No Ethernet Port on my ONT

[TroublewONT]

Hello- I would like to use my own router (so I don't have to keep paying the monthly rental fee), but don't see an ethernet port on my ONT. I only have a coax cable coming out of it and connecting to the router. Is it that my service was installed so long ago that the ONT installed didn't give me that option.

The router I have is Fios-Gen4.

Thank you in advance for any help.

[Cang_Household]

Ok. I was confused. It seems like you have the newest model of the ONT. We should ask you whether there is a wire connected to WAN port of the router, or whether the WAN Coax LED on the router is lit.

Now the answer depends on whether you have subscribed the TV service or not. If you do, make the STBs work with your own router is quite a hassle.

[epie]

Hi - I did run speed tests and getting 500Mbs up and down.  Why does coax need to be connected to router if you have TV service? Doesn’t this just need to go to STBs or TVs?  I was thinking about a third party router upgrade but they do not have coax connection and unclear why coax would be needed if I have the Cat5e cable connected to my WAN port.  Thanks

[Cang_Household]

The STBs need both Linear TV signal (coax) from the ONT and the guide data (as well as activation signal) from the router (through MoCA ethernet). Taking any of these devices out of the equation will "decapacitate" the STBs.

[epie]

ok, so if I want to use a third party router for wi-fi speed improvements I need to keep coax plugged into current actiontec router and move the WAN ethernet connection along with LAN ethernet connections to the new router?  Perhaps I should move this conversation now to a new post as topic is changing.

[Cang_Household]

Ok. So you want to upgrade the WiFi speed. G1100 and presumably G3100 can achieve a speed over 400Mbps at 5GHz 802.11ac without obstacles. But this speed drastically decreases as you move further away from the access point due to the nature of 5GHz signal.

How fast are you trying to achieve with WiFi? 500Mbps? The computers should be linked with ethernet cables for best speeds. I only resort to WiFi for portable devices.

How big or complex is your house? If the current coverage and speed is very inadequate and slow, I would recommend some commercial meshed WiFi solutions if you have the budget at dispense.

[epie]

Hi - Small home about 2000 sq. ft total on 3 floors.  The router sits on middle floor. Lots of wi-fi devices in home and yes computer is hardwired to switch.   I currently have the Actiontec MI424WR Rev I. think I may have outgrown in.  Especially now with two kids in school at home and myself working plus lots of mobile devices.  I could consider both of those those you mentioned as I would assume with my current router I would notice a big difference with just about anything. The G3100 is intriguing but big $$.  Would love to see a deal on it.  I assume would be a huge difference for me

[Cang_Household]

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@epie wrote:

I currently have the Actiontec MI424WR Rev I. 

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Ok. The router you currently have closes the doors to lots of upgrading options. This router's WiFi only support up to 802.11n (so called "WiFi 4") and it only has MoCA 1.1. The WiFi speed is limited to 130Mbps ish on average, and MoCA 1.1 transmission speed is capped around 175Mbps.

MoCA 1.1 closes the doors to most Verizon extenders.

WCB6200Q ($120) can deliver 500Mbps on 802.11ac WiFi, but MoCA 1.1 of the router bottlenecks this speed to 175Mbps. You can uplink WCB6200Q with an ethernet cable to overcome the bottleneck.

E3200 ($200) theoretically delivers a better speed than WCB6200Q, but it is not advisable because of price and the same bottleneck.

WCB3000N ($25) can deliver 175 Mbps on 802.11n, but it is a duplication of your router's access point, so it is not advisable in the run long, unless you buy a bunch of them and can stand the speed limitation.

How about third party wireless access points?

I would recommend some commercial-grade standalone wireless access points for scalability, flexibility, and quality. You can look into Aruba Networks Instant On AP11 WiFi Access Point (~$95), it requires an ethernet connection though (and PoE or local power adapter). If you purchase two of them, they can create a meshed network with seamless connectivity. It supports up to 802.11ac (so called "WiFi 5") around 500Mbps just like the WCB6200Q.

[epie]

Thanks.  In your opinion it is a better investment in two AP11s for about $190 as opposed to just a new Verizon GS3100 for about $100 more? What are your thoughts on this approach?

[Cang_Household]

Well, look, you have the old Actiontec Router that is still functioning, at least for routing (I mean Network Address Translation) and switching (supporting 4 gigabit ethernet ports), and TV guiding as well if you happen to have Verizon STBs. You only want to upgrade the wireless function of the router. Logically, you want to buy standalone access points to upgrade specifically the WiFi. In case one function of the router dies one day, you need to replace the entire router. This is the reason why I dislike combos. A common "router" is not just a router. It is always a 4-port switch, an access point, a MoCA modem, and et cetera, et cetera.

I think adding two AP11 is a better idea than replacing with a G3100, not for the sake of performance or price, but most importantly flexibility. Aruba Networks is actually a division of HP Enterprise, so its quality should be high. Here is a price update also, if you have PoE switch installed, you can purchase AP11 only without power adapters for $79.99 on B&H Photos. Or if you have power adapters at home that is compatible with the AP11, which I have not check the specifications yet, you can save $15 on each too.

[epie]

Thanks.  No POE here so will need to have receptacle. With that said, I would need to connect one AP to router LAN port and then disconnect the wi-fi from Actiontec?  Second unit placed on a different floor of my choice correct?

[Cang_Household]

It is recommended that you uplink both APs to LAN ports of the router for the best performance. No AP is necessary to be placed beside the router, unless that's where has the highest WiFi demand and running an ethernet cable to a different place of your house is infeasible.

Forget to ask your house's data wiring? Do you have either coax or ethernet jacks on every floor or every room? Or you have either of them?

[epie]

coax on every floor but not ethernet cabling

[Cang_Household]

That's quite a problem. Can you go to your basement wire termination place and closely examine the wiring? Some construction contractors would pull ethernet cables for phone lines. If you are not using landline, they can be used as ethernet network.

If you only have coax, then that's quite a problem. Buying Verizon's equipment is expensive and you need to bypass the router's coax port. Is there any way you can pull an ethernet cable to a different floor by yourself?

[epie]

I have landline phone connections all over the house and not sure I am understanding where the major issues are.  I am just looking to improve my wi-fi in general around the house, everything in general works ok.

[Cang_Household]

You need ethernet cable at where you would like to place your second AP11. Sometimes a house's telephone line is carried by a CAT 5e cable. If you have a spare telephone line that is not using, you can reterminate it to a RJ45 connector.

From my understanding, there is coax outlets around the house, where is their terminal? In the basement? I saw only one CAT 5e wire connected to the POT of the ONT and you mentioned you have landline phone connections all over the house, so where is their splitter? For one cable to reach several outlets, it needs a splitter. Can you take a picture of the splitter?

[epie]

My house was built in 1979, all RJ45 for telephone lines.  My coax splitter is is a 3 in and 2 out and then other splitters follow.

[Cang_Household]

Are you using all the telephone outlets? How many wires are connected behind the wall for a telephone outlet? Pictures could help me.

Are the telephone outlets connected in a parallel fashion or they are all terminated at a location in the house? Again, pictures could help me understand your setup.

[epie]

Here you go

 

 

[Cang_Household]

Oh no. Looks like all your telephone lines are wired by analog wires, cannot carry ethernet digital signal.

Then, can you pull a new ethernet wire to where you would like to place the second AP11? If not, I am afraid you have to resort to upgrade the entire network to accommodate MoCA.

AP11 can extend wireless with another AP11. This setup is never optimal. You can try this method of connection, then you will likely not get the advertised speed, which misses the whole point of upgrading the WiFi.

[epie]

Looks like a GS3100 may not be a bad option after all with all things considered here

[Cang_Household]

G3100 has its own problems, for instance, capability issues with IOS devices.

G3100 only provides a single WiFi point, if you need another, you still need to buy an extender along with it.

To fully resolve the root problem, you probably need to upgrade the wiring so you can wire anything you want.