An AT&T Wi-Fi Gateway router, also known as an ATT router, is a kind of router meant for those who need something that can easily reach every inch of their home. This kind of technology has been a popular thing lately, and becoming more common and affordable as well. If you bought an ATT router, you may be trying to figure out how to set it up, as well as what certain terms may mean. One of these terms is WPS, but what does that even mean?
WPS stands for Wi-Fi Protected Setup, and is a convenient method to connect a WPS-enabled device to your Wi-Fi network. It is a relatively simple process to set up, without making major security sacrifices for your Internet connection.
But how does WPS even work? And how do you get WPS set up on your ATT router?
What is WPS on ATT Router?
Many ATT routers, especially more recent ones, have the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) functionality built into them. The process of using WPS to set up your Internet connection is designed to be fairly quick and simple, and the creators of the functionality succeeded quite well at that. It was first established in 2006 by an organization called the Wi-Fi Alliance, meant to make the process of setting up a Wi-Fi router simple for those who are not familiar with network security without sacrificing security much as a result (for the most part, anyway).
WPS allows people to not have to memorize their network name (SSID) and password for many instances of Wi-Fi setup, which a lot of users are more than happy to see. Meanwhile, the WPS function on an ATT router allows you to pair two devices just by pushing a button corresponding to WPS. If you have ever had to set up a Bluetooth-enabled item with your phone or computer, something like this should be no problem whatsoever.
Some routers may use a method that is slightly more complicated, but nevertheless a lot easier. Namely, in addition to pushing the WPS button, the router may also require that you input a four-digit PIN associated with the router. This is a nice idea if you want to add an extra layer of security.
How secure is WPS?
While WPS is generally a fairly secure method of connecting a device to your ATT router, it is by no means a perfect approach. Any type of wireless connectivity involving your Wi-Fi router could potentially become compromised in some way. For a regular user, the likelihood that you may be the victim of a WPS attack is quite low, but if you would rather play it safe, you could just as well disable WPS altogether.
If you use a PIN, this can make it that much more secure, but even that is not foolproof. For example, a lot of routers have the PIN written down on them by your Internet provider. If someone visiting your home was so inclined, they could get this PIN and set up WPS without your permission. If you are concerned with this, either commit the PIN to memory or right the PIN-down and put it somewhere secure, like a safe.
Finally, while WPS is capable of working with the new, more modern WPA2 security protocol, some older hardware may still require the use of the WEP security protocol. And unfortunately, WPS does not work with that protocol.
If you are concerned about potential security vulnerabilities, it may be worthwhile to consider a router that does not have WPS, or to at least disable the function. However, it should be noted that some routers may enable WPS without your knowledge. Ultimately, however, only a tiny minority of users are at any risk of having their WPS-enabled router targeted. And if you find yourself the target of a router attack, they will probably find an alternative method if you are not using WPS.
Why is WPS not working on my ATT router?
While WPS-enabled routers tend to be a quick and easy way for people to connect devices to the router. Yet, it cannot be denied that even a WPS-enabled router may have problems from time to time that needs to be troubleshooted.
One problem is that your router may need to be power cycled. At times, your router may get a bit screwy, and the only way to actually fix it is to unplug it. If you own a Wi-Fi router, you probably have to do this from time to time. It’s a fairly simple process, and all you need to do is unplug it from the wall outlet. You may also want to unplug it from the back of the router. Give it a few seconds, and then plug the cord back into the wall outlet and the back of the router. After this process is done, test the WPS function to see if this fixes the problem.
Another potential issue is that your Internet service provider (ISP) may not be able to provide Internet service at the moment, resulting in the router being completely able to provide such a connection. If power cycling your ATT router does not fix this problem, it may indicate that the ISP has to work out the problem for itself. In this situation, the most you can reasonably do is inform them that a problem is occurring. The more people who experience Internet connection problems who report them, the more likely the ISP will take notice and get to work on fixing them.
Another thing you can do is to connect an Ethernet cable to the router, and connect the other end to the device you are trying to connect to the Internet. This is a quick and easy way to see if the Internet is working or not, or if there is a problem with the device. Also, make sure that your ATT router is connected to the modem.
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