Review on CenturyLink ZyXEL C1100Z 802.11n VDSL2 Wireless Gateway by Jason Cavett

Basically a limited functionality version of the ZyXEL VSG-1432 running the Busybox Linux 2.3 kernel. It features a NAND MTD file system with a CFE bootloader and a Broadcom chipset. Both C1100Z and VSG-1432 are xDSL modems, PPPoE clients and WAN router gateways with a 2.4GHz WiFi radio. They were introduced about 5 years ago and support both ADSL and VDSL. CenturyLink is a coalition of companies with different levels of equipment in different markets, so a modem that supports ADSL and VDSL will cover more markets. Many of the old legacy companies that merged into CenturyLink are still using ADSL (1990's technology) while the newer VDSL (early 2000's technology) is being rolled out more slowly and not in many markets. After the modem establishes an xDSL connection, the PPPoE client attempts to register with RADIUS on the CenturyLinks site and obtain a DHCP address for the WAN interface connected to the PPP connection, which it translates to its 4-port Ethernet switch and 2.4 GHz to use . (n) Devices connected to WiFi (it doesn't have a 5GHz radio and isn't an AC WiFi gateway, it's old). The main problem is that CenturyLink does not define their "Authentication Lock Timeout" policy in many legacy markets. and this device has (no) auto-connect timeout control [- ZyXEL VSG-1432 "has" this feature! - ] (It kills CenturyLink until authenticated, so they usually block it for increasing block duration). By default, CenturyLink lockout can be set to 15 minutes or CenturyLink to 24 hours. If you attempt to reconnect during this "block" period, subsequent connections will be ignored by the CenturyLink devices. This is very market specific. it is highly variable and not well understood by many technicians. Without this control, this xDSL modem-gateway combo needs to be (manually) started (you need to turn off the auto-connect feature, it's on by default), and that's cumbersome. Alternatively, you can disable the PPPoE and gateway features and run it as a mere modem (which makes it very expensive!). Then configure a separate PPPoE client and gateway functionality on another computer with two Ethernet ports to act as a WAN gateway, or buy another router just for those functions. The firmware is heavily locked down, too much to easily fix such serious market issues. This is not a very good buy.