FiOS: History Lesson
Verizon used to tout its use of cable technology. Remember the ad with the FiOS tech bragging to a puzzled-looking suburban tot that the service is "true QAM"?
Now, in a new TV spot, the telco trashes cable as somehow being obsolete because it was first invented 60 years ago — older, in other words, than Sputnik.
"Cable technology was created in 1948," the voiceover says. "Six years before the first color broadcast, nine years before Sputnik, 23 years before disco — and cable was created 60 years before you bought that big-screen TV."
Pause. "No wonder you’re not getting more HD. Verizon FiOS offers 100 HD channels."
Of course, the ad doesn’t note the fact that FiOS TV channels are delivered within a subscriber’s home using coaxial cable. That would spoil the whole smart-alecky routine, wouldn’t it? Don Draper, I think, would be proud of this elision.
At least Verizon can’t say that cable is older than John McCain (b. Aug. 29, 1936).
Guest commented:
The thing with the weakest link concept is that you are not considering the [i]lenght[/i] of the link. The shorter the length, the lower the line losses given the same gage wire.
This is the same reason that Monster Cable speaker wires are a waste of money. Because you're only going 20 feet or something with a 100 watt/channel amp you can use 18gage wire just fine.
Not Comcast employee commented:
I haven't heard of Verizon warning cutomers of denying service for down loading big internet files because it causes interferes with TV broadcasts. Theres a difference in sharing the pipe with everyone and having your own.
Steve commented:
Your network is only as powerful as your weakest link. Fios has the same weakest link as cable.
Todd Spangler commented:
Guys - the point is, it's ironic that Verizon is using cable technology to deliver FiOS TV yet bashing it in its marketing.
DG Lewis commented:
FiOS video is delivered via RF QAM broadcast on a dedicated 1550nm wavelength, with 870 MHz of bandwidth. Cable video is delivered via RF QAM broadcast on an HFC network, with 870 MHz of bandwidth. FiOS video has the exact same capacity for HD video as does cable video. Perhaps "reader" and "Josh" need their own lesson.
Josh commented:
Oops, I misread that. Meant to say I agree with the above reader. Maybe I need a web-browsing lesson.
Josh commented:
I agree with Todd. The difference in capabilities between having a (short) length of copper cable in your home, versus having a longer length of copper connected to a hub, versus having copper all the way to a CO/Head End are substantial. Although there is still dispute about whether FTTN or FTTH are more cost-effective at the moment, this basic physical fact is not in dispute. So perhaps your history lesson would be better if augmented by a physics lesson.
reader commented:
Do you have any idea what you are talking about? Who cares that there is coax in the home. The point is the the fiber runs to your home and you don't share bandwidth with anyone else? Are you seriously a tech blogger?
