In modern society, technology is essential for everyday function and productivity. Without a stable internet connection, work, school, and recreational activities are made nearly impossible, and a reliable WiFi router is the key to ensuring that your home has stable internet. One popular WiFi router is the Verizon Fios, but what routers can replace it?
The Verizon Fios router can be replaced with any other router, and likewise, the Verizon Fios router can also be a replacement for malfunctioning WiFi routers. Anyone can purchase and install a new WiFi router, however, Verizon will only replace a router with a new Verizon WiFi router.
If you’re looking to purchase, replace, or install a new router, keep reading and consider the following options and steps.
Verizon Fios Router Options
Verizon is a popular internet provider, and they often supply their customers with WiFi routers that work well with their system. Verizon Fios routers have become very popular since they were released in 2005. There are a few different types of Verizon Fios routers that each have unique benefits, strengths, and weaknesses. Latest list of Fios routers at Verizon site.
Fios Router
The standard Verizon Fios Router supports the fastest internet speed available, 802.11ax, which stands for high efficiency. This router also supports SON (Self Organizing Networks) functionality and support. This support extends to every device attached to your internet and incorporates Access Point and Band Steering.
If you’ve ever had two separate WiFi network names or have been to someone else’s house whose WiFi is set up with two separate networks, you will understand the significance of Band Steering.
Most people have two WiFi networks, one with the network name and the other with the network name followed by “5G.” For example, the Anderson family network is “Andersons.” There is sometimes another network that says “Andersons5G.”
When two WiFi networks are available, you typically have to switch back and forth manually between the two separate WiFi network accounts when one begins to fail when you move away from the router, as the connection improves the closer you are to the WiFi router. However, because the Fios router uses Band Steering, this is not the case.
The purpose of Band Steering is to eliminate this manual struggle, and the Fios router switches between the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks for you.
Fios Quantum Gateway
The Verizon Fios Quantum Gateway Router is a great router for households with many devices and frequent internet use. The Fios Quantum Gateway works by distributing digital information to multiple devices on your WiFi network.
This router also supports an ethernet cable, which not all routers do. Ethernet cables allow you to connect your device directly to the router, which improves the connection.
If your device or network is ever having trouble maintaining a stable connection, you can use an ethernet cable to connect your device directly to the network.
Ethernet also offers faster internet than regular WiFi. Modern ethernet can now reach a possible one thousand megabits per second. The average internet speed is only twelve to twenty-five megabits per second.
Fios Advanced Wi-Fi Router
There are four different models of the Verizon Fios Advanced Wi-Fi Router: The Verizon MI424WR rev. I, Verizon MI424WR rev G, Verizon MI424WR, and Actiontec MI424WR Wireless.
The Verizon MI424WR rev. I, Verizon MI424WR rev G, and Verizon MI424WR routers support WiFi and ethernet and allow you to use coaxial cables to share information and content with multiple devices.
These routers work well but usually lack network speed and connection. The Actiontec MI424WR Wireless functions the same as the others but is wireless.
Purchase a Different Router
If you want to get a new router and don’t want to purchase or rent a Verizon router, you can replace it with a router from a different carrier, even if you use Verizon.
Is is safe to buy used router at Market place?, check this article on our blog Used router buying tips
If you don’t want to purchase a router immediately, you can rent a router that works with your internet provider. Many people find it is cost-effective and enjoy customizing their WiFi router.
How to Replace a Router
It is relatively easy to replace an internet router. Just buy or rent a WiFi router that can be connected to your internet provider, follow the instructions included in the package, and make sure that all cables are connected properly. After you connect the WiFi router, you can customize the name and password.
Below is a video that tells you exactly how to set up a WiFi router. However, this process may vary slightly by the router, so make sure you look at the instruction manual or have a professional help you set the router up.
Will Verizon Install My Router?
Verizon does install routers. However, Verizon will not install routers that are made by other companies, especially if they are direct competitors. If you want Verizon to install your WiFi router, you need to purchase a router from them, rather than from another carrier.
If your router is from Verizon and you want to have your WiFi router installed by a professional, you can schedule an appointment for an employee to install a router in your home or business.
Most Reliable Routers
Unfortunately, Verizon does not offer any rent-to-own policies for internet routers. You can either purchase a router upfront or pay it off monthly through a payment plan. Neither option is better than the other—which one you choose to do is up to you and your budget.
If you are looking for a router to serve your rental property or apartment, you must read this article on our blog – Router for a Small and Large Rental Apartment
Debatably, the best or fastest routers are made by Xfinity, Verizon, and AT&T. Three of the most popular routers from these three carriers are the Comcast Xfinity, Verizon Fios Home Internet router, and the AT&T Fiber router.
Which Routers Last the Longest?
A popular consumer favorite that has been proven to last is the NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router. Gamer-tailored internet technology usually provides the fastest speeds for your device. With the NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro, you are getting speed and reliability.
Most Popular Routers
The most popular router right now for average U.S. homes is the NETGEAR Nighthawk AX6, which is similar to the NETGEAR Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500. This router is wireless, so you can easily move it around your home, and supports consistent streaming, which is something that not all routers are capable of.
The NETGEAR Nighthawk AX6 has a triple processor for peak performance. In other words, it’s extremely fast. This makes the Nighthawk AX6 great for bigger families or families that have many devices using the internet at the same time. Besides the speed benefits, the Nighthawk AX6 has a WPA3 security protocol that helps keep your network, and the information stored on it, secure.
Somewhat similar to the Nighthawk AX6 is the ASUS – RT-AX55U AX1800 Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router. This router has lifetime internet security and provides an incredibly fast wireless connection for the household.
How Often Should I Purchase a New Router?
How frequently you should replace your router depends on how actively you use it. Just like a car or a bike, an internet router will deteriorate from use and will experience wear and tear. It is generally recommended that you switch your router about every five or so years.
However, if you have an unusually large number of people or devices connected to your network consistently at the same time, you may want to switch it out every 2-4 years instead.
Signs That You Need to Replace Your Router
You’ll know when you need a router when your internet connection suddenly becomes spotty, slow, and unreliable. Before you go to buy a new router, perform tests of your internet connection around your house. See where you are in relation to the router when the internet connection is poor. Check if it improves greatly when you are using an ethernet cable. Check the connection for different devices, including a TV, where possible.
Once you determine that the router is the problem, a quick switch will take away the frustration of slow internet.
What Will Happen If I Don’t Regularly Switch Out My Router?
Nothing horrible will happen if you don’t switch your router out when it needs to be replaced, but the problems mentioned above will continue to persist until you do. If a router is old enough—as in more than 10 years old and not compatible with internet speeds and updated programs—it will stop functioning altogether.
In general, if you don’t regularly change out your router, your devices will disconnect from your WiFi network and your internet will be extremely slow. Once you purchase a new router, those issues will likely go away.
What Can I Do to Make My Router Last Longer?
You now know when and how to approach the task of choosing and installing a router. However, there are additional steps you can take to prolong your router’s life. Doing these things will not stop your router from getting old or slow, but it will prolong the process so that you get more function out of what you paid for.
How Do I Take Care of My New Router?
These steps can be taken to protect a router that is not new as well, but if you implement them right from the get-go, you will get much more effective results, and your WiFi router will last for longer than you expect it to.
Make sure that your router is not exposed to any extreme conditions. Just like our phones won’t turn on in the cold and require a cool-down period after they reach a certain temperature, routers should not be in any major heat or cold. Turn off periodically when climate reaches extreme temperatures if it is in an unconditioned room.
You also should clean the router to make sure that it is not being affected or damaged by any dust, dirt, or another substance that could potentially damage the router if left alone.
Do not set your router up anywhere near a place where children or animals can get to it—keep it up high where only you can reach it. If your router is wireless, try to switch its location from time to time.
Within the actual router, what will help keep it most healthy is using the most updated WiFi technology and constantly keeping your network updated.
What Can I Do to Improve the Speed of My Router?
You’re probably looking for ways to make your router and network investments cost-effective. The information below will give you a better idea of how you can help your router work better and faster without getting a new one right this minute.
Besides using an ethernet cable to connect your device to your router, as addressed at the beginning of this article, there are additional measures that can help improve your internet speed greatly.
Pro tip: If you are living in a house with old cable wiring and you are not using it, you can use your coax cable to send and receive Internet signal. Check this article on our blog use your coax cable as wired internet connection.
The main thing that helps most people is the router’s location. Taking into account the preservation techniques for your router discussed above, moving your router to a better location can increase the speed it is working at.
If you are constantly using a laptop in your downstairs living room, but your router is in an upstairs hallway or bedroom, moving your router downstairs could be a helpful change.
How Do I Find the Speed of My Router?
Contrary to what people think, you don’t need the router to know its actual speed. On either a mobile device or something like a laptop, you should be able to find a network connection status, usually in the device’s settings.
How Fast Does My Router Need to Be?
The speed that your WiFi router needs to be capable of depends on how many people and devices are using the network at the same time. If you are a household of five or more people that each have multiple devices, you will need a WiFi router that is capable of a bare minimum speed of one hundred megabits per second.
When you purchase a WiFi router, make sure it can support the speeds that you need in your home or office. Otherwise, you will have to suffer through loading screens because of slow internet.