Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
demonstr8r
Enthusiast - Level 3

I am sure that I am not alone in saying that I genuinely despise overpaying for anything.  I currently have two set-top-boxes (STB) that cost me $15.99 and $19.99 each per month, which adds up to a whopping $432 per year, excluding tax. Now let's assume that Verizon replaces my STB every 3 years, then I would have shelled out more than $1300 dollars to rent this equipment, which at the moment is undeniably defective.  Am I crazy or are most customers lemmings?

Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?  And if so, how much would it cost?  To be perfectly honest, I don't think we should be charged to rent the equipment, especially since we are required to sign a 1-year agreement with early termination fees.

Re: Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
matcarl
Master - Level 1

Like it or not, you have to rent a STB for almost every cable provider. The only thing you can buy is a Tivo but that also requires a monthly fee or a lifetime subscription.

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Re: Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

@demonstr8r wrote:

Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?  And if so, how much would it cost?  To be perfectly honest, I don't think we should be charged to rent the equipment, especially since we are required to sign a 1-year agreement with early termination fees.


You can buy your own boxes, but the choices are limited to those listed and compared below:


HDTV DVR Comparison - Consumer Owned Units


Note you can only get FIOS VOD with the boxes rented from Verizon.


Generally, the Verizon box is the most cost-effective solution for the average customer.  People usually buy their own box for improved functionality, reliability, capacity...not to save money.

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Re: Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
demonstr8r
Enthusiast - Level 3

From the list you provided, it appears that one could purchase a STB for approximately $300, thus using the same scenario that I laid out in my original post, it would cost me $600 for two STB, compared to more than $1300 to rent from Verizon.  So how is it more cost effective to rent a STB from Verizon?  Would you pay $10-20 per month to rent your cell phone and sign a 1 or 2 year commitment with early termination fees?  I seriously doubt that many people would.

Take the iPhone for example,  AT&T subsidizes the cost of the phone knowing quite well that they will more than make up for it during the 2 year subscription.  Why isn't the same model applied to STBs?  My theory is because the consumer has far fewer choices.  Prior to Verizon FiOS the cable companies had a near monopoly.  Sure one could get a dish, but then still had to get internet from the cable provider, and without a package plan, cost where exorbitant.  Verizon FiOS has given many of us a new choice, one that I am certainly happy to have, but I say it is time to change the model, and stop over paying for things just because that is how it was done in the past.  Don't you agree?

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Re: Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
washwords
Enthusiast - Level 2

I am wondering about this, too. Also, can you even rent one directly from a store? I ordered one the other day only to discover (only because I called) that despite being told it was coming in two days, it's "processing" until Feb. 5. And then being mailed? I can't tell you how angry i am at verizon right now. We're having a superbowl party, who would have thought our cable provider would prevent us from watching the game in HD? Thanks verizon!

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Re: Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
Hubrisnxs
Legend

you should be able to get those at a local store. 

call them and get one, and then just return the one that you get in the mail, when you get it.  don't activate it and send it back.

https://www22.verizon.com/Residential/Templates/sas/sas_StoreLocator.aspx

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Re: Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
Hubrisnxs
Legend

@demonstr8r wrote:

From the list you provided, it appears that one could purchase a STB for approximately $300, thus using the same scenario that I laid out in my original post, it would cost me $600 for two STB, compared to more than $1300 to rent from Verizon.  So how is it more cost effective to rent a STB from Verizon?  Would you pay $10-20 per month to rent your cell phone and sign a 1 or 2 year commitment with early termination fees?  I seriously doubt that many people would.

Take the iPhone for example,  AT&T subsidizes the cost of the phone knowing quite well that they will more than make up for it during the 2 year subscription.  Why isn't the same model applied to STBs?  My theory is because the consumer has far fewer choices.  Prior to Verizon FiOS the cable companies had a near monopoly.  Sure one could get a dish, but then still had to get internet from the cable provider, and without a package plan, cost where exorbitant.  Verizon FiOS has given many of us a new choice, one that I am certainly happy to have, but I say it is time to change the model, and stop over paying for things just because that is how it was done in the past.  Don't you agree?


 they should offer both options, you can rent the boxes for x amount, or purchase them at x amount.   Most customers if you can imagine are still going to rent them.  Two tv households are common, but equally as common are customers with 3-6 cable boxes, and if you can imagine the upfront cost for a person like that?

in these tough times most customers don't want to shell out that kinda dough upfront for TV service.

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Re: Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
EEEEEE
Enthusiast - Level 3

You would be wasting your money if you purchased one from somewhere (like EBay).  When you call to have your box activated the only way for them to get the box working for you is to issue an order so the box shows on the account which is what generates the charge.  Don't forget, the cost of the service is built into the box (DVR charge, HD charge) and that is why there are different prices for different boxes.  The best way to go is to get the Multi Room DVR and then just have other hd boxes.  Unless you need the extra space to record there isn't much of a point of having two dvr's.

Re: Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
Hubrisnxs
Legend

http://www.cetoncorp.com/products.php

I would wait until march, this looks SUPRA PROMISING

Ceton Quad Tuner PC Card.

you need windows 7 but if you don't have one, this looks like the perfect excuse to get one.

1 x Ceton Digital Cable Quad-Tuner Card = $399
1 x monthly CableCARD rental = $3.99

Serves upto 4 TV's apparently.

It enables Media Center PCs to play or record up to four live channels of HDTV at once, and stream live HD channels or recordings to multiple HDTVs throughout the home, all from a single cable connection and a single CableCARD™.

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Re: Can I buy a STB for Verizon FiOS?
spacedebris
Master - Level 2

just one consideration...If you do purchase a 3rd party device, remember that Verizon will not support or troubleshoot it. (insert joke about verizon tech support here). If you have a problem, your basically on your own (again insert joke) or you must call the equipment manufacturer and hope they dont tell you to call Verizon. While this is likely a good thing in most cases, it is something frequently overlooked.

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