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Level 2

183 points

Airport Extreme and Verizon FIOS Router?

I have a Verizon FIOS router that I thought I could just replace with my Airport Extreme, but it turns out that my router also provides needed information to the TV and it can not be removed from the chain.

Is it best to hardwire from;
Outside Cable > Verizon Router > Airport Extreme
or
Outside Cable > Airport Extreme > Verizon Router

iMac 27", Mac OS X (10.6.7), 2.8Ghz Intel Quad Core i7 / 8GB / 1TB

Posted on Apr 7, 2011 10:21 AM

Top-ranking reply

Community User

Posted on Sep 1, 2018 1:08 AM

Good evening,

I thought I might chime in with my own experience of the past few days. I too have a Verizon FIOS router - the Actiontec g-band modem/wireless router. Here's my experience...

When I set up the AirPort Extreme (APE) router I used a Cat6 cable out of a LAN port on the back of the Actiontec modem to the WAN port on the APE. I used an old MacBook and the AirPort Utility to access the device. I observed that it automatically set up the device in 'bridge' mode. I then had two wireless networks operating. I set up the WPA2 password and changed the SSID of the APE and then saved the settings. I then went into the Actiontec modem and turned off the wireless network.

It is as simple as that.

Now I had played with it at some point to test its DHCP capabilities and so I turned on DHCP & NAT and wound up with a double NAT (no settings changed on the Actiontec). As a result I received an error message from the APE indicating a double NAT. Speeds were not effected across any of my wireless devices. Nevertheless I reverted back to bridge mode as there was no reason to disallow the Actiontec modem from serving that purpose.

I did notice that if you attempt to make the Actiontec modem a 'bridge' and make the APE assign IP addresses you may inadvertantly kill the internet connection to your home. I did this and found that no IP address was being assigned to my home and so the internet was down and so was Verizon services on the FIOS TV - i.e., OnDemand - the coax system wouldn't connect. The fix was to call Verizon and the technician reassigned a new IP address to the modem. The process for making the Actiontec modem a bridge are a little on the complicated side, I suggest you leave the settings on that modem alone.

Use the APE as a bridge and be happy with the results. There are no ill effects on the speed or connection of devices when APE is in bridge mode.

I am very pleased with my experience thus far with the APE, all devices cable of N band doubled their speed when compared to the G band Actiontec modem. It almost as if all devices are wired into a gigabit lan.

Excellent product. Hope you find this helpful or at least interesting.

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68 replies

jpb1735

Level 1

0 points

Oct 6, 2014 2:58 AM in response to jneale56

Have you installed the Verizon "MY FIOS" app on your iPhone? If so, does the iPhone work as a Fios Remote Control?

Mine does not work. I get a message that the FIOS STB can not be connected.

rutropa

Level 1

4 points

Nov 9, 2014 6:44 PM in response to gramster1

I have just switched to FIOS from Comcast and have a ONT with COAX/MOCA running to my Actiontec MI424WR. Have Airport Extreme with all my configs for parental and time risctjictions and so on would love to be able to bridge the Actiontec and run my Airport extreme anyone have experience with this nothing I have tried to date has worked. Running in double NAT mode because Airport Guest Network does't function in Bridge mode, running separate networks is a pain with printers and Sonos and so on...

spakny

Level 1

0 points

Dec 21, 2014 1:38 PM in response to rutropa

I have Verison FiOS and my Verizon Actiontec is connected via ethernet to my Airport Extreme, which is set to bridge mode. Recently I tried to increase my connection speed by ordering Verizon's 50/50 Mbps package. To my astonishment whatever change they made actually SLOWED my connection to a crawl. After calling them to complain it appears my Airport Extreme is throttling my download traffic. Using Verizon speed test ...

MacBook connected to Actiontec via wifi --> 15 Mbps download, 20 Mbps upload (about what you'd expect for wifi)

MacBook connected to Airport Extreme via ethernet --> 4 Mbps download, 50 Mbps upload

These numbers just make no sense to me. How could the Airport Extreme throttle my download speeds like this? What can I do about it? I tried the AE's factory reset button but it made no difference. I swear this configuration was working just fine before.

Shomare

Level 1

0 points

Jan 28, 2016 11:33 AM in response to dg68

You know what would be great, if someone could explain this in plain English without all the jargon. I read these post looking for help but with all the tech speak, it's not very helpful.

Same problem. New version Router/modem combo. Signal is ***** with dead spots all around the house now. I tried the "extend network" setting but it doesn't extend the network. Previous setup from Fios worked just fine with fantastic signal strength on the property but the new set up with the Quantum Gateway is just unacceptable.

Version sells a signal booster for 75 bucks but I refuse to pay for something when the old set up worked. If there is a way, in plain not tec speak please do explain.

Feb 2, 2016 8:47 AM in response to OzziesMAC

My main questions revolve around this simple objective -- to use my own Airport Extreme Base Station (AEBS) as a replacement to renting the standard Verizon FIOS modem/router option. I am only looking for internet service, no TV or phone, so this should simplify the issue substantially.

Background of work I have done so far: I have run ethernet cable (cat6) from my my basement (where the ONT box is located) to where I would like the AEBS on the first floor. I have not plugged in the cat6 to the ONT box yet, but know I will need to call Verizon to transition my ONT box from coax to ethernet. Once Verizon does transition my box from coax to ethernet, I shouldn't need the standard router verizon provides. I have yet to sign up for Verizon internet service, and do not have their rented router.

So my questions are:

1. After I have verizon transition my ONT box from coax to ethernet, what are the steps to plugging in my AEBS and receiving service?

2. If I don't have a rental router from Verizon, do i still need to release my DHCP lease? If so what are the steps after doing so - is it as simple as releasing, plugging in the AEBS and then connecting my macbook pro to then set up my AEBS router settings?

3. Am I missing anything, this seems too simple, especially after reading other discussions.

Any information would be greatly appreciated, thanks everyone.

My products:

Apple AirPort Extreme Base Station (ME918LL/A)

Verizon ONT Box I-211M-K

Mar 2, 2016 6:29 AM in response to jneale56

Quick Tip on dealing with the ISP provided Modem/ Routers

I know this is an older post but any time this sort of situation occurs remember you can always connect an Apple Router such as an Airport Extreme or Time Capsule via ethernet to any ISP provided modem/wifi-router then turn the WiFi off on the ISP router making it simply a modem. To turn off the ISP's WiFi is usually as simple as accessing it via Safari at 192.168.1.1 or 192.168.10.1 and using the user name and password that was given to you at installation or is written on the device. Just follow the menus and it is simple enough to turn off. I have several Apple Airport extremes that auto connect to each other to give excellent coverage around the house. IMHO you can't beat the simplicity and quality of the Apple equipment.

Mar 2, 2016 6:48 AM in response to amsmith11

See my post above. No need to mess with any changes at installation. Just wait till the base model FiOS box is sitting there then get a short Ethernet cable and connect to your main Apple Airport device. With the likes of Verizon installation guys in my experience it's best to keep it simple and as per normal. One off jobs can get very messy. Plus there is no need, you just want their box inside and that's it.

Like you we have FiOS internet only and the Verizon provided modem/wi-fi router, not the up charged model, just the base model. There is no cost for the base model it is included. There is zero point to the Quantum upgrade if you are turning off the wi-fi anyway. Apple's gear is superb and set up as described above works flawlessly. No need to mess with anything, you just connect up via ethernet, use one of the Verizon's LAN ports and connect to the Airport or Time Capsule's WAN port (the main input port). Turn on and that's it it will auto configure. Don't forget to access the FiOS box's menus as described and turn off their Wi-Fi. I do this simply because it would be forgotten about and is 'out there' and I'd rather it wasn't. If you have any spare Apple WiFi routers you can plug them in anywhere and use the utility on your Mac to set it up. That consists of clicking OK when asked if you want it to auto configure to extend the existing Apple Network. It truly is that easy. The nice thing about that last part is if you need an ethernet connection for something somewhere else in the home you have it without any wires being needed.

One last tip. The set up as described means the Verizon box, now a modem only, can still be accessed (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.10.1 usually) and the menu can be used to set up such things as port forwarding for the entire network (even with multiple Apple Airports). It sees all the Macs on the Apple Network seamlessly. I have one Mac mini set up as an FTP sever and I simply locked its local IP using manual set up (I used 192.168.1.100) on the Mac itself then selected that IP as the one that can be accessed externally to the LAN. Again it works flawlessly and takes two minutes. If you wanted to play networked games etc and have a Mac as a host this is how to do it.

May 10, 2016 9:19 PM in response to Digitalclips

Is it at all possible to connect my Verizon FIOS model directly to my Time Capsule, skipping the FIOS router?

Airport Extreme and Verizon FIOS Router?