picture-in-picture availibility?
wendl
Newbie

does anyone have an idea of when the picture-in-picture capability will become available?

0 Likes
Re: picture-in-picture availibility?
IHatetheDolans
Enthusiast - Level 2
0 Likes
Re: picture-in-picture availibility?
G-Pon
Contributor - Level 1
You can still play with and enjoy your TV’s the picture-in-picture, just use another source for the second one other than the Verizon box. A DVD player, Internet streamed TV, a VCR, even “rabbit ears” can populate that second feed while you await Verizon & Motorola to get that ready for us.
0 Likes
Re: picture-in-picture availibility?
G-Pon
Contributor - Level 1
Oh, and we have been told it will happen but no one is saying when
0 Likes
Re: picture-in-picture availibility?
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

No Motorola DVR from any cable provider supports picture-in-picture, and no picture-in-picture support is planned.  The hardware in Motorola's new QIP7216 is incapable of supporting PIP.  The hardware in the older QIP6416 could theoretically support that feature, if Verizon were to "dumb down" their interface to free up more memory, but Verizon has no interest in moving back to a plain UI, and Motorola has no interest in developing a feature for older boxes that will not work on their newer ones.

To get picture-in-picture with FiOS, without renting another set-top box, your TV would need to include a built-in digital cable (QAM) tuner.  That way, you could use PIP and switch between the DVR and the digital cable (QAM) tuner in your TV.  To do this, you would split the coax before the DVR, sending one end to the DVR and the other to the cable input on your TV.  Note you would only be able to tune the locals (incl. locals in HD) and public interest channels on your TV's tuner, unless it has a CableCard slot.

If you have an older TV without a digital cable tuner...well, you'll won't get PIP with FiOS unless you rent another box or buy a separate digital cable tuner.  You really have to buy your own box, because there's no simple way to control two Motorola boxes, both of which would respond to the same remote commands.

Of course, the whole point of a DVR is to record your programs so you can watch them later, which largely eliminates the need for PIP.  One exception to that might be sports; some people like to watch two sporting events at the same time, although you could just as easily record one game and watch it later, or pause one game during a commercial break and switch to the other.  In a different usage case, you and your wife might desire to watch different programs at the same time, which would require split-screen and dual, discrete audio output -- not even the older Motorola 6416s could do that, so it's a moot point.

0 Likes
Re: picture-in-picture availibility?
Justin46
Legend

wendl,

Here is a link to a thread here on the Verizon forum from several months ago that describes one technique that does work, assuming your TV has PIP built-in and you are willing to spend a few bucks for a DCT-700STB (or you have an unused one laying around):

http://forums.verizon.com/vrzn/board/message?board.id=FiOS_TV&thread.id=1655

See the second post.

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

0 Likes
Re: picture-in-picture availibility?
lowrider
Newbie
any idea when a new tv guide will come out
0 Likes
Re: picture-in-picture availibility?
KenAF
Specialist - Level 2

@lowrider wrote:
any idea when a new tv guide will come out

Ehh?  A Verizon representative posted in a different thread saying there are no plans for a new guide data provider.

0 Likes
Re: picture-in-picture availibility?
flywarbirds1
Enthusiast - Level 2

Perhaps you could use one of the small, free digital converters that Verizon supplies for your second tuner.  You won't get all the channels but you will get quite a few.  Also, no HD or DVR.  At least this could be a stopgap until Verizon comes out with a PIP STB.  Just a thought.

PS:  You will have to become adept at pointing the remote for either your STB or the digital converter to just trigger one or the other since the signal is

 the same for both.  A bit of an inconvenience but it can be done.

0 Likes
Re: picture-in-picture availibility?
Justin46
Legend

flywarbirds,

Did you read the post I made several posts above yours? I linked to a description of how to do it with the DCT-700:

http://forums.verizon.com/vrzn/board/message?board.id=FiOS_TV&thread.id=1655

It includes the technique to use it without having to be adept at pointing the remote.

And by the way, they are no longer free, that was only during the transition from analog to digital, which was finished quite a while ago.

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

0 Likes