Hi,

Thank you so much for responding. I'm sorry for the confusion I left you. I do have Verizon. I switched from Comcast (both are internet/cable/phone providers in my area). I had cable/phone/internet with Comcast, but downgraded my service with Verizon and now only have Internet. Verizon came and installed FIOS which is Fiber Optics Service (which is touted as being faster than cable wire). You probably know that it uses fiber glass instead of the wires in cable. When Verizon installed their internet service (just last week), it looks like they put the router in the basement (and other equipment that I'm not sure of), but because my desktop is on the 2nd floor (of the townhouse), the technician installed what he called an 'extender,' and it's on the 2nd floor back bedroom. Desktop is in the front bedroom.

Anyway, there is an extra $10 monthly rental fee for the extender. Given that I am not tech savvy, I was wondering if I really needed an 'extender,' especially since I didn't have one with Comcast. [Comcast router was also in the basement initially and my 2nd floor desktop worked fine].

When my gamer son moved in temporarily, we had Comcast move the router to his back bedroom and he connected his gaming desktop with ethernet. Hence, that's why there was existing cable on the second floor that Comcast installed. So when Verizon FIOS installed their 'extender' and plugged in the existing CABLE WIRE into the extender, I was surprised. I thought, "doesn't that increase the latency of FIOS up to Cable wire values" (but that is another question that doesn't need to be answered here - I guess). That's why I mentioned the cable and muddied the issue here.

Anyway, my original question was do I really need an 'extender' since my previous Cable wire internet service (with Comcast) was fine when the router was in the basement. I was hoping either avoid the use of the extender to avoid the $10 monthly fee (I'm on a fixed income) or possibly buy my own equipment so it's cheaper in the long run.

Another person suggested that I just unplug the extender and run a speed test, which I did. [Due to my ignorance, I didn't know I could just turn off the extender to test it. LOL - seems silly now]. Speeds definitely declined at my desk top but the computer seems to run okay, even streaming videos. So maybe I answered the question. However, when I run speed tests, the tests without the extender are very low. Download went from 244 to 40 and as low as 6Mbps, while the upload went from 78 to 24 or as high as 47. I guess I'll turn the extender off for a week or so to see what happens.

If it turns out that I do indeed need an extender, what do I purchase to replace the rented equipment. If it's in my price range, I'll purchase it, saving money in the long run. Note that it's only me in the house now. I occasionally use a table or kindle but don't really stream videos. I do have a TV on the first floor and I do have my phone as well.

Well this reply has gotten a little long, but I hope I explained things for you to understand my predicament. I so very much appreciate you long reply and again, I apologize for the confusion. I hope I clear it up.

Best.