GeekGirl1
The Medium IS the Message
Premium
join:2007-01-28
Morrisville, PA
| Why the replacement Power Adapter? Out of the blue, Verizon just sent me a new power adapter for my ActionTec MI424-WR router. Why?
Verizon has determined that your FiOS router's power adapter should be replaced if you're using an Actiontec MI424WR, Verizon MI424WR, or an Actiontec RI408 router. The router is the device installed with your FiOS TV or FiOS Internet service. In order to be sure you continue to enjoy uninterrupted, top-quality broadband and TV service from Verizon, please replace your current FiOS router power adapter with the new adapter you will receive from Verizon at your earliest convenience. I searched the forum for any hints, but nothing showed up. As far as I'm concerned, I just got a new 5 V power supply for whatever comes along. They don't want the old one back. | |
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seaquake
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-23
Millersville, MD
clubs:  
 ·Verizon FIOS
| Re: Why the replacement Power Adapter? Verizon would only go through the expense of sending you an adapter if there was the potential for a significant problem with the old one. I don't know the details but it's quite possible that the current adapter may have a history of catching fire, short circuiting or some other such mannerism.
Personally, If I get a new adapter I'm going to use it and toss the old one. Having the old one in place (or as a spare) isn't worth it if there's the potential of it causing damage to the router or, even worse, my home.
Besides, if you have TV service as well, your router will be replaced free of charge if there's a problem. They'll ship you a replacement router and power supply and you ship back the defective unit. Chances are, the router will fail before the power adapter, all things being equal.
Just odd that they didn't explain why they think your adapter should be replaced.... | |
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JohnA
Premium
join:2003-09-16
Pittsburgh, PA
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I'm assuming you have a rev A AT. They had unreliable power supplies. They don't do damage they just die a premature death.
A friend just received one. Ironic, since he called when it died and they refused to replace it since his service was over 1 year, and without TV. | |
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pbvan
join:2003-02-09
Fairfax, VA
| When I received my replacement router yesterday, it was stated I have to return BOTH defective router and power source to them. They were very specific that I use only the new power source with the replacement router.
Like others, I prefer to use a new power source than a 2 yr older one. The old one did get warm. I have a small fan blowing 24-7 on the router anyways. | |
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GeekGirl1
The Medium IS the Message
Premium
join:2007-01-28
Morrisville, PA
| Re: Why the replacement Power Adapter? Yep, I got the Rev A. I vaguely remember something about a power supply problem. What I meant was that I was going to replace the old one with this new one so it's "up to spec" and keep the old on for any projects that may come along.
The adapter here's also running a bit warm, I'd say around 45 C, but nothing to get worried about. It's got plenty of ventilation.
No clue why I'm getting the notice now. Maybe billing got caught up?  | |
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John97
Over The Hills And Far Away
Premium
join:2000-11-14
Southampton, PA
| My Actiontec is a Revision C. My original one was the brick-shaped (Revision A or B), and crapped out. It was quite some time ago when it died. VZ did a truck roll and the tech gave me a new router and made a big deal about connecting the new power adapter and wanted to take the old one along with the bad router. He actually forgot to take the power adapter with him. I still have it, and it works fine.
I have another Actiontec that belonged to a relative who no longer has FIOS. I tested it and the old adapter works fine, so I'll keep it as a spare.
--
So put me on a highway, and show me a sign.
And take it to the limit one more time... | |
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More Fiber
Premium,MVM
join:2005-09-26
West Chester, PA | Re: Why the replacement Power Adapter? It has been a while since I replaced mine.
IIRC, the new PS has a higher VA rating and also a toroidal filter on the cord. | |
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GeekGirl1
The Medium IS the Message
Premium
join:2007-01-28
Morrisville, PA
1 edit | Re: Why the replacement Power Adapter? FWIW, I just replaced the old adapter. The new adapter's VA rating is identical to the original (5 VDC @ 3 A), but the label is a bright yellow sticker and marked "Rev E". There's a molded ferrite core near the DC output plug.
For the past week or so, I was constantly losing the network connection (network connectivity lost, then reconnected). It was happening every few minutes, the interruption was for about a second or so.
Everything is hard-wired, the wireless interface is disabled. I'll see if the problem goes away with this new adapter. If not, I'll call for a replacement router. This is a good reminder, as my router is Rev A. | |
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SteveP
@verizon.net | I suspect it is reliability driven. My adapter went out over Christmas. Couldn't get a replacement from Verizon unless I took a day off work for a "qualified tech" to show up. Just used another adapter from my box of wall-warts. | |
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VZ_Laird
join:2008-10-08
Palm Harbor, FL
| This is just what i've heard... Routers being an expensive piece of network hardware that can be reconditioned it helps keep costs down for everyone to make sure those are returned. That is what drives the fact that returning routers is necessary to prevent being charged. As far as the power adapters go, I think it is purely a matter of being able to test the equipment that has been in the field and determine if specific production batches of equipment are actually faulty and to what extent. This can have an indirect impact on the cost of service because anytime one company is able to show problems with equipment that has been sold they can seek recourse. Keep our prices down and return anything that Verizon replaces and provides free return shipping for. | |
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| ggma1126
ggma1126
Premium
join:2008-08-30
Claymont, DE | Re: Why the replacement Power Adapter? I have a Rev D Actiontec - got the replacement power supply yesterday - letter specifically said to discard the old one | |
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darcilicious
Cyber Librarian
Premium
join:2001-01-02
Forest Grove, OR
·Verizon FIOS
 ·Comcast
| Re: Why the replacement Power Adapter? said by ggma1126  :got the replacement power supply yesterday - letter specifically said to discard the old one Ditto. | |
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klipko
join:2006-06-28
Portland, OR
 ·Comcast Digital Vo..
·Verizon FIOS
| Re: Why the replacement Power Adapter? said by darcilicious :said by ggma1126 :got the replacement power supply yesterday - letter specifically said to discard the old one Ditto. Ditto to darcilicious ditto | |
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VicJr
@verizon.net
| I got mine on Thurs. Was going to replace it Sat. morning. Well. Sat. morning I found the router powered down. No matter what, it wouldn't power back up. Replaced old transformer with new one and router came back up.
Either their timing is impeccable or they found a way to disable the transformer, forcing me to replace it. LOL! | |
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mooner
@verizon.net | They were real late getting to me. Have had FIOS since Aug. 2007, received the replacement power adapter Oct. 24, 2009. Router is Verizon MI424WR; | |
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Teasip
join:2001-05-14
Plano, TX | Seems that most of the replacement power supplies are either in the NE or northern part of the country. I've got two (neither primary) here in Tx. and haven't seen nor heard diddley. | |
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hatfieldfios
join:2005-03-18
Hatfield, PA | Re: Why the replacement Power Adapter? I got my power adapter in mail last week and I have had FIOS since Aug 2007 as well... | |
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RLThomas
@verizon.net
| FiOS worked well for almost 2 years, then it just up and died one morning about 2 weeks ago. No lights on the router and Verizon support immediately suspected the power adapter. They said they would mail a new one. Then the gentlemen said he would also go ahead and send out a new router as well before he discovered my old one was out of warranty. It would be about $170 for a new one from Verizon, but he did tell me I could use any router. So, I just used an old one I had around, but a few days later a new power adapter appeared in the mail. I plugged it in and it worked! What surprised me is that measuring the voltage on the old one revealed slightly over 5 volts, so I am not sure why it didn't work. | |
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ggma1126
ggma1126
Premium
join:2008-08-30
Claymont, DE
| Here is an even better story some months ago they sent me out of the blue a new adapter saying to discard the old . Then today my mail comes and another replacement adapter shows up . Now I am confused - basically they sent me a replacement for the replacement | |
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| BDF
join:2007-12-24 | Re: Why the replacement Power Adapter? same here, a couple months apart. I figured the first one had a problem, so they replaced the replacement.. | |
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