Why is Verizon Fios stuck on preparing network connection? Well, keep reading to find out!
There’s a simple solution to the continuous and bothersome “preparing network connection” screen you’re getting on your Fios TV One box.
We will go through some of the most reliable and best-working solutions to resolve your problem as quickly as possible!
The main reason for the “Preparing Network Connection” screen is often caused by a conflict with another router in your home.
It is also possible that the cable configuration is incorrect or there’s a software issue with your Verizon Fios TV One cable box.
Let’s dig deeper into this problem!
Why is Verizon Fios Box Stuck On Preparing Network Connection?
The “preparing network connection” message only occurs on the Verizon Fios TV One box.
With that in mind, getting this error repeatedly means that there was a network connectivity error, which suggests an internet issue in your equipment.
However, let’s dig even deeper!
Here are all of the possible causes for Verizon Fios One being stuck on this message:
- Lousy internet connection/issues with the network
- A problem with your Fios TV One cable box
- Incorrect cable configuration/worn-out cables
- Using Double NAT (Network Address Translation)
- A software problem with the Verizon Fios TV One box
- A temporal outage/maintenance on Verizon’s end
Is the Error Related to Fios Router?
In case you have a Verizon Fios router installed and you’re wondering if this error is related to the router or not, in most cases it isn’t.
This is a standalone error given by your Fios One TV box, to indicate that there was a problem loading necessary network data for broadcasting.
Verizon Fios Stuck On Preparing Network Connection – Fixed!
Tip: Follow the instructions in the below’s guide in consecutive order!
1. Reboot your Fios TV Cable Box!
In most cases where a Fios TV One box displays “preparing network connection” for too long, a simple reboot should resolve the problem.
It’s a practical solution to the problem as this will flush the temporal cache of your TV box and resolve any minor network bugs and glitches.
Follow these instructions to reboot your Fios TV One box easily:
- Unplug the power adapter of your Fios TV One box.
- Wait for at least 30-45 seconds after unplugging the device.
- Reconnect the power cable of the TV box to the power.
- Wait for the Fios TV One cable box to start up and test.
Reminder: Don’t forget to test whether the TV box will still be stuck on the preparing network!
2. Check the FiOS One Connection
As the nature of the error suggests, there was a network connectivity problem with your Fios TV box.
Since this error could only occur when external internet service is supplied to your One box (and you’re not using it as a standalone service), we shall inspect the internet’s state!
Using FiOS One with FiOS Router:
✅ Step #1 – Using your FiOS One TV box in a package with a FiOS router requires installing a splitter to connect both of the devices to the same outlet.
✅ Step #2 – Once both your router and One TV box are connected to the same coax outlet, your TV One box, and Fios router should sync automatically!
Using FiOS One with Third-Party Router:
Using your Fios TV box with a router that is not from Verizon, must be connected separately and not in one coax splitter with the TV box.
Note: Do not use an Ethernet cable to connect a third-party router to your Fios TV box!
3. Correct the Cable Connections
If you’ve installed the cables incorrectly, you may notice random errors appearing on your TV One box, such as the network preparation screen.
To resolve that problem, we’ll go through all cable connections in your Fios setup to make sure everything is correct!
Verizon Fios TV One Box Cable Connections:
- A coax cable, must connect the TV box to the service (coax) outlet
- An HDMI cable, connecting your main TV and the cable box
- A power adapter, plugging your Fios TV one box with a power outlet
Verizon Fios Router Cable Connections (Optional)
- A coax cable, plugging the router with a service outlet
- An Ethernet cable, connecting the router with an Ethernet outlet
- A power cable, that connects the router to an electrical outlet
When to Utilize a Coaxial Splitter?
Using a splitter with the Verizon Fios service may sometimes be mandatory.
If you have both the Fios TV box and the Fios router, use a splitter to connect both to the same service outlet.
4. Check for Double *NAT*
The “preparing network connection” error on your Fios TV box could also be caused if there’s a network address translation conflict.
This happens when you’ve utilized two independent router devices and they form a “conflict” because of two different private networks.
Using a FiOS Router with a Third-Party Router?
It is possible to use your FiOS router with a third-party router at once, but changes to the settings of your network have to be made.
To settle this problem, you must select your Fios router as the primary router using the “AP” (Access Point) mode.
Activating “AP” Mode On your Own Router?
To start using your Fios router as the primary network device, we must set your own router to “AP” mode.
You can also do it the other way around, by setting your personal router as the primary network device, but this is completely up to your personal preferences for networking.
Here’s how to set your own router to “AP” mode:
- Launch a web browser on a compatible device.
- Navigate to www.routerlogin.net and sign in.
- Once you’ve signed in, go to “ADVANCED”.
- Press on “Advanced Setup” > “Wireless AP”.
- Select “AP Mode” and press the “Apply” button.
Note: Once you’ve set your router to AP mode, the Fios router will become the primary device.
5. Optimize the Speed of your WiFi
It is also possible that this error was the result of a slow WiFi connection.
Even if the Fios TV One box was able to connect with your home network, if the connection is, the speeds must meet the particular requirements. Otherwise, you’ll be facing errors such as the “preparing”.
Quick Ways to Boost WiFi Speed?
- Perform a “Hard Reset” on your Network router. This is done by unplugging the device from power and waiting at least 60 seconds before connecting it back in.
- Reconnect the service cable. Disconnect the coaxial cable from your router device, wait for 15 seconds, and then plug it back in.
- Reduce bandwidth usage. This can be done by disconnecting devices from your WiFi and ceasing all downloading/uploading processes.
- Move your router closer to your streaming equipment and all devices wirelessly connected to the network.
- Connect all devices that are at a significant distance from your router to the 2.4GHz thread for a better range and stronger signal.
- Attempt to manage interference by moving out any solid or metallic objects that are close to your Verizon router.
Info: Most of the internet speed issues that may occur on a Fios router are often related to distancing problems.
So, we recommend connecting the Fios TV box from close proximity!
6. Factory Reset your FiOS One Box
By now, we’ve already tried most of the solutions against the “preparing network connection” message on your box.
Hence, it’s time for the big gun method – factory reset. It’s an effective solution for any kind of issue with your TV box, but it comes with a great downside…
- Factory resetting your TV box will delete all stored content permanently!
Follow these instructions to perform a factory reset on your Fios TV One box:
- Press the “(0)” key on the Verizon Fios remote.
- Press the “OK” key on the TV One box’s remote.
- Wait for the cable box to go into “Reset” mode.
- The reset takes about 3 minutes so be patient.
Info: Once your cable box has gone into reset mode, cease all interactions with the device!
Quick Recap:
We’ve learned that when Verizon Fios is stuck on preparing network connection, the first step is to power cycle the device and inspect all of the cables in the setup.
If that didn’t work, make sure there is no conflict with another router and factory reset the TV box.
If you’re interested in more similar content, follow our tech blog!
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Finn Wheatley holds a Master’s Degree in Computer Science from UCL, London. He helped small data science consultancy firms, helping large corporations to grow their data capabilities, deploy advanced machine learning-based analytics and troubleshoot tech-related issues. Check out more about him here.