How to setup a Linksys router with Verizon FIOS

I only recently got FiOS with Verizon. I really didn't want to but my DSL provider was giving me all sorts of headaches (Speakeasy) trying to fix issues on the DSL line (there were a lot actually).

It was fine for about a month before I started losing connectivity. I'd still be able to resolve DNS and for whatever reason I could get through to Amazon.com but nothing else loaded. After going back and forth with FiOS support (I think their manual starts and ends with factory resetting the router), they decided to send me a new router since they figured that was the issue (fancy that). Then, a month later, that one started up resulting in hours of downtime yesterday. Both routers were Actiontek WI424-WR Rev E.

They actually sent out a tech today but of course everything was flowing again so the tech didn't feel like he could do anything. Meanwhile, I'd wanted to try to figure out a way to bridge their piece of crap device with my router (a D-Link DGL-4100) I had while using DSL (which I kept because I didn't trust Verizon to maintain any sort of solid service). I found this little tidbit. The whole limited NAT Table thing got me thinking that this might solve my issues (I do a fair amount of gaming--no bit torrent--but I also work from home doing a lot of developement). After a lot of frustration, managed to get it working with some modifications below. The biggest thing in the end was the MAC address cloning, though I have a feeling the DNS relay was necessary too.

Unfortunately, I had spent a lot of time going back and forth trying different things since running through the original post's steps didn't work out of the box.

A couple things that I did differently:

1) In the Network (Home/Office) properties, I switched DNS Server to No DNS Server and IP Address Distribution to DHCP Relay.

2) On my router, I had to go to advanced settings and entered the MAC address used by the Broadband Connection (Coax) connection (effectively cloning it). This step is needed (don't know if this is a new thing for FiOS) since when I just left it as is (the D-Link's own MAC), it couldn't get an address. I tried other MAC addresses for the router but that one seems to be the only one that'll work. I remember this from when I swapped out the newer Actiontek router I got. The In-Home Agent had a specific step where it cloned the MAC address (supposedly) for the connection as part of the swap out. That got me thinking that they might actually be limiting access to the DHCP server by MAC address. Could be a new thing with them or something?

3) Give it some time after you've made the changes, especially once you lit the fuse on the IP acquisition on your router. When I made the change, I got the new IP/DNS addresses but my computer still wasn't resolving DNS. I ended up heading out for lunch and when I came back, it was all working. No clue how long it really took.

We'll see if this fixes the main issue completely. If so, I'll be happy enough to finally cancel that DSL connection (it's my backup for now in case this one goes down) and be on my merry way. If not, then it's back to square one and the FiOS support we all know and loathe.

I've successfully setup the bridge, the internet is working fine as well as my Remote Desktop Connection but for some reason I can't get the FTP to go through. I have a Western Digital Network Drive, have tried both DHCP and a static IP on the device but neither seem to work. I've reserved the DHCP for this device to 1.14 through my linksys and can FTP to the network drive locally but cannot seem to access the drive outside of the network. Is there a setting I need to change on the Verizon modem/router for FTP to be passed through? What about the linksys? I know FTP is not secure but the network drive doesn't seem to support much else.

Please help, anyone!

I was one of the first families in my area to get fios. My connection to the Actiontec router is via ethernet and I have a secondary small box hooked up to a lan port from verizon. My assumption is this secondary box gets the fois info for my dvr's. Is this correct? If so then, MY Actiotec router can just be swapped out for another, after releasing the I.P. address? Want to go to a box with gigabyte ethernet as well as "N" wireless. I don't want to loose the dvr capabilities yet, my wife will bitch. How about a recommendation on a dual "n" box as well?

This is the closest discussion I've found regarding my problem, so I thought I'd ask in case anyone has advice:

First off, I am using the Actiontec as my router, so the Linksys stuff doesn't apply to me. My main PC is connected to the Actiontec and I have 2 laptops, 2 Iphones, and 1 Wii that I want to use this router wirelessly. About a year ago, I had found a way to individually assign each of these a static IP address from my provided range, using the Actiontec Router settings page online.

The other day for no reason my internet stopped working. I called Verizon who did a hard reset. I was back online, but Verizon failed to mention this would put all my settings back to default. Now I can't remember how to get all of the devices the way they were before.

Of course Verizon cannot help me set it all back up because they say they don't support static IP addresses. Does anyone know how I can set my devices back up (I completely forget and it took months last time), or at least know of a link where I can find out how?

All I know is to assign my wired PC an IP address manually. I'd guess I need to go into the 'Wireless Connections' option but none of this looks familiar to me.

Thanks,
k

Hello,

I'm trying to connect a TVbox device to the Fios Network. This device which does not have wireless capability is downstairs. The Verizon Fios' ActionTec MI424WR is upstairs. I also happen to have a Linksys WAP54G at home.

Now, if If I can link these two routers, my problem would be solved.

I have read all the posts. From what I understood, it is possible to connect ActionTec MI424WR to Linksys WAP54G. However, it seems that these two routers need to be connected physically to each other. For me, it is impossible to link them with an ethernet cable.

Can I connect the two routers wireless?

Just wanted to say thank you for an EXCELLENT guide through this process. It took a few minutes for my Airport Extreme router to pick up the IP from Verizon after I made the switch but otherwise it was a very smooth procedure. Now I get 25MB/s down, which is a 10MB/s improvement!

To be able to host servers on your LAN and keep port forwarding as configured on your existing router when adding FIOS is easy.
1) After the initial setup from Verizon, set the WAN side IP address that their actiontec router assigned your router to static on your router.
2) click on Firewall settings, click on "Yes" proceed.
3) set security to minimum and "apply"
4) from menu on left side of the same page, select "port forwarding"
5)select advanced
6) select "custom ports" from "application to forward"
7) in the "IP address" to forward select the static IP of your router that you set in step 1
8) click "Add"
9) change the "TCP" selection to UDP and click to "Add"
10) click "Apply"

you are done and best of all your DVR will continue to function.

There is an ethernet jack on the ONT. Run a cable from it to your router and then call verizon and tell them that you want to change from coax to ethernet for this purpose. I have done this and it works great. Im paying for 35/35 and Im getting 43/35 4ms.

If all you do is connect a router to the LAN port of the FiOS actiontec disable wireless on FiOS router and enable it on THIS IS NOT I REPEAT NOT A BRIDGE. All you are doing is having the 2nd router handle Wi-Fi, BUT ALL ITS CONNECTIONS STILL GET ROUTED BY ACTIONTEC (FiOS Router) SO YOU ARE STILL LIMITED BY the FiOS routers TINY connection table and it's still actively involved in EVERYTHING.

A Bridge would make it so you have the FiOS router connected to the Coax cable BUT the FiOS router is TOTALLY Transparent to network clients ALL it does is pass signals back and forth no routing no nothing.

For this you need to go through and as mentioned in article basically on Fios router release IT'S WAN IP, in its connection advanced set Coax and Thernet as bridge under home network entry [this will make it pass ALL traffic from Coax to LAN ports then you connect a LAN port to the WAN of your preferred router so THAT ROUTER GETS THE FiOS WAN IP NOT SOME 192.168 LAN IP. After this be sure you set Coax Broadband connection to NO IP so it does not grab the IP and allows YOUR router to get it instead. Now if you connect a cable from the LAN port of YOUR ROUTER back to the ETHERNET WAN port the FiOS router should NOW PULL A LAN IP and NOT a FiOS IP. This is also why we don't care about coax broadband getting an IP it is basically for all intents and purposes to you not there and essentially not needed all it does is pass everything from the Coax to the LAN ports and those in turn feed YOUR router.

While using a LAN port on FiOS router is nice easy way of extending or making your WiFi better [say YOUR router does N and FiOS only does G well N is better. BUT YOU ARE STILL AT MERCY OF FiOS router limitations as it is handing out all DHCP IPs and again it's NAT table is soo tiny if you do any file sharing this is why the router freezes after a day or 2 until you physically restart it because it's NAT table SUCKs.

Now it is possible by alleviating some of its work by allowing a different router to be the WiFi AP you have not fully corrected the NAT issue AND HAVE NOT CREATED A BRIDGE YOU HAVE ESSENTIALLY ONLY CHANGED WHAT DEVICE HANDLES WIFI CLIENTS, AND IS IN NO WAY A BRIDGE YOU JUST ARE ROUTING FROM ONE ROUTER TO THE NEXT WITH EACH ACTIVELY EXAMINING AND DECIDING WHAT TO DO WITH EVERY PACKET.

I know Remote DVR is hard to maintain with actual bridging but it has been done, but please fully understand what you are doing before posting comments that are COMPLETELY off the wall because you did not bother to study and fully understand what you just did with your network.

Do you have a Quantum Gateway or older Actiontec router from Verizon FIOS?

Either way, here are your new instructions (the above ones cost me a 1/2 day of migraines).

1. Call FIOS tech support and tell them you want to Bridge your router to use a third party wireless router you bought. Ideally you will have your pc wired directly to your Verizon router and be logged into the router as Admin

2. They will ask to put you on hold while they conference in Actiontec (they make the Quantum Router too).

3. In about 3 minutes the Actiontec guy walks you through the changes to the router. **Insist he let you turn off wireless on this router so it does not interfere with your new router first because you will not be able to later***. He will then have you connect port 2 of the Verizon router to the WAN port on your new smoking hot router.

4. You will lose internet on your PC until you connect it to the new router as your old one is in Bridge mode.

5. Actiontec has the Verizon person release your IP remotely and then have you restart the old router. ...then you can run the setup on your new router!!

I'm get 85/75 Mbs on far side of my house!! : )