Replacing DSL Modem & Wireless Router- What To Get?

Get Off My Lawn

Get Off My Lawn

Artist formerly known as Pink Vapor
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What should we get? Our internet connection keeps dropping out on our TV, PC & Mac laptops and phones. Usually restarting the devices reconnects them. The internet are already slow as molasses. We've CenturyLink DSL (only other option is satellite). Searching modem & router reviews is confusing me. Were after best bang for the buck. Not interested in Nest, g00gle, Amazon, I don't trust them. We currently have a CenturyLink ZtXEL C1100Z wireless modem.
  • Max download speed seen is ~8M.
  • We're not gamers, 3 streaming TVs (only one's really used, when the kids are here there can be a lot of phones, tablets, 3 streaming TVs
  • 4K sq/ft house
  • Want TV/printers/guests on separate channels (MU-MIMO?)
Thanks!
 
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Pink_Vapor said:
What should we get? Our internet connection keeps dropping out on our TV, PC & Mac laptops and phones. Usually restarting the devices reconnects them. The internet are already slow as molasses. We've CenturyLink DSL (only other option is satellite). Searching modem & router reviews is confusing me. Were after best bang for the buck. Not interested in Nest, g00gle, Amazon, I don't trust them. We currently have a CenturyLink ZtXEL C1100Z wireless modem.
  • Max download speed seen is ~8M.
  • We're not gamers, 3 streaming TVs (only one's really used, when the kids are here there can be a lot of phones, tablets, 3 streaming TVs
  • 4K sq/ft house
  • Want TV/printers/guests on separate channels (MU-MIMO?)
Thanks!
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I am about the same as you and I still use the centurylink modem with wifi turned off I use the Orbi mesh system in my house and I am happy with it. having 10MDSL is always going to be slow. I wish I had another option
 
Unifi dream machine is a solid piece of network gear. its pricey but you get a lot and they make lots of other network gear that integrates really well.
 
Get a modem and a wifi router, separate pieces of equipment. Bonus points if the router is sporting dd-wrt.
 
Not trying to stray from the OP but does anyone know if I am "required" to use the AT&T supplied modem / router that they charge me a monthly rental fee for? I'm in Charlotte if it makes a difference. I'm just thinking there could possibly be something better out there.

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Gator said:
Not trying to stray from the OP but does anyone know if I am "required" to use the AT&T supplied modem / router that they charge me a monthly rental fee for? I'm in Charlotte if it makes a difference. I'm just thinking there could possibly be something better out there.
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@BigWaylon?
 
I recently went to EERO for my home wireless. Probably another company spying on me all the time, but since they all do it’s not really a factor in the decision.
 
Gator said:
Not trying to stray from the OP but does anyone know if I am "required" to use the AT&T supplied modem / router that they charge me a monthly rental fee for? I'm in Charlotte if it makes a difference. I'm just thinking there could possibly be something better out there.
Click to expand...
I wouldn’t think so, but I didn’t know anybody was getting charged for one.
 
Pink_Vapor said:
Not interested in Nest, g00gle, Amazon, I don't trust them. We currently have a CenturyLink ZtXEL C1100Z wireless modem.
Click to expand...
Probably not much can be done about the internet speed itself. DSL really depends upon your distance from the originating station, quality of the lines, etc, and is pretty limited overall. In other words, don't know if a better modem would help. I too have Century Stink DSL and it ranges between 1Mb and 10Mb depending on .... something.

As far as WiFi in the house, and a router / firewall security appliance, I have been really happy with both the Ubiquity and Cambium hardware that we put in my parents house. These are what I would call light commercial grade and a switch / router / access point / etc will run between $100 and $200 roughly depending on what you chose and how many ports.
 
Gator said:
Not trying to stray from the OP but does anyone know if I am "required" to use the AT&T supplied modem / router that they charge me a monthly rental fee for? I'm in Charlotte if it makes a difference. I'm just thinking there could possibly be something better out there.
Click to expand...
I have ATT Fiber, no modem fee. Pace 5268 AC runs fine and dual wifi on 2.4 and 5 GHZ.
 
Have you asked for line testing? Your modem may need a software update, when I had Bellsouth DSL I could update it, I'm on ATT fiber and they do the patches.
 
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Button Pusher said:
Have you asked for line testing? Your modem may need a software update, when I had Bellsouth DSL I could update it, I'm on ATT fiber and they do the patches.
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Yes, they say it's good. Yet they do have the worstest customer service. The modem has the latest firmware.
 
BigWaylon said:
I wouldn’t think so, but I didn’t know anybody was getting charged for one.
Click to expand...

I've been on the Internet 24 plan which includes a $7 a month equipment fee. Got a tech coming out tomorrow to bump me up to the Internet 1000 plan which will cost $28 a month less money ( does that make sense ? ) plus the equipment fee goes away, even though I'll have the same equipment ( Arris NVG589 Gateway ).

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