Comments on: High Speed Internet – 3 Tips To Optimize Your Verizon FiOS Broadband Connectivity

By: Frank

Frank — Sat, 14 May 2011 17:51:59 +0000

Awesome article. Despite the age, it still seems applicable. I recently had an issue with my router (Actiontec). I had disabled the DHCP services, which resulted in a loss of Network connection to my TV set top boxes. This caused me to loose VOD and PPV services.

Bottom line is take care in applying router changes if TV is part of the package.

By: Chris (Admin)

Chris (Admin) — Fri, 13 May 2011 22:51:03 +0000

yeah when i originally wrote the article, i needed to clone the mac address to make it work…months later when i did it again, this wasnt necessary

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 13 May 2011 22:30:27 +0000

I know this is an old article but you have one piece of misinformation. You are NOT required to clone your MAC address. There are two ways to get a router working without doing so. BEFORE you disconnect your Verizon supplied router, go into the interface, login, go to My Network, then on the left click Network Connections, click the Broadband Connection you are using (Ethernet or Coax), and then click Settings, and then the Release box. Apply the settings and so on. Then unplug it, replace it, turn on new router and it will work fine. Believe it or not, I troubleshooted this issue awhile ago. A friend and I looked into it by sniffing the data sent out, and it actually sends out a non-standard DHCP release request. Once it does this, you’re good to go.

The other way to do this is to simply call FiOS support. A 2 minute phone call will easily get them to release the DHCP lease (it seems to stick for hours/days) and will allow you to just plug in the new router. This option may be easier for newbies.

By: Jake

Jake — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 07:40:33 +0000

Thanks for mentioning the TrendNet 802.11n Access Point. I have been looking for a way to increase the range and speed of my wireless network, and your post led me to the TRENDnet 300 Mbps Wireless Easy-N-Upgrader, which looks like just the thing for me. I am not concerned about reduced battery life because I do most of my work at my desk, and my now my Roku XR on the other side of the house will finally have enough signal strength to stream HD Netflix movies! Thanks so much.

By: CNJ2

CNJ2 — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:18:07 +0000

Chris,

Thanks for the info. I, too, have been trying to replace the VZ-supplied router (Actiontec) with a Linksys WRT310N with no success. At a minimum I’d like to have them coexist by disabling the wireless & DHCP functionality in the Actiontec and put the Linksys in-line to provide these services.

So, assuming your success in replacing the VZ router started with a wireless router with the factory defaults. Next you cloned the old router’s mac addr connected the WAN port to the VZ FiOS drop. Correct?

Was there nothing else changed in the router (other than the aforementioned DNS addresses)?

I’ve searched the web for a couple of weeks and even talked to VZ Expert Support Rep. The problem is just about every source instructs readers to change “1″ parameter and the new router simply drops in and works automagically. This has not been the case for me.

In your successful test what was the router’s WAN connection type? DHCP, Static IP PPPOE? Any further details, pointers or links you can recommend for a cpomplete set of changes will be greatly appreciated.

Thx,
cj down in TX

By: Chris (Admin)

Chris (Admin) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 19:30:48 +0000

OK so I had to deal with this also – ideally, you would just use multiple access points, not routers, but there is no much selection in the standalone access point market right now.

So , if you have to use another wireless router, you should be able to put it in bridge mode, see the docs. This will basically allow the ports to act as a switch and the wifi to work as an access point, without creating a new subnet or having it put another firewall in the mix.

ymmv

By: Sean

Sean — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:25:37 +0000

Chris,

First of all, MANY THANKS for this post.

Second, can I ask you a question?

My house is all wired for coax, so when I got verizon fios, I connected the coax out from the digital/optical converter into the coax jack in that room. Now I can put the Verizon router wherever I want.

It’s good to know I can replace the Verizon router, which I will do soon.

My question is, can I attach a second or third router to the same coax network? Would I give them all the same mac address or would that cuase a meltdown.

The reason is that no matter where I put the wireless router, it won’t cover the whole house, and anyway I would like to have wired connections in multiple rooms, without having to run ethernet or buy ethernet-coax converters.

Any help you can give me would be most appreciated.

Sean