Verizon FIOS: Router Issues

[StarsFan4Life]

About a month ago, I upgraded from the 25/5 to 35/35 FIOS internet service. After doing so, I started to have some issues with the router itself (Westell UltraLine Series3 - black) shown here:

http://www.westell.com/broadband-home-networking/ultraline-series3.html

This week, the router lost connection twice and on the second time with tech support, the router went dead (orange light on the "internet" logo on the router). Verizon wants to replace it, and I asked to have a different model, along with having the latest and greatest router they could offer. The technician is sending me the Actionec MI424WR instead, but I am worried that this is a step backwards on the router itself.

My question is simple. Which router/modem is better for FIOS 35/35:

Actiontec MI424WR
or
Westell Ultraline Series3

Also, is there a better model than either of these that I should be asking for? Is there one with gigabit instead of 10/100?

 

[jlazzaro]

no gigabit models that I know of...I am on 35/35 with the Actiontec, no problems. You have a few options for replacing their router depending on your scenario (handoff type and subscribed services).

FiOS Networking Summary - http://www.dslreports.com/faq/verizonfios/3.0_Networking

FiOS Actiontec - http://www.dslreports.com/faq/verizonfios/3.1_Actiontec

 

[StarsFan4Life]

So one isn't better than the other really?

 

[airdata]

I have a question...

Were you using a torrent program? After I upgraded my service, I left utorrent on all night and it was uploading @ 3Mbps for a while but at some point the internet cut off. Had to call verizon, and go pull the plug on the battery backup to reset the line.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Airdata,

YES! That was only downloading some torrents (legal torrents) at the time at about 35kbps. However, I was connected to my work VPN and was uploading about 10-12gb worth of data to a PC at work when it went out, twice (maxing out my connection of about 3.2mbps all night). The second time FIOS could not do anything to help me, but they are sending me a new router.

However, after reading your post, I went into my garage, pulled the line on the battery for about a minute. I plugged it back in, plugged my router back in on power and it works JUST FINE NOW! Why couldn't Verizon FIOS tech support suggest this? Do they have something in the rules that say you can't upload large amounts of files? Why would this cause the line to crash on me?

I am waiting in line on chat support to see what they have to say as well.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

Airdata,

Were you doing this over the wireless?

 

[yinan]

You do not need to use their router at all. Just get them to run the internet into your house via ethernet from the ONT. The only thing you need the router for is as a MOCA adapter.

 

[Bryf50]

The stock Actiontec router with Verizon's firmware is terrible. It cant support the number of concurrent connections to properly use bit-torrent. What I found however was that the hardware for the Actiontec is quite good(550mhz Intel X-Scale, 32mb ram) and you can flash DD-WRT on it. What I did was use my DD-WRT Actiontec as my router and commandeered a second Actiontec with stock firmware to send data to my fios tv stbs.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

You do not need to use their router at all. Just get them to run the internet into your house via ethernet from the ONT. The only thing you need the router for is as a MOCA adapter.

I do need this for recording, on demand and epix though, right?

 

[yinan]

Yes you do. But you can put it behind your router so the only routing it does is for the set top boxes.

 

[airdata]

Airdata,

Were you doing this over the wireless?

No, we have ethernet running from the router to the 'office'. I don't know what the issue was, but I've just avoided leaving anything running that is uploading at high amounts.

I've read that fios isn't metered but maybe there's something setup that cuts you off after you upload a certain amount... idk. Most people don't have the luxury of 3Mbps upload speeds.