does verizon fios use a modem between the router and the internet?
sim3rus
Enthusiast - Level 1
Re: does verizon fios use a modem between the router and the internet?
lasagna
Community Leader
Community Leader

FiOS uses a router which connects to the ONT (optical network terminal) over either Cat-5 ethernet or more typically over Coax using MoCA (ethernet over coax).

The optical network terminal is where the fiber terminates -- typically outside your home, but sometimes it's internally mounted depending on where you live.  It must have power supplied to it and thus you need to insure that this device can be mounted somewhere that the Verizon technician can fish a small power cable from inside your home to it.

The router supplied by verizon contains a wireless lan, 4 10/100 ethernet, 1 10/100 widearea LAN port and 1 MoCA coax input (which supports MoCA WAN and MoCA LAN).

It's important to note that if you have TV service, that the set top boxes connect via Coax and need to be able to access the internet to get their guide data and such -- and they do that by using the MoCA LAN bridge connection inside the router (in case you were thinking of using your own router).  There are numerous documented setups on how to use your own router in conjunction with the FiOS router on this forum as well as others if you need that information.

Re: does Verizon fios use a modem between the router and the internet?
jmw1950
Specialist - Level 2

In essence the Optical Network Terminator (ONT) provides modem like services, although it is really more like a bridge.

The Internet arrives  at the ONT as a modulated light beam via fiber optic cable. It leaves the ONT either via   Ethernet cable, or MOCA  over Coaxial cable (if you have FiOS Television, it has to be MOCA) connected to your router and if you have them, Set Top Boxes and/or DVR's.

 So the ONT converts the optical signal to either 100mbps ethernet, or inserts into the Coaxial Cable on frequencies above those used for normal Cable TV channels.

The router provides a bridge between MOCA and Standard Ethernet if required,  and also provides router services and a wireless access point. The router is required to be connected via MOCA if you have FiOS Television, as video on demand, program guide and some other services are delivered to the Set Top Boxes via the Internet Connection. The router provides connectivity to both your computers and the Set Top Boxes,

0 Likes
Re: does verizon fios use a modem between the router and the internet?
smith6612
Community Leader
Community Leader

Figured I might as well add to this thread since there's a key piece of information missing. In some MDU installs Verizon will actually use VDSL/VDSL2 connectivity to reach your apartment if they are unable to use the Coaxial cabling (such as when the Cable Company owns it or has exclusitivity) or the apartment owner doesn't want Verizon running Fiber right into the apartments. Verizon does have the right of way to those telephone lines in Apartments, so they have to turn to DSL if they wish to offer at least Phone and Internet service. From this point if you're using a VDSL/VDSL2 connection, you would still have an ONT somewhere inside of the building, however between the ONT and the router or PC, you will have a DSL modem. In the past when Verizon used to do all installs with Ethernet, it might be possible that they did not even use VDSL and just ran Ethernet cabling to your apartment if they were permitted to do that but could not run Fiber up to the apartment.

Normal installations of FiOS as outlines above, do not use modems. Neither the ONT or router can be defined as a modem.