This is simply advice to people thinking of migrating from Helix Fi to Fizz Internet
DarkBladeMtl
Posts: 3 ✭
in Internet
Hello everyone,
As a former Videotron customer that moved to Fizz there are some things Videotron customers need to accept and adjust to once they become Fizz customers.
The biggest mind adjustment is the gear... the modem you get from Fizz is not on the same level as your Helix Fi or Helix Fi 2 gear. The provided Hitron Coda 5610Q uses Intel Puma 7 hardware.
Not going to bore you with all the technical details (I wish I had this information on hand before I had to figure it out for myself), but here's the gist of it:
If you think of placing your Hitron Coda5610 behind or next to your TV, in a closet, inside a TV console or on your computer desk next to a monitor, FORGET IT... The CODA simply doesn't have the shielding to resist the emitted RFI from high powered, huge Mini LED, OLEDs or QLEDs. The Helix Fi were designed to be used in living room environments and they resist RFI quite well. The CODA5610q does not...
Even if you think of connecting your computer via Ethernet cable you will still be exposed to interference and your signal will degrade.
The solution is to use BRIDGE Mode (in CODA terms to disable the Residential Gateway), and to use a more robust Wireless router for the "heavy lifting" - routing packets, beamforming and saturating your space with a strong wifi signal, wifi6e or wifi7 if you can.
In my case it is a TP Link Archer AX80, but it can be any decent wireless router.
Connection: make sure to use a quality Coax cable, preferably shielded if it runs close to appliances. Make sure both ends are connected really tight, hand tight plus a quarter turn with a wrench on both ends.
From the CODA5610Q connect the LAN1 port (on the 5610Q that would be the top yellow port, sadly not the 2.5Gbps orange one) to the WAN port on your wireless router. If you need to connect a home switch or peripherals, do it by using the ports on the Wireless router, not the CODA
PLACEMENT: Probably the most crucial and least understood factor as a former HelixFi customer - The CODA modem has to be placed AWAY from computers, monitors, TVs, ideally over 5 feet away and above ground (on top of a floating shelf or on top of a bookshelf).
Similarly try to place the Wireless router above your TVs, ideally on a wall to the side of them, in as central location as possible to provide good coverage. If you have a multi-storey home, investing in a mesh configuration may be the difference between pockets with no signal.
You just have to understand... the quality of the components, circuitry, protection against RFI in your Helix Fi and his intended use in living rooms is just superior to the Hitron CODA5610q.
My advice to the FIZZ crew that provide customer and technical support via chat, just be open and explain that to your clients... It is OK that the gear offered by Fizz for now is not well suited for living room placements, but work with us, your clients.
I was too stubborn to accept the CODA would not work where my Helix Fi had worked fine before, and noone from the fine reps I talked to actually bothered explaining it in more detail, nor did they suggest I tried bridging... After doing research on my own I found that information and I fixed the issue that had plagued me for weeks. Hope this helps other new clients, and does not discourage Videotron's former clients from giving Fizz a shot
As a former Videotron customer that moved to Fizz there are some things Videotron customers need to accept and adjust to once they become Fizz customers.
The biggest mind adjustment is the gear... the modem you get from Fizz is not on the same level as your Helix Fi or Helix Fi 2 gear. The provided Hitron Coda 5610Q uses Intel Puma 7 hardware.
Not going to bore you with all the technical details (I wish I had this information on hand before I had to figure it out for myself), but here's the gist of it:
If you think of placing your Hitron Coda5610 behind or next to your TV, in a closet, inside a TV console or on your computer desk next to a monitor, FORGET IT... The CODA simply doesn't have the shielding to resist the emitted RFI from high powered, huge Mini LED, OLEDs or QLEDs. The Helix Fi were designed to be used in living room environments and they resist RFI quite well. The CODA5610q does not...
Even if you think of connecting your computer via Ethernet cable you will still be exposed to interference and your signal will degrade.
The solution is to use BRIDGE Mode (in CODA terms to disable the Residential Gateway), and to use a more robust Wireless router for the "heavy lifting" - routing packets, beamforming and saturating your space with a strong wifi signal, wifi6e or wifi7 if you can.
In my case it is a TP Link Archer AX80, but it can be any decent wireless router.
Connection: make sure to use a quality Coax cable, preferably shielded if it runs close to appliances. Make sure both ends are connected really tight, hand tight plus a quarter turn with a wrench on both ends.
From the CODA5610Q connect the LAN1 port (on the 5610Q that would be the top yellow port, sadly not the 2.5Gbps orange one) to the WAN port on your wireless router. If you need to connect a home switch or peripherals, do it by using the ports on the Wireless router, not the CODA
PLACEMENT: Probably the most crucial and least understood factor as a former HelixFi customer - The CODA modem has to be placed AWAY from computers, monitors, TVs, ideally over 5 feet away and above ground (on top of a floating shelf or on top of a bookshelf).
Similarly try to place the Wireless router above your TVs, ideally on a wall to the side of them, in as central location as possible to provide good coverage. If you have a multi-storey home, investing in a mesh configuration may be the difference between pockets with no signal.
You just have to understand... the quality of the components, circuitry, protection against RFI in your Helix Fi and his intended use in living rooms is just superior to the Hitron CODA5610q.
My advice to the FIZZ crew that provide customer and technical support via chat, just be open and explain that to your clients... It is OK that the gear offered by Fizz for now is not well suited for living room placements, but work with us, your clients.
I was too stubborn to accept the CODA would not work where my Helix Fi had worked fine before, and noone from the fine reps I talked to actually bothered explaining it in more detail, nor did they suggest I tried bridging... After doing research on my own I found that information and I fixed the issue that had plagued me for weeks. Hope this helps other new clients, and does not discourage Videotron's former clients from giving Fizz a shot
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Answers
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Thank you for sharing this detailed information. This will probably save others some frustrations.
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Thank you for sharing your experience.
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Thank you for sharing your expérience and giving us some tricks.
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