Verizon FIOS and Airport Express

dwrhein wrote:

The hardware provided by Verizon is a gateway device, which I believe means it houses both a modem and a router.

That would be correct.

1) unplug the Airport and see if the wi-fi still works. Ans - it doesn’t.

Just to make sure I understand. Are you saying that the AirPort Express base station (AX) does not work when you unplug it from the gateway OR that the gateway still does not provide a Wi-Fi network with the AX removed from it?

2) what do you want to use the Airport for? Ans - we are not using it for anything other than that it is connected to the Verizon router currently.

The AX, typically, has been employed for AirPlay applications. As you know, it in itself, is a wireless Internet router that was designed to work "best" with other AirPort base stations.

In addition to AirPlay streaming, it can be used as follows:

• Extend an existing Wi-Fi network ... if it is connected to that network's wireless router by Ethernet.
• It can be configured as a wireless Ethernet bridge. In this configuration, a wired network client that doesn't have wireless capability, can be connected to the AX by Ethernet and gain access to the wireless network/Internet.
• It can be used to share a USB-connected printer.

If none of these are useful goals for your situation, then I don't see any need for you to use this AX in your current network.

I have an airport express network. About a year ago we finally got FiOS where we live. The FiOS router has very limited range, but very high speed if you have at least two bars. Not so great with one bar, I plugged my airport express base station into that router. I got very good coverage but terrible speed - something around 50. When I’m in the same room with the FiOS router, I get 450. I’m paying for gigabit and the Verizon speed test shows I’m getting it at the router. I tried plugging the airport Express directly into the FiOS Gateway that their router is plugged into. I assumed it was a modem. I didn’t get anything. It doesn’t work that way with the airport express. I just got two Fios extenders for free from Verizon. I get great coverage and great speed every place in my house. I still keep the airport express network on as it feeds a router in another building.

Lately we’ve been seeing slow or no wireless connectivity. The hardware provided by Verizon is a gateway device, which I believe means it houses both a modem and a router. So, is my AirPort Express even needed in this setup?

No, it's not....based on what you have told us.

It sounds like you have two devices both broadcasting a Wi-Fi signal.....the Verizon gateway and the AirPort Express. You probably don't need two Wi-Fi networks. Make sure that your Wi-Fi device is connected to the Verizon Wi-Fi network.....not the AirPort Express network.

Or, you can simply power off the AirPort Express and then connect to the Verizon Wi-Fi network.

Do things work this way? If yes you might consider leaving well enough alone.

If things do not work this way......then there may be a problem with the Verizon gateway Wi-Fi that will need more investigation. It won't hurt to power off the gateway, wait a minute, then power it back up again.

Please start a new post. Although your post seems similar to that of the OP's, its solution may be far different and starting a new post would provide you with the best coverage to get a solution that will work for you.