How to have multiple SSID with ATT fiber model+router

You may assign a different SSID to the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands, and you can have a Guest Network that is 2.4 GHz only.  Those are the three SSIDs that you can have with the Gateway.  To have more SSIDs, you'll have to purchase your own Wireless Network gear.

Which is never a bad idea…

Hi @Emperors, we understand your concern. Let's get the help you need.

Thank you @JefferMC,  for the helpful information.

You can try the option provided by @JefferMC

Please follow these steps provided to set up your Wi-Fi network using the SSID :

1. Go to 192.168.1.254
2. Click on Home Network
3. Click on Wi-Fi
4. Click on Advanced Options
5. You can change the SSID and the password there. 
6. After changing the information in either the 2.4 or the 5G bands click on Save at the bottom of the screen.
7. Close the browser down. 
8. Log Out of the Smart Home Manager.
9. Reboot the device that Smart Home Manager is on. 
10. Log back in to the Smart Home Manager. 
11. Make sure that SSID or network name has been changed. 

Let us know how it goes!

Thank you for contacting AT&T Community Forums
Jasmine, AT&T Community Specialist

Thank you ATTHelp and JefferMC.

@JefferMC what type of network gear would you recommend?

I already have a 5 port PoE + Ethernet switch and I have a separate TPLink router which can function as a WAP. 

I’ve read multiple times that without the IPPassThrough method, the ATT modem+router will not allow any other router to be connected directly. 

My TPLink router is not that great and I would prefer not to use it as a router.
Essentially my problem statement is - 

I need to have three separate SSIDs, atleast two on the 5Ghz frequency using the ATT modem+router. If needed, I have a network switch and a TPLink router/WAP that I can use. 
Thank you in advance. 

If you want to run your TP-Link router as an Access Point, then you will not need IP Passthrough, and that's fine.   However, as purely an Access Point, while (I'm assuming) it can create multiple SSIDs, it cannot control things like routing and what access to the Internet or local devices clients will have on those SSIDs.  If that's not your issue, then you should be okay.

What exactly are your goals for each of the SSIDs?

I suspect there’s a thought of achieving a degree of security, control, and isolation between the users in each group.   Isn’t the suggested method to achieve this goal via use of VLAN?   Which BTW an Att gateway does not support.  

Desire is (2) 5Ghz using gateway, cannot happen...

You can have (1) 5Ghz, (1) 2.4Ghz and (1) guest network also 2.4Ghz

@JefferMC 

@gr8sho 

@my thoughts 

I am not looking to have any sort of security or monitoring on the other network.
I just need to have another SSID for the kids. I use no WiFi access as a punishment when they’re grounded.
instead of changing the password for the entire network and then reconfiguring all OTT devices, if I have a separate SSID for the kids, then I can change the password for just that SSID and still achieve what I want. The reason why I don’t like using guest network as kids network is because few non critical OTT devices are on guest network. 

I’m past that point in my life of worrying about parental controls, but Att may have different solution that’s likely subscription based.  Netgear does something similar to lock such features behind a paywall.   
What Att gateway gives in the way of WiFi is band steering.  Separation of the radios SSID is not something I suggest, but it is there nonetheless.   

The smart home manager app can be used to control access to the WiFi network.  Looks like they call it Pause WiFi to this device.  If the device is a smartphone, it might switch over to the cellular network, haven’t tested that myself though.