Want to use AT&T Arris BGW210 with mesh Wi-Fi Router

Hello @richapple, thanks for reaching out to AT&T Community and Forums. We know where you are coming from. Let's help you with the best suggestions.

To answer your question,

You can connect a mesh unit to your AT&T Arris BGW210 modem/router via an Ethernet port and then turn off Wi-Fi via a browser login. After that, you can set up the Mesh unit to be the Wi-Fi connection. This should help you get better Wi-Fi with many devices.

One piece of advice suggests having AT&T “turn off” the router, which would make the Mesh unit the router. However, this may require a tech phone call, but it's not necessary for your use case.

Another piece of advice suggests turning off the Wi-Fi like your first guess. This is a simpler solution and should work for your use case.

We hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Fiona Q - AT&T Community Specialist

@richapple 

Most quality WiFi systems allow you to continue to use the gateway as a router, which is easier to manage and maintain in the long run.  Typically these WiFi systems just need to be put into access point mode. 

If your best ATT internet speed tier is 5/.6 do not expect adding a mesh unit is going to increase your upload capability. 

May want to check into FWA products such as ATT AIR that would offer faster download/upload speeds along with no data cap.

Yes, true dat.  A good WiFi system will simply get the best possible throughout out of the existing connection if data transfer to internet is a consideration.  It will certainly solve any concerns within the home network. 

Thank you ATTHelp, gr8sho, and My Thoughts. I've Liked and marked as Accepted Answer all of your replies because they are all correct as far as I can see.

I am smart enough to realize that a Mesh Wi-Fi isn't needed unless the Wi-Fi in the router isn't good enough, and no, better Wi-Fi doesn't/can't increase internet speed. I actually do not have so many devices that a Mesh is needed. I was looking into it based on advice of others, but now I think I understand.

My issue I was hoping to fix was that my wildlife cam uploads were dropping packets like crazy. So I was thinking "better Wi-Fi" even though Wi-Fi signal is good at all the locations... Hence I was "meshing" with the Mesh idea.

I did call and get an AT&T tech person on the phone to see about "flushing" my router (?? One person suggested that somewhere) - and I think all she and I "did" was for me to reset the router (red button), but I think that was after she had turned off (disabled) Packet Filters. She didn't say, but I had looked at that before and was figuring it should be a "no touchy" item because it is under Firewall and all. I think she turned them off (at the top of that page) because logging into the router now shows the option to "Enable Packet Filters." I think the packet filters listed below on that page are kind of standard, and I can't say that with Packet Filtering enabled before whether or not they were all checked.

BUT! The cam uploads have been working flawlessly, even with my having every single Wi-Fi device connected that I have. (The cams and wall plugs might add up to 12 devices, with an iPhone or two and a computer or two at times - probably well within the capabilities of the BGW-210.)

** I may post separately asking about Disabling Packet Filters, as in "is this safe and okay," but I saw in some "StackExchange" postings that there are Firewall filters and safety things in place even with the Packet Filters disabled. **

Again, thanks to all of ya for the help!

Great! We're glad that you were able to get the help you need @richapple.

Please feel free to reach out to us for any further assistance.

ChrisM, AT&T Community Forums Specialist.