Hello there

Cousin-in-law signed up for AT&T U-Verse

Problem
- Plan required new DSL modem: 2Wire Residential Gateway 3800HGV-B
- new modem has wireless router functionality which we don't want

Situation
- D-Link DI-624 wireless router handled network, connected to DSL modem: Efficient Networks Speedstream 5360
- wireless router placed in same location as modem
- D-Link 8 port switch connected to wireless router
- switch placed elsewhere
- Linksys WRT54G wireless router connected to switch to expand wireless signal
- second wireless router placed elsewhere

Wish
- Keep existing hardware, don't use new modem
- AT&T says not possible

Compromise
- Use new modem
- But also use existing networking hardware so configuration is preserved

Compromise Plan #1
- Turn off wireless router functionality in new modem
- Discovered wireless can be turned off but not router yet
- Make modem act in bridge mode only just like old modem
- AT&T installer accidentally took modem's CD which has manual inside
- 2wire.com useless, no drivers or documentation for 3800 series
- searches found some discussion about bridge mode possibility but only for 2X00 series
- discussions mentioned alternative interface @ http://homeportal/mdc but did not find anything
- later realized bridge mode not possible because modem is somehow always looking for three "HomePNA" devices with IP addresses already assigned
- so figured modem will always be in router mode

Compromise Plan #2
- Make main wireless router act as wireless access point just like secondary wireless router
- First turn off DHCP on main wireless router
- Next plug ethernet cable into any LAN port in new modem
- Then plug other end into any LAN port in main wireless router, doesn't work if plugged into WAN port, got bit by that
- Configured main wireless router's IP address to be same block as new modem
- Turned off new modem's wireless capability
- Success!

I felt very happy to get it working. He can get online with his devices just as before.