Verizon (FiOS) and BTV-Hauppauge!!

[olimits7]

Hi,

Today I switched over to Verizon (FiOS), I like everything about it except 2 issues that I wish I knew about beforehand.

Issue 1:
First off, no one from Verizon ever told me I needed a box for every TV, and if I didn't have a box the TV would be basically useless.

I thought I would at least get the basic cable signal plugging a direct coaxial cable to a TV like I did with Comcast.

Issue 2:
This issue relates to issue 1 because now my Hauppauge PVR-500 & BTV is basically useless now too.

I had a sweet setup where I was able to record 2 shows at the same time on my computer using BTV and also watch a different show on my TV by just using the coaxial cable. But now that I don't get a signal through the coaxial cable; this setup is pretty much gone.

I was able to get my Hauppauge card to show a signal on my computer by plugging into the back of the Verizon box under the "RF TV out" coaxial port. But this doesn't work the way I wanted it to...basically if I change the channel on my TV the channel changes in BTV; so I can't even use the BTV schedule to record shows.

So the only option I see is to sell my Hauppauge card, and just switch over to a Verizon DVR box. I really wish I didn't have to do this and stop using BTV and my Hauppauge card...this is the only thing that sucksssss about this FiOS!!!

Unless, someone has a suggestion to how I can keep my dual Hauppauge card and BTV schedule working; I'm willing to give it a try???

Thank you,

olimits7

[Terminal]

Unless the FIOS DVR is a dual tuner DVR you won't really gain anything with it. Not familiar so I can't say. The dish DVRs allow you to record and watch another show at the same time, or record two shows at once. I was forced into a similar situation. I had COX cable at my old house, all that is available where I am now is Sat. I went with Dish, and I am fairly happy with it, but like you, it cut my recording capability considerably. I had three SD tuners for recording from the analog cable and a HDHomerun where I could record two HD QAM channels. With Dish I use a HDPVR to record one HD channel from the a non DVR STB and I can record two HD OTA channels with my HDHomerun. That seems to cover me OK, but then I still have my wife's shows to record. So I decided to also get a DISH two channel DVR, that is for her use.

[tscales]

You can get a box for your Hauppauge tuner and it will work again. It just has to have its own box (two if you want to record two shows).

FIOS isn't really cable.

[Zogg]

I switched to FIOS about 2 months ago and I'm really happy with the setup. I did know ahead of time that you need a box OR cable card with every TV. But, they do put the local channels in clear QAM, so if you have a HDTV with QAM tuner then it can at least get the locals.

Since you were using the PVR500, I'd get 2 SD STB's from Verizon and use one with each tuner. They are $4.95 each per month, which will be cheaper than the Verizon DVR. I'm not sure if the SD STB's have firewire ports, but I'm using firewire to change the channels on my 2 HD boxes and it works great. If not then you can use an IR blaster or USB-UIRT.

Before I got my 2nd HD-PVR, I was using a PVR-150 to capture from one of my HD boxes, and the captures looked pretty good even on the big 46" HDTV.

So just get 2 SD boxes and you'll be good to go.