Fiber Internet question....what Router Modem do I need?

[Tfall]

We are finally getting Internet in our area after never having any Internet available here. Its a company called Windstream. It’s supposed to be really fast with speeds up to 1000mgps. We are getting the 200mgps package. One of the options is to rent their equipment which is a Modem and Router combo for 10 bucks a month or we can use are own equipment. Thinking of buying our own to save 10 bucks a month unless it’s crazy expensive. I’m new to this fiber Internet and our previous houses all came with the equipment and Broadband or DSL. So what do I need for equipment? Is there a special Fiber Router and Modem combo? Can someone suggest one? House is 3550 sqft with no upstairs.

[FYAS]

We are finally getting Internet in our area after never having any Internet available here. Its a company called Windstream. It’s supposed to be really fast with speeds up to 1000mgps. We are getting the 200mgps package. One of the options is to rent their equipment which is a Modem and Router combo for 10 bucks a month or we can use are own equipment. Thinking of buying our own to save 10 bucks a month unless it’s crazy expensive. I’m new to this fiber Internet and our previous houses all came with the equipment and Broadband or DSL. So what do I need for equipment? Is there a special Fiber Router and Modem combo? Can someone suggest one? House is 3550 sqft with no upstairs.

Check Windstream's website. More than likely, they have a list of compatible equipment.

Would definitely buy rather than rent.

[drifter106]

the provider should give you one to use.

one thing....I saw the same advertisement when I went with Kwik-Kom fiber. Their website said: Internet speeds up to 250. In the real world, that means it won't go over 250. Guess what...ran speed tests with new internet and it was slower than the cable. Only thing that is better is my ping and upload is stronger. Download speed....not as fast with them. Kinda close but not as good.

Now if I want to go faster I can pay an additional $20 a month....really frost my butt....thing was, my grandson works for them and sold me on it so I will live with it right now.

[AirForceAngler]

How big is your house/property? I have a Google WiFi mesh system hooked up to my Spectrum modem. One of the mesh pucks is in my detached garage 100' from my house and wifi works great out there, too.

[Tfall]

House is 3550sqft all one floor. I went to Windstreams website and they don’t show any compatible products for fiber optic. They just want to charge you 10 bucks a month for their equipment. I will go to Best Buy tomorrow and talk with them on what to get I guess.

[nc370v]

Since Windstream is based in Arkansas I hope their facilities are better than here.
We live in a fair size city and could only get 10mb from them.....which is horrible.

[AirForceAngler]

House is 3550sqft all one floor. I went to Windstreams website and they don’t show any compatible products for fiber optic. They just want to charge you 10 bucks a month for their equipment. I will go to Best Buy tomorrow and talk with them on what to get I guess.

You will probably need to use their modem, but you should have no problem connecting that to whatever router/wifi system you want. Once the signal comes out of the modem, it's standard TCP/IP and should work with any router.

[Southfork]

Its just broadband. The $10 is for the wi-fi modem router. Just go buy your own wi-fi router. Plug it into the basic modem they leave at house. Standard ethernet cable for that

[Tfall]

It’s fiber optic they just installed out here. They don’t provide the modem unless you want to pay 10 bucks a month. After searching Google I found there is specific modems you need for Fiber. Now I just need a good router. Looks like there are many to choose from. This new tech is a pain...wish my son was around. Saving 10 bucks a month in the long run means more beer and crank baits for me.

[Sleepy111]

They will have to install an ONT which is a unit that converts the fiber to ethernet and they “should” install an RG, probably a BGW-210 if I had to guess and that is the modem/gateway and has WiFi built in. I don’t think they would do an install and not put an rg in too. I never have and I do the same work. They have to provide the rg so they can verify service works when installed, they cannot just place the fiber and ont and leave.

[jarhead175]

Had AT&T fiber installed this summer. They use BGW210 had a few hick ups when I first got it but, after a couple of resets haven't had a issue in months very fast.

[1wdink]

eero tri mesh system will give you whole house coverage. If it's fiber fed it will feed in on cat 5 & plug right into system

[Stumblebum]

I rent the modem for $10.00 a month.
That includes no charges for any service calls I may need.
They already replaced the modem that was less than a year old.

[cowtrimmer]

My understanding is that you dont need a Modem like DSL or cable for a fiber optic install. There is a good short article to read on Windstream router needs. Seems the best one IMO is the netgear ac1900.

You have a lot of sg/ft to cover so plan on buying a mesh type system for coverage. I personally like ASUS stuff but to each his own. I dont know if you like techy stuff but I have about 45 things hooked up to my mesh system at any given time and the cheap little "Puck systems" just dont cut it. plus its nice to have dedicated 2.4 and 5.0 systems dedicated. Check out the netgear line of nighthawk mesh systems. The main router and 3 of those nighthawks strategically placed will give you a great system. Here are some links.

Article on windstream modem/router needs https://approvedmodem.com/windstream-compatible-modems/
Netgear r7000 ac1900 https://www.amazon.com/R7000-100PAS-...language=en_US
And 3 of these mesh system https://www.netgear.com/home/wifi/mesh/mk62

[Riccochet]

For fiber all you need is a router. No modem needed. Their service is ethernet to your house.

That being said I would recommend getting a good standalone firewall router and a separate WiFi mesh system. The "all in one" router/wifi boxes just aren't all that good.

Unifi Security Gateway
Unifi AC Mesh

Yes, it's not cheap. You'll spend a couple hundred. But this is equipment that will last years without having to touch it. You'll also need someone that knows networking to set them up.

[lancefish]

As a lot of guys are saying. There are lots of whole home options. On the router/modem needed. There are questions. There is a chance that their "fiber internet" is fiber to the "node" then reuse existing coax for the neighborhood. If that's it then you'd prob still need a cable modem. If they are bring fiber to the outside of your house. Then they will probably be setting what's called an "ont" on the outside of your house then a standard cat5 cable comes out of it into any off the self router. I am going to say they are not bring fiber all the way into the house if they were they would be providing the router for you.

For your router, everyone has their favorite brands and what has worked best for them. The main thing would be an AC dual band router. It won't be long and you still start seeing the new WiFi6 routers hitting the shelf. It's the new WiFi standard that that opens frequencies and will offer increased bandwidth....now that doesn't mean all your current devices will be able to use the new freq.

[termarsam]

I agree with the guy that recommends the google wifi....Been installing equipment for several years...just connect to the modem or router/modem ...You can take advantage of the higher speeds you are getting from fiber technology.
With speed as well as coverage.

Google GA00822US

[Tfall]

Thanks Cowtrimmer.

You just saved me a trip to Best Buy this morning. I thought I needed a Modem so that saved me money also. I never heard of a Mesh system., I will check that out. Where our builder put the outlet with the wires for the Internet is in the middle of the house which is good I think.

My son emailed me a link to this Router that he says is powerful and is 299.00 at Costco. What do you think?

https://www.costco.com/tp-link-tri-b...100519717.html

[Tfall]

We did not have any Internet available where we built our home until a few months ago when they started putting all the Fiber in. So there is no existing anything here. If you wanted Internet you got a Satellite dish which was not worth it and we just used are Cell Phones for Internet. We were shocked when we were told it was the new Fiber Internet since we have been told how great it is. The installer is coming on the 15th.

[Stratos21XL]

Before you spend any money you need to look at the devices that are going to be on the ethernet connection and what they can handle. Mobile phones, laptops, desktops, tablets? If the devices are only capable of 100 mbps, then purchasing anything above that from the internet provider is a waste of money. The newer standard is 1000 mbps but not all devices, especially older ones, are capable of handling that kind of speed.