This morning I got FiOS TV installed. Everything was going smooth until the tech asked to see the free wireless D-Link router I got during the initial FiOS internet installation. I told him that I got rid of it as it was a piece of junk and my SRX Linksys is better. He told me he could not continue the installation because he needed the D-Link (he offered to sell me some Actiontec router but did not know how much Verizon would charge me). I told him that I was not going to buy another router when the Linksys works just fine. At that point he told me that he needs the D-Link because there is a firmware flash he needs to perform. This new firmware fixes an issue with the On Demand function. I told him that I really don't care about On Demand and asked if he could work with the Linksys. But he refused. To get him to work on it I went to my neighbours house and borrowed his D-Link router. The tech performed the firmware flash and completed the final setup. He did not make any changes to the configuration of the router. Right after he left I connected back my Linksys and it all seems to work fine. However I did not have a change to try the On Demand function.

Has anyone run into the same situation? Is your On Demand working with FiOS TV on none D-Link or Actiontech router? Are there any Linksys firmwares that address this issue?

Thank you for any advice....

Rybak,

I assume you have a Motorola NIM -- typically a small black box -- which you received with your FiOS data install?

I believe he wanted to install the updated firmware on the D-Link for QoS services. As you probably know, Verizon uses an IPTV system for VOD. They also use IP for the guide information. The data for these services is retrieved from your ethernet connection, via your router. It works something like this:

1) The TV STB or DVR requests guide information or a VOD program stream.
2) This request goes out over coax to the Motorola NIM.
3) At the NIM, the request is "converted" into a network request over CAT5 and is sent to your D-Link router.
4) The Motorola STB and DVR is a device on your network; it gets assigned an IP address by your D-Link router.
5) Your D-Link router sends the data for the guide or VOD program stream to the NIM, which puts it back on the coax line to the Motorola STB / DVR.

Without QoS services on the router, the VOD program stream could be affected by other network activity, such as P2P. Imagine if a customer were transferring a number of large files on their PC, and VOD playback on their TV became jerky as a result? The customer wouldn't like that very much. I don't think this TV data eats into your bandwidth, but it certainly does consume some processing power on your router. If you were using all of your router's available connections or processing power on P2P (lots of PC connections/downloads), you wouldn't get guide information quickly and VOD wouldn't work very well.

Because you have that Motorola NIM, you can use any router you want. You probably got that NIM when they previously installed FiOS Internet service. New FiOS installs in most areas do not include a Motorola NIM; instead, they use a specially designed router from Actiontec. This Actiontec router includes the NIM referenced above. Obviously, you cannot replace the Actiontec if you don't have a a separate NIM installed because then you would have no way to get program information or VOD.

Later this year, Verizon will begin upgrading its system from BPON to GPON , increasing its downstream to 2.4Gbps and upstream to 1.2Gbps, up from the current 622Mbps shared by 32 users. When they upgrade a customer to use the new GPON network, they will install a new ONT outside your home that can communicate in both directions with the Actiontec router, which has built-in MoCA (networking over Coax cable). With this future setup, Verizon will no longer have to run a line of CAT5 (Ethernet) into customer's homes -- only one coax run to the Actiontec router will be needed.

Why do you care? Well, one of the services slated for this new GPON network is HDTV VOD. Think all HBO VOD, Cinemax VOD, etc replaced with high-def versions. That's what the upgrade to the GPON network will enable. The Actiontec router I referenced earlier includes an Intel 450Mhz processor and robust QoS capability to provide for ~20Mbps HD VOD streams, a significant increase from the ~4MBps VOD streams now. Such HD VOD streams would probably bring many current consumer routers to their knees, but the Actiontec is built to handle it.

Has anyone run into the same situation? Is your On Demand working with FiOS TV on none D-Link or Actiontech router? Are there any Linksys firmwares that address this issue?
To summarize, the router you use doesn't matter so long as they didn't remove your Motorola NIM (a small black box) when installing TV service. The firmware upgrade isn't a big deal, just recognize that you could potentially have playback issues on SD VOD if you are stressing your router with file transfers at the same time. I wouldn't worry about HD VOD, because Verizon will upgrade the ONT outside and install an Actiontec router when that is available.

Thank you very much for the informative post.

I did not have the NIM installed during the initial internet setup. The tech added it only this morning. I did some reading about the Actiontec router and it seems to be better solution over a router and NIM combo. I will call Verizon when I get home tonight and request that they upgrade me to the Actiontec router. If I'm getting a new installation why should I get stuck with already old technology especially when all new FiOS internet or TV installs in my area are now getting the Actiontec for free.

Rybak,

Many customers actually request the opposite. Many prefer to use their own router.

Many customers assume that any router supplied by their cable co will be a cheap piece of junk, but the Actiontec is not. It probably costs 2-3x times the typical pre-N router.

Consider that the Actiontec is a 802.11g router, so it will never do more than 18-20Mbps over wireless. In contrast, MIMO and pre-N routers can push 40-50Mbps when mated with the appropriate network card. If you don't do a lot of wireless networking, this may not be of concern to you, but it is to some customers.

So, if you were in my shoes would you stick with the NIM and Linksys SRX combo and not bother with the Actiontec? I want my wired and wireless network to be as fast as possible. I'm sure that when it comes to the wireless part the Linksys would do a better job but I'm uncertain as to what kind of performance hit I'll see when the FiOS guide and VOD is requested over the network.

I would stick with what you have. That is, I would keep the NIM. If they remove the NIM, you are stuck with the Actiontec and can't use anything else. As of now, you can upgrade your router as desired. If you do decide to get the Actiontec, don't let them uninstall your Motorola NIM; the Actiontec can function as a standard router without using its built-in NIM.

By the time HDTV VOD is out, FiOS may have an even better router available. In fact, I read just recently that they were evaluating a second option / alternative to the Actiontec.

Again thank you for your help and suggestions. I guess I'll stick with what I have and you're right....they will probably have something bigger and better in the next few months.

I told him that I got rid of it as it was a piece of junk and my SRX Linksys is better.

..
Not a good idea - they'll want that back or have you pay for it if you ever cancel the service.

Why not just add all of the networking gear after the D-link?

So, if you were in my shoes would you stick with the NIM and Linksys SRX combo and not bother with the Actiontec? I want my wired and wireless network to be as fast as possible. I'm sure that when it comes to the wireless part the Linksys would do a better job but I'm uncertain as to what kind of performance hit I'll see when the FiOS guide and VOD is requested over the network.


You can use the Actiontec as a NIM. You have to disable the WAN connection and connect it LAN-port to LAN-port with your router. If your main router is using 192.168.1.1, then configure the Actiontec as 192.168.1.2.

I'm currently running the D-Link as my main router, and the Actiontec as a NIM/Wireless-Access-Point. VOD works perfectly. I had major problems with VPN using the Actiontec as the router.

My suggestion would be to take the Actiontec and only use it as a NIM. If you have performance problems with HD-VOD later on, you could always use the Actiontec as the main router. Most of the bugs in the Actiontec would probably be fixed by then.

Well it looks like I'll have to get the original D-Link router from my brother. When I use my Linksys router VOD is unwatchable. The screen pauses every second. This totally stinks, I'll need to have two routers and a NIM just to get the range of wireless that I want from the Linksys and a functioning VOD through the D-Link and NIM.

So instead of putting the D-Link back in, anyone have any idea what the QOS settings that are needed? There should be no reason why you can't set the same QOS setting in the Linksys (granted you might need to install one of the custom firmwares like Thibor) or any other decent router.

Also - side question I just found. I accidently reset my Linksys the other day and forgot to enable PPOE and it still worked... Any ideas why this might be the case - I thought Verizon FIOS was PPOE only.. Unless maybe my area has changed when others have not...

Also - side question I just found. I accidently reset my Linksys the other day and forgot to enable PPOE and it still worked... Any ideas why this might be the case - I thought Verizon FIOS was PPOE only.. Unless maybe my area has changed when others have not...
Verizon has switched over to DHCP everywhere, although they still have PPPOE in place for backward compatibility, for customers that were originally setup that way. Any customer on PPPOE can switch to DHCP by changing the settings on their router.

So instead of putting the D-Link back in, anyone have any idea what the QOS settings that are needed? There should be no reason why you can't set the same QOS setting in the Linksys (granted you might need to install one of the custom firmwares like Thibor) or any other decent router.
I don't think there are any recent Linksys boxes with functional QoS. Or perhaps you can add this capability with a third-party firmware, I do not know.

I can't get the NIM to work on my own network. I have a pretty basic gentoo router but when I plug my NIM into it, VOD and stuff won't work. Does the d-link have some sort of special settings (upnp or something) that make it work? I can't imagine it a QoS issue because my network is dead. I notice the NIM takes 2 IPs, 192.168.0.52 an 192.168.0.54 and each have a couple ports open. Do I need to enable forwarding maybe?

What router are you using?

I can't imagine it a QoS issue because my network is dead.
Can you explain a bit more?

sorry, poor word choice. dead as in practically no traffic going through it. here is my current setup:

FIOS/ONT -> Gentoo comp (192.168.0.1)-> Netgear Gigabit switch -> computers, NIM,

the gentoo box does all the NAT, DHCP, etc.

A few odd things I noticed. originally I was running my network on 10.0.0.x, and the NIM would still get addresses of 192.168.0.52 and 54. They never leave any sort of record in my dhcpd logs. I assumed this was the cause of my problems so I switched my network over to 192.168.0.x, but I still get errors when I try to pull up VOD.

Also, whatever they did to my dlink router, they set its password to something other than admin, or else I might just use it and DMZ my gentoo box.

You can use the Actiontec as a NIM. You have to disable the WAN connection and connect it LAN-port to LAN-port with your router. If your main router is using 192.168.1.1, then configure the Actiontec as 192.168.1.2.

I'm currently running the D-Link as my main router, and the Actiontec as a NIM/Wireless-Access-Point. VOD works perfectly. I had major problems with VPN using the Actiontec as the router.

My suggestion would be to take the Actiontec and only use it as a NIM. If you have performance problems with HD-VOD later on, you could always use the Actiontec as the main router. Most of the bugs in the Actiontec would probably be fixed by then.

Hey guys I am in the same boat. I have Fios TV insalled today and they brought in the giant (hot) NIM box/router. I want to still use my linksys super G to stream content to my ReplayTVs Xbox etc. Can you tell me the right order for the hookup?

When I see LAN to LAN which one gets the WAN and requests the IP?
Thanks

Hey guys I am in the same boat. I have Fios TV insalled today and they brought in the giant (hot) NIM box/router. I want to still use my linksys super G to stream content to my ReplayTVs Xbox etc. Can you tell me the right order for the hookup?
Connect the Linksys to the Actiontec router. Create a static IP for the Linksys and set it as a DMZ, or simply forward all the special ports you use to the Linksys. On the Actiontec, you create port forwarding rules with the syntax, all -> [port to forward].

Also, whatever they did to my dlink router, they set its password to something other than admin, or else I might just use it and DMZ my gentoo box.
There should be a reset button on the back of the D-link that you can hold down to reset it to admin/password.

bfdtv thanks. Any link to the admin access, passwords, etc on the Actiontec? Sorry if this is a repeated request.

Try admin/password or admin/password1. Default IP is 192.168.1.1.

If you mean the wireless password (WEP), I believe the default pass is found on a sticker attached to the bottom or side of the unit.

Connect the Linksys to the Actiontec router. Create a static IP for the Linksys and set it as a DMZ, or simply forward all the special ports you use to the Linksys. On the Actiontec, you create port forwarding rules with the syntax, all -> [port to forward].

Bftdtv, I've got the Actiontec router in my basement for the FIOS TV. Next week they're coming to hook up the phone and the internet. I'm assuming the Actiontec router is the same unit as I currently have? If so I'm a bit confused by people saying how huge this thing is. I don't find it that big. Is there really an advantage in using your own router and can that be done for people using all 3 FIOS services (phone, internet, TV)? Somehow I think it's better to go with their router to avoid problems and servicing diagnosis issues.

Oh, and how are the internet wireless speeds relative to the hard-wired speeds on their system? I've already got hard wiring via my existing router, but if the wireless speeds are comparable, I guess that's an option.

Thanks!

I uploaded and posted a link to the PDF manual on the Actiontec router in the Verizon Installation thread. It may help those of you who have questions about it but did not get the manual with it. I don't think they normally leave the manual but I "hid" the disc from the installer while he was busy elsewhere just to be sure I would have it.

Laters,
Jeff

Somehow I think it's better to go with their router to avoid problems and servicing diagnosis issues.


Yes. :cool:

Bftdtv, I've got the Actiontec router in my basement for the FIOS TV. Next week they're coming to hook up the phone and the internet. I'm assuming the Actiontec router is the same unit as I currently have?
Do you have model MI-424-WR? That's the one people are talking about.

Is there really an advantage in using your own router and can that be done for people using all 3 FIOS services (phone, internet, TV)? Somehow I think it's better to go with their router to avoid problems and servicing diagnosis issues.
There is no real advantage unless: 1) you need greater wireless range, or 2) need greater wireless throughput, because you have a 20Mbps or faster plan with FiOS. The 802.11g implementation on the Actiontec maxes out at around 17-19Mbps, which is fine if you have the 15Mbps plan, but won't support the full bandwidth of the 30Mbps plan over wireless.

Most people I've seen saying they were replacing the router...were replacing the Actiontec with an inferior model.

Oh, and how are the internet wireless speeds relative to the hard-wired speeds on their system? I've already got hard wiring via my existing router, but if the wireless speeds are comparable, I guess that's an option.
The range on the Actiontec is pretty good, comparable to the better 802.11g routers, but not as good as many newer MIMO and Pre-N routers. Wireless throughput is nearly identical to wired throughput on the 15Mbps plan if you can maintain a good signal at 54Mbps (Windows will tell you), which will yield 17-19Mbps real-world throughput. As always, wireless range is affected by a lot of factors, such as whether you use 2.4GHz phones (get 5.8GHz phones instead), the construction of your floors and walls, etc.

If you have a the 30Mbps plan, and want to attain those speeds over wireless, then you should probably look to a Pre-N or MIMO router (http://reviews.cnet.com/Buffalo_AirStation_Nfiniti_router_and_AP/4505-3319_7-31840631-2.html?tag=nav), with an accompanying MIMO or Pre-N network adapter. Another alternative is 100Mbps powerline networking (http://reviews.cnet.com/Netgear_Powerline_HD_Ethernet_Adapter/4505-3304_7-31970278-2.html?tag=nav), which yields 50-60Mbps real-world throughput in most homes. When using a third-party router, I would probably connect it to the Actiontec, assign it a static ip, and set it as a DMZ.

Bfdtv, as always, good advice. Thanks!

Just an update on my original issue. It seems like there's something in D-Link routers that makes the VOD work properly. Instead of the Dl-624 that I originally received and later gave to my brother I used a D-Link DGL-4300. I updated it to the latest firmware 1.6 and VOD works flawlessly. Using just the Linksys still gives me problems.

What I also learned is that new customers who are getting the full Verizon package (TV, internet and phone) get the Actiontec router and the NIM. I was told that a lot of the Actiontec routers have failing coax connectors. So to avoid a second trip out to the customer Verizon using the NIM instead.

Great, I have the Actiontec Router for my FiOS Broadband Connection.

Do you have model MI-424-WR? That's the one people are talking about.


There is no real advantage unless: 1) you need greater wireless range, or 2) need greater wireless throughput, because you have a 20Mbps or faster plan with FiOS. The 802.11g implementation on the Actiontec maxes out at around 17-19Mbps, which is fine if you have the 15Mbps plan, but won't support the full bandwidth of the 30Mbps plan over wireless.

Most people I've seen saying they were replacing the router...were replacing the Actiontec with an inferior model.


The range on the Actiontec is pretty good, comparable to the better 802.11g routers, but not as good as many newer MIMO and Pre-N routers. Wireless throughput is nearly identical to wired throughput on the 15Mbps plan if you can maintain a good signal at 54Mbps (Windows will tell you), which will yield 17-19Mbps real-world throughput. As always, wireless range is affected by a lot of factors, such as whether you use 2.4GHz phones (get 5.8GHz phones instead), the construction of your floors and walls, etc.

If you have a the 30Mbps plan, and want to attain those speeds over wireless, then you should probably look to a Pre-N or MIMO router (http://reviews.cnet.com/Buffalo_AirStation_Nfiniti_router_and_AP/4505-3319_7-31840631-2.html?tag=nav), with an accompanying MIMO or Pre-N network adapter. Another alternative is 100Mbps powerline networking (http://reviews.cnet.com/Netgear_Powerline_HD_Ethernet_Adapter/4505-3304_7-31970278-2.html?tag=nav), which yields 50-60Mbps real-world throughput in most homes. When using a third-party router, I would probably connect it to the Actiontec, assign it a static ip, and set it as a DMZ.
well I have the 20MB/5MB plan with Verizon FiOS, my Actiontec router is set up upstairs in one of my bedrooms, my computer downstairs is using a Belkin -N- wireless card which is pluged into one of the PCI slots, I get 18-19mb/ and 4.5mb on a wireless connection, which I think is fantastic.

20/5MB? Verizon is not offering that here in Tampa...how much are you paying for that?

So, if you were in my shoes would you stick with the NIM and Linksys SRX combo and not bother with the Actiontec? I want my wired and wireless network to be as fast as possible. I'm sure that when it comes to the wireless part the Linksys would do a better job but I'm uncertain as to what kind of performance hit I'll see when the FiOS guide and VOD is requested over the network.


Wow, where do you get all this info? One question I have is... if I can't control the router I have... how do I control my home network?

I have been considering getting a Gigibit Ethernet / 802.11n router once N is ratified. Also, I am wanting to add more and more to my home network (XBox, Printer, etc) and may need to move to an 8 or 10 port switch. Wires are still much more reliable that wireless.

As it is now, with the NIM I guess that would work but I assume they are going to force everyone to this Actiontech thing? Any idea when?

I guess I could just connect the router I want to use to the Actiontech? I hate chaining switches because the single port that your second switch is on becomes a bottle neck.

BOb

20/5MB? Verizon is not offering that here in Tampa...how much are you paying for that?
In New York and New Jersey, customers get a 10Mbps plan for the same price as the 5Mbps plan in other markets. Customers in those markets also get the 20Mbps plan with 5Mbps upstream for the same price as the 15Mbps plan ($10/mo extra) in other markets. This was due to the competitive pressures in those markets, but FiOS expects to upgrade other markets next year.

Wow, where do you get all this info? One question I have is... if I can't control the router I have... how do I control my home network?I guess I could just connect the router I want to use to the Actiontech? I hate chaining switches because the single port that your second switch is on becomes a bottle neck.
You can connect whatever router you want to the Actiontec that Verizon FiOS provides. I wouldn't worry about the single port becoming a bottleneck; the Actiontec router can sustain Internet wire speeds in excess of 80Mbps, thanks to a relatively high-end network processor and supporting 450MHz Intel CPU, which is more than most Internet routers.

As it is now, with the NIM I guess that would work but I assume they are going to force everyone to this Actiontech thing? Any idea when?
Every install now should be an Actiontec without the separate NIM, unless you request otherwise.

Cablevision in that area has had blazing fast speeds for years - so FIOS had to do it to out perform Cablevision. RoadRunner in Tampa via BHN is finally getting close to the speeds that Cablevision has offered for years - thus FIOS did not need to offer as much in the Tampa Market.

It's no different than BHN charging far less in Pinellas County in the areas where GTE/Americast/Knology served for the last 10 years compared with Tampa and no competition up until FIOS.

Competition will be good.

I have my Actiontec plugged into my Linksys router. I am on the 15/2 plan.

I would love to use the Actiontec router itself, but there is a know compatibility problem with ATT CallVantage's VoIP phone adapter that has not been resolved yet.

I had Fios internet installed a year ago. I wanted a wireless router, but was told by their tech that the linksys router was better then the dlink wireless router and that either would work (the non-wireless dlink was free, the wireless one was extra cost). Anyway, I got a linksys WRT54G v5 and hooked it up (and after getting some firmware patches... 1.00.4 to be exact), everything worked fine.

Last night I had Fios TV installed (no more TW!). The tech hooked the Motorola NIM up to port 1 of the linksys router, although he seemed a little freaked about it not being an actiontech or dlink. Everything seemed to work fine... menus, guides and everything came up. This morning I tried On Demand and it did not work. I got the ERR-1 message and a phone number. After a long time on the phone, the guy finally asked about the router and I told him I had a linksys, which made him put in a ticket to send out a tech to check the splicers and "possibly" replace the linksys with an actiontech router. In the meantime, I started poking around and found this site with this trail.

One guy mentions "QOS support" is needed, so I poked on the linksys router and found QOS under "Applications and Gaming -> QOS". It was disabled. I enabled it, left upstream bandwidth at AUTO, and changed the "Ethernet Port Priority" for port 1 to HIGH, flow control left to ENABLE (no change). I hit Save, then tried the On Demand thing and it still failed. I then started poking around on the linksys site looking for newer firmware updates.

I found 1.01.1 (again, this is a WRT54G v5) and installed it, leaving the QOS settings as I set them before (enabled, HIGH priority on port 1), checked the On Demand, and it works. I have 5 STBs, so I went to all 5 and picked some On Demand thing and ran internet connections at the same time and all STBs picked up On Demand and showed whatever I poked at and the internet stuff was working fine.

So, bottom line is I know WRT54G v5 with the 1.01.1 firmware and QOS turned on as I mentioned above does work with Fios TV and On Demand. I don't know if it was just the firmware or if I still needed to have the QOS settings turned on, but I know this works. Other linksys routers should have QOS settings similar to this, so I would try messing with that as I mentioned above (port 1 on the back of the router is where they hooked their Motorola "big black box").

Interesting...

I'm going to give it a try tomorrow. I'm currently piggybacking my Linksys on the Verizon provided D-Link but I'd really like to eliminate the D-Link.

Can you use a D-Link Xtreme -n Router on top of the Actiontec MI424-WR (as a modem?). So as to get the higher speed of 30/5 fios vs. the 11M down I am gettting now from my wireless connection :-( I could not see how to take the Actiontec out of router mode in the menu. Not to up on networking, any help would be appreciated.

I just realized that I can completely eliminate the Actiontec in my setup (yours may vary).

I have a Series 3 Tivo with 2 cable cards which are configured to descramble the premium channels in my FIOS subscription. Since the Tivo replaces my set-top-box, there's really no need to convert to bridge the coax and cat5 media, so my Linksys can do everything on the internet, and the coax from the pole outside carries all the video services I want.

The "drawback" is that the Verizon guide, pay-per-view, and video-on-demand (and any future bi-directional services) won't work in this configuration. Personally, I don't care since Tivo's guide, GUI, and disk capacity is superior.

Forgot to mention TiVos slowness too. ;)

Hello there peoples,

I am new to the forum and JUST got the "TriplePlay" Fios deal from Verizon.
I own one of the latest Firewalls from Cisco, an ASA5505 and the throughput performance puts the Actiontec to shame for P2P. I have the latest firmware from Verizon, given NO choice on that one, so MOST of the screen information to make the Actiontec a NIM do not match. My friend who programs these things did get it to work but I lost the VOD and TV guide ( my wife was VERY upset btw ). Everywhere I have read has said make it a NIM and it will ALL work peachy. We hand coded the config after we downloaded it and opened it up in notepad, adjusted it, saved it and reloaded it.

Can somebody PLEASE tell me a VERY exact way to make the Actiontec MW1432WR a NIM so that the Cisco works right AND lets the VOD and TV guide play? I can get the Cisco to work right, so that is NOT issue. What is an issue how to configure the Actiontec properly so I get the VOD/TVguide. And for what its worth I find the wireless to dropout ALL the time I will also be hooking my Speedbooster plus Linkys 54g back up too, its MUCH more consistent.
Thanks in advance for the help!!