Router question

Mindy D · ‎05-23-2010

Hi. I’m going to migrate from my current ATT DSL to ATT Uverse (or whatever they’ve renamed it to this week). I will be getting a combination router modem from ATT. They call this gadget a gateway. I currently have an old modem from ATT which I now own and I have my own awesome router.

I’ll have to be disconnecting my router and modem to self install the gateway when it arrives.

To stop using my router, do I need to do anything other than unplug it? What about the current modem? I will be getting an ATT person to help me self install tal the new gateway by phone but I don’t know if the rep will help turn off my current equipment before the new installation. I hope I’ve been clear. My brain is fried right now.

Still Raining · ‎03-30-2014

Unless their gateway is free, you would be ahead financially buying your own. Just be sure their paperwork reflects your ownership.

Alison Wonderland · ‎02-05-2018

No, you won't have to do anything to deactivate your current modem or router besides unplug them.

If you have a large house where you have trouble getting a wifi signal in some areas, you can check to see if your existing router can be turned into a wifi extender, getting you a stronger signal in faraway rooms. I've done that for my parents. This video shows you how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xa70Hghs8uA

If you're getting support from an ATT service person, make sure you talk to him or her about changing the default password for the new Gateway device. When people talked about getting their home security cameras or wifi hacked, it's almost always because they never changed the default password, making it easy for a hacker to access as soon as it was seen in the wifi network listing.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@Mindy D

DSL connection uses the old phone land line wire. I believe your new router/modem will be connected to a coaxial cable, a completely different kind of wire. I just switched from DSL to cable internet just a few weeks ago so I know what was done to get my wifi.

itsmetoo · ‎03-10-2010

@Alison Wonderland

How did you manage the cord when setting this up for your parents? Wouldn't you have a super long cord running from one room to another then or did you run the cord under the house or something?

Alison Wonderland · ‎02-05-2018

@itsmetoo wrote:
@Alison Wonderland

How did you manage the cord when setting this up for your parents? Wouldn't you have a super long cord running from one room to another then or did you run the cord under the house or something?

@itsmetoo

The router we used was already built to work as either a router or an extender, so I was able to connect the router to the wifi network and did not need to use an ethernet cable. I told my friend about it and she did have to use a very long ethernet cable (The kind you find in offices) and ran the cable along her baseboards and stapled into place. It wasn't super attractive, but it did work. If you want to get very fancy, you can drill holes in walls, but she opted not to do that.

If you want a more elegant solution and want to spend the money, you can look into mesh networks for your house. They're not super expensive and are easier to manage than routers connected by super long ethernet cables.

SilleeMee · ‎05-22-2016

@itsmetoo wrote:
@Alison Wonderland

How did you manage the cord when setting this up for your parents? Wouldn't you have a super long cord running from one room to another then or did you run the cord under the house or something?

There's only one cable coming into your house which feeds the wifi data to your router/modem. From there the signal is wireless...no cords, cables or wires needed. If the signal gets weak because it has to travel a distance inside the house then a separate wifi signal booster device might me needed...buy those at a store which sells wifi gear. @itsmetoo

Nuttmeg · ‎03-09-2010

@Mindy D wrote:
Hi. I’m going to migrate from my current ATT DSL to ATT Uverse (or whatever they’ve renamed it to this week). I will be getting a combination router modem from ATT. They call this gadget a gateway. I currently have an old modem from ATT which I now own and I have my own awesome router.

I’ll have to be disconnecting my router and modem to self install the gateway when it arrives.

To stop using my router, do I need to do anything other than unplug it? What about the current modem? I will be getting an ATT person to help me self install tal the new gateway by phone but I don’t know if the rep will help turn off my current equipment before the new installation. I hope I’ve been clear. My brain is fried right now.

@Mindy D

Please call AT&T and have a " Truck Roll".

@SilleeMee makes a great point. DSL service runs on your landline and cable uses a separate coaxial line.

JMO, self installs are nice for tech savvy customers. You need more help.

Nuttmeg · ‎03-09-2010

@Still Raining wrote:
Unless their gateway is free, you would be ahead financially buying your own. Just be sure their paperwork reflects your ownership.

JMO, combination/gateway cable modem routers are never a great value. The units can sometimes be mis-matched in performance. You can do much better buying separate products. I have saved major bucks over the years.

Comcast does not allow customers to buy Voip equipment in some markets. You just have to pay when you need a phone.

The cable companies do not make their profits on programming, but on that hardware.

Nuttmeg · ‎03-09-2010

@SilleeMee wrote:
@itsmetoo wrote:
@Alison Wonderland

How did you manage the cord when setting this up for your parents? Wouldn't you have a super long cord running from one room to another then or did you run the cord under the house or something?

There's only one cable coming into your house which feeds the wifi data to your router/modem. From there the signal is wireless...no cords, cables or wires needed. If the signal gets weak because it has to travel a distance inside the house then a separate wifi signal booster device might me needed...buy those at a store which sells wifi gear. @itsmetoo

@SilleeMee

I have a computer hard wired to a router. The speed is 275 Mbps. I do not need an extender or booster box on my network.

My 275 Mbps signal would only deliver a maximum speed to a distant device of 1/2. The are many factors that determine the speed at the new location.

The web has a lot of information about internet booster hardware.

Most people should ask the ISP to upgrade the cable modem and the router. You should have a tech come to your home.

You can ask the cable company the following questions when buying network service.

You should tell how many devices are running on your network, and what network speed would be the best?

New hardware an increase in speed may help a connection problem.

Cable companies cheat older customers by selling them slow 25 Mbps service for $50. This price should get a person 100 Mbps.