Should I rent a wireless router, modem, or gateway from Verizon Fios… or buy it myself?
You will need a router and modem, or a combination like a Gateway, and you might need a network extender depending on the size of your house and your needs. Verizon Fios sends you the proprietary router combination and they may also send extenders depending on the package you have.
Many people wonder whether they should get a modem or a router but you actually need both. The modem is responsible for connecting your home and all of its devices to the internet, without it you can’t go anywhere outside your home. The router connects different devices either to your home network (or your “local area network”) so that you can still communicate with devices in your home even if you aren’t doing so online. A gateway combines these two functions in one (that’s why it’s also sometimes called a “combo.”)
Yes you can rent the equipment. In fact, when you create an account the equipment you need will be automatically sent to your house for you. (This might not be a good deal! See more below.) After that you will pay a rental fee every month to the company and if you decide to close your account, you have to send the equipment back or you get charged.
If you’re not looking to use this equipment and pay every month, then when you sign up or when you receive the equipment you’ll have to look for the way to avoid hanging onto it (and paying).
Verizon Fios charges $15 per month for the equipment rental. Now, they don’t have contracts so you aren’t on the hook for a minimum of 2 years like other companies.
It is not technically a good deal to rent from Verizon Fios if you plan to stay with them (or keep using the equipment) for more than a year or two.
Based on their lost equipment fees, according to the Verizon the router is worth $175 and an extender is $145. So doing the math, even at just the router, you would pay off the entire cost in 11.5 months. If you are with Verizon Fios for more than one year, then every subsequent year you are effectively paying for a new router. Only, when you cancel your account, you don’t own the router, you have to send it back or face a fee.
If you don’t want to pay the rental fee, you can always buy your own equipment. Big companies like Verizon might go out of their way to make it seem like you have to use their products, but if you are willing to do a little bit of research and maybe reach out to customer service, you can find viable information on using something that you purchase yourself.
Your modem has to be compatible with the Verizon Fios network. You can find the device specs or a certification for device specs before you buy your equipment but you still have to make sure it’s compatible with the specific provider you are using.
If you purchase your own equipment it will be up to you to make sure that you troubleshoot and maintain your router. These can be complicated pieces of technology and you will be responsible for finding answers to whatever problems you run into, when you run into them. You won’t be able to get any help by calling customer service if you aren’t using their proprietary equipment.
If you are looking for a modem or a modem router combination, there are lots of options from which to choose. It’s up to you to compare different websites and read high quality reviews in order to figure out which products might work based on the internet speed you will receive in your area, and which provider you have.
Start by making sure your equipment is returned the right way. Every company has a different set of guidelines for how equipment gets returned, by when, and what way. If you follow all of this and you reach out to customer service but you are still facing unnecessary fees or a lot of problems, we can help.
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