Router Swap - WAN Ethernet cable not recognized

Hope someone can help. Recently requested a new router to replace my MI424WR Rev. E. Verizon sent me a new MI424WR Rev. I. When I unplug the WAN ethernet cable from my old router to the new router, the WAN Ethernet connection light on the front of the router does not light up (LEDs in the back port don't lightup either, like a dead port). I have tried MAC cloning, releasing lease, unplugging overnight, Verzion reps tried releasing from their side too, but I cant get the new router to recognize the WAN ethernet cable. In the router UI the Broadband Connection (Ethernet) shows "Cable Disconnected".

I live in an appartment building so ONT is not in my unit. It is centralized in the basement, and the bulding runs ethernet and coax to each unit. My broadband connection is through Ethernet not Coax. My Fios TV STB is connected to the router via Lan Coax (No WAN Coax).

Verizon suggested i return the new router and get a new one because it could be defective and the port could be dead. BUT, I can actually make my old router a bridge, hardwire it to the new router, and I get WAN Ethernet green lights. It's gotta be MAC authentication related. I would keep the two routers but Verizon obviously wont let me. Any sugestions on how to go get the new router to recognize the WAN ethernet cable? Thanks in advance

Accepted answers

Anti-Phish1

@ferdav wrote:
Open questions remain tho:
(1) automtic speed detection did not work in rev I and could not downshift to 100mbs. Why?
(2) is there anything I (or verizon) can do to get 1000mbs?

1) As i stated earlier, I strongly suspect that the cat5 cable from the ONT to your wall jack is not wired correctly. Why that would cause the "auto-downshift" not to work, I don't know.

2) This depends on which ONT is installed. If the ONT is a Motorola 6000-E (BPON) unit, then I believe it's WAN ports are 10/100 and you'll never get a 1Gbps connection from it. If the ONT is a 6000-GET (GPON), then the WAN ports do support 1Gbps. Whether you WAN connection is 1Gbps or not won't make any difference unless you're on a plan greater than 100Mbps.

All comments

Hubrisnxs

try this.

How do I release my DHCP lease

ferdav

yep. tried all three to break the lease. (1) releasing dhcp leasde via router UI and quickly disconnecting (2) verizon support tried it from their side (2) and cloned the address of the old router in the new one

Hubrisnxs

if verizon did the dhcp clear then your problem isn't mac address related anymore.

You might have a legitimately bad cable, or a legitimately bad cable port on your new router.

if verizon did the dhcp clear then your problem isn't mac address related anymore.

You might have a legitimately bad cable, or a legitimately bad cable port on your new router.

have you tried the factory reset (hold it in for 20 seconds and release) if so then I would look at trying to get a new router.

Even if you had a mac address issue, it wouldn't affect the status of the ethernet wan light or coax wan lights.

Hubrisnxs

"BUT, I can actually make my old router a bridge, hardwire it to the new router, and I get WAN Ethernet green lights. It's gotta be MAC authentication related. I would keep the two routers but Verizon obviously wont let me. Any sugestions on how to go get the new router to recognize the WAN ethernet cable? Thanks in advance "

This makes me wonder about the cable still, when it passes through your old router, it's 100mb wan, when it passes through the new router, it's upto gigabit.

do you know what kind of ethernet that cable is?

is it

cat 5

cat 5e

cat 6

ferdav

I think you are on to something Hub. I am still using my cat 5e that came with the old router. I am trying to find the ethernet cable that came with the new router. Woud that make a difference? Should i be using cat 6 only with the Rev I model?

ferdav

All WAN and LAN cables are cat 5e. They should work with both routers. Right? Swapped the cables around to rule out defects, but it didn't make a difference.

smith6612

A while back on DSLReports back when the Rev. G and I were coming out, a member or two saw the same exact issue you're seeing. If memory serves correct, they had an Ethernet connection installed by Verizon from the ONT to the router. When the person used their Rev. F, all worked fine. However, when the Rev. I was placed in the Ethernet port never light up indicating a connection. It's almost as if it's not seeing a signal or is failing to negotiate a link. I believe the fix was to re-terminate both ends of the cable which helped the connection, or to run CAT6 cable. It was a while ago so I don't quite remember. Either way, it's definitely something to keep in mind. It's possible the Rev. I's Ethernet port isn't quite as powerful or "loud" as in the older revisions, or it could just be more sensitive to longer or poorly terminated cable.

Anti-Phish1

@ferdav wrote:
Recently requested a new router to replace my MI424WR Rev. E.
I live in an appartment building so ONT is not in my unit. It is centralized in the basement,
Something doesn't make sense here. If you have an MDU install, then Verizon usually uses VDSL from the central ONT to each unit. If you're on VDSL, then you need a VDSL modem or a VDSL compatible router (Westell 9100VM). Neither the rev. E or the rev. I will work when connected directly to a VDSL line.
There are MDU ONTs that do have cat5 ethernet, however these are very rare and can only be used when there are two cat5 runs to each apartment (one for internet, one for phone). If this is truely the case, then there is one possibility. The rev. I has a 1Gbps WAN port. 1Gbps connections require that all 4 pair in a cat5 cable are connected correctly, while the older rev. E has only a 100Mbps WAN port and only requires two pair to operate. It's possible that one of the additional pairs is not wired correctly, preventing the WAN port from connecting to the ONT at 1Gbps. It's also possible if there was only a single cat5 cable that the installers got creative and used the "extra" pairs for phone service.
If the router can't connect at 1Gbps (using all 4 pair), it "should" downshift to 100Mbps, but I have seen this not work. This would also explain why the WAN port on the rev I works when connected via a patch cord in a bridged configuration.

ferdav

We are one of those rare MDUs running ethernet from the ONT in NYC. Our wall jacks have seperate ports for voice and data, and a coax too.

When I unplug the WAN ethernet cable from the rev E (which is connected straight to the wall), and plug it directly to my Mac, the Network Preferences and utility tools can't detect the cable (ethernet shows not connected in red). BUT when I switch the hardware speed config from "Automatic" to "manual" and select 100baseTX + full-duplex, flow-control, it connects and I have internet access! When is select 1000baseT + full-duplex, flow-control, it goes back to "Not Connected". So my Mac tools can't determine the connection speed when set to "Automaitic", it only works when manually set to 100baseTX, it does not work at 1000base.

As you said, Rev I should be able to downshift to 100mbps. Questions: (1) is there a way to manually set the WAN ethernet speed in the Rev I via the UI to 100mbs? (2) Is it safe to assume that the ethernet speed from ONT to my unit is 100mbps given the above? Can verzion bump it up to 1Gig? Is that something that would require re-wiring the building, or do they have a way to configure or move me to a different 1 Gif ONT port? (pardon ignorance on physical connection)

I have 2 cat5e and 2 cat5 cables that I have swapped around. I can't imagine the pairs being messed up in all of them.

ferdav

I got the rev I to work. I went into Advanced, port configuration, and switched the WAN port from Auto to 100 Full Duplex. Green lights all arounds, and obtained DHCP lease with internet.

So my original problem has been fixed, I can now return the Rev E. Thanks to the folks who pointed me in the direction of the ethernet cables and speeds.

Open questions remain tho:
(1) automtic speed detection did not work in rev I and could not downshift to 100mbs. Why?
(2) is there anything I (or verizon) can do to get 1000mbs?

Hubrisnxs

You would have to be on a 100MB plus plan, and have the ethernet delivering your internet to the router (that means you are plugged into the ethernet wan slot on the router)

Also your ONT would have to support it.

What are the different models of ONTs?

Anti-Phish1

@ferdav wrote:
Open questions remain tho:
(1) automtic speed detection did not work in rev I and could not downshift to 100mbs. Why?
(2) is there anything I (or verizon) can do to get 1000mbs?

1) As i stated earlier, I strongly suspect that the cat5 cable from the ONT to your wall jack is not wired correctly. Why that would cause the "auto-downshift" not to work, I don't know.

mkgoyal450

This has really helped. I was struggling to swap the router with my own router and was not able to do so. This link really helped. Thanks. Verizon customer care was hopeless. I have been asking them for help but it looks as if they were not helping purposely and wanted myself to continue renting their router for an extra fees.

CaptainSTX

In this day and age to avoid frustrations with Ethernet connections buy a cable tester. Depending where you buy it is well worth the $10 - $20. It will test the cable for continuity and tell you if any of the pins are miswired.

The standard wiring for making cables and jacks now days is 56B. This is straight thru wiring. Both ends are pinned exactly the same. Cross over cables are not needed as most if not all currenty devices handle the send/receive switch over automatically.

Google on line and you will find plenty of full color diagrams of how the wires are arranged. Or if you have good eyes and a magnifying glass look at the pins in a known good cable.

Finally if you need to replace Ethernet jacks you can pick cat5 jacks up at Home Depot for $3.00 each. The jacks are labled for where to punch down the wires for either 56A or 56B. The jacks come with complete instructions and a plastic punch down tool. Very simple and straight forward. However, making cables and attaching RJ45 fittings in the end in a royal {word filter avoidance}. Arranging the thin wires, crossing them and then getting them to slip into the correct pin slot can be frustrating.