Posted: 1/11/2014 4:32:53 PM EDT
|
I have Verizon FiOS fiber optic internet connection at my home, I have the 50/25 Mbps speed package. Currently I have the original Actiontec wireless router that only does wireless G.
I would like to upgrade to a wireless router that does N since all my devices are N capable. I have two questions about this: Is there a decent N router I could buy for under $100? I don't want any expandability or to change it's firmware like I see people doing. I just want a fast way to connect my devices to the internet. Verizon offers an upgraded router that will do wireless N for $100 so that is why I am wondering if I could buy something cheaper. Second, my current router that Verizon provided is connected to the FiOS ONT with a coax (RG-6) cable, not a Cat5 network cable. So does that mean that I have to connect my new N router to the old router with a network cable since the ONT needs a coax connection? I think this question is best answered by a Verizon tech if there is one around since it's an odd way to do it. Thanks for the help. |
|
if you have an available port on the original router just get an access point:
link |
|
Quoted:
Ok, so basically I would shut off the wireless function inside of my current Verizon router and connect an access point to it and use that access point's wireless N for my network? That's what I did with my ISP. Their wireless router/modem is only G, so I bought a cheap Wireless N router (note this router is "half speed" wireless n, 150mpbs) and plugged it into the modem. There's many wireless N routers available on the light side of $100 (see if this link keeps the search criteria....). |
|
Ok, I got a question for you guys who know about networking.
If I replace my current router with a brand new one (lets say I buy the $99 Verizon N router) and I make all the wireless settings exactly the same- same SSID, same WPA2 passwords, etc, will all my devices connect to the new router? Or will I have to setup each device again? Do the wireless devices just look to connect to the SSID and make sure the password is correct? Or are they looking for the MAC address of the router? |
|
Quoted:
Ok, I got a question for you guys who know about networking. If I replace my current router with a brand new one (lets say I buy the $99 Verizon N router) and I make all the wireless settings exactly the same- same SSID, same WPA2 passwords, etc, will all my devices connect to the new router? Or will I have to setup each device again? Do the wireless devices just look to connect to the SSID and make sure the password is correct? Or are they looking for the MAC address of the router? Don't do that Some devices will work, some won't, but in general funky things will happen unless it's the same model and firmware being replaced Just give it a new ssid |
|
Quoted:
correct. do NOT run both wireless devices at once Quoted:
Quoted:
Ok, so basically I would shut off the wireless function inside of my current Verizon router and connect an access point to it and use that access point's wireless N for my network? correct. do NOT run both wireless devices at once You know there are more than 1 wireless channels available, right? Although it is likely the best choice for the OP to only have one wireless signal operating at once |
|
For now, to get the most bang for your buck, you're best bet is doing what others said. Keep your current Actiontec FIOS router, disable the WiFi, and connect another higher performance WiFi access point or router to one of the open LAN ports on the Actiontec. Here's some cautions on that, and other insights that might help.
1. Network Configuration I mentioned above that you should get either a higher performance WiFi Access point or WiFi Router. I'm not sure your knowledge level, so sorry if you already know this. Many people these days don't know the difference between a WiFi router and WiFi access point. Depending on which one you get, you may have to make some configuration changes. Below is a brief explanation, if you don't care to know, skip to "2. What to do ?" A WiFi access point is a device with the sole purpose to connect wireless devices to your wired network, i.e. the name access point, its literally the access point where wireless clients enter your network (maybe a little over simplified explanation, but you get the picture). A WiFi router is actually a combination of what used to be 4 or 5 separate network devices, but now comes in one nice neat "network in a box" package. In general it consists of a network switch (labeled as LAN ports on your router), that connects all the wired devices together. A WiFi access point, which connects the WiFi clients to the rest of your network. A DHCP server, which is what gives all your network devices an IP address. Its a lame example, but think of an IP address as a street address, its how network traffic knows where its coming from and where to go. Finally a router / firewall which is technically two different components, but in this case they are very intertwined. The router/firewall component is basically what allows your home network to talk to outside networks like Verizon / the Internet. It applies security features to protect your network from outside networks, and also acts as a translator so that your network and the outside networks can talk to each other. 2. What to do? WiFi Acesspoint Option If you can find just a WiFi access point for a reasonable price, this would be the easiest thing to setup. Configure the SSID and encryption password on the new access point to the same as your FIOS router. Turn off WiFi on your FIOS router. Plug the new acess point into an open LAN port on your FIOS router. As long as you kept everything the same, your existing WiFi devices should be good to go, but may need a reset on first use to see the new access point. Two tips. A. Most old FIOS routers use WEP encryption to secure the WiFi. This encryption can easily be broken by a 10 year old kid in minutes. If you live in a neighborhood near others, or with a lot of through traffic, I'd change to WPA2 encryption ASAP. As long as all your WiFi devices were made after 2005 or so, they should work with WPA2. If you have some that don't like WPA2, try WPA as that is still better than WEP. If you change encryption, you also have to change it on all your WiFi devices. B. If you'd like to be able to get into your new WiFi access point for future configuration changes, give it a static IP address from your FOIS router network, but one that isn't given out by DHCP (If you don't know how to do this, google it or PM me). WiFi Router Option These will most likely be easier to find / cheaper. It will still work just as good, but requires a few extra steps. First, turn off the LAN DHCP server on this new WiFi Router, because we want to use your existing FIOS router for DHCP, and don't want conflicts. Second, depending on the router you get, this may or may not matter, but it wouldn't be a bad idea to also disable the firewall on the new router. Third, and most important you must connect the new router in a specific way. Since we really only want to use this new router as a WiFi acess point, we don't need it to do routing. In order to avoid routing, you must connect the new router via one of its LAN ports to a LAN port on the FIOS router. Again connect them LAN to LAN. Do not connect the new router's WAN port to the LAN port of the FIOS. From here, follow the same steps from "WiFi Acesspoint Option". 3.Verizon's "New" N Router is underpowered I also have FIOS, and looked into the GigE Wireless N FIOS router recently, but wasn't impressed with what I found. First, for some reason this same router was $20 cheaper less than a year ago, but was recently jacked up in price. Second, one of the reasons N can get the higher througputs is through the use of MIMO technology and multiple bands (2.4Hgz and 5.8Ghz) This router only uses 2.4Ghz, and its MIMO technology is underpowered compared to others in the price range (another lame analogy, think 4 banger vs V8 engine) 4. Triple Play I'm not sure how much this has changed, but when I looked into it two years ago, if you have Triple Play, it was next to impossible to get rid of the FIOS provided router and use your own. I came from Comcast, and had used my own VPN router for years, using the Comcast modem as a "Bridge" only. I looked into doing the same with FIOS, but it wasn't happening. There were several challenges that I remember. One was that you had to call in and beg Verzion to activate the Ethernet port on your demarc (the box in your basement/garage/side of your house) as most FIOS setups use the ONT coax connection by default. If you got past that headache, you had to deal with certain TV features not working, on screen caller ID, something with onscreen guide, etc.. Then of course its all unsupported, so if you have a problem Verizon blames you. I think I remember reading where someone got close to making it work with their own router, by keeping the their FIOS router, and doing some kind of elaborate setup that kind of worked. Either way, I do enough hacking together things at work, I didn't want to deal with it at home. Hope some of that helps, good luck buddy! |
| Hijack question.. Same router and ISP. What's the best way to boost range? The router is on my second floor, but I just started working from home and have my work area in the basement. Signal and speed drop off big time. Ideally something that may work with an ac router when those prices drop a little more. |
|
Hamel,
You have a couple of options, but they fall with in two general categories. 1. Use a WiFi repeater/extender The idea here is that you place this device somewhere between your router and your wireless devices to try and extend the range. For example if your router is on the 2nd floor of your house, and your laptop is in the basement, you would put this somewhere on the 1st floor of your house. Depending on the layout / construction of your house, this doesn't always help, but its worth looking into. Here's an example of an extender, Linksys WiFi Extender If you happen to have a spare Linksys router, some can be turned into repeaters using different firmware, Google it. 2. Extend your wired network. The idea here is that one way or another, you get a cable connected from your existing router, down to the area you're in. You could run CAT5/6 data cabling between the room your router's in and the basement, but depending on the construction of your house that's usually more trouble than its worth, unless you or a friend has the skill, time and materials to make it happen. That leaves relying on the exiting cabling already in your house, which usually boils down to either electrical wiring or coax. Here's and example of one for the electrical wiring you can buy (there's different price options depending on what you pick) Linksys Powerline Networking These devices will let you extend your network over your electrical wiring. Basically, you plug one into the electrical outlet in the room your router's in, and then connect an Ethernet cable from it to your router's LAN port. Plug another in an electrical outlet in the room you want to be in, and then plug a data cable from it into your computer, or another WiFi router's LAN port. There's different options depending on what you buy. Some are single port devices, some are multi port devices, and some have WiFi built in, so there is no need for another WiFi router. Here's an example of one for the coax wiring you can buy. Dlink MCoA Ethernet Adapters Same basic concept as above, except you plug them into your coax tv outlets (you can still use the same outlets for tv). If you choose either of these, and decide to add another WiFi router, follow the steps I listed in the previous post above to configure things correctly. Hope that helps, good luck! |
|
Quoted:
1. Use a WiFi repeater/extender The idea here is that you place this device somewhere between your router and your wireless devices to try and extend the range. For example if your router is on the 2nd floor of your house, and your laptop is in the basement, you would put this somewhere on the 1st floor of your house. Depending on the layout / construction of your house, this doesn't always help, but its worth looking into. Here's an example of an extender, Linksys WiFi Extender If you happen to have a spare Linksys router, some can be turned into repeaters using different firmware, Google it. just note, this approach halves the wireless network speed. ar-jedi |
|
Quoted:
Hijack question.. Same router and ISP. What's the best way to boost range? The router is on my second floor, but I just started working from home and have my work area in the basement. Signal and speed drop off big time. Ideally something that may work with an ac router when those prices drop a little more. try putting one (or both if it has two) of the router antennas horizontally, rather than vertically. the problem you may be experiencing is that you are directly below the router, and in general that's the worst place to be with a vertically oriented source antenna. the signal is radiating outward, not downward. ar-jedi |
|
Quoted:
Same router and ISP. What's the best way to boost range? hardwired 2nd AP. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_5/1395403__ARCHIVED_THREAD____recommend_a__router___actually_access_point_in_bridge_mode__for_use_as_a_wireless_range_extender___.html&page=1#i36922645 that unit has been AWESOME. i've NEVER had to reboot it. ever. it just works. ar-jedi |
|
Quoted:
Ok, I got a question for you guys who know about networking. If I replace my current router with a brand new one (lets say I buy the $99 Verizon N router) and I make all the wireless settings exactly the same- same SSID, same WPA2 passwords, etc, will all my devices connect to the new router? Or will I have to setup each device again? Do the wireless devices just look to connect to the SSID and make sure the password is correct? Or are they looking for the MAC address of the router? Yep. MACs don't enter into it, unless you're restricting wireless access to the router by client MAC. |