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SandFlea71's profile

New Member

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3 Messages

Thursday, February 24th, 2022 4:42 AM

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

This is new ATT install to be done by technician.
Two story home on pilings. First floor is garage only with foam insulation  

12’ ceiling and sheetrock (basically sealed.) 2nd floor foam insulation in exterior walls, 10’ ceilings. Service drop on west side of house, network rack and media rack > 50’ eastward on other side of house. Currently have UDM Pro with 5 APs ( 2 in first floor garage and three upstairs) excellent wifi throughout house. I intend to utilize IP pass through on new ATT router regardless of model and keep my existing network.

When I built the house I dropped several spare CAT 6 and coax cables on west side all of which route back to rack. I stupidly did not install conduit and existing cables are well secured and foamed in which would preclude me from using one of them to pull fiber. I have figured out a way to penetrate an exterior closet wall near the 2nd story floor that would allow me to pull fiber through and run up into attic and across the house and drop into media rack space. That penetration would be about 14’ - 15’  Above ground level. If I were to request the 210 I would have to mount the ONT at ceiling height in garage (due power outlet being up there due code) and then utilize one of the spare CAT 6 cables to feed 210 in rack space. 

So, all things considered should I pull the fiber to 320 in rack space or go the 210 route with ONT in garage.

 I see several issues with 210 in garage, one is location which would always require a ladder for resetting the ONT and such, and harsh environment near seashore although garage is enclosed. Benefit would be utilizing existing CAT6 run from there to rack.

Running fiber from street to rack would “future proof” install and perhaps give me latest gateway, the 320,  or the 210 and ONP in the rack space side by side.  Biggest issue with this is attic access near soffit which is also foamed in. I am willing to do prep work for pulling the fiber and assist Tech in doing so, i.e. I will go into attic space.

ATT cannot give me any info as to which configuration is scheduled.

Any comments?

(Edited as per community guidelines)

Accepted Solution

Official Solution

my thoughts

Former Employee

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20.4K Messages

1 year ago

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. 

(edited)

Accepted Solution

JefferMC

ACE - Expert

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32.3K Messages

1 year ago

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
The high end of "8% to 95% (Non Condensing) Relative Humidity" especially may be a concern given your description of "salt water".
The gateway is intended for residential use. Position the gateway in an upright vertical position and locate it where temperatures remain within a range of 32° – 107°F (0° – 41.7°C) and where heat from the unit itself is not trapped. There must be at least two inches (2") of clearance on all sides except the bottom.

(edited)

Accepted Solution

browndk26

ACE - Professor

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5K Messages

1 year ago

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. 

JefferMC

ACE - Expert

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32.3K Messages

1 year ago

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.

New Member

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3 Messages

1 year ago

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 

(edited)

New Member

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4 Messages

1 year ago

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] 

(edited)

tonydi

ACE - Guru

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9.9K Messages

1 year ago

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?

New Member

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3 Messages

1 year ago

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?

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