Bonded recommendation, please. Thank you.

[Lorista_01]

My internet is being upgraded in a few weeks. I'm told I need a dual-band bonded-capable modem.  I have the option to lease the Zyxel VMG4825-b10a at $11.99/per month for two years or to buy something outright. I'd rather buy something outright since it's it's less money in the long run.  Recently lost my job. Ultimately when this is all said and done I'll be paying less money per month with faster service. I can't find the Zyxel for sale, and I'd rather stick with netgear, a name I know.  However, my area of expertise is not in networking.  Can someone recommend something similar to the Zyxel that is Netgear branded? I've printed out the specs of the Zyxel, but it's essentially alphabet soup to me.  Any help would be appreciated?  I think I need something that is ADSL2 and Dual-band wireless, guessing 802.11ac? Not sure what else I'm missing. Ugh.

TYIA,

Lorista

[antinode]

> [...] I'm told I need a dual-band bonded-capable modem. [...]

   "told" by whom?

   "dual-band" is a router property.  "bonded-capable" is a modem
property.  Which Netgear doesn't offer:

      https://kb.netgear.com/30296

> [...] Can someone recommend something similar to the Zyxel that is
> Netgear branded?

   Obviously not.

> [...] I can't find the Zyxel for sale, [...]

   Where did you look?  I see a couple on Ebay, both for less than half
of $288.

> [...] I think I need [...]

   I'd start by asking my (unspecified) ISP what they support.  Then I'd
look for a bargain on a used one.  (Which is how I got my two D7000
units.  But my DSL service is not bonded.  And, given the firmware bugs,
not a mistake which I'd be likely to repeat.)

   Once you find a compatible modem(+router?), adding a more capable
router (or wireless access point) should be easy enough, if desired.

[Lorista_01]

 [...] I'm told I need a dual-band bonded-capable modem. [...]

   "told" by whom?   ISP

   "dual-band" is a router property.  "bonded-capable" is a modem
property.  Which Netgear doesn't offer:

      https://kb.netgear.com/30296

> [...] Can someone recommend something similar to the Zyxel that is
> Netgear branded?

   Obviously not.

> [...] I can't find the Zyxel for sale, [...]

   Where did you look?  I see a couple on Ebay, both for less than half
of $288.   I did not look at Ebay, but I will. 

> [...] I think I need [...]

   I'd start by asking my (unspecified) ISP what they support.  Then I'd
look for a bargain on a used one.  (Which is how I got my two D7000
units.  But my DSL service is not bonded.  And, given the firmware bugs,
not a mistake which I'd be likely to repeat.)

I called my ISP -Consolidated Communications, back and they could not make a recommendation. He could only say that I need one that supported bonded ADSL. 

   Once you find a compatible modem(+router?), adding a more capable
router (or wireless access point) should be easy enough, if desired.

[Lorista_01]

@antinode  BTW, thank you for the reply.

Did you have bonded service and issues with it? I'm asking b/c of the firmware comment. 

Thank you,

Lorista

[antinode]

> [...] they could not make a recommendation. [...]

   That was less than helpful.  If you're desperate for some ideas:

      https://www.centurylink.com/home/help/internet/modems-and-routers/compatible-modems.html

> Did you have bonded service and issues with it?

   No.

> [...] But my DSL service is not bonded. [...]

   The firmware problems I've seen with my D7000[v1] include:

      Freezes after about a month of operation, requiring a power cycle.
      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1706952

      Special characters in PPP credentials are mishandled.
      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1354547

      Zero-length "guest" password ok, but 1-7 characters not allowed.

      Built-in speed test never worked.
      https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1354507

      ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > LED Control Settings not saved in
      configuration file.