Engadget HD - Verizon FiOS HD DVR Review

[pdxsam]

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@Justin wrote:

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@pdxsam wrote:

In addition to the already mentioned 160 gb drive, another glaring omission is the ability to use an HD Set Top box to watch MRV. For those who have HDTV's in other rooms  MRV is useless in the current configuration.

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That has been available for quite a while.

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Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.0, Build 06.89
Keller, TX

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Hmmm the folks in Oregon don't know about it then.  When I ordered just recently  I was told the only STB compatible with MRV is the standard def box.

[KenAF]

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@pdxsam wrote:

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@Justin wrote:

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@pdxsam wrote:

In addition to the already mentioned 160 gb drive, another glaring omission is the ability to use an HD Set Top box to watch MRV. For those who have HDTV's in other rooms  MRV is useless in the current configuration.

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That has been available for quite a while.

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Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.0, Build 06.89
Keller, TX

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Hmmm the folks in Oregon don't know about it then.  When I ordered just recently  I was told the only STB compatible with MRV is the standard def box.

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Sounds like the rep you spoke with had outdated information.  The ability to stream to HD boxes (but not HD DVRs) was added with IMG 1.6.

[jws74]

works well here in gresham.  but you're right, the advertising still says you can only use mrdvr with standard stbs.

[adc2003]

I signed on to FIOS TV in June.  I'm in Los Angeles area and could not stream from MRV to HD set top back then.  I have not tried since.  Do I need I different HD set top box from the one I received 6 months ago to take advantage of Hd streaming from MRV?

[KenAF]

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@adc2003 wrote:
I signed on to FIOS TV in June.  I'm in Los Angeles area and could not stream from MRV to HD set top back then.  I have not tried since.  Do I need I different HD set top box from the one I received 6 months ago to take advantage of Hd streaming from MRV?

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No.  All you need is MR DVR service activated on your account, if it isn't already. 

[adc2003]

The fact that I use the MR DVR to watch Fios programming means I'm active, right?  Is there some other service, nuance I'm missing?

[Humble]

DISH Network's 16X9 Guide has three hours of scheduling and an incredible amount of detail after witnessing Verizon's pathic offering.  DISH's Guide is the sole reason my wife is still upset with my decision to go with Verizon.   Had I known the IMG was that bad, I would not have made the move.  I like everything else and think the HD DVR is acceptable.

[jake5975]

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@KenAF wrote:

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@pdxsam wrote:

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@Justin wrote:

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@pdxsam wrote:

In addition to the already mentioned 160 gb drive, another glaring omission is the ability to use an HD Set Top box to watch MRV. For those who have HDTV's in other rooms  MRV is useless in the current configuration.

---

That has been available for quite a while.

__________________________________
Justin
Verizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phone
IMG 1.6.0, Build 06.89
Keller, TX

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Hmmm the folks in Oregon don't know about it then.  When I ordered just recently  I was told the only STB compatible with MRV is the standard def box.

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Sounds like the rep you spoke with had outdated information.  The ability to stream to HD boxes (but not HD DVRs) was added with IMG 1.6.

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It doesn't work, though.  When streaming to an HD box, you'll get the "unable to locate HUB" error.  I wouldn't bother upgrading to the MR-DVR, especially if you have other HD TVs in your house, until they fix this very annoying bug.

[Billbo1970]

Anyone else here a former TiVo user?  There are some features I really miss, although my TiVo was SD.  I also am a former user of Cablevision's Optimum HD-DVR.  I really do like the FiOS DVR a lot, but my lengthy list of gripes below is in the hope that they will improve upon it further & make it truly great!

What I like: 

1. The picture quality is really excellent, even on SD content. 

2. There  has not yet been a time when the DVR failed to record something or recorded it poorly. 

3. Box powers up pretty quickly and is pretty responsive to the remote (caveat in gripes below).

Gripes:

1. What I really miss is the detail of 'info' about the recorded program.  FiOS doesn't even tell you the original air date, which is something I would often like to know when watching an old show. 

2. Another thing I notice is the remote control...  the box doesn't always register the button push, and if you are just holding down the up or down arrow, the menu will eventually stop before you get to where you want to go & you will have to release & hold the arrow button again.... like it has a built in timeout or something if the button gets stuck.  It is truly annoying & the time seems to be completely random (ie, one time I will get a few hundred channels through the guide and another I will only get a few tens of channels down the guide). 

3. DVR acts a little funny when you are watching a show that it is recording, and you can't 'stop' without cancelling the recording.. you need to either go to another channel (impossible if 2 things are recording), or else bring up the play list & begin watching another recording. 

4. When you are scheduling and you get the conflict popup (which is a great idea), the options are a little confusing at first. 

5. Errors with the box that nobody at technical support seems to know how to resolve or even acknowledge as bugs, such as du1 & HI-3 messages.

[adc2003]

Success!  I was able to stream recorded HD programming from my Media DVR to HD set top box.  Finally, I feel like I'm getting some value for my buck.