We've been with AT&T for a little over 2 years, opting for their top-tier version. We reside in a 2,000-square-foot ranch-style home. Both my wife and I work from home; I work in the basement, directly connected to the network, while she works in our room, which unfortunately doesn't have stable Wi-Fi connectivity. This instability makes Zoom calls challenging for her, often resorting to using her phone for better reliability. When she contacted AT&T for assistance, they merely reset the connection a couple of times and attempted to upsell us on their cell service. The modem/router setup isn't directly connected; there's an intermediary box, which, upon inspection, might just need a good cleaning of cobwebs to improve performance.
Before I proceed with relocating the setup to the center of the house and possibly running a longer line, I'm wondering if there's a preferred method for doing so. Additionally, I'm curious if there's a recommended type of cord to use and if there's an app available to help determine the clearest path for relocation.
Normally, I'd consider switching providers, but my previous experience with Breezline was dismal, and Verizon and Spectrum in my area lack consistency. Reliable internet connection is crucial for my work, and AT&T, thankfully, has been consistently reliable (knock on wood), though their customer service leaves much to be desired.
If she has instability on zoom calls, but you don't... that sounds like an issue with your router, not with your modem or service. This sounds like an issue with our WiFi.
I'd move it more centrally and higher. Avoid potential sources of RF interference. Possibly spring for a nicer Wi-Fi router which you can get online or at Best Buy.
Buy a new standalone modem and standalone router. You'll have to search for AT&T compatible modems I don't have that information. When you get the new stuff, send them back their garbage.
Use cat6 cable, not cat5 if you need to make runs. Unless you've terminated network cable before, just buy ready made cables, they aren't that expensive.
I've been really happy with my Archer AX50 router. It'll push 500+MB/s to devices, but I can also pick it up 75+ yards down the street, even through my concrete block walls.
General rule of thumb, ISP provided combination modem routers, sometimes called gateways, are universally trash and should be avoided.
CAT6 is pretty much the standard these days for network cabling.
A repeater device or mesh system will introduce a lot of latency into the network. Ideally, what you would want to do is disable the router functions from the AT&T device and then put in your own router that supports a hardwired remote wireless AP. Then run a CAT6 cable from the new router to the area that needs wifi and plug in the new AP. That'll let their equipment remain in the same place, as well as your workspace, but extend the wireless to her workspace.
If you want to continue to use but relocate AT&T's equipment, it depends on what the pictured splice looks like. In some cases, you'll have to pop the top of the splice, pull out the house side, get a punch-down tool, and run a new line to the equipment.
If you're lucky and it's just RJ45 ends, you can just make a new cable. I can't tell from the picture which it is though.
Agreed that your issue is with wifi coverage, not with your provider. IMO, 2000 sqft is too big to try and cover with one router. Repeaters are mostly junk, in my experience, so I'd ditch your current router and go to a mesh wifi setup. Here's a good guide.
If you have good attic or crawlspace access, running hardlines and multiple routers (your routers, not AT&T's because, as has been mentioned before, the supplied stuff is the bowling alley rental shoe of electronic gear) is the way to go.
WiFi signals do not like block walls, so getting a router with direct line of sight to her through nothing more than wood and drywall should be your priority here.
By all means, make sure your existing wiring is done properly. Poor connections can certainly result in unreliable service. IMO, wi-fi is fine for kids stuff like i-Pads, and an occasional laptop, but if you want fast, consistent throughput, you need ethernet hardwired to your computer. The promise of wi-fi is a big lie.
1988RedT2 said:
By all means, make sure your existing wiring is done properly. Poor connections can certainly result in unreliable service. IMO, wi-fi is fine for kids stuff like i-Pads, and an occasional laptop, but if you want fast, consistent throughput, you need ethernet hardwired to your computer. The promise of wi-fi is a big lie.
That's overstating things. Wifi is pretty damn good and fast these days. And I say that as a guy with a 24-port switch in his basement and Cat6 run all through the house. My rule is "If it doesn't move, it gets plugged in".
AT&T makes you use their equipment, from what I read it is from 2017 when direct TV combined. I did find a page to do the Bypass AT&T with your router It's DSL so the Cord from phone to Modem/ Router is RJ11, does that come in different quality? or is it all the same?
Tom_Spangler (Forum Supporter) said:
1988RedT2 said:
By all means, make sure your existing wiring is done properly. Poor connections can certainly result in unreliable service. IMO, wi-fi is fine for kids stuff like i-Pads, and an occasional laptop, but if you want fast, consistent throughput, you need ethernet hardwired to your computer. The promise of wi-fi is a big lie.
That's overstating things. Wifi is pretty damn good and fast these days. And I say that as a guy with a 24-port switch in his basement and Cat6 run all through the house. My rule is "If it doesn't move, it gets plugged in".
I wholeheartedly agree with your rule, but my experience with wi-fi has always been underwhelming. It works. It just doesn't work as well as I need it to work. And I've used a variety of routers in the last dozen years or so. This latest multi-gigabit wifi 6 gizmo works okay, it just doesn't work as well as ethernet. Did I mention there's a lot of paranormal activity in my neighborhood? Also, aliens.
trigun7469 said:
AT&T makes you use their equipment, from what I read it is from 2017 when direct TV combined. I did find a page to do the Bypass AT&T with your router I am going to start with the CAT 5 or 6 and relocate it, and go from there.
If it's similar to how Comcrap does it, you can just use their box as a modem only and plug your own router into it.
I'm a big fan of the TP Link Deco mesh setup paired with a Motorola surfboard that I got at Costco during the pandemic. I've got about a 1900 sqft house. We have the main unit all the way on the left side of the house, centered, the second one in a bedroom on the far right side of the house, centered, and the third is the garage.
I work from the basement, and I can download multi gig files while doing teams meetings sharing my screen while the kids are doing who knows what upstairs.
I'm out in my garage at the moment cutting things on the CNC, and the speed test says I'm getting 781 Mbps down/39 up. That's on 1Gb/50Mb cable service.
I'd totally buy this setup again.
I only have 150mbps internet from the street. No fiber in my hood and my address sadly is a wireless carrier dead zone - partly due to neighbors who fight the addition of new towers. Elon's satellites are too expensive (and I'm too cheap). My house is 1,700 SF on a basement but I was gifted a Google mesh with five nodes. It is awesome.
Go get a mesh kit.
