AT&T DSl and Wireless Router install

[coffee]

I would have thought this was quite simple. Residential DSL account with AT&T would like to add a Wireless Router to their home network. I have never ran into this before but wanted to post it if someone else was having a problem or just wondering WTF?

Equipment: SpeedStream 5100 DSL modem (AT&T standard issue).

Problem: Connecting a wireless router to the modem you get no internet. Connect the computer/laptop to the modem and everything is fine.

Solution: YOu have to put the DSL modem in bridge mode and then configure the wireless router for pppoe connection and provide the username/password for DSL network connection.

On the SpeedStream 5100:

Using your browser point it to the modem and you will get the settings page. Click on Advanced / PPP location and choose bridged mode. Restart the modem.

On the wireless router:

Login to the settings on the wireless router and change your wan settings to pppoe and username/password needed. Then enter the information. Reboot the router.

From now on, The internet light on the modem will no longer light up. This means its in bridged mode. However, Now internet with the wireless router should work fine.

Remember - The login/password for the network is different from the username/email password of the client. Should you need this password (stared out in modem but username is visible) you will have to contact AT&T and prove ownership.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Yup..they've been doing that for a long time...starting with the Siemens "gateways"...which back then were 4100 and 5100 models with various versions. The 5100 is "old" now and should have been replaced by now....it was used more in the SBC/Yahoo days (prior to going to AT&T)

The PPPoE is on the "modem" itself by default, and it runs NAT and DHCP for 1x client. Actually it's good..because prior to that, they had the Efficient Networks 5260 and 5360 models which were pure bridges and the PPPoE had to be done on the computer itself...and there was no NAT..so the computer itself took a public IP address (not good..easy hacking).

New modems for basic home accounts should be Motorola 2210 models....and the newer 3360 models. Motorola bought out Siemens modem division a while ago..web admin will look the same. They're good DSL2 units. Sometimes if they're out of Motos you'll get a WestTel unit

Mid-range gateways for wireless and a "notch up" home network accounts..you get stuck with those 2Wire units...ugh I hate those.

Yellow sticker usually on the bottom showing you the web admin IP address ..typically 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.0.254 or 192.168.1.254 The access code to enter the advanced section of the web admin is on that yellow sticker also.

 

[datnewnew]

I swear, AT&T provides the worst modems/gateways. I attempted to set up Open DNS, but AT&T doens't seem to like that. Redirects me to a "Looks like we can't authenticate your connection" page. Very frustrating.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I swear, AT&T provides the worst modems/gateways. I attempted to set up Open DNS, but AT&T doens't seem to like that. Redirects me to a "Looks like we can't authenticate your connection" page. Very frustrating.

So long as you put OpenDNS servers on your own router, and the ATT ones is set to bridged mode...there should be no problem. I have tons and tons of setups on ATT that are using OpenDNS. If you have one of their business gateways and you've DMZ plus mode'd your own router...your DNS goes on your own router, you'd leave the 2Wire units WAN settings alone.

 

[FremontPC]

Can one turn off DHCP on the router and let the modem handle it?

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

If it's one of the basic gateways like a little Motorola/Siemens 1 port model..the kind that you just flip into a bridge and use your own router...you wouldn't want to do that if you were using your own router. Because to use DHCP on the little Motorola/Siemens you'd have to turn NAT back on..thus you'd have a double NAT issue.

If it's one of the 2Wire gateways or Motorola/Netopia units they use for businesses (with 4 LAN ports)...well..if you're using your own router...why would you want DHCP enabled on the ATT unit, your network would be behind your own router.

If you're just using the ATT provided unit..and not your own router...then yes you can leave DHCP and NAT enabled on the ATT unit.

 

[mikeroq]

I finally got a router setup with a Speedstream 4100 yesterday.

Left the modems settings as is, and set the router to have a static IP on the WAN side of 192.168.1.64 (the ip the router gives out).

Worked out just fine. Router was set to the 10.0.0.0 range.

 

[ComputerPro]

ATT kinda sucks

We run into this a lot around here. Customers have strange intermittent issues and come to find out they are doing double NAT because the ATT modem is actually a 1 port router performing NAT itself lol.
We just put it in bridge mode and all is fine, but the whole concept really stinks.
U-Verse has DNS hard coded and can't be changed when using DHCP from the router. So OpenDNS etc has to be set at the PC level with them.

Cable service over here is much, much better.

Terry Moon
Computer Pro Inc
http://computerpro1.com

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

... the ATT modem is actually a 1 port router performing NAT itself lol.
We just put it in bridge mode and all is fine, but the whole concept really stinks.

There is a good point to it...
Years ago when DSL first came out, they shipped pure bridges...(modems)...and you had to have the PPPoE done on your computer. End result...your computer had a public IP address....sat directly on a public IP....butt hanging out in the open ripe for catching worms and getting hacked into.

I saw it as a blessing that most DSL ISPs started shipping little combo modem/routers that hid the home users computer behind NAT.

 

[angry_geek]

....butt hanging out in the open ripe for catching worms and getting hacked into.

It's terrible getting worms in there. Sorry, couldn't resist.