Tech question regarding Verizon FIOS internet

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Part of the contract for a FIOS setup is the $10/month rental of the FIOS Quantum Gateway Router, model G1100.  Some specs from the website:

AC1750 Wi-Fi - Next-generation gigabit Wi-Fi; up to 3x faster than conventional wireless-N
Dual Core Processor - For faster wireless and wired performance
Gigabit Wired Ethernet - Maximum speed for video and gaming
Fantastic Range - Superior Wi-Fi coverage from anywhere in your home
Sleek Design - Looks great in any room; takes up minimal desk or shelf space
Integrated Antennas - No clumsy external antennas. Fully optimized for maxium range for both transmission and reception
Beamforming - Advanced technology optimizes the wireless signal strength between your gateway and connected devices for better wireless range
Dual Band 2.4 & 5 GHz - Double the bandwidth for maximum wireless throughput
MoCA 2.0 - More than doubles the throughput of data over coaxial cable
Quick & Easy Setup - No CD or special software required

I'm wondering if there is ANY reason in the world why I can't go to Amazon and buy THIS router from Netgear and save myself the $10 a month rental fee.  In one year, I'll already have paid more than just buying one outright.  My suspicion is that they'll say that it's specifically modified router designed to work with THEIR system, etc., when in reality, it's about $$.

Does anybody have any info they may be able to offer on this to explain whether or not there IS a valid reason to use theirs instead?

[King Postwhore]

I know with Comcast you can buy your own router if you want.  Yours looks to cost about 80 to 90 dollars.  That pays off in less than a year.  They may try to say we do upgrades but even if its 3 years later, you've made out and can by a newer one.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

And Comcast is who we have now.  I use my own router with them, which they were fine with.  I AM renting their modem, much to my dismay, and they don't mind you using your own modem.  That's why I want to see if FIOS will let me use my own and save some money, because we'll already be saving over what we have with Comcast.

[cramx3]

I don't know any of this for fact, but just throwing some thoughts out there.

I don't think you need to use theirs, but you might have to do some of your own set up on the router.  Such as configuring the WAN port specifically (which may just be very simple, I'm thinking you need an IP on it which Verizon should be able to give you OR you may need to provide Verizon with your MAC address of the WAN port on the router and set it for DHCP which will automatically set up an IP for you). 

I think it's possible you lose some functionality with Verizon support.  As in, when I have internet issues, I can use their web app which will connect to my router and run tests, often fixing the issue (usually just requiring a reboot or my router, or the connection on Verizon's end) without having to speak with someone.

I also think it's possible you lose some functionality with the cable boxes (if you have Verizon FIOS TV).

I rent my FIOS router (I believe it's the same model) and have no issues with it.  They also were able to bundle it into my package when I renegotiated so my overall price actually went down a tad and I got better service and more channels.  Not sure what your contract situation is with them, but you may be able to work something out.

[millahh]

I have FIOS, it's a combined modem/router, so the functionality wouldn't be covered by a stand-alone router.

[axeman90210]

I have FIOS, it's a combined modem/router, so the functionality wouldn't be covered by a stand-alone router.

Yeah, my experience as well.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Hmph.  Okay, well that certainly makes it slightly more palatable to agree to.  Thanks, guys.

[cramx3]

https://www.amazon.com/Verizon-FiOS-G1100-Gateway-FIOS-G1100/dp/B0145REEA0

Apparently you can just outright buy the router as well.  Some of the reviews say you can use your own other model router as well.  You likely just need to call support to get it working.  The verizon tech onsite for the install will not install your own router.

Also, you just need to make sure the router you buy has a coax port that would take away the talk of modem/router.  Your verzion fios connection once inside your house uses coax.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

Yeah, I seem to remember them saying that.  There was a guy walking around the neighborhood, trying to pimp FIOS.  One of my next phone calls will be to Comcast to say "FIOS is giving me this price on mostly the same crap, so find a way to match it or do better or go pound sand."  At this point, FIOS will be about $30 less a month.

[cramx3]

Yeah, I seem to remember them saying that.  There was a guy walking around the neighborhood, trying to pimp FIOS.  One of my next phone calls will be to Comcast to say "FIOS is giving me this price on mostly the same crap, so find a way to match it or do better or go pound sand."  At this point, FIOS will be about $30 less a month.

That's good.  You have the ammo to go into that battle.  They might sweeten your deal. 

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

They fucking well better.  There IS a part of me that almost hopes they won't and that we DO go with FIOS, simply so that I'll never have to call 1-800-COMCAST again.

[axeman90210]

We made the switch to FIOS from Comcast a few years ago, and we've been pretty happy with our service.

[cramx3]

I think generally, Verizon FIOS is going to be considered a better service than Comcast.  But that may not be true for all areas.  It's definitely true near me.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

We have a slightly unusual setup, where we have the main house and a separate garage/apartment.  Cable runs into the house, gets split and run through underground conduit to the apartment, which is approximately half an acre away.  Each location has cable TV and a separate modem/router setup.  Comcast tried their best, after years of not doing so, to suddenly start charging us for two internet accounts, despite both modems being at the same address.  After MANY hours on the phone, someone was finally able to pull their head out of their ass and fix it so that we only paid for one, like they'd been giving us for years anyway.

[cramx3]

I don't know how far away half an acre is, but if it's under ~320ft (or 100 meters is the spec, but you actually can get away with a bit more in most cases) I don't see why you need two routers.  Sounds to me like you can run a cat5 or cat6 ethernet cable form your main router to the seperate house through the conduit and if that house needs more than one network port, you can connect it to a cheap $20 switch.  Assuming your router has network ports on it like the Verizon one in this discussion.

[millahh]

Can't speak to Comcast, but FIOS internet blew TWC out of the water.

[cramx3]

Can't speak to Comcast, but FIOS internet blew TWC out of the water.

Yea, in NJ FIOS is a clear winner for home internet service, but I understand Comcast and others in some parts of the country have started catching up and offer solid fiber optic service now.  Or if you are fortunate enough to be somewhere Google Fiber is.

[Grappler]

Yeah, I seem to remember them saying that.  There was a guy walking around the neighborhood, trying to pimp FIOS.  One of my next phone calls will be to Comcast to say "FIOS is giving me this price on mostly the same crap, so find a way to match it or do better or go pound sand."  At this point, FIOS will be about $30 less a month.

I had internet & cable TV with Comcast for years.  Cancelled the TV portion and am now streaming TV.

I was paying $79 per month for Blast internet (75mb) after cancelling the TV.  I recently called back and discovered that they were able to put me on a 12 month promotion (read: contract) to reduce my bill to $39.99 per month, before taxes.  It goes up a little for six months after the first year, but they told me the usual stuff about calling back for another promotional price.

I didn't mind the 12 month promotion/contract - Comcast has the best internet in my area, so I'd prefer to not leave if I have to.  Cutting my bill in half was a nice deal.  If you don't mind taking on a 12 month contract, they might be able to save you some money.

[Sir GuitarCozmo]

How fast does your internet have to get before you can't tell the difference anymore?  I've always wondered about that.  At some point it can't get any faster, it would seem.

Well, I managed to get Comcast down to where I want them to be 1) if I ax one of the DVRs on property and 2) ax the rented modem at $10/month and buy my own.

Apparently each offers a 50-ish hour DVR (500 GB), but FIOS is offer the upgraded 1 TB DVR for like $5 more or something.

My wife is concerned that FIOS is going to undo all of Comcast's hookup, set all their stuff up, somehow, somebody isn't going to like it, and then if we want to switch back, we have to pay Comcast a bunch of money to come reconnect everything.  And I get that, but I know that they use all of your already existing cables inside anyway, so basically there would be a new external hookup, changed router equipment, and changed TV equipment.  I don't know if they'd actually disconnect Comcast's coaxial line into your house, would they?

[cramx3]

How fast does your internet have to get before you can't tell the difference anymore?  I've always wondered about that.  At some point it can't get any faster, it would seem.

I have this discussion with my brother.  We get 50 up / 50 down.  Plenty of bandwidth.  He wants to upgrade and pay more.  I don't see the point.  Our internet is not stopping us from doing whatever we want.  At some point though, it will make sense.  Like when streaming 4k is the norm.  But we aren't there yet.  Also, if say you host a web domain or something out of your house then maybe that makes sense to upgrade now or if you have a family of 6 all using their own devices to stream, then maybe.

[BlobVanDam]

How fast does your internet have to get before you can't tell the difference anymore?  I've always wondered about that.  At some point it can't get any faster, it would seem.

It's going to be like hard drives. The more you have available, the more people will find ways to use it all.  1mb/s would have been all you'd need back when the internet was just plain text. Then they added pictures, then they added video at increasing high quality etc. In 20 years, we'll all be streaming 16K 3D HDR 120fps porn directly into our brain stems, and that's going to need some serious internet speed.

[millahh]

How fast does your internet have to get before you can't tell the difference anymore?  I've always wondered about that.  At some point it can't get any faster, it would seem.

Well, I managed to get Comcast down to where I want them to be 1) if I ax one of the DVRs on property and 2) ax the rented modem at $10/month and buy my own.

Apparently each offers a 50-ish hour DVR (500 GB), but FIOS is offer the upgraded 1 TB DVR for like $5 more or something.

My wife is concerned that FIOS is going to undo all of Comcast's hookup, set all their stuff up, somehow, somebody isn't going to like it, and then if we want to switch back, we have to pay Comcast a bunch of money to come reconnect everything.  And I get that, but I know that they use all of your already existing cables inside anyway, so basically there would be a new external hookup, changed router equipment, and changed TV equipment.  I don't know if they'd actually disconnect Comcast's coaxial line into your house, would they?

It's not so much about the speed, but the consistency thereof.  TWC was all over the place, and not super-reliable.  Going into year 3 of FIOS, not had a single complaint.

[pogoowner]

I thought FIOS offered tremendous internet service for the year that I had it. Very consistent, and awesome upload speeds. Much more reliable than TWC/Spectrum or ATT.