Re-using Verizon FIOS Router and Extender with Optimum

  • Verizon’s FIOS Router and Extender can be effectively used with Optimum
  • This article will show you how to use FIOS wi-fi router as a standalone network and FIOS extender as a repeater

INTRODUCTION

FIOS-G1110 router made by GreenWave Reality (released way back in 2014) was replaced by GIOS-3100 during 2018-2019.

The Extender is actually a re-badged ActionTec WCB6200Q model that comes with a Coax input jack and two ethernet ports. This model can also be referred to as ScreenBeam WCB6200Q (ScreenBeam is a separate brand under ActionTec)

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After switching from Verizon FIOS to Optimum, I found out that the wi-fi signals from Optimum’s router and extender were not adequate to fully cover my medium sized 2 story colonial house (basement, first floor and second floor.

Instead of of paying for a brand new network mesh system (i.e. Tp-Link Deco Mesh, Netgear Orbi, etc.), or paying $3 to rent a second extender from Optimum), I decided to re-purpose my Verizon router and Extender to provide better wi-fi coverage inside my house.

SETUP OPTIONS

Because G1110 and WCB6200Q are WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) capable devices, you can setup your old Verizon router and extender in two ways depending on your needs:

  • Activate them as repeaters (i.e. same network)
  • Activate them as a router/extender (i.e. different network / bridge / access point)

Activating your old routers/extenders as repeaters is quite simple as you can take advantage of the WPS feature to simply pair them to your Optimum router to boost wi-fi signals.

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Using this method means you will use the same SSID and password as your Optimum router.

Activating your Verizon equipment as its own router/extender creates a entirely new network within Optimum.

Why would I want a separate network?

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There are many reasons why you would want a network that is not accessible by other family members.

For example, you have a server at home that needs uninterrupted network access (i.e. you don’t want any other devices on the network).

Or you work from home and your company’s VPN needs a large network bandwidth.

I chose to deploy my router as its own network in my basement and extender as signal repeater so I will show how I did it.

Obviously your situation will vary depending on your needs and existing cabling infrastructure.

HOW TO RESET FIOS ROUTER OR EXTENDER

First thing you want to do is to RESET your devices.

I am sure you have reset your device(s) once or twice in the past, but in case you don’t know, here is a list of quick steps:

  • Step # 1 – Disconnect ALL network (ethernet) cables from your devices
  • Step # 2 – Make sure the power is ON (WPS button light should be turned green)
  • Step # 3 – Insert a straight piece of paperclip into the RESET hole (button)
  • Step # 4 – Press and hold down the RESET button for 10 seconds
  • Step # 5 – Release the RESET button (i.e. WPS button light will turn off)
  • Step # 6 – Front indicator lights will go blank first and gradually start to blink. Wait 20-30 seconds for the router/extender to complete the resetting process

Once the device has been reset, you will need to use the user name and password found on a label located on the router/extender.

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SETTING UP YOUR G1100 AND WCB6200Q DEVICES

You are supposed to be able to access the admin pages on the router/extender via wired or wireless connections but I have found the wireless option to be somewhat unpredictable.

So if you can, grab a regular an ethernet cable to connect your computer to router/extender.

99% of the time any ethernet cable will work but just in case, grab both ends and visually confirm that they are wired identically.

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1% of the time, you will find a homemade cable that is wired incorrectly or a crossover ethernet cable (which is used to connect two computers directly together).

Setting up the G1100 network

As I said before, I will be setting up my G1110 router as a separate network within Optimum. If you want to use it as a repeater instead, simply follow the same directions found under the Setting up the WCB6200Q Extender section below.

Separate Wireless Network

Please note that setting up a separate wireless network means that it will have its own SSID and password. You probably want to name the SSID differently than the network accessed by your family

Before connecting G1110router to your Optimum router, we will first need to access G1100 to change the IP address range.

This step is necessary to prevent a conflict between your it and the Optimum router.

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Accessing the admin GUI screen on a G1100 router

  • Step # 1 – Disconnect ALL network (ethernet) cables from your devices
  • Step # 2 – Make sure the power is ON (WPS button light should be turned green)
  • Step # 3 – Connect an ethernet cable to LAN Port 1 on the router (must not be a WAN port)
  • Step # 4 – Connect the other end of the cable to your computer. If your computer does not come with an ethernet jack (most laptops from 2020 do not come with it), you need an USB/ethernet dongle or adaptor like this one. Do not buy one with multiple functions.
  • Step # 5 – Enter the default IP address ( 192.168.1.1 ) in your browser
  • Step # 6 – Click on the PROCEED button
  • Step # 7 – Your internet security software will complain that the next page your accessing is a security risk. This is due to the fact that SSL certificate is not valid. Click on whatever link is necessary to continue
  • Step # 8 – Your mail GUI screen should look like this

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How to change the IP range on a G1100 router

Optimum’s default IP range will be 192.168.1 through 192.168.254.

We need to assign a different network IP range for the Verizon G1110 router to eliminate routing conflicts.

  • Step # 1 – From the main GUI screen, click on the MY NETWORK link located at the top of the screen
  • Step # 2 – Make sure the power is ON (WPS button light should be turned green)
  • Step # 3 – Under NETWORK CONNECTIONS (highlighted in red), click on the EDIT link next to NETWORK (HOME OFFICE)
  • Step # 4 – Scroll to the bottom and click on SETTINGS
  • Step # 5 – You should be at the NETWORK (HOME OFFICE) PROPERTIES page
  • Step # 6 – Scroll down to the first IPV4 ADDRESS field. This is the IP address you need to gain access to the main GUI admin page. Change it from 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.2.1 (I chose 192.168.2.7 as my admin IP address)
  • Step # 7 – Scroll down START IPV4 ADDRESS (after IPV4 ADDRESS DISTRIBUTION field). Change it from 192.168.1.10 to 192.168.2.10
  • Step # 8 – For the END IPV4 ADDRESS field, change it from 192.168.1.254 to 192.168.2.254
  • Enter the default IP address ( 192.168.1.1 ) in your browser
  • Step # 10 – Scroll to the bottom and click on the APPLY button
  • Step # 11 – At the ATTENTION screen, note that it says “Please open a new browser with new address (192.168.2.7) to access GUI. Click on the APPLY button
  • Step # 12 – Close and re-open the browser
  • Step # 13 – Type 192.168.2.1 (or in my case 192.168.2.7) to access the admin GUI page

How to change the SSID network name and password

Changing the SSID network name is fairly straightforward. Changing the password is somewhat opaque. I will show you how to do both.

  • Step # 1 – Log in as the administrator (see above section)
  • Step # 2 – From the top, click on WIRELESS SETTINGS
  • Step # 3 – Look at the left navigation menu and click on the BASIC SECURITY SETTINGS link
  • Step # 4 – Check Section #1 TURN WIRELESS ON to make sure that your wireless networks (there are two, 2.4 Ghz and 5 GHz) are turned ON. You cannot edit the name and password when the network is turned off
  • Step # 5 – Edit your network name in Section #2 – CHANGE SSID SETTING TO ANY NAME OR CODE YOU WANT
  • Step # 6 – In order to change from your default network password, you must click WPA2/WPA MIXED MODE radio button in Section #3 – WI-FI SECURITY section
  • 192.168.2.1 (I chose 192.168.2.7 as my admin IP address)
  • Step # 7 – Scroll down START IPV4 ADDRESS (after IPV4 ADDRESS DISTRIBUTION field). Change it from 192.168.1.10 to 192.168.2.10
  • Step # 8 – For the END IPV4 ADDRESS field, change it from 192.168.1.254 to 192.168.2.254
  • Enter the default IP address ( 192.168.1.1 ) in your browser
  • Step # 10 – Scroll to the bottom and click on the APPLY button
  • Step # 11 – At the ATTENTION screen, note that it says “Please open a new browser with new address (192.168.2.7) to access GUI. Click on the APPLY button
  • Step # 12 – Close and re-open the browser
  • Step # 13 – Type 192.168.2.1 (or in my case 192.168.2.7) to access the admin GUI page

Accessing the admin GUI screen on a WCB6200Q Extender

The default admin IP address of a generic, non-branded WCB6200Q Extender is 192.168.99.254 or http://myextender

Unfortunately, you cannot access Verizon branded Extender’s admin screen using this IP address or URL.

Instead, you MUST connect it to your G1110 router via ethernet cable (insert one end of the cable to any available port on the router and extender)

But do you really need to access the admin page on your Verizon WCB6200Q extender?

Not really.

Unless you want to use the Extender to create a separate network (don’t see why you would do this), just use the WPS button to set it up as a wi-fi signal booster (either for G1110’s SSID or Optimum’s SSID).

TIPS

If at any point, your laptop is not able to connect to a router via cable or local wi-fi, you may have to “release” the IP address by following these steps:

  • Press Windows and R key together to open the Run box.
  • Type CMD the press the ENTER key. This will open up a separate window with a black background with test (called command prompt window)
  • Type ipconfig/release then press ENTER
  • Type ipconfig/renew then press ENTER
  • Type exit to close the command prompt window

REFERENCE LINKS

RESOURCE – ScreenBeam WCB6200Q Extender

RESOURCE- ActionTec WCB6200Q Extender

This entry was posted on Friday, August 26th, 2022 at 8:57 am and is filed under network, routers. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.

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