Faster Internet speed and new ONT

[oldont]

Greetings,

  I have an old/older ONT Alcatel-Lucent ONT I-211M-D May 2008. I had installed FIOS as soon as it was available in my area. I have no problems with my service in general. Looking at my account it says I am able to get 300/300 service with no price increase. Currently have 100/100. I currently have the G1100 router (Changed from orig. Actiontec M424 few years ago) with COAX connection from ONT via splitter. From what I understand I would need an Ethernet connection from ONT to WAN port on router (leaving the COAX in tact). Then for verizon to activate.?! I have spoke to verizon and cannot get a straight answer with the only thing they are interested in is upselling me to another package OR you don't have a contract and we can send a tech......My service is fine, I know/Feel I pay too much already. Just wanted to try an upgrade speed if this procedure is what I presume it to be. Any advice would be appreciated. TIA

I also "thought" a newer ONT is NOT necessary, please correct if not true.

[dexman · Accepted solution]

Actually, the newer STBs can be hard wired, but an optional MoCA adapter is required to provide the connection to cabling. Utilizing a Wi-Fi connection is convenient to be sure, but a hard connection is much more reliable. 🙂

Community Leader "Clem 21" is the go-to for information and knowledge about Verizon's television equipment. My forte is the Fios Digital Telephone service. 🙂

[dexman]

For Internet speeds faster than 100 (I believe), yes, the connection between the ONT and the router utilizes an Ethernet cable.

If the ONT is the small rectangular black colored case, then it should support gigabit speed Internet. However, if for some reason the ONT is obsolete, Verizon will replace it. But I think that particular ONT is good.

The G1100 router is getting up there in age and support for it should be ending sooner rather than later. The CR1000A (or B) along with the CE1000A extender are the current units being supplied to customers, although the older G3100 router & E3200 extender are also good.

Fios users can connect their own router of choice if desired. However, if there is an Internet problem that requires Repair to assist, the agent will only check as far as the ONT when a non-Fios router is used. If a Fios router is connected, the agent can log into the router and pull stats to help isolate the cause of troubles.

[oldont]

Thanks for your reply and info. I have been reluctant to replace any hardware because of past experience.  When I had an issue with original STB'S (DVR) They were the silver Motorola boxes, Verizon sent hand me down Arris? boxes and 3 out of 5 worked. Then they sent me these "newer" arris boxes which then needed the G1100 to work.  Was just hoping to get an easy upgrade of speed with minimal effort.

If they want to up grade all the equipment I wouldn't be a fan. My brother in law just had his "upgraded" .  Newer equipment but they made all additional TV's wireless (none hard wired and not sure if they have that option.  Didn't offer.) and everytime they change channels they buffer ......My system as old as it is is better.

[dexman · Accepted solution]

Actually, the newer STBs can be hard wired, but an optional MoCA adapter is required to provide the connection to cabling. Utilizing a Wi-Fi connection is convenient to be sure, but a hard connection is much more reliable. 🙂

Community Leader "Clem 21" is the go-to for information and knowledge about Verizon's television equipment. My forte is the Fios Digital Telephone service. 🙂

[oldont]

Thank again,

Yes the more reliable connection is what I'm looking for.  I' ve pulled CAT V/VI wherever possible and have changed all coax splitters to MoCA.

[clem21 · Accepted solution]

Your BEST bet is getting Verizon to give you the Fios One, 4100 series boxes wired. The Fios+ boxes are newer and so far don't have the history the older Fios One boxes have with support. Also the older boxes do not rely on streaming as the newer boxes do. Only downside is they WILL eventually be replaced but by then Verizon may have a better handle on the streaming boxes. At any rate the 4100 boxes were a significant upgrade from the 1100 series. Just make sure your splitters are MoCa 2.0 certified or better.

[oldont]

Thank you for your response. The boxes have been replaced with the 4100 series.  With a G1100 router. My original interest was to take advantage of the "free" upgrade in speed. 100/100 to 300/300.  I understand the G1100 can't handle more than 100/100 through coax. Originally I wanted to know if I run the ethernet from the ONT to my router to the WAN port then call verizon to activate WILL my TV work as it has? Without doing anything with the original coax configuration? (coax from ONT to splitter and back to router) TIA . I thought that maybe the ONT was coax OR ethernet. (not both?)

[dexman]

I believe you can run an Ethernet cable from the ONT to the router and then have Verizon move the Internet over.

The thing about the G1100 router is that updates won't be coming along for too much longer.

The G3100 will be supported beyond the G1100.

I have a 3100 and three E3200s and haven't had any issues. My church has 200/200 Fios with a CR1000A. Likewise, no issues.

The one ding I have with the 1000A (and B) is that they have only three LAN jacks as opposed to the four jacks on the 1100 and 3100. I purchased a switch to  increase the jack count at the church's router.

[dexman]

 This is the Fios installation at my church.

[oldont]

Nice and neat install. My ONT takes up more room than all your equipment put together. One of my other problems is all my stuff is in the basement so my routers wifi is baically useless. have 3 WAP's. Stone walls and multi floors.🙄

[dexman]

Hmm....Does the ONT look like the one at my church (and at my house)? 🤔

The description of your house sounds like the church. Concrete, stone exterior, cinder blocks and three floors (both parts of the building).

I have several Linksys routers & extenders scattered around the building. The routers are running in "Bridge Mode" which has them operating as extenders. This allows for devices to access both of our printers no matter where you are in the building. 😊

[oldont]

NO not at all, first generation? Alcatel-Lucent I-211M-D May 2008, Posted pics.

[dexman]

I'll ask for a Moderator to approve the pictures so they can be seen. 🙂

[dexman]

I see it now. That looks like an older rebadged Motorola ONT. Alcatel-Lucent (Nokia) acquired part of Motorola that includes ONTs.

I suspect Verizon will swap it out for the newer 211.

When I signed up for Fios back in 2008, Verizon installed a Tellabs 611 ONT. The Internet tapped out at 100/100.

I upgraded the Internet to 200/200 back in 2021. Verizon upgraded the ONT to an Alcatel-Lucent 211 (the same one they installed at my church). Because the basement ceiling is old dried-out horsehair plaster on wooden lathe, I asked the technician if he could put the new router into the old 611 enclosure.

He did and the "new" ONT is inside the old enclosure. The 611 enclosure is much smaller than the one pictured. Verizon does have an enclosure used for outdoor installations. It too is smaller. 🙂

[dexman]

The original Tellabs 611 ONT that Verizon installed in our basement back in 2008.

This is the old 611 that Verizon installed in our basement back in 2008.

[dexman]

This is the enclosure used with the newer & smaller ONT.
New Enclosure.

[oldont]

Yes, mine was installed end of '08, It's three times the size of neighbors newer ONT. Not sure if they splice the fiber at install location now, they didn't used to and tha ONT I have has the excess fiber wrapped around the inside of the ONT. (fixed lengths, closest to what you needed)

 Those that didn't have an interior install would have a "turtle"  shell box mounted on the side of the house with the excess fiber enclosed.

[dexman]

If I remember correctly, Verizon can mount an enclosure to store extra slack in the fiber cable drops and run a short jumper to the ONT. Enclosures such as the one posted on 2/20 also have storage space for extra drop.

To sort of return to the topic I wouldn't worry about Verizon replacing the older ONT with the newer 211. Technicians have various tools at their disposal to do a favorable install. 🙂

[oldont]

Thanks again. Yes I do have a bunch of Cat Ve/6 drops and have added a switch as well.

I'll try to get through to the technical dept. because if I get someone on the regular contact number I get nothing but sales pitches for different packages. 

 Just want to confirm that my TV signal will not be disrupted if they activate the ethernet port on the ONT.

[dexman]

I remember that television and internet use different channel/frequencies when utilizing the coaxial cable. If the ONT is switched out, Verizon would swing the Internet as a part of the activation process. 🙂