Verizon FIOS Actiontec Router Upgrade

I've got Verizon FIOS with an old Actiontec MI424WR Rev C.  It's over 10 years old and supports only WEP security (no WPA).  I'm looking at upgrading to a MI424WR Rev I which supports WPA.

Verizon offered me their $150 Quantum gateway, but the thought of paying that much for a router made me cringe.

I can easily buy a MI424WR Rev I on Ebay for a few dollars.  Has anyone replaced an older Actiontec with a Rev I?  Is it a simple swap and configure the new router?  Perhaps you have a spare Rev I you'd like to sell?  Thanks!


I can't directly answer your question, but I bought my own router and plugged it in to the Verizon unit.  I disabled wireless on the Verizon unit and it's all good.



I think they might upgrade your router to a modern sub-quantum Actiontec regardless if you ask. But are you sure you are getting automatic software updates? You might get WPA just that way.

Like FilmCarp, I have an internal router wired to the Actiontec. You really want one that has a bridge mode so that all the DHCP addresses come from the Actiontec.


@elvis @FilmCarp I really thought that after 10 years I deserved a free Actiontec upgrade but Verizon declined.  I like to keep things simple so I'd rather have one device that two.  I do have a Netgear W54GS and a Dlink DIR-655 available.

Regarding the firmware, I checked and my Actiontec Rev C is auto-downloading updates and had the latest firmware installed.  The config screens show selections to enable WPA but when I try to turn it on it just doesn't work - my devices cannot connect to it and the WPA selection doesn't "stick".


It's too bad Verizon won't pay for it, but whether they will or won't, do get the newer router. You'll get a lot better performance. And don't think of using that old Netgear or that old Dlink. They're too old, too. You've gotten enough use out of this Actiontec, and it's time to upgrade. I was astonished at how well things went after I upgraded my home router.


You own your Actiontec? We were only renting ours. Minimal cost, but it added up over the years we had it and we only realized they were charging us for it when we were fishing for a internet speed upgrade and they offered us the Quantum Gateway at around $15/month.

That's when we cut TV and phone completely and sent them their modems back.


I told Verizon that if it expected to keep me as a customer, it needed to give me a new Quantum router (I was not paying for the Actiontec as it was included at no cost on my original deal).  I now own the Quantum at no cost. 


@Steve - that's a feat I simply could not replicate but since I have a year on my contract this ultimatum wasn't an option.  In any case, I did a little research online and some people are complaining that the Quantum router drops connections and is inferior in other ways to the Actiontec Rev I.  In any case, the Quantum router is available on Ebay for purchase for those that can't get a free one and don't want to rent.

So I received and installed the used Actiontec Rev I that I purchased on Ebay for about $20.  It installed fairly easily, although I needed to re-run setup on my wireless Epson Ecotank printer and ofcourse re-connect each Wi-Fi device.  Curiously the Actiontec arrived with two different length antennas.  The rev I has two antenna connectors and I'm using both antennas.  In online photos I see some Rev I's with two long antennas and other with two short antennas.  

I don't see much difference in speed, although there is one room in the house where the reception was poor with the old Rev C, now appears to be improved.


It does seem to drop the wifi connection periodically.  That said, it is a vast improvement speed wise over the old Actiontec router.  I will likely move to a mesh system and stop using the Quantum's wifi capability.


@sevzas, you might consider disabling wifi on your Actiontec and connecting something else to provide wifi. That's what I did, and others have done it, too. I no longer have FIOS, as it's not yet available where I live.


@Tom_Reingold what's a solid wifi access point manufacturer/model?



sevzas said:

@Tom_Reingold what's a solid wifi access point manufacturer/model?

There aren't many consumer grade access points that are not also routers. Check out the reviews of home routers. The latest, greatest model is probably newer than whatever I got a year ago. Netgear and Linksys still get good reviews, as do the other big names. To use a router as only an access point, don't plug anything into the WAN port. Run a cable from your router to a LAN port of the new router. Disable the DHCP function on the new router, allowing the existing router to perform that function.

I have installed a couple of Ubiquiti access points, and they work great, but setup is tricky. They are really aimed at industrial installations, not consumers. You're a programmer, so maybe it would suit you, as long as you understand network concepts well.


I disabled my Verizon wireless router and attached my new Google Mesh 3-point wireless system (available on Amazon for $269) and I have the best coverage for my house that I ever had, with good bandwidth.  Previously I tried extenders from various companies, but it was difficult to get decent full-house coverage.  I had to call up Google Wireless for help in maximizing the setup, but it went very smoothly.



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