DIRECTV / FIOS Question

[tfederov]

FIOS is finally coming to my area and I'm looking at upgrading to it from DSL. So far so good...

Now the question. The Actiontech router they give you is garbage. I spent hours over at a buddy's house a few months back trying to get network services running on it but we could never get it figured out. I have a Linksys WRT300N router that is working just fine and would like to use it instead of the crap router they want to give.

What I know...

I replaced the Actiontech router with a Linksys VPN router at my church and it works without any problems. What I've read is that if you have the FIOS TV, you're hosed but Internet should be just fine.

I'm really interested in upgrading because the upload speeds with FIOS would enable me to upgrade my Slingbox AV to Slingbox HD and get full HD shows streamed to me when I'm away from home. I'm planning a trip to India in a few months for work so this would be real cool to have.

Thoughts?

[JACKIEGAGA]

Tfed this is what they gave me

Verizion Fios
Router D-Link
Model: DI-624 AirPlus XtremeG

[tfederov]

Do you like it better than your old router (assuming you had a router with your prior setup)?

[JACKIEGAGA]

That is the only one I had. It is also wireless. I never had any problems

[Steve]

FiOS internet seems to play well with any router that supports PPPoE. I've used it with a D-Link (original router Verizon gave me), my Vonage Motorola, a Linksys WRT54G and the Actiontec.

And there's nothing wrong with the Actiontec. If someday you'll need to get network services running on the Actiontec (cause there's no need for them now!), you can using manual port forwarding. I can do it, as have others who have posted here. It's DirecTV's UPnP (AUTOMATIC) that doesn't work, but not just on the Actiontec. Lot's of routers have UPnP issues with DirecTV's implementation to date.

/steve

[spartanstew]

I spent hours over at a buddy's house a few months back trying to get network services running on it but we could never get it figured out.

WooHoo, I'm a buddy. :D

[tfederov]

Since you don't have the TV part this may work to our advantage. Like I mentioned I got this to work at church but I can't test the DIRECTV part there to say if it is the silver bullet. If it does work and you want to give it a go I'll even wear my hideous green Spartan t-shirt that day. :D

[spartanstew]

hideous?

Glorious.

[oo7li]

It's DirecTV's UPnP (AUTOMATIC) that doesn't work, but not just on the Actiontec. Lot's of routers have UPnP issues with DirecTV's implementation to date.

/steve

My Actiontec Rev. C is running Network Services on Automatic with no problem. I used to have Rev. A, and I can't remember for sure, but I don't think automatic worked with that router.

[Steve]

My Actiontec Rev. C is running Network Services on Automatic with no problem. I used to have Rev. A, and I can't remember for sure, but I don't think automatic worked with that router.Wish I knew why it was so inconsistent. When I was using my Vonage Motorola router a few months ago, Network Services used to work on Automatic, then mysteriously stopped working a few CE's later.

I switched to the Actiontec router because Verizon suggested I might see a download speed improvement, and network services have never worked with it via UPnP. I can do it via port forwarding, but unless I have to, I choose not to, for CE testing purposes. If DirecTV seriously wants to use network services, they'll have to get UPnP to work or face a customer service nightmare, IMHO.

Here are the relevant specs on my Actiontec::

Firmware Version: 4.0.16.1.56.0.10.7
Model Name: MI424-WR
Hardware Version: D

Good news is the inability to run network services is a non-issue at this time.

/steve

[funhouse69]

I took a little bit of a different approach with my FIOS Set up... I also didn't care for the Actiontech Router but was also told that I HAD to used it if / when I went to FIOS TV. Since I was newly under a 2 Yr D* Contract that hasn't happened yet but didn't want to mess with it if / when I do switch to their TV.

My solution which has worked perfectly since day one was to keep my Netgear FVS-338 Firewall upstream from the Actiontech only I put it outside of the Actiontech Firewall (DMZ) so it is completely exposed to the Internet.

I've been able to use my Netgear VPN Client with out any issues. I also have a Gateway to Gateway VPN Set up with two other locations (one also FIOS the other on AT&T) again without issue. I also use my Sling Box HD with this set up all the time and believe me I get awesome picture quality.

As for Wireless I disabled theirs and I am using a D-Link Wireless G Bridge which works so much better that any other Wireless Router I have ever used.

This set up has been running for almost 2 year straight and has only been power cycled when I moved the equipment. FIOS has been SO reliable, I monitor my internet connection from a remote location and it hasn't gone down for more than a few seconds since installed!!!

With that said I also have a friend of mine that is doing something similar to what I am but he is using the Actiontech Wireless and says it works really well for him.

Hope this helps