The DVR is nice in that it lets you fast-forward through the ads, and that can amount to 15 minutes out an hour. However, it requires you to pay close attention while it is running in fast-forward to determine just when the ads stop and the show returns. Invariably it overruns, and then, being the stickler I am, I have to rewind back to the end of the last ad and then press play again. After a few seconds, sometimes as long as ten, we are back to watching the show. It's better than having to sit through four minutes of ads, but it's still a pain. A DVD would be better.
The DVR also lets you pause when the phone rings (which is at least once a show) or when one of the kids pops their head in to tell us what rotten parents we are (no, you can't have another bowl of candy). The pause button on the remote control is a pain. If you don't press it exactly right, it doesn't work. It is just above the '3' and I think careless pushing of the pause button also pushes the '3' button, which apparently negates the effect of the pause button.
The DVR has two tuners, so you can record two different channels simultaneously. However, if both channels are recording, you can only watch one of those two channels unless you cancel one of the recordings. However, you can record two channels and watch something that you have previously recorded.
But there are some problems. First among the problems is heat. The Verizon (Motorola) DVR (Digital Video Recorder) generates a good deal of heat and it does not have a fan. It does have a whole bunch of large ventilation slots on top, but that is not enough. We have it sitting inside the console with a glass door on the front. The back is wide open, and there are several inches of clearance above it, but it is not enough. It has shut off at least three times while it was being used, once right in the middle of the Super Bowl. It turns back on right away, but it should not be shutting off in the first place. Our old TiVo unit had a built in fan. Shoot, my son's stereo receiver has a built in fan. Right now we are leaving the glass door open when we are using it, but I think I am going to need to install a small fan inside the cabinet to keep it cool. Probably should have Verizon replace it because it has probably cooked itself.
The STB (Set Top Box) in the basement needs to be replaced. It spazzed out the other day and now the sound is muted. If you turn up the volume on the TV all the way, you can just make out what people are saying. Not quite good enough. I suppose it could be the TV, but if their STB broke my TV, I will be unhappy.
The ability to play back shows recorded on the DVR (upstairs) using the STB (in the basement) does work, though not quite as smoothly as when using the DVR directly. It takes it a couple of seconds to respond to commands, and if you push the buttons too fast it seems to get confused. It also has a bad habit of going back to the beginning when you are trying to fast forward through some ads in the middle of a show. That has happened several times, though I think I may have found a work around. If you are fast forwarding at full speed, step down to half-fast before you hit the play button. It seems happier that way.
One of the reasons we signed up for FIOS TV is that we have been hearing for years about all the great shows available on cable, things like the "Discovery Channel" and the "History Channel" and HBO. So far we haven't made much use of it (I don't know what the kids are doing). The movie selection is not so hot. Most everything that is available in the way of movies we have already seen, either in a theater or on a DVD from the rental store.
I called their support line the other day and got one of those robo-cop menu systems. This one offered to reset the DVR, and it actually worked. Of course, it did not actually fix the problem, but it was encouraging that they actually went to the trouble to implement something like this. I called back again and got connected to a person and he sent a reset signal to the router. That did not fix the problem either, but I am beginning to see a pattern here. Last week a guy from Verizon stopped by to see how we were gettting along and we started to tell him about the problems we were having. He did not let us finish (good thing, we would still be talking) before he recommended calling the support line and asking them to replace the DVR and/or the STB. I can see how this would work, though it is a bit like siege warfare. If enough people complain, they will eventually realize there is a problem and take steps to fix it. Having to send a person out to replace equipment is an expensive proposition, especially if they have to do it several times for everybody.
I tried sending in an email, but they only allow 70 characters (70!) in your message. It goes to an automatic system that attempts to answer your question, though I got the same message back for all three of my complaints. I was able to reply to their responses at length however, though all I got was the same automated replys. Not much help. So I will be calling them this week for a new DVR and a new STB and maybe even a new router.
My wifes laptop can only connect to the internet once before she has to restart it. Once the browser is open and connected, it seems to work fine, but close the browser and you are done. My computer does not have this problem. I don't know why her laptop is acting up, and I don't really want to. It used to work with the old router, but it does not work with the new one. I supposed I will have to investigate myself. I could call for help, but I doubt whether they will able to solve the problem.
Update December 2016 replaced missing picture.
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