Why Do the Bypass?
If you’ve clicked on this article, you’re probably part of the cool gang with this great AT&T fiber option in your home. However, you may have found that you are stuck with their disappointing box. They don’t charge you extra on paper, but there is a so-called “pass-through” mode that doesn’t really go through. You might have a badass router like OpenSense or some Ubiquity stuff and want to connect fiber optic directly into one of its ports without an AT&T box. In this guide, we’ll show you how to do this by taking an SFP+ stick and plugging a fiber optic connection from AT&T directly into your router to eliminate AT&T’s endpoint hardware.
Benefits of the Bypass
Why would you want to do that? Speed issues are a major reason. I had speed issues and even tried other alternatives like AOR’s old box, but it had upload issues. The AT&T gateway also had upload issues, and if you do a lot of connections, like torrenting, you might run into issues. Removing extra hardware can improve stability.
XGS-PON and How It Works?
This guide focuses on AT&T, but similar methods apply to other providers using the same SFP+ stick. If you have an old AT&T separate optical network terminal and gateway, you are probably on GPON, which is not covered here. To get XGS-PON, check if 2 and 5 gigabit speeds are available to you and upgrade to a 2 gigabit plan. They will replace older hardware, and you can later downgrade to 1 gigabit while still retaining the benefits of XGS-PON, such as faster speeds and better stability.
Tech Support & FAQ
Keep in mind that bypassing AT&T’s gateway can confuse their tech support. If you call them, they will find the gateway and your connection might be broken. If you need to call tech support, temporarily reconnect the AT&T Gateway to avoid confusion.
What Do I Need?
You won’t need the AT&T Gateway anymore except to get a few settings. You’ll need an SFP+ stick, which can be ordered from various sources, sometimes via group buy on Discord to keep costs down. Additionally, you may need an SFP+ port, a media converter, or an unmanaged switch with SFP+ to connect to your existing router. Using community firmware can simplify configuration and offer better features.
Backup and Flash WAS-110 Firmware
We will guide you to backup and flash WAS-110 firmware. Download the latest firmware, set a static IP, enable SSH, and use command line instructions to backup and flash the firmware. This process ensures that you have a safer upgrade than the web UI method. If necessary, repeat the process to ensure both firmware banks are updated.
Juplink & WAS-110 Programming
Use the Juplink box to program the SFP+ stick. Make sure it has proper airflow, as recommended, and follow the guide to configure and flash the community firmware. It provides a user-friendly web interface for firmware setup and management.
Final Steps and Testing
After flashing the firmware, verify the setup by checking the active and inactive firmware. Make sure both firmware banks are flashed correctly to avoid problems. Test the connection to make sure everything works as expected.
Conclusion
Bypassing the AT&T Gateway using an SFP+ stick and community firmware can significantly improve your Internet experience by eliminating speed and stability issues caused by additional hardware. Follow this guide carefully, and join the community forums for support and updates. Enjoy a smoother and more efficient fiber connection!
