Product Features
- 300 Mbps 802.11n access point CenturyLink Standard GUI
- Standards based WPS simplifies secure WLAN setup
- IPv6 6rd and dual stack support
- CenturyLink Router Standard GUI
- Auto detect CenturyLink network setting configurations
- Remote provisioning, monitoring, and management via TR-069
What's Included
- 1 Zyxel C1100Z Wireless DSL Modem
- 1 Power Cable
- 1 DSL Cable
- 1 Ethernet Cable Cat5e
Product Description
This Zyxel C1100Z 802.11n VDSL2 Wireless Gateway CenturyLink provides a reliable connection with the service provider of your choice (this model may not be compatible with your provider – please call your provider prior to ordering to verify compatibility). Your modem will ship with all necessary accessories for activation, including Power cable, Ethernet and DSL cables.
The Zyxel C1100Z supports heavy multimedia usage and simultaneous streaming with ease. It also allows for remote management to help enhance security. This modem’s dual firewalls help guard against attacks & keep your information safe from malicious entities.
asphalt –
Perfection! This router exceeded my expectations thus far.
Setting up my older internet router was not fun nor quick. Far from it. I spent hours troubleshooting and then finally talking with a CenturyLink service rep. From this experience, I was apprehensive about putting down $150 for a new router. The main problem with my old router (Netgear product) was because it wasn’t supported by CenturyLink and some time ago this Netgear router won’t let newer computers and phones connect to the WIFI network (Ethernet worked fine). The Netgear router had at least two good features, which I can’t seem to find on this Zyxel C1100Z router (maybe not yet?), which is creating a guest network and wireless isolation.
Now, let’s get to the Zyxel C1100Z: This router/modem came in a 10″ by 10″ by 2.5″ box with the CenturyLink logo. There were CenturyLink logos and color throughout on the inside, so this looked like it could have come from CenturyLink itself. So far a good sign.
The installation was simple and easy in 7 steps. Basically, I plugged the router into my DSL line and all the PPP username and password setup and internet settings was done automatically by CenturyLink. Done under 30 minutes. You can also change your admin username and password for the router.
Compare to my last experience, I was very happy. Afterward, I still had to update the computers around the house to the new WIFI network. I was able to connect computers and phone to the Zyxel’s WIFI that the old router did not accept. Note: this could be due the unsupported nature between Netgear and CenturyLink and not the actual Netgear router.
One unexpected snag was when I tried to use MAC authentication on this Zyxel router which did not work at first. A couple of hours spanning several days were sunk into researching why it wasn’t working, but no solution came up. CenturyLink website didn’t help either and just showed instructions on how to do the MAC authentication for the router. I was about to deduct a star for this review, when I had the revelation of updating the firmware to CZW002-4.12.009.0 and the MAC authentication works! Moral of the story: update your router’s firmware.
In the end, a good buy and a good setup experience.
Customer –
This model was recommended to me from Century Link, however it did not provide quality internet service. The item also did not come with an owner’s manual, hence wonder if it was a returned item already and then resent to me. Century Link recommended I return this modem.
John Willis –
This is essentially a reduced functionality version of the ZyXEL VSG-1432 running a Busybox Linux 2.3 kernel. It has a NAND MTD filesystem with the CFE bootloader and a Broadcom chipset. Both the C1100Z / VSG-1432 are xDSL modems, PPPoE clients and WAN router gateways with a 2.4 GHz WiFi radio. They were introduced about 5 years ago and support both ADSL and VDSL. CenturyLink is a combination of companies with varying degrees of equipment in different markets, so a modem that supports ADSL and VDSL will cover more markets. Much of the older legacy companies that combined to form CenturyLink are still running ADSL (technology from the 1990s) while newer VDSL (technology from the early 2000s) has been slower to roll out and isn’t in as many markets. After the modem sets up an xDSL connection, the PPPoE client trys to login using RADIUS on CenturyLinks side and obtain a DHCP address for the WAN interface attached to the PPP connection, which it NATs to provide service to its 4 Port Ethernet switch and 2.4 GHZ (n) WiFi connected devices (it does not have a 5 GHz radio and is not an AC WiFi gateway, its old). Major problem is in many older markets CenturyLink does not define what their “Authentication Lockout Timeout” policies are.. and this device has (no) auto-connect timeout control [ – the ZyXEL VSG-1432 “does” have this feature!! – ] (it hammers CenturyLink until it gets authenticated, so they typically block it for an escalating Lockout period of time). Left by default the Lockout by CenturyLink could be 15 minutes or set by CenturyLink up to up to 24 hours. If you attempt to reconnect within that “Lockout” time period subsequent connections will be ignored by the CenturyLink equipment. This is very market technician specific.. its highly variable and not well understood by many of the technicians. Without this control this xDSL modem gateway combination has to be run (manually) (you have to turn the auto-connect feature off, it is “On” by default) and is inconvenient. The alternative is to switch off the PPPoE and Gateway functions and run it as a pure modem (which makes it very expensive!). Then setup a separate PPPoE client and Gateway functions on another computer with two Ethernet ports to act as a WAN gateway, or buy another router just for those features. The firmware is highly locked down, too tightly to make fixing major market problems like this easy. Its not a great buy
Lisa Harrell –
Lisa’s husband here. Bought this to replace an Actiontec Q1000 that the dogs finally knocked over one too many times. No problem setting it up. It came with the most recent firmware installed and once plugged in and turned on, connected to CenturyLink’s walled garden with no problems. Once I supplied it with the login credentials CenturyLink gave me, turned off DHCP, and set the wifi to match the old modem’s settings, it worked fine on my home network.
For a few hours, that is. Then it wouldn’t route to some sites and the wifi was wonky with some of my devices. Rebooting would fix it for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. I reflashed the firmware as a last resort and that seems to have fixed it (fingers crossed). I’m deducting a star for having to do that.
Wifi coverage seems a bit better than the old Q1000. DSL up/down speeds are unchanged. If you’re used to the Q1000’s configuration pages, you’ll be at home with the Zyxel. No idea how well either the DHCP server or the built-in four port switch work, since I have other devices on my network doing those functions.
Aspasia –
I’ve used CenturyLink DSL for years and as they required filters on all phone jacks, my old (perfectly working) Westell modem was plugged into a filtered jack. As my old router connected to that modem died and we couldn’t get a new popular brand router to connect, opted to purchase the C1100Z. Did a double take when I read the CL Support Center tour of the modem and found that the C1100Z is NOT to use a filtered jack because it has a built in filter. Reading that saved me lots of grief, I’m sure. Times sure have changed as the installation process was seamless and fast. Best of all, compared to my old modem, the C1100Z is much faster. Super to have wireless again and hope this great performance continues.
JC –
My Century Link WiFi was cutting in and out at the most inopportune times. Was told by CL that they had diagnosed an “outside line problem” and that I needed a tech to service the line and then I would need a new modem/router. I decided to get the new modem/router first. After hooking this up about 2 weeks ago – no more problems AND speed seems faster – although I did not upgrade my speed. So far, so good. Installation was easy. No service call needed for “outside line problem” as of this writing.
Susie –
Yeah, I’ll give it 5 stars. No setup problems whatsoever (so long as you are able to use your cellphone to get to connect.centurylink.com which got me my PPP password and then I was good to go.
Slick, simple, working great
Sandeep –
This product drops your wifi speed to significant level. I realized this when I downgraded my internet speed to 40MBPS. I have disconnected all my wifi devises in home and just connected one device and stayed close to this unit (about 5 feet) and checked the speed. I measured 5 MBPS on wifi and 40 MBPS on ethernet. This is insane. I am going to trash this unit and buy another model.
Traveling Gal –
Works great – easy setup. However, I had an issue about a month later when CenturyLink cut off my internet and said that I wasn’t paying my bill. Since I pay automatically, this was nonsensical. Payment customer service at CenturyLink was clueless, but tech support figured it out. The previous owner’s information was still listed for the modem. They helped me put in the correct identification (some gibberish code that only they would know) – problem solved! If you’re buying a modem through a vendor other than CenturyLink, this may be an issue for you, even if the modem appears new, as mine did. To avoid this, connect with CenturyLink tech support when you’re setting up the modem and make sure that the modem is assigned to you!
barbara patton –
This was extremely easy to set up. It is basically the exact set up as the one that came with my Centurylink service. The modems Centurylink sent me had no range and for some reason my Roku would not recognize the modem. This Zyxel has a much better range and my Roku works fine with this modem. There are some very good videos on Youtube that explain how to change the password. The password that comes with the modem is long and takes forever to type in. I changed the password to a very short and easy password which made sinking all my other devices Amazon Dot, Roku, smart TV, etc. mush quicker and easier.
Tin Maione –
My internet connection kept dropping. I called Centurylink out to troubleshoot. He found a few issues outside the house and fixed them but said the modem also makes it drop out with the 40 meg service. I told him I went to the Centurylink site and it was recommended. He said it doesn’t work so well and gave me a different model at no charge. I guess it’s not the modem’s fault but it does drop out.
Gary Jones –
I purchased this Wireless Gateway as a recommended upgrade by the CenturyLink’s tech support group for an originally supplied Zyxel C1000Z Wireless Gateway that had been malfunctioning the past several months.
I have had this unit online for a little over week and after initially needing support from CenturyLink’s tech support group to resolve issues with properly connect to the internet it appears to be working okay.
So far its performance appeared to be similar to that of the Zyxel C1000Z Wireless Gateway via Speedtest testing of the Enhernet and WiFi modes with Enhernet speeds consistent within the rated purchased speed level, but as with the C1000Z the C1100Z the WiFi speeds were inconsistent from as low 0 to a maximum of 50% of the rated Enhernet speeds. CenturyLink’s tech support group was of no help in resolving this issue.
With the recommendation of a network specialist at my local big box office supplies store I purchased a Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 / R7000 Smart WiFi Router. I disabled the Zyxel C1100Z Wireless Gateway’s WiFi function, using instead the Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 as the WiFi Router and I am now seeing consistent WiFi speeds of 75% to 100% of the Enhernet speeds, WOW, thanks network specialist guy.