AT&T Wi-Fi Extender (AirTies 4971)

It's a $7/mo charge to rent them but you can get two or even three and it's still $7 total. 

No mystery why they want to rent them to you.....$7x12=$84 a year, ad infinitum, for what used to be a one time $50 purchase.

Doesn't look like Amazon (well, whoever it is that is selling them on Amazon) has any right now.

As a new AT&T Fiber Internet customer, this is all very disappointing news. From the poor support, to having to rent something as simple/basic as a Wi-Fi Extender.

So far, I have been happy, overall. What brought me here is the need for a compatible extender, as I have connectivity issues in the furthest reaches of my home. I am using the BGW 320-500. I like it.

That said, it does not push the signal as far as my six year old Linksys. I did not have this issue before switching to AT&It's equipment. I know this is due to the way it handles 2.4 and 5.0 GHz. I would likely have to separate the two networks in the configuration. I really don't want to have to do that.

Finding out I have to rent equipment to technically fix a problem caused by their equipment... Not cool. Very much prefer to buy the product outright. I only need one and 7 bucks a month is an absolute rip-off.

Wow! Correction, and not a good one.

So, just ran the wi-fi signal test through the Smart Home Manager App. A Wi-Fi Extender was recommended for the previously mentioned weak area.

They want 10 bucks a month, plus tax, to rent an unspecified model. That's a(Edited per community guidelines)olutely nuts and geared towards people that do not know any better. This (Edited per community guidelines) one will keep me from anymore AT&T services, and honestly, has me missing some aspects of Cox.

Guess I will just have to configure their Wireless Gateway for IP Passthrough, and setup my old Linksys router, which provides a free solution to the AT&T caused issue.

Yes, they moved the fee to $10 not long after I posted my last comment.  I don't know for a fact if this changed, but before the price change that monthly fee covered "up to" 3 extenders.  These are the AirTies 4971 models.

No defense, because the AT&T gateways are all lowest common denominator devices that provide only the bare necessities, but I don't see any major ISP providing gateways that don't need help from third party routers/mesh/extenders.

All that being said, if you're going to have to spend money to get decent coverage and reliability, then look for something other than the AirTies.  They have multiple issues and just don't work all that well.

I am thinking of switching to AT&T. Will their gateway work with my existing TP-LINK RE450 AC1750 extender? Should I consider bridging my existing TP-LINK TL-WDR3600 N600 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router to the AT&T gateway to use it as an "extender?

You can do that.  Or you set up the AT&T Gateway to put your Router in IP passthrough mode and leave your router in control of your home networking.

JefferMC, 

Per your suggestion does the AT&T gateway connect to my router via ethernet or wifi?

I purchased an used AirTies 4971 from ebay. Cannot connect it my BGW320-505 with the smart home manager app. Does it work if I bring my own extender with ATT fiber?