How To Configure Verizon Fios Router?
Customizing Your Verizon Fios Router
To make sure you are getting the most out of Verizon Fios, it is essential to properly configure its router, which is used in delivering fiber optic internet service. Verizon usually provides a router with most Fios packages, but you have to establish a connection with the router admin to configure wireless settings and manage the devices connected to the network. Fortunately, Verizon has made it easy to configure the routers through a user-friendly admin interface.
The process covered below applies to any of the latest Verizon routers or even the older ones such as G3100, G1100, and MI424WR.
How to Open the Router’s Admin Page?
The initial process is to open a web browser on a device connected to the Fios router and enter the router admin page. In the address bar of your browser, enter “myfiosgateway.com”. It will take you to the router’s default IP address directly.
Here, type the username and password for accessing the router’s admin page. If you have not set this up yet, the default credentials are.
Username: admin Password: password
After login, your router dashboard will be presented with router stats, internet connection, and number of connected devices. At the top of the page are several tabs that enable you to change various settings regarding the router and the network.
Changing Admin Login Credentials
First of all, it would be wise to change the login and password of the admin from the standard ones.
Navigate to the My Settings tab and click on Router Admin from the list of options on the left panel Under the Admin Account Settings change the admin user name and admin password boxes. When setting your password, it is advisable to use letters in different cases, numbers, and special characters.
Click apply to save your new credentials saved. Make a mental note of the new changes so that you do not end up locked out of the admin console in the future.
Changing the Name of Your Wi-Fi Network and Password
The two main processes include changing the wireless network name (SSID) and modifying the Wi-Fi password. They assist in recognizing your home network and ensure that no unauthorized access gets through to it.
Click on My Network and then on Network Settings located in the left side menu. Under Wireless, you will see the names and passwords of both your 2. 4GHz and 5GHz networks. Change the Network Name (SSID) field(s) to any desired name that is unique and can be easily remembered.
Then, modify the Password field for each wireless network to a complex phrase that combines upper and lower case letters, numeration, and symbols. Remember, you should always choose the passwords that you can memorize easily. Check the Show Password box to ensure the passphrases are the same for both the 2. 4 and 5 GHz bands and click Apply to save all the wireless network settings.
Any wireless devices will need to be reconnected after the new SSID and password have been created and implemented to continue to connect. Make the following changes when you have the time to make changes across all the devices in your network.
Firewall and Security Modifications
Since a Verizon router controls all network activity, one of its significant responsibilities is to safeguard your connected devices against cyber threats with its integrated firewall. Everything to do with the firewall and Internet security can be found under the Security tab.
Verizon configures the firewall to automatically turn the protection level to medium. It can be set to low or high depending on the user’s security preferences, although the high mode is advised for most residential users.
Some of the other options that can be set include anti-spoofing protection, botnet protection, intrusion detection, and TOR protection; all of which can be selected if one wants the Fios connection to be highly protected.
Managing Attached Devices
Network Map is also found under the My Network tab showing all devices connected to the router. This way you can see the name of each device, its IP address, connection type, and its current status. The Details link offers further details about the device and more options for each of the devices that have been connected.
From here you can block internet access for select devices with Restrict Internet Access or set up parental controls and content filtering for profiles that you choose. I think these are perfect for supervising children’s gadgets and avoiding the excess of screen time.
It also has the capability to Reserve IP addresses for specific devices that require static IPs. And, the list of all DHCP-connected clients displaying the IP address that the router provides to the client.
Monitoring Data Usage
Fios plans also monitor home internet data usage, thus the admin interface helps in tracking the monthly data used. The link can be found under the My Services tab and once you click on Internet you can see the real-time as well as past traffic going through your router.
You can view the total usage of the service in a month and the usage limit and restriction can also be set for a month with an alert at the set limit. This enables one to set a limit on data usage before additional charges can be levied. Click on set usage limit to track the usage and set volume controls for the computer.
How to Get the Best Out of Your Fios Network Connection?
One of the advantages of the Verizon router is that it has built-in performance monitoring and optimization features. If you are experiencing internet speed or connection problems, it is possible to solve problems independently to work on the network.
Click on My Network and then choose Network Connections; then, click on Test My Connection. This will start the internet connection troubleshooting wizard. It prods remote servers and conducts speed checks to identify such issues.
You can also choose More Details to expand the path signal strength readings, line statistics, and DFS spectrum that will give useful tips to solve Wi-Fi dead zones or improve wireless throughput.
Plus, when you wish to gain performance improvements with a single click, go to Select Optimize My Connection. This will look for firmware updates, restart the router, validate changes and settings, and Refresh the Internet Connection to update the router with new network parameters.
Router Firmware Updates
Talking about firmware, it is also necessary to mention that Verizon router firmware should be updated from time to time to get access to the newest features and improvements to the security system. Verizon often releases new updates once in a while.
It is also easy to check for new firmware under the My Settings tab in case you need to do so. You just go to the left navigation and then select Router Update. The system will check for upgrades and will ask you to upgrade to the newer version that is available. Firmware updates ensure the router hardware is ready for future development and deliver the best performance altogether.
A Few Last Words on Routers
Here are some additional tips for configuring and managing your Verizon Fios router.
- Label each wireless connection with names such as “MyHomeWireless-2G” and “MyHomeWireless-5G” to differentiate between them.
- Set WPA2 as the preferred security encryption for the best wireless security.
- To enhance security, any bands or service settle identifier [SS] that is not being used should be disabled.
- For new revisions to be installed automatically in the future, ensure automatic firmware update is on.
- Allow the user to receive e-mail events to inform of security incidents or internet disconnectivity.
- Reboot the router and all the connected peripherals if there is a connectivity issue to be solved.
- Perform a factory reset on the router whenever other fixes do not work to return the device to its default state.
In conclusion, following the stated setup best practices will help you configure the Verizon router for the best performance within a short time. Make sure to use the Fios admin console occasionally for security notices, associated devices, data usage, and the Fios network.