A bunch of fios questions

I have a bunch of questions related to our fios hookup and a couple of other, somewhat, related issues.  I plan to ask these questions one at a time so PLEASE bear with me.  Also, since I'm a technotwit please avoid tech jargonese that your Grandfather can't understand.

Someone that upgraded their service several years ago gave us their old Actiontec router Model MI424-WR RevD;  there's a silver band around it. This is the same #, inc RevD, as our orig/current router.

We have vzn's triple decker plan.  

Our hardware includes: 3 tvs, 2 roku sticks and 2 DVRs (along w/ 2 tablets), assorted phones and 2 computers.(printer is connected via ethernet cable.

A- Can this router be installed as an additional router? rather than a replacement?

If yes where in the system?    Pros and cons.

Thanks so much for your time.


well, I don't have a clue.

next....


Apollo_T said:

I have a bunch of questions related to our fios hookup and a couple of other, somewhat, related issues.  I plan to ask these questions one at a time so PLEASE bear with me.  Also, since I'm a technotwit please avoid tech jargonese that your Grandfather can't understand.

Someone that upgraded their service several years ago gave us their old Actiontec router Model MI424-WR RevD;  there's a silver band around it. This is the same #, inc RevD, as our orig/current router.

We have vzn's triple decker plan.  

Our hardware includes: 3 tvs, 2 roku sticks and 2 DVRs (along w/ 2 tablets), assorted phones and 2 computers.(printer is connected via ethernet cable.

A- Can this router be installed as an additional router? rather than a replacement?

If yes where in the system?    Pros and cons.

Thanks so much for your time.

 Short answer is yes.

Long answer can probably be found in this article.

https://smallbusiness.chron.co...


You have a lot of gadgets there. I am hereby stripping you of your technotwit title.


IT guy here. It's worth mentioning that installing 2 routers that both are acting as wireless access points will result in two networks. One will be one hop away from the Internet behind the first router. The second one will be two hops away from the Internet behind both routers. In many situations you might not have any issues, but if you have anything that relies on broadcasts for connectivity (Apple stuff, most 'smart' things) then the broadcasts will likely not traverse from one network to the other. That could add to confusion at some point down the line (look out for not being able to see some devices depending on what network you are on).

It'd be better to add a secondary wireless network that can all act as one network (in this day and age you're probably looking at a mesh system) or adding additional wireless access points that don't have routers built into them to your existing network.


GUYS- THANKS FOR YOUR RESPONSES.

Tom_Reingold said:

You have a lot of gadgets there. I am hereby stripping you of your technotwit title.

@Tom_Reingold--- good thinking and I also have 7-10 cameras so I'm the new Ansel Adams right?

ridski said:


 Short answer is yes.

Long answer can probably be found in this article.

https://smallbusiness.chron.co...

 @ridski-- that article is quite helpful.  I still have a couple of questions.  A techie friend suggested calling vzn tech support to walk me thru the process and the upgrade from WEP security.

qrysdonnell said:

IT guy here. It's worth mentioning that installing 2 routers that both are acting as wireless access points will result in two networks. One will be one hop away from the Internet behind the first router. The second one will be two hops away from the Internet behind both routers. In many situations you might not have any issues, but if you have anything that relies on broadcasts for connectivity (Apple stuff, most 'smart' things) then the broadcasts will likely not traverse from one network to the other. That could add to confusion at some point down the line (look out for not being able to see some devices depending on what network you are on).

It'd be better to add a secondary wireless network that can all act as one network (in this day and age you're probably looking at a mesh system) or adding additional wireless access points that don't have routers built into them to your existing network.

 @qrysdonnell-- Thanks. 

I didn't realize 1 router= 1 network.  I thought router B would act as a signal booster for current set-up.  Since I have Mac desktop and iPad that could go on network A and wife's windows desktop and android tablet could go on network B.  Thus avoiding cross pollenation.  These all currently work on router A.

The other item(s) are the Rokus...  Both rokus work interchangeably, and wonderfully,  with 2 tvs; neither works with tv 3.  TV 3 is furthhest from current router + extra walls + cifferent floor (assume that's why it doesn't connect).  I can run coax to the foyer-most central point in house- for router 2,  Is this 'best'?

We'd like to connect another Roku or other streaming thingie to it.  This is a principle  reason for this whole exercise.

THANKS AGAIN


I think it's a bad idea to use two routers. A home router is several appliances in one, so it might be hard to understand the various different functions. A home router creates a new network. A wireless access point (WAP) (one of the built-in functions) joins an existing network. If you want better coverage in places in your home, get a WAP also called an extender.


Problem diagnosed!!!

Late last night I decided to experiment.   Tablet works well in same room so we took it outdoors, directly behind tv and 10-12' further from router...works well.  So-signal is strong!  That only left the tv.  I moved a working tv + roku combo into that room. 

BINGO  It's working wonderfully.

So, the final solution will be a new tv a/o smart dvd and switching around our current array of hardware.  This segues to questions re:TVs.  The current problematic tv is 3-5 yo.  Other than the roku issue it works very well.  We know smart devices have direct access to the net.  So no add'l streaming device required.  Would buying a smart dvd solve our whole issue?

Other questions that flow from this will be in their own thread(s).

Thanks



In order to add a comment – you must Join this community – Click here to do so.