pfSenste to FIOS ONT - cant fix assymetry

Help.

  • I have a Netgate 6100 firewall. I have FIOS 1Gbit up/down
  • PfSense has a direct connection to my ONT. My Verizon router, old black one, is bypassed.
  • Day-to-day FIOS speed is symmetrical at 940 up/down.

PROBLEM:

Around the 25th of each month +/- (or around my billing cycle) my connection becomes ASYMMETRICAL with 230-330 up and 940 down (via Speedtest).

Verizon’s own speedtest will show 940 down and then up will ramp up to 800-900 and then FAIL at 98%. This has happened once a month (always around the end of the month) for the past 6-9 months.

TYPICAL FIX

  • Take the 6100 out of the loop and connect the Verizon router directly to the PC and hard wire a PC to the Verizon router

  • Take 6100 out of the loop

  • Connect Verizon router to ONT

  • Connect PC to Verizon LAN port

  • Unplug ONT and Verizon router for 1 - 2 minutes

  • Pray

  • Wait until I see symmetrical speeds return

  • Take Verizon out of the loop

  • Plug 6100 back into ONT

  • Everything works for another month

Sometimes I will run into problems rebooting the Verizon router and will have Tech Support help resolve any issues. The problem with Verizon Tech Support is you never know if you get someone who completely understands or someone who just wants you to upgrade your service.

The typical fix is a mix of steps Tech Support has had me take before. Honestly, I am not sure if re-introducing the Verizon Router back into the system helps or not.

NEW PROBLEM

The typical fix no longer works. New ONT (same model) did not help. Tech Support is tech support in name only now.

pfSense is up to date. 24.11
I tried releasing and renewing DHCP lease.
I tried rebooting my router.
All in coordination with ONT reboots.

Chat and Claude both suggest it could actually be an OLT to ONT issue due to “speed-policy” being sent once a month. I dont know.

And, Verizon took away the ability to put my old Verizon router in bridge mode to pass the IP through to my pfSense like I could with my Orbi (just a year ago).

Thoughts?

Update.

New ONT (same model, just a new unit).
New Verizon router (Xbox looking one with 10Gb WAN)

No joy. Still can’t solve issue of asymmetrical speed.

I tried with Verizon direct - speed sometimes returns. I tired with Verizon in bridge mode only – issue is present. I tried with 6100/pfSense direct to ONT and problem is present.

Verizon says:

  1. Try my router instead of theirs.
  2. They don’t see a problem at the router or ONT so it must be 3rd party —> Netgate PfSense.
  3. Easy for Verizon to pawn off on Negate/pfSense – but it does not explain monthly re-occurrence when we can find a temporary fix.