Verizon FiOS → FIOS TV/Splitter and Ethernet

I have FIOS installed with the TV and internet package. After reading the faqs and in other forums it appears I have to have ethernet run from the ONT - not a problem I could do it myself really but I want to keep VOD and stuff.

My issue is there is a splitter outside the house where the ONT is one going upstairs to the living room to a STB and the other downstairs into another splitter that goes off to the actiontec router and to another STB. I want to use my own ASA because I have VPN tunnels configured for work and stuff. What's the best course of action to take with the splitters? Should I runt he Ethernet, call Verizon up tell them to switch then use my actiontec behind my ASA?

Leave the splitters as they are. You still need both the ONT and the Actiontec connected to the coax after you switch your WAN connection to cat5 for the ASA.

See options 6 or 7 here:
»Verizon FiOS FAQ »What are the tradeoffs between the various router configurations

Cool thanks, I guess option 8 would work as well?

Yes, option 8 would also work.

Thanks a lot. It seems I'm finding any MOCA WAN bridges isn't happening unless I buy a used one from Ebay and I'd rather not.

Instead of the thrid router, since I can have multplie vlans on my asa, can't I just put the actiontec in it' own separate VLAN?

I called yesterday and the technician told me to unplug the actiontec via the coax to the ONT, I didn't think that was right so I didn't do it and I'm still on the COAX, am I to assume he is just dumb or didn't want to it?

Should I call back and if I get someone who doesn't know ask for someone else?

As I said before, do not disconnect the Actiontec from the Coax. Doing so will cause you to lose STB functionality (VOD, guide data, widgets, etc).

When the tech enters the command to switch you from a coax to a cat5 WAN connection, the Actiontec will automatically detect the change. On the My Network; Network Connections page, you will see Broadband Connection (Coax) change from connected to down and Broadband Connection (Ethernet) change from down to connected.

I thought about doing that, but it won't work. Part of the 3rd router setup is to have the LAN of the intermediate router use the same subnet as the main router WAN and to hand out to the Actiontec WAN port the identical IPA as used on the main router WAN. If you eliminate the intermediate router and define a VLAN for giving this IPA to the Actiontec, then your main router will see the same IPA on the WAN and on this VLAN and routing won't work.