Verizon FiOS → How-to: Make Actiontec MI424WR Revision I (Rev.I) a Network

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Introduction
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So I recently upgraded to Verizon’s 75/35 plan and with it, the Verizon tech gave me a brand new “Actiontec MI424WR Rev. I” router. So I hopped on Google looking for some detailed steps in setting this back up to be a network bridge. Needless to say, I really didn’t find much. I found a bunch of guides pointing to different revisions of the Actiontec, but nothing that was made for the new Revision I.

Yes, I know I could easily follow an older guide and probably get it to work, but the Rev. I is a little different from the previous revisions as “Ethernet” and “Coax” are bundled together as “Ethernet/Coax” and cannot be split in the Network Connections.

Older Guides:
»Re: MI424WR-GEN2 Rev E Configuration Thread
»How-to: make ActionTec MI424-WR a network bridge
»Make your actiontec a bridge with VOD working with REV D

Through luck, trial and error, I was able to get my Actiontec MI424WR Revision I set up to be a network bridge with VOD and widgets.

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Setup
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Here is my current set-up:

I am using the Actiontec MI424WR Revision I and a Asus RT-N56U with custom firmware.

ONT -> Coax -> Actiontec Coax Port -> Actiontec LAN Port 1 -> My Selected Router WAN Port -> My Selected Router LAN Port 4 -> Actiontec LAN port 4.

Yes, I know this is weird, but I have no idea how or why it works, but it does. My personally selected router is getting WAN IP from Verizon and my speeds are solid 75/35. My Set Top Box downstairs gets TV guides, Widgets and I see my STB IP in my Router DHCP list as 192.168.1.100.

Again, I know the FAQ double bridge configuration says you’re suppose to plug from My Router LAN Port 4 to Actiontec WAN Port, but this way works for me. If someone could shed some light as to why or can explain exactly how the Rev. I operates that would be awesome.

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Steps
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For the most part I followed the guide here: »Re: MI424WR-GEN2 Rev E Configuration Thread
But I will re-write the steps a little for the Rev. I setup.

First get your Router and Actiontec set up like so:
ONT -> Coax -> Actiontec Coax Port -> Actiontec LAN Port 1 -> My Selected Router WAN Port. Unplug the cable from the WAN Port, but keep it nearby.

Now we need to obtain the WAN MAC address of each Router device.
For the Actiontec go to: Top Menu – Advanced – MAC Cloning – Set Mac of Device – Broadband (Coax). Here you should see the MAC Address, write this down on a paper or something.
For your own router: You need to look this up yourself. The ASUS RT-N56U (w/ custom firmware) has a spot that just displays my WAN MAC address for me. :\

Once you have both of these pieces of information, it is time to start.

1. Hardware Reset Actiontec Router
2. Log into Router using [ admin/password ].
3. Change admin login info and set a different password. There should be a link on the side.
4. Top Menu – My Network – Side Menu – Network Connections – Network (Home/Office) – Settings – IP Address – Set to 192.168.x.1 where x is not used on your LAN – Apply

*NOTE*: Upon changing the default gateway IP of the Actiontec from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.x.1, you will need to [ ipconfig /release ] and [ ipconfig /renew ] from Command Prompt, so your computer can quickly reconnect to the Actiontec.

5. Log back in to Actiontec router with new IP and new password you previously set.
6. Top Menu – Wireless Settings – Side Menu – Basic Security Settings – Wireless Off – Apply
7. Top Menu – Firewall Settings – Side Menu – General – Minimum – Apply

8. Top Menu – My Network – Side Menu – Network Connections – Advanced
9. Top Menu – My Network – Side Menu – Network Connections – Broadband (Coax) – Settings – Release – Apply

*NOTE*: If your IP address is not released properly you will need to wait 2 hours for your lease to expire or you’ll need to call Verizon Tech and get them to restart your system.

10. Broadband (Coax) – Settings – IP Distribution – Disable – Apply
11. Broadband (Coax) – Settings – DNS Server – No DNS Server – Apply
12. Broadband (Coax) – Settings – IP Address – No IP Address – Apply

13. Top Menu – My Network – Side Menu – Network Connections – Network (Home/Office) – Settings – IP Distribution – Disable – Apply
14. Network (Home/Office) – Settings – DNS Server – No DNS Server – Apply
15. Network (Home/Office) – Settings – UNcheck Box to Left of Wireless – Apply

*NOTE*: The old guide will tell you to uncheck the box to the left of “Coax” here. Unfortunately, in the Rev. I, Ethernet and Coax are stuck together as “Ethernet/Coax” and you can’t split the two. If you uncheck the box to the left of “Ethernet/Coax”, you will lose connection with the Actiontec Router and you will be forced to hard reset and start all over again.

16. Network (Home/Office) – Settings – Check Box to Left of Broadband (Coax) – Apply
17. Network (Home/Office) – Settings – Check STP Box to Right of Broadband(Coax) – Apply
18. Network (Home/Office) – Settings – Network – Broadband Connection – Apply

19. Top Menu – Advanced – MAC Cloning – Set Mac of Device – Broadband (Coax)
Using the information you gathered at the beginning:
a. Set the WAN MAC of your selected Router to the MAC address listed here.
b. Set the Address here to the WAN MAC of your selected router that will be connected to the Actiontec to avoid conflicts.

20. Plug the cable from Actiontec LAN Port 1 to your Routers WAN Port. Your router should be getting a WAN IP from Verizon. Test to make sure your WAN is established and that you can connect onto the internet, browse pages. Run a speed test to make sure everything is peachy.

*NOTE*: If your router did not get a WAN IP, you have a problem. I would recommend trying to re-trace your steps to see if you missed anything or just start all over and hard reset. :\

21. If everything worked out fine, connect a cable from your Router’s LAN Port 4 to the Actiontec LAN port 4.

22. Power cycle your STB if you wish. You should see your STB show up in your DHCP list and it should be getting VOD/Widgets.

I hope this helps for some people, and this set-up seems to persist through power outs and power cycles. I have no idea if this is a good or bad set up, or what problems it could cause, but it's working for me and have experienced no problems thus far.