Can you have 2 routers with ATT fiber?

For instance, AT&T fiber internet service delivers internet through the fiber optic cables hence delivering very high internet speed to homes and firms. A typical confusion that customers have when it comes to the installation of fiber from AT&T is whether they can use two routers in their connection. The short answer is yes, you can use two routers in your home connected to AT&T fiber, but you need to know that there are certain factors that you need to consider.

The primary AT&T fiber entry point that gets offered is a modem/router appliance. This main router provides a direct connection to the fiber optic line and manages the fiber network termination and routing responsibilities. This router also extends your home WiFi network to the different areas of your house. For instance, if the homeowner wishes to have more WiFi coverage in his or her home or add functionality to the existing network, there is always the possibility of adding another router.

There are a few ways to incorporate an additional router: There are a few ways to incorporate an additional router:

WiFi Extender Mode:

If the primary purpose is to increase the range of coverage of the WiFi signal then you can add another router in WiFi Repeating mode. This effectively makes the second router a wireless repeater to boost your network as demonstrated in the video below. To do this, you will then plug the WAN port of the second router into any of the available LAN ports on the AT&T gateway router with an Ethernet cable. The most straightforward way to add wireless coverage is through WiFi extender mode; however, you have to place the second router within the reach of the established network.

Wired Router Mode:

It is also possible to connect a second wired router to the AT&T gateway router through an ethernet cable. This enables you to connect Ethernet wired cables directly from the secondary router ports to the intended devices or other access points in other sections of your house using wired connections instead of wireless. The second router puts you in a different subnet and local area network which can be used to increase your total wired outlets. The second router performs the routing function of devices that connect through its LAN ports.

Additional Functionality:

Wireless extension also enables the user to add extra features to the home network based on the discrete router model. For instance, one can include a gaming router with quality of service whereby the game network traffic is prioritized. Or extend the content with a mesh router system for a whole home mesh WiFi. The only thing that you need to do is to connect the secondary router to the AT&T gateway and you can use it.

Important Considerations:

There are a few important things to note if setting up two routers with AT&T fiber: There are a few important things to note if setting up two routers with AT&T fiber:

- As for the backhaul, it is recommended to use ethernet backhaul connections between routers instead of wireless backhaul if you want to have the best connectivity.

- You should also ensure that the DHCP server function on the second router has been turned off to eliminate conflicts with the main gateway DHCP services.

- If you are setting up your second router for WiFi access point mode, make sure to rename the network and the password of the second router to avoid confusion between the two networks.

- If it is necessary to place the routers apart, make the speed tests in different parts of the house to have the optimal combination of the areas covered and the speed. Large homes may need to have several entrances and exits to ease congestion and manage the flow of traffic.

- There might be a need to configure the AT&T gateway router to open certain ports if you need them to enable specific functionalities or for a remote connection.

All in all, it is possible to benefit from having two routers in your home network improving the whole functionality and Wi-Fi coverage. That said, be careful not to have two devices using the same IP address – that can be configured in routers. To gain maximum placements and performance, it is also recommended that testing is conducted to compare the speeds and connectivity across the entire covered area. Plus, if you have a fast fiber internet connection from AT&T, it is unlikely that your home network will experience issues with bandwidth limitations across your access points and connected devices. For issues regarding multiple routers fully configured if any, contact AT&T or the router manufacturer.