What Cable Modem/Router do I need?

[ziggy2]

I have an Arris TG1682G that I lease from Comcast. I want to buy my own. What can I buy that is equal to or better than this unit? I am happy with this unit's performance, I just want to purchase my own unit.

 

[dgingeri]

I recommend using a pfsense or opnsense router for the best security. Depending on your connection speed, it may also provide better performance than off the shelf routers. Many off the shelf routers can only handle up to about 100Mb transfer rates because of a lack of processor power, where a pc based router is likely to have far superior performance. I have one set up on an AMD A4-5300 based system that cost me a total of about $100. (I already had the case, SSD, and memory. I only had to buy the power supply, motherboard, and CPU.)

As for the modem, that depends on how fast your connection is and will be. An 8X4 modem, like this: https://www.amazon.com/Zoom-5345-Certified-Spectrum-Providers/dp/B013C4L6OE/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1485361299&sr=8-2&keywords=zoom+cable+modem is good for connections up to 105Mb. Above that, you'll have to get a 16X4 modem for up to 200Mb, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/5370-Certified-Comcast-XFINITY-Providers/dp/B015QKU7YC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485361299&sr=8-1&keywords=zoom+cable+modem For the 250Mb connection, like I just got, you have to have a 32X8 modem like this one: https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Download-1-4Gbps-Certified-XFINITY/dp/B01M981YYL/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1485361390&sr=8-1&keywords=netgear+32X8 (I found out this the hard way.)

I've had a lot of good luck with Zoom modems in the past. They've been very reliable. The only time I've had a Zoom fail was because of a lightning strike. My experiences with Netgear have been mostly positive, but not entirely. I have had two of their routers die on me after years of use. My experience with Motorola cable modems has been entirely negative, as all three of the ones I bought died in less than 6 months. It was only after the third one that I discovered that Zoom made cable modems. Since Arris now owns the Motorola cable modem production, there might be a change in their quality, but I'm not willing to take the chance.

 

[greens]

The key words are DOCSIS 3.0 Gateway
http://www.arris.com/globalassets/resources/data-sheets/tg862g_ts_r1_1.pdf

Yours has 8 down channels for 320megabits. You can do better than that for sure. But there is little point in getting a faster gateway if you don't pay for the speeds.

I currently use a Arris DG1670A which has 16 down channels. I got it at a garage sale.

 

[Snipergod87]

Are you getting phone service through that modem? If so you are out of luck, you need to stick with paying for Comcast's provided modem's in order to use the phone service. You can buy your own modem, but in order to get voice you would need the Comcast modem to handle voice traffic and the other modem to handle data (this is possible), thus you will still be stuck with a monthly rental fee.

(I have Comcast with voice,tv, and internet)

 

[ziggy2]

We do not use the service for land line phone service. We only use it for WiFi for a lap top and for cell service.

 

[dgingeri]

I know 8X4 modems claim a 343Mb rate maximum, but it isn't true. Their effective bandwidth is only about 105Mb maximum.

16X4 modems falsely claim 686Mb, but in reality can only do about 200Mb.

32X8 modems claim a maximum of 1.4Gb, but that is also false, as they can only do about 700Mb effectively.

A full DOCSIS 3.1 modem is needed for 1Gb.

At least, this is the case for all US ISPs. It may be different in other countries.

Keep these numbers in mind. Don't get a modem that is too low speed for what you need.

 

[greens]

Source?

my 16/4 gets near 300 quite consistently.

 

[dgingeri]

My source is Comcast support. I just moved into a new apartment a little over a week ago, and my old 8X4 Zoom modem wouldn't give me anywhere near the speeds I was told. It was then that I learned the restrictions on the cable modems, and which model to buy for the 250Mb plan I requested. (I said I learned it the hard way.)

https://customer.xfinity.com/help-and-support/internet/list-of-approved-cable-modems/

 

[USAFRet]

I have an Arris TG1682G that I lease from Comcast. I want to buy my own. What can I buy that is equal to or better than this unit? I am happy with this unit's performance, I just want to purchase my own unit.

Why not just buy one of the same model.
Identical performance, and you stop paying rental to Comcast.

 

[Solandri]

Source?

my 16/4 gets near 300 quite consistently.

My 8/4 modem (Arris Surfboard SB6141) gets 160 Mbps consistently. (Cox 100 Mbps plan, upgraded for free to 150 Mbps with a burst mode that allows higher speeds at the start of a download.)

Its peak seems to be just under 200 Mbps. When Cox was doing the free upgrade to 150 Mbps, for one night they removed the speed cap entirely. IIRC my speedtest reported 190 Mbps.

 

[dgingeri]

It may be because of Comcast's implementation, which I am told is almost identical to TWC's implementation. (The potential merger thing revealed that, as they claimed that users would not be affected by the corporate changes at all.) Also, the US has some funny regulations regarding EM frequencies and interference. Cable based ISPs outside of the US may get better performance from these modems.