Considering switching from Comcast to FiOS/Vonage

[MrChad]

I currently have Comcast Triple Play (TV/Internet/Phone) and I'm satisfied with the service, but Verizon has been pushing FiOS pretty strongly in our area and they are offering some tempting deals.

For $80 / month, I can get the FiOS HD TV package and 20/5 Internet Service, plus $100 cash back. Verizon will guarantee the $80 rate for 2 years if I sign a 1 year contract. I can add on Vonage for $25 / month and still come well under what I'm paying Comcast now.

Two questions:

1. I want to keep my existing home phone number. How does this process work? Should I contact Vonage first or cancel my Comcast service first? According to the Vonage website, my number is eligible for transfer.

2. Does anyone have experience getting a CableCard installed from Verizon? I'd like to keep using my TiVo HD.

 

[Vette73]

I would contcat Vomage first to see what they say.

not sure about the cable card.



We have Fios and Vonage and it works great. Never a problem from either.

 

[Jeeebus]

xfer of a number is very easy. you sign up through vonage and choose the option to xfer your number. they do all the work of getting it transferred and the process even cancels your previous phone service.

 

[oznerol]

How'd you get that fios deal and what channels does it come with (HBO, Showtime, Starz, Encore)?

I'm actually in the exact same situation - looking to switch from Triple Play to Fios + vonage, but the costs seem to end up the same, and the Fios prices are only for a year. Did you do some haggling on the phone?

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: ducci
How'd you get that fios deal and what channels does it come with (HBO, Showtime, Starz, Encore)?

I'm actually in the exact same situation - looking to switch from Triple Play to Fios + vonage, but the costs seem to end up the same, and the Fios prices are only for a year. Did you do some haggling on the phone?

Just looking at the website, to be honest. No premium channels are included.

I received a flyer in the mail offering FiOS TV, Internet and Phone for $99 for two years with $150 cash back, however that deal only includes the "Essentials" TV package (limited HD) and 10/2 internet.

 

[kranky]

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: ducci
How'd you get that fios deal and what channels does it come with (HBO, Showtime, Starz, Encore)?

I'm actually in the exact same situation - looking to switch from Triple Play to Fios + vonage, but the costs seem to end up the same, and the Fios prices are only for a year. Did you do some haggling on the phone?

Just looking at the website, to be honest. No premium channels are included.

I received a flyer in the mail offering FiOS TV, Internet and Phone for $99 for two years with $150 cash back, however that deal only includes the "Essentials" TV package (limited HD) and 10/2 internet.

The Extreme HD package (20+ HD channels and 20/5 Internet) is only $10/month more.

 

[BW86]

thats a good fios deal

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: kranky

Originally posted by: MrChad

Originally posted by: ducci
How'd you get that fios deal and what channels does it come with (HBO, Showtime, Starz, Encore)?

I'm actually in the exact same situation - looking to switch from Triple Play to Fios + vonage, but the costs seem to end up the same, and the Fios prices are only for a year. Did you do some haggling on the phone?

Just looking at the website, to be honest. No premium channels are included.

I received a flyer in the mail offering FiOS TV, Internet and Phone for $99 for two years with $150 cash back, however that deal only includes the "Essentials" TV package (limited HD) and 10/2 internet.

The Extreme HD package (20+ HD channels and 20/5 Internet) is only $10/month more.

Perhaps their website isn't working correctly. If I upgrade to the Extreme HD package, it lowers my bundle savings and doesn't affect the internet speed. I'll give them a call and see what they can offer.

 

[kranky]

I had the same problem on the website. When I called, I got it. (Extreme HD, 20/5 internet, phone, $150 cashback, price guaranteed for 2 years with a 1 year commitment, free HD set top box for 1 year, $109.99 per month)

 

[oznerol]

Ah, I see it on the website now. This is a new promotion - and a good one. Much better than last month's Free DVR for 6 months.

I customized everything to what I wanted (phone, internet + cable), and it came out to $160/month, which is pretty good. Includes all the movie channels, 20/5 internet, an HD box, SD box, DVR box, and SD adapter.

I wonder how painless the transition from Comcast is? I imagine I'll have to return all of their cable boxes/modem myself.

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: ducci
Ah, I see it on the website now. This is a new promotion - and a good one. Much better than last month's Free DVR for 6 months.

I customized everything to what I wanted (phone, internet + cable), and it came out to $160/month, which is pretty good. Includes all the movie channels, 20/5 internet, an HD box, SD box, DVR box, and SD adapter.

I wonder how painless the transition from Comcast is? I imagine I'll have to return all of their cable boxes/modem myself.

you just cancel and drop the stuff off. The biggest pain is having verizon take 5 hours to install FIOS.

 

[oznerol]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: ducci
Ah, I see it on the website now. This is a new promotion - and a good one. Much better than last month's Free DVR for 6 months.

I customized everything to what I wanted (phone, internet + cable), and it came out to $160/month, which is pretty good. Includes all the movie channels, 20/5 internet, an HD box, SD box, DVR box, and SD adapter.

I wonder how painless the transition from Comcast is? I imagine I'll have to return all of their cable boxes/modem myself.

you just cancel and drop the stuff off. The biggest pain is having verizon take 5 hours to install FIOS.

Do they need to do anything special to install the service? I already have outlets everywhere. I imagine I just need the modem/converter and cable boxes "installed", no? And by "installed" I mean plugged in and turned on.

They don't have a do-it-yourself kit like Comcast does?

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: ducci

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: ducci
Ah, I see it on the website now. This is a new promotion - and a good one. Much better than last month's Free DVR for 6 months.

I customized everything to what I wanted (phone, internet + cable), and it came out to $160/month, which is pretty good. Includes all the movie channels, 20/5 internet, an HD box, SD box, DVR box, and SD adapter.

I wonder how painless the transition from Comcast is? I imagine I'll have to return all of their cable boxes/modem myself.

you just cancel and drop the stuff off. The biggest pain is having verizon take 5 hours to install FIOS.

Do they need to do anything special to install the service? I already have outlets everywhere. I imagine I just need the modem/converter and cable boxes "installed", no? And by "installed" I mean plugged in and turned on.

They don't have a do-it-yourself kit like Comcast does?

no...they need to run the fiber run into your house. It hooks to an STB that they screw onto a wall, so they are going to try to find some closet to put it in. The STB converts the fiber to coxial or ethernet. The process of actually terminating the fiber looked painful. They have a machine do it, but it does not always get it right.

 

[RaiderJ]

I have FIOS and it's great. $50/mo for 10Mb/3Mb. I can stream 1080p stuff - what more could you want?

 

[MrChad]

Originally posted by: kranky
I had the same problem on the website. When I called, I got it. (Extreme HD, 20/5 internet, phone, $150 cashback, price guaranteed for 2 years with a 1 year commitment, free HD set top box for 1 year, $109.99 per month)

Thanks kranky. I called Verizon and signed up for this exact deal.

I hope the CableCard install goes smoothly though. The woman on the phone didn't even know what I was talking about when I first mentioned it.

 

[Muadib]

Originally posted by: MrChad
1. I want to keep my existing home phone number. How does this process work? Should I contact Vonage first or cancel my Comcast service first? According to the Vonage website, my number is eligible for transfer.

Contact Vonage first, and they will handle the transfer. I'm new to them, and it took about a week before the transfer was complete. If you have call forwarding with Comcast, be sure to activate it to the temp number Vonage will assign you. This way you will be sure to get calls in case the transfer gets messed up like mine did.

PM me before you sign up and we both can get 2 free months.