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Got this as a first step in replacing my existing modem router so I would be able to use a more flexible non-modem router instead. It arrived promptly with Amazon's usual service, and I assumed that I'd have it up and running in 10-15 minutes. How wrong I was!
Attempting to connect to the web interface of this modem is an exercise in frustration - it's incredibly flaky, repeatedly timing out no matter which browser is used to connect. This happens throughout the setup process, so even if you manage to get past a step, you probably won't reach the next one. Eventually got the setup wizard to run, only to have it hang at "Wizard is performing quick scan of PVC/protocol" - this should apparently take no more than 5-6 minutes, however it was still there 12 hours later. I've tried multiple browsers, computers, filters, and cables, and even used the test socket on the master phone socket - nothing makes any difference.
After the best part of a day I'm going back to what I was using before - at least that can actually connect to the Internet. This has to be the worst piece of networking equipment I've used - it clearly isn't fit for purpose - and so it's going back.
UPDATE: I've now received a replacement from Amazon and managed to get it working, although it certainly wasn't easy.
Initially my experience with the replacement was pretty much the same as with the original - continuous timeouts and disconnections. Eventually I opened up the Developer Tools in Chrome to see what was going on when it was attempting to go through the process. What I found it does is repeatedly reload a hidden iframe to poll whether each step in the setup has succeeded - it did this about a dozen times in quick succession and then refused the connection. I therefore theorised that it was reloading too quickly for it to handle, so I activated Chrome's network throttling features and tried again. This slowed down each reload and allowed it to succeed, as after 30 seconds I saw a screen I hadn't ever managed to get to previously - the one asking for my broadband connection details!
Of course, it wasn't quite that simple - by the time I'd managed to look up the secure password I use, it fell over again attempting to save them. However reloading and starting again, this time promptly adding the login info, allowed the setup to finally succeed. It now appears to be working fine - no real difference to my previous modem in terms of speed, but since it's only been online for an hour or so and I was already connecting at close to the max speed for ADSL anyway that is to be expected.
In conclusion, it is possible to get it working if you have web development (or similar) experience to troubleshoot it (as I do), but none of that should be necessary. I find it inconceivable that Netgear thought this setup experience would be acceptable - I can only conclude that they either haven't tested it themselves or simply don't care about their users.
UPDATE 2: I've recently switched to fibe, and after troubleshooting a couple of issues have given up and replaced it with a different modem
My previous use of this modem was as an ADSL modem, however I'd bought it with the knowledge that I could use it for fibre if I ever chose to upgrade. When using with ADSL you have to use it in modem/router mode, as no stand-alone router (at least that I've used) is capable of setting up a PPPoA connection, however fibre is PPPoE so modem only mode can be used. After my new connection was activated, I duly made the configuration change, and set up the connection details in my router. All initially appeared well - good connection speeds (as expected since I was close to the theoretical max for ADSL beforehand), and no apparent issues.
A couple of days later I found I could no longer use the Three inTouch app to make or receive calls - something I rely on as there is no signal in most of my flat. At the time I put this down to service problems on Three's end, and raised an issue with them, not expecting it to be a local problem. Shortly afterwards, I found that I couldn't use either the Amazon or eBay apps on either my phone or tablet - no content would be received for any request made - although the websites themselves were fine.
I went through a number of attempts to resolve this issue: rebooting the phone; rebooting the router; rebooting the modem; resetting the router to factory defaults; replacing the router with another I'd used previously. I'd just about given up and concluded it was an issue with my new ISP, when I decided to try their modem/router - which worked perfectly. This made it clear the issue was with my equipment, and since replacing the router made no difference, more specifically with this modem. To verify this, I configured the ISP modem/router in modem-only/bridge mode and set it up behind my router - again it worked perfectly. This also fixed the issue with Three inTouch.
As such I'm no longer using this modem, and don't see why I would again - it's given me a lot of grief for virtually no benefit. It's incredibly restricted in what it can do when in modem/router mode (e.g. the firewall can't be disabled), and worse in modem-only mode. There is no way to find out if it's applying any firewall settings when used as a modem, and if it is there would be no way to do anything about it as there is no way to make configuration changes. Quite simply, avoid this and use something else.
| Brand | NETGEAR |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 10.87 x 4.8 x 13.25 cm; 163 Grams |
| Item model number | DM200-100EUS |
| Manufacturer | NETGEAR |
| Series | NETGEAR DM200 |
| Color | Black |
| Operating System | Microsoft Windows 7, 8, 10, Vista, XP, 2000, Mac OS, UNIX, Linux |
| Are Batteries Included | No |
| Item Weight | 163 g |
