Happy dance followup
It was a long day, but everything's installed. The tech called my install a "triple play". - installing voice, video, and data over fiber. I now have a 6416 and two 6400s - two out of three are working. The internet (15M) is working like a champ!
Things to be aware of/general observations:
1. They're using D-Link routers. The tech suggested I keep my Linksys as the wireless was much better than that in the D-Link. So my router is now acting as a 100M switch with a built in access point. When I placed the order I was told we could use my router instead of theirs. Not true.
2. They install a box he kept calling a NIM. It's a non-descript looking black thing - almost like some of the early cable modems. It's function is to interface between the fiber and the TV boxes, allowing the boxes to download the guides and order/receive VOD and PPV. It takes up one of the ethernet ports on the router, so you end up with 3.
3. This whole TV thing is new to them and they're still working out the bugs (to be expected). If the tech had not come back by to get me to sign off on the paperwork, I'd probably still have basic channels only. He had to get his support folks on the phone (who had to huddle a few times), but finally got everything working. I remember something very similar happening when I first got Voom.... a Motorola thing? At any rate, I had been on hold with Verizon customer service for about 25 minutes when he rang the bell. After all that, he still has to come back on Saturday (I've got to go back to work tomorrow) to swap out one of the 6400s that refuses to load and bring me a HDMI cable.
4. Because of the number of folks they're signing up, they're shipping in techs from all over the country to keep up. The guy that did my install is from California. I see this as a very good thing - they're setting appointments within a 7 to 10 day period and showing up when they say they are. Because of the work required, they're quoting 4 to 6 hours. My install took 8 not counting the time he was here after the fact.
I LOVE the guide! The best of several that I've seen. You can search by show name, time, or actor (!). Having been on Comcast since last April, I'm so very glad to get rid of the TV guide junk! Nice and clean.
I asked the tech if he had heard anything about Verizon acquiring the Voom programming - he said he hadn't heard specifics, but that they were supposed to have over 30 HD channels by the end of the year... :clap
sbh
