DSL Modem - TP-Link TD-8817 $14.99 @ Fry's, B&M only

Can I use this for AT&T?

Yes - SBC & BellSouth.

Quote from iyg : Can I use this for AT&T?

To report back - my connection has been dropping from a few hours to overnight with the 8+ year old Westell modem.After installing the TP-Link, it has been rock solid since last night. YES!

This is unique to one's carrier service?
Will it work with Verizon?

This is unique to one's carrier service?
Will it work with Verizon?

According to the vendor -

Quote from Parato Optimal : This is unique to one's carrier service? - No Will it work with Verizon? - Yes

TU repped!

Quote from jclu52 : Yes - SBC & BellSouth.

Hi, can you elaborate on how to set this thing up for ATT DSL? I tried to read the online manual, but what is the username and password for ATT DSL?

Quote from mccrimson : Hi, can you elaborate on how to set this thing up for ATT DSL? I tried to read the online manual, but what is the username and password for ATT DSL?

It's your DSL user name / password. Not your ATT billing user name / password. They can be different.
When I signed up for AT&T last year through a deal @ SD, they gave me a new generated password.
If you have a router behind the modem, you can look it up from your router's setting. If you have just the modem, it should be stored within the modem setting somewhere.
Since the settings are modem / router specific, you will have to look it up for your specific model's manual.

Or, you can call ATT support # to ask for your user name and password.

To setup your TP-Link modem, you would need to read the white manual "Please Read Before Proceeding", then the "Quick Installation Guide." They provide basic information & direction about setting up your new modem.

The setup completed less than 5 minutes & my internet is up & running.

You do NOT need to shut down / reboot your PC. You do NOT need to use the CD - it's your choice - it might be easier to use the CD. I didn't try the CD so I don't know - sorry.

My setup - phone line => modem => router => PCs
If you don't have a router, you can skip step 3 & 4 below.If you are using wireless, you would need to get a network cable to connect to TD-8817 directly. I did not try USB - may be connect via USB would be another option.

1. Get your ATT user name / password,
2. Unplug power, network cable & phone line from your old modem,
3. Power down your router (if you have one),
4. Remove your PC's network cable from your router (if you have one),
5. Connect phone line disconnected from your old modem to TD-8817,
6. Connect your PC's network cable to TD-8817,
7. Connect power to TD-8817,
8. Power up TD-8817,
9. At this point, you PC is connected to TD-8817 directly. Fire up your browser if you have not yet. Using IE is recommended to avoid incompatibility. I used Chrome and it worked fine but looked a little funny,
10. Type 192.168.1.1 in your browser's address bar. This will bring up your modem's setting interface. It will ask for user name and password. It's admin for both in lower case.
11. A short wizard "Quick Start" will come up asking you to select your DSL provider. For AT&T, there are SBC & Bellsouth. Each has PPPoE & Dynamic. I chose 8/35 & PPPoE.
12. ISP Connection type = PPPoE,
13. Type in your username & password,
14. VPI = 8, VCI = 35 - these two are automatically filled in after you select from the ISP list,
15. Connection type = PPPoE LLC,
16. The Wizard is completed when you click on next and save.

TD-8817 will then trying to restart will the information you provided.

I played around the settings a little bit before connecting my PC to the router and the router to the modem. The change I made was choosing PVC4.
Click on "Interface Setup." "Internet" is the first selected menu. Right next to "Virtual Circuit", there is a PVC Summary button. Click on it to open another window to display the PVC info. I have dynamic IP. For me, I find there are two dynamic IP but only one Status is Up - PVC4. Hence I made this change. I have not try other value to see if there is any difference.

Once that's selected, click on Save and wait for TD-8817 to come back. Start browsing as you normally would just to test your internet connection.

Skip the following if you don't have a router.
If you are using wireless, skip step 3.
Once you are happy with the settings.

1. Unplug your PC's network cable from the modem,
2. Plugin your old modem's network cable - this was connected to your router,
3. Connect you PC's network cable to your router.
4. Power up your router.
5. DONE

My TD-8817 has been running rock solid for over 24 hours. For 15 bones, it can't be beat!

Enjoy!

Quote from jclu52 : It's your DSL user name / password. Not your ATT billing user name / password. They can be different. When I signed up for AT&T last year through a deal @ SD, they gave me a new generated password. If you have a router behind the modem, you can look it up from your router's setting. If you have just the modem, it should be stored within the modem setting somewhere. Since the settings are modem / router specific, you will have to look it up for your specific model's manual. Or, you can call ATT support # to ask for your user name and password. To setup your TP-Link modem, you would need to read the white manual "Please Read Before Proceeding", then the "Quick Installation Guide." They provide basic information & direction about setting up your new modem. The setup completed less than 5 minutes & my internet is up & running. You do NOT need to shut down / reboot your PC. You do NOT need to use the CD - it's your choice - it might be easier to use the CD. I didn't try the CD so I don't know - sorry. My setup - phone line => modem => router => PCs If you don't have a router, you can skip step 3 & 4 below.If you are using wireless, you would need to get a network cable to connect to TD-8817 directly. I did not try USB - may be connect via USB would be another option. Get your ATT user name / password, Unplug power, network cable & phone line from your old modem, Power down your router (if you have one), Remove your PC's network cable from your router (if you have one), Connect phone line disconnected from your old modem to TD-8817, Connect your PC's network cable to TD-8817, Connect power to TD-8817, Power up TD-8817, At this point, you PC is connected to TD-8817 directly. Fire up your browser if you have not yet. Using IE is recommended to avoid incompatibility. I used Chrome and it worked fine but looked a little funny, Type 192.168.1.1 in your browser's address bar. This will bring up your modem's setting interface. It will ask for user name and password. It's admin for both in lower case. A short wizard "Quick Start" will come up asking you to select your DSL provider. For AT&T, there are SBC & Bellsouth. Each has PPPoE & Dynamic. I chose 8/35 & PPPoE. ISP Connection type = PPPoE, Type in your username & password, VPI = 8, VCI = 35 - these two are automatically filled in after you select from the ISP list, Connection type = PPPoE LLC, The Wizard is completed when you click on next and save. TD-8817 will then trying to restart will the information you provided. I played around the settings a little bit before connecting my PC to the router and the router to the modem. The change I made was choosing PVC4. Click on "Interface Setup." "Internet" is the first selected menu. Right next to "Virtual Circuit", there is a PVC Summary button. Click on it to open another window to display the PVC info. I have dynamic IP. For me, I find there are two dynamic IP but only one Status is Up - PVC4. Hence I made this change. I have not try other value to see if there is any difference. Once that's selected, click on Save and wait for TD-8817 to come back. Start browsing as you normally would just to test your internet connection. Skip the following if you don't have a router. If you are using wireless, skip step 3. Once you are happy with the settings. Unplug your PC's network cable from the modem, Plugin your old modem's network cable - this was connected to your router, Connect you PC's network cable to your router. Power up your router. DONE My TD-8817 has been running rock solid for over 24 hours. For 15 bones, it can't be beat! Enjoy!

Thanks for the detailed reply, tried to rep you again but the system won't allow it, I am so getting this Thanks!

Since this DSL modem has a router built-in, you should switch the modem into bridge mode if you're using you're own router, so you don't end up with double NAT.

There are plenty of instructions for the Westell 6100 DSL modems to turn them into bridges...hopefully the process for the TP-LINK is similar and simple too.

Great deal for $15 if you don't want to hassle with trying to get one for free from your DSL provider (they don't want to lose a customer over a bad DSL modem if not wanting to buy a new one is your reason for cancelling).

Quote from poohbie : Since this DSL modem has a router built-in, you should switch the modem into bridge mode if you're using you're own router, so you don't end up with double NAT. There are plenty of instructions for the Westell 6100 DSL modems to turn them into bridges...hopefully the process for the TP-LINK is similar and simple too. Great deal for $15 if you don't want to hassle with trying to get one for free from your DSL provider (they don't want to lose a customer over a bad DSL modem if not wanting to buy a new one is your reason for cancelling).

(ATT customer) That's not true. My modem went bad last time and they asked for $95 + tax to ship the new wireless modem. They wouldn't replace it for free. They didn't credit me anything on those days that I couldn't get service due to bad modem. After 3 calls threating them that I would cancel, they wouldn't bug. So I had to cancel and moved to Comcast.

Quote from poohbie : Since this DSL modem has a router built-in, you should switch the modem into bridge mode if you're using you're own router, so you don't end up with double NAT. There are plenty of instructions for the Westell 6100 DSL modems to turn them into bridges...hopefully the process for the TP-LINK is similar and simple too. Great deal for $15 if you don't want to hassle with trying to get one for free from your DSL provider (they don't want to lose a customer over a bad DSL modem if not wanting to buy a new one is your reason for cancelling).

How could it be a router when it has only 1 RJ45 ethernet port?