Explore possible solutions for home Wi-Fi problems. Consider other options to resolve the issues.
Explore possible solutions for home Wi-Fi problems. Consider other options to resolve the issues.
Hello everyone, I reside in an apartment with a building that offers fiber internet from ATT. Currently, I’m using 1000mbps Wi-Fi through their fiber connection. They provided me with a white box, likely the "ONT" unit, which links to our black router/modem combo. The black box is a BGW210-700. Our main challenge is that devices work fine most of the time—speed varies between 100-300mbps depending on the day—but often drop to just 20-50mbps. Resetting the router seems to help temporarily, though I usually have to do it weekly. I’ve reached out to ATT support several times, but they only recommend restarts or basic reconfigurations, which usually offer short-term relief but don’t fix the core issue.
Moreover, there are significant stability problems during video calls—Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, etc.—my video often becomes blurry and audio drops intermittently. I’m convinced the router is outdated and no longer suitable (ATT has sent me a replacement, which has had the same issues). I’m thinking about buying Eero Pro 6E units, but research suggests possible compatibility issues with my modem/router or needing complex setup changes. I might try Best Buy’s Wi-Fi installation package for professional setup, but it costs $150 and I’m unsure if it will resolve the problem.
My main concern is whether using Eero would actually improve speeds and stability, or if running the BGW210 in passthrough mode could create a bottleneck that worsens the situation. Any advice or experiences from others would be invaluable at this stage. Thank you for your help!
The straightforward choice would be Ethernet. You're likely in a suboptimal Wi-Fi setting. There are probably hundreds of billions of WiFi networks nearby, so your signal might be saturated. Depending on how crowded the area is with buildings, 5GHz could perform better. You can use an app to check the frequency spectrum and adjust your network to avoid channels heavily used by others. If some devices support 6GHz, it might be worth considering, though it offers less coverage and penetration. Thick walls will further reduce its reach. It seems the power level is low. I was surprised you rely on an external ONT; AT&T's setup usually includes one. They probably use the same connection type for ADSL, VDSL, and Fiber, I think.
Yes, I’d favor using Ethernet, but since our building doesn’t have wired connections, I’d need to lay long cables from the modem/router to every room. Pass-through on the modem/router could cause bottlenecks and further slow down speeds on the external router.
This works fine, though. If your wireless spectrum is full, options are limited. In an apartment at 2.4 GHz it’s likely almost useless, and at 5 GHz it might be completely saturated too. Many routers don’t support DFS channels because they need special FCC certifications. It’s important to recognize the boundaries of WiFi performance. In my view, the best approach is to check your airwaves with a WiFi analyzer app and assess the current conditions first.
I’d run the ON in pass-through mode to obtain a Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 7 access point/router. Ubiquiti equipment would be my top option. It’s proven reliable for me, automatically selecting less crowded channels. Setup and configuration are straightforward.
In a tighter setup with three distinct, non-overlapping channels—such as 1, 6, and 11—maintaining distance from overlapping signals can improve performance. If you can access one of these channels in the 2.4 GHz band, you’ll likely achieve a stronger, farther-reaching connection. Perform an online speed test, noting your upload rate and latency. Then, change your router to operate on 2.4 GHz rather than 5 GHz, and observe the results. If speeds remain consistent, consider that 2.4 GHz transmits more effectively through obstacles compared to 5 GHz. Your challenge lies in network upload, which handles data packets from your digital audio and camera feeds. You might want to cap the audio bit rate at 96 or 128 kbps. If frame rate restrictions apply, 12 frames per second should be fine. A resolution of 480p (640x480 or 720x400) is acceptable for streaming. A display size of 1280x720 suffices to show a full desktop, making even half the resolution adequate for facial transmission. My advice is to analyze your PC network traffic via: https://wireshark.org. This will reveal IP addresses and traffic patterns across devices. Without this insight, you’ll only see numeric IPs. Unless you know which companies use specific blocks, you won’t be able to map IPs to websites. You’ll need to test on all computers, laptops, and possibly Android devices—though no dedicated Wireshark app exists for iOS. If you own a custom router, it can help, but most routers lack packet logging or DNS tracking. Because of these limits, you may have to rely on Wireshark per machine and focus on upload usage, network destination addresses, and DNS queries. You’ll likely spot excessive traffic from video streams or other bandwidth-heavy apps. Consider using tools like Pi-hole, AdGuard, or NextDNS to filter unwanted data, including telemetry, ads, and tracking sites. These services block suspicious domains and can help reduce network load. If you’re on Linux, they work seamlessly; otherwise, set up your router to use a paid plan for better control. When uploading large files, switch back to your normal DNS settings once the heavy tasks are done. A new router could be useful, but the real solution often lies in limiting outbound traffic and optimizing network usage. Windows consumes significant bandwidth when connecting, especially due to Microsoft’s DNS services and frequent updates. Edge, browser updates, and other apps can spike usage quickly. Once this stabilizes, it usually decreases on every reconnect. Plugging or unplugging Ethernet cables between devices can reset connections, temporarily slowing uploads. Monitor activity with Wireshark on a single machine to identify bottlenecks. Adjusting transmitter power on your Wi-Fi router can help—lower power reduces interference and may ease congestion. If everyone in your area does the same, you’ll notice fewer overlapping networks. Although Wi-Fi 5 or 6 GHz offers more channels, nearby routers on the same channel will still compete, causing disruption. Cutting power to your router’s transmitter is a practical fix, though a high-quality hardware upgrade remains ideal.