Does all the equpment/boxes have to be kept on?

[helpme12]

We were told we had to keep everything ON like the router/modem (whereas when we had DSL we shut it off at night) and now it's impossible for anyone to sleep in that room as it looks like ET's landed! Is it really necessary or can we just keep the battery backup on?

[texasguy37 ACE - Champion]

You need to keep the residential gateway (i.e. router/modem) on; otherwise, you will have no U-verse TV, U-verse internet or U-verse voice service.  If the lights on the RG are distracting at night, you can find a way to cover them.

[hpmsrm]

We had guests recently and needed an extra bed in my computer room.  So we put an inflatable mattress in there.  To reduce the light from the LED's on the front panel of the RG I used a strip of black electrical tape (available in almost any hardware store or dept.) to cover the LED's.  Worked great.  After guests left.....the tape easily pulled off with no damage.  If you try covering the entire RG......be aware that air circulation is necessary  to avoid over heating of the internal parts.

The U-verse RG needs to be left powered up.....and the STB's, even though turned off, should remain connected to power source.  AT&T often communicates with your gear....even doing updates and reboots.....often during the wee hours.  If your gear is turned off and unplugged you might miss one or more updates.   Eventually this could lead to your service being interrupted I believe.