Upgrading Verion FiOS issue wireless G router

[udubber83]

So I have a Verizon FiOS issued wireless G router (UltraLine Series 3 Model 9100EM). The range on this router is terrible when I'm anything more than 10 ft. away from the router. What new wireless router do you guys suggest? I will probably go the wireless N route, but unsure if I need dual band or not. I mainly use my wireless in the house anywhere from 20-45 ft away from the physical router. I stream quite a bit of stuff on my laptop and computer so getting a strong signal with good speeds is deal.

ps - my internet is 35/35 speeds and I wasn't getting more than 1-5mbps DL speeds when I ran speedtests. The house I'm in is an older home built in the '60's but I don't know of any interference issues other than cordless phone and microwave that would get in the way.

Thanks for any suggestions guys.

 

[kevnich2]

I would stay with your current router and simply get a wireless access point and put it as near the center of your house as you can wired with ethernet. Or get a wireless router with special firmware (tomato/ddwrt) that you can disable the router portion to make it just an access point. The former is easier but more expensive. The latter is the cheapest way but much more involved with custom firmware and settings.

 

[zephxiii]

Dual band is best if ya got the buck. Make sure your laptop is dual band too though (or getting a dual band 802.11n WAP is moot). The more MIMO antennas the better!

You can use any wireless router as an access point. All you have to do is disable DHCP and change the LAN IP to something different, then use only the LAN ports.

I actually buy wireless routers for APs primarily because I haven't been too impressed with the dedicated AP selection...not to mention it can always be used as a router if needed.

 

[finbarqs]

don't forget to put the Verizon Router in Bridged mode! I got the ASUS diamond Dual Band Router, and it's awesome! (FTP still sucks ass... which i'm trying to figure out...)

 

[udubber83]

Someone told me because this is a Verizon FiOS router I have to deal with Verizon directly about changing routers. Sounds weird. How true is this? Thought I could just buy my own wireless router.

I would go the access pt. way but I don't want a wire running through my house. Also, do you guys think upgrading the router's firmware would help? I'm always afraid to upgrade firmware in case it doesn't work (therefore I couldn't get on the internet and get the help I needed).

 

[SViscusi]

You can't reading here http://www.dslreports.com/faq/verizonfios. There's a ton of faqs and guides to do what you want.

 

[yinan]

Call Verizon and have them activate the eternet port on your ONT and them just use the Verizon router as a MOCA bridge and use your own router for Internet access.

 

[finbarqs]

there's a tutorial on how to put your FIOS router into bridge mode... Verizon techs are idiots... told me ONLY business accounts support this, and Actiontec told me Verizon doesn't support at all.. (verizon sent me to actiontec, which was totally retarded)

In fact, Verizon techs didn't even know what bridged mode means!

 

[udubber83]

there's a tutorial on how to put your FIOS router into bridge mode... Verizon techs are idiots... told me ONLY business accounts support this, and Actiontec told me Verizon doesn't support at all.. (verizon sent me to actiontec, which was totally retarded)

In fact, Verizon techs didn't even know what bridged mode means!

I should say I HAD Verizon FiOS service, but here in WA they were sold to Frontier FiOS. Does this make a difference on following the tutorial for bridge mode? Also, I'm looking but can't find this tutorial on bridge mode....

 

[finbarqs]

well... bridge mode is mainly done on the router... which do you have? is it an actiontec? what model?

 

[udubber83]

I have a Westell Ultraline Series 3 router (model 9100EM). Since it was issued by Verizon when I had their FiOS, I should probably call Frontier and see if they will replace it with one of their routers. I want to update the firmware, but how would i do this?

 

[finbarqs]

I guess it's better than the actiontec!

 

[kevnich2]

I have a Westell Ultraline Series 3 router (model 9100EM). Since it was issued by Verizon when I had their FiOS, I should probably call Frontier and see if they will replace it with one of their routers. I want to update the firmware, but how would i do this?

the 9100EM is actually a pretty good router. I have it myself and it works pretty well. As far as the wireless - since the router does MOCA LAN - just get a moca bridge, connect that to one of your coax jacks and then connect an access point to it. MOCA does like 250mb/s so it'll work just fine for you. I personally disabled the wireless on mine and just use a separate AP in the center of my house, also wired with a MOCA bridge to an ethernet switch.

 

[zephxiii]

What i did was just forward "any" ports to a thinkpad running pfsense....and now I don't have to deal with the actiontech. I also have it's wifi disabled since i have a 802.11n MIMO AP setup elsewhere on the LAN.

Note: I actually setup a DMZ to pfsense first, but the public ip loopback wasn't working so in port forwarding i forwarded "any" ports to pfsense which solved that issue.

 

[evident]

Call Verizon and have them activate the eternet port on your ONT and them just use the Verizon router as a MOCA bridge and use your own router for Internet access.

This may not be an appropriate situation if your ONT is located somewhere you can't route ethernet cables through. for me, It would be a pain in the ass for me to route ethernet cables through my walls all over my house.

 

[yinan]

But it still is the best solution. Because then you do not have to jump through any of the bridged mode hoops, and you can have YOUR firewall as your perimeter defense.

 

[finbarqs]

Verizon people are idiots, they wont even know what "bridged mode" means... I know, I called them to put my FIOS in bridged mode... they said "What is that?" and then they transferred me to actiontec telling me that FIOS bridge is not possible.

Then Verizon support told me that Bridged mode is only available to Business customers, with a static IP.

 

[AMDBOY]

Like the OP, I also have the Verizon FiOS issued wireless G router (UltraLine Series 3 Model 9100EM). It seems to work quite well for me.
I also wanted good wireless coverage throughout the house with no complaints from family members about lag, signal, etc.
I chose the D-Link Xtreme N Dual Band Gigabit Router DIR-825, because 1)for gaming and streaming 2) It was on sale for $99.99 at Frys at the time (couple years ago).
I piggyback the D-link router off the Verizon with a hardwire. The D-link is centrally located in home and most wireless stuff connects to whichever router is closest.
Works very cool.
Only issue was when my teenager was experimenting with ip adresses & routers. He got the verizon fios cable set top box to access the D-link router instead. While I was at work (on the road), wife had called the Verizon tech out because there was no cable tv guide.
That poor guy spent nearly two hours trying to figure out wtf the problem was. I, uh, had all the passwords written down in home luckily. I felt bad for him. He was pretty pissed.
The more coverage and the faster, usually the more $$. See what other people like as far as a router. Maybe a second router or access point is for you?

 

[finbarqs]

verizon routers are crap. I'm on my 3rd one, 'cause they keep breaking! Don't plan on using the LAN side of things if you plan on doing data transfers over a network! It can get to a crawl sometimes!

well a crawl would be exaggerating, but more like 10/100 speeds would hit a max of 10-20Mbps...