Apple Devices not connecting to Verizon CR1000A router

The Verizon CR1000A router is known to have several common problems, primarily related to Wi-Fi connectivity and slow upload speeds.

Common CR1000A Router Problems

The most frequently reported issues include:

• 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi Connectivity Issues: Many users experience intermittent disconnections or unstable performance on the 2.4 GHz band, which is often used by smart home (IoT) devices like cameras and smart locks. Sometimes the 2.4 GHz band appears to drop entirely, requiring a router reboot to fix.
• Slow Upload Speeds: Despite having high download speeds (especially on Gigabit or multi-Gig plans), users report upload speeds significantly lower than expected. The upload speed may initially be fine but can drop dramatically after a router reboot or power outage.
  • A common temporary fix for this upload issue is unplugging the Ethernet cable from the WAN port of the router and plugging it back in (sometimes needing to be done a few times).
• Intermittent Connection Drops: The router may randomly lose the internet connection entirely, which is often resolved by simply power cycling the device (unplugging and replugging the power cord).

Potential Fixes and Workarounds

While many of these issues are often attributed to firmware bugs in the CR1000A, the following troubleshooting steps have been reported to help:

• For Slow Upload Speeds (Post-Reboot/Power Outage):
  • Unplug and replug the WAN Ethernet cable (the one from the ONT) from the CR1000A router. This may take a few tries to restore the expected upload speed.
  • Check if you can manually set the WAN port speed from "Auto" to 1000 Mbps Full Duplex in the router settings, as the issue may stem from an auto-negotiation problem.
• For General Wi-Fi and Speed Issues:
  • Disable Self-Organizing Network (SON): Log into the router settings and disable the SON feature, then create separate, distinct SSIDs (network names) for the 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz bands.
• Disable IPv6: Some users have reported that disabling IPv6 in the advanced network settings helps with general stability.

• • Turn off DFS Channels: Disabling DFS (Dynamic Frequency Selection) channels in the Wi-Fi settings has been a fix for some connection issues.
• General Troubleshooting:
  • Soft Reboot: Press and hold the reset button for at least three seconds for a soft reboot.
  • Factory Reset: Press and hold the reset button for at least ten seconds to restore factory default settings.
  • Router Placement: Ensure the router is placed in a central location, away from large metal objects, microwaves, and cordless phones to minimize interference.

If you continue to experience problems, the most reliable long-term solution for many affected users has been to replace the CR1000A with a third-party router and connect it directly to the Fios ONT.