Verizon FiOS vs. Comcast in Pittsburgh (2013, living, zip code)

[Treasury]

I am moving to Pittsburgh next week and am deciding between Verizon FiOS and Comcast. I was just wondering which company you all recommend for tv and internet. All the reviews I have read rank Verizon over Comcast. If anyone has an opinion on this I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

[BrianTH]

We switched from Comcast to Verizon when FiOS became available. Verizon customer service is terrible, but Comcast's customer service isn't much better, and the Verizon technology for TV and Internet is just SO much better, with much more room for further improvement.

[Scott2187]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

We switched from Comcast to Verizon when FiOS became available. Verizon customer service is terrible, but Comcast's customer service isn't much better, and the Verizon technology for TV and Internet is just SO much better, with much more room for further improvement.

I agree with this. I switch to FiOS when I moved into the city. I am now paying less per month than I was for Comcast, and I get more channels and faster internet.

As a humorous side note on the customer service: when the tech was installing/activating my FiOS, he had to enter a login number. The system they used was switched to a new system, and he was having trouble with the new system. He got to the point when he, himself, had to call customer service. He was on hold for about 20 minutes before the issue was resolved. Afterwards, he looked at me and commented "see, we have the same troubles as actual customers with the customer service group."

[Bong477]

I've used them all at some point. Fios is better than Comcast or Directv. No question. Cheaper, faster internet, better picture. The only reason I can see to get something other than fios is 1) its not available 2) you want NFL sunday ticket or some other package that's only available on a certain provider. Sunday ticket was nice living outside of Pittsburgh but now back in the Pittsburgh viewing area I don't care, particularly now that there is Red Zone Channel on Fios (and Comcast for that matter).

Their customer service was fine (by cable/satellite standards, which is a low bar) when I needed it.

The Fios DVR has limited storage is my only serious gripe, but you can add an external hard drive to the newer boxes and get plenty of storage that way. If this matters to you, make sure to ask your installation tech for the right type of DVR box. On demand selection is a little better on Comcast, but not enough to sweat it.

[BrianTH]

Random tip: I believe the multi-room DVR we recently got (which I believe is a Motorola QIP7232) has significantly more storage space (500GB) than any other FiOS DVR.

[Burghgirl17]

FIOS is far, far better. I have also found their customer service to be far better than Comcast. The installer was fabulous. Any installer I had ever had from Comcast was terrible. And when we reupped our contract, they actually gave us an even BETTER price than we had been getting.

[thepacifist20130]

I had the same question as we are moving to Pittsburgh next week as well. However, FIOS is not available in our area, so the choice is between Comcast Internet+TV and Comcast Internet and Dish TV.

Is there a way to know when FIOS is planned to come in our area? The zip code is 15217

[WhoIsStanwix?]

I'm going to chime in and say of the 4 different TV/Internet Providers I've had over the past 3 or 4 years, FIOS is by far the best with tech, content selection, user friendliness, and speed of internet. I haven't had to deal with customer service at all, so I can't comment on that. My bill is reasonable (relative to what I've paid in the past, the absolute number is still too high IMO but what can you do). I 100% recommend FIOS if it's available to you.

[TheYO]

Originally Posted by thepacifist20130

I had the same question as we are moving to Pittsburgh next week as well. However, FIOS is not available in our area, so the choice is between Comcast Internet+TV and Comcast Internet and Dish TV.

Is there a way to know when FIOS is planned to come in our area? The zip code is 15217

I'm in the same boat as you. I just moved here last month and was really hoping to get FIOS right away, but it isn't available for me yet either. I ended up going with Comcast and not signing a contract. It's a little more each month, but now I can cancel it as soon as FiOS is available without any early termination fees.

If you go here, type in your address and then hit continue. On the next page it'll give you your options. Near the top of that page there will be a link that says "Looking for FiOS? Find out when FiOS is available by signing up for our notification list." Click that and sign up for that and they'll email you when FiOS is available.

[TheYO]

Oh and to answer the OP's question. Definitely go with Verizon. I'm paying more for a no contract plan with Comcast, just so I can cancel it the day FiOS is available.