Can someone explain to me how to add a better router to the default combo ATT gigapower

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Run Cat6 cable from ATT unit to the LAN port of a better wireless router, and put that router in access point mode. You can do the same with a regular access point as well.

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I've actually done exactly this. I hooked my Nighthawk router to the shitty modem/router combo AT&T provides & can now see my wifi even when I'm 2 streets over. But I lose about 1/2 the bandwidth even when hardwired to the access point. Granted, you don't notice any difference between 1g and 500mbps, but still frustrating not to have full speed.

Not that I'm aware of, but it's actually very simple to do. All you have to do is hookup any old wifi router to one of the 4 LAN ports on the back of the AT&T router & it should work.

Since my router is a netgear, I followed these Instructions

In my experience, yes. But there's probably a setting I'm not seeing. I'd prefer to sacrifice speed to have a good wifi signal.

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Wi-Fi by current definition cuts your speeds in half. It uses radios to communicate back and forth in half duplex mode (meaning it can transmit or recieve, but not both at the same time). Wired Cat 5 and 6 can operate in full duplex (talk and recive at the same time). I've read that they are devolping radio antennas for Wi-Fi that can do full duplex, but who knows how long that will take to come to market. To add an access point means cutting your speeds in half again.

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All true, but in my case, even when using the AT&T equipment as just a modem & a Netgear Nighthawk as the router, I'm only getting 1/2 speed even when my laptop is hardwired with CAT6 directly to the router.

I haven't had any problems with my router that I got with ATT, in fact it's been pretty solid. It doesn't have the range that my old router had but I get signal inside and outside the house and I've had about 6 devices connected wirelessly and didn't notice any drop off in performance.

I can barely get a good signal two rooms over. The equipment sucks arse.

5g has a much shorter range than 2.4 does I believe

I basically disabled 5g so I didn't have this problem, at least until I got the new router I mentioned above

And did your wifi speeds get cut in half with that Orbi router?

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Wi-Fi by current definition cuts your speeds in half

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Not sure why you think this. Your WiFi is rated based on spectrum (2.4ghz or 5) and the standard (b/g/n/ac). Also some workers wireless routers use multiple channels across the spectrum to get even higher speeds, some closing in on 1 gigabit in real tests.

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It uses radios to communicate back and forth in half duplex mode (meaning it can transmit or recieve, but not both at the same time). Wired Cat 5 and 6 can operate in full duplex (talk and recive at the same time)

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Technically true, but the end user won't care.

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I've read that they are devolping radio antennas for Wi-Fi that can do full duplex, but who knows how long that will take to come to market.

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They already exist, but are costly custom solutions that typical consumer will want.

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. To add an access point means cutting your speeds in half again.

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Not true. It all depends on the current operating conditions. Bandwidth available is dependent upon what other devices are currently operating in the same spectrum, and the technology you are using.


To the original OP, unfortunately I do not know how to modify the settings of your ATT fiber equipment. If possible you would want to either disable it's routing capabilities or use it as the main router and use another access point. However the problem depends on what type of router att is using. The wifi might only be rated for say 380mbit or so. Which is way overkill for almost any use.

If you really want gigabit wifi speeds, you will need to bypass the att WiFi, and put into a bridge mode. Then make sure that you can connect from your ATT to your gigabit capable 802.11ac/ad router. Most of these routers will use a three antenna setup to get the extra throughout.