STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
wwgordon
Enthusiast - Level 2

Well, when I chatted with Sales, they said their FIoS modems support 802.11n.  On the phone, sales could not tell me the same thing.  Phone tech support said my Actiontec MI424WR already supports "N wireless" but there is not a single setting that allows this, even after a firmware upgrade.  I figured sales and tech support are flat out LYING to me.  Tech support chat says I have to join Verizon's Beta program.  This might come as a shock to Verzion, but 802.11n has been out for a litle while now... (notes from July of 2010 said Verzion was claiming "soon.")

Other feedback tried to suggest that 11g is just as fast; show to be a lie when I used a Netgear N-to-N hardware bridge and experienced a dramatic increase in throughput.  Unfortunatly I cannot connect all of my devices, which are N capabile, so I'm stuck with Verizon's years-old technology.

When will Verzion stop treating 802.11n for wireless and let us upgrade?  When will Verzion stop lying?

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Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
jmw1950
Specialist - Level 2

It isn't just the radio that is different. The Rev F and Rev G routers also have Gigabit Ethernet. The earlier Actiontec routers can only operate at 10/100mbps on the Ethernet port, which is inadequate for the 150mps FiOS service Tier, or 802.11n wireless operation.

So even if you get a 802.11N capable access point, the Actionec router will limit performance even on the local network no more than 100mbps Ethernet. So for full performance, you probably want to put the Actiontec in bridge mode, and buy another router that supports both 802.11n and Gigabit Ethernet.

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Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
wwgordon
Enthusiast - Level 2

Follow on: Text from the 9 July 2011 Verizon Tech Support Chat session:

Mohd: We have Verizon FIOS G router and it is the latest in G router technology.

WW Gordon: I'm glad to hear that the g router is the latest in "g" technology. Too bad this is years old technology. It's like being proud of having the fastest donkey cart.

Mohd: Mr.Gordon, there is good news for all your FIOS customers, you can opt for the N router by registering yourself, for the latest products provided by Verizon FIOS.

Mohd: Verizon FIOS is still working on providing the N router to all our customers, it is still in its testing face, we are providing Beta Version of N routers to the customers.

Mohd: The link for the website is:- https://www36.verizon.com/MM/Protected/TestTrack/SignIn.aspx

Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
Anti-Phish1
Master - Level 1

You don't indicate which revision of the Actiontec you have. 

The rev. F supports draft 802.11n while the rev. G support full 802.11n.

Older models are 802.11g only.


wwgordon wrote:

Phone tech support said my Actiontec MI424WR already supports "N wireless" but there is not a single setting that allows this, even after a firmware upgrade. 


You can't upgrade a 802.11g router to a 802.11n router with a firmware upgrade.  It requires a different radio.

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Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
wwgordon
Enthusiast - Level 2

@Anti-Phish wrote:

You don't indicate which revision of the Actiontec you have. 

The rev. F supports draft 802.11n while the rev. G support full 802.11n.

Older models are 802.11g only.


@wwgordon wrote:

Phone tech support said my Actiontec MI424WR already supports "N wireless" but there is not a single setting that allows this, even after a firmware upgrade. 


You can't upgrade a 802.11g router to a 802.11n router with a firmware upgrade.  It requires a different radio.


Thanks, I was pretty sure that was the case, but the telephone help desk woman was pretty adamant about my being able to upgrade.  She must have assumed I had one of the newer Actiontec's.  I don't, mine is a rev "E."  This propably also explains what the chat tech support was saying: he said g was the lastest technology and I assumed he meant 802.11g.  I suspect now he meant revision G of the modem.

So now the trick is to figure out how to upgrade my Rev E to a Rev G.

Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
viafax999
Community Leader
Community Leader

You could just buy a wireless N router.  Just about any you buy is likely to be better than the one Verizon may give you.

The last one I bought a couple of weeks back cost me the grand total of $14.99.  It was brand new and that price included shipping.

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Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
jmw1950
Specialist - Level 2

It isn't just the radio that is different. The Rev F and Rev G routers also have Gigabit Ethernet. The earlier Actiontec routers can only operate at 10/100mbps on the Ethernet port, which is inadequate for the 150mps FiOS service Tier, or 802.11n wireless operation.

So even if you get a 802.11N capable access point, the Actionec router will limit performance even on the local network no more than 100mbps Ethernet. So for full performance, you probably want to put the Actiontec in bridge mode, and buy another router that supports both 802.11n and Gigabit Ethernet.

Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
smith6612
Community Leader
Community Leader

Rev. F units have Gigabit? I know the ActionTec site specs them as that, but I thought the Verizon version only had standard 10/100Mbps ports.

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Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
Anti-Phish1
Master - Level 1

@mattheww wrote:

The Rev F and Rev G routers also have Gigabit Ethernet.


Only the rev. G has gigabit ports.  The rev. F does not.

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Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
Tampa17
Enthusiast - Level 1

I have been FIOS customer for over a year now and never even suspected that Verizon router I was given for their lightning fast FIOS was still running over 10 yrs old 802.11.g technology until I checked it today. I do pay attention to my client internet devices and make sure that they all support 802.11.n to get what I am paying for. I requested a router upgrade from Verizon, I will not be paying for the 10plus yrs old eqp and luckily have a choice of ISP.
Anti-Phish seems to be a Verizon CS employee and keeps asking to select "Solved" button without providing a solution, not a very good customer experience, is it?

Re: STILL Trying to get 802.11n!
bbinnard
Contributor - Level 3

Read this message thread:

http://forums.verizon.com/t5/FiOS-Internet/PER-VERIZON-There-is-NO-WIRELESS-N-Router-period/td-p/374...

THe bottom liner is that only business customers, and not residential customers, can get the N router.

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