AirTies 4971 Ethernet Backhaul?

If it's showing as wired, and you have wired backhaul, I would interpret that to mean it is coming to the Gateway via the backhaul and is thus connected to the Extender by Wi-Fi.

As far as I know, AT&T is still selling the 4920 series extenders.  

In my experience, the setup for the AirTies extenders has always been done wirelessly.  Once setup, then you could connect them to the Gateway via Ethernet to use Ethernet backhaul vs Wireless.

Thanks, @JefferMC .

It seems like AT&T is offering the 4971, but not sure where to buy it.

https://www.att.com/support/article/u-verse-high-speed-internet/KM1231556/

4971 supports WiFi 6 (as does the BGW320 router), but the 4920 does not. Looking to future-proof my setup, which really only means giving it 3-5 years before another standard eclipses it.

So I see.  Learn something new every day.  The device pictured at 

https://www.att.com/buy/accessories/internet-equipment/att-smart-wi-fi-extender-white.html

does not look at all like the 492x series, but does look like the pictures in the 4971 setup guide, so that's a plus.  OTOH, in the Overview it indicates compatibility with the NVG5x9 series, which the 4971 does not work with.

I'm going to point this out to my AT&T contacts and see if we can get them to clear things up on that page (at the very least, if it is the 4971, remove the NVG5x9 from the Overview).

That way you will be able to upgrade to the latest versions as need without purchasing an endless number of $49.99 devices that are obsolete every couple of years.

That would be the AT&T take on it.  My take is that if the service is $5/month regardless of the number of extenders you have, then that might be a deal.  Otherwise, I could buy a $49.99 every year and be ahead of the $5/month idea.

No it would be $5 for the AT&T Smart Home Extender service not per unit.

Dave

$5/mo. * 12 = $60 per year

1 * WiFi extender = $49.99 forever

Not forever.  Wi-Fi radios do seem to have a life span measured in years (depending on power used, etc.).  And protocols have a limited lifespan (802.11a and 802.11b are pretty much useless now, and 802.11g is getting that way).

But I'm on your side on this, I'd rather just buy them and throw them away when they become useless or obsolete.  Only if I had a huge ranch house that needed 3 extenders would I stop to consider this offering.

The extender offered on the site is the 4721.

The word I get is that the 4971 does support wired backhaul (direct and daisy chain).  So, if you can get one, there you go.

That's great news!

Like Tom Petty said, the waiting is the hardest part.