[DVBC] FiOS vs Cable

Fri Sep 7 19:10:42 EDT 2007

as a vendor for the verizon FiOS project and a former long-time employee 
of comcast (22 years total), i can offer one thing to consider, which 
might or might not make a difference to you:

A) verizon offers next to no analog channels...  just the local 
broadcasters and PEG channels (public, educational and government). 
this allows them to use more RF spectrum for digital channels, among 
them High-Definition services, which require approximately three to four 
times the bandwidth of Standard Definition channels.      and VZ will be 
collapsing even that meager analog offering at some point in order to go 
all-digital.

B) comcast offers almost 100 channels of analog programming.

now this might not mean a thing to those folks who have digital set-top 
boxes, but i do not.    my wife and kids use cable-ready TVs which can 
only receive analog RF channels.    so if they switched to FiOS, i would 
have to pay also for digital STBs for two TVs on top of the other costs.

but if you already pay comcast for STBs, then it's a wash financially, 
and you would get much more programming if you switched to FiOS.

i myself will stick with comcast, not because i care about them, just 
because i will not pay for a digital STB.

BUT....  some time in the next few years, ALL cable companies will 
collapse their analog spectrum to become all-digital, so at that point 
this issue will be moot.   a

hope this helps,

-eric

Edward Sobolewski wrote:
> Yes, I am getting the same, even 20 Mbps (NY, NY); the 6 Mbps is the 
> very minimum (Seattle, WA).
> 
>  
> 
> I am just curious how the FiOS compares to this.  I have been bombarded 
> by Verizon promotions, and am not sure if FiOS is as good as advertised. 
> 
>  
> 
> How about the HDTV service vs cable?
> 
> Edward  
> 
>  
> 
> *From:* dvbc-list-bounces at list.dvbc.org 
> [mailto:dvbc-list-bounces at list.dvbc.org] *On Behalf Of *Dave Hartrum
> *Sent:* Friday, September 07, 2007 6:38 PM
> *To:* dvbc-list at dvbc.org
> *Subject:* Re: [DVBC] FiOS vs Cable
> 
>  
> 
> Ed, I almost always get >10Mbps here lately with Comcast and about 1.5 
> Mbps upload. I use the following link to test both download and upload 
> speeds. Try several of the available servers speed can vary from server 
> to server.
> 
>  
> 
> http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
> 
>  
> 
> With FiOS you should get something in the low teens for downloads as 
> well not sure what upload speed they are providing.
> 
>  
> 
> Actually for web browsing once you get above 1-2 Mbps you won't notice a 
> difference as the time it takes for your PC to render the page will be a 
> bigger delay. Since you download and upload a lot of pictures the raw 
> speed may be more important.
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> Dave Hartrum
> 
> dhartrum at mac.com <mailto:dhartrum at mac.com>
> 
>  
> 
> 
> 
>  
> 
> On Sep 7, 2007, at 6:21 PM, Edward Sobolewski wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> I also am thinking about switching to FiOS, currently have Comcast 
> Cable.  For those of you who have FiOS can you tell me what download 
> rates are you actually getting.  With Comcast I measured 6 Mbps and up, 
> is FiOS around 1.5 Mbps?
> 
>  
> 
> However I agree that speed is not everything, Comcast is super fast 
> (when it is working), but is the FiOS fast enough to make the switch?
> 
>  
> 
> Edward
> 
>  
> 
> *From:* dvbc-list-bounces at list.dvbc.org 
> [mailto:dvbc-list-bounces at list.dvbc.org] *On Behalf Of *domzdvbc at att.net 
> <mailto:domzdvbc at att.net>
> *Sent:* Friday, September 07, 2007 2:11 PM
> *To:* dvbc-list at dvbc.org
> *Subject:* [DVBC] ISP options
> 
>  
> 
> When Jo Ann and I looked at this townhome, we saw crews 
> installing orange plastic pipe into the ground near Brookhaven Road, so 
> we hoped FiOS was on the way.
> 
>  
> 
> Then the Verizon installation tech explained that because we were part 
> of the hub that originated in Chester, Wallingford would be one of the 
> last areas to get FiOS.  Had something to do with local delinquent 
> payments, or so he said.  He also explained that we're located 
> over 18,000 feet from the Chester hub, and given that our telelphone 
> wires are over 20 years old, it's pretty hard to get the 1.5 Mbps we're 
> paying for.  Last night measured 24 Kbps download rate and 124 Kbps 
> upload.  And I thought my old dial-up line in Swarthmore was slow!
> 
>  
> 
> Just another example where companies are allowed to monopolize the 
> marketplace and consumer choice is limited.  If you know of other ISP 
> options, I'd be glad to hear them.  Thanks!
> 
>  
> 
> Dom
> 
> 
>  
> 
>     -------------- Original message from "Len Zanetich"
>     <freewheelinguy at verizon.net <mailto:freewheelinguy at verizon.net>>:
>     --------------
> 
> 
>      > I don't care about their marketing department. I had Comcast and
>     now have
>      > FIOS. That should tell you about Comcast in my opinion. I never lose
>      > connection and this would happen all the time with Comcast. It
>     would get
>      > increasing slower because you lose bandwidth as more people get
>     on you pipe.
>      > I can quote numbers, but don't want to spend the time researching
>     what I
>      > came up with when I was thinking of switching. All I know is
>     since I've had
>      > Verizon FIOS all my network and internet issues have gone away.
>      >
> 
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