Westell 6200 DSL Modem Review

Quick View: Run away if someone suggests this modem to you!

The Westell 6200 DSL Modem

When I got DSL, I got a Westell modem from Verizon. The older one worked fine. Then I was "upgraded" to the Westell 6100. This sleek black modem is very simple with a few lights and Ethernet connections as well as a phone jack. Just plug in the Ethernet cord and the phone jack and badda boom, you can get online. But not so fast. We have a router which we use to network our computers. We hooked that up and all was well. However, we noted that the modem would randomly turn off. The lights would go out and our connection would die.

After enduring this sometimes hourly, I called to get a new modem. Verizon sent me another Westell 6100 Modem. This time, the thing worked but only when the lights indicated that it wasn't on. If the red light, which indicates it is not ready, was on, we could get online. If the green light, which indicates it is fully functional, was on, we could not connect. Then there was the issue of overheating. Granted, we sometimes have three computers running at once, wirelessly, but this thing was searing hot. We would have to disconnect it and let it cool off, then reconnect and all was well until the next time.

Today, my son said the new modem (under six months old) died. He said it must have burnt out. A closer look and my welder husband said the circuitry was burned out and that it was a sloppily made piece of...um...plastic.

My Viewpoint

I called Verizon and guess what they are replacing the broken modem with? Another Westell 6100. I went to Best Buy and bought a different modem and to heck with Westell. I haven't hooked up the new modem yet. I am, um, "borrowing" wireless from my neighbors across the street. I have lost a full day of work - since my work is on the net - due to the faulty, inefficient Westell 6100 Modem. I am not even due to get the new one until late next week! I highly suggest that you do NOT accept one of these if you are given one from your DSL company and I certainly don't recommend that you buy one. They're junk! 1 star.