Is Verizon going to acknowledge the problems with FIOS and Windows Vista

[Techman28]

The Purpose of the poll is to determine the impact. For those who do not have Vista there obviously is no need to vote. There obviously is a problem with several customers and that is the reason for the poll.

[fiostvman]

OP here. Just an update.

I believe my  FIOS internet problems(constant wireless drops and disappearing globe) issues are now finally resolved. I have been rock solid  recently after months of wireless drops everyday.

As previoiusly stated, I did turn off the wireless portion of the Actiontech Router and attached the Trendnet Signal Booaster which immediately solved my "wireless drop issues".   With this, the Vista globe still came and went but at least I didn't loose internet access like before when I used the Actiontech. The great advantage of using the Trendnet Wireless Signal booaster is that now I have Wireless N speeds versus Wireless G speeds from the Actionech. Pages now pop up blazing fast anywhere in my house.

Next to solve the disappearing globe issue. Basically, what this solution does is to "restart"  the Network List Service function in Vista that finds our networks.I selected the option to restartt this service after the 1st, 2nd and 3rd failures and set it to restart after 1 minute. I have seen in action whereby I would lose the globe(still had internet access using the Trendnet) and then within a few seconds, the globe would reappear after Vista launches the Network List Service to and find your existing network. Previously, I would either have to reboot the router or restart my computer to regain internet access and the globe reappearing.

To resolve this problem, I simply restarted the Network List Service in Windows Vista

1. Press the Windows Logo key + R to get the Run box.
2. Type 'services.msc' (without the quotes) and press Enter.
3. Locate Network List Service under the standard tab
4. When you find Network List Service on the listing, click to launch

4. Make sure under the "General Tab" startup type  is set to automatic

5.Under the recovery tab, choose "restart this service" under the 1st, 2nd and subsequent failures and choose Restart time of " 1 minute".

6.  Hit apply

It is possible that if the above steps (1-6 works), you will not need a separate router or the Trendnet since your globe will always be on which would suggest that you would have internet access. I have not tried the above with the Trendnet.

I have read a few forums and this works (steps 1-6)for some and not for others but at least its another option to use until Verizon/Actiontech come up with a permanent solution because the problem starts with them.

Message Edited by fiostvman on 04-02-2009 01:47 PM

[airdrummer]

my actiontec must have been updated monday evening while i was answering email...i was suddenly unable to see the outside world (my lan was still ok, able to ping my other machines)

i bounced the actiontec to no avail, vz tech support had me reset it, losing my port-fwding config, but not resolving the lack of connectivity. apparently my lan router's dhcp lease had been dropped, so bouncing it restored access.

but now i am unable to get p.f. to work @ all...vz t.s. asked me to look @ my firmware version: 4.0.16.1.56.0.10.11.6

and there is now an unmodifiable rule: localhost Verizon FiOS Service – TCP Any -> 4567

so if i'm reading this right, all incoming traffic on all ports is sent to the router's port 4567?  so vz is prohibiting me from accessing my own computers from outside?

totally unsat:-(

[fiostvman]

Another update.:

Yesterday, I decided to turn off the Trendent and turn back on the Actiontech Wireless to see if anything has changed. I even changed the channels on the Actiontech and I still get dropped signals.

So basically, I have totally given up on the Actiontech in regardless to its wireless capabilites.

With the Trendnet, I no longer drop wireless  signals and I get Wireless N speeds and with the tweaks in Vista mentioned above, my Vista Globe is always on now.  Now I am happy.

[Xourque]

For the month of March I had this problem. Since I have to work from home sometimes, it was really starting to annoy me.

To resolve it, all I did was restore the router to its factory defaults. After a hard reboot after that, I manually restored by wireless settings. Since then, I haven't had this problem crop up ONCE in the month of April. I did this on March 30th. It's now the 14th.

I am using Vista SP1 on a Dell D630 which has the Intel 4965AGN. The router is running firmware version 4.0.16.1.56.0.10.11. I am also using WPA2 encryption.

This might already be known as a potential solution, but I figured I'd post it here just in case it isn't.

Works like a charm in all corners of the house!

Message Edited by Xourque on 04-13-2009 09:39 PM

[NoahsMyBro]

I want to chime in to this discussion.

I'm a network consultant/admin, and have been for 15 years. I freelance/moonlight in the evenings helping home users with their home computers and LANs, frequently setting up wireless networks for them. I'm not ignorant of simple home networks, wireless, routing, etc...

Prior to last Monday I'd used Speakeasy DSL for 10 years, and had used various wireless routers (Belkin, Dlink, Netgear, usually Linksys) in my home for at least the last 6 years. I found the Linksys WRT54Gs worked best.

Last Monday (4/13) I had FIOS Internet, TV, and phone service installed. I immediately noticed problems with my wireless connectivity.

I've got the Actiontech router, Rev. D, fw version 4.0.16.1.56.0.10.11.6.

I have 3 different Dell laptops, and the wireless signal drops VERY frequently on all of them. By frequently I mean that it won't stay connected for 10 minutes at a time, and usually fails in under 5 minutes.

** All of the laptops are running WIndows XP, NOT Vista. **

The signal strength is perfect. THe problem occurs even when the laptop is  6 feet from the router with a direct line-of-sight between the two devices. (No walls.)

The wireless is configured to use WPA2.

I've tried changing the wireless channel to channel 11. I've set the router to ONLY communicate over 802.11g (not B).  I've tried rebooting the router. I even tried positioning the router horizontally, after somebody elsewhere in the forum reported that helped them.

STRANGELY, my wife's Asus laptop doesn't seem to exhibit the problem. She's hitting up Webkinz each night for an hour or two, trouble-free. Her laptop has an internal Linksys wireless card (scavenged from a dead WRT54G, v2 🙂 .  )

I never had any problems like this with my Linksys router, or the other routers I've used in the past.

Xourque - I'm interested in trying your suggestion, but am concerned - if I factory-reset the Actiontech, will that affect my FIOS TV? Will I need to re-activate the various STBs throughout the house?

Thanks,

Steve

[CharlesH]

No, it will not affect your TV's, they will be able to pick up an IP just like any other computer...they just use MoCA over coax instead of ethernet/WiFi.

[Director]

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@NoahsMyBro wrote:

I want to chime in to this discussion.

I'm a network consultant/admin, and have been for 15 years. I freelance/moonlight in the evenings helping home users with their home computers and LANs, frequently setting up wireless networks for them. I'm not ignorant of simple home networks, wireless, routing, etc...

Prior to last Monday I'd used Speakeasy DSL for 10 years, and had used various wireless routers (Belkin, Dlink, Netgear, usually Linksys) in my home for at least the last 6 years. I found the Linksys WRT54Gs worked best.

Last Monday (4/13) I had FIOS Internet, TV, and phone service installed. I immediately noticed problems with my wireless connectivity.

I've got the Actiontech router, Rev. D, fw version 4.0.16.1.56.0.10.11.6.

I have 3 different Dell laptops, and the wireless signal drops VERY frequently on all of them. By frequently I mean that it won't stay connected for 10 minutes at a time, and usually fails in under 5 minutes.

** All of the laptops are running WIndows XP, NOT Vista. **

The signal strength is perfect. THe problem occurs even when the laptop is  6 feet from the router with a direct line-of-sight between the two devices. (No walls.)

The wireless is configured to use WPA2.

I've tried changing the wireless channel to channel 11. I've set the router to ONLY communicate over 802.11g (not B).  I've tried rebooting the router. I even tried positioning the router horizontally, after somebody elsewhere in the forum reported that helped them.

STRANGELY, my wife's Asus laptop doesn't seem to exhibit the problem. She's hitting up Webkinz each night for an hour or two, trouble-free. Her laptop has an internal Linksys wireless card (scavenged from a dead WRT54G, v2 🙂 .  )

I never had any problems like this with my Linksys router, or the other routers I've used in the past.

Xourque - I'm interested in trying your suggestion, but am concerned - if I factory-reset the Actiontech, will that affect my FIOS TV? Will I need to re-activate the various STBs throughout the house?

Thanks,

Steve

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@Director wrote:

There is still no answer as to what Verizon plans to do about this situation.  They seemingly are doing everything to bury their heads in the sand when it comes to this issue.  I still have the same issues you have experienced.

Prior to switching to FIOS Internet, I never had this problem with my Verizon DSL and my wireless laptop.

I have been attempting to deal with them since February 26, 2009.  They have done everything in their power to avoid dealing with the problem, including deleting one of my posts. Recently, I filled out a survey sent to me by Verizon.  Obviously, I told them like it was.  I received a call from their new "complaint" center within two days.  As a result, a Tech was immediately scheduled for a specific day.  I waited at home for 10 hours.  Nothing.  I called Tech. Services miday to find out what happened to my service ticket.  The Tech (in Charleston, WV) I talked to could not determine the status of the ticket, but offered to help me.  Another hour on the phone with no results.  The Tech could not have been nicer, very patient, which he also complimented me on the same.  Before we ended our session, I referred him to this thread.

After waiting eleven hours, I called the "Resolution Dept. (again-talked to them over a month ago).  The rep. I talked to (in Hampton, VA) was very pleasant, but could not explain why the "ticket" wasn't honored.  She promised to call me back at 9:45am the next day  with an explaination and to re schedule.  I'm still waiting for the call.

I would cancel, but switching back to Comcast isn't even  a consideration, at least not yet.  I can't deal with their ignorance, rudeness and incompetence .  Hopefully this post will not be deleted.

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Message Edited by Director on 04-22-2009 02:05 PM

Message Edited by Director on 04-22-2009 02:13 PM

Message Edited by Director on 04-22-2009 02:15 PM

[NoahsMyBro]

Charles - thanks for the info.

For whatever it's worth, I tried factory-resetting the router, and then reconfigured it. I still see the problem.

I was hoping to reduce clutter and complexity by eliminating the WRT54G, and save a tiny amount of electricity in the proces, but I guess I'm going to have to add the Linksys to the system until this is eventually worked out by Actiontec.

As luck would have it, the shelf my LAN equipment rests on fell off the wall over my desk today, crashing on to my keyboard! Not Vz's fault, but just one more thing to aggravate the situation. I now need to make room on the desk for the Actiontec and the Linksys, as well as normal desk items!

[Director]

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@NoahsMyBro wrote:

Charles - thanks for the info.

For whatever it's worth, I tried factory-resetting the router, and then reconfigured it. I still see the problem.

I was hoping to reduce clutter and complexity by eliminating the WRT54G, and save a tiny amount of electricity in the proces, but I guess I'm going to have to add the Linksys to the system until this is eventually worked out by Actiontec.

As luck would have it, the shelf my LAN equipment rests on fell off the wall over my desk today, crashing on to my keyboard! Not Vz's fault, but just one more thing to aggravate the situation. I now need to make room on the desk for the Actiontec and the Linksys, as well as normal desk items!

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@Director wrote:

One of the numerous calls I've made since 2/26/09 was to Actiontec.  First of all the Tech. said they had no complaints about FIOS and their router. 

I then spent well over 30 minutes on the phone with him.  Among other things, he had me re-set and configure the router. After nothing worked, he told me to contact Verizon.

It should also be noted that neither I, or a visiting Verizon installer, had a problem latching onto an unsecured router in the neighborhood displaying a weak signal for an extended period of time.

Verizon piggy backed a D-Link wireless router to their Actiontec to solve the problem.  My wife, like you, is not too happy with the real estate they both occupy, and now the D-link occasionally won't latch onto the laptop.

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