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Started By
Message
AT&T modems suck but now I don't care
Posted on 6/8/20 at 9:28 pm
Posted on 6/8/20 at 9:28 pm
The reason: I was able to bypass the modem altogether. Now I am getting 100% of my bandwidth through my own router that I control and have way more confidence in.
I know their newer modems have the IP Passthrough mode and that's what I was using for the longest time. Before Covid, I had my Internet at 300M which was working ok for us but as we streamed more and the kiddos got more into online gaming, any video streams would constantly lose resolution and buffering slowed down. Thanks to the Tech Board, I was able to upgrade to the full Gig for less money thinking it would solve all my problems. . . Not so much. Running a speed test straight off the modem gave me the full bandwidth but at any point behind my firewall would max out at about 350M.
To the Interwebs I go for a solution.
One of the first results I found was using a Ubiquiti Edgerouter to bypass the AT&T modem. Whadaya know, that's the exact router I'm already using. Looking into it further, the instructions in the post were a little dated being they were from 2016 but it later referenced a Github post with an updated process and scripts and also expanded it to the USG gateways and generic linux-based firewalls. Essentially, it connects the AT&T ONT (the box where the fiber actually connects) to the WAN port of the router and isolates the modem on a separate network. The modem is still needed in this process because it uses EAP to authenticate to the AT&T network. The setup only allows the EAP traffic from the modem out to the ONT, then the Edgerouter spoofs the MAC address of the modem and all normal Internet traffic goes through it. I've been going strong for well over a week now with no blips or slowdowns.
I would not recommend this if your technical knowledge is limited. My background is in networking so I was able to make it through the process without much trouble. But a novice would definitely have difficulty, especially if something doesn't end up working right or if you are not familiar with working within a command line environment. That's not to say it would be impossible. The hobbyist would certainly benefit from at least the learning process so I thought I would share my experiences.
Hopefully one day, AT&T will allow EAP authentication from 3rd party devices but I'm sure my hopes will prove unfounded. For now, I'm where I wanted to be from the beginning and I'm loving it.
I know their newer modems have the IP Passthrough mode and that's what I was using for the longest time. Before Covid, I had my Internet at 300M which was working ok for us but as we streamed more and the kiddos got more into online gaming, any video streams would constantly lose resolution and buffering slowed down. Thanks to the Tech Board, I was able to upgrade to the full Gig for less money thinking it would solve all my problems. . . Not so much. Running a speed test straight off the modem gave me the full bandwidth but at any point behind my firewall would max out at about 350M.
To the Interwebs I go for a solution.
One of the first results I found was using a Ubiquiti Edgerouter to bypass the AT&T modem. Whadaya know, that's the exact router I'm already using. Looking into it further, the instructions in the post were a little dated being they were from 2016 but it later referenced a Github post with an updated process and scripts and also expanded it to the USG gateways and generic linux-based firewalls. Essentially, it connects the AT&T ONT (the box where the fiber actually connects) to the WAN port of the router and isolates the modem on a separate network. The modem is still needed in this process because it uses EAP to authenticate to the AT&T network. The setup only allows the EAP traffic from the modem out to the ONT, then the Edgerouter spoofs the MAC address of the modem and all normal Internet traffic goes through it. I've been going strong for well over a week now with no blips or slowdowns.
I would not recommend this if your technical knowledge is limited. My background is in networking so I was able to make it through the process without much trouble. But a novice would definitely have difficulty, especially if something doesn't end up working right or if you are not familiar with working within a command line environment. That's not to say it would be impossible. The hobbyist would certainly benefit from at least the learning process so I thought I would share my experiences.
Hopefully one day, AT&T will allow EAP authentication from 3rd party devices but I'm sure my hopes will prove unfounded. For now, I'm where I wanted to be from the beginning and I'm loving it.
14
Posted on 6/8/20 at 10:40 pm to The Next
Jesus holy shite...just get Cox
Posted on 6/8/20 at 10:57 pm to LSUsmartass
Just get Cox? And get coax instead of fiber? Shared bandwidth with my neighbors instead of a dedicated connection? Higher prices? Asynchronous download and upload speeds? Data caps?
No thanks.
No thanks.
Posted on 6/8/20 at 11:05 pm to The Next
I wish I could figure all that out. I had the 300 and was getting 120 over wifi. Now I have the 1000 and I'm getting 320. Like you said, I got it for cheaper so I guess I can't complain.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 7:17 am to The Next
pass through mode, otherwise known as bridge mode should not only work but for any router/firewall. It will turn off NAT and DHCP on the WAN interface to passthrough to your WAN interface.
I had AT&T fiber but they wanted to jack the prices up to something like $120 after the first year so I told them goodbye and went back to Cox and 300mb.
I had AT&T fiber but they wanted to jack the prices up to something like $120 after the first year so I told them goodbye and went back to Cox and 300mb.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 7:26 am to t00f
quote:
It will turn off NAT and DHCP on the WAN interface to passthrough to your WAN interface.
Not for AT&T. Bridge Mode/Pass Through mode on these AT&T gateways isn't true bridge mode.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 7:46 am to The Next
I'm moving next month to my new home and will have ATT Fiber, I'm looking forward to it and will look to use this advice.
Do they only supply one type of modem? I don't want to buy any of my own gear and find out the modem is different and it won't work or something weird like that.
Do they only supply one type of modem? I don't want to buy any of my own gear and find out the modem is different and it won't work or something weird like that.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 7:58 am to WavinWilly
I think we are nit picking on the proxy issue. Biggest thing is not have a double NAT.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 8:08 am to The Next
You should be able to get that performance out of the ATT gear.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 8:32 am to The Next
I just signed up for ATT last night. Now you have me worried.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 8:58 am to The Next
Is that a wired or wifi speed test?
Posted on 6/9/20 at 9:37 am to t00f
quote:well it doesnt... i went through 3 BGW210s and none worked with Netgear routers.
pass through mode, otherwise known as bridge mode should not only work
Posted on 6/9/20 at 10:29 am to CarRamrod
really? did your wan port acquire a DHCP address?
I tested on a watchguard, untangle and a netgear orbi without issue.
I tested on a watchguard, untangle and a netgear orbi without issue.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 1:51 pm to The Next
My at&t gateway/modem/router seems to work great. What model is yours?
Posted on 6/9/20 at 1:53 pm to t00f
quote:idk. This was back when i started that thread. The last BGW210 i had crapped out. so i now have the pace 5268. As much research i have done on these the newest and best should be the BGW210 but it still isnt great. and the quality of them is severely lacking.
really? did your wan port acquire a DHCP address?
I tested on a watchguard, untangle and a netgear orbi without issue.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 1:57 pm to CarRamrod
quote:
idk. This was back when i started that thread. The last BGW210 i had crapped out. so i now have the pace 5268. As much research i have done on these the newest and best should be the BGW210 but it still isnt great. and the quality of them is severely lacking.
I have a BGW210-700. It has never given me any problems with 50Mbps, 300Mbps or 1Gbps speed tiers. I have had it for several years now.
The only issue I had was with speedtests through a browser as they would top out at 350Mbps. But using the app in Win10 produces 950+Mbps up/down speedtest results every time. I do not use another router behind the BGW210. It has very good security and customization as is and a very strong wifi signal.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 2:09 pm to The Next
With AT&T you will likely always have equipment a generation OR TWO back... unless you live in some BIG METRo areas where they install the new stuff. AT&T sucks.
Posted on 6/9/20 at 2:12 pm to notsince98
quote:Well yea.... you arent trying to do what we all have been trying to do.
I have a BGW210-700. It has never given me any problems with 50Mbps, 300Mbps or 1Gbps speed tiers. I have had it for several years now.
The only issue I had was with speedtests through a browser as they would top out at 350Mbps. But using the app in Win10 produces 950+Mbps up/down speedtest results every time. I do not use another router behind the BGW210.
quote:agree to disagree. the customization is lacking and the UI is very very very slow. and wifi strength is ok isnt the best
It has very good security and customization as is and a very strong wifi signal.
This post was edited on 6/9/20 at 2:12 pm
Posted on 6/9/20 at 2:34 pm to BobLouder
I've got the BGW210 and I was never able to get consistent results going through the modem. One test would show the full pipe and the next would have 600down/100up directly off the modem. It was just so frustrating and there was no way I was going to try and fight with AT&T support. Their modems will work fine for about 90% of people but for the 10% that need more performance and control, this is seemingly the only way to truly bypass it. The IP Passthrough mode somewhat works but I dont trust it if I can still plug directly into the modem, get an IP and access the internet. A true bridge mode would disable any other connectivity through the modem. I'm also convinced they throttle and filter through their modems as well. Now it's not a problem.
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