Actiontec's zControl router extends networks to TVs, cellphones

We really, really wish we knew a bit more about Actiontec's ZCHAV1, but our interest has been officially piqued, regardless. Following in the footsteps of a few niche products already announced, this "router accessory" claims to extend home networks to televisions, cellphones and "other devices," and it will reportedly enable users to "control all network components from any display platform." Granted, this firm is no newcomer to cranking out multifaceted networking gizmos, but it looks like we'll be playing the ole wait-and-see game with the zControl.

[StrangeBum @ Nov 13th 2007 8:26PM]

Cellphones? I seriously doubt that means it helps boost network signal. I wouldn't mind that at all though, because where I live, I get little to no service at any given time.

I'm curious about this product, must remember to keep it under my radar.

[Tehseen @ Nov 13th 2007 8:58PM]

My guess is that it extends wifi to phones. I guess like TMobile @Home

[Jesse S @ Nov 13th 2007 8:58PM]

You can get cell phone repeaters, but they're expensive.

[ynoty3k @ Nov 13th 2007 9:48PM]

I can understand how your interest has been piqued, but seriously, I have an Actiontec wireless MoCA router, for Verizon FiOS, and Damn, it sucks hard. I hate the thing. I if I could find ANY other MoCA modem, I would scrap the whole thing, and use my old netgear for routing.

ActionTEC SUCKS!!!

[web2.oh @ Nov 13th 2007 11:55PM]

It isn't the router, it's (mostly) the firmware. I haven't had any hardware issues, at least. Verizon slaps their own branded firmware on the Actiontec router, and it's pretty bad. Lots of annoying warnings (this is for advanced users! Are you sure?!) that cannot be turned off, and an extraordinarily confusing port forwarding configuration.

Then again, I've never seen the "normal", non-Verizon firmware, it may be just as bad as Verizon's!

[prokanda @ Nov 13th 2007 11:49PM]

@ ynoty3k:

Agreed. I used to work for one of the 5 FiOS Solution Centers and we had nothing but problems with ActionTEC products. Sadly, the crappy DLink routers performed better for the customers. And adding even more functionality into a company that has issues with regular routers... spells nightmare. Hopefully Verizon will take a page from T-mo and go Linksys, they make a far... FAR better product.

[lassi @ Nov 14th 2007 10:56AM]

ehm so how it extends my lan to my tv?

... like, wtf?

to my cellphone yeah i could understand, since my cellphone has wifi(or it could do it via umts)..

but, my tv is a display platform i think. it's a dumb old 32" crt one though so how would it work?