Best Router For Verizon FiOS

Best Router For Verizon FiOS (2022) – Verizon FiOS Compatible Routers

Do you think you have the best router for Verizon FiOS? Chances are, you don’t. Not if you’re renting a router from them.

Let’s face it, if you’re shelling out a monthly fee, and you’re already a Verizon FiOS customer, why would they spend big bucks on constantly upgrading your router?

Think about it, you’re spending a certain amount each month for a product that may not be the best router for FiOS.

But if you buy your own wireless router from the list of Verizon FiOS compatible routers in this guide, you’ll have access to better advanced features which will give you better performance.

Not only that, you end up saving on those pesky fees that are a monthly reminder of non optimal routers, while constantly paying for something you don’t even own.

Reasons To Get A Verizon FiOS Compatible Router

Verizon FiOS Compatible Routers

Buying your own router will not only save you money, but it will give you the freedom to choose the best router for Verizon FiOS that you can get.

Better Performance

The load on our routers and WiFi constantly increases, with the number of connected devices or even the amount of bandwidth usage. With your own router, you can access advanced controls to manage your network better.

Huge Savings

Not paying a monthly fee could lead to your router paying for itself within a short time. In the end, you’ll be able to tinker with the settings, on a router that you own.

More Control

We all look for ways to optimize our network, and having control over your router (which a rental router will not offer) can give you more control over your home network.

Extended Coverage

Not all routers have the same level or range of coverage. Depending on the size of your home and how many walls that you have, you might need a router with extended coverage.

In a nutshell, the benefits that accompany getting your own Verizon FiOS router are numerous, enough to justify ditching the rental and going for your own.

10 Best Routers For Verizon FiOS (2022)

Device

Speeds

Ports

Rating

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1. Netgear R7000

Editor's Choice

1900 Mbps

4 Ports

100%

2. Netgear R8000

High Performance

3200 Mbps

4 Ports

99%

3. TP-Link Archer A7

Budget Friendly

1750 Mbps

4 Ports

95%

4. Google Nest Mesh

Extended Coverage

2200 Mbps

2 Ports

98%

5. Netgear XR700

For Gaming

7200 Mbps

6 Ports

97%

6. Netgear RAX120

WiFi 6 Standard

6000 Mbps

4 Ports

96%

7. Google OnHub

1900 Mbps

2 Ports

92%

8. Motorola MR2600

2600 Mbps

4 Ports

93%

9. Asus RT-AX56U

Extra Security

1800 Mbps

4 Ports

98%

10. Linksys MR7350

1800 Mbps

4 Ports

94%

1. Netgear Nighthawk R7000 WiFi Router

Best Router For Verizon FiOS (Editor's Choice)

Even though fiber optic internet is the fastest type of internet, it can be slowed down by the type of router that you are using with it.

For the best router for Verizon FiOS, you cannot do better than the Netgear Nighthawk R7000. This router has all of the features that you need to get the most out of your internet.

Design

The Nighthawk R7000 comes with great design elements, including the USB 3.0 and the USB 2.0 ports.

These will allow you to have a shared connection across your network, whether you would like to have a printer connected or you would like to use the port for a shared storage device.

Additionally, this horizontal router comes with three extended range antennas. They are made to be pointed in various directions, helping to guide your signal in more than one direction, helping the overall range.

The vents of the router are located along the sides, at an angle, so your router should be as cool as possible.

The R7000 also supports Amazon Alexa voice controls. If you are an Amazon device user, this can be incredibly handy to help control the functions of your router.

Performance

You should be happy with the performance of the R7000, especially since it can reach up to 1800 square feet in coverage.

This should easily cover the average home network without any issue. The range is strengthened by the Beamforming+ technology that is also at play here.

You should be able to have all of your devices connected to this router as well, since it can handle up to 30 connected devise at a time.

This is really nice if you have a smart home where there are more objects that need to be on the internet, including smart doorbells, cameras, and even kitchen appliances.

The speed of the router is an AC1900. This means that when you break down the two bands, you will get 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band.

This kind of speed will really keep your network moving as quickly as possible, regardless of whether you are streaming a movie or game, or simply browsing the web.

  • Up to 1800 square feet in coverage
  • Shared USB connections across the network
  • Smart parental controls
  • Amazon Alexa voice controls
  • Supports up to 30 connected devices

2. Netgear Nighthawk X6 (R8000) Router

High Performance Router For Verizon FiOS

Another powerhouse delivered by Netgear, the first company to release a tri-band router is the Nighthawk X6 AC3200.

The Nighthawk X6 is considered by many, as well as the BlueGadgetTooth team, to be the leader of the new generation of wireless routers.

Design

Almost looking like an alien being, the Nighthawk X6 has six retractable external antennas that swivel, offering the option for adjustment to give you the best signal possible.

It is admittedly larger and heavier than its predecessor, the original Nighthawk, but that’s because this alien houses a variety of components for optimized performance.

Supporting up to 600Mbps on the 802.11n band and up to 1.3Gbps on each 5GHz band, you have theoretical speeds up to 3200Mbps at your disposal. There is a USB 2.0 and 3.0 port for your external devices, a WAN port and 4 LAN ports to make sure that many of your devices can be connected.

Performance

Built to handle the IoT, it can handle the ever increasing number of devices that we have connected to our network. This tri-band router offers you not 2, but three bands to assign your devices to.

A dual band router would work just fine when we had fewer gadgets that needed the faster 5GHz frequency, but as more devices are created that function on the 5GHz band, it makes absolute sense to have 2 5GHz frequency, so the performance for your connected devices don’t suffer.

It outperforms other routers in its class, and the real test comes with distance. The throughput actually increased in signal strength as we got further from the router, and that shows that you don’t have to be glued to your router to enjoy fast internet speeds.

This was a noteworthy point. After a distance of 35 feet however, the signal began to degrade slightly, but that is to be expected. The BlueGadgetTooth team was just surprised that it performed so well!

Best Use

As of now, the Nighthawk X6 aces our tests to be ranked as best WiFi router for Verizon FiOS because of its sheer ability to manage multiple devices, all streaming or using high speed internet for various activities.

People who have large families, love HD gaming or love streaming their own shows at the same time will love the Nighthawk X6.

  • Automated simple setup process
  • Remains cool when running
  • Excellent throughput
  • Optimizes performance of multiple devices on a network easily
  • Tri-band router
  • Updated Network Map
  • Could have enhanced QoS features

3. TP-Link Archer A7 WiFi Router

Budget Friendly Verizon Fios Router

For those who are looking for a good deal, without compromising on quality, will love the budget friendly Archer A7.

You may not expect a lot from a router that doesn’t burn a hole in your pocket, but rest assured, the TP-Link Archer A7 will exceed all your expectations.

Design

The A7 has a number of features that are normally reserved for pricier routers, and this is probably what pleasantly surprised the BlueGadgetTooth team.

It has a standard design that most of us associate with routers – the rectangular box, with three external adjustable antennas.

But you know what gets us? Little details which we don’t think about until we see them, which makes us wonder how we managed without them.

A simple setting to switch off the Led lights made us appreciate the thought behind the design – no more flashing UFO lights in the middle of the night.

Performance

It wouldn’t be fair to compare the Archer A7 against other routers in this guide, simply because the price point which makes it such a great buy also limits the amount of features and power this router can handle.

However, it does the job, and very well. It took the BlueGadgetTooth team just about 10 minutes to get everything set up and running, straight out of the box. The router itself is very easy for any person to work with, which is a huge plus point.

The Tether App helps you manage your network, so if you see any suspicious activity or unwanted users on your network, you can kick them off and block them as well.

Parents can rest easy as it is very simple to block certain inappropriate websites so that your network is child proofed.

Best Use

A great option for those who live in small apartments or those who are on a budget. Parents and people with small families who do not need too many features from their router will appreciate the simple, user friendly Archer A7. 

  • Great parental controls
  • Simple set up process and network management via App
  • Simple setting on/off for hiding Led lights
  • Great for small living spaces
  • Budget Friendly
  • It is not the best Verizon FiOS router in the guide

4. Google Nest Mesh WiFi Router

Extended Coverage

The perfect Verizon FiOS router if you need extended coverage is the Google Nest.

This is a mesh system, so you can extend the reach of your router as far as you need it to go.

Design

Looking at the design of the Google Nest, you will see that it is pretty simple. All of the points have a white casing which easily blends into any décor with a light green LED that really does not stand out much.

It’s especially nice if you need several points placed all around your home and do not want to see all of the points everywhere you go.

Every Google Nest point comes with two Gigabit Ethernet ports that are compatible with Google WiFi. That way, you can plug in wired devices into any of the points and get a stronger kind of connectivity.

The more points you have, the more ports you will have to work with for any wired devices, which will make it easy to plug a gaming console into a point directly, if you are a gamer.

Performance

Looking at its performance in regard to Verizon FiOS, the Google Nest is designed to accommodate whatever speeds that you can get from Verizon. Whatever speed package you are signed up for should work with the Google Nest.

Additionally, the Google Nest can have up to 200 connected devices simultaneously. More than one device can stream at 4K speeds simultaneously, making it a powerful system that should allow everyone who wants to stream the ability to stream when they want to.

With just the two points that the Nest comes with, you get up to 4,400 square feet in coverage.

Since it’s a mesh system, it can also extend even further when you add more points onto the network, getting about 1,600 square feet with each added point. With a mesh system, the options are endless.

  • Supports up to 200 connected devices
  • 4K streaming on multiple devices
  • 2 points can cover up to 4400 square feet
  • 2 x Gigabit Ethernet ports per point
  • Simple set up
  • We didn’t find any!

5. Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR700 Router

For Gaming

If you are looking for a Verizon FiOS compatible router that is going to improve your online gaming experience, you really cannot do better than the Netgear Nighthawk Pro XR700. This router is incredibly fast and is really made to help out gamers.

Design

Starting with the design, the XR700 comes with four high-gain antennas that will extend the reach of your wireless signal.

The design is really bulky, so it does take up a lot of room and will need to be in a well-ventilated location to prevent it from overheating. Do not try to conceal this router or stick it against wall, or it will overheat.

The XR700 router is designed to give you what you need to game efficiently. The router has six LAN ports and one WAN port, so you can plug in any device that needs it, including your gaming console or HDTV, or anything else that you might think of.

Performance

Really, the XR700 is made to be high performance, so the performance is what makes this router amazing. It can reach speeds up to 7.2 Gbps, using its powerful 1.7GHz quad-core processor, which is perfect for Verizon FiOS.

The XR700 also has geo-filtering, which will help your router connect to the closest servers and players, giving you a quick response time and while allowing you to game as you want to.

Furthermore, the XR700 router also has one of the lowest pings on the market as well as Anti-Buffer Bloat (ABB), which prioritizes traffic to keep you in the game. It also lets you monitor your network and game ping in real-time, so you can see all of the action right as it is going down.

This means that you will be on top of the action of your game without any trouble from your router. The QoS feature will also let you determine which device gets bandwidth priority, so no one will be able to hog it if you don’t want them to.

  • Low ping rate
  • Real-time ping monitoring
  • Speeds up to 7.2 Gbps
  • Advanced QoS
  • Geo-filtering technology
  • Can overheat if not kept in a well-ventilated location

6. Netgear Nighthawk RAX120 WiFi Router

WiFi 6 Standard

If you are looking at getting a WiFi 6 router for your Verizon FiOS internet service, we suggest the Netgear Nighthawk RAX120. While the technology is still comparatively new, the results are amazing.

Design

Let’s look at the design first. The RAX120 has two fins instead of the more traditional external moveable antennas that you would find with most routers. The antennas themselves are concealed within the fins.

They are still high-gain antennas, but you cannot move them to point in specific directions. The result of this is a powerful router, but one that is also really big and impossible to hide. It will also overheat, so do not try to stick it in a back corner or something.

The Nighthawk RAX120 also comes with not just one 3.0 USB port, but two 3.0 USB ports, which is almost unheard of.

The router even has a 2.5/5G Ethernet port. All of this connectivity capability will allow you to connect any device that you want to have a direct connection. That can supply you with uninterrupted coverage for the devices that really need it.

Performance

Let’s move onto the performance of the RAX120. This device easily can reach up to 6 Gbps in speed, which is amazing to say the least.

Your Verizon FiOS speed package should be able to handle that, depending on the fiber speed that you pay for, but regardless, you can rest easy knowing that you are going to get the most out of your internet with this router.

The RAX120 has 12 simultaneous streams, which has more capacity to support many WiFi devices at the same time, which will keep your network running smoothly without any trouble, regardless of how many devices are on and streaming at the same time.

It also comes with Beamforming+ to get that extended range that you need and MU-MIMO technology to facilitate multi-user streaming or gaming.

  • 12 simultaneous streams
  • 2 x 3.0 USB ports
  • 4 x 1 Gigabit ports
  • Speeds up to 6 Gbps
  • Up to 3500 square feet in coverage
  • We didn’t find any!

7. Google OnHub Wireless Router

Google does it again. Launching a router that created a ripple in the market shows that they dare to do and go where no other manufacturer dares to. 

Design

Design wise, the Google OnHub is a breath of fresh air in the alien world of black ninja routers. Designed to be different, it visually stands out from the crowd with its removable shell if you want to change the color of your router. That’s an option most other routers don’t have.

The size of a beer mug, this cylindrical router has 1 LAN port, 1 WAN port, and 1 USB port with the idea behind the fewer ports being to avoid wire clutter. Google is definitely taking being wireless to the next level.

The obvious thought behind the design means that it doesn’t have to be hidden away in a cupboard somewhere. Instead, it can be placed proudly on a table, making it easier to boost its wireless coverage.

There is a speaker on the top of the router, but it doesn’t do much as yet. It can’t play music and there is no in-built microphone, but judging how fast Google picks up on trends, we don’t think that is farfetched and that an update could be expected in the near future.

There is a ringed pulsing light around the speaker, which turns blue to indicate that it is ready for set up, teal indicates that it is active and amber signifies that something is not right. The lights are perfect for night, being dim enough not to be bothersome.

Performance

The OnHub is a dual band router running on a dual core 1.4GHz Qualcomm processor, with a RAM that is double than most other routers on the market with its 1GB of RAM.

While we were wondering why they chose to go 3x3 Stream AC1900 over the faster 4x4, their reasoning lay that the fastest devices are still only on 3x3 stream technology. That makes sense.

The 13 antennas are used for the 5GHz band, 2.4GHz band and also for signal boosting – which is why wireless connectivity in a large space is so easy with OnHub. It also has Bluetooth and ZigBee features, which will be useful in the future for sure.

In terms of wireless performance, the OnHub delivered real world speeds at close range which more or less was close to our maximum download/upload speeds. At longer distances, the signal did degrade, but not enough for the BlueGadgetTooth team to stop raving about it.

Perhaps the only drawback to this is that we couldn’t name the different bands, so there’s no way to know which band your device is connected to.

Testing the OnHub in a large house with multiple walls, we were happy to notice that the signal strength could withstand the interference in the network, to deliver good wireless connectivity even at a distance of 120 feet.

Best Use

The OnHub is clearly targeting people who live in large spaces or who are design conscious and don’t want to settle for just another standard looking router. If you’re stylish, this could be just the thing you need.

  • Great design
  • Compact size
  • Convenient set up from iOS/ Android devices
  • Great for large homes
  • You cannot set up the OnHub from a web browser
  • The 3 watt speaker is only used in the set up process

8. Motorola MR2600 WiFi Router

If you need more coverage from your router than you can get from the average Verizon FiOS router, the best choice for you might be the Motorola MR2600 AC2600.

Design

The four-antenna design might closely resemble a UFO, but they have an important purpose.

With that many external adjustable antennae sending your signal around your home, you are far less likely to run into any dead spots than with other routers. Aesthetically pleasing, the black color will make it easy enough to blend into its surroundings.

Performance

This is a high performance Verizon Fios router replacement, meaning you should be able to get all of the power and speeds that you need from it. It has a concurrent 4x4 performance, allowing both 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz connections.

For the gamers out there, this model also has the Wave 2 MU-MIMO technology available, keeping your streaming smooth and uninterrupted, even when other devices are connected to the router.

This router offers a combined speed of the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, offering speeds up to 800 Mbps and 1733 Mbps respectively. There is also a Gigabit port available to connect your computer or game system directly to the router for an uninterrupted connection.

Remember that a lot of the time these speeds are only marked in theory, but it would be up to Verizon to really be able to offer this high speed connection.

The software for the Motorola MR2600 AC2600 is easy to set up and will not take long at all. This is due to its Basic Setup tool that will allow the router to do all of the hard work for you.

Some users might be disappointed by the simplicity, however. You will not have a lot of choice as far as configuration goes, including the customizable settings that are available. Additionally, the router will not update itself, but you will need to update it manually if there is an update available for either the software or firmware.

You will not be disappointed with the range, however. It should give you enough power to cover a good-sized 2000 to 3000 square-foot home and could even make it to the yard in some cases. The router itself is also conservative on energy use, which might help save you a few pennies from your electricity bill.

Best Use

This router is a powerhouse and a great choice for homes that have many obstructions, such as walls, as well as a large area to cover.

You should be able to get coverage anywhere in your home, with some minor adjusting to your router’s antennae. This is definitely the perfect Verizon FiOS router for subscribers who need extended coverage.

  • Long range
  • No buffering when streaming games or videos
  • Router can automatically update its address if it detects a conflict
  • Great for multiple connected devices with MU-MIMO 
  • No mobile app available for remote setting changes

9. ASUS RT-AX56U WiFi Router

Extra Security

If you are in the market for a router that has added security, we have found that the ASUS RT-AX56U is the perfect Verizon FiOS compatible router.

This is an incredibly fast router that will give you the peace of mind that you need when it comes to your home network.

Design

Looking at the design of the RT-AX56U, you will see that it is a horizontal router that has a black casing and two high-gain antennas.

These are so important when it comes to extending the reach and the power of the reach of the router. They can also be moved around to point in the directions that you would like to have the best signal.

As this is a router with extra security, you shouldn’t be surprised to see that this offers a commercial-level of security.

That means that there is a free, lifetime of AiProtection, powered by Trend Micro. This will continually update as well, so you know that you are getting the best security that you can find.

Unfortunately, they do collect data, which will violate any HIPAA laws that you might be following, so pay attention to that.

Performance

Moving onto its performance, this router supports a bandwidth up to 80 MHz. The total network speeds reach 1800 Mbps.

Divided between the bands, we are talking about 574 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1201 Mbps on the 5GHz. These are excellent speeds and with Verizon FiOS, you should be able to get close to these speeds. It really depends on your speed package, naturally, but fiber is usually pretty fast.

The router also uses MU-MIMO technology, which will make it easy to game or stream movies from one device without losing out on the speeds.

This also works with AiMesh WiFi if you would like to get additional WiFi spots. That will allow you to have better overall wireless coverage, especially in a large space.

  • Works with AiMesh WiFi
  • MU-MIMO technology
  • Supports 80 MHz bandwidth
  • WiFi 6 Standard
  • Network speeds up to 1800 Mbps
  • The free security features collect your data

10. Linksys MR7350 WiFi Router

This is a high-speed router that uses the latest wireless technology that is available, which is WiFi 6.

WiFi 6 is the ideal standard when it comes to fiber internet, because you know that you are using the latest technologies together.

Design

When you look at the design for the MR7350, you will see that it is a square-shaped router.

It is large in size, however, so you will need to make sure that you have dedicated enough room to it wherever you decide to put it out.

It will need to be placed in a well-ventilated location, though the vents of the router are placed at the top of it. It should not overheat, but keeping it in a cool location is always a good idea.

Looking at its ports, this router has four 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports. These are perfect for directly connecting any device that needs that reliable connection.

This might mean a gaming console and HDTV, or it might just mean a PC. You also will get a USB port with this router, making it easier than ever to share a printer across the network.

Performance

The performance of this router is really what makes it great. The router can provide speeds up to 1.5 Gbps.

That is really high, but fiber internet can reach some incredible speeds. It all comes down to what kind of speed package you have with Verizon. The router is also on the WiFi 6 Standard, which is the best technology out there right now.

The router also can support more than 20 connected devices at a time. This is great for smart homes, or even just modern homes that have a lot of devices to work with.

You also can get a range up to 1,500 square feet, which should cover the average home network. Finally, you can also get 4K streaming with this router, perfect for gaming.

  • Speeds up to 1.5 Gbps
  • WiFi Standard
  • Supports more than 20 devices
  • 1,500 square feet in coverage
  • 4K streaming

Choosing The Best Router For Verizon FiOS

The first point to keep in mind is that not every router is compatible with FiOS that's why you need one of Verizon FiOS compatible routers.

Before setting up your own router, you need to figure out what type of network set up you have.

However, consider the size of your home, the number of connected network devices, number of users and bandwidth usage before settling for one router.

WiFi Standards

The earlier versions of a, b and g standards are used in some places across the world, but the newer wireless standards of 802.11AC and N are more commonly used.

A dual band 802.11n router can support speeds of up to 900Mbps, whereas the AC standard is the most recent, delivering speeds of 1.3Gbps and upwards.

Ethernet Ports

Here, the higher the number of WAN/LAN ports, the better it is. There are 2 types of Ethernet ports which are available on routers:

  • Gigabit Ethernet – A router with Gigabit Ethernet is a sure way of future proofing your home as it supports Gigabit speeds and above.
  • List Fast Ethernet – This type of Ethernet is still fast, but as it only supports speeds of up to 100Mbps, you may want to consider opting for a Gigabit router as most places have ISPs that deliver higher speeds.

USB Ports (Preferably 3.0)

USB ports are used to connect other network devices to your device. Scanners, printers, even external HDs can be connected via USB ports.

Your router will have two types of ports:

  • USB 2.0 – This is the standard but older compatibility.
  • USB 3.0 – This offers the best compatibility and is found on most of the Verizon FiOS approved routers. It is recommended that the router you decide to purchase has USB 3.0 ports.

Real-Life WiFi Speed

Despite the stated FiOS Gigabit Connection, the speed of Verizon’s FiOS fiber optic connection is still an impressive 940Mbps download and 880Mbps upload.

It technically may not be ‘gigabit’ speeds, but this upgraded speed from the earlier FiOS instant internet tier helps if you have multiple connected devices, users or if there is heavy bandwidth usage at your home.

It’s Easy To Use Our Own Router With Verizon FiOS

There is a common misconception that you have no choice but to stick to the router that Verizon gives you as your rental, and that any other router will not work with their service.

That’s not true.

Routers that are plugged into the FiOS network have a DHCP lease which is a temporary lease given to enable the router to connect to the internet.

If you only subscribe to Verizon internet, you have two options when wanting to use your own router:

Option A

  • Power off your existing Verizon Router
  • Unplug the Ethernet
  • Give ample time – overnight – before plugging in your own router

Option B

  • Log in to your existing Verizon router
  • Enable the release of the DHCP lease
  • Plug in your own router via the Ethernet
  • Power on your router – this should give your router a new lease and enable immediate connectivity

How FiOS Internet Technology Works 

Fiber has become more and more accessible as a high-speed option for internet service. But, because it is still new to many, how it works is not always well understood.

To begin with, fiber uses fiber optic cables to carry the data. This is made up hundreds of strands of glass that use light pulses to transmit data to your computer. When the lights reach your home, it converts to the kind of data that your computer can read and understand.

Fiber does not run on existing lines like cable and DSL does, so that is why it is not available everywhere yet. It also does not use modems as a gateway. Instead, your house will be installed with an ONT box to act as the gateway and your router would connect to that.

Fiber is a better option if you can get it. It’s much faster and better for the environment, proving to be the ideal form of internet out there.

How to Set Up a Router for Verizon Fios

Verizon Router Set Up

Unlike other ISPs, Verizon does make your life a little harder if you decide to purchase your own router – this isn’t saying that it’s a piece of cake for setting up a router with other ISPs, but because Fios is generally a bundled service, you may find it way harder to do it. But that doesn’t mean that it is impossible – and we’re here to tell you how.

PHASE 1 - Replacing Verizon’s standard Actiontec router

1) Ensure your access is through the Ethernet port and not coax cable. (You can check this by looking at the Coax WAN – TV type cable and Ethernet WAN lights – cat5 cable. You can also check via the connections menu which will reveal whether your connection is ‘WAN PPPOE’ or ‘WAN PPPOE2’ – you want the first option.)

2) The Ethernet connection should be connecting the Actiontec’s Ethernet ports and the ONT, but your power to the router should be OFF.

3) Login to the router and release your DHCP lease.

4) Call up Verizon’ tech support and just tell them that you want to change your ONT from coax to Ethernet. If they ask you about the cable, just tell them that everything is in place otherwise you may end up wasting precious time waiting for a tech guy to come over to install it for you and you end up paying a fee for that too.

5) Once the change has taken place, power on the router. The light of the Ethernet WAN should be on, but you can also ask your tech support to confirm if the change has taken place.

6) Now you should be connected to the Internet. Check your connection, if need be, renew your device’s IP lease.

PHASE 2: Replacing the standard Actiontec with your own router

1) Release the DHCP lease form your standard Actiontec router BEFORE it is powered off – note down the Actiontec’s Ethernet WAN connection MAC address for later.

2) Completely power off the Actiontec router and remove any plugs if required.

3) Remove the Ethernet cable from the Actiontec and insert it into your router’s WAN port.

4) Connect your computer and router as usual and power on your router. Your router should get an IP address, if not, you have the copy (refer step 1) ready to clone.

5) After checking that your router has a proper DHCP lease, change the default login name and password for better security.

6) You’re ready to rock and roll – tweak your router’s configurations as much as you please – it’s ready to play on the internet.

Set the Verizon Fios Router To Bridge Mode

Wireless Router Bridge Mode

There are many things that could go wrong with setting up your brand new best router for Verizon Fios if you don’t know what you’re doing. Admittedly, using your own wifi router for Fios is not such a walk in the park as compared to getting other routers set up for other ISPs.

The set up process is not easy, and you may have to do a bit of in-depth reading on how to get your router set up successfully.

The BlueGadgetTooth team also advises you to do thorough research whether the router you are planning to buy will be compatible on your network – when in doubt, doc all Verizon and check with them to avoid any problems at a later stage.

If you are wary of going down that road, there is a simpler option. You can set your existing Verizon router to Bridge Mode. So instead of replacing your old Verizon router, you can just add your new one to your personal network.

To get things straight, you will still need your Verizon router as it is built to be compatible with Verizon. You can pass the internet through this router to the Ethernet WAN port of the new router you have purchased.

All you have to do is:

  • Set up your Verizon Router in Bridge Mode
  • Adjust LAN settings
  • Disable Wireless and DHCP
  • Use an Ethernet cable to connect the old router to your new one

Get Better Speed And Coverage With Your New Router

Wireless Router Speed & Verizon Fios

With your own Verizon FiOS router, you can choose one that YOU want, and not one that you are saddled with, with the exact specifications you have been looking for.

You can configure advanced settings on your new router like Tri Band 802.11ac, wifi, get one with more settings or simply choose one that looks more aesthetically pleasing.

Once in bridge mode, you can extend the coverage of your network, while increasing the speed as well.

As once in Bridge mode, any router can be compatible, the BlueGadgetTooth team reviewed these routers mentioned below, to help you get better network coverage, speed and features.

The speeds you get depend upon the speed tier available in your area. When the BlueGadgetTooth team tested out Verizon FiOS actual real life speeds, we were happy to see that the speeds were somewhat close to as advertised. With the right router, great connectivity is possible.

Your Router Should Be Dual-Band Or More

Most of us live in urban environments, which may affect the performance of your network due to the interference that various household gadgets and multiple users can generate.

Having a dual band router helps in segregating low bandwidth usage devices into the 2.4GHz wireless frequency, while allowing devices that need better speeds to function on the faster 5GHz frequency.

A 5GHz frequency provides less interference and better connectivity. A dual band router helps to avoid multiple devices clogging up just one bandwidth. If you have multiple connected users or devices on your network, you should also consider a tri-band router.

Final Words

Buying the best router for Verizon FiOS is no easy task, but having a guide that narrows down your choices depending on your needs greatly helps make your shopping experience a lot more fun.

There are many routers on the market, but having one that is compatible with Verizon FiOS is important, and you can find something that works for you in this guide.

From the Google Nest Mesh WiFi router, which brings a new approach to what you would expect from your home router, to the bank friendly Archer A7, to the performance dragon released by Netgear – the NightHawk X6 which makes short work of any networking connectivity problems to the Netgear R7000, our Editor’s Choice – there’s literally something for everyone.

You can’t go wrong with one of these Verizon Fios compatible routers.

Did the guide help you in your selection process? We love hearing from you!

About the Author tomas

Hey, it's Tomas here! I'm the founder and chief editor here at BlueGadgetTooth. After spending hours explaining my parents how to hook up their Internet, why it's being so slow etc. I decided to start this blog to help people with their gadgets and questions about technology.

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