Verizon FiOS vs Cable?

[CarbineKid]

I tried to run a search and came up with this "Searching has been disabled". So I am sorry if this has been askked before. Anyhow I have cox cable for my Phone/Internet/TV. While its been good, Verizon is offering FiOS in my area for about a third of the cost of cable(plus a free LCD TV). So I'm wondering if it might be worth it to switch. Saving $50 sounds great, but how good is FiOS. Is the internet speed as good(I have a Xbox that i play online too), How about the phone service, and TV picture?
Thaks in Advance

[Washington,D.C.]

The internet with FIOS is very fast. Verizon will replace all of the copper phone line to the house with fiber optic cable. Once this is done Verizon won't ever add or replace it with regular phone line. This limits some long distance carriers to the ones Verizon allows to use the fiber optic to the house connections. This unlike the all of the choices with regular phone line that they have to share with all long distance carriers. Once FIOS is installed the house can never go back to regular phone line. This is the way it was explained to me. I have friends with FIOS for internet and phone. I am using DSL for internet right now because international calls are important to me and I have too good of a deal to lose my phone line. I don't have cable TV and I haven't looked in to FIOS for TV.

[bangelo]

Dont know about TV, but a friend of mine has FIOS internet and its blazing. FIOS seriously rocks. Get the internet and if you want to get TV later that is still an option.

[nickg]

if you want to keep your copper you have to tell the installers "do NOT remover my copper cable lines, etc." because they will automatically if you don't. most people don't know that they CAN keep them if requested.

but, with that being said, i would switch to Verizon FIOS in a heartbeat if it was available here. unfortunately it's not yet and who knows when it will be.

[Green_Manelishi]

I had FiOS installed where I now live and it does indeed rock. One thing to keep in mind is there is more to it than simply running FO to the house. There is a battery backup that needs to be installed somewhere so you don't lose phones if the power fails.

[EAJuggalo]

I would love FIOS but the lazy bastards at qwest haven't even started it yet. I think I'd keep my cable tv though, I have way too much stuff on my DVR.

[CarbineKid]

if you want to keep your copper you have to tell the installers "do NOT remover my copper cable lines, etc." because they will automatically if you don't. most people don't know that they CAN keep them if requested.

but, with that being said, i would switch to Verizon FIOS in a heartbeat if it was available here. unfortunately it's not yet and who knows when it will be.

Would keeping the copper wires cause be a problem, or at the very least limit FiOS??? If I understand this, the fiber optic wires, are better then the old copper ones....right?

[Washington,D.C.]

I was told they will not leave the copper lines. Once the house goes to fiber optic to the house it can't go back to regular service. The laws that force the phone companies to share their lines only apply to the copper lines to the house. The law looks on FIOS like cable TV, they don't have to share and long distance carriers are limited. I'm not sure what basic phone service would cost if internet was dropped. The big difference for me would be long distance service for international calls. I wouldn't be able to have the service I have now and I wouldn't be able to go back to it.

[JohnBT]

I've had FiOS internet and phone for 1.5 years and it's been - dare I say it - perfect. No glitches, no customer service calls, zip. I only have the basic 5/2 plan and consistently get 5.1 or 5.1 down and the normal 1.5 to 1.7 up. The first year was $29.95/mo. and now it's only $34.95. I've thought about spending the extra $10/mo. for the 10/2 or 15/5 or whatever the next plan is, but what I have works for me. Of course, I upgraded from AOL dialup so what do I know. :shocked:

On my list of things to do today is order the TV install. :supergrin:
I bought a 40" Samsung lcd yesterday (4061F for $1299 at C.City. Best Buy was $200 more.) I have a very small living room and have been been watching a 19" Mitsubishi for the past 21 years. Hey, it was $499 on sale and still works just fine. :)

John