US Telco Support > AT&T > AT&T Midwest > [Modem] 2wire Alternative?

[Modem] 2wire Alternative?

Your combination requirement is very restrictive. For DSL or cable I usually recommend getting a separate modem and your own WiFi router. My latest project, for a friend, used the Westell modem paired with a Linksys E4200 router. Others use the Motorola 2200 series modem with a 802.11n WiFi router they choose. You just need to keep great airflow around the modem. It runs very warm.

The main reason to separate the modem from the router is so that if the modem dies you only have to replace it and not the whole network and its associated setup.

reply to dc2525
If 802.11 b/g and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports would suffice, the Netopia/Motorola 3347 business-grade modem/router is the best choice. This has come in various suffixes over the years; the current model is the 3347-02-1022.

AT&T sells the 2Wire 2701HG-B and the 3347-02-1022 for the same price, but the latter is a far more solid and reliable unit. Note that AT&T will support the use of the 3347 on a residential connection.

reply to dc2525
I switched to the Netgear dgn3500 this year ...combo dsl/router/wireless N. It's been fairly reliable, except for a few times last week when ATT was having line problems, so I was experiencing constant disconnects, with the modem trying to renegotiate the connection.

Recognize that AT&T does not support the Netgear, but they do support the Netopia/Motorola 3347. This may or may not matter to you.

reply to dc2525
If you can hold out until the end of October, AT&T will be replacing the 2wire and 2210 modems with new models which includes a wireless-N modem/router. This new equipment will be IPv6 ready.

Is this new equipment for U-verse Internet or "standard" ADSL?

This will be for standard DSL (ADSL) rather then u-verse. I am intrigued by your comment about new 2Wire devices coming soon - I don't mind sticking with them, but I definitely need to upgrade to Wireless-N and Gigabit ethernet. My old 2wire has become the chokepoint on both of those accounts as my other equipment has been upgraded to Gigabit and "N".

I was seriously considering a Netgear DGND3700, but there seem to be some many negatives reviews that I'm not comfortable with the idea...

I appreciate everyone's comments here. Thanks!

reply to HardLine
Proof?

NVG510 is for IPDSLAM.

I'm referring to good ol' DSL =).

Pace 4111N Wireless Gateway (replacing the 2Wire 2701)
Netgear 6200 A90 Single-User Modem (replacing the Westell 6100 F90)
Netgear 7550 B90 Wireless Gateway (new)

Did you know that pace owns 2wire and netgear owns westell
Thanks for the reply

Yea I know. My understanding is the pace hardware is different from the 2wire hardware...

At least I hope so.. the wireless on the 2wire is trash.

reply to daveinpoway
At&t now sells netgear/westell 7550 b90 gateway

reply to HardLine

reply to dc2525
He didn't get it from AT&T website - as we haven't updated them yet. Either he is an employee or knows one.

But its true - we will be offering that equipment to all customers at end of october.

The att support website has a list of equipment on it

reply to dc2525
Didn't even check our support site. I just know its not listed on att.com/equipment. The modems should be there at end of the month though.