Upgrading Modems and Router

[KingKANGAR00]

As a family of 5, we need an upgrade from our Linksys WRT54G Router and perhaps our Linksys BEFs41 Router... I know all of the cables run through the BEFs41 so I thought that was my modem but apparently it is a router. I know it does not provide wifi. What I would like help on is what to replace, do I need to replace both my BEFs41 And the WRT54g or just one? Any help is really appreciated, with download speeds of 500kb/s I need all the help I can get. Thanks in advance! ISP is Comcast FYI

 

[bill001g]

If you have comcast you have another device someplace that has coax tv type cable hooked to it. This is your modem. This device also may have a router in it.

Your first test is to plug a PC directly into the modem and run speed tests from their. You may have to power cycle the modem every time you move the cable from device to device. This should show you the maximum speed you can get. If you tested speed is close to the plan you purchase from the ISP then any $50 wireless router will be a huge step up from your current equipment.

If it is still slow at the modem you will need to see what your options are. Many time the modems are rented but you may own yours. If you rent and you are getting less than the promised speed you can just call the ISP and have them come out and test. If you own it gets a little harder but you can still call the ISP and ask them if they are seeing errors on the circuit. If you were to replace the modem you can buy a modem/router to do it all or you can buy 2 devices. Many people opt for 2 devices because of flexibility but it increases the costs. There are not a lot of choices in cable modem. It is not common for a cable modem to be bad most time people are upgrading them to get the newer high speed offerings from the ISP

 

[KingKANGAR00]

If you have comcast you have another device someplace that has coax tv type cable hooked to it. This is your modem. This device also may have a router in it.

Your first test is to plug a PC directly into the modem and run speed tests from their. You may have to power cycle the modem every time you move the cable from device to device. This should show you the maximum speed you can get. If you tested speed is close to the plan you purchase from the ISP then any $50 wireless router will be a huge step up from your current equipment.

If it is still slow at the modem you will need to see what your options are. Many time the modems are rented but you may own yours. If you rent and you are getting less than the promised speed you can just call the ISP and have them come out and test. If you own it gets a little harder but you can still call the ISP and ask them if they are seeing errors on the circuit. If you were to replace the modem you can buy a modem/router to do it all or you can buy 2 devices. Many people opt for 2 devices because of flexibility but it increases the costs. There are not a lot of choices in cable modem. It is not common for a cable modem to be bad most time people are upgrading them to get the newer high speed offerings from the ISP

So the BEFS41 is not my modem even though it has all the cords hooked up to it and is in the electrical box? Could have sworn this was my modem.

 

[bill001g]

The only close device number is befsr41...when you look that device up it has a ethernet port for its internet port. There must another device the cable on the internet is connected to. Cable tv uses a coax connection and DSL uses a telephone line. You can connect neither of those to the this wan internet port on your router. There must be another box....there are a tiny number of ISP that deliver via ethernet to the house but I do not think comcast does. Follow the cable from the port called internet back and see what it is plugged into.