Let's get the summary statement out of the way so not to burden you with all the details that you may, or may not, want to read. If you are a copper lined AT&T DSL customer that have not switched over to U-Verse yet, then this modem is a wonderfully economic and full featured modem/router/WIFI AP replacement for your AT&T DSL hardware. It works very well and from what I can tell so far, it's pretty stable.
So, not the details...
I have been an AT&T DSL customer for 13+ years. My neighborhood has not be upgraded to fiber yet, nor has it been upgraded to AT&T's U-Verse DSL infrastructure yet. My setup still uses a PPPoE protocol, necessitating an AT&T DSL login and supplied password (not to be confused with the password that you set up for your Email client and/or your AT&T profile homepage login). If you are still on this type of AT&T DSL, then this Actiontec model will work wonderfully as an aftermarket replacement. If you are on the newer U-Verse structure then you will be in for some struggles as they use a streetside wireless system to authenticate your DSL account, detecting your modem's MAC address as opposed to using a PPPoE authentication. So be forewarned.
I have used a slew of different AT&T endorsed hardware in the last several years, including a few different Westell units (4100, 4100B, and others), an Efficient Networks Speedstream 52xx, and a 2Wire 2701...just to name a few. All have been hit and miss with the Speedstream model working the best. If your OEM AT&T modem goes bad now, contacting AT&T will just have them telling you to buy one of their approved replacement modems from their store. It will likely be from a choice of the 2Wire 2701 (awful modem/gateway-short life, bad power supply), a couple of rebadged Westell units no with Netgear branding, and a cheapie Motorola badged junk. Prices are from $75-$125. Don't try to get a free replacement of out them...if you are able to convince them to send you one, you will be charged a modem lease fee of $7-$8/month for having it. And most of them are junk. Actually, most any modern day available consumer level modems in the market now are pretty much disposable these days. Planned obsolescence is the name of the game in today's consumer electronics world.
So aside from the AT&T provided junk that is offered, I have also had an Asus RT-N66U router/gateway and a D-Link DGL4100 that have also gone bad (both being what was classified as an enthusiast level hardware) in the past 5 years. The Asus lasted 1.5 years and currently being sent back for RMA repair.
Moving forward, the last winter storm that ripped through the Midwest last week contributed to the not so surprising failure of my 2Wire modem/gateway. The unit is very sensitive to voltage fluctuations and the few flickers that we had in our electricity must have fried the poor thing, despite being plugged into a 2-tier surge protection setup. I had a couple of Westell 4100s that I used to pacify my connection until I could find a suitable replacement.
After looking around for different possibilities, I kept returning back to the Actiontec unit. This unit was assessed as a low cost, low risk, relatively decent reviewed option. It is a tidy package of full bore ADSL+ modem, 4 port switch for wired Ethernet, and WIFI a/b/g/N wireless gateway (like the crap 2Wire that I just had). After reading some of the reviews, it appeared that the unit is very DSL provider friendly. This unit is actually a OEM unit that is used by Verizon DSL service in some markets.
After receiving the unit, I quickly had it installed and running in less that 10 mins. The installation routine quickly assessed and preconfigured for my AT&T DSL provider. All that was required from the user level was to provide the AT&T DSL login and password information and any adjustments that you want to make for your WIFI, such as encryption protocols, choice of SSID password (they generate one by default, but you can change it...as well as the name of your wifi point). After that, you're authenticated, online, and all that's left is you determining how you want your physical connections routed to the switch.
Speed tests were stable and at par with my 6Mbps package. Latency was good and where it needed to be. Wifi performance was good...not as good as my 3 antenna 2.4/5.0ghz Asus RT-N66U, but good nonetheless. Worth noting is that this wireless gateway only uses the 2.4ghz band. Any 2.4ghz hardware that you have in the house (like cordless phones) will/may interfere with wifi performance. I suggest that in your setup routine of the modem, that you select one of the available wifi channels as opposed to the default "auto detect" setting.
Stability is good...so far. After you get all your settings the way that you want to, you should reboot the modem. The modem will reboot itself every so many days when it needs to flush it's memory utilization. This is typical and not a need for concern. It's just it's own autonomous way of purging when it get's too bloated.
You can mount this modem either vertically (with the supplied, but flimsy, foot base) or horizontally. You cannot mount this modem on a wall as there are no provisions to do so. The browser powered setup page (192.168.0.1 default) is wonderful. It's use of very easy to read graphical GUI style mapping is easy to interpret and understand, even for the non-techie. The setup is very robust, ranging from basic configurations to advanced configurations, including firewall setup, DMZ, port forwarding, IP blocking, etc. It's mostly all there. Firmware was the most current out of the box and can be easily upgraded/flashed through it's setup page...although there has not been any updates listed on their site since 2011.
I have several sources feeding into the modem. So far, heat does not appear to be an issue, however, I have not taken any steps to datalog any log term thermal ranges as I always have a USB cooling fan blowing on the modem all the time. This is something that I have done for many, many years now by habit. Modems tend to get hot, especially ones that have a heavy load put on them. An external cooling solution is always a good idea to ensure that your modem does not exceed it's thermal ceilings.
There you have it...my nickel review. Take it for what it's worth. You'll see bad reviews and good reviews. Even the best units and models out there are not without rotten apples. I am fortunate enough where I am able to write a positive review and experience for the unit that I received. The packaging was very sound and you will get all the accessories that you need to have this installed very fast and easily. Again, my strongest word of advice to make for a smooth install is that have your AT&T DSL login and password ready before you start installing it. If you do NOT know this information, you can call up AT&T and they will provide it for you, assuming that you clear all their security questions.
My only gripe(s) about this modem? -1 silent star for it's shortcomings.
*5.0ghz dual band offering would have been nice.
*Provisions for wall mounting would be nice.
*A more robust/secure mounting foot for vertical placement.
Small gripes among large number of PROs. For all that you do get, it's priced very appropriately, if not very well. 5 official review stars for it's total value and it's ability to deliver on it's advertised promises.
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Consider a similar item
Buy it with
$160.14
Sold by TheAccessoryQueen and ships from Amazon Fulfillment.
+
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Climate Pledge FriendlyProducts with trusted sustainability certification(s). Learn morePRODUCT CERTIFICATION (1)
Pre-owned Certified: Electronics products are inspected, cleaned and (if applicable) repaired to excellent functional standards. Buying Pre-owned extends a product's life, reducing e-waste and raw material extraction.
From the manufacturer
GT784WN Wireless-N DSL Modem Router
Out of the box, the GT784WN gives you the flexibility and power your need to connect all of your wireless devices. With 802.11N wireless speeds and MIMO smart antenna technology, you'll be accessing the latest in wireless technology that lets you connect at heretofore unheard of speeds, with wireless coverage that eliminates all those pesky dead spots.
Also included with the Modem Router is a robust firewall and security suite that includes WPA and WPA2 encryption, unique ID assignation to prevent hacking, stateful packet inspection, denial of service protection, content filtering, and more. Actiontec bakes in other advantages, as well: our industry-leading AutoDetect Wizard, that eliminates the hassle of confusing installation CDs or poster-sized install guides; TR-069 support and remote management for service providers; and full backward compatibility to ensure that the greatest majority of legacy devices will connect.
What makes the GT784WN Modem Router a Better Choice for You?
- 802.11n Built In - the Modem Router's built-in 802.11n technology allows you to surf the Internet at speeds up to 300 Mbps, up to 6x faster than previous generations' top speeds
- MIMO Smart Antenna - 802.11n also allows the use of MIMO smart antennas, which extend the range of your wireless signal while getting rid of those pesky ‘dead’ spots in your wireless coverage
- Backwards Compatible - And, since 802.11n technology is fully backwards compatible, all older wireless devices will connect seamlessly with the Modem Router (at whatever the device's top speed happens to be)
- Automatic Configuration - Actiontec's industry-leading AutoDetect Wizard eliminates the hassles of confusing installation CDs and install guides
- Wireless Security - the Modem Router comes equipped with WPA/WPA2 wireless encryption and fully customizable firewall
- Customer Support - Actiontec provides 24/7 customer support for the Modem Router, over the phone or online
Quick and Easy Setup
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|
Step 1:Turn on Modem Router. |
Step 2:Plug DSL line into phone port. |
Step 3:Connect computer to Ethernet port. |
Step 4Use AutoDetect Wizard to automatically configure. |
Industry Leading Modems
The Wireless N ADSL Modem Router is the latest in a long line of feature-filled Actiontec DSL modems. Actiontec has become a leader in high speed Internet modems and routers, shipping over 22 million Internet Access devices thus far, and our track record in innovation and customer support is highly regarded throughout the industry. With its cutting edge wireless N technology, its unparalleled ease-of-use (thanks to the AutoDetect Wizard), and the peace of mind you experience buying from an industry leader, the Wireless N ADSL Modem Router is sure to satisfy all of your modem/router needs.
Videos
Page 1 of 1Start OverPage 1 of 1
Videos for this product
1:19
Click to play video
Actiontec 300 Mbps Wireless-N ADSL Modem Router (GT784WN)
Merchant Video
Reviews with images
The Missing Key That At&T Has Lost!
This small yet insanely terrific creation is what I have been seeking for the longest of time to come! To make it short and simple for those who casually stroll through Amazon comments trying to decide if what they are planning to purchase is eitheir a good idea or not, let me put a resting halt to your decision.I have been stuck with the casual AT&T 2Wire Modem Router 2701HG-B for almost 8 years now and I surely can't believe what kind of trash I have been putting up with until now. I finally bought this new Actiontec as a replacement to see if any changes would result and sure enough, changes have been noticed!Before hand, with the AT&T 2Wire Modem Router 2701HG-B, I would occasionally get random resetting every half an hour during daily use and the little led lights would nearly always flash red then return to green for another repeating half an hour. This constant cycle was absolutely ridiculous! It seemed to get worse and worse every single day and to top things off, whenever I would play PS3 online and connect my Mac Book Pro to the 2wire, the router would become so unstable in keeping a fluent connection that both devices would cancel each other out! (Imagine trying to give an old man 2 sets of weights to lift and watching as he collapses from the weakness that his age can't withstand anymore. This is an exact idea I think of when the 2Wire gives out). So after receiving all these problems, I finally contacted At&T. The technician came to do a diagnostic check with the wiring in my house and ended up telling me that "Seems like you need a replacement AT&T 2Wire Modem Router 2701HG-B". Surely enough, I agreed and paid $100 for yet ANOTHER exact replica router of the AT&T 2Wire Modem Router 2701HG-B. After setting up a replacement, problems returned quicker then ever! It was madness! Nothing changed and on top of that, AT$T just took $100 of my hard earned money and completed nothing!After enough frustration, I realized that when something needs to be done, it's best done when completed on your own time rather than a technician *Pretend* checkup. I stumbled upon Amazon and found this router. Read some reviews and felt that the amount of good ratings overpowered the bad and I decided to take one more chance for $63.After receiving the router and setting up the configuration following easy provided steps, I was on my way to updated technology! No more lag, interrupted connections, disconnections, or any nonsense baloney garbage. I had even noticed about .5-1 Mbps more speed then my previous 2wire!!! Simply amazing what research and "doing your homework" can do! I only wish At&T would simply use these for their customers. Too bad... It's all about money these days.Anyhow, If you are one of many that can relate with me or connect slightly and feel like "Should I?" I say "YES!!!". Suffer no more! Get this and feel less stress in your life. No more hearing your brother cry because "I just got disconnected on PS3 Call of Duty!" or "Hey! Facebook is not working mom!" or even "Youtube buffering is slowwww! I hate our internet!".Life saver... Enough said ^.^
Top reviews from other countries
Alan
Quick and easy setup. Quality product
Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2018
Alan
Reviewed in Canada on November 19, 2018
Images in this review
Nancy Richardson
Easy to install and great signal!
Reviewed in Canada on October 12, 2019
Kay
Catalog deacriptions do not include enough back end information.
Reviewed in Canada on February 23, 2019Talameg
Does not work with internet speed above 24 mbps
Reviewed in Canada on February 19, 2019