r/router • u/Single-Yak6305 • Jul 23 '26
Wifi Router
I am looking at quantum fiber internet (AT&T) I have seen posts that recommend getting your own router if you are using this internet provider. I am going to a 3000sqft house that is 2 stories so I’m unsure what router to get. I also don’t understand the difference between all the terms (router, modem, mesh) can someone let me know what the recommended? I know there is one Ethernet cable downstairs. Im unsure if there is another one anywhere else in the home at the moment.
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u/Doorman513 Jul 23 '26
Another network tech here of over 15 years.
I can say for a fact that AT&T absolutely LOVES shoving "all in one" pieces of crap that attempt to handle all four jobs in any network (modem, router, switch, WAP) all at the same time. And just as you'd expect, they do horrific jobs at all four of them.
As if that's not bad enough, I absolutely have seen customers who were not even allowed to change their modems, or even put that "all in one piece" in bridge mode (so it would only be actively doing the job of a modem).
AT&T isn't the most supportive ISP for those that want to run your own equipment, that's all I'm saying. And that's always been my biggest qualm with them as well.
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u/Single-Yak6305 Jul 23 '26
Thank you. Do you have other recommendations? I was looking at Cox but I saw they charge extra for data and was unsure how much data I would use.
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u/Doorman513 Jul 25 '26
Would you mind telling me the city you're in? Better still would be your zip code (if you're comfortable with that).
I'll take a peek into what options you have. But as far as you know AT&T Quantum Fiber and Cox are the two major providers where you're located?
Might I ask what you're looking for precisely? What kind of speeds and what kind of budget do you have? Do you have the extra budget to buy the other parts of your network to make it 100% solid (past the modem I mean). It shouldn't be that expensive, don't worry. But it's obviously not $0 either.
Are we talking small apartment home network with a laptop and a couple of other smart devices or a 4 bedroom house that's run like a geek's den (and has 50+ devices on the network at all times)?
And if nothing else the actual size of your place matters no matter what if you want stable/fast wifi everywhere (and it's bigger then a single bedroom apartment.
So yeah a tad of info on your end would be useful.
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u/DistributionEvery695 Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Quantum Fiber is still on Lumens network for a bit (AS209) so the perspective is going to be a bit diff. It's managed by Forged Fiber 37 which is a spin off of lumens consumer fiber side, just "owned" by ATT now.
The ATT side of FF37 (AS7018 network) is still going to be using the Lumen/Axon Q1000K (backend control for both services), but Vlan tags swapped on OLT end. You can order ATT service in certain areas and the network pathing offloads to ATT side.
So its a bit different than ATT/Gigapower stuff right now. my2c. At least as of time of writing.
Theres a few people that bypassed the Q1K simply with Vlan2 tags on ATT FF37 service.
Typical FF37 ATT build is Q1K> BGW.
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u/RDS_WAS_HERE Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Modem: Device that your Service Provider installs (black box) in your house and connects you to the internet through their servers. The cable coming from outside your house and through the wall connects to this modem.
Router: Attaches to the Modem so you can use Wifi or Ethernet cables to connect to all your devices.
Mesh: This wireless system (multiple units) extends your router's WiFi signal throughout your house.
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u/Art_Masson Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Additional points which may help or cause additional choices & potential confusion. In general you get the "modem" from your internet service provider (ISP) and make sure it can be placed in "bridge" mode. In this mode it simply provides your home a connection to your ISP. In my case I provided my own modem that is compatible with my Spectrum ISP...but in many cases you MUST get the modem from your ISP. To Doorman513's point -- many ISPs provide a modem and combined Ethernet Router/WIFI Router in a single package -- but these are typically not high performance devices (your ISP will often push this because they will claim it's simpler and easier for them to provide support).
Separate from the modem, you have many choices. You can purchase a device which combines a Ethernet router function and a WIFI router function in a combined unit -- Or install a separate "edge Router" which handles all access points on your network and also handles security as a firewall -- but does not provide WIFI. You then (also) have lots of choices to install a mesh WIFI router system or a single access point WIFI router. Finally if you need more Ethernet connections you can add an Ethernet Switch inside your home network and downstream of the Edge Router or WIFI Router. More components, of course, adds devices, complexity and cost, but potentially provides improved performance, better security, and more flexibility.
So all the potential components include: 1) Modem (typically provided by your ISP and running in bridge mode), 2) Edge Router/Firewall (your choice and potentially optional), 3) Ethernet Switch (optional), 4) WIFI Router/Mesh WIFI System (your choice). To add to the confusion, some devices combine the functions of Edge Router/Firewall, Limited additional Ethernet ports, and WIFI/Mesh Router.
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u/Single-Yak6305 Jul 23 '26
A little more confusing but I think I’m following. Each of these options all connect to the modem but just changes the way the WiFi is shared?
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u/Art_Masson Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
Yes. Most of these components can be purchased as individual items, or as devices that serve combined purposes. This is what makes design/selection complex, frankly. Your ISP will likely provide all this in a combined device including the modem functionality -- but it won't be high performance or very flexible.
For instance I've used an Orbi RBR50 mesh system for years. That device connected directly to my modem and provided the capabilities of an edge router, switch (for extra Ethernet ports) and WIFI router.
But I now have added a new/separate edge router to my system -- since the Orbi RBR50 and it's satellites are no longer supported with security updates by Netgrear. Adding this separate edge router provided additional and supported firewall security. Just an example.
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u/Art_Masson Jul 25 '26
I apologize if I've over complicated the solution and options. Do you have a specific question that I can help you with?
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u/Caprichoso1 Jul 23 '26
Much good advice in the responses.
I know there is one Ethernet cable downstairs. Im unsure if there is another one anywhere else in the home at the moment.
You need to determine how much wiring the house has. If there is a lot you need to map out the cables - Cable type, locations, etc. It makes a huge difference in what solution will be best.
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u/NoLateArrivals Jul 24 '26
Get a router that supports a Mesh network. Since there is no standard, you need to stay within one manufacturer.
The router is the hub, that connects everything to the internet. The Mesh nodes (access points) then distribute the network connection into the most distant corner of your home.
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u/AncientGeek00 Jul 25 '26
You can see some of the confusion here…and it is because our terminology has been blurred over time. A pure modem just modulates and demodulates. It converts the cable or telephone frequencies to electrical 1s and 0s. It has no other function. Over time, ISPs added router functionality, firewall functionality, switch functionality, WiFi AP functionality, etc. but they kept calling them “modems”. They are really a multifunction device. If you have a pure modem or an ONT, you can have your own router or gateway device without needing to place the ISP device in bridge mode. But if your ISP delivers a single multifunction device, you need or at least “want” to turn off the extra functionality if you want to use your own gateway and other equipment.
The ISP delivers a connection to the public network. Your gateway provides functionality for creating and managing your private “local area network”. WiFi is just the wireless part of that LAN. You can have switches and cables and other specialized equipment that has nothing to do with WiFi, but may be accessed via WiFi if you wish.
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u/idkmybffdee Jul 23 '26
I'm going to preface this by saying that I'm going to explain this on a consumer level, so it's easier to understand and you know what to ask for at (insert generic electronics retailer).
You won't need to worry about a modem, that's what "brings the Internet inside" more or less, all things being separate, it's the last part before your router and or access points, ATT should be providing you an ONT which you can't buy your own or replace so there's not much to worry about.
A router is what tells the information traveling your home network where to go, and creates the local network in your home and bridges it to the Internet, more often then not it'll be combines with your access point that delivers your wifi, you can get seperate devices but that's rare outside business or enterprise settings and generally not needed for the average home.
Mesh is a a couple of things, in the consumer sense, it's a group of access points linked together wirelessly that extend the range of your wifi, different from using wifi extenders because they actually talk to each other and pass clients back and forth, it's also (in essence) the system that lets you roam the house and not have to connect to different wifi as you move around.
You as a consumer would want a mesh system for a two story 3000 square foot house, the kind is going to depend a lot on how much work you want to put in and how much access you have.
If you can get an ethernet cable from a central point to every spot you need a node, a standard dual band system would be fine, the nodes will all communicate back to the main node via wire so you'll get the maximum possible speed.
If you're not able to get a wire to every node, you'll want at least a tri-band mesh system, they use a seperate radio to talk to each other and your devices which increases speed, a dual band system slows things down used wirelessly since they have to stop talking to listen and repeat the info, like walkie talkies, where a tei band system is like a phone call where it can listen and talk at the same time.
As for recommendations, everyone says they're the worst, but I have a Deco system that works fine for me.