US Telco Support > Verizon > Verizon Fiber Optics > Actiontec Limitations

Actiontec Limitations

All routers, even commercial ones costing tens of thousands of dollars, have several limitations.

Is there something specific you heard or are interested in?

reply to defaultPlay56
The primary limitations of the Actiontec are:

(1) smaller NAT table than some consumer routers, which makes it less than perfect for p2p;

(2) limited wireless range and reduced wireless throughput (due to weak signals).

I don't think Verizon really wants to go out of its way encourage p2p use, so I doubt they consider #1 a problem.

You can replace the default antenna on the Actiontec with one like this to significantly improve wireless range and throughput. For even better wireless range and throughput, check in-store availability on this $40 router and run, not walk, to pick it up. As with the Actiontec, you can unscrew the default antenna and connect this one in its place.

If you need any USB 802.11g wireless adapters for your PCs, use these for best possible range.

If you want 802.11n, pickup a D-Link DIR-655 and three of these for maximum throughput throughout your entire house.

Login to the Actiontec at 192.168.1.1 with user 'admin' and password 'password' (or password1) and disable its wireless under Wireless Settings -> Basic Security Settings. Then connect the new router to a LAN port on the Actiontec.

I have one of the newer models (shiny front, curvy), MI424-WR Rev. C and the WiFi antenna indeed is removable.

reply to KenAF
Yeah, I noticed that the Actiontec has a much smaller wireless range. I just got FiOS a few weeks ago so I got the brand new Actiontec model with the curvy shiny front.

The NAT table was the main limitation that I've been hearing from the Actiontec and it's my biggest concern.

My FiOS installation was all done by Coax from the ONT because I also have FiOS TV, so I need the Actiontec router.
I just ordered a DGL-4500 that I'm going to use as my router, but if I connect it off of the Actiontec it will be limited by it.

Ideally, the best thing layout is to have two separate lines. The Coax line to the Actiontec for FiOS TV and an Ethernet line to my new DGL-4500 for FiOS Internet. I just need Verizon to open the RJ-45 port on my ONT so that I can do this.

reply to NOYB

Yes I have, just prior to posting this, and prior as well. It unscrews easily, I would not use pliers. Maybe a towel/rag/cotton gloves. It is plastic and would be too easy to break with pliers. If you can not get it off without tools then leave it. If you really must remove it and need to use tools, perhaps rap it with a rag and then use pliers.

Remember, clockwise on, counterclockwise off, righty tighty, lefty loosey.

reply to KenAF

Have you tested with the latest Actiontec firmware (4.0.16.1.55.0.10.4.3)?

I have several walls and a steel door between notebook computer and the Actiontec, and get 100% signal strength, excellent signal quality, & 54.0 Mbps transmit rate.

Notebook WiFi NIC is Intel® PRO/Wireless 2915ABG
Power Management: Highest (Maximum Performance)
Transmit Power: Use default value (Highest)

The Actiontec is set to channel 1, and G only support

--
Be a Good Netizen - Read, Know & Honor Your ISP Terms of Service
Comcast: »www.comcast.net/terms/index.jsp
Verizon: »onlinehelp.verizon.net/consumer/···0707.pdf

reply to defaultPlay56
I put a Buffalo WHR-G125 in place of the Actiontec and have noticed better wireless. I'm also running DD-WRT and boosted the wireless signal a little bit, so that probably helps as well.

Primary reason for switching the router was because of the NAT issues -- I would get the 'No IP for NAT' errors about 2-3 times a day, and that was without running any P2P applications, just a lot of different devices (4 STBs, 5 laptops, 1 desktop, 1 wireless printer and 1 Xbox 360). If Verizon purposely limits the NAT table in an attempt to discourage P2P users, I hope they realize the mess they're causing for people who just happen to have lots of systems and aren't doing anything illegal with them.

reply to defaultPlay56
small NAT tables effectively cap the number of simultaneous connections. i haven't used an actiontec, but on two different Netgear routers, i can tell they have a small NAT table because when i start pinging and querying thousands upon thousands of game servers (TF2, CSS, etc.), it'll slow to a complete crawl.

reply to Tzale
You should not use WEP at all.

Use WPA2 with a random generated 63 character passkey.

WEP is so easy to break its kinda sad.

Also my Linksys at 50% transmit power covers whole house at max signal even in bathrooms, while Actiontec only gets 1-2 bars in area's other then my office.

reply to defaultPlay56
Stats on the WIFI distance of the Actiontec,
Wireless Operating Range
Indoors
Up to 91 M (300 ft.)
Outdoors
Up to 533 M (1750 ft.)
--
The Maxx
max dn 22mbps / max up 4.7mbps

reply to defaultPlay56
Have been using the actiontec for several years now and it has worked reliably. The the wireless signal range is a bit weak.

reply to nostrum09

I have this same problem even when not using the wireless on the actiontec. Constant fading in and out of bandwith.

reply to mach_six

First thing to do is make sure uPnP is disabled/turned off.

Nothing is checked off on that section.