Verizon FiOS TV
Verizon FiOS TV may be changing things soon in a town near you. In many cities around the United States, television viewers have been limited to only one or two choices when it came to cable programming. That meant they may either have to settle for the lesser of two evils and really never had much choice. Now the playing field is opening up more and FiOS TV is beginning to offer an alternative that may heat up the competition and finally give consumers a real choice when they choose cable programming.
What is Verizon FiOS TV?
As the name suggests, this is a relatively new cable programming service being offered through Verizon. The service is not yet available in all parts of the United States but is being rolled out and will eventually be available in most places.
The cable programming service offers many of the same features you already have through your existing cable provider. HD programming, for example, is available and so are DVR boxes. You can choose from multiple packages of programming choices to fit your specific television viewing preferences, access on-demand films, and check the weather from your DVR/cable box.
Of course, if FiOS TV offers mostly what is already provided, you may be wondering why you should switch. The answer lies in the technology.
The Technology of FiOS TV
In most homes, cable television is brought into your home through the same types of wires which were used in the early days of cable installation. In many cases, these copper wires have not been changed or updated since they were originally installed. After all, laying cable costs money and eats into profits.
But copper wire is not adequate to handle the entertainment and information needs of the changing society. The alternative is advanced fiber optic technology. Verizon FiOS TV uses this technology, which they call Fiber to the Premises (FTTP) technology.
Fiber optics are already in use in some parts of the country in places where copper wires are not a viable option. For example, if you live in the rural part of your state but have cable access, it may be thanks to this technology or if you live in the heart of the city where the demand on the lines because of so many users would be great then you may receive your programming, in part, through fiber optics.
Even in these cases, however, the fiber optics technology is rarely used to bring cable signals directly into your home. Copper wires may be used to connect the main fiber optics cable to your home instead. That’s not the case with FiOS TV, however.
Why Fiber Optics Matter
There is a big difference between copper wiring and fiber optics. To understand these differences, you need to understand a little bit about how they work. Fiber optic cables are actually not wires in the traditional sense. Instead, they are bundles of glass strands which are very thin. Signals, such as data transfers, are transmitted through light pulses that are generated by a laser.
Because of the way fiber optics technology is designed, data, voice, and video signals can be moved at extremely fast speeds. The bandwidth capacity for these wires have almost unlimited capacities so more services can be offered and more people can be connected to the line without anyone seeing any degradation in the quality of their service.
Now that you understand a little bit about this technology, here are some of the reasons the FTTP technology used by Verizon FiOS TV is superior to what you are probably being forced to use in your home currently:
• More entertainment options – With copper wiring, there are limits on what types of services you can have in your home because these wires have a limited capacity for data transfer. With fiber optics, however, you have a much broader range of choices, including the use of interactive content, on demand entertainment, and more.
• Higher reliability – Copper wires, especially the wires that have not been changed for a long time, are prone to damage and breakage. Harsh weather conditions, such as the hard freezes and ice storms of the past winter, can do lots of damage to the wires and can keep you without service. And since so many people are now using their cable provider for other services, including Internet and phone, these outages can be more than just annoying inconveniences. Fiber optics, on the other hand, are much more resistant to bad weather so you have less to worry about.
• Easier Maintenance – Because fiber optic wires can be monitored off-site, Verizon FiOS TV support will usually know that you are having a problem with your service before you do. That means they can be working on resolving the problem faster. With current cable services, someone on the damaged line usually needs to report the outrage before action is taken.
• Nearly Unlimited Options – Copper wiring has almost reached the end of its potential in terms of what it can offer consumers in the 21st century. With FTTP, however, the future is still bright and open. Verizon FiOS TV can offer a wide range of new features and services in the coming years thanks to the capabilities of the fiber optic technology.
FiOS TV Vs Satellite TV
Out of frustration with traditional cable service providers, some consumers have switched to satellite television for their programming. While satellite television does not use copper wires, it does have its own limitations, including vulnerability to bad weather and bulky hardware. You may also not be able to get all of your local channels with satellite television.
Verizon FiOS TV does use technology that makes it superior to satellite television, as well. For one, all of the equipment you need is going to be in your home. You’ll be able to have all of the convenience of cable television but with greater capacity and more flexibility than satellite television. Plus, the pricing is competitive and Verizon bundles are available.
