Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
mastrick
Newbie

I just got off the phone with verizon CSR after trying to order two m cards.  I was completely unsuccessful, having the rep tell me that cablecards do not bypass the fios STB, being told the cards would arrive in 3 - 5 days, being told their was no truck roll required.

I eventually got the issue escalated to a manager, who basically repeated the same thing, wouldn't budge, wouldn't let me schedule a truck roll (even though I said I would pay the 80$ without arguement.)

I was told they would research the issue and call me back tomorrow.

Should I try to call another CSR or is there a different approach I can take?

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Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

@mastrick wrote:

I just got off the phone with verizon CSR after trying to order two m cards.  I was completely unsuccessful, having the rep tell me that cablecards do not bypass the fios STB, being told the cards would arrive in 3 - 5 days, being told their was no truck roll required.

I eventually got the issue escalated to a manager, who basically repeated the same thing, wouldn't budge, wouldn't let me schedule a truck roll (even though I said I would pay the 80$ without arguement.)


You should be fine as long as they (a) placed the order for the CableCards and (b) have your correct phone number on file.


Two to four business days after you place an order for CableCards, Verizon's system will call you with an automated message  that includes the date and time of the installation.  This occurs for every CableCard installation without an accompanying install date.  Be sure to check your voicemail and/or answering machine.  If you need to change the date/time, call back after you get the message.

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Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
ralpharch
Newbie

I just switched from COMCAST Montgomery cty MD and wished I had read this thread first.

I had two motorola m cards in my two SONY tvs, and when the tech showed up I asked if he could install a cable card in one of them instead of the standarddef box I had ordered.  He said he would try - but he said that the card would not pair up in either TV even though it was the same type of card that was working with COMCAST.  He indicated he needed to get an older style card with tvs like mine (SONY xbr960n and a 36kd955xs)

Is this an accurate story or is there a need for additional coordination between the verizon support on telephone and the tech in the field?

I would like to try again but am wondering what the chances of success are.

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Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
SYSSJR
Enthusiast - Level 3

Just returned a single room dvr to the service center.  Never even hooked it up.  Seems senseless to spend that amount of money without being able to add a hard drive, etc...

No one has given a specific date on availability for drive extensions, etc.  Switched from DirecTV to FIOS. 

Still have to rid all of the DTV boxes, but that may take a while being all of them are DVR's at $5.99/Month.

Was looking at a Tivo HD, being they are now on sale for about $219. 

When I dropped of the old box at the center, I asked about the cost of getting a card.  They said it requires an installer to

come out, and its $79.

Does anyone know if this could be avoided by bringing a Tivo unit into the center to get hooked up to avoid the fee ?

There should be nothing that ties the Tivo/CableCard to the physical address.


Thanks,

-Steve

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Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
JerseyJoe
Enthusiast - Level 2

@SYSSJR

Whoever you talked to in the service center is simply wrong about there being a fee to install the CableCARD. I don't know why Verizon can't get its act together on this, it's completely pathetic and embarassing, but despite what any customer-facing representative says to you, there is no fee for Verizon to install a CableCARD.  If you look back in this thread, you'll see that I and others wasted hours arguing with customer service representatives (CSRs) who swore up and down that there was going to be a fee charged for the installation, and in the end, not one of us was charged the fee.

Just schedule it, they'll come out and do it, and you'll never see the fee on your bill. If by some chance you do, come back and post in this thread, and one of the Verizon employees who monitors this thread should help you get it taken off.

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Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
JerseyJoe
Enthusiast - Level 2

@ralpharch

The installer is wrong. In most areas, you can't get an S-card (single-stream) from FiOS even if you explicitly ask for one; all they have in the depot are M-cards (multistream).  I can't figure out if your TVs have S-card or M-card slots, but it doesn't matter: M-cards are backward compatible and will work in S-card slots.  There's no reason to use an S-card in any of your devices, and if they manage to dig one up, there's a high likelihood that it's so old it would malfunction anyway, so insist on M-cards.

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Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
SYSSJR
Enthusiast - Level 3

Thanks..

Looks like its time to order.  One other quick question.  Do I need to subscribe to the Tivo service

before the cablecard activation, or its ok to have the Tech come out prior ?

-Steve

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Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
JerseyJoe
Enthusiast - Level 2

The TiVo's a brick without an active subscription these days--it won't even let you complete its initial setup without contacting TiVo's activation server on the Internet within the first few steps--so you'll have to sign up for the TiVo service first.

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Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

@SYSSJR wrote:

Thanks..

Looks like its time to order.  One other quick question.  Do I need to subscribe to the Tivo service

before the cablecard activation, or its ok to have the Tech come out prior ?



@JerseyJoe wrote:

The TiVo's a brick without an active subscription these days--it won't even let you complete its initial setup without contacting TiVo's activation server on the Internet within the first few steps--so you'll have to sign up for the TiVo service first.


Every TiVo includes a 7-day trial to the service, so you don't have to sign up first.  After you activate service, you have 30-days to cancel for a refund.


It would be a good idea to connect the TiVo and run guided setup before the Verizon installer arrives, however.  Last year, TiVo updated their software to eliminate signal compatibility issues with FiOS, so you'll want to have that before they arrive.  It  takes 2-3 days for the TiVo to download and update to the latest software after initial setup.

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Re: FiOS, TiVo, and CableCards
ralpharch
Newbie

Thanks Jersey Joe

Looks like I will roll the dice with a cable card truck roll.  But it should work with my tv (Sony XBR 960n) as I already had the same version motorola m card working with comcast as the one the initial installer tried and failed to get set up on initial setup.

I really couldn't complain to him as it wasn't on my order for that day

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