Actiontec routers supplied with Verizon FIOS accounts appear to be among the most susceptible to a series of iPad Wi-Fi issues–particularly repeated drops–that continue to affect users.
It now appears that changing two key settings can dramatically reduce the number of drops with these routers or eliminate the drops altogether. Follow these steps:
Login to your router’s configuration page by opening a browser window and entering the address 192.168.1.1 (you may need to enter the username: admin and password: password1)
Change the channel from automatic to 6
Change the security setting from WEP to WPA
Apply the changes, which will cause your router to reset
Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.
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In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.
I just did this fix for my Ipad 2 and it worked. I was downloading a TV show from Itunes and the time to download was over 60,000 minutes! After the fix to 25 minutes. My family will all scream “what happened to the internet” when they log on with teir devices. But switching to WPA2 with a selected SSID and PW will make it very easy to set them up.
I too have had the problem trying to get my microcell to work for a couple of months. I finally went into the Actiontec router and did a firmware upgrade to 20.190.8. The microcell kiked right in and has been running a week now.
Operating system: Windows 7
Router: Actiontec MI424WR
I wanted to use the WPA2 protocol.
The following solution worked for me.
1. Using an Ethernet cable, connect your desktop PC or your laptop to the Actiontec router.
2. On your connected desktop PC or laptop, open a web browser window.
3. Enter this URL: 192.168.1.1
4. Enter these credentials:
user name: admin
password: password1
5. Click the Wireless Settings icon in the top toolbar.
6. Click Advanced Security Settings in the left navigation panel.
7. In the Level 1 section, select WPA2 to enable WPA2 network encryption.
The WPA2 screen opens.
8. In the Authentication Methold field, make sure that the Pre-Shared Key value is selected.
9. In the drop-down list that is next to the Pre-Shared Key text field, select ASCII.
10. In the Pre-Shared Key text field, enter a value between 8 characters and 63 characters.
I used a 8-character value that I could remember, but that hacking software couldn’t easily figure out.
11. Remember the Pre-Shared Key value. On your iPad, you will enter it as the WiFi password.
11. In the Encryption Algorithm field, select AES.
12. Click Apply to save the WPA2 profile.
13. Log off the Verizon router tool.
14. Turn on your Apple iPad.
15. If your iPad is configured to join an available WiFi network, you will be prompted for the Actiontec router’s WiFi password.
16. Enter the Pre-Shared Key value as the WiFi router’s password. It is the value that you set up in Step 10.
While the actiontec wireless router menu structure shows WPA, it doesn’t seem to stick if you try switching to it. A client tried this and was left with no security so he had to revert to WEP and was told by Verizon tech support they only support WEP, perhaps with custom firmware. Was told to wait for new firmware from Apple. Maybe using a third party wireless access point is the solution.
2)Find out what other channels are being used around you, and pick one that’s as far away from your neighbors as you can.
In residential areas, many FIOS routers are on the same channel. Just choosing 6 might not help.
Also, you might want to elaborate on what WPA is and include some links to Verizon’s help pages.. 🙂
“password1” is not being accepted. What next?
Thank you for your help!!!! I have no idea why Fios made this so freaking difficult….To the OP and to Paul, thanks a million!!!
I just did this fix for my Ipad 2 and it worked. I was downloading a TV show from Itunes and the time to download was over 60,000 minutes! After the fix to 25 minutes. My family will all scream “what happened to the internet” when they log on with teir devices. But switching to WPA2 with a selected SSID and PW will make it very easy to set them up.
I too have had the problem trying to get my microcell to work for a couple of months. I finally went into the Actiontec router and did a firmware upgrade to 20.190.8. The microcell kiked right in and has been running a week now.
Operating system: Windows 7
Router: Actiontec MI424WR
I wanted to use the WPA2 protocol.
The following solution worked for me.
1. Using an Ethernet cable, connect your desktop PC or your laptop to the Actiontec router.
2. On your connected desktop PC or laptop, open a web browser window.
3. Enter this URL: 192.168.1.1
4. Enter these credentials:
user name: admin
password: password1
5. Click the Wireless Settings icon in the top toolbar.
6. Click Advanced Security Settings in the left navigation panel.
7. In the Level 1 section, select WPA2 to enable WPA2 network encryption.
The WPA2 screen opens.
8. In the Authentication Methold field, make sure that the Pre-Shared Key value is selected.
9. In the drop-down list that is next to the Pre-Shared Key text field, select ASCII.
10. In the Pre-Shared Key text field, enter a value between 8 characters and 63 characters.
I used a 8-character value that I could remember, but that hacking software couldn’t easily figure out.
11. Remember the Pre-Shared Key value. On your iPad, you will enter it as the WiFi password.
11. In the Encryption Algorithm field, select AES.
12. Click Apply to save the WPA2 profile.
13. Log off the Verizon router tool.
14. Turn on your Apple iPad.
15. If your iPad is configured to join an available WiFi network, you will be prompted for the Actiontec router’s WiFi password.
16. Enter the Pre-Shared Key value as the WiFi router’s password. It is the value that you set up in Step 10.
Most of the steps are on the following Verizon wireless page: https://www22.verizon.com/ResidentialHelp/FiOSInternet/Networking/Setup/VzMI424/125052.htm
Enjoy!
While the actiontec wireless router menu structure shows WPA, it doesn’t seem to stick if you try switching to it. A client tried this and was left with no security so he had to revert to WEP and was told by Verizon tech support they only support WEP, perhaps with custom firmware. Was told to wait for new firmware from Apple. Maybe using a third party wireless access point is the solution.
2)Find out what other channels are being used around you, and pick one that’s as far away from your neighbors as you can.
In residential areas, many FIOS routers are on the same channel. Just choosing 6 might not help.
Also, you might want to elaborate on what WPA is and include some links to Verizon’s help pages.. 🙂