How to unlock a Bell 2Wire 2701HG-G Modem/Router

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Today I helped my friend unlock his Bell 2Wire 2701HG-G Modem/Router. We were not doing it to unlock it per say, but we wanted to update his router to a newer firmware to hopefully resolve a wifi disconnection issue with his iPad. I stumbled upon some forums that lead me to a file. We updated the modem, which cleared his Bell settings (something I knew would happen from experience!). So after a long time of scrolling through pages of forums, and trying to figure stuff out, with the help of the forum I figured it out on my own.

Firstly before I get to the good stuff (skip this part and go to the bottom if you just want to unlock the 2Wire 2701HG-G) let me warn you to never get a branded modem/router. Why you might ask? Well because of the fact that they are branded some features might be stripped and getting those features back, or a decent web interface might be difficult if not impossible. Secondly they barely release updates, and when they do, you can’t get access to the files your self. I would rather input all these settings into a D-Link/Linksys router or this Buffalo router that is on my wish list.

So first of all you will need to flash the Modem/Router with a newer firmware. This firmware is for another ISP called Singtel. Don’t worry it should work fine as I have used it on a Bell connection. The main problem was once we updated the firmware, and wanted to input the Bell username and password it kept inputting @Singtel.com to the end of the username no matter what we did. Finally I found out that we had to use a key code to remedy that (See this is what I was talking about earlier in the post! I have never used a key code on a router, I feel this is a very stupid idea or “feature” if you want to call it that). So follow the steps below and you should be able to get your router working with the Singtel firmware.

Before Updating your Modem/Router please make sure you have your username and password written down, or call Bell to get them, as they will be erased when the firmware is flashed.

Unlocking the Bell 2Wire 2701HG-G

1. Download the Singtel firmware (Rapidshare)

2. Access your router’s firmware update page, I have listed all the possible web portal addresses that I have encountered, one of them SHOULD work for you. (http://gateway.2wire.net/tech/upgrade.html | http://192.168.2.1/tech/upgrade.html | http://192.168.1.254/tech/upgrade.html)

3. Select the Singtel 2sp file which you downloaded from above and click Update. (You should only do this through a wired connection and not wireless.)

4. Hopefully after a successful flash access the router’s Setup page (http://192.168.1.254/setup | http://192.168.2.1/setup | http://gateway.2wire.net/setup)

5.Enter this Key Code (5225-26P4-6262-22AS-B2E7) and click Advanced, now continue with the setup, and it will not append the @Singtel.com to the end of your B1 username. This is the only Key Code that worked for me as the others would fail even if we had the correct username/password combination. If this Key Code does not work for you check out all the rest of the Key Codes at the 2Wire website.

That is all, your Modem/Router should now connect to bell. The reason I wrote this tutorial, was because I saw that the information was scattered all over the forums, with a bit of correct information everywhere, and not all in one place. If I have made a mistake please point it out so I can fix this. Also I would hope that Bell and other ISPs find this post, and see how much users are frustrated with their branded hardware. Hopefully they will start using less restricted, and user changeable hardware/software. While it might be easier in the short run, I find that in the long run it is more costly, more annoying, and more problematic since there are such few firmware updates. Enjoy your unlocked/updated Modem/Router.

Ps. So far my friend’s iPad is working without a problem. Hopefully it stays that way.

139 thoughts on “How to unlock a Bell 2Wire 2701HG-G Modem/Router”

  1. Great summary for getting rid of Ma Bell and the ill communication. In fact, if I could only choose from whom I can get the dry loop from, I would have nothing here at all to do with Bell. Alas, we do have our inbred oligopolies to choose from.. (Dreaming about Xittel & their FTTH / FTTP)

    with the new firmware on your 2wire, try the following addresses:
    http:///mdc
    password:2wire

    from there: (DSL Diagnostics)
    http:///xslt?PAGE=J42&THISPAGE=J17NEXTPAGE=J42

  2. Ack! I didn’t realize that you were accepting tags.. Pardon the malformed url’s..

    http://{your_routers_ip_addy}/mdc
    password:2wire

    from there: (DSL Diagnostics)
    http://{your_routers_ip_addy}/xslt?PAGE=J42

    Perhaps prior to posting, a preview option would suffice!

  4. Man I wish I had seen this first. I just went through this whole process assembling the different info myself. Only thing I hadn’t yet figured out was getting rid of that @sigtel append. I was pissed at the thought of flashing my router and then not being able to use it because of that. Anyways good work bringing it together, you are the first hit for “bell 2701 2wire firmware” wish I had put it that way last week. Thanks for the key-code.

    Cheers.

  5. Ah, thank you very kindly. I spent an hour roaming around various forums looking for the information I needed, then I found your post, and everything went smoothly. Now my sister can use her modem with Tek Savvy instead of Bell!

    I live in Montreal too!

  6. hi, im from dominican republic and i have one of this 2Wire 2701hg-b from att, i would like to know if this could be configured to work with another carrer here… thanz

  7. Hello Kush, I did the the flash and everything worked perfectly. And Bell is not my ISP.
    I am from Saguenay In Québec.

    Thank’s a lot for your help..

    • It should work since it unlocks the router, you should know your internet settings as it will erase all settings once it flashes. You can call your ISP and have them tell you the settings to connect.

  8. Hey Kush,

    Great Guide….I’ve got the Bell 2Wire 2701HG-G modem/router and its already allowing me to use my Teksavvvy internet. (Another ISP)

    But if I try to access the internet from my laptop or iPhone via Wi-Fi then it asks me to login using my Bell Account (Which I don’t have)

    Would it then work if I use the unlock method you provided above?

    Thanks in advance…

  9. Hey Kush, bell just change my SpeedStream6520 for the 2701hg-g.
    I have one stupid question. If everything work well for me with my new Modem/Router.
    Do I need to unlock it. What will be the benefit if I unlock it? Can I get more speed?
    Thanks in advance..

    • If you unlock it, you can get later firmware (if there is any) which would help with problems on older firmware (such as my friend’s iPad disconnecting issue) also it would allow you to use it with another provider if you choose to do so at a later time. It will not help you with speed unless that was a firmware issue.

  10. Thanks for this. It worked perfectly.

    You might want to add that people should leave all settings at default. They just have to put in their Bell name/pass for success.

  14. Hi Kush,

    In your step 3 above for doing this you state “You should only do this through a wired connection and not wireless” when doing the flash.

    The only problem is that I don’t have a computer directly hooked into the router right now, all of my computers access it wirelessly. Is there any reason why I cannot do the flash wirelessly?

    If I plug one of my laptops that also has a wireless connection directly into the bell router to do the flash afterwards once I hook up a new dlink router to the bell router will I than be able to disconnect the laptop to gain a wireless connection?

    When connecting the dlink router into the bell router does it matter which ethernet slot I plug into as none of the slots specify on the bell router that they can be used to plug into another router.

    Thanks

    • I don’t know, I tend to hate any branded modem/router. They are always stripped and usually have crappy interfaces, and rarely receive updates.

  17. Fantastic, i looked everywhere with no success. There are several forums with several ideas with barely half answered solutions. This was simple. Easy. And it worked. Take that BELL!

    Thank you!!

  20. Hey Kush,

    Great work ! Much appreciated.
    But any tip, when, for any reason, a user want to get back to the porevious firmwar from Bell?

    Thanks

  21. Kudos to you Kush! F*ck Bell! I just pulled off the hack as per your instructions and I’m writing this message using the HG-G & a Teksavvy connection. 😀

    I *did* have to install the firmware twice. The first time I got back into Bell’s set-up screens, but I just started again at step 2.

  22. Hi

    I unlocked my 2wire gateway 2701HG-G using the above guide. I am using AOL Broadband internet connection, I confirmed from customer support that they are using PPPoE connection type, whenever I enter username the @singtel string automatically. I tried many activation key from the following website.

    http://2wire.com/?p=268

    Every time the @singtel automatically appended with the username.

    • I included that in the tutorial. If you can’t get it to work, try using the code listed in the tutorial and applying the att settings. Let me know if you cant get it working.

      • THanks for you reply, the only mistake I did was, I didn’t include the full username.

        I am an aol canada user, I just added @aol.com with my username and now the 2701 HG-G Router is working very smoothly.

        THanks for the guide, you saved my 30 bucks.

  23. Awesome work Kush! I agree with Kermit F*ck Bell!
    I wanted to hack this modem about 6 months ago but info on forums was all disjointed. Just hacked it now, worked 1st time for me, as per your clear & concise instructions. Also using HG-G & Teksavvy connection.
    F*ck Ma Bell & F*ck Usage Based Billing!

  25. Great tutorial and thanks so much for posting this.

    Ive got a question though. I am currently with Bell, using this modem/router, but would very much like to put it into bridged mode and use a different router. Would doing the above give me access to the MDC page? As of now the page asks for a password, which is not known.

    Thanks so much.

  26. Thanks anyway, I’ll do that.
    By the way keep up the good work
    you deserve it. It is good to see that
    some people take the time benevolently
    to answer all our questions.

  29. Hey Kush, here’s a situation…I bought a 2701hg-g a while back at a bestbuy store and I’ve used it with Bell for a period of 6-7months and got tired of them I was searching for new internet provider and ended up with Radioactif…I didn’t want to buy there modem because I was statisfied with 2 for 1 technology with 2wire…so I got my user and password and enter them in the interface at http://192.168.2.1 instead of the bXXXX i’ve put my new user with RadioActif and password…everything seemed fine on the modem but when I open a browser window it gives me the Bell setup page…what can I do to bypass this??? I’ve read your tutorial but it seems it works for Wifi and I want it to work for wired using Ethernet cable…can you or anybody help me out I’m not to tech savvy when it comes to this…i still like to use my modem/router with my new service provider is that operation even possible? If so can you or anybody post steps with print screens so it could be easier to follow!

    Thanks for responding!

    Dom,

    • It seems your DSL connection is still going through BELL connection/Servers.

      You should contact your new ISP “RadioActif” to confirm that the connection is going to their servers or not…

  31. Thank you so much. It worked perfectly.
    If I can add maybe we should add how to use the 2wire only as a modem so we can use our own routers. (bridge mode)

  32. Nice one 🙂 Just one question: if the 2wire’s rented from Bell, could you be charged for that when you eventually return it? :/

        • If you read one of the comments on this post said bell counted internal network traffic towards the monthly bandwidth cap!

          • Crazy 😛
            Here’s what I could find about modem use on bell’s site – in case anyone’s interested…

            If a Service Modem has been provided to you by Your Service Provider, you agree to use and maintain such Service Modem, and all other hardware and software delivered to you, in compliance with the applicable operating instructions provided by Your Service Provider, its agents and/or suppliers, as applicable. You also agree to return such materials, at your own risk, in good repair and working order. In the event that such materials are not in good repair and working order upon their return, subject to reasonable wear and tear, you will be charged an amount equal to the cost incurred by Your Service Provider in repairing or replacing such materials. Until returned to and received by Your Service Provider, you bear the entire risk of theft of, damage to or destruction of these materials. All of your obligations in respect of the Service Modem, and all other hardware and software delivered to you, will survive the expiration or termination of this Service Agreement to the extent required for their full observance and performance.

  33. after unlock they need B1XXXXX,but i don’t have,( i use ACANAC),so my modem last light is red, can not use,what can i do?

  34. I’ve been considering switching to TekSavvy since I just found out that it exists and I hate bell and their stupid 25GB/month bandwidth cap, slow speeds, and bad customer service.

    But if I cancel their service wouldn’t they make me give them the modem back? Since they are making me rent it…
    How are people using this 2Wire modem after cancelling services with Bell?

  35. You might also consider using the “Quest” firmware for use with Teksavvy or other ISP. Works very well and no keycodes are required. Bought my 2701 which is available at most major electronics retailers for $100 as the “grab and go” kit.

  36. Hi Kush, I have a 2701HG-G sitting around and I’d like to use it as a wireless extender, hotspot or use it as a wireless connector for other wifi spots..
    Any ideas of how to do this? Any links are appreciated..

    Thnx

  37. Kudos Kush:
    Excellent tutorial.
    Only one thing that you didn’t mention:
    You can not work OFF-LINE!!!!!
    No I will try to use my Belkin router as an access point.
    Thank you again.

  38. I’m by no means a gay man, but I could kiss you right now Kush.
    Thanks for the great tutorial.
    One extra thing to note (though suppose should have been obvious) is that you need to be plugged directly into the 2701 router to enter the setup page. I kind of forgot that part and was sitting here like a moron going cpu >linksys>2701 and getting connection error messages.
    Again, thanks SO much.

    • Thanks Egogen, I started reading your comment and didn’t understand the first line and had to read it again, no worries, you don’t have to be gay to kiss another man. No disrespect meant to gay people of course. Your comment made me laugh!

  39. Thank you for your clear information, English is not my fist language and I didn’t understand anything on forums !

    I took a subscription with Uniserve in Québec and had the surprise to have hided installation fees and a modem from the ice age ! No wifi !! How can we survive ?!
    I follow your steps, it was easy but after few hours to configure the ISP codes, I called them, eveything I saw on the internet was wrong, this is the information that worked for me from Uniserve :
    ppoe
    LLC
    VPI 0
    VCI 35
    (even if you live in Canada, it is .com)

    If it put automatically at singtel@.com after your username, it is because you put the information on the 3rd page after puting the big code, go back to the page of the big code and click “advanced setting”, now you have a box to put your username information and you are free to mentionned another ISP or let it blank after the username.

  40. well i dident even start unlocking yet but i had say that if all the forrums were written and done like this one…. anyways the best ive seen yet

  41. I’d just like to point out that while this update may work in your country, it will not work in the U.S.A. (*cry*). There is a hardware level protocol called DOCSYS that all ISPs that provide Internet via DSL, Cable, Fiber-Optic and I believe both low-look and high-look Satellite Dish services employ that prevents anyone other than the ISP to be able to update the firmware. Believe me, I’ve tried! ALOT! Many days lost in search of a way to update branded DSL and Cable modems. And yes, this goes for anything you can buy “off the shelf” at places like Best Buy, Office Max, Fry’s, etc. in the US. God knows we don’t see half of what’s actually out there and what can be modified to better suit your needs. I.T. kinda suck that way here in the US, but I’ve helped develop some of that new tech as well.
    I’ve taken to scouting out Linksys wireless-G broadband routers like the WRT54GS, WRT54G & WRT54GL series units at flea-markets and can usually find a few for about $5 USD each. These things are feature packed workhorses but come with a stripped-down UI and over half the features are hidden until you flash the firmware with dd-wrt Linux-based UI. http://WWW.DD-WRT.COM has a huge database of flashable wireless routers too. You might find that your modem\routers might be compatible with the dd-wrt firmware.
    Out of 7 random routers I’ve bought at the flea-markets, only 2 wouldn’t work with dd-wrt. So there are a TON of modem\routers this will work with. And since it’s Open Source, it’s FREE!!! Yes FREE, Compliments of the Management, On the House, Gratis.
    Who knows, that old modem in the closet that you thought was junk, may be the dragster you’ve been dreaming of.
    And no, I don’t work for dd-wrt, I’m just a fan of their work! And I think you will be as well.
    Have you overclocked your repeater-bridge today?

  42. Kush,

    I just bought this router/modem from Kijiji and need to unlock it for use on Teksavvy.

    The guide is very clear but before I start, I’d like to know if there’s a username and password I should have on hand, and if so, where I would find them? (I don’t have a Bell account- only Teksavvy)

    Also, which ‘Internet settings’ should I jot down before flashing, if any?

    Thanks man!

    Owen

    • The Internet settings would be your teksavvy connection settings. There is not extra passwords. If you need any other help let me know.

  43. Okay, so I won’t be asked to input any username/password that’s native to Bell, correct? Just call Teksavvy and have them set me up with that info?

  44. Kush- me again…

    I don’t know what the heck happened but something went wrong!

    I was connected to the router/modem via ethernet cable > went to the firmware update page > uploaded the Singtel 2sp file and let it run.

    The upload completed but in the middle of the ‘reboot’ the browser ‘timed out’ so now the wireless obviously doesn’t work but I’m not even able to connect via ethernet cable and the ‘internet’ light is solid amber.

    SOS!!

    Am I screwed or what?

    If you could give me a call that’d be awesome man- I have a web business so this is driving me insane and I really don’t want to writing from my friends PS3!

    Thanks
    Owen

  46. I know this is a stupid question to ask but after I installed the SingTel firmware it’s unlocked right?
    So in my case assuming it’s unlocked; while I enter in the Acanac login on the 2Wire 2701 HG-G I get the solid red light on Internet and I get an error message of either wrong login ( at this point I think it might be locked) or a try again message (which still doesn’t work when I try again). Any ideas?

  47. Thanks a lot!!!! The easiest way to unlocked it. But, after all thoses steps, where should I go to configure the wireless settings? On the mainpage of Segtel, I don’t anywhere I could go to set up the wireless connection.

    Thanks again, nice job !!

    Edwar,
    Montreal

    • There should be a menu at the top of the page, that has home networking or something similar. Wifi is somewhere inside the main menu.

  49. Hi, I downloaded the firmware file but can not access my ‘firmware’s update page’. are they broken links? is there some reason they’re not working? thanks

  50. Hi Kush,
    I have the same modem/router by at&t and I tried all of firmupdate pages and it’s not working.Can u help me plz
    THx

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