Learn about and set up your new Wi-Fi 6 Router

Overview

With the Wi-Fi 6 Router, you can reach faster wireless speeds with Wi-Fi 6-compatible devices than you could with Wi-Fi 5. 

Some technical benefits of Wi-Fi 6 include:

• Twice as many devices can be connected at the same time as with Wi-Fi 5, at faster speeds (with compatible devices)
• High-end security standards with WPA3 (vs WPA2 with Wi-Fi 5)
• Better battery life for Wi-Fi 6-compatible devices
• A more reliable connection due to a less congested network

Finding the right spot in your home for your router

Routers work best in uncluttered, uninterrupted spaces. Fewer walls between your router and your device means a better signal for you. When paired with a Google Fiber Mesh Extender, our Wi-Fi 6 Router can provide coverage throughout even the largest homes.

Ready to set up a new router?

Open your self-install kit and make sure you have these items:

• Your new GFiber Wi-Fi 6 Router

• One Fiber Jack power adapter

• One Ethernet cable

• Mesh Extender(s) (optional). Some customers may have also received a Mesh Extender. You can find more information about this equipment in the section below about how to set up a Mesh Extender.
• The Google Fiber app
  We recommend downloading the Google Fiber app. It contains step-by-step instructions to help set up your internet, but you can also refer to the guide below.
   
  You’ll need access to the internet to set up your new router. You can use a phone (or tablet) that has internet service to complete your setup.

Step 1: Find your Fiber Jack

The Fiber Jack is what allows GFiber's fiber optic signal to come into your home. 

It’s a small white box that’s usually installed on a wall in your living room. If it isn't there, you might find it in an out-of-the-way spot like a closet, behind a couch in your living room, or in the garage. If you need more information on locating your Fiber Jack, watch this quick video or check out About Fiber Jacks.

Don’t see a Fiber Jack? A small percentage of customers have a wall plate instead of a Fiber Jack. If this is the case, plug one end of your Ethernet cable directly into the port of the wall plate. (In 95% of homes, the correct port is the top one, so try that one first.)

Step 2: Connect your Fiber Jack to power

Using the power adapter in your kit, connect the Fiber Jack to the nearest wall outlet. The Fiber Jack will display a red light while powering up. The Power light on the Fiber Jack should turn solid green or blue once it’s powered on and ready for setup.

Step 3: Connect your Fiber Jack to your router

1.  Plug one end of the ethernet cable into your Fiber Jack’s ethernet port and the other end into the red ethernet port on your router.                     
2. Connect the power adapter from the router to the adjacent wall outlet.  
3. Connect the Fiber Jack to the Wi-Fi 6 Router using the ethernet cable.
4. The light on the router may flash yellow or blue as it turns on and connects to the network. The light will turn blue once setup is complete and the router is fully online.

 

Step 4: Set up your network name and password

If you’re using the app for setup, you’ll be prompted to create a network name and password for your main Wi-Fi network. Or, you can log into your GFiber account on the web with your email and password to set up your Wi-Fi network.

Step 5: Set up your Mesh Extender (optional)

A Mesh Extender allows you to expand your Wi-Fi signal further in your home. You can set yours up now, or do it later from the Home tab in the Google Fiber app.

By the way, your router may need to finish a firmware update before you can install the Mesh Extender.

You'll want to start by setting up your Mesh Extender close to the router, and then move it to the spot where you plan to use it. Typically, this would be about halfway between your router and the furthest spot where you plan to use Wi-Fi in your home.

The type of Mesh Extender you have corresponds with your router. When you have a GFiber Wi-Fi 6 Router, your Mesh Extender should have a long triangular shape. You can follow the steps in this article about how to set up a Mesh Extender to complete the setup process or set it up using the Google Fiber app.

 

 

Have questions that weren't answered here? Feel free to contact us at any time.