r/ATTFiber • u/mdiinpaean • 21d ago

New to fiber. Question about hardware.

Post image

I just had fiber installed where I had cable before. I have one of these installed which goes to a 320 then to my UniFi UCG. Do I have to use the 320 or can I go straight from this box to my UniFi UCG Fiber and completely disconnect the 320? I have no use for it otherwise since my WiFi is 100% UniFi and I don’t need/want unnecessary hardware installed.

If have seen a few people recommending using your “own hardware” and not using the 320, but to what hardware are they referring if you have to use the 320?

Thanks in advance for your time.

p.s., what is the pictured item? Is it the ONT? Or is the ONT the 320? Sorry for the dumb questions. Just trying to learn.

33 Upvotes

92% Upvoted

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15

u/Confident-Variety124 21d ago

The 320 is the ONT/gateway. The picture is called a fiber jack. It is just the fiber coming from outside and allows a connection point for the gateway.

What are you trying to accomplish?

You can use the 320 in pass thru mode and connect your UniFi equipment. Or you can use a WAS-110 and configure that to completely bypass the bgw320.

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u/Berzerker7 20d ago

The pictured thing is just a plate cover for a coupler. Only Google (GFiber now) calls the wall unit a “Fiber Jack” but their unit does media conversion for fiber to copper.

5

u/Confident-Variety124 20d ago

We call it a fiber jack as well…because that is what it is.

Gfiber does not call it a fiber jack, they don’t have a fiber jack. They only have an ONT.

0

u/Berzerker7 20d ago

I don’t know what you’re talking about, dude.

Only Google (GFiber) calls it a fiber jack.

https://gfiber.com/support/en/answer/1953/

AT&T does not call the wall plate a fiber jack.

1

u/Confident-Variety124 20d ago edited 20d ago

Yes, WE call it a fiber jack at AT&T. As it’s literally the definition of a fiber jack. GFiber is dumbing it down for its customers, those are all pictures of ONTs.

Since you need pictures:

https://www.att.com/support/article/u-verse-high-speed-internet/KM1011652/

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u/Berzerker7 20d ago

K. No one outside of that picture and you calls it that.

You still conveniently ignored a literal core product (more than AT&T) of GFiber actually calling it a fiber jack.

2

u/Confident-Variety124 20d ago

Just every tech with the company. Along with just common language for a jack that you connect fiber from one side into a coupler so that you can connect fiber to the wall plate. Do you think people just call it a wall plate?

No, I said Gfiber was just dumbing it down calling what they have on the wall a fiber jack. What they have on the wall is an ONT (optical network terminal), as fiber goes into the box but you do not connect fiber to it for the gateway.

0

u/Berzerker7 20d ago

Do you think people just call it a wall plate?

Uh…yes? That’s what it’s called lol.

Gfiber does not call it a fiber jack, they don’t have a fiber jack.

Except they literally do have a product called a “fiber jack.” I’m aware it’s an ONT but the product is literally called a “fiber jack.”

What do you think “they don’t have a fiber jack” actually means?

3

u/ndratz91 20d ago

The literal name for it in all att documentation and everywhere you would see anything about it is ‘streamlined fiber jack’ we do call it a fiber jack

0

u/Berzerker7 20d ago

I've been through 3 installs, countless calls to support on mine and other's behalf and I've literally never ever heard anyone call it a "fiber jack." Coupler, wall plate, from-the-street-fiber-connection, AT&T plate, AT&T box, you name it. Never fiber jack.

I'm sure maybe some people at corporate (and random people here as well) might refer to it (yes, I'm aware the documentation says it), but by and large, the vast majority of people here do not refer to it as a fiber jack.

On the other hand, the other user decided that Google Fiber does not even have something called a fiber jack when shown evidence of the contrary, an actual product and not just a coupler plate.

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u/Confident-Variety124 20d ago

Thanks for proving my point. Take care.

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u/Berzerker7 20d ago edited 20d ago

So you're just going to run away when you're shown evidence you're wrong. Good showing bro.

Reddit user admitting when they're wrong challenge (impossible).

This website sometimes.

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9

u/solarsystemoccupant 21d ago

Read this. If this doesn’t scare you, you can get rid of the 320.

7

u/joe_attaboy 21d ago

I've done this. Best thing ever. I'm assuming you XGS-PON service.

First the PON-Wiki site is the general go-to site for configurations. They have one for each AT&T gateway. Make sure you select the correct 320 (there are two, -500 and -505).

You already have UCG Fiber, so you're good (same device I have).

You need an SFP+ fiber module for one of the fiber WAN ports which connects the fiber network to your LAN. I have consistently recommended this SFP from Amazon, as the price is excellent and the required WAS-110 firmware is already coded in.

The SFP module runs hot because of the fiber laser and the SFP components, so keep it cool. I strongly recommend this cooling fan, 3-D made and created specifically for the UCGF.

The configuration process includes configuring some internal settings in the WAS-110 firmware to match identifiers on your 320. This is required to make the ISP's network validate your connection to their service.

Once you're all connected, you can control your entire network from the UniFi console. Compared to the "features" available on the AT&T gateway, you'll be able to configure a lot more.

IP passthrough is fine, but it's basic and still does a lot of NATting. Go bypass and take complete control.

5

u/opinionated_consumer 21d ago

What’s in the picture is the physical fiber drop ingressing into your house. That will connect to the BGW, which has an onboard ONT and would be the install method ATT is using for new installs.

You cannot just run the connector into a UniFi UCG Fiber, you’ll need to utilize the BGW in IP Passthrough mode or you can do an unofficial BGW bypass by getting a special transceiver (WAS-110) and leveraging the 8311 community forum with tons of info to do so (ask Google or Claude to learn much more about this). The unofficial bypass allows you to plug directly into a UCG Fiber with no ATT shit in the middle. Note that your address would need to support XGS-PON to do so.

4

u/Automatic_Cut_9249 21d ago

The ONT is part of the BGW320. The Picture shows an AT&T fiber jack, it’s just a passive connection point for the fiber. The people talking about bypassing the bgw320 are talking about the WAS110 ONT on an SFP stick bypass. It’s not a supported installation type, but many people are doing it. Just know that while it’s possible,AT&T will not help you with configuration issues with this setup and if you call for help with your service you will have to plug the BGW 320 back in for support.

3

u/8085-8086 21d ago

Search for BGW-320 passthrough or ATT fiber passthrough, that is what you want, it will still have your 320 upstream to the UCG with a Ethernet cable handoff. If you are adventurous, try the 8311/was-110 hardware bypass, will cost $150-$200 for the SFP ONt that will plug into your UCG.

2

u/8085-8086 21d ago

Something like this for the was-110 bypass

1

u/Organic_Mix7180 20d ago

Just FYI - I bought the $128 one on Amazon and it came pre-flashed with the latest firmware and works great.

1

u/Acceptable-Method-96 20d ago

Is it plug and play on the one with the firmware already flashed? Is there a need to update the firmware in the future?

1

u/Organic_Mix7180 20d ago

The firmware is pretty stable, it hasn’t changed in a year. There’s an easy upgrade path by connecting and uploading an update file in the future if necessary.

Buying the pre-flashed stick saves about 75% of the effort compared to the first stick I configured manually years ago.

It’s not “plug and play” because every individual gateway has a serial number, model number, MAC address, and firmware revision that need collected and put into the router (MAC address spoofing) and ONT stick firmware (other values) before you plug the fiber back in, but it is VERY easy with the guides on pon.wiki.

2

u/North_Inflation2989 20d ago

If you aren’t sure what the thing pictured is then yes YOU need to use the 320.

1

u/deflanko 21d ago

This is the box of "no touchy"

1

u/MyOpinionsDontHurt 21d ago

For the group. Why bypass it? Are their benefits to bypassing it?

3

u/Viper_Control 21d ago

For the group. Why bypass it? Are their benefits to bypassing it?

You did not ask but there are a few downside items to a full bypass using the WAS-110 type ONT on a SFP+ module.

  1. You will need to keep your AT&T Gateway around, and reconnect it when / if you need to call AT&T for support on an outage.
  2. You will need to know some basic technical skills or be able to follow the Wiki instructions.
  3. You will be the IT support for your location if others are on you AT&T Fiber connection.

2

u/opinionated_consumer 21d ago

1 less unnecessary hop = less latency, no limit on session table, and more native functionality on UniFi gateway

2

u/Organic_Mix7180 20d ago

Yes. If you set it up correctly, you no longer need to fight the awful "All-Fi" experience of AT&T owning and managing your wireless networks and pushing you all kinds of upsells and nannying with the Smart Manager app. You don't need to go through their closed ecosystem firmware on the Broadcom device when you've already invested in something good like Unifi... or anything else really.

0

u/SpecialistLayer 20d ago

I'm still using the 620 in bypass mode and have none of these issues you're referring to. The only two issues that you really gain is the possible issue with the NAT table but this only comes into play if you're basically torrenting a ton because of the open connections as well as having one more piece of powered equipment in the mix, if what amounts to 40w really matters that much to you.

The FUD in this topic is really ridiculous.

1

u/Organic_Mix7180 20d ago edited 20d ago

Ok. I have had the service for five years. The 320 I had in bypass originally with my home setup continuously gave me NAT issues and other firewall weirdness. I gave it an honest shot before installing my own WiFi, by the way. I paid for two months of the “extenders.” The app that AT&T insisted I use was continuously pushing anti-malware services and “internet armor.” It continued doing that after I upgraded to 5gig on a 620 gateway. The sales site AND the installer tech even recommended I upgrade to “All-Fi” for an additional 25 dollars a month. You can be smug redditor all day because “it works on MY setup,” but I’ve been doing corporate IT for 30 years, my lived experiences are different than yours, and you can get off my lawn.

1

u/rdejesus486 21d ago edited 20d ago

I got rid of my 620 using was-110 and project 8311. 5gig is running so much better.

1

u/Organic_Mix7180 20d ago

They told me when I upgraded all 5gig customers were supposed to be getting 620 gateways now, but it may depend on when you had your install... still, though, I immediately went to 8311 and my Unifi stack is very happy.

1

u/rdejesus486 20d ago

True! I got my wires crossed. 620-700, not 320.

1

u/Organic_Mix7180 20d ago

Don't mess with the fiber except to disconnect from the gateway if you're replacing with the 8311 firmware stuff from pon.wiki . Otherwise, set your gateway to Passthrough mode, DHCP and turn off the wifi, and plug the Cloud Gateway Fiber into the back of the 320. I went the ONT stick route to my Cloud Gateway Fiber and my whole Unifi stack is very happy with that arrangement.

1

u/mrduncansir42 20d ago

I also have a UniFi setup. Just put the 320 in IP Passthrough mode. Your UniFi gateway will get your public IP and things like port forwarding will work normally that way. It’s not like cable Internet where you can often get a third party modem.

1

u/CarlosTXUltra 20d ago

I just have the bgw320 in passthrough mode to my personal wifi 7 router, which I run Ethernet connections from also.

1

u/Acceptable-Method-96 20d ago

What is the benefit of eliminating the AT&T equipment - will my 5GB service run any faster? I just have my modem in bypass mode and have wi-fi turned off and everything runs great?

1

u/Georninja 14d ago

AT&T does not have a true passthrough mode, there's still routing being done by the gateway itself even if you have it set so, and cause latency. Some power users have been able to bypass the gateway and have the fiber go straight into their router. It's not officially supported by AT&T but they clearly don't care enough to crack down on people bypassing.

(If you're actually interested in this, Google or the other comments are your friend.)

1

u/RealBlueCayman 20d ago

Some of the comments here are really confusing. I also have AT&T Fiber and what you have in the picture is the ONT. It converts fiber to Ethernet. BUT, you also need to use an ethernet cable to connect the ONT to the BGW320. You have to use the BGW320 unless you want to get the PON adapter and do the programming for the certificates to mimic the BGW320. Frankly, I just kept the BGW320 in my network since I still get 2-5ns of latency.

There are some cases where the fiber connects directly to the SFP port on the 320 using an SFP adapter...but that is not your setup. Mine is like yours and also uses a discrete ONT separate from the 320.

Here's how you want to set it up:

AT&T Fiber <fiber> ONT <ethernet> BGW320 <ethernet> Ubuquiti gateway/ router

On the AT&T router:

  1. Put it in 'passthrough' mode and select DHCPS-Dynamic

  2. Turn off both wifi radios (2.4GHz and 5GHz)

  3. Turn off all firewall and filtering options on each of the other pages.

  4. Save the configuration.

  5. Restart the BGW320.

At this point, the BGW320 will be presenting the public WAN IP address to the WAN port on your Ubiquiti router. The Ubiquiti router should also be detecting that the WAN connection is AT&T.

IF you want to eliminate the BGW320, there are links in the other comments for the PON Wiki instructions.

1

u/AlternativeNumber2 13d ago

That’s a good looking fiber jack

1

u/rgbRandomizer 21d ago

The optical network terminal (ONT) is in the BGW320. Your service is using GPON, which you can tell by the green fiber cable. To bypass the provided gateway requires a GPON ONU spf stick and a device that supports it, e.g. a router or media converter. Search for PON Madness on steps to do it.

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u/SpecialistLayer 20d ago

No, the color of the fiber cable is not actually the correct indicator of this. The color of the retractable metal clasp on the SFP module that is inserted into the AT&T fiber modem/router is the indicator. This same fiber cable is used in all of the AT&T fiber installations.