Home networking overview

If you connect your Ethernet-ready devices directly to your router using an Ehternet cable, then you have a wired home network. A wired connection provides faster transfer rates and greater security, but lacks the flexibility of wireless connection (Wi-Fi).

Ethernet cables are classified as “Cat 5”, “Cat 6”, or something similar. The number after “Cat” (Category) indicated the specification used. In general, higher numbers represent higher transmitting speed and bandwidths.

Ethernet cable specification and what each is capable of:

Wireless devices do not use cables to connect to the router. Instead, they use wireless radio connections (Wi-Fi). Verizon-provided Wi-Fi routers have a built-in Wi-Fi access point that broadcasts Wi-Fi signals for your Wi-Fi capable devices (Wi-Fi clients) to connect to.

Your Verizon router connects your wireless devices to the Internet using different kind of radio signals called Wi-Fi Standards. Some devices are compatible with one Wi-Fi standard, others many. You may have seen a list like Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac on the spec sheet for your device (laptop, tablet, smartphone, etc) or your router.

Wi-Fi standards and what each is capable of:

Note: Just one 802.11b device on your 2.4 GHz network will slow all other connections down to the same 11 Mbps max. This will not affect the 5GHz network. The My Verizon app, My Account page on Verizon.com, and your Fios Quantum Gateway administration pages will all alert you if an 802.11b device is connected.

Routers can only broadcast one Wi-Fi standard radio signals at a time. If all of your devices are compatible with 802.11n, they can use either 2.4GHz or 5GHz.

Fios Quantum Gateway router comes with more than one radio frequency known as dual-band. These bands are usually named after the radio frequency they use.

The 2.4GHz network has been around the longest, making it the most compatible for older devices in the home. It is the best network to handle longer-range connections. Wi-Fi congestion may be a problem if you have many devices broadcasting on this frequency.

The 5GHz network is newer and supports faster connections if the device is compatible. The Fios Quantum Gateway distinguishes between the two networks by adding "-5G" to the end of the 5GHz Wi-Fi name (SSID).

Router (modem or gateway)
A small electronic device that joins multiple computer networks via either wired or wireless connections.

Ethernet cable
A networking hardware cable used to connect one network device to other network devices. It can also connect two or more computers to share printers, scanners, etc.

Network port/Local Area Network (LAN) port (RJ45) or Ethernet port
A number that identifies one side of a connection between two computers. Computers use port numbers to determine to which process or application a message should be delivered.

Ethernet-ready device
Networking devices that come with a network port.

Wi-Fi
A wireless or Wi-Fi network uses a radio frequency signal instead of wires to connect your devices. The Wi-Fi signal can be picked up by any wireless-capable device such as a laptop or tablet within a certain distance in all directions.

Access point
A networking hardware device that allows a Wi-Fi device to connect to a wired network.

Wi-Fi signal
Electromagnetic signals that travel through air that allow us to transfer information such as audio, video, our voices and data.

Wi-Fi capable device (Wi-Fi client)
Devices that can connects to the Internet via a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and a wireless access point.

Wi-Fi range
The space or extent included, covered, or used by your Wi-Fi signal.

Dual band
A router that can operate across two different radio frequencies.

Internet bandwidth
The maximum data transfer rate of a network or Internet connection.