Hi, I did not want to hijack that thread. I retired recently, I was a splicer for Verizon. I placed, spliced, tested and turned up the fttp. The Actiontec routers are Mcoa (cable) ones, a lot of people cry and complain about them, but I think (IMO) they are excellent.
The latest firmware can be found:
http://www2.verizon.net/micro/fios_router_update/Default.asp? There are about two or three different MCoa routers and revisions, too and the router software has the option to search for updates. There are many options in this router, be careful when you change any. Download the manual and read it.
http://www.verizon.net/central/vzc.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=vzc_help_contentDisplay&subId=16357
It is only b/g if you get the wireless router, but trendnet sells an N access point(
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833156232) that is great. I have this about 50 foot to my wife's laptop and she has a Rosewill N adaptor(
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166025) and she connects around 270Mbps, so she uses the full power of the 15/2.
Yes, I used the speed optimizer, but I also have tried IOLO system mechanic to set my parameters for LAN, T1, and WAN(they all set TCP/IP, MTU, Black hole discovery, etc.) to different settings, which, you can do manually, if you want. I have seen not large changes to the download speeds. Like you my download speeds vary. The only speed which should be constant is between you and the C.O.(Central Office), after that it all depends on hops, ping times, usage, etc. Verizon speed test tests your connect between you and Verizon.
Verizon needs to improve the support site, it is hard to locate stuff.
http://www.verizon.net/central/vzc.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=vzc_help_contentDisplay&subId=16207 And, Actiontec's site:
http://www.actiontec.com/support/product_details.php?pid=41&typ=doc
If you think about the internet as the world transportion sytem, you have highways, side roads, congestion, stop lights, accidents, and etc., which have an effect on you travels.
Sorry, I am long winded.
Verizon fios internet forums:
http://forums.verizon.com/vrzn/board?board.id=FiOS_Internet
If you need any help, feel free to ask and I'll see if I can answer or find the answer...
You might have to log in to access some of these sites...
:)
P.S. this is what speed optimizer does:
http://verizon.net/optimizesettings/
Hi, I did not want to hijack that thread. I retired recently, I was a splicer for Verizon. I placed, spliced, tested and turned up the fttp. The Actiontec routers are Mcoa (cable) ones, a lot of people cry and complain about them, but I think (IMO) they are excellent.