The ONLY time you'd have to worry about the copper being a problem is if the copper installed in your installation was so old, the bandwidth (BW) of the cable was BELOW the standard required for the new service...

I.E.: Your copper is "flat" up to, but no further than 350 MHz., but Verizon (V) is bringing in programming that is on channels above 400 MHz.. The problem then becomes a signal issue...the higher channels become snowy/pixxily because not enough signal is getting through to your sets...

Before anyone starts yanking ANYTHING (including my chain), I'd want to see repeatable proof that the cable is sub-standard...then, in that case, pull the new stuff in along side the old...terminate the old stuff and leave it alone. It's yours, not theirs...unless they're paying you $1.00/ft. for it!!! :D

I had FIOS installed 3 months ago, and it rocks!

I have the middle tier for broadband 16 MB, and they upgraded me to 20 MB yesterday. :)

What are the coax specs. needed to meet the new service standards?

I happened to be working from home today, so I thought I'd check for myself.

Sure enough, the copper going to the house was severed (vertical black conduit to the right). Also note the defunct coax cable from our FORMER service provider...

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...z/IMG_1299.jpg



A quick peek in the box shows that the existing phone line runs in the house are now connected to the FIOS cabling instead of the copper.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...z/IMG_1300.jpg



A closer view:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...z/IMG_1301.jpg



On the other side of the garage is the battery backup..so even if your PC, TVs, and cordless phones are dead due to a power failure, you can rest assured that your FIOS network is providing uninterrupted service!

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...z/IMG_1302.jpg


Our house is networked, but the box wasn't designed to house peripherals back when it was constructed. Maybe I should tackle this one as a project! :rolleyes:

Anyway, the black box is the ethernet/coax box that supplies the media connection, while the one above that is the ethernet router for broadband support. Verizon provided both units.

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a1...z/IMG_1303.jpg

Guys and Gals,
Thanks for all your help! We set up the new account today and now my wife will be able to enjoy channels from both Peru and her native Spain. :)
I've done a little research and learned that Verizon will not remove any copper wire if it is already buried as it is at our new house. I'll take a good look around the property before the installation to plan where to have them put thr new box.
One question: I see that the fiber comes up to the house and then uses the existing coaxalcables already in the house. Isn't this like an 8 lane highway being squeezed into a two lane highway? Is there any data speed loss in the process? I figured it would be fiber optics the entire route from Verizon to each TV and computer router.
Thanks again! :)

If there is any loss, I sure can't tell.

One thing that you might want to do, is find your terminal (sodbox) and decide on where you want the drop cable to run. This way, the placers won't pick a route of their own...one that might interfere with any future plans for your property. I'd take a pic of where they placed it...just for future reference; because it can be very annoying if you cut your drop cable, while digging a hole for a tree/bush.

I'm not sure what the Verizon FiOS standard is and what, exactly, is their wiring scheme, but for regular copper cable...most cable bandwidth (BW) that they're using is good up to, or better than, 2.5GHz..

Cable has a LONG history of doing just enough to get the job done, then it's "good luck" in the service portion of their service...then along came alternative media delivery formats...the Cable Companies had to adapt or be eaten...

Cable also had to upgrade their own internal infrastructure...so if it seems slow and long before they were able to offer the same material as satellite and such...they've been putting in BIG $$$$$ to correct their original business paradigm...

If you're considering changing or upgrading your service at your home, it doesn't hurt (and it shouldn't cost) to have your cable assessed at the house to be sure it's capable of handling the new, higher, frequencies...

Don't be too surprised if it's "flat" only out to 350 MHz., 600 Mhz. or even 800 MHz. ... that just tells you how new your wiring is...if you're going for the fibre-optic route, you might just want to have the old stuff left alone for "other future projects" that won't need the BW...just be sure that BOTH ENDS of every cable have terminators on them...don't leave the ends open or cut off...make sure the ends have been properly terminated...open-ended cable has a propensity to "receieve" other over-the-air signals and either retransmit them or those signals can migrate back into the cable systems' layout and cause untold amounts of problems for other subscribers, let alone the field techs...

Speaking of which...G Benz, I'd call your Verizon guys back and have them either terminate that line in the tube or have them pull it out all together (if it's outside your home...it's probably their cable...but insist on having the ends terminated - PROPERLY. You don't want your lawn/landscaping torn up.)

Good luck with this stuff, but remember...if it isn't done properly and with attention to details, you're going to have a "few" problems ... keep us posted as to what those problems might be and how they were resolved...

Nothing hurts worse than not having enough information... :rolleyes:

ANNOYING is not the word I'd use here...it's EXPENSIVE...

In Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa, if you cut any cable (telephone, cable TV, power, etc. ...) and you didn't have a "ticket number" from one of the State's "Digger Hotline" sites...YOU ARE THE ONE THAT PAYS FOR THE REPAIR. NO QUESTIONS.

However, if you made the call, the locating-service came out and marked EVERYTHING they claim is on your property...then if your shovel cuts anything (hopefully not the power!!!! :eek: :confused: :D), then with that "ticket number" - you're good as gold...the "marking service" is responsible for the fix. Expect a few pissed-off employees until they settle down and realize YOU followed the rules...

But expect a "whooping" if you DIDN'T CALL and you messed up their "beer time" - guys in trenches and goo all over their hands do not except "I'm sorry!" very well...and they'll let you know it...then a little later, the bill will show up...expect it to be 4 figures...minimum...

Good luck...sorry for ALL the information...I get carried away with stuff like this...been through it too many times...but I've ALWAYS been on the correct side of the "cuts" - :rolleyes: - Thank you Jesus!!!!

Which line are you talking about ?

In GBenz's first photo...the black tube on the right...it has a chunk of cable coming up and out of it...that either needs to be removed all the way back to the pedestal, or a connector and terminator put on the end of it...

Look just to the left of the conduit...there's a "lightning arrestor" with a loop of cable attached to it and on the left side of the arrestor, there's a terminator screwed on to it. It should be water-proofed and judging from the looks in the picture, it wasn't...I'd go back there, be sure it was tight, then sweat some shrink-tubing over the connection, just to keep moisture out and prevent corrosion...but then, again, that's me....:rolleyes:

Ah, ok, I see now what you are talking about.
The black cable to the left, is from the cable company - the blue-ish wire ought to go to the ground by the power company meter (or into a properly driven ground rod). I would get rid of that connector (the cable co., ought to have the other end disconnected already.
As far as the copper drop cable, it should have been disconnected at the cross connect box, per the rules; in which case I would cut it so I wouldn't see it anymore. However, the intallers are often pressed for time, and can "forget" to do this. Myself, I would cut it close to the ground, and cap the conductor ends, just to make sure the line stays clear.
As more people get FiOS, more spare pairs will crop up, so making sure that you have a good pair from the cross connect to the pedestal, isn't such a burning issue as it once was. In the future, once a certain percentage of homes on a Fiber Hub are on FiOS, the remaining homes will get fiber phone service, and the copper cables and lines will get retired (and hopefully recycled).