US Telco Support > AT&T > AT&T U-verse > New install and existing router

reply to Mangix

Re: New install and existing router

I see 2 choices you have:

1) Use your router in DMZ+ mode. This would let your wireless router do routing/NAT/DHCP to any wireless or connected wired clients. If you choose this route, you'll want to make sure that the wireless router's LAN addressing is not in the 192.168.1.0/24 subnet to prevent conflicts with the RG. In this scenario, you would connect the RG to the WAN port of your router and the RG will give the router a public IP.

2) Use your router as an AP by disabling DHCP and connecting the RG to a LAN port on your router as opposed to the WAN port. I would also statically set the router's LAN IP to something like 192.168.1.253 so that you can access the configuration pages of both the RG and router.

In either case, you could disable the wireless on the RG to prevent confusion or interference. I would also fore-go MAC filtering as it only adds an unneeded layer of complexity.

Please note that unless you do heavy communications between devices on your LAN, I would not expect to see dramatic increases in WAN speed by using 802.11n over 802.11g. U-verse doesn't support data throughput to the WAN high enough to warrant 802.11n.

One other piece of advice...if you use the AT&T apps on your mobile devices, like the remote control, you'll want to go with option 2. In option 1 above, wireless devices connected to your router will not be able to communicate with the STBs to control them.

Personally, I use option 2. I have a lot of heavy LAN traffic between devices (file transfers, cron jobs, etc) that can take advantage of my 802.11ac router (access point, per se). And I'm still able to use the mobile apps to control my STBs.

My $0.02
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Thanks. I will try option 2 and not use MAC address filtering as many of you suggest.

Is the WAN port the one labeled "internet" on the router?

Is it better to use the AT&T gateway as my wireless router or use my current router after the AT&T gateway? What are the advantages and disadvantages of doing it either way? Current router is a linksys wrt54g2 v1. Wireless g.

Personally, I would just use the RG wireless if my personal router was 802.11g. In my opinion, adding the additional router doesn't really get you anything extra for the headache you put into it.

Thant's just my opinion, though. Others may disagree

Unless the wireless is incredibly crappy on the AT&T RG, I'd retire that WRT54G. You're not going to see any benefit.

One option for keeping it around may be using it to extend the RG's wireless network if you find the range isn't good enough.

Edit: Obviously this was a reply to the OP, but I was agreeing with techguyga.
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University of Southern California - Fight On!

The AT&T tech installed a 2 wire box on the outside of the house and a 2wire modem inside the house. I am going to use the AT&T equipment only. Now to set up all our wireless devices to access the network.

4 hours to install and everything appears to be working well. Any last pieces of advice for the wireless network security?

Currently I am using it as it was set up.

Might want to change the default SSID (wireless name) and password for the wireless network as they are relatively easy to crack. Make sure the wireless security is at least WPA. WPA2 is better.
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University of Southern California - Fight On!

reply to gadawg
What model 2wire did you get?

reply to Thinkdiff
Ok. I will do that. Settings, LAN and then wireless after I go to the IP address? Only change those correct?
Leave the Wireless Access Point List and Unique Settings alone?

Wi-Fi Protected Setup is currently disabled (default)

reply to Lagz
i3812V outside and i38hg inside(router).

Here's the manual for your setup »www.att.com/support_media/images···2_UG.pdf

The modems config pages look similar to my 2wire. I have multiple routers, switches, and non-switched hubs behind my modem. If you feel comfortable messing with router/modem settings then you can try a few things.

I would give your current router an IP address within the DHCP range of the modem. Then go to the modem and open its config page. Go to settings tab > LAN tab > IP address allocation and turn off the modems firewall for that device.