Router/combo or separates

[HowardMil]

I have Comcast gateway. I use nighthawk router. The gateway has ONE Ethernet going into the router. ( cable line into gateway).

Am I using the gateway router for computer speed or the nighthawk? My cell phone connects to nighthawk for Internet. Speed on pc ranges about 200 mbps download. On cell sometimes ... 300 or less) Nothing is bridged..... ??? ( which I don’t understand, anyway)

Was thinking of upgrading to fastest modem for 500mbps downloads. I don’t know weather to buy combo gateway or just best modem ( currently need phone service included— x finitely)
Thanks
Howard

 

[why_wolf]

Personally I always keep my modem and router separate. Modem tech upgrades very slowly while routers (specificly wifi) upgrades much faster. Since its such a pain to get a modem connected to an ISP its best to just do it once and leave it alone.

 

[ittesi259]

Your internet speed will never be faster than what you are paying for. Is that Gateway required for Comcast phone service? I have my own cable modem, and my own network gear. I use a Ubiquity Edge Router X with an 8 port switch that has a Ubiquity Access Point and my other wired products into it. Why pay for Comcast phone service? Have you looked into a service like Ooma? I personally don't have landline service but my parents switched to that a few years ago from normal landline and love it and pay only taxes/fees around 3-5 dollars a month.

 

[HowardMil]

Personally I always keep my modem and router separate. Modem tech upgrades very slowly while routers (specificly wifi) upgrades much faster. Since its such a pain to get a modem connected to an ISP its best to just do it once and leave it alone.

 

[HowardMil]

But still don’t know if my pc speed is using the Comcast gateway or the nighthawk? And don’t understand about bridging if the pc is getting speed from Comcast gateway??

 

[bill001g]

You have to be very careful about your terminology. A "gateway" is generally another name for a router. If the device that hooks to the comcast cable has only a single ethenet port it is likely a modem. A modem also does not have wifi since generally you only hook a single device (your router) to a modem.

If the device is actually a modem/router then you can connect via wireless. It should be pretty simple to test. Turn the router off and if you see no wifi signals then you are connecting via the router and not the comcast device.

As pointed out it all depends what speed you buy from the ISP. If you buy 300mbps hooking the newest 2gbit modems to it will still only run at 300mbits. If the ISP offers faster service they want to be paid extra to allow you to use the newer technology.

In addition the technology in wifi is going to limit your maximum speed. Unless you are sitting right on top of the router (and you should use ethernet in that case) you will never get much more than about 300mbits/sec. Many times it is much less because of interference from neighbors wifi

 

[HowardMil]

You have to be very careful about your terminology. A "gateway" is generally another name for a router. If the device that hooks to the comcast cable has only a single ethenet port it is likely a modem. A modem also does not have wifi since generally you only hook a single device (your router) to a modem.

If the device is actually a modem/router then you can connect via wireless. It should be pretty simple to test. Turn the router off and if you see no wifi signals then you are connecting via the router and not the comcast device.

As pointed out it all depends what speed you buy from the ISP. If you buy 300mbps hooking the newest 2gbit modems to it will still only run at 300mbits. If the ISP offers faster service they want to be paid extra to allow you to use the newer technology.

In addition the technology in wifi is going to limit your maximum speed. Unless you are sitting right on top of the router (and you should use ethernet in that case) you will never get much more than about 300mbits/sec. Many times it is much less because of interference from neighbors wifi

 

[HowardMil]

Hi bill001g:
You’re knowledgeable answer has brought me to expand.
The Comcast rental is a router/ modem. The Ethernet from modem goes into the Netgear router in—
My iPhone has its signal currently checked for connection to the Netgear router ( password ..and it has 3 bands.. I haven’t turned it off yet to check things out)

What I don’t understand: Netgear router and Comcast moderm/router are next to each other ( as above)
My PC is UPSTAIRS... 6CAT Ethernet from WALL goes into the PC. Each room was wired to take direct Ethernet from wall to any pc device ( directly from outside cable line)
So: where does my internet speed for PC come from? (Blast Comcast offers 500gbps download. ) the Internet direct WALL Ethernet connected to pc upstairs as is the modem downstairs also direct from cable line from WALL ( one in the same presumably) ... then the Ethernet out into Netgear router.

THEN: what to get to increase speed and replace Comcast modem/ router? Just a Modem 3.0 high 1gbyte speed or newest modem/router with state of art specs for 500gbps -1gbyte download and increased router distances and speed.

PS.. bad Netgear support rumor toward bridging my current Comcast modem / router going out into LAN input to my Netgear router which is current situation. Again- where is upstairs pc getting speed: from cable direct and/ or routers downstairs ?

 

[bill001g]

It all depends on what comcast supports in your area. In most cases they do not go above about 350mbs on docsis 3.0 devices. The technology can do it but they choose to run it at lower rates. To get the gigabit speeds they started using the docsis 3.1 devices. This is only available is a fairly small number of cities currently.

So step1. What does the ISP actually offer where you live. Just because you put in a docsis3.1 modem does not mean that the ISP has the equipment on their end. It will just run the same as a docsis 3.0 modem if they do not have the support.

Step 2 You would plug directly into the comcast box with your PC. That will always give you the maximum speed.

Not sure why you would need neargear router if you are using ethernet connected device. Some people use a second router to improve wifi signals but you should then run it as a AP rather than a router. In any case you would plug your ethernet connected devices into the main modem/router just to make things simpler.

 

[HowardMil]

It all depends on what comcast supports in your area. In most cases they do not go above about 350mbs on docsis 3.0 devices. The technology can do it but they choose to run it at lower rates. To get the gigabit speeds they started using the docsis 3.1 devices. This is only available is a fairly small number of cities currently.

So step1. What does the ISP actually offer where you live. Just because you put in a docsis3.1 modem does not mean that the ISP has the equipment on their end. It will just run the same as a docsis 3.0 modem if they do not have the support.

Step 2 You would plug directly into the comcast box with your PC. That will always give you the maximum speed.

Not sure why you would need neargear router if you are using ethernet connected device. Some people use a second router to improve wifi signals but you should then run it as a AP rather than a router. In any case you would plug your ethernet connected devices into the main modem/router just to make things simpler.

 

[HowardMil]

Step 2 / You would plug directly into the comcast box with your PC. That will always give you the maximum speed...............,,,,,
Me: This is fastest and What I believe I have ——-direct Ethernet connection from wall to outside cable line ( which I now see also goes to my downstairs Comcast modem/ router same thing NO ??

My speed now offers approximately 500gbps download.

This is confusing!
Comcast just stated: your WiFi for Internet is connected to Comcast modem rental. Hence ... iPhone speed much faster with Netgear router.

So what do I need to buy; best modem/router or best modem and keep 3 yr old Netgear router ?

 

[bill001g]

If you get 500mbps connect to the comcast device then there is no need to replace it. If the wifi is poor just turn off the radios in the comcast device and use it as a wired router.

If you netgear work well for wifi then I would convert it into a AP. You could think of the netgear as a external wifi radio chip.

You could place the netgear any place in the house you have ethernet it would may improve your coverage. You can run wifi on both the comcast box and the netgear. People commonly would do that to get better wifi upstairs for example. The would use the cable modems wifi for downstairs and the wifi off the AP for upstairs.

 

[HowardMil]

Made 1 mistake:
Comcast offers up to 500.... I get barely 200 desktop
I guess I need new modem (w/or without phone) up to 6-700 mbps. WiFi is fine with Netgear around house.
Either 3.0 or 3.1 dosis I presume
Motorola
Netgear
Arris
Thanks

 

[bill001g]

I am going to bet to get 500mbps you need a docsis 3.1....but this is just my guess. You need to check the ISP web site they will have a list of modems that work on the plan you select.