Verizon FIOS

[g0dM@n]

So, I just helped my parent's get it at their place (where I used to live). I have my file-server and IPCop firewall box here and such, and I had to come here to hook up the modem for them. The Verizon rep didn't wanna do it b/c he was afraid to touch my stuff since it was so neat and all and he didn't know what each box was (firewall and all).

Well, Verizon gave me a built-in wireless router with 4 ports in this modem. I am wondering if I should turn off DHCP and not use the device as a router/firewall at all, but I wanted to get an idea from others of they know about the Verizon FIOS modem.

So, what should I do:
-turn off DHCP and continue to use my IPCop (home-brew) firewall
-get rid of my IPCop firewall and just enjoy the free one I now have

The device doesn't look cheap at all and the console seems to have QoS, but I've no idea how to use it. I'd like to priority Xbox 360 Multiplayer for my bros, as well as PC gaming if possible.

[nd4spdbh2]

i take it they used the tv coax line to trasmit the net signal from the ONT to your house.... they shoulda been cool and ran an ethernet line from the ONT to any router of your choice... pings are a good 20-30ms less... either ways its your choice... what ever is easiet with the router or ur IPcop box.

I have fios and i got ONT -> 175ft of ethernet -> WRT54GL > computers... my friend right across the street has the same fios package and his uses the tv coax line and the verizon router and has a constant ping 30ms higher than mine. although pings on my end are friggin awesome to begin with so 30ms more isnt bad.

[g0dM@n]

i take it they used the tv coax line to trasmit the net signal from the ONT to your house.... they shoulda been cool and ran an ethernet line from the ONT to any router of your choice... pings are a good 20-30ms less... either ways its your choice... what ever is easiet with the router or ur IPcop box.

I have fios and i got ONT -> 175ft of ethernet -> WRT54GL > computers... my friend right across the street has the same fios package and his uses the tv coax line and the verizon router and has a constant ping 30ms higher than mine. although pings on my end are friggin awesome to begin with so 30ms more isnt bad.

30ms?!?!!!! That's a TON!! At least for gamers like me and my bros...

So should I go to the junction box and see if an ethernet rj45 port is available?

[nd4spdbh2]

30ms?!?!!!! That's a TON!! At least for gamers like me and my bros...

So should I go to the junction box and see if an ethernet rj45 port is available?

ya ur right 30ms is quite a bit....

You can look there is not just an RJ45 jack they actually have the individual terminals for each wire in the standard 8pin ethernet jack. and i dunno if it will work by just hooking up the ethernet cable to the ONT... hell you may not even have it, cus id be willing to bet you got FIOS tv also... i dont have FIOS tv, just fios net so there might be something to that... i could take a look in my ONT tommorrow for ya to see if i have a coax port.

[Shiggity]

30ms is just an excuse after you get owned =D

carry on ;)

[nd4spdbh2]

30ms is just an excuse after you get owned =D

carry on ;)

haha.... you know whats bad is the fact i have been running my own CounterStrike 1.6 server for the past 5-6 yrs... i RARELY play in other servers because i just cant stand anything over 30ms due to the fact im so ust to the 1-2ms i get over LAN.

[g0dM@n]

ya ur right 30ms is quite a bit....

You can look there is not just an RJ45 jack they actually have the individual terminals for each wire in the standard 8pin ethernet jack. and i dunno if it will work by just hooking up the ethernet cable to the ONT... hell you may not even have it, cus id be willing to bet you got FIOS tv also... i dont have FIOS tv, just fios net so there might be something to that... i could take a look in my ONT tommorrow for ya to see if i have a coax port.

Ya the internet comes from the coax port to the verizon modem, but there is also an internet port. I gotta buy a 25ft cable though b/c it's far from my switch.

[nd4spdbh2]

Ya the internet comes from the coax port to the verizon modem, but there is also an internet port. I gotta buy a 25ft cable though b/c it's far from my switch.

ya me and my dad ran the ethernet cable from the router to the ONT.... it was a good 175 ft, and on the day the fios guys came to install the net they were SUPER relieved to see that we had the ethernet cable done.... what really helped was the fact that my dad built the house and knew the ins and outs of how we could get the cable to where it needed to go.... needless to say the ethernet cable goes through one garage wall into the small garage, through another wall into a cabnit into the kitchen, through some duct for ac ducting, into the upstairs guest bed, up into the attic down into my closet through another wall finally along the base board to the router.

[Blackstar]

Ya the internet comes from the coax port to the verizon modem, but there is also an internet port. I gotta buy a 25ft cable though b/c it's far from my switch.


I'm so sorry you got one of the lazy installers. :-/ It has been a trend that some of the later installers to save time and some networking troubleshooting, just hook up the coax, not the ethernet wire to the ONT box to the router, which almost completely defeats the purpose. Also their Antec routers have had several known issues, including Xbox and LIVE problems depending on the firmware version. So if you have your own, I would recommend just putting in the correct information into your own router and use your own instead. Verizon's new router (if it is the Antec one I'm thinking of) also sends guide data to the cable-boxes. So you will need to use that or get a NIM box from Verizon. I got one because I refused their wireless router. (Can't stand wireless).


2 Years ago for my install, I spent a good month ahead of time rewiring the whole house with CAT5 and then rewired the cable TV lines with stuff rated for higher than HD quality bandwidth/superior shielding. All plugged to a HQ splitter with my own compression ends. Used the same tools and parts the professional installers do. When my guy came, he said it was the easiest install he had ever done. ;)


- Blackstar

[gangaskan]

needless to say the ethernet cable goes through one garage wall into the small garage, through another wall into a cabnit into the kitchen, through some duct for ac ducting, into the upstairs guest bed, up into the attic down into my closet through another wall finally along the base board to the router.


say that three times fast :)

[g0dM@n]

I'm so sorry you got one of the lazy installers. :-/ It has been a trend that some of the later installers to save time and some networking troubleshooting, just hook up the coax, not the ethernet wire to the ONT box to the router, which almost completely defeats the purpose. Also their Antec routers have had several known issues, including Xbox and LIVE problems depending on the firmware version. So if you have your own, I would recommend just putting in the correct information into your own router and use your own instead. Verizon's new router (if it is the Antec one I'm thinking of) also sends guide data to the cable-boxes. So you will need to use that or get a NIM box from Verizon. I got one because I refused their wireless router. (Can't stand wireless).


2 Years ago for my install, I spent a good month ahead of time rewiring the whole house with CAT5 and then rewired the cable TV lines with stuff rated for higher than HD quality bandwidth/superior shielding. All plugged to a HQ splitter with my own compression ends. Used the same tools and parts the professional installers do. When my guy came, he said it was the easiest install he had ever done. ;)


- Blackstar

I guess I'll just have to call the mofos... damn it. I don't even live here @ my parents place now and I'm gonna have to come back just for this. Oh well, another home-cooked awesome meal from mom will be my payment. :)

[Blackstar]

I guess I'll just have to call the mofos... damn it. I don't even live here @ my parents place now and I'm gonna have to come back just for this. Oh well, another home-cooked awesome meal from mom will be my payment. :)


Just make sure you turn on secure remote access and a good password so you can fix anything else remotely. ;)


- Blackstar

[g0dM@n]

Just make sure you turn on secure remote access and a good password so you can fix anything else remotely. ;)


- Blackstar

Thx. Already did that last night anyway.




Okay, so I just called verizon FIOS and the tech on the phone was telling me that the MOCA (sounded like what he called it, referring to the COAX line from the ONT box) has to run to the Verizon modem/rtr because that router is what manages the FIOS TV on demand stuff, etc.

Without the verizon modem/router, I won't be able to do the multiple DVR, on demand, and whatever other features part of FIOS TV.

So I asked him if I could have the verizon unit (modem/rtr) running off of the MOCA (coax), as far as the TV goes, and then an RJ45 from the ONT to my home-brew firewall. He was like, "Oh, maybe that could be done, but you'd have to put in an order to have a tech sent out there..."

So... he gave me the # to where I'd call in for an order on a tech, but what do you guys think?

I'm crazy about having the BEST POSSIBLE connection, and that's why I used IPCop (can't afford an expensive high-end router)...

Should I seriously just use verizon's unit instead of my IPCop? I don't know how POWERFUL the verizon unit is... it does look bigger than your typical router, and I've always known a bigger size usually means a better one... it doesn't look cheap in any way.

My IPCop box was an 800mhz celeron w/384mb of ram (ya a little overboard), so it was more than enough to handle the network traffic. I may move back to my parent's someday, and also I come here often anyway. On top of that my bros ALWAYS game, so I like to help out giving them the best quality.

Any advice? Call in again to put in an order for a direct ethernet to my firewall, or just leave as is? I asked the tech and he said I can't disable DHCP on the verizon unit.

[Blackstar]

Easiest options would be:

A. Just have them swap out the ActionTec for another (They have a few D-Link models, wired and wireless) and have them install the Motorola NIM box:

http://static.flickr.com/12/92060601_86dfa08ffc_m.jpghttp://static.flickr.com/22/92060619_38ba957528_m.jpg

This gives you all the FiOS extras and keeps the router separate. Only downside is you lose one ethernet port this way.



B. Have them come out and set up your Actiontec router to just run the FiOS TV extras and plug in your own router for your network internet needs.


As for your own firewall, I see no real problem in having that set up behind what they already have, though it may introduce some increased lag time depending on your own personal settings. It will also give you some level of customization you may not get with the routers they supply. Have you looked at the customization options on the ActionTec router yet to see what they offer? I'm pretty sure you could do this all yourself really, it's just getting the right settings on your existing equipment. (Unless you want to replace the ActionTec router altogether.)



- Blackstar

[g0dM@n]

Easiest options would be:

A. Just have them swap out the ActionTec for another (They have a few D-Link models, wired and wireless) and have them install the Motorola NIM box:

http://static.flickr.com/12/92060601_86dfa08ffc_m.jpghttp://static.flickr.com/22/92060619_38ba957528_m.jpg

This gives you all the FiOS extras and keeps the router separate. Only downside is you lose one ethernet port this way.



B. Have them come out and set up your Actiontec router to just run the FiOS TV extras and plug in your own router for your network internet needs.


As for your own firewall, I see no real problem in having that set up behind what they already have, though it may introduce some increased lag time depending on your own personal settings. It will also give you some level of customization you may not get with the routers they supply. Have you looked at the customization options on the ActionTec router yet to see what they offer? I'm pretty sure you could do this all yourself really, it's just getting the right settings on your existing equipment. (Unless you want to replace the ActionTec router altogether.)



- Blackstar

They offered a ton of options in the router they gave to me. I was impressed it had QoS to be quite honest. I've never messed with it and would love to. Any idea how I could tweak it to make Xbox Live the priority?

[Blackstar]

If you check the firmware to see if it has been updated to the latest it should be more XBL compatible.

The other way would be to forward the ports XBL needs and add a new rule and label it XBOXLIVE. ;)


- Blackstar