I have DSL from ATT for the past two years under the smallest plan. Its speed? like snail… I got too tired of it and upgraded to the highest plan last week, ouch…
Then problem came. Because of the better speed, I started doing more downloading and watching movies, yea 
Every time, yes, every time, I download a big file or watch a movie, the 2wire modem keeps restarting itself or other people call it 2wire modem drop out or connection drops repeatedly or whatever you call it.
It kept doing that for a week until yesterday when I couldn’t handle the frustration anymore and called ATT customer service. The gentleman was nice, worked with me for close to an hour doing this and that: from unhooking power to removing DSL filter, etc…
None worked so he finally concluded that the problem was with the 2Wire modem and that he would transfer me to someone who can send me a new one.
Then a lady greeted me with “It is a good day here at ATT, how can I make your day a good day?” That was pretty awesome so I told her that a support technician diagnosed my modem that it fails and I need a new one. She said it would cost me money for a new modem.
I told her I was under the impression that I would get a replacement without cost. She said it would cost me $100. I told her that wouldn’t make my day a good day. She said, “we ain’t give any modem for free.”
If I happen to have to spend on a new modem, I know I can get it for much less else where so I didn’t buy from the lady. I started to search Craigslist and found several of them for just $20. I emailed the sellers with some questions and waited.
In the mean time, I googled to see if anyone experiences the same issue. It turns out there are MANY and there is a solution to fix the 2Wire’s constantly drop out issue.
After tweaking several times, here is the final setting on my modem that works:
Wireless mode: 802.11b
Max connection: 12mbps
Authentication: WPA2
Under this setting, my modem never drops. Under 802.11g and other max connection setting, my 2wire drops.
How to change 2Wire wireless settings:
- Open up a browser and type: http://homeportal/ => hit Enter
- Click on “Home Network”
- Click on “Wireless Setting” (this is located under the ATT logo) => if your modem is password protected, it will prompt you for the password, go ahead and login
- Scroll down, you will find wireless mode and max connection under Additional Setting.
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
I can’t thank you enough for this suggestion. I have been dealing with my new AT&T 2Wire Gateway modem dropping the Internet constantly now for the last two weeks. It literally was dropping the connection every 3-5 minutes. AT&T was no help and was putting the blame on everything except their modem. Thanks to your suggestion, my modem has been hanging tough now for the last 30 minutes without dropping connection once. The only setting I didn’t change per your suggestion was the Authentification: WPA-2. I left mine at WEP-Open and it’s been just fine. This is like a breath of fresh air!! Thanks again!!
I too can’t thank you enough for this suggestion. I work at home with constant internet usage and had become over a few years become so frustrated with my internet dropping that I felt truly lost. I hope I’m not speaking too soon, because I’ve tried SO MANY permutations of settings and so much troubleshooting, have had workers out to my apartment and have talked on the phone for several several several hours and even began emailing at&t, all of which was bafflingly, frustratingly unhelpful. I stumbled upon this very simple fix suggestion in one of my multiple attempts to just google the issue (I had WPA-2 set but not the other settings), and I SEEM to stay really solidly connected for about 48 hours now. I hope it continues. If so, I can’t thank enough.
Thanks, Joshua. Since Oct. 2011, my connection has been rock solid. I hope yours too. Take care.
It still is! that it has been this good for this long is a real weight off. Thanks again, you too!
I hope this work, i just change my Max Setting from 54mbps to 12mbps and my Wireless Mode From 802.11b/g to 802.11b
Switched to WPA2 and it locked me out. Had to reset modem and restart systme several times. Still dropping off had, thanks just didn’t work for me.
Thank you so much! This completely solved my 2wire dropout problem without affecting speeds.
I don’t see “Wireless Setting” (this is located under the ATT logo) anywhere… so this doesn’t work for me
Thank you so much! This was something that had bothered my family for years, and this finally fixed it.