New fiber installation scheduled. Should I request BGW 210 or 320?

Will depend on the spiller type assigned…. GPON (010 ONT) can be either, XGPON would be 320 as very few external 020 are available.

In either case your equipment will connect to Ethernet port on the gateway, not to the fiber. So the 320 can be placed in the garage in the same location as a 210 as could use your Ethernet to rack. Similar fiber to the rack would allow for (4) Ethernet connections without needing a switch…. If need more than (4) connection will still need a switch.

edit… if ordered internet 2000 or 5000 only the 320 can be used due to the 320 has (1)  Ethernet port that supports this speed. 

You should not have to power reset the device very often at all.  However, I want to share these phrases from the BGW210 manual:

The BGW210-700 Broadband Gateway is intended for use in a consumer's home. Position the device in an upright vertical position located where ambient temperatures remain within a range of 32°- 107°F (0°- 41.7°C). The BGW210-700 Broadband Gateway should not be used in locations exposed to outside heat radiation or where it is subject to trapping of its own heat. The product should have at least two inches of clearance on all sides except the bottom when properly installed and should not be placed inside tightly enclosed spaces unless proper ventilation is provided.

Operating temperature: 0°C to 41.7°C (32° F to 107° F);

8% to 95% (Non Condensing) Relative Humidity

I’d run fiber to the network rack. Or at least conduit with a pull tape so you and the tech could pull the att fiber to the rack. 

edit… if ordered internet 2000 or 5000 only the 320 can be used due to the 320 has (1)  Ethernet port that supports this speed. 

Not to mention that no other AT&T Gateway can accept direct fiber and no AT&T Gateway (including the 320) has an Ethernet WAN port capable of more than 1 Gbps.

Thanks your timely response. Not ordering the higher speeds, actually just the   Internet 300 as I currently have 100mbps cable from another provider that meets my needs (have had as many as 20 clients connected with no issues.) As to additional switches… I already have 12 managed and if need be will go to 16 poe with same vendor. Understand that my equipment will connect to ATT via ethernet regardless of location.

As mentioned in my op my concern with garage is environmental, mainly corrosion due humidity and salt laden air, and location which would always necessitate 8’ step ladder. What is the experience with equipment mounted in non-conditioned space? Do these devices require power off resets very often? 

Are there any benefits for me in running fiber to rack, other than possible use of 4 ports on 320?

BTW, the only reason I’m doing this is great pricing, no install fee, no equipment rental, no annual increases (we’ll see how that works out) and $300 in Visa rewards cards. What’s not to like?

Thanks 

Request a 210 so you get a separate ONT.  This gives you the option to bypass the awful gateway entirely using something like wpa_supplicant.

[EDITED per Community Guidelines] 

The environment issue is something that would concern me but more importantly I'd want the equipment where it's convenient and your garage doesn't seem like that checks that box.  Even if you don't have to power cycle the gateway, there will be times when you need to look at it when issues crop up.  Your Internet connection drops momentarily....do you really want to run down to the garage to look at the LED(s) on the gateway to help diagnose?  Can you get there in time before the condition corrects itself?

JefferMC - thanks for rated ambient parameters as there are times when we could be pushing both temp and humidity so those specs pretty much made up my mind to run the fiber to the rack. Better to do it now rather than several years down the road. 

DoctorBONG -  I’ve read about doing that. Pretty complicated I think, at least for this old grayhair. I would love to cut the AT&T Gateway out of the mix. Would be nice if AT&T would come up with a simple,  small footprint ONT w/authentication certs for those who prefer to use their own equipment. Are there downsides to using IP passthrough other than having another piece of equipment upstream with features that I’ll not use?