\documentclass{article}
\usepackage{fancyvrb}
\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}

\begin{document}

\begin{abstract}
I am getting strange results when using fancyvrb. When I change from
the default ({\texttt{tt}}) font \textless{} and \textgreater{} are
getting changed to < and > like they do in a normal document. This is
simple some verbatim blocks with different options.

I sent mail to the author and they recommended using the TI font
encoding like so: \verb+\usepackage[T1]{fontenc}+. By default though
it makes cmr ugly (non-antialiased) in pdfs.
\end{abstract}

\section{Plain}

\verb+[]+

\begin{Verbatim}
<testing>
\end{Verbatim}

\section{Helvetica}

\verb+[fontfamily=helvetica]+

\begin{Verbatim}[fontfamily=helvetica]
<testing>
\end{Verbatim}

\section{Computer Modern Roman}

\verb+[fontfamily=cmr]+

\begin{Verbatim}[fontfamily=cmr]
<testing>
\end{Verbatim}

\section{Helvetica with defineactive}

\verb+\catcode`<=\active [fontfamily=helvetica,defineactive=\def<{\textless}]+

\catcode`<=\active
\begin{Verbatim}[fontfamily=helvetica,defineactive=\def<{\textless}]
<testing>
\end{Verbatim}

\section{Helvetica using textless}

\verb+[fontfamily=helvetica,commandchars=\\\{\}]+

\begin{Verbatim}[fontfamily=helvetica,commandchars=\\\{\}]
\textbackslash{}textless\{\}testing\textbackslash{}textgreater
\textless{}testing\textgreater
\end{Verbatim}

\end{document}
