Actiontec MI424WR Router Fios Weapon of Choice

 

Actiontec MI424WR Wireless Broadband Router is Fios’s weapon of choice. No, this is not your ordinary router. It is the world’s first broadband gateway that supports multiple WAN, LAN and VoIP interfaces. This is crucial since it provides Verizon Fios with a platform to launch Triple play. Internet, TV and Phone via its New Fiber Optics Network. That is if Verizon chooses to utilize it that way. Looks simple on the outside but the guts perform the magic.

 

Notice from the pictures below, the Fios Signal from Verizon’s distribution center flows into the ONT on the outside of your house. Most of it is then converted from Fiber and pumped into the Actiontec MI424WR Router. Although the router acts as a Traffic cop for most of that traffic coming in, its role in directing Video signals is curtailed in the Fios configuration. You will notice if you reset or Turn off the router, your standard TV signal will stay on. That said, the Broadband Router is built to permit digital entertainment and information content to be transmitted and distributed to multiple devices in the home. That is why it is no ordinary router. However, the ONT will soon be upgraded with technology similar to the Broadband Home Router and may (being the key word) be slated to take over some of this roles. Read More about this here.

 

Ready for Triple Play Environments
A high-end CPU (capable of processing as much as 80 times the throughput as earlier-generation broadband routers) makes it possible for the Broadband Router to handle multiple high-throughput media streams simultaneously, including standard and HDTV-based video programming. Networks can be set up to feed personal video recording functionality from a single set top box or other digital storage device to any TV in the house. The router also supports Ethernet networking, and it allows telcos to assign bandwidth priorities for data, video on demand and voice over IP traffic to ensure quality of service in triple play environments.

Note that this article is not about “How Fios Works” but how the MI424-WR can be utilized in the Fios environment. See my How Fios Works article to learn how Fios gets to your house. The ONT is a major player at the residence than what this article implies.

 

From the Router and ONT, the signal is sent to specific devices in your house. The Set Top Boxes, DVR’s, the phone and your Networked PC. There will be another small Actiontec modem provided for your networked PC. It comes with RJ45, Coax and USB connectors on the back so no worries. If you decide to run MOCA via Coaxial cable in your house, no problem it will run both into your STB’s and also the Actiontec Modem. It has one more funky looking connection back there. Someone tell me what that is…

 

Right about now those geniuses out there with multiple STB’s or DVR’s are asking, when I order my movies from Fios, Pay Per view or Fios TV on Demand, how do they know which box in the house ordered the service? You probably already figured it out now.

 

The Router issues an IP address to all those different Devices in your house. And for the Techies out there, you probably already know if that device has been issued an IP address, chances are it probably has a Mac address as well. So yes they have several ways of tracking it. When the ordered content gets back to the Router or ONT, it knows exactly what device in the house ordered it.

 

Yes folks the lines between your Pc, Phone and TV are getting Fuzzier and fuzzier every day although that doesn’t mean all traffic coming and leaving is IP. Fios is not IPTV. I know I will get a ton of emails on this so I might as well spell it out now. By the way instead of sending us emails, post your questions and comments on http://www.fiberfaq.com/ this way all of us can benefit.

 

See the Laptop in the Picture, does it have any connecting cables?? Answer is No!

 

Actiontec MI424-WR though networked to your house using MOCA technology is actually a wireless router. All you need to do is enable Wireless in the Router’s Configuration and Voila! Fios blazing speed is floating around the house on your Laptop, assuming of course it has a wireless card. The setup below is only one of the ways the MI424-WR can be integrated into a home network. Actual integration will vary depending on what technologies Fios decides to marry in the future.

 

 

 

 

Protection and Security
With all that data coming in, the security features had better be first rate, and the Broadband Router doesn’t disappoint. It offers enterprise-level security, including a fully customizable firewall with Stateful Packet Inspection, denial of service protection, content filtering, and intrusion detection to keep unwanted visitors from accessing the user’s network. The Broadband Router also offers Parental control capabilities, including user-defined site blocking by URL, the ability to customize filtering policies for each computer, and user notification of attempted access to restricted sites.

 

 

 

 

For those wondering about Packages & Prices. See the below. Sorry had to use the banners but it is easier for them to be updated when prices and packages change.

 

For those in areas without Fios, don’t despair. You can get in on the fun too. You can get VoiceWing which is Verizon’s Broadband Phone service. VoiceWing is a Voice-over-Internet-Protocol (VoIP) service that offers phone service over a broadband Internet connection like DSL, cable, or Verizon FiOS Internet service connection. You don’t have to have Fios to use Voicewing.

 

DSL
You can also get in on Verizon DSL. The speeds are slower than Fios but beats Dial-Up any day! How much do you pay for your DSL or Internet Cable? Check out the DSL package below. Chances are if you have Verizon DSL, you will be the First to know when Fios gets in your Area! At least that was my experience but could have simply been because Fios was new to everyone since I was in one of the first Fios markets

 

FIOS & Fiber Optics
Most major ISP central offices are already connected Via Fiber (this is not a fact) you will have to check with your Local office to verify this. They only need to run Fiber from the central office to your house to complete the Fiber loop! Fios is way ahead of the game compared to other ISP’s. Typically you get Fios Internet first and as soon as they get a Video Franchise in your community, Fios TV Baby! Caution, Depending on your community, Video Franchises can take a long time finalize. It all depends on the politicians in your town and how hard your Local cable company fights to keep competition out. Read about it in the Is Fios in My town Article

 

 100% Digital TV will be streaming down that new FIBER Optics Cable to your door step. Using the new MOCA Technology, it is possible to distribute TV, Internet and Phone through out your House. You can really take advantage of this if you use Media Manager-Read Verizon Unveils Home Media Digital Video Recorder for more info. You think you have seen Digital TV?? Wait till you get a hold of this baby. Even on my Non HD TV the picture is Mucho Clear!

 

From most reviews people say they see a significant improvement in picture quality when switching to Fios. Now that may or may not be because of the technology used to compress your Video. Jury still out on that Important Note, to experience full HDTV, you will need an HDTV Television and an HD Set Top Box. Fios TV uses the Motorola QIP6200 HD FiOS TV Box as their basic HD Set Top Box. They also offer other STB’s. You can read all about Fios Equipment in FiOS Routers & TV Boxes

 

Did you know that by the time Fios started rolling out the US was placed 13th in the world when it comes to FTTP/FTTH (Fiber to the Premises) Technology?!!!!!

 

Do you know what company in the US has a plan and a little bit of money to change all that is?? You guessed it; just happens to be the only company in the US providing Fiber to the Home en Mass. ….Verizon. Key Word en Mass…. They have set aside $18 Billion to get you into the 21st century and catch up with the rest of the world. Put you back in the group of Developing Countries!

 

Verizon is the Only US Company to partner with Several Asian Companies to lay Fiber cable connecting the US mainland to Asia! Read about it here…Verizon and Asia-pacific Consortium to build Fiber Optics Trans-Pacific Express

Check FiOS Availability
For the folks who don’t have Fios in their area yet, you can get Verizon DSL Now then sit back and wait for Fios Internet, Fios TV and Fios Phone to knock at your Door. Using your Phone or Home address, you can check in from time to time to see if Fios has arrived at your door. You can do it here…