FTTH deployments: we don't need no stinkin' IPTV
By Ben Drawbaugh 
posted Jun 19th 2008 7:36AM
posted Jun 19th 2008 7:36AM
When people think of FiOS, they think of super high speed Internet and IPTV, but in actuality FiOS only uses IPTV for VOD and the rest of the channels are distributed the old fashion way; via QAM. We're sure many of you are scratching your head right now and you might be thinking, yeah but eventually FiOS is going IPTV and if Verizon had it to do all over again, surely IPTV would be use now, right? Evidently not, as two new companies have announced a similar GPON (Gigabit Passive Optical Networks) deployment to FiOS and guess what, both are using a QAM overlay system just like Verizon. Both D&P Communications and PBT Communications, both realize that QAM can't be beat, thanks to all the current hardware that is available. Sure, IPTV could take over eventually, but at this point we wouldn't dare to guess when.
How has no one posted on this, Well I want to remind everyone that although the internet is fast, and the QAM HD channels are nice, the VoIP phone service likes to cut out, and when you access the IPTV VoD, it is one of the slowest pieces of junk I have ever used. Comcast definitly has them beat there. Thank god you can bookmark stuff cause I hate searching through the VoD for something to watch. Even the TV Guide, press a button wait 5 seconds, press a button wait 10 seconds, oh i guess it didn't register that last button press, oh no wait it did, where am I now. How can I not scroll through a couple kbs of data blazing fast, but when i am watching the Video on demand there are no problems?
Are you running the 2.x software?
I got fios installed 2 weeks ago. And I have my router set up to send me emails of firmware updates.
Oof, that sucks.
I don't have FIOS (AT&T owns practically all of CT), but I have a lot of experience with friends & family's setups and I've never seen it that bad.
The problem is most likely the Motorola box, not the service.
I'm on the brink of getting an HD Tivo myself after repeated crashes/partial recordings of my SA8300HD box.
It's not just QAM, they actually transmit ANALOG RF overlayed on the fiber for the lower channel numbers. Analog RF! Of course, this is in the process of being phased out, but still.