I know so many people who order AT&T fiber Internet service Provider to their homes because of the insanely fast speeds, only to discover that the WiFi is very weak in many areas of the house. This leads to the most popular questions – can I connect my AT&T fiber to a WiFi extender? In response to the question of whether a WiFi extender can be used to increase the signal strength of an AT&T fiber network, the answer is a resounding yes. Nevertheless, there are certain factors that have to be considered to select an appropriate WiFi extender for AT&T fiber and its arrangement.
AT&T Fiber WiFi is a service that offers internet users, especially those who do not have internet at home, the ability to access the internet through WiFi.
The first thing to clear is how WiFi functions with regards to the AT&T fiber installations. In fiber Internet connection, a fibre optic cable ends at an Optical Network Terminal (ONT) that is often located indoors or outdoors in the house. This particular box acts as a converter by translating the fiber optic signal into ethernet and coaxial ports.
From the ONT, ethernet cables are terminated to the AT&T fiber gateway/router equipments. This router is responsible for spreading your home WiFi network. So, if your ONT box and AT&T router are placed far away from some areas of your house, then the Wi-Fi signal has to cover a larger distance to reach the devices in these zones, and, as a consequence, the signal strength in these areas will be lower. This is why you may need a WiFi extender to cover all these areas adequately with a strong and stable connection.
Selecting a suitable WiFi Extender
Before proceeding with the use of a WiFi extender, one should know that not all of them are compatible with AT&T fiber gateways and routers. To choose a compatible extender model for AT&T fiber internet, look for key features
- The device has the capability to connect to 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands.
- Latest WiFi support or (WiFi 5 or WiFi 6)
- WPS push-button connectivity for conveniently connecting the device
There are many mesh WiFi systems on the market that come with these extenders that work well with routers and gateways such as the AT&T one. Currently there are many WiFi extenders manufactured by renowned companies such as Netgear, Linksys, TP-Link, Google Nest, and ASUS, which can be used to enhance the AT&T fiber WiFi.
Also ensure that your WiFi extender is compatible with the random password that AT&T implements and the random WiFi network name as well. Some of the limitations of extenders are that they can only be accessed via VPN tunnels, and lack any capability for remote access while in the process of extending the network. However, many of these extenders have worked-around measures that allow for the extension of the network without these limitations being a problem.
As we have seen, several factors may affect the signal reception and therefore the placement of the WiFi extender should consider some of the following areas.
The placement of the WiFi extender matters a lot, it should be placed mid-way between the AT&T WiFi router and the area of no WiFi connection. Basically, the extender needs to be within a comfortable distance that will allow the device to get a good signal from your router before transmitting the signal to other areas that are farther.
Some of the avoidable mistakes are placing the extenders adjacent to the WiFi router because the practice often leads to poor performance. Also place the extender more openly – far from thick walls, metals, and other obstructions that may hinder or impair pass-through WiFi connections.
More about Ethernet Backhaul for Superior Performance
When connecting to AT&T fiber networks, it is recommended to connect the WiFi extender to your main router using an ethernet backhaul for optimal performance. In simple terms, this involves plugging the output of the extender unit into one of the ethernet LAN ports of your AT&T router through the use of an ethernet cable. This makes the extender receive a faster and more stable signal to begin with than what it amplifies and rebroadcasts through an extended 5GHz and 2.4GHz WiFi signal.
As for those WiFi extenders which do not have an ethernet backhaul port, the extenders have no choice but to wirelessly associate with the AT&T router’s WiFi signal which is far more susceptible to interference. That is one weakness that going ethernet eradicates, thereby making faster extended WiFi networks possible. Wireless backhaul can also be used at home and it can still provide the boost you need in terms of the signal.
To get the extender set up, the following steps should be followed;
If you get a compatible AT&T fiber WiFi extender model, the set up process is fairly straightforward:If you get a compatible AT&T fiber WiFi extender model, the set up process is fairly straightforward:
1. As noted in the above discussion, position the extender in the chosen halfway location.
2. Turn on the extender and configure it to connect using Ethernet cable or wirelessly through the AT&T WiFi network. In case of uncertainty on how to set up the extender manually, consult the manual for proper guidance.
3. Standby the WPS button on AT&T WiFi router and the range extender to enable the two devices to connect properly.
4. If the connection is wireless, one should use a channel checker to select the least occupied frequency for improved performance.
It is an extender that connects the settings with your AT&T router, copies the network name and password and transmits a strong WiFi signal around it. Your AT&T WiFi network name and password will be delightful continued to new enhanced areas.
All wireless connected devices like mobile phones, laptops, tablets can connect similarly to any other AT&T fiber WiFi. But now enhanced by the more extended signal strength, given by the secondarily positioned second extender unit.
Other Important Factors to Consider for AT&T WiFi Extenders
Here are some additional useful tips for running WiFi extender units on an AT&T fiber home network
- Check for updated firmware for routers & extender to have the latest performance boosts and security updates
- Allow the use of auto-channel option in extenders in a way that the extender will automatically select best least occupied channels to run on in as a given scenario alters.
- Exclude any other device that might be competing for the bandwidth required by the smart devices by connecting them directly to the AT&T router or switch if they are Ethernet compatible such as smart TVs, PC’s, printers etc.
- For multi-unit properties, instead of using the extender wirelessly with the help of cable and daisy chaining the wire, extenders reduce the efficiency of other extender wires.
- For large homes, it is recommended to install a number of mesh systems, which form a network, unlike a single extender that has to work from a single point and cover a rather large area.
Choosing the correct extender hardware for your home and placing it correctly alongside your AT&T fiber gateway will enable you to effectively eliminate WiFi zones and boost on your whole home WiFi connection.
Call (844) 905-5001 to get a new AT&T connection now!
Read More:
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What is the greatest disadvantage of fiber optic cable?
How do they connect fiber to your house?
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