The router included with your internet service plan was specially selected by the GFiber Team to deliver the best performance to your business’ network with your GFiber connection. However, you can choose to use your own router instead of the one that comes provided with your service.
If you’d like to use your own router, follow the instructions below for more information about what you’ll need to get connected.
Do you need to use your own router?
If you’d like to add multiple static IPs to your GFiber internet, you must use your own router. If you have zero or one static IP, you can choose to use your own router if you want features that are not available in GFiber routers.
The technician who installs your GFiber service will make sure your Fiber Jack is working and that GFiber service is being delivered to your business, but they will not be able to install and set up a non-GFiber router. We recommend consulting with your IT expert for help selecting and setting up a router that will work best for your business.
Things to consider when using your own wireless router:
If you want to use your own router, here are some things to keep in mind:
- Connecting your own router requires advanced networking experience. If you don't consider yourself an advanced user, we recommend using the router provided by GFiber with your internet service or talking to your IT expert.
- Any externally facing network configurations (such as port forwarding and firewalls) need to be configured on your own router. Learn more about configuring port forwarding and configuring your firewall.
- Any internally facing network configurations (such as specifying your Wi-Fi network name or password) can be configured on your router.
Choose a router
If you decide to use your own router, make sure the router you choose supports basic features including connecting to the internet at gigabit speeds, security, Wi-Fi networking, as well as any additional features you may want. Again, we highly recommend consulting with your IT expert when deciding which router to choose.
Here are some of the features you should look for in a router:
| Feature | Minimum requirements | Preferred specifications |
|---|---|---|
| Static IP support | Support for one or multiple static IPs, depending on which GFiber service option you choose. | |
| Copper Ethernet WAN | Gigabit (1000BASE-T) Ethernet WAN port. |
10GBASE-T Ethernet WAN port. |
| DHCP WAN addressing | IPv4 WAN IP address as assigned by GFiber. | IPv4/IPv6 WAN IP address as assigned by GFiber. |
| LAN to WAN routing | Forwarding and Network Address Translation (NAT) of private LAN addresses to public WAN addresses. |
Multiple static IPs: NAT of private LAN address to Public WAN, and static routing of a secondary public subnet on the LAN side of the router. One static IP: port forwarding or DMZ mode. LAN to WAN throughput: At least 800 Mbps (higher for multi-gig speeds). |
| LAN connectivity | Gigabit (1000BASE-T) Ethernet LAN ports to provide PC connectivity. | 10GBASE-T Ethernet LAN ports. |
In addition to these basic features, there are optional features you should consider in your router:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Wireless Connectivity |
Your router needs this feature if you want to enable devices to connect via Wi-Fi. Your router should support at least Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) and preferably Wi-Fi 6 or 6E (802.11ax). Wi-Fi speeds depend on many factors, including distance from the router and interference from other wireless devices. Even with the fastest router, Wi-Fi speeds are slower than wired speeds. |
| Firewall | Firewall software in the router helps protect your network from attack. |
| Advanced Routing | This feature forwards traffic from the WAN to the hosts on the LAN side of the network that are configured with static IP addresses. This feature is especially useful if you have multiple static IPs. |
Ready to connect your own router? Follow the instructions below.
1. Find your Fiber Jack and connect it to power
The Fiber Jack is what allows GFiber's fiber optic signal to come into your business. It’s a small white box that’s usually installed on the wall in your office. If it isn't there, you might find it in some out-of-the-way spot like a closet, behind some furniture or in a storage room.
Once you’ve found it, you can connect the power adapter from the Fiber Jack to a wall outlet. When it’s connected properly, your Fiber Jack will flash red before turning blue. If the light doesn’t turn blue after 15 minutes, please contact us.
If you need more information about how to locate your Fiber Jack, you can watch this video or check out About your Fiber Jack.
2. Connect your Fiber Jack to your router
If you have one of the Fiber Jacks below, you may plug your own router directly into its Ethernet port. If your GFiber router and/or extender are plugged into the Fiber Jack, you should disconnect them.
3. Set up your router
Follow the router manufacturer’s instructions to get set up. We’re always happy to help you with connection issues, but since it’s your router, we’re not able to help with questions about how to set it up.
When you use your own router, you must request a dynamic WAN address via DHCP. Learn more about static IP addresses.
- DHCPv4: You receive the WAN IPv4 address via DHCP. This address will not change. The static IP allocations are tied to your account and physical address. They will remain the same unless you modify your service or move locations. Despite the fact that you have a static IP, you still must configure your 3rd party router to use DHCP.
- DHCPv6 (optional): GFiber supports and encourages you to use IPv6. When you enable DHCPv6 on the WAN interface, we delegate you a /56 prefix of public addresses for use on your LAN.
4. Enjoy your internet
You’re all set to connect your devices and enjoy your new GFiber internet!
5. Download the Google Fiber app
Want to manage your network and account all from one place? With the Google Fiber app, you'll be able to view and pay your bill, run speed tests, see plan details, and find answers via our Help Center.
Download it for free on the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.Security considerations
When you set up your own router, we strongly recommend consulting with your IT expert to ensure your network is adequately secured from attack and unwanted intrusion. GFiber is not responsible for security issues caused by inadequate security settings on your router or in your network setup.
Returning your GFiber equipment
Please note that if you cancel your GFiber internet, you’ll need to return the original GFiber router that was provided with your service — so make sure to keep it in a safe place if you decide to use your own router. To return your equipment, we have three convenient options available:
- Drop your equipment off at a Fedex Office store.
- Self-ship your equipment.
- Return it to your local GFiber Space or Kiosk (in select locations only).
You can find more details here about how to return your equipment.
Questions?
If you decide that you’d like to use a GFiber router, just let us know and we’ll help you get it installed. For important safety information and to learn more about your hardware devices, visit about your GFiber devices.