wireless set top box
adslguru
Newbie

when is verizon going to start offering set top boxes not needing coax?

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Re: wireless set top box
gs0b
Community Leader
Community Leader

Welcome to the forums.  You're talking to other customers here.  We don't have any more information about Verizon's plans than you do.

As for a wireless STB, that's a tall order.  It would require a complete revamping of the video distribution system used throughout the FiOS system from the super-headends in a few key cities, through the regional and local nodes and all the way into the home.  Content security (DRM) would need to be completely updated.  Advanced services such as multi-room DVR would need a complete re-design.  And on top of all that, current WiFI technology isn't up to the task of providing reliable, high speed streaming services to and between multiple devices in a home.  Let alone handle the issues created when multiple homes are close to each other (think apartment building).

The consumer electronics industry is exploring ways to make stuff like this happen, but when you're replacing a well proven high bandwidth content distribution system you better come up with something better.  So far, wires are very hard to beat.

Enjoy.

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Re: wireless set top box
adslguru
Newbie

Cisco VEN401 with ISB7005 working for other carriers

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Re: wireless set top box
gs0b
Community Leader
Community Leader

Those devices are IPTV units.  Verizon FiOS does not have IPTV infrastructure.  AT&T Uverse must use IPTV because it has low bandwidth links and can't send every channel to the subscriber.  It sends only the channel(s) currently being watched.  It is limited to four different simultaneous channels because it doesn't have the bandwidth of coax or fiber.

To put it in perspective, Uverse FTTN use 45Mbps links to the home and that carries all data and TV services.  A coax carries 100's of channels of TV at one time, with a bandwidth of around 4.5Gbps.  FiOS adds another 622Mbps (BPON) or 2.5Gbps (GPON) on top of the coax bandwidth that is used for data and streaming services.  Coax and fiber simply blow Uverse out of the water.

And again, WiFi isn't ready to be deployed as the prime method of video distribution in any old home.  Just look at all the complaints and issues on this forum as well as other forums about WiFi.  Now imagine what it would be like with a bunch of streaming content running at the same time over a less then optimal WiFi link.  If you were a provider, would you want to roll that out and have to support it for all your customers, especially the non-tech savvy folk?  Especially when you have a well proven, working system already in place?

In order to support IPTV, Verizon needs to add a completely different set of infrastructure for TV while keeping legacy TV systems in place so as not to have to replace every set-top-box out there.  These days the only reason they will do that is if they see a way to make more money.  It may happen some day, but I suspect it is far into the future.

Enjoy.

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Re: wireless set top box
adslguru
Newbie

with the newer Quantum system the only tuner is is the media center, and only 1 channel is being sent to the remote units. AC wifi provides more than enough bandwidth for 2-4 boxes wireless N is great for 1 or 2. The VEN401 is a dedicated wireless video access point and the ISB7005 is a reciever. The media center would do all the tuning and the other units are a trasmit and recieve

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Re: wireless set top box
CRobGauth
Community Leader
Community Leader

You can use the IPCs on Quantum via ethernet instead of coax.

So if you are tech savy, you could use a wireless bridge to feed the IPC.

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Re: wireless set top box
mfizzy
Specialist - Level 1

Why switch to wifi. You can cut use a powerline adaptor and cut the majority of the cabling out, and still have a solid connect to your router. I havent tried, but it should be pplug and play.

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