Comment on Do I need the ISPs home router?
jake_jake_jake_@lemmy.world 6 days ago
No, you are likely looking at an ONT (optical network terminal), and it is not a router. Even with a port that accepts the fiber (sfp or sfp+ for 10g) on your equipment, the OLT (optical line terminal) likely will not provide you with service.
If you were to match the wavelengths the ISP is using you are likely to become a “rogue” on their PON that can knock out service for other customers that share the same passive network as you.
I make assumptions about you being on PON since you say AT&T, generally all I have ever seen from them are passive networks (one fiber with splitters for 1 port to many customers) unless you are paying extra for “dedicated” ($$$$$) internet.
If they are using a ONT with an “RG” (residential gateway) which is the typical “all in one” you can request the gateway service can be removed and replaced with a layer 2 bridge, where you’re router/firewall gets the “external” addressing and there is nothing being done by the ISP equipment other than sending you traffic and OAM (operations, administration, and maintenance; usually check or alert for light levels, software status, if a part of the ONT fails etc).
TedZanzibar@feddit.uk 5 days ago
This right here. In the UK we have a little box (ONT) where the fibre comes into the home that essentially acts as a modem and converts the fibre to ethernet and back again and then they provide a separate wireless router that plugs into it. Other than for my current ISP where I had to specifically request that they enable bridge mode (which they did for free), I’ve never had any issues plugging my own router into the ethernet side of this box.
If your ISP’s wireless router plugs directly into the fibre then you should be able to request that it’s set to bridge mode so that it becomes just a dumb ONT box like we have here. Albeit a large and clunky one.