verizon FIOS modems

Yes you can replace it with a Linksys, I have the same setup at home. There is a trick to it, this will save you hours of time. First off, purchase the Linksys WRT54GL(make sure its the L), it is Linux based and can be flashed with an open source firmware that will enable to do just about anything from QoS to an increase in wireless range, called DD-WRT.

WRT54GL - http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=linksys+54gl&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=5053734383126367789&ei=Y_mfSuiHONqptgfg6sj8Dw&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=4#ps-sellers

DD-WRT(for the WRT54GL) - http://www.dd-wrt.com/routerdb/de/download.php?file=1190

Ok, once you have this in place of your Verizon supplied modem you will need to call VZ tech support and tell them to release your IP Address(if you get some L1 person just be firm and say, "this has happened before, I just need someone to release my IP"). You may be able to release it on the Verizon modem, and then the Linksys with DHCP for it, but there is a good chance that you will need to call as they often bind to a MAC address.

Once your Linksys receives and IP you are almost done. The config to enable port forwarding in DD-WRT is easy so I wont walk you through that, but one thing you will need to do is attach your Verizon-supplied modem to one of the LAN ports on the Linksys(** THIS IS ONLY IF YOU HAVE FIOS TV IN ADDITION TO FIOS INTERNET**) The reason you need this is because the Set Top Boxes attach to the Internet via the Coax network which gets routed by the Verrizon modem.  

The Verizon router has a default subnet of 192.168.1.x/24 so change the subnet on the Linksys to 192.168.0.x, or something that isnt .1.x.

Good luck, I know it looks like a process, but it's really quite simple.  You will also love your new features and can setup SSH server on the router along with many other things.  Verizon does not block any default ports other than 25(SMTP - Mail) and I think 80(HTTP) and possible 443(SSL).  So stay away from these and you will be fine.

Thanks for the info.  I appreciate the detailed instructions.  I'm living with my parents so I dont want to doing anything too involved only as a last result   I dont want to screw up thier abilty to watch TV for any length of time so if I could get a lower techy way of getting my sling box to work with the verizon modem,  would rather go that route.

Does verizon frown on switching to a diffrent router?   If versizon doenst block The ports related to Sling box why cant I get it to work?

I would be happy to stay with current my verizon router if I could just get slingbox to see if from outside.

Make sure that you have UPnP turned on in your slingbox so that it can automatically communicate with your router and set up the ports it needs to use automatically.  I also found someone having the same problem that you are having, you may want to check out the following:

http://www.slingcommunity.com/forum/thread/15925/Verizon-Fios-ActionTec-MI424WR-and-Slingbox-Tuner/

Hope this helps.

-Jeff

thanks