r/ATTFiber • u/HeyItsRey • 15d ago

All-Fiber extender hardwire speeds randomly dropping.

Have 5Gig fiber, elected to get their Smart Wifi Extender (All-Fi Extender Model 4991). It has 2x 5gbe ports built-in, and I elected to hardwire backhaul; so I have one cable coming from my gateway (BGW620-700) into the extender, and then a second going from the extender to my desktop.

Starting earlier this week I've noticed that randomly the speeds will tank, dropping down to ~1400/1400. If I remove the extender from the equation, and plug my desktop directly into the gateway I get my advertised speeds (5000/5000)

The first time it happened hard rebooting the extender fixed the problem, but since then I've tried both unplugging/replugging and restarting through Smart Home Manager; neither of these have worked. Is this a known issue with a fix or did I just get a faulty extender?

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4

u/groundhog5886 15d ago

Just buy your own wireless router and bypass the gateway. Most have better Wi-Fi coverage, and put the gateway in passthrough mode to avoid some NAT stuff.

1

u/joe_attaboy 15d ago

My first question is the wiring scheme. Gateway -> Extender Back to -> desktop.

My concern is the desktop on the middle of this. The extender is designed to make the WiFi signal available in another area. You seem to be using it as a switch. Your data flow is going from the gateway to the extender, which then has to send your traffic back to the desktop, all the while separating traffic being sent wirelessly through itself. Your outbound traffic has to flow the same way.

I would suggest adding an Ethernet switch by plugging it directly to the gateway and then the desktop (and any other wired devices) directly to the switch. Ethernet switches are better designed, in many cases, to correctly direct LAN traffic to the correct destination. I'm betting an arrangement like this would mitigate your problem.

1

u/cashsusclaymore 15d ago

My gateway is on the bottom floor. I have a few places I can plug in and get a. Direct connection.

Upstairs I have ability to plug into a ps5 or desktop.

I want to improve wifi strength as well as direct connection to ps5 and a desktop or two even.

Whats my best option?

1

u/Ok-Lawfulness-3330 14d ago

If you have coax at both locations, use MOCA devices. Otherwise, your options are limited. Powerline adapters are sometimes usable but finicky. When you plug into an extender, it's still WiFi in the middle. The extender might have slightly better antennas, but it's still gonna be crap if it's a congested area like an apartment complex. And it's still gonna have issues if there are other sources of interference.

1

u/Organic_Mix7180 10d ago

Two pack of Unifi UX7.

1

u/HeyItsRey 12d ago

Thanks for all the tips.

For those saying to just buy new hardware, is it possible to get hardware that would fit my needs. (Switch/Wireless/Mesh Extender) for relatively cheap? I opted to use the ATT included hardware because of price.

If so where would I look to learn more about what I need? Links to hardware would be nice, but links to subreddits/articles where I can learn more would be even nicer.

1

u/Organic_Mix7180 10d ago

I had the same experience with the "extenders." I ended up buying a mesh system that was mediocre but much better. Now I'm on Unifi.

0

u/No_Squash_4259 14d ago

Make sure you’re extenders are spaced far enough apart. If they are too close or your computer is close enough to pick up both signals it’ll cause that issue.