Author Topic: FiOS: pros and cons? (Read 1136 times)

fuzeman · « **on:** March 19, 2007, 05:40:49 PM »

Almost put this in Cable v DSL thread but didn't want to hijack it at all.

Well Verizon has put FiOS in the area and I was wondering about trying it over Adelphia>Time Warner cable I have now.
Only way I could finagle it is with a package deal with phone and TV all in one.
I realy don't like the 1 year thing and sounds sort of expensive if you need service.
Then again I have no real facts or experience to base my opinions on so, of course, I rely on your experience and facts.

Let the opinions fly!

Krusty · « **Reply #1 on:** March 19, 2007, 06:03:02 PM »

I have no idea what FiOS is. Would you please enlighten those that can't respond, but would like to follow along and read the responses later?

fuzeman · « **Reply #2 on:** March 19, 2007, 06:26:46 PM »

Fiber optic.

Here's a blurb from their website:
"Verizon FiOS Internet Service is a broadband service designed to provide Internet access with maximum connection speeds of up to 50 Mbps or 30 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream, depending on where you live. FiOS is provided on our state-of-the-art fiber-optic network. The consumer packages include a standard suite of services including access to newsgroups, up to 9 Verizon.net email accounts, online services, and 10 MB of personal Web space. Optional services are also available for a fee.

Connection speeds are between your location and the Verizon central office serving your location. Actual download and upload speeds will vary based on numerous factors, such as the condition of wiring at your location, computer configuration, Internet and network congestion, and the speed of website servers you access, among other factors. Speed and uninterrupted use of the service are not guaranteed."

The 'condition of the wiring at your location' might effect me. While thier lines are new the house wiring is original from the 1950's when Dad built the place.

SNO · « **Reply #3 on:** March 19, 2007, 07:20:37 PM »

Is it much of a hassle to run a new phone wire from the new hub on the side of the house directly to your dsl modem? Then it will be all brand new wiring for your internet connection.

OOZ662 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 19, 2007, 07:51:19 PM »

You need actual fiber optic cable run in your home, or else there would be no advantage to the service. The problem with cable/DSL/Dialup is that they run at the speed of electricity. Also, each line is only designed to flow so much data. Fiber Optics travels at the speed of light.

Hooking a phone wire up to a FiOS connection would get you the speed of top line DSL, if it were somehow possible.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #5 on:** March 19, 2007, 08:05:23 PM »

Ooz, the speed of digital data flow over any medium is fixed by the clock rate over the medium.

With cable, that is normally around 10MHz, but in newer installations I believe they are getting close to 50MHz, or there abouts. The limitation being the medium.

with FiOS, it is pure fiber optic all the way to the central office. Verizon is currently clocking at 600MHz, but can easily go up to 1.2GHz with the flip of a switch. In a year, they will be able to go to 10GHz. There is fundamentally no clock restrictions with light, until you get to the light wave frequencies.

FiOS has much more bandwidth available, per home, for HD TV, Internet and phone than cable will ever be able to have.

FiOS does require you to maintain the backup battery in the box, as that box is located inside your home or garage. The backup is only used when your home loses power. Which also means your paying for the electricity to power the fiber connection.

Verizon is running fiber optic directly into each home on the service. Each home has its own dedicated fiber link back to the central office. The speed packages start at around 6 or 10Mb/s (I cannot recall and it may vary in each area) and go up to 30Mb/s.

Wes14 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 19, 2007, 08:09:29 PM »

thats MHz/GHz

what about Mb/s:D ? or Kb/s:noid

Skuzzy · « **Reply #7 on:** March 19, 2007, 08:12:04 PM »

Mb/s = Mega-bit per second
MB/s = Mega-bype per second

Wes14 · « **Reply #8 on:** March 19, 2007, 08:13:20 PM »

oops,
my bad.

Skuzzy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 19, 2007, 08:33:33 PM »

Oh, the only downside I see in FiOS is the Internet connection is PPPoE only. And for that reason, I am still on DSL. Even though I have all the FiOS equipment attached to my house, and even got the Ethernet cable installed in the wall in my home office.

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #10 on:** March 19, 2007, 08:48:15 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Ooz, the speed of digital data flow over any medium is fixed by the clock rate over the medium.

With cable, that is normally around 10MHz, but in newer installations I believe they are getting close to 50MHz, or there abouts. The limitation being the medium.

with FiOS, it is pure fiber optic all the way to the central office. Verizon is currently clocking at 600MHz, but can easily go up to 1.2GHz with the flip of a switch. In a year, they will be able to go to 10GHz. There is fundamentally no clock restrictions with light, until you get to the light wave frequencies.

FiOS has much more bandwidth available, per home, for HD TV, Internet and phone than cable will ever be able to have.

FiOS does require you to maintain the backup battery in the box, as that box is located inside your home or garage. The backup is only used when your home loses power. Which also means your paying for the electricity to power the fiber connection.

Verizon is running fiber optic directly into each home on the service. Each home has its own dedicated fiber link back to the central office. The speed packages start at around 6 or 10Mb/s (I cannot recall and it may vary in each area) and go up to 30Mb/s.

I saw Fois is offering several options at several prices.

"Pricing Plan Maximum Connection Speed One-Time
Installation Fee* Monthly
Price

One Year Agreement Up to 5 Mbps/2 Mbps
Just $29.99 for 1st 6 mos.
plus a $20 Target gift card

when added to your Verizon phone bill FREE $39.99
Up to 15 Mbps/2 Mbps
Just $39.99 for 1st 6 mos.
plus a $20 Target gift card

when added to your Verizon phone bill FREE $49.99
Up to 30 Mbps/5 Mbps FREE $179.95 "

Which package would you have to get before it is equivelent to Cable?

or is even the cheapest package already better?

Example. I just ran a test at

http://www.cable-modem.net/features/oct99/speed.html

And my test results were

Your Connection Loaded 322,649 bytes in 0.032 seconds.

Your throughput is 80662 Kbps

Which is better?

One other question.

Does anyone know what channelsFios offers with their package?
their site doesnt seem to say

Skuzzy · « **Reply #11 on:** March 19, 2007, 09:25:17 PM »

Well, seems you already have a 1Gb/s connection, according to the speed test. No need in wasting your time with FiOS as FiOS currently maxes out at about 3MB/sec.

I'll have to revise my numbers as I had no idea cable had gotten so fast. I wonder how they did it and still provide any bandwidht for TV?

Verizon has a pretty comprehensive lineup of HD programming.

fuzeman · « **Reply #12 on:** March 19, 2007, 09:30:59 PM »

SNO, never had DSL here. I used to be on Earthlink dialup and then went to Adelphia cable. My area was bouth by Time Warner and I have cable with them now.

My bedroom at present is right where the power and phone line attach to the house right above the garage. Therefore it wouldn't be a long run from the input to where it would be used. ATM we have no other computers online.
Mom recently was given an old computer which I was thinking of putting on a LAN but she hasn't even turned it on since I put it together.

DREDIOK, man you got my speed beat by a long shot. I tried that site and got:
Your Connection Loaded 322,649 bytes in 9.062 seconds.
Your throughput is 285 Kbps.
I was wondering about the television channels we'd get with them also.

I did read something about that BBU in the garage. If the man doesn't have it, that's a sure sign.

Not to mention, it costs more so it might make me think about getting a job.

38ruk · « **Reply #13 on:** March 19, 2007, 11:32:29 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Skuzzy
Well, seems you already have a 1Gb/s connection, according to the speed test. No need in wasting your time with FiOS as FiOS currently maxes out at about 3MB/sec.

I'll have to revise my numbers as I had no idea cable had gotten so fast. I wonder how they did it and still provide any bandwidht for TV?

Verizon has a pretty comprehensive lineup of HD programming.

HeHE skuzzy , my 8 mbit capped connection pulled in a blazing 27459kbps. This is at the bottom of the site

Quote

Remember, you must clear your browser cache before running this test again.

Roscoroo · « **Reply #14 on:** March 19, 2007, 11:57:13 PM »

heres what i got off that site Dred listed .

Comcast cable Wa.

Speed Test Results
Your Connection Loaded 322,649 bytes in 1.172 seconds.

Your throughput is 2202 Kbps.

just for your comparison /survey .

Heres what i get from this one ... I chose the farthest server from me for the test ...
Speakeasy speed test

Last Result:
Download Speed: 4836 kbps (604.5 KB/sec transfer rate)
Upload Speed: 360 kbps (45 KB/sec transfer rate)