New Member
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25 Messages
Uverse AT&T BGW210-700, TP-Link Deco AX3600, lack of ethernet ports, router/switch confusion
Please bear with me. I am very non-technical and have a brain injury. I need to upgrade my system because we have a lot of internet congestion since we have about 30-40 devices connected to our internet at any given time.
I currently have U-verse and internet 1000 with one wired DVR going to the gateway and two wireless DVR units with a WAP plugged into the gateway. I am very confused because I purchased the TP-Link Deco AX3600 Wi-Fi 6 Tri-Band Mesh System and once I received it, I realized all my ethernet ports were being used on my U-verse BWG210 Gateway.
I read on other forums here that I need to keep the wired DVR plugged into the gateway. So, do I unplug the wireless access point for the other two wireless DVRs and plug it into one of the Deco units?
I have now done it both ways, unplugging the wired DVR and plugging it into a deco unit and unplugging the WAP from the gateway and plugging that into a deco unit. While my speeds increased and I have Wi-Fi in previous dead spots, I cannot get any of my recordings or get my U-verse to pause. I get the usual "the pause command is temporarily unavailable, try again" message. I've gone through the whole process of restarting the gateway, restarting the WAP, restarting and linking each DVR to the WAP, as usual. We have constant problems with our system and have to do this at least once a week.
I did turn off both wifis and did the dynamic pass through on the gateway, following the directions here: https://forums.att.com/conversations/att-internet-equipment/bridgemode-vs-ip-passthrough-setup-information/5defbfffbad5f2f606ad5ed2
Do I need to simply add a new router to my gateway so I have more ethernet ports or is there some kind of switch to ad ethernet ports? And, if so, what MUST I leave plugged in to the U-verse Gateway?
Also, I do not understand the security that I may or may not have by adding a mesh network. Would I get more security by adding a router to the gateway? I see subscription services for the mesh system and read elsewhere that I am more vulnerable.
Any and all help is appreciated and if you have resources where I can learn more about this on my own so I don't have to ask so many questions, I am definitely interested. Thanks for reading all of this!
browndk26
ACE - Professor
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5K Messages
1 year ago
If restarting everything like @JefferMC suggested doesn’t work, Try unplugging the wap from the gateway. See if everything else works again.
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LexiLuther
New Member
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25 Messages
1 year ago
That's what I did last night and everything went back to normal. But, I don't have TV to my two wireless DVRs, then. But, I have not had a chance to do everything that @JefferMC suggested.
(edited)
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browndk26
ACE - Professor
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5K Messages
1 year ago
Hopefully a tech with the user name my thoughts replies. He may have more insight into the WAP issue. What model WAP? I’m remembering now the cat 5 from the managed to unmanaged switch should allow you to connect other devices to the unmanaged switch. I’m hoping your family has recovered.
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JefferMC
ACE - Expert
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32.3K Messages
1 year ago
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LexiLuther
New Member
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25 Messages
1 year ago
You guys are amazing! 😁 I have not had a chance to do the complete restart on everything because of various annoying reasons you don't want to be bothered with. 🙄 But, I just woke up and I'm going to do it as soon as my husband saves his game. It turns out the ??? is a hardwired security camera (it was so far away from the router, it couldn't pick up Wi-Fi wirelessly). So, everything is as beautifully diagrammed as @JefferMC posted. And, I can't see how that one hardwired security camera would make a difference. I am hoping that a complete reset and restart of everything in the proper order fixes everything. I'll let you know soon.
@browndk26 Thank you. It's been really rough. I met my husband when I was 14 years old - we were high school sweethearts. So, I've been with the family for 33 years, married almost 25, and have an "atypical" relationship with my in-laws. They were/are the very best!!! I'm absolutely devastated at losing my second dad and I feel so much for my mother-in-law. 💔
The WAP is an Arris VAP2500. Now that I think of it, that had to be replaced before for "messing up" everything.
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LexiLuther
New Member
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25 Messages
1 year ago
Took about an hour and a half cleaning, untangling and sorting old cables from misc stuff behind the TV. Got new, shorter Cat6 cables, a new surge protector, followed @JefferMC's instructions and everything is working perfectly.
Tomorrow, mesh network, LOL. Actually, I think I'm going to try the TP-Link AC4000 Tri-Band WiFi Router (Archer A20). I think the first mesh network I tried maybe overkill for my house size and this is more in my budget right now with all the hospital bills. 😊 I still have the option of returning either, though. Thanks!!!
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