What does an AT&T Fiber installation look like?

vbnut · 2025-04-10T06:22:44+00:00

I’ve been using Comcast Teleworker (business class service sponsored by my employer) cable internet for many years. I have it in two different locations, one where Comcast provided the model, and in a second location where I decided to purchase a Motorola NB8600 modem myself. In both locations, the modem is configured in bridge mode (not as a router) and I have my own router/firewall with multiple Ethernet ports and supporting WiFi 6. I have a small Ethernet LAN including a Gigabit switch to connect my computers and my NAS, along with multiple devices using WiFi. I may be moving to a location where I can get AT&T Fiber, and I’m wondering what the connection process looks like? It appears that AT&T will provide and install a “gateway”, but that is all I’ve been able to find out. What, exactly, is the gateway? Where will the gateway be installed? Will I be able to have the gateway setup in bridge mode like my Comcast setups where I use my own router/firewall to provide Ethernet and WiFi connectivity?

vbnut

MacLeech A dynamic DNS (DDNS) client on your PC will detect the public IP assigned to your gateway and will pass it on to the DDNS provider. Similar to how these sites detect your IP:

I’m not running a DDNS client on my PC, I’m using the one built-in to my TP-Link AX 1500 WiFi 6 Router. Section 12.4 Set Up a Dynamic DNS Service Account in the AX 1500 User Guide includes the follow note

Note: DDNS does not work if the ISP assigns a private WAN IP address (such as 192.168.1.x) to the router.

which leads me to believe that it will not detect the public IP assigned to my gateway.

adlr

vbnut usually the DDNS services can look at the source IP where your request is coming from, so you don’t actually need to know your public IP.

SLC_96

vbnut The AT&T gateway will provide a public IP to your TP-Link router while in IP passthrough mode. DDNS on your TP-Link router will continue to work.

vbnut

SLC_96 Setting up the gateway will make sense once you get it and start looking around the config pages.

I’m trying to prepare and make sure I understand how to make DDNS work before I move to the new location that has AT&T Fiber available (and thus before I have the gateway). Is there some place on the web where I can see documentation for the gateway’s config pages?

vbnut

I started going through the signup process for AT&T Fiber on the AT&T website, and it asks me if I want the AT&T All-Fi Pro add-on. I clicked on the “Learn more about All-Fi Pro” link, but didn’t find it very informative, other than that it includes a Wi-Fi 7 gateway.

Does AT&T Fiber include Wi-Fi if I don’t get the All-Fi Pro add-on?
What does All-Fi Pro add-on add, and what are the benefits?

badtlc4

vbnut it provides wifi 7 and possibly some extenders. You get wifi6 with no addons.

vbnut

Thanks. Sounds like I don’t need it, so I can save $25/month.

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