RT-AC3100, need some advice from you PROS.

[pinkfloyd1173]

So I wanted to see if you pros could give me some advice on my set up. I have Spectrum internet, 300 down 20 up. I use there modem which is an ARRIS TM1602A and I have my own router RT-AC3100.

Now AT&T just released fiber in my area and was thinking of switching over to that but I wanted to see if anyone here has some experience with their service.

From what I understand they issue you a modem/router combo which they have to put into some sort of bridge mode in order for someone to use their own router? It’s not like spectrum that they let you choose a modem or a modem/router combo. I have also read that the hardware they provide is pretty bad and causes many issues if you use your own router, do not know if this is true or not.

We are heavy gamers and streamers in my house hold, so getting some more bandwidth would be nice, but if it is going to cause some issues while gaming then it becomes an issue.

So I am wanting to know if you guys could give me some opinions on this.


Thanks in advance guys.

 

[Trikein]

I don't have much experience with ATT fiber, but I think some of it depends which kind of of fiber deployment they have in your area. See thread here. I found a interesting post on UBNT here on using your own router with their gateway. It uses a a bit more complex router, but I would think that would only make your setup easier. See if that gets you anywhere, and if not, we can at least be on the same page.

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

Thanks for your feed back man.

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

Some really good info Trikein,

https://community.ubnt.com/t5/EdgeM...way-with-Edgerouter-Lite-newbie/cns-p/1862846

Alot of work to try to do this, I am a bit of a noob to this stuff so I think I will just stay with my setup. I have been reading alot on the AT&T forums and it seems like alot of people have many issues trying to do the set up I want.

Thanks for the info again man.

 

[Trikein]

No problem. Hope you don't mind me following up for conversation sake.

If you end up going back to Spectrum I would suggest another modem besides the TM602A. As a 16x4 DOCSIS 3.0 phone modem (MTA) it is good generally up to 200Mbps, past that YMMV depending on congestion in your area and signal levels. It technically capable of 24 downstream channels, but I don't think Spectrum uses them in those configuration, however anything is possible with the Spectrum stamp on many different original ISP networks. The next step up would be the ARRIS TM3402, but I don't think that is compatible on their network yet. Instead, use the TM1602 for phone and have them provision something like a Netgear CM600 for internet. This would also allow you to upgrade to D3.1 when/if it becomes available in your area. See thread here for some other suggestions. If you do have D3.1 in your area, then the Arris SB8200 is the suggested model. Stay AWAY from the Motorola(Zoom) MB8600. No matter what you get, make sure you have someone over the phone add the modem and that the modem is disconnected from the ISP while they provision it. I think there has been some issues with the self install system, D3.1 modems and getting a local IPv6 IP address for the modem to get online on Spectrum's network. Again, this depends if IPv6 is active in your area. Spectrum is such a mix/mash it's hard to say anything for sure!

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

Hey Trikein,

I still have spectrum, 300 down, 20 up.

This my set up

Arris TM1602A
Asus Rt-AC3100

dont have phone, only use our cells.

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

Should I just go get my own modem?? Which one would you suggest.

 

[Trikein]

If you don't have phone, why are you using a phone modem? The TM1602 is a good phone modem, but there are better data only modems you can buy if you don't have the phone caveat. Was Spectrum providing it for free, did you rent, or did you buy it? If so, from Charter? Also, what speeds are you getting now? I guess the whole thing is moot if your performance is already good. It's just generally suggested to have more downstream channels for the higher speeds to make up for possible congestion. If you live in the country with few people, this might not be a issue.

::Edit:: I assume you live near Hollywood? If so, I would imagine that would be high density. I didn't know people actually lived IN there. Only been there once and I drove through it without realizing. Maybe I am thinking of somewhere else?

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

Spectrum provided the modem for free.

I could go buy my own, which one do you think is a good one.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Trikein]

The Netgear CM600 is the only 24 downstream modem that doesn't use the lemon Intel Puma 6 CPU, so that is always a good choice. Do you know if D3.1 is available in your area? You can kind of tell by looking at what frequencies your modem connects at and how the channels are spaced. Can you post the signal levels from 192.168.100.1? Also, is D3.1 something you even want to consider? It has much higher hypothetical throughput, but it's bleeding edge right now, so comes with a small amount of early developer woe.

 

[Trikein]

It looks like you certainly have 32 downstream channels, and possible D3.1, but there really isn't anyway without hooking up a D3.1 modem and looking at the lights to be sure. This is the latest article I could find on the issue.

 

[Trikein]

Also, can you run a speedtest from here? I am skeptical of any test that shows a 0 latency. That isn't technically possible. Also the DSLR one uses HTML5 instead of flash.

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

Here you man, will call spectrum to see if I have 3D.1.

 

[Trikein]

Those are some very good results. Bufferbloat is average, but that is to be expected with those speeds and no tweaking. Your results are actually unusually good. Do you live in a area or devolopment where Charter/etc did a lot of work recently? Not to be noisey, but some upscale condo perhaps with it's own internal cable headend? Or maybe near a big public wifi antenna? It's odd to see latency so low to the LA area unless you are very close to some infrastructure. I only ask incase it is relevant in the ATT/Spectrum comparsion. It probably means you will get the better ATT fiber kind.

 

[Trikein]

Also, unless you get someone who happens to know development plans for your neighborhood, it's unlikely Charter will know if your area has D3.1. According to them, all the areas should be technically capable of it, it just isn't turned on or enabled. D3.1 requires data on a specific frequency using certain modulation to work, other then that, a 32x4 area and a D3.1 area look exactly the same. You would probably be better off asking over on DSLReports or some other user forum to talk to other customers in your area. They would have the best first hand experience, and you could also look at ATT fiber reviews for your area while your at it.

::edit::Or just buy a D3.1 at the store and plug it in. I don't think it needs to be added to the account. Just plug in active coaxial and let it be on the network for about an hour for any firmware updates. After that, if the Downstream light isn't blue for D3.1, your area probably doesn't have it and you can return the modem without ever having provisioned it for internet.

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

I live in Fullerton,ca, about 30 miles from L.A. I grew up in Hollywood but moved out here about 10 years ago. I live in a house, suburbs you might say. I always test from servers in L.A.

I know AT&T did alot of work out here about 5 months ago setting up all the wiring for the fiber.

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

I looked at the At&t forums and seen alot of people having issues piggy backing there own router to the At&t modem/router combo.

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

Also, unless you get someone who happens to know development plans for your neighborhood, it's unlikely Charter will know if your area has D3.1. According to them, all the areas should be technically capable of it, it just isn't turned on or enabled. D3.1 requires data on a specific frequency using certain modulation to work, other then that, a 32x4 area and a D3.1 area look exactly the same. You would probably be better off asking over on DSLReports or some other user forum to talk to other customers in your area. They would have the best first hand experience, and you could also look at ATT fiber reviews for your area while your at it.

::edit::Or just buy a D3.1 at the store and plug it in. I don't think it needs to be added to the account. Just plug in active coaxial and let it be on the network for about an hour for any firmware updates. After that, if the Downstream light isn't blue for D3.1, your area probably doesn't have it and you can return the modem without ever having provisioned it for internet.

Yeah I think I might try that.

 

[Trikein]

Part of the issue is everything goes over the data connection with ATT, so if you get TV and Phone through them, you can't totally bridge their gateway without giving something up. Spectrum, and all cable broadband providers, use different modulation for TV and Internet/phone, so with a few exceptions, the systems don't have to be connected or share equipment. You could take a Charter cable box and go to a neighbor's house across the street and as long as they had Charter, it would work just fine. What you gain with fiber, in most cases, is less latency and a generally more consistent connection. Maybe try ATT fiber for a month, or just sign up for ATT fiber internet and keep Charter for phone and TV. Do you have ethernet installed in any of the rooms in the house?

 

[pinkfloyd1173]

Part of the issue is everything goes over the data connection with ATT, so if you get TV and Phone through them, you can't totally bridge their gateway without giving something up. Spectrum, and all cable broadband providers, use different modulation for TV and Internet/phone, so with a few exceptions, the systems don't have to be connected or share equipment. You could take a Charter cable box and go to a neighbor's house across the street and as long as they had Charter, it would work just fine. What you gain with fiber, in most cases, is less latency and a generally more consistent connection. Maybe try ATT fiber for a month, or just sign up for ATT fiber internet and keep Charter for phone and TV. Do you have ethernet installed in any of the rooms in the house?

I have directv.
Don't need home phone, have my cell.

Might try the new modem, and maybe try the at&t fiber?