Working Verizon FIOS setup with G3100 and Firewalla Gold
My original working setup was as follows:
ONT --> G3100 --> Ethernet Switch --> Eero
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--> MoCA --> Verizon Set top boxes
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--> FWG (simple mode)
This works OK except you cannot take advantage of some of the advanced features that only works in router mode for FWG (Network Manager, Smart Queue, etc.). Even though I signed up for Gigabit throughput (and confirmed with throughput from ONT), I found that I was only getting a max of around 100Mbps with FWG in simple mode.
After reading through the various posts from others and after some experimentation, I found the following optimal setup:
ONT --> FWG WAN port(router mode) --> from FWG LAN port to Ethernet Switch --> Eero
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--> G3100 (from FWG LAN port). [Do NOT turn off DHCP]
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--> MoCA --> Verizon Set top boxes
If you use FIOS TV, you still need the G3100 to be doling out IPs to the set top boxes, so do NOT turn off DHCP. Yes, this means double NAT, but this is a small price to pay for working TV features. If you don't subscribe to FIOS TV, you can remove G3100 entirely from your setup.
With the above setup, I can now use all the advanced features of Firewalla Gold. Plus, my throughput jumped at least five-fold with router mode. The simple mode's ARP spoofing was a real drag on the network throughput.
I hope this helps some folks in their setup. BTW, this works for G1100 too and you can replace eero with any other equivalent Wi-Fi AP.
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Actually, you don't need the G3100. What I did was get a MoCa bridge, you basically connect it to your cable and to your router, and everything just works. Really simplifies the networking topology.
Ordered my Gold yesterday, otherwise my network will be the exactly the same as yours (FiOS -> FQG -> Eero (bridge mode)). Should be awesome!
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This is what I had: Amazon.com: Motorola MOCA Adapter for Ethernet Over Coax, 1,000 Mbps Bonded 2.0 MoCA (Model MM1000): Computers & Accessories
I've gone 100% streaming and feel totally liberated from their set top boxes. You should see the huge pile of cables, splitters, adapters, yada yada yada I was able to get ride of.
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I have the G3100 and my STB’s on a LAN segment behind the FWG. DHCP is disabled on the G3100, FWG is providing DHCP to the STBs and it works great. I have the G3100 with a static LAN IP (lan port connected to this segment - wan port disabled) and the STB’s DHCP reservations so the IP’s don’t change.
Edit: BTW - This is using the G3100 as a MoCA bridge. No need to buy one if you already own this. If you are renting the 3100, that’s another story.
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Any recommendations for maintaining the Verizon Router (CR1000a) and Extender (E3200) to maintain the benefits of the MoCA network? Right now I have the ONT Ethernet -> FWG Port 4 (WAN) -> CR1000A WAN and the ONT Coax -> CR1000A Coax. The network functions as expected, but I don’t have any device visibility through the Firewalla (only seeing the CR1000A). Is there anything I can do to pass this visibility through the CR1000A to the FWG? I’m assuming it’s not much different than the G3100 but I haven’t worked with that either. Thanks!
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