I am new to choosing and installing routers. I think I have chosen the correct community but let me know if i have not.
I currently have an ATT Uverse Pace gateway model 5268ACFXN and in the not to distant future will be switching to a T-Mobile gateway using Wi-Fi 6 with 4 x 4 MIMO and it is compatible with 5G NR, 4G LTE networks. I do not know the model yet.
I currently have about 20 items connected. I am interested in having a network drive, good security, the ability to use both wired and wireless connections. My house has a basement, first and second floors. The total square footage of all three levels is 2300 sq ft. (~214 sq meters). If possible it would be nice to include my attached flat deck of 330 sq ft that is attached to the long side of the house.
I am not a gamer, but my two daughters dabble. We would like to be able to stream reliably to at least devices at once, but normally two at a time.
What other relevant information should I include to get the best answer here?
Thank you for the reply. I already understood that the gateways would need to have the wi-fi shut off in them. As for the two links you gave me can you explain why I would look at a mesh router? The other link has too many choices and that is what prompted me to come here asking for help in choosing. The options given on that page do not narrow down my choices for me too much.
Then check back here for reports on the things you are considering, but remember that people turn up in this community with problems, not compliments. So look at reviews on Amazon, for example.
Still too many choices. What additional filters should I apply and why? This is basically the type of help I was hoping for. I'd like to narrow my choices down to two or three so I can focus on what is important. I have no issues paying for a little more than I need, but I am somewhat conservative with my money so I don't wish to overspend. I completely understand that people come to any community with problems in the beginning as I am an Administrator on another forum. Once I start learning more about my eventual system, I will more than likely be one to return to help others. I know the value of a well run forum.
That said...
These are the choices given with the following filters selected: 2500sqft, 3000 sqft,, 20 devices, 25 devices selected
I already understood that the gateways would need to have the wi-fi shut off in them.
That does not do it. Turning off wifi does not disable the router bit of the modem/router.
@FURRYe38 has explained how you can go about the task in hand. The details there are general solutions and are a bit more complicated than they need be.
My first question was to help me choose a router. I am nowhere near setting one up yet. I do appreciate the information, but again, I do not have a router in hand yet.
Just out of curiosity, have you read my initial question?
Several times. Badly framed questions are not amenable to detailed answers.
What are we to make of this?
in the not to distant future will be switching to a T-Mobile gateway using Wi-Fi 6 with 4 x 4 MIMO and it is compatible with 5G NR, 4G LTE networks. I do not know the model yet.
If you "do not know the model yet", what do you expect people to say?
I have a gateway and that is it. It is a chokepoint so I need to start by choosing a router. I gave the particulars of my situation above. That includes square footage, what is currently being run from my "network" and what I wish to add. Do I know how to set it up yet, no. Do I want to learn, yes, but I prefer to have the product in hand as I learn by doing more so that reading at first.
Do you have no suggestions to help me narrow my search based on what I have posted so far?
T-mobile has two gateways that they are handing out. I am not sure which one I will receive and I posted the little information I could find on them. If it makes no sense to you, skip those details. It will be a gateway (modem/router). I know I will need to redo the settings on either one of the gateways.
Once I have chosen a router, it will initially be setup on the ATT gateway. Once I switch to T-Mobile, I will reconfigure.
Now I need some help selecting a router based on the information I have posted before. I also asked what additional information would be needed.
There is nothing special in your list of requirements. Just about anything you find on the product pages would work.
But if you are using something that connects to a mobile phone network, the modem bit is where it all starts.
Most ISPs work behind cable, DSL or optical networks. Routers are designed to work with them. Cellular devices are less common and have different issues.
For advice on devices that are compatible with cellular modems, you need to know what the modem will do so that you can see if you can configure it with a separate router.
This is not a trivial task which is why there is a separate section here for "mobile hotspots" and why there is a steady trickle of questions from people who want to know how to get a router to play nicely with a mobile hot-spot/modem.
You might like to eavesdrop on that section to see the sort of issues that you may encounter.
Not knowing what the front end will be makes it difficult to be specific. If you had said that you had a cable modem, the task would have been much easier.
Oh, and ATT, and its hardware, is famously difficult to work with.
I have posted this reply 3 times before and it never stays for some reason.
What size home do you have? Square Feet?
My house has a basement (840sqft), first (840sqft) and second (620sqft) floors. The total square footage of all three levels is 2300 sq ft. (~214 sq meters). If possible it would be nice to include my attached flat deck of 330 sq ft that is attached to the long side of the house.
What are you networking needs? Gaming, Streaming, General internet use?
I am interested in having a network drive, good security, the ability to use both wired and wireless connections.
I am not a gamer, but my two daughters dabble. We would like to be able to stream reliably to at least four devices at once, but normally two at a time.
How many devices do you have?
I currently have about 20 items connected. Would like a bit more room for future though.
What kinds of devices do you have connected?
Four TV's-one 4K, four laptops-three windows, one mac, three tablets, thermostat, and am currently adding six cameras. Later I want to add a network media server.
