2-Wire 3800HGV-B Wireless Router Review

Bottom-Line: If you are thinking about going with AT&T U-Verse you'll want to request the Cisco IPN-4320 DVR Receiver, you'll be glad you did.

No longer willing to put up with the Dish, we recently had AT&T U-Verse installed (we opted for the HD digital cable service and broadband Internet).  The heart of the system is the 2Wire 3800HGV-B Wireless Router/Switch, or Residential Gateway, in U-Verse parlance.

The 411

The 2Wire 3800HGV-B is a fairly large Residential Gateway (RG) and it is where the U-Verse Service all comes together via a coax cable from the street.  From the 2Wire 3800HGV-B the cable and Internet signals are dispersed via (4) wired 10/100Mbps (Auto-crossover) RJ-45 ports, and or 802.11 wireless b/g.  The large router also offers VoIP, Broadband Networking, NAT/PAT.     

The 2Wire 3800HGV-B also hands out IP addresses in the (192.168.. range) to computers and other devices via built-in Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), and it is equipped with a very robust Firewall.  I had the installation technician place our RG inside the entertainment center where it could not be seen, but still do its thing.    

The front of the unit is fitted with the usual green and yellow LED's; i.e. Power, Ethernet, USB-PC, Wireless, HPNA, Phone 1, Phone 2, Broadband and Internet.   The back of the unit is rather busy; there you will find (1) Cable Line port, (4) RJ-45 ports, (2) USB ports, (1) Broadband port, (3) Phone ports, and power. 

My Viewpoint

With the 2Wire 3800HGV-B I have several ways to get my Internet signal: wirelessly, RJ-45 port, USB-to-PC port, or path I choose, RJ-45 port out to another Router/Switch.  High-speed of course. 

While the 2Wire 3800HGV-B is not needed to feed the regular Cisco IPN-330HD cable boxes, it is necessary to feed the HD signal directly to the Cisco IPN-4320 DVR Receiver.     

Overall, I have been very happy with the 2Wire 3800HGV-B.  Set-up and configuration of the unit is relatively easy and since I had it installed I have only had to reset it once due to poor (cable) signal quality.  If you are thinking about going with AT&T U-Verse you'll want to request the 2Wire 3800HGV-B Wireless Router/Switch.