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Using a Netgear R6400/R7000 as a client bridge with ATT Fiber gateway
So, we switched from Spectrum cable 200 Mbps to AT&T fiber 1000 Mbps internet (currently have both active, so I can try experimenting with any suggestions no problem).
The modems - modem-only in the Spectrum case and Arris BGW210-700 modem+router gateway in the AT&T case - are in a different room from my desktop, and I want to connect the desktop to the internet wirelessly using a spare router as a wireless adapter. I'm not too concerned with some extra ms of latency vs wired.
My current setup with Spectrum is easy:
- Netgear R7000 connected wired as router to Spectrum modem
- Netgear R6400 connected wirelessly as client bridge to R7000
- desktop connected wired to Netgear R6400 (with internet access at the same speeds as direct ethernet connection to R7000)
But when I try that with the AT&T equipment:
- Netgear R6400 connected wirelessly as client bridge to AT&T fiber gateway
- desktop connected wired to Netgear R6400 (with no internet access)
the R6400 doesn't successfully connect to the AT&T gateway - it doesn't show as a client in the AT&T device list, and internet shows 'disconnected' in the Netgear advanced network settings page. I also have to manually assign an IP address on my desktop to even connect to the Netgear router after I switch on client bridge mode. I've tried resetting factory defaults on the R6400 and starting from scratch, but with the same unsuccessful result.
Are there extra settings on the Arris BGW210-700 AT&T gateway that I need to enable to use the Netgear R6400 router in client bridge mode?
Last resort solution is using IP passthrough with:
- Netgear R7000 connected wired with IP passthrough to AT&T gateway
- Netgear R6400 connected wirelessly as client bridge to R7000
- desktop connected wired to Netgear R6400
But this prevents another upgrade I was thinking of making - using the other of my two Netgears as another client bridge downstairs to connect my TV, Xbox etc. via ethernet to the router that's connected wirelessly to the gateway (hoping this gives me better speeds than connecting each device wirelessly to the gateway).
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tonydi
ACE - Guru
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9.9K Messages
3 years ago
Yeah, that tracert is normal. It's not really sinister, it's more that the junk AT&T gateways don't have true bridge modes. So the gateway doesn't just pass traffic through like a dumb modem, it still has it's fingers in some of the networking stuff like NAT.
I suspect most people using the switch have UPS backup on their networking equipment anyway so power loss isn't an issue.
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ATTHelp
Community Support
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215.5K Messages
3 years ago
Hi @jenesulspasbavard, we are happy to help.
It is recommended that you use AT&T provided networking equipment when attempting to network multiple computers/devices.
If you choose to connect a third party router to your home network, please understand that third party routers are not supported by AT&T.
The following steps on our support site that are provided to help you to configure your AT&T provided modem/gateway to work with a third party router.
Also, visit our community forums page on Bridge-mode vs IP pass-through.
Let us know if this helps.
Lafayette, AT&T Community Specialist
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tonydi
ACE - Guru
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9.9K Messages
3 years ago
@ATTHelp Lafayette....
The first link you provide is absolutely zero help as it deals with ancient DSL modems! The second link is also not current information.
You aren't helping.
@jenesuispasbavard
Here's a better link on setting up IP Passthrough on the BGW.
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jenesuispasbavard
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3 years ago
Thanks @tonydi ; I do have everything working if I connect my Netgear router via ethernet to the ATT gateway and setting up IP Passthrough, and then using the other Netgear router as a client bridge connected wirelessly to the first Netgear router. (Identical to the "last resort solution" in my original post).
But the configuration I can't get working is connecting either Netgear router as a client bridge connected wirelessly to the AT&T gateway. If I can get that working, I can have two little wireless-to-wired client bridges to connect my desktop on one, and the TV/Xbox on the other. Right now, I can only get one wireless-to-wired client bridge working by using one Netgear as a host, and the other as a client - I can't figure out how to use the AT&T gateway as a host, and the two Netgears as clients.
(edited)
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tonydi
ACE - Guru
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9.9K Messages
3 years ago
Let's approach this from a different angle because I'm not convinced that if you get this to work that you'll be happy with the performance and reliability.
Presuming you don't have Uverse TV or Phone, that your fiber is Internet only, then take a look at this solution. Since you had the setup working the way you wanted with your previous ISP, I think this gets you the same result.
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jenesuispasbavard
New Member
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8 Messages
3 years ago
Thanks, if there is no way to connect my Netgear routers wirelessly to the AT&T gateway, I might just stick with the last resort solution I outlined above.
I'd rather not mess with solutions that could stop working - looks like the switch method outlined in your link would stop working when reauthentication is required in case power cuts out. But thank you for the link!
A little concerned about this hop though:
Any snooping going on or should I not be worried?
(edited)
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ATTHelp
Community Support
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215.5K Messages
3 years ago
@jenesuispasbavard.
As @tonydi said, our gateways aren't capable of a true bridge mode. Without going through solutions not provided by AT&T (Since they aren't recommended), then our gateway requires at least 1 3rd party router to be wired to it, and ran in IP Passthrough. Once that's done, you can try running the other routers wirelessly like access points and connecting them to the primary router currently wired to the gateway.
You may find it easier to use actual access points or extenders connected to the gateway, but are you having any trouble with your internet service without all this 3rd party equipment being hooked up?
We look forward to your response!
Ramses, AT&T Community Specialist
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jenesuispasbavard
New Member
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8 Messages
3 years ago
Sounds good. If the `ONT -> gateway -> router 1 -> router 2 -> desktop` labyrinth gives me issues I'll check out your link.
Seems to be working ok for now - although I still don't have a solution for wirelessly connecting a Netgear router as a client bridge to the ATT Arris BGW210-700 gateway, only to another Netgear router connected via ethernet to the gateway. Oh well.
Thanks @tonydi !
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jenesuispasbavard
New Member
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8 Messages
3 years ago
Thanks for the info @ATTHelp
I have no issues with the internet service - it's fast and stable (for the three days I've had it).
Only issues are with equipment downstream from the ONT - connecting a Netgear router wirelessly to the ATT gateway as a client bridge. It has connected to other routers wirelessly in the past (TP-Link, D-Link, and of course another Netgear) but can't seem to do the same with the Arris BGW210-700 gateway. That's all I was wondering about.
I suppose I can always get a third Netgear router to create the second wireless-to-wired zone downstairs.
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ATTHelp
Community Support
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215.5K Messages
3 years ago
@jenesuispasbavard.
Yep, as long as you have the 3rd party equipment acting as the primary router, you should be able to run those kinds of configurations as you're suggesting, as long as the primary router is wired to the gateway and ran in IP passthrough. Since your internet service is working as it's meant to, unfortunately we can't assist you with setting up the rest of this 3rd party equipment, but let us know if you have any other questions we can assist with. Thanks for choosing AT&T!
Ramses, AT&T Community Specialist
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