My own router

Macnerd1948

I have the Actiontec MI424WR. I'm considering upgrading to the quantum router. The Actiontec tops out at 802.11n. The quantum tops out at 802.11ac. Can the firmware in the quantum be upgraded when a new 802.11 protocol comes out?

If I replace the Actiontec with my own router, which I haven't bought yet, would there be any incompatibilities between my router & the FIOS network?

Accepted answers

Edg1

@pcnerd wrote:
I currently have the Actiontec Rev I. A few years ago, UPS sent me the Rev I. Before that I had the Rev E. I didn't ask for the router. Verizon shipped it to me. I still have the Rev E router in the box that the Rev I came in. I looked at the UPS label on the box & the date is September 2014! So, I must have been using the Rev I for almost 5 years now.
Do you know if Verizon will eventually stop supporting the Actiontec router? It probably will.
What I can do is take the Rev E router to the Verizon store & swap it out for the quantum router.
I reckon that it's time to upgrade to the quantum!

They have stopped supporting anything below a Rev I. They charge a maintenance fee. I’m sure they will eventually stop supporting the Rev I as well.

Upgrading to the Quantum router would probably be the easiest. I would just buy it since renting for $12 a month will add up versus a one time fee.

All comments

Edg1

What version of the MI424WR do you have. If you have the Red band with two external antennas that is Rev I which has wired gig ports. You could connect an AC wireless access point to it for better/faster wifi.

The firmware on the Quantum can’t upgrade the AC to AX. That is hardware and Verizon would have to come out with a new router that supports AX.

If you use your own router the only incompatibility would be if you have TV. Then you would need a MoCA adapters. You also need ethernet from ONT to use your own router.

Macnerd1948

I have the Rev. I router.

I have seen routers on Best Buy with coax connector. Not too many, though.

I read online that if one uses his own router instead of a Verizon router, one loses the widgets & pay-per-view. Is that true?

So, if I get my own router with coax connector, I guess that I have the choice of either coax or ethernet, is that correct?

Edg1

No. Routers that have a coax connection are for cable internet. They are a cable modem/router combo. They use DOCSIS which is different from FiOS and will not work.

If you use your own router you have to be connected with ethernet from ONT and you will need a MoCA adapter if you want widgets, guide, and On demand/PPV to continue to work.

Basically anything that has a coax connection is a cable modem. Just stay away from anything that says modem or DOCSIS. You will just want to get a wireless router with one WAN port and four LAN ports. You can continue to use the REV I and disable the wifi and connect a wireless AP to the LAN port for better wifi.

Macnerd1948

You state:

No. Routers that have a coax connection are for cable internet. They are a cable modem/router combo. They use DOCSIS which is different from FiOS and will not work.

I did see the word DOCSIS in the descriptions of Best Buy routers.

My MI424WR Rev I has a coax connector on the back with a coax cable connected & it works.

So, I'm confused!

You state:

If you use your own router you have to be connected with ethernet from ONT and you will need a MoCA adapter if you want widgets, guide, and On demand/PPV to continue to work.

So, if I want to use my own router, I need to buy BOTH the router AND the MoCA adapter at the same time?

What would happen if I disconnect the coax from the cable box & connect it directly to the ANT on the TV? What would I see? Snow?

Does the quantum router have a coax on the back?

Macnerd1948

I currently have the Actiontec Rev I. A few years ago, UPS sent me the Rev I. Before that I had the Rev E. I didn't ask for the router. Verizon shipped it to me. I still have the Rev E router in the box that the Rev I came in. I looked at the UPS label on the box & the date is September 2014! So, I must have been using the Rev I for almost 5 years now.

Do you know if Verizon will eventually stop supporting the Actiontec router? It probably will.

What I can do is take the Rev E router to the Verizon store & swap it out for the quantum router.

I reckon that it's time to upgrade to the quantum!

Edg1

@pcnerd wrote:
I currently have the Actiontec Rev I. A few years ago, UPS sent me the Rev I. Before that I had the Rev E. I didn't ask for the router. Verizon shipped it to me. I still have the Rev E router in the box that the Rev I came in. I looked at the UPS label on the box & the date is September 2014! So, I must have been using the Rev I for almost 5 years now.
Do you know if Verizon will eventually stop supporting the Actiontec router? It probably will.
What I can do is take the Rev E router to the Verizon store & swap it out for the quantum router.
I reckon that it's time to upgrade to the quantum!

They have stopped supporting anything below a Rev I. They charge a maintenance fee. I’m sure they will eventually stop supporting the Rev I as well.

Upgrading to the Quantum router would probably be the easiest. I would just buy it since renting for $12 a month will add up versus a one time fee.