w/ comcast HD...and I think my picture is flawless....so I can't see how FIOS could be better.
Verizon is much better because unlike Comcast/Dish/DirectTV, they don't compress the picture. :2cents:

[Corcaigh]

We finally have FIOS available and I'm going to make the switch to a their current offer of bundled TV, Internet and phone for $99 for a year.

Comcast has been pumping up the cost too often and signal quality is not always great. While their helpdesk is serviceable most of the techs they send out for problems are clowns.

One of them even explained that the picture breakup I was getting was because the cables in the house were deteroirating and he would offer to replace them. :doh: Of course he didn't remember to bring a signal meter to measure the strength coming into the house.

We've been happy with Comcaast Internet but if FIOS is a little slower we'll live with it.

[DButz65]

They just started installing the fiber optics in my neighborhood/down my main road for FIOS, and as soon as they are done and its online, im switching from comcast in a heartbeat.

We have 3 TVs in our house, 2 are HD and have DVRs, 1 isnt a HD TV and has just a regular cable box on it, and we have internet as well. Our bills each month average $200 (comcast) and we dont even have phone service through them!, we are getting raped and every 3 months the prices go up. Can not wait for FIOS to be installed here!

P.S. We dont even have HBO or any other channels like that, nada, zilch and still pay 200/month ughh

[Joe Sick]

Yet another vote for FIOS over Comcast. Comcast was horrible - 2 week waits for service calls, service cut off at all times for no reason...

FIOS TV also blows Comcast out of the water with features, clarity, everything. I use the widgets every day to quickly check weather, we use the whole house DVR all the time and hope to hook up the Media Manager here soon to stream pics and movies from my computer to the box.

Dump Comcast or whatever crappy dish you have and get FIOS!

[HogNose]

We switched to Verizon FiOS a year ago and have never regretted it. Much faster internet, clearer channels, more channels...plus NFL NETWORK is included in the basic package. :cheers:

P.S They threw in a nice 13 in. Flat screen HD Tv too.

[No_Pressure]

The upload speeds you get with FiOS are amazing. I can't wait until it's available in my area.

In a cruel twist of fate, my grandmother who lives in a 44 year old neighborhood near Georgia Ave. and Norbeck has FiOS and I don't in a merely 14 year old development off of Shady Grove Rd. awesome.

[Mickalino]

I can not stand comcast worst customer service ever!!


Nope - MetoPCS has them beat, and it's not even remotely close.

[Mufumonk]

I hate Comcast with a passion! They screw up my bill every month. I have a Samsung 1080p TV w/ comcast HD...and I think my picture is flawless....so I can't see how FIOS could be better. But FIOS seems to offer more HD channels and the whole house DVR (I currently pay $40 a month for my two HD DVRs)

I can't see how FIOS could be any worse than comcast when it comes to anything...so I'm making the switch.

Comcast chokes their bandwidth so you get alot of macro-blocking on fast moving action sequences. You won't see the same thing with FIOS.

[DButz65]

Comcast chokes their bandwidth so you get alot of macro-blocking on fast moving action sequences. You won't see the same thing with FIOS.


Thats not comcast, its the TV, we dont get any of that

[Mufumonk]

Thats not comcast, its the TV, we dont get any of that

It's not the TV. Comcast is compressing the signal.

[DButz65]

It's not the TV. Comcast is compressing the signal.

Then how come i dont get that? I've got comcast. Is my signal NOT compressed?

[HOF44]

Then how come i dont get that? I've got comcast. Is my signal NOT compressed?

It depends on the infrastructure and channel line-up of the particular branch of comcast you have. Some areas run more compression than others.

[BurntToast]

Then how come i dont get that? I've got comcast. Is my signal NOT compressed?

Comcast is compressed so they can add more channels.

http://gizmodo.com/374193/comcast-compressing-hdtv-signals-to-fit-three-shows-into-two-shows-bandwidth


http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2008/03/31/comcast-degrades-hd.html

Comcast also has a 250Gb monthly download cap.

[HOF44]

I've always thought that to advertise a channel as HD there should be a minimum bandwidth. Maybe 15MBS to be called HD. They are compressing some down to 8 and 9 MBS now. Uncompressed is aroun 19MBS.

[Sticksboi05]

Thats not comcast, its the TV, we dont get any of that

Comcast's HD is far more compressed than FIOS's because of bandwidth issues.

[NattyLight]

If I didn't live in the stix I'd have FiOS in a second. My father, the most practical, frugal man in the world has it and I LOVES it. There is not much in this world that man loves.

I know that FiOS is never coming to my area, so I'm stuck with DTV and it's very good too.

[grego]

Verizon customer service is 100% inept. We got incorrect bills every other month, they dont show up when service is requested. Just generally a bad experience.

second that

a few years ago i had verizon DSL. it was on the fritz for about the third time in about 6 months, so i scheduled for them to come out between '1 and 6' the next day. called them around 12:30 to let them know i was running a few minutes late- my car really had broken down and i was walking almost 3 miles home :(

the lady says 'we dont have you scheduled for an apptment'. a few minutes later she said she found the 'ticket' but the operator from the night before hadnt filled in the time slot. i said no problem, you have another 5 hours to get there. she said that would be 'impossible' since they cant do tickets for the same day. i said just call a tech- theres probably one within a mile of my house at this moment. she said they didnt have phones, so she couldnt call them :doh: what??????? its freaking verizon!!

i said come out today- i reserved 5 hours so i could wait for you at the time you told me!- or i cancel. after about 30 minutes on the phone, they refused to come out til the next day, so i canceled.

i have comcast for all that stuff now. cant say i'm unhappy.

[FerndaleSkins]

FIOS or Directv?

My neighbors have directv and they say our HD (FIOS) is much better than theirs.

Went to FIOS 2 Years ago and couldn't be happier.

[chipwhich]

For anyone who thinks Verizon's customer service is better than Comcast, that's just silly.

If you have issues other than the basic variety, both customer services are lousy.

Comcast has jacked their prices so high, that I must switch just because of pricing. My Comcast just went to about $240 a month WITHOUT phone. I can switch to Verizon with phone and identical services for about $180.

The only advantage for me for comcast is after digital switchover, I can still get cable on every outlet in my home without a box. With fios you need a box for every tv. Thats where fios is the loser.

[maxiumone]

FIOS FIOS FIOS is by far the better picture. And I have not had any issue with customer service. Internet has never been an issue I love it.

Football games look great. Far out weighs crapcast any day

[Burgundy Burner]

Thanks for the input everyone. Soon, I will have a decision to make.

[Slacky McSlackAss]

FiOS FTW!!!!

Weve been with FiOS for the last 3 years and have had no issues with them at all. I love our service. 20 up/5 down, great HD picture. Cant beat it.

Get FiOS, you wont regret it.

[Fred Jones]

I have had FIOS for a couple of years.

1. Free Wireless router
2. Have them bury your cable - Was Free
3. Backup battery unit for your phone

Lose your copper line access, meaning you now need power to use your phones.

[TheREALJBird]

I've been wanting FIOS for forever, STILL waiting on it. I can't even get DSL at my house, so I'm stuck with comcrap for now. I live in Waldorf, MD, I would think the **** would be available.

[Sticksboi05]

FIOS is 100X better but beware as bad as Comcast's customer service is, Verizon's is worse.

[DButz65]

I've been wanting FIOS for forever, STILL waiting on it. I can't even get DSL at my house, so I'm stuck with comcrap for now. I live in Waldorf, MD, I would think the **** would be available.




Dude where in Waldorf? Its coming! depending on where you live of course. Im off of 228 and 229 and its on the list and i am 7 miles from the center of town! If you cant get DLS now you MIGHT be SOL. Go read the somd.com forums, internet forums, specifically the Fios is coming to Laplata thread.

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/md/files/vzmd_fttp_feb09.pdf

http://forums.somd.com/computers-technology-internet/

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

I've been wanting FIOS for forever, STILL waiting on it. I can't even get DSL at my house, so I'm stuck with comcrap for now. I live in Waldorf, MD, I would think the **** would be available.


Dude where in Waldorf? Its coming! depending on where you live of course. Im off of 228 and 229 and its on the list and i am 7 miles from the center of town! If you cant get DLS now you MIGHT be SOL. Go read the somd.com forums, internet forums, specifically the Fios is coming to Laplata thread.

http://www22.verizon.com/about/community/md/files/vzmd_fttp_feb09.pdf

http://forums.somd.com/computers-technology-internet/

They dug up my yard about 3 weeks ago installing the FIOS in my neighborhood, it should be reaching you soon.

[DButz65]

They dug up my yard about 3 weeks ago installing the FIOS in my neighborhood, it should be reaching you soon.


Where are you at lol And i know

[The Brave Little Toaster Oven]

Where are you at lol And i know

Near the mall :D

My yard looks like **** now with all the markings.....looks like a crime scene :ols:

[btfoom]

I had Comcast for over 5 years, in both the Annapolis Area and in Southern California. I had no real complaints, but the service would occasionally go out and that sucked.

Recently, my area (Crofton), had a big push for FIOS. I looked into the deal and found that I could get the whole package (Internet/TV/Phone) for much less for 3 months, and even $12 less after that, with FIOS. I talked to my friends who had FIOS and found that they didn't have nearly as many outages as I had. So I switched.

First, the internet is very fast, but so was COMCAST, so to me it's a wash.

Next, the phone. Again, the service is comparable, so it is again a wash.

Lastly, the TV. The HD channels are very similar as far as how good they look. FIOS has many more channels (though few are really applicable to me). The big difference is that the 'low def' channels are MUCH better with FIOS.

The only drawback is that my kids' TVs could get channels (about 70) by direct connect from a cable to the TV (no box). With FIOS, every TV needs a box to get a picture.

Overall, I think FIOS is a better deal, but it isn't so much of a difference that you should be upset if you have COMCAST.

[tryfuhl]

FIOS - faster internet, don't care about how much you xfer, don't throttle nearly as bad as comcast, HD channels aren't compressed to ****, better support, etc

not even a question

[tryfuhl]

how is it not available where i live in fairfax? do most apartment complexes not have it?

FIOS can be a ***** to run in apts

search a local address to you that's a business or single family home and see if it's available there

[DarrellsMyHero28]

Just for the reference.

We used to have DSL at home then switched to FIOS. The FIOS is considerably slower and now messes with our wireless phones, we have alot of static now. It's incredibly frustrating and the FIOS customer service people are useless...they keep sending me to a speed testing website and telling me that I'm getting the service that I'm paying for.

Verizon, in general, is awesome..but I've had a terrible experience with FIOS.

[ACW]

Question for those with FIOS:
What are the setup costs (if any), and how much is the FIOS modem? I just did some quick calculations, and found that if the modem's not too much, I can have Extreme HD, HBO, Cinemax, and the Movie package (and the internet) at nearly the same price that I spend now for Comcast cable+internet (which only has HBO, Showtime, Starz). I might pull the trigger. Not necessarily dissatisfied, but SO many more channels for about the same price (not to mention ESPNU and NFL Network).

[GoSkinsGo]

FIOS , my parents got FIOS a year or so ago and saved close to 150 a month by rolling their Verizon phone plan into their internet and cable plan. The TV is better and the internet is faster.

I can't wait to get my FIOS installed this month and I can't wait to throw my cable box's at the Comcast people. I have more disdain for Comcast than almost any other company.

[skinfan2k]

do you pay for both hd and dvr or is it a combo set up?

[ACW]

do you pay for both hd and dvr or is it a combo set up?HD DVR=15.99/month

[Mark The Homer]

They dug up my yard about 3 weeks ago installing the FIOS in my neighborhood, it should be reaching you soon.I heard it can be a year or more between the time they install the optic lines and the time they offer the service.

[chipwhich]

The only drawback is that my kids' TVs could get channels (about 70) by direct connect from a cable to the TV (no box). With FIOS, every TV needs a box to get a picture.


This is where FIOS loses me. I have tv in multiple rooms, basement, bar area. Even after the digital switch, I don't need a box. I don't have to buy and rent a cable box for both of my kids. Everything else is a wash. The internet where I am is no faster, tv about the same.

[Huly]

FIOS FIOS FIOS FIOS I love the TV and Internet!

[ACW]

So, anybody know how much the modem is?

[RememberOsaka]

I have a question and will be the first to admit that I am cable tv retarded.

I have Comcast cable and have an HD/DVR box in my basement for my 52" LCD. The other two tvs in the house were old 27" tube tvs that I have replaced with 32" wall mounted LCD's.

My 7 yr old was used to the onscreen guide for Comcast on one of the tv's that was just replaced. The cable box is a standard one...not HD. I used the setup programming feature with the tv and the channels are all over the place. Standard, then a group of HD...all very confusing for her.

Is there a way to get the guide, premium and HD channels without using the cable box? And it seems to me that if I use the non HD box to get my daughter the guide I won't get HD channels as I would if I ran the cable directly to the back of the tv.

Is there a way to make this work without the box? What are my other options?

[Sticksboi05]

I have a question and will be the first to admit that I am cable tv retarded.

I have Comcast cable and have an HD/DVR box in my basement for my 52" LCD. The other two tvs in the house were old 27" tube tvs that I have replaced with 32" wall mounted LCD's.

My 7 yr old was used to the onscreen guide for Comcast on one of the tv's that was just replaced. The cable box is a standard one...not HD. I used the setup programming feature with the tv and the channels are all over the place. Standard, then a group of HD...all very confusing for her.

Is there a way to get the guide, premium and HD channels without using the cable box? And it seems to me that if I use the non HD box to get my daughter the guide I won't get HD channels as I would if I ran the cable directly to the back of the tv.

Is there a way to make this work without the box? What are my other options?

See if you can get a CableCard.

[Corcaigh]

Kicked out Comcast today, replacing it with FIOS.

Just ran a speed test:

http://www.speedtest.net/result/423082077.png

[boysetsfire]

Kicked out Comcast today, replacing it with FIOS.

Just ran a speed test:



I have comcast and this is what I got.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/423089378.png (http://www.speedtest.net)

this does not excuse my hate for comcast though. Fios is just not offered where I live. :(

[Mark The Homer]

Here's me. My upload appears to relatively suck.

http://www.speedtest.net/result/423116692.png (http://www.speedtest.net)