Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
spta97
Enthusiast - Level 3

I have had FIOS Internet for about a year now and recently got FIOS TV about two months ago.  About two weeks ago I started noticing that my wireless internet connection was dropping intermittently.  It is just for a second, but when I am connected through my VPN software at work it causes me to have to reboot (which is annoying because I work from home once a week.

I actually have a line of site to the router and the signal reads as "Excellent" so I do not think it is a signal issue.  The weird thing is that this problem seems to have started around the time of the 1.6 image update for FIOS TV.  I do not know if they also updated the router, but I wonder if the issue is related.

I have WAP security with a 128-bit key but i have had this configuration for a year now with no issues.

Any thoughts on what this may be?  There is no ryhme or reason to when it happens - when I am logged in all day it happens two or three times.

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Re: Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
ubrew
Newbie

I have had a similar situation which started a few weeks back as well. It has not gotten any better. I did attempt Verizon Tech support and suggestions, such as hard code the radio channel (I tried them all) with no change in frequency of dropped wl connections. My connections would drop every few minutes as opposed to 2-3 times per day.

My solution wasn't pretty, but cheap enough to be viable - I disabled the wl on the actiontec, bought my own dlink wl router (supports N too!) and wired between actiontec and the dlink. Wireless is stable now - no dropped connections for a couple of weeks! BTW, a neighbor down the street experienced the same situation, frequent drops on wl and his solution is the same as mine (except he uses netgear).....

I do believe the actointec to be an inferior wl router (this is actually my second one - the first one died with bad pwr supply). I wish Verizon would acknowledge this inferior piece of equipment as it actually gets me frustrated with Verizon and their service as opposed to directing it towards actiontec.....

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Re: Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
spta97
Enthusiast - Level 3

Ubrew - Thanks for the info, it's good to know that I'm not the only one who has this issue.  My only thought is that the DVR update required an update to the modem (since the TVs are connected) and that is what is causing the issue.

 

I actually have my old Linksys router stuffed behind my home theater for my PS3 and Audiotron so I guess I can turn the wireless back on for that device.  I still will call Verizon so they are aware of the problem as it seems you have to have a mob complaining about something before anything gets done about it 😞

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Re: Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
Locke
Newbie

I'm having the same intermittent wireless dropout problem I've had FIOS for about 6 months with no problems until the last 2 weeks at this house.

Before that I had FIOS for a couple of years at my old home with the Dlink router with no problems. I haven't added anything to my network recently and have no new wireless devices in my house. I have an Actiontec router that I haven’t changed any setting on since I first got it. 

Several times a day I lose wireless connection to all devices in my house (2 laptops, TiVo, etc...) at the same time. Usually the devices can still see the router but can’t connect. Sometimes it’s gone from the list of available networks. Sometimes the outage is 2-10 seconds or can be as long as ten minutes. This is really annoying if I’m playing an online game. 

I’ve looked at the router logs but don’t see anything useful. I’ll try setting the radio channel in case I’m getting interference (good idea). If that doesn’t work I guess I’ll call FIOS support. Problem is its not reproducible its random but happens frequently. If they aren’t helpful I’ll just replace the router. I care more about a stable connection then I do about VOD or channel guide. 

I’ll let you guys know how it goes.

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Re: Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
TimSykes
Specialist - Level 2
Everyone that I know who has had this issue, I have told them to change to channel 11 and it fixes the issue. To many wireless devices in homes use the 2.4GHz range and that messes with the routers wireless because it runs on 2.4GHz as well. 
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Re: Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
PaperbackWriter

I've been having exactly the same problem. And unfortunately, unlike everyone you know, I've changed to channel 11 but to no avail. The wireless signal continues to drop intermittently and then come back shortly. I'm thinking there's a setting somewhere that's causing a timeout of some sort, but I'll be darned if I can figure out what it is.

By the way, I also noticed that someone else in this thread said the problem went away when they turned off wireless on the ActionTec router and instead connected another wireless router. Well, guess what? I tried that, too, and I have the same problem. It has not made any difference.

Any other ideas?

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Re: Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
PaperbackWriter
Is this still working for you? I turned off wireless on the ActionTec router and connected a Netgear router instead, but the problem is still occurring. It hasn't made any difference at all.
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Re: Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
TimSykes
Specialist - Level 2
If its a issue on both routers with different wireless networks. It shound like a issue with your wireless card. 
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Re: Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
lagay
Newbie

I'm having the same issue. I had FIOS Internet and TV installed at the end of October this year.

 

For me, the signal doesn't completely drop off. What it does is cycles through the connection speeds on the wireless. I'll connect up at 54Mpbs and be cruising along for about 10 minutes then all of a sudden I'm connected at 24Mpbs and can't get any web pages to load up. Then I'll be connected at 36Mpbs, then 48Mpbs, and then back to 54Mpbs and all is well. That will last for about 5 minutes and then it cycles again: 24, 36, 48, 54.

 

I called Tech Support with no help from them and they acted like they have never heard of this issue. I find that hard to believe. Their suggestion was to turn off the wireless on the ActionTec and hook up my old Linksys wireless router that I used before with Comcast (I had no issues with the Linksys with Comcast). I did that and I still have the same issue with the Linksys which tells me the ActionTec router or the Internet feed is still causing a problem.

The only thing that was setup on the ActionTec router when it was installed was the SID and WEP key; the channel is set to 11 and based on tech support's recommendations, the speed was changed from mixed (G/B) to G only.

 

The weird part is my girlfriend had FIOS Internet hooked up about 2-3 years ago which was in the early stages of FIOS being available. She had the exact same issue and got the technician to come out to the house. They talked with the support people and somehow fixed the issue and she has never experienced the problem since. However, she and I can't remember or didn't really know what they did to fix the issue. Once again, I find it hard to believe that tech support has never heard of this issue.

 

I'm about done with FIOS Internet only having had it less than 2 months and am ready to switch back to Comast which I never had an issue with.

 

Help! Anyone have any other suggestions?  How about Verizon FIOS Tech Support employees on the forums??? How do I get a technician to come out to the house to look at the problem? Help!

 

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Re: Wireless Signal Dropping Intermittently
spta97
Enthusiast - Level 3

Over the past several weeks I have not had the issue. I did not make any changes to my router to cause it, and it would seem that it may have fixed its self.  FIOS service is great but when you run into problems the tech support is sub-par.  I still do not understand why companies make you feel as if you are the only one with a problem when they have call logging systems that can be searched for similar ones.

I found it intersting that changing the router does not help in some cases - to me that seems as if it is not a wireless issue at all but a connection issue to the FIOS network.

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