NETGEAR DG834G Wireless-G Router with Built-in DSL Modem

I purchased this to replace my 2Wire DSL modem that Qwest sold me. Since my DSL speed was 2 MB less than what it should be I called and Qwest Tech Support blamed it on my DSL modem (familure story, huh?), but they would be only too happy to sell me another of theirs. I looked around online for a new DSL modem (screw you Qwest!!!) for a new replacement. I paid particular attention to reviews on all the candidate items, noticing most seemed unreliable, with overheating being a major problem for most, as well as connectivity and installation problems. This DSL modem had better reviews, so I hit the old purchase button.First: NO heating issues so far (after two days)as my DSL is on 24-7. Modem feels moderately warm on the base, but no more if not less than other components on my desk.Second: Installation was so easy it was scary! All you need do is have your log on (ID and password)from your provider and the installation software does the rest. It has preset options for four or five different major ISP's and software detects protocal (PPPop etc.) and sets everything correctly. Again, you'll need your DSL log on from provider as they usally establish that themselves so you probably don't know yourself. Wireless setup for 802.11 was just as easy with WPA-802.1x+WPA2-8021x, WPA2-PSK, and WEP security available. I usually connect to my iPhone wireless and speed with WPA2-PSK was very good.Third: You can configure just about everything you want from website blocking to access schedule (and more), so us techies can have oodles of fun rearranging all the sets to heart's content. Good logging too!The only thing I don't like (which is really petty) is that the wireless light stays on all of the time instead of only going on when a wireless connection is active.All in all: VERY GOOD DSL modem, extremely good bargain (at $39.99 plus free shipping), EXTREMELY easy to install, and very flexible for changing sets, parameters and security profiles. I highly recommend this product and I'm very happy I chose NetGear!!!*** No- I do not work for NetGear, own stock or have any relatives or friends working there.***

I had a difficult time sitting this router/modem up. My local ISP provider couldn't figure it out either! After almost 3 hrs with local service providers I moved on to NetGear tech support. I talked to a guy in India...who could undertand English but barely speak it! So after over an hour of talking on the phone ,configuring and entering the data they suggested I was back at square one! It should not have been so difficult.The problem was the MAC address. You have to manually enter it. You have to find that address on -line first. Good thing I could use my PC while I talked on the phone . Go to router.com and put your model number in and it will give you all the info you need. The tech said just click use Mac address ..But it was blank! He did not know what to do other than that! That was after 2 hrs of going over and over everything trying to understand him!. This was the most frustrating thing I have ever had to deal with. NetGear at least give us English speaking techs!Also the range of the router is maybe 70 feet. My last router/modem reached 3 times as far. The connection is better when multiple connections are being used at once. That is the only plus. I am dissapointed that no one mentioned in any reviews that this router/modem is only good for small houses or apartments. Not sure of the exact reach of this router but 80 feet is stretching it. We still have issues of losing connection when 3 or 4 laptops are connected but not as much. For the price a good deal and if you need it for kids visiting with their laptops in the rooms closest to the router it works great. I give it a 3 out of 5 for performance. I give it a 0 for setting it up and tech support.

Getting this thing set up was a bit of a hurdle. I followed the instructions exactly, inserting my ISP username & pass and filling out information as needed, but it wasn't able to authenticate with Qwest. I spent a while fighting it and tweaking options in the config page, then noticed the very first option on the config page's sidebar: auto-setup. It turns out this is much smarter than the setup instructions, and it worked. Whatever it did, it got the settings just right to talk to my ISP and connected. I don't think it would cost them much to mention this simple feature in their instructions - even a passing reference would do - but for some reason they neglected to do so. Thank heaven for google.Hurdle two was Teamspeak -- I could transmit fine, but received audio was garbled and distorted (and major packet loss reported). This took even longer to figure out. Long story short? Download the firmware update and install it. This modem does not like VOIP and related packets until its hunger for new firmware has been sated.So now I get to celebrate: "Yay, I completed a remedial technical task! And it only took me several hours!". I'm so proud.After this awkward and time-wasting start, the modem now works well. I'm coming from Qwest's 2-Wire brand modem which rejected downloads greater than 2 GB, so downloading large games I'd purchased off of steam or the PS3 was impossible. This modem had no such problems, and so far appears to play nicely with the PS3 out of the box.

I bought this to replace a d link wired dsl modem that went belly up in less than a year. This was easy to set up and inexpensive costing roughly half what a d-link wireless modem cost. It was relatively easy to set up recognizing my isp in less than a minute. You will need att password and username. My biggest complaint has been with customer service. Calling them you get somebody in India. I only speak english and apparently not very well because I cannot understand most of what they are saying. A call to att of course is also routed through Delhi. I have sent three emails to netgear asking for a password reset none of which have been answered. Since getting dsl service through att I have gone through 3 modems. Don't know of the reliability of this one. I have had no dropouts or disconnects in the 3 weeks I have been using it. Amazon 2 day shipping was incredible!