Verizon Fios Quatum Gateway Router: is it worth $150?

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Not sure if it's better to post this here, or in the Blind Leading the Stupid forum:
 
At any given time, we're running wifi on four iPads, three laptops, three Roku, and a desktop PC or two.  We do have existing hardwired ethernet going to a number of rooms (I'll run the HTPC hardwired, as well as a few of the Roku)
 
Read that Verizon finally released this new router less than a month ago.  $150 purchase, $7/month lease (plus $6 shipping for either option):
 
http://campaign.verizon.com/fiosquantumgateway/?CMP=DMC-CVZ_ZZ_ZZ_Z_ZZ_N_X00582
 
Anyone have it yet?  Anyone have any thoughts on it?  If not for the shipping charge, I'd lease it for a month or two before deciding whether or not to buy it......
 
 

 

[Time to Mo Vaughn]

I appreciate the update that they've released a new router. We've got the old FiOS advanced outer, but I also run ethernet to the other side of my house where I've got a new TP-Link, which is Dual Band and running on the same SSID for the 2.4 GHz band. I've been planning on buying the router rather than renting because the pay back time is definitely worth it. Now I'm just wondering whether to spend the extra $75 and buy the new one or just buy the old one for $75.

 

[Pesky Pole]

I bought the one that's $75 now a few months back. It was a huge improvement for us over the 4 year old model I had. I bought mine on eBay used and got a good deal. Just make sure you're getting the Fios model if you go that route.

 

[djhb20]

Thanks for the news. Ordered the fancy one just now. Can't wait to get it. Will see if it speeds things up.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

If this helps anyone:  targeted AmEx cards have "spend $75 on Verizon Fios, get $25 statement credit" .  Log into your AmEx acct. and check under Offers.  I guess the idea is to get you to list your AmEx as the primary card for auto bill pay.....?

 

[djhb20]

I got mine and hooked it.

Sppedtest.net tripled in speed on wifi using the new dedicated N network compared to the "legacy" shared b/g/n.

Haven't seen a big increase on wired speed since almost everything is connected via coaxial and MoCA.

Still, makes it worth it in my book.

 

[derekson]

$150 seems steep for the Actiontec crap that Verizon uses.
 
The thing with FIOS that most people don't realize is that you can get them to run Cat-5 instead of Coax from the ONT, so you don't really need a verizon specific gateway router at all like they give you with the coax connection. All you need if you use a third party router (I'd get an Airport Extreme if you use Apple stuff or probably an ASUS AC router if you don't use Apple stuff at all) and then a MOCA bridge (ethernet to coaxial bridge) to allow your TV cable boxes to connect to the network to get guide data and such. If you already have an older Actiontec FIOS gateway router and want to upgrade for better wifi, then you use the old Actiontec in bridge mode and use it as the MOCA bridge for this kind of setup as well.

 

[djhb20]

The new one is not Actiontec, fwiw. I don't recall offhand who makes it, would have to check.

I'm sure it's still pretty crap compared to top of the line routers though.

I did not at all realize that I can run regular Ethernet from the ONT. I may need to try that out. Can Cat5 handle what it's sending out though?

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Just logged into my Verizon acct, and the new greenway router is reduced to $99.99 until Jan 17. I'm taking the plunge at that price.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

Naive question:  where are ebayers getting this (and other verizon specific) router in quantity so that they can sell them NiB at or below verizon's sale price?
 
A few sellers have/had them $99 each, and one seller has them $89 plus $6.70 shipping.
 
Have this many units fallen off the back of a truck, without verizon pursuing the issue?
 
EDIT:  to djhb20:  being naive again here, but I woundnt necessarily expect to see a speed increase on a hardwired/ethernet computer.  I thought the big deal is simply getting higher wifi speeds to multiple devices?

 

[Norm loves Vera]

I have had the Quantum Gateway Router and new smaller boxes now for just under a month.  We have 2 laptops, 2 smart phones, and a tablet all getting consistent max reception for each device 24/7.  The tablet is mainly for spotify and apps/movies for our little guy.  Our house is 2200 square ft over 3 floors and we get great signal everywhere with out a booster.  Our neighbor sometimes taps in from about 50 feet across our yard in her sunroom as the signal from my router is much stronger than whatever Cox has configured in her home.
 
I used to have the fios  2 antenna router and that seemed to fluctuate signal some.  As I posted in another Verizon thread I would be very interested in pulling the plug and finding alternatives to leasing all their boxes/router and utilizing another resource for TV.  Now that i think about it I may be locked in to the quantum because I got it during a special discount incentive deal here in RI.

 

[Omar's Wacky Neighbor]

I got it during a special discount incentive deal here in RI.

Could we trouble you for the details, please.  Tempted to grab one off of Ebay, now that more are popping up which should drive the price down a bit, EXCEPT I dont know what kind of support I'd get from fios if there are issues.
 
$10 shipping and $7.xx tax from Fios adds up......

 

[Norm loves Vera]

I will look it up tomorrow but it was one of those deals as part of moving I signed up for 2 more years and got deals on various premium channels.  I didn't get a deal on the lease of the router or boxes, but on the programming. 

 

[djhb20]

The coax network has decent speed, but it pales in comparison to Ethernet.

But even the MoCA is probably faster than the Internet connection. Im not 100% convinced that's true though. Anybody know?