"Derek" wrote in message news
I have an AT&T FIOS Phone/WiFi router that stinks.
I have a faster WiFi router I want to use to replace the AT&T for the wifi
and router parts.
How do I do this ?
Basics I think are to:
somehow keep the AT&T unit so phone will work but not use it as a
router or a WiFi.
connect new wifi router to AT&T with a cable.
I can get into the AT&T unit and print the settings but I do not know what
settings are important.
What things do I need to do to make it all play and not have to change all
the passwords on my equipment.
Please give me steps in order with as much detail possible
Thank you so much.
I don't know that router but some generic steps to try if that AT&T router
has an Ethernet port.
1. Log into the AT&T router and look for WiFi settings for both the 2.4GHz
and 5GHz bandwidths that allow them to be turned off along with any Guest
network if you had one setup.
2. That AT&T router probably has an IP address of 192.168.1.1 and also
serves up the DHCP addresses for your other devices when they connect either
by wired or wireless connection.
3. Connect your PC or laptop to the new router but do not connect it to the
AT&T router. You need to setup the new router first so it's an Access Point
off the AT&T router. That new router should have a tag on it that shows the
default IP address, username (if needed) and password. Follow the
manufacturers instructions on how to gain access to that router by using the
address they provide.
4. You want to setup the new router with a different internal network
address than the AT&T router. Set it up to the subnet same address i.e.
192.168.xxx.yyy but make the yyy part one more than the AT&T router. So if
the AT&T is set to 192.168.1.1, the new router will be 192.168.1.2
Note: The AT&T DHCP addressing scheme may need to be adjusted so the start
of the DHCP addresses starts at 192.168.1.3 and goes to 192.168.1.254. It
can be set to a narrower range and the IP numbers I'm using may not be what
are set on the AT&T router. You may find it has a different subnet address
such as 192.168.0.1 or 172.xxx.xxx.xxx or 10.xxx.xxx.xxx. Follow the IP
numbering scheme you presently use.
5. On the new router, you do not want DHCP set to on. The AT&T router will
still hand out the addresses.
6. When you set the address on the new router you need to enter in some more
info:
New router IP address: 192.168.1.x (with x being one higher number than the
AT&T router)
Mask: 255.255.255.0
Gateway: 192.168.1.1 This will be the same address that the AT&T IP
address is set to now. I'm assuming it's 192.168.1.1
7. Once the new router has the settings and you've also setup a new password
and Network SSID (name for router) , disconnect it from your PC or laptop
and connect the cable over to a Ethernet port on the AT&T router. Other
security settings may need to be set on the new router to match whatever you
have on your devices and should match the AT&T router settings. Typically
the Security Level is WPA2-Personal.
8. I'm assuming that the AT&T router also has the firewall turned on - leave
it on to do the firewall duties. Turn off the firewall on the new router.
Having two firewalls inline like that can cause problems.
9. With the WiFi turned off on the AT&T router, the new router should be
seen using the new SSID you entered. Now to make things easy, you can use
the same SSID and channel numbers and network password that were used on the
AT&T router and those will work.
That keeps the AT&T router online so it's used by your phone and TV if you
have TV with them. It will still dish out the DHCP addresses to other PC's
and laptops when they connect.
This is only one set of generic instructions and you may have to look hard
in the AT&T settings to find the Off switch to turn off the wireless for
both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands. The Verizon FIOS routers (Actiontec) hide
setting in submenus so it may take some hunting. On some routers, you may
have to call your ISP to get a password to unlock some settings. Once you
tell them what you want to do, they should either talk you thru it or
furnish you with answers.
If we knew the make and model numbers we could look them up and provide some
more instructions if you can't get it setup and working.
--
Bob S.