Are all modems compatible with all routers?

[Dannyal]

I know a lot about computers and how they work, but something about routers and modems always confuse me. I have a separate modem and router at this point, and I just want to know if there are any compatibility problems when going from router to router. From what I know, there is a universal internet cable input that goes from the modem to the router if I'm not mistaken?

 

[adamwinn]

In general, yes all modems are compatible with all routers. There are of course factors that can cause it to not work:
- Conflicting configuration settings, especially for PPPoE (DSL standard)
- Modem may block certain routers on purpose. To get around this, you need to clone the MAC of one of your devices' into the router.

 

[Dannyal]

In general, yes all modems are compatible with all routers. There are of course factors that can cause it to not work:
- Conflicting configuration settings, especially for PPPoE (DSL standard)
- Modem may block certain routers on purpose. To get around this, you need to clone the MAC of one of your devices' into the router.

Noted, but for example when I go from a DOCSIS 3.0 Modem to a Netgear router, will that work? I'm talking about the recent ones that came out in the past couple years or so.

 

[bill001g]

If you mean your docsis3 modem was say connected to a tplink router and now you want to connect it to a netgear that will likely work.

If you mean you take you docsis3 modem and replace it with a netgear router that has a modem built into it then that answer is maybe. It mostly depends if the ISP has any restrictions. DOCSIS3 is a standard so any device that meets that standard will function with any system that requires it. The problems when you talk about modem...especially cable modems ....is the ISP have non technical limitations on what devices they will allow to be placed on their network. Since a cable modem must have its serial/mac registered in the ISP system to function they can pretty much allow and disallow equipment as they please and you must follow there rules so in these cases the only way to know for sure what will work or what will not is to ask the ISP.

 

[Dannyal]

If you mean your docsis3 modem was say connected to a tplink router and now you want to connect it to a netgear that will likely work.

If you mean you take you docsis3 modem and replace it with a netgear router that has a modem built into it then that answer is maybe. It mostly depends if the ISP has any restrictions. DOCSIS3 is a standard so any device that meets that standard will function with any system that requires it. The problems when you talk about modem...especially cable modems ....is the ISP have non technical limitations on what devices they will allow to be placed on their network. Since a cable modem must have its serial/mac registered in the ISP system to function they can pretty much allow and disallow equipment as they please and you must follow there rules so in these cases the only way to know for sure what will work or what will not is to ask the ISP.

But I can, in general, use any recent router (in this case Netgear) with any recent modem and have no issues getting an internet connection through to the router?

 

[bill001g]

Yes you should have no issues using any router with a cable modem.

 

[adamwinn]

If you mean your docsis3 modem was say connected to a tplink router and now you want to connect it to a netgear that will likely work.

If you mean you take you docsis3 modem and replace it with a netgear router that has a modem built into it then that answer is maybe. It mostly depends if the ISP has any restrictions. DOCSIS3 is a standard so any device that meets that standard will function with any system that requires it. The problems when you talk about modem...especially cable modems ....is the ISP have non technical limitations on what devices they will allow to be placed on their network. Since a cable modem must have its serial/mac registered in the ISP system to function they can pretty much allow and disallow equipment as they please and you must follow there rules so in these cases the only way to know for sure what will work or what will not is to ask the ISP.

But I can, in general, use any recent router (in this case Netgear) with any recent modem and have no issues getting an internet connection through to the router?

ONLY if the ISP has not added MAC filtering in the modem. This is surprisingly common - the modem can be programmed to block any connected device that is another router/modem/AP. Only way to know is to test and try.