Have some questions about connecting a HDD to the FiOS router & networking?
adl5848
Newbie

Just had a few questions about the "Verizon FiOS Router with Gigabit Ethernet". I got the router a while ago as a "free upgrade" because I had a 75Mbps connection. I still know nothing about it except a new Quantum router is out. Funny, it's says under my account that I have Quantum Internet but Verizon charges for the new router.

  • The 2 USB ports in the back, can a portable hard drive be attached to the router for streaming purposes? What are the USB drives even used for? Charging phones?
  • What is the best type of security to have for the router/network? Under "Wireless Status > Security Enabled" it says WEP 64-bit, WEP 802.1x and WPA2. The first two say N/A so I'm guessing my security is WPA2, which one is the best to have?
  • I just built a new computer, once I attached the new PC earlier to the FiOS router, my network is now called "Network 2"? I went into my routers settings "Network Status > My Network" where it lists all the STB's, etc. It's still showing my old computer (Brett-PC) with my new computer (new-host-2). Anyway to remove the old computer from the list?
  • My PC has an ASRock motherboard with that Intel Gigabit LAN. Since the MI424WR has Gigabit Ethernet will I see any differences in speed? I purchased a cat-6 Ethernet cable and was wondering if it matters what port on the router I connect it to? 1-4, WAN? I also did a speed test from the FiOS site and I get 84.18Mbps download and 29.52Mbps upload. Why is the upload so low? I've never hit 10.5MB/s downloading! I wish I could afford that 150Mbps package.
  • Kind off off-topic, but what is the coax cable used for on the back of the router? For the STB boxes? Just wondering b/c when I was hooking up my new PC, the router was off, everything unplugged, even the coax cable and yet all the TVs in my house where fine?

Thanks for the help...

0 Likes
Re: Have some questions about connecting a HDD to the FiOS router & networking?
eljefe2
Master - Level 1

Hi.  I'll take a stab at answering your questions.

1)  The USB ports on the back of the router don't function for any purpose except charging a device.  Maybe sometime in the future they'll do more, but not at this time.

2)  WPA2 is the way to go for wifi securitiy.

3)  On the router's setup page, click on Advanced >  IP Address Distribution > Connection List.  Find your old PC"s name and then click on the red X next to that entry in the Action column on the right.

3r  The main advantage of having a gigabit NIC connected to a gigabit port on the router is when transferring data between two devices on the LAN.  In that case you'll get decidedly higher speeds than you would with a 100 MB connection.

4)  If you're only getting ~30 mb/s upload and you're supposed to be on the 75/75 plan, first thing I'd do is call Verizon tech support and ask them to confirm your ONT is provisioned for 75/75.  FWIW, I always get 80+ mb/s upload as well as download speeds.

5)  The coax feed allows for remote programming of your DVR, as well as TV features such as program guide, favorites, etc.  With the router powered off TV will still work but without all the features provided through the router.

Hope that answers a least some of your questions.  Smiley Wink

Re: Have some questions about connecting a HDD to the FiOS router & networking?
adl5848
Newbie

Thanks, you helped me out a good bit. One question about my network. My new is still hardwired. For some reason when I hover my mouse over the Internet connection icons in the task bar it says "Network 2". My previous PC connection was just labled "Network" or "Home Network", is this anything to care about? I don't know if its Windows 7 things or if it's because it's a new PC?

And about your Gigabit LAN response, when you talk about transferring data between two devices on the LAN to see those increased speeds, what type of scenario are we talking about? What would one use it for?

0 Likes
Re: Have some questions about connecting a HDD to the FiOS router & networking?
SinCara
Specialist - Level 2

@adl5848 wrote:

Just had a few questions about the "Verizon FiOS Router with Gigabit Ethernet". I got the router a while ago as a "free upgrade" because I had a 75Mbps connection. I still know nothing about it except a new Quantum router is out. Funny, it's says under my account that I have Quantum Internet but Verizon charges for the new router.


Quantum internet is different from the routers and is just how they name it. The new dual band router is called Fios Quantum Gateway. The Actiontec Rev. i is just labeled as "advanced".

For the network 2 thing you should be able to change that if you want in Windows.Right click the internet connection in the taskbar then go to network and sharing center. You should be able to view/delete old networks there.

Windows always saves old connections/networks so most likely that's why you are seeing it. Nothing to worry about.

0 Likes
Re: Have some questions about connecting a HDD to the FiOS router & networking?
viafax999
Community Leader
Community Leader

@adl5848 wrote:

Thanks, you helped me out a good bit. One question about my network. My new is still hardwired. For some reason when I hover my mouse over the Internet connection icons in the task bar it says "Network 2". My previous PC connection was just labled "Network" or "Home Network", is this anything to care about? I don't know if its Windows 7 things or if it's because it's a new PC?

And about your Gigabit LAN response, when you talk about transferring data between two devices on the LAN to see those increased speeds, what type of scenario are we talking about? What would one use it for?


if you have multiple devices in the house they can all connect to each other via the lan ports on the router.  However in your case from what you wrote it sounds like you have direct connected your machine to the ONT, unusual that you can do that as typically the ONT is provisioned for moca (Coax) and if you want to get it provisioned for ethernet you need to request it from tech support.

The network2 name is just windows 7, whenever you make a new network connection it increments the number, just ignore it.

0 Likes