My internet keeps dropping at home. I do not have any options for providers. I have an ATT modem provided by them but many people tell me that I should have a separate router. I have a Time Capsule but there is debate over whether this is a router?

The TIme Capsule is a router.. no question of that.

Whether it is a good enough router to fix your problems only trial and error can tell you.

What modem did ATT provide for you?? Make and model please.

And what version TC is it? A1xxx from the base please.

Did you have the TC setup with the previous router?

Have you tried with a computer plugged into the modem directly?? If that drops out then the TC is irrelevant to the problem.

ATT likely provided you with a modem/router.....also known as a gateway. They probably did not provide you with a simple modem, no matter what they might call it.

A modem/router or gateway is a device that combines both a modem and a router in one package. If this is what you have....and....you have a Time Capsule.....then you have two routers on your network, and things have become a lot more complicated.

We'll know what you really have there if you can post back with the make and model number of the "modem", in addition to the other info that LaPastenague has requested for good reason.

We really do need the model number of the Motorola modem, since a serial number does not tell us what you really have. Motorola makes dozens of modem models, but I can't find a cross reference for their serial numbers that would tell us what model of modem that you have.

For your future posts......we do not need (or want) to receive serial numbers on products....and you really should not post that type of information.

A model number of a product tells us all that we need to know without you having to divulge any personal or specific information.

An ATT link to information, a setup guide, etc about the modem would probably give us enough to work with.

Is it this one?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Motorola-2210-02-1022-ADSL-AT-T-High-Speed-Modem-MST ATEA-W-Power-RNW1378-/231342919777

Please see post above yours.

This is one strange, oddball product.

It provides DHCP and NAT.....which is what a router does. So, technically you could call the 2210 a router. But...and this is a BIG BUT.....the oddball thing about the Motorola 2210 is that it will only provide one single IP address.....when a normal router provides dozens.

Since the 2210 only provides one IP address, when it is used in its normal, new out of the box condition......it is a product that is designed to work with only one computer.

If you hook up the 2210 to a router.....like the Time Capsule.....which also provides DHCP and NAT services......you will have an issue called Double NAT.....something that you really don't want on a network, since it complicates things....and Double NAT is known to cause several other issues like slow browsing (or no browsing.....loss of Internet).

If you want to use the 2210 with the Time Capsule.......the 2210 needs to be modified to work in what what is known as "Bridge Mode". With the 2210 in Bridge Mode, the Time Capsule can then be setup as the network router and there will be no Double NAT issues that way.

When the 2210 is setup to operate in Bridge Mode, the Time Capsule will need to change the way that it connects to the Internet from a normal DHCP setting to another type of connection called PPPoE. To setup the Time Capsule to provide PPPoE credentials, you will need to know your ATT user name (it might be your email address or account number) and the password that you have been assigned.

Honestly, things would be tons easier if you contacted ATT and asked them to provide you with a modem/router. Then, the Time Capsule can be easily setup in Bridge Mode and all will be well.

The ATT 802.11n modem/router will work fine. Your Time Capsule will also work fine with the ATT router.

Life will be much simpler for you soon.