FIOS/Comcast/Dish costs

I'm trying to get a handle on the comparative costs of cable and internet. I currently have Comcast internet and cable. The cost is $140/mo. We have 2 boxes, no premium channels.
Fios advertises a $99 and $104 package. (plus $150 back). What the ad doesn't tell you is the cost to rent boxes at $10 each. They said I'd need 3-one for each TV. So the cost ends up being the same.
Anyone else do the comparison shopping?

 

We just ordered FiOS after obsessive research. :rolleyes3:

We created a spreadsheet and itemized what we pay for internet (Comcast), our satellite DVR (DirecTV), our other satellite boxes, satellite basic TV package, satellite movie package, and phone service. The costs were from actual bills/statements from each of the services.

Then we itemized the costs for FiOS based on the options listed on http://verizon.com/fiostriple229. The Verizon website allows you to choose each option individually and customize them to your tastes. Therefore, the data we used from Verizon included the basic service package, costs for HD DVR, other boxes for other TVs, our choice of internet speed, and phone (cell service is completely separate).

All in all, even with upgrading to HD (which we didn't have before) the price was about $40 lower per month than we were paying. Doesn't sound all that impressive but it saves about $480/year. The FiOS deal we got locks in the price for 2 years and offers the $150 cash back.

If you do what we did and run all the numbers individually of what you currently pay for each service and then use the Verizon website to itemize your potential new service you should have a very good idea of the price difference. We ultimately decided to try the FiOS and they come on Friday to install.

Good luck!

 

I'm holding off on FIOS because I dislike the DVR (and a $20 fee I see...!?!).... as for your phone service... why not switch to VOIP? <$20 month for unlimited calling.

what's the "digital adapter" for $4?

 

Thanks for the info. I did the research too and found the costs between Comcast and FIOS the same. I thought I was missing something. I was told by FIOS that each receiver was $9.99 not $5.99. Also, what is the digital adapter fee?
A Bentkofsky

 

$19.99 is the Home Media DVR

• Record shows on one DVR and watch up to three recorded shows on three different TVs at the same time. No more TV wars!
• Eliminate the need for multiple DVRs throughout the house and save money.
• Pause a program in one room and continue viewing it in another.
• Access FiOS TV’s standard definition and HD channels—plus, the Interactive Media Guide (IMG)
• Record up to 80 hrs. of standard definition content and up to 20 hrs. of HD content
• PC Media Manager, included with your Home Media DVR, allows you to view slide shows and listen to music stored on your computer on your television.

$9.99 is the HD Receiver

• Access FiOS TV's standard definition and HD channels plus, the Interactive Media Guide (IMG)
• Select and view programs, set parental controls, access our extensive On Demand library and commercial free CD-quality music

$5.99 is the standard receiver

• Access FiOS TV’s standard definition channels and Interactive Media Guide (IMG)
• Select and view programs, set parental controls, access our extensive On Demand library and commercial- free CD-quality music

$3.99 is the Digital Adapter
The Digital Adapter does not support High Definition Programming, Video on Demand (VOD), impulse Pay Per View (PPV) via your remote, the advanced "Mercury" interactive program guide, interactive parental controls and other interactive services such as Home Media DVR and widgets. This simply allows you to watch TV with no bells and whistles. We'll use this in our basement where we don't watch much TV.

 

So digital adapter == CableCard or what?

 

Looks like they have changed the pricing of their DVRs since I had FiOS installed. Originally I had the HD DVR without home media option for $15.99/month. I did not like their DVR and sent it back. I now use a TiVo HD with FiOS cable card, $3.99/month. I have to sacrifice FiOS Video-on-Demand with this setup, not an issue for me.

Is "digital adapter" some sort of digital to analog conversion? In Villager's post it say that it does not support HD programming and I know that cable card does support HD.

I've also gone with Vonage instead of FiOS phone service. I get the features that I need at less than half of what Verizon charges.

 

Yes, the digital adapter is for the digital conversion. FIOS went to all digital a while ago so at a minimum you'll need the digital adapter.

 

If one were to choose FIOS for TV and data only, and choose to use Vonage or some other VoIP service, what does that do to the monthly rates? How much lesser is this option compared to choosing all 3 (voice/data/TV) at the basic rate of $99?

 

Don't you also sacrifice another $12 or so per month per DVR for a Tivo subscription? Granted I agree the Tivo service/DVR is better, but since this thread is about comparing costs I figured it would be good to point out.

 

We have DirecTV HD DVRPlus service (Qty2 recievers) and ALL the premium channels, our monthly bill is $92. I negotiated with DTV and they 'gave us the HD-DVR's' via service credits and had them lower our monthly cost from $135 to $92, if we signed a 24mo agreement.

DTV's Video-On-Demand service is AMAZING (Openband's VOD doesn't even come close), scheduling tool is pretty cool, the new HD DVR has some awesome features as well (such as memory and ff/rwd options).

One thing I do like about DTV is the advance early release viewing options, (such as The Tudors).

 

Yes, there is a cost for the TiVo service. If you choose to go monthly, it's something like $12.95/month. I went with the one-time lifetime deal at $399 because the TiVo will be useful even if I dump FiOS and go with OTA.

 

The FiOS double-bundle I have includes TV and internet at $79.95/month before options, taxes, fees...

 

Must be something that you don't need if you have a digital capable TV, because my installed never mentioned it.

 

Right, but I have old crappy tv's so needed some of these.

 

Yeah I need to call and threaten to quit too... been too lazy... did you get to the retention dept and say you were switching to FiOS? DId you negotiate much or was their first offer good?

Have you enabled the 30-second skip? It makes it pretty much comparable to a tivo =)

 

So it's a cable box? or just something that converts digital to analog for cable-ready tvs?

 

I was bumped to Account Management after 30days of problems with the new HD DVR. DTV resolution was:
Gave us a $199 credit and then sent us 2 additional units for free
3 months of free programming
$50 in PPV credtis

I did negotiate with AM by giving the comps of FiOS & Comcast (didn't bother with Openband - their pricing & TV service is JOKE), so $92 a month includes 2 set top boxes with:
DVR Plus
HD package
DVR service
Prememium Movie Channels HBO, Sho, Starz, Max
VOD

The new RC64R remote is great and features like 30 sec skip and the 6 sec back up is similar to TiVO. I also like the fact you can download a VOD while recording 2 shows. DVT has really come a long way.

 

It's physically a cable box, but only converts the signal so you can watch tv. It doesn't give you any of the advantages of the cable box, like the interactive guide or video on demand. It's like what they're selling in the stores that the Federal Gov't is providing $40 vouchers for you to purchase if you have still have an antenna. I have an HD-DVR and 2 cable boxes. Then I have a small 13" tv in my office that I need this box for.

 

For the DTV HR2x DVRs: (I hated to 30-second "slip" and wanted the tivo-type skip back)