Modem Recommendation To Replace Internet Monthly Fee?

We have optimum online internet. We have an arris 802 modem and a netgear router that was given to us years ago when when had optimum installed. So they basically lent it to us and if we ever no longer want their service, we would have to return the modem and wireless router.


Not long ago they started charging a $10 monthly fee for the modem rental. Nothing however for the router. We have to get a modem as we don't want to pay this monthly fee.


Can someone here recommend a modem to buy? And should we always buy a brand new one as oppose to used one in case of things like hacked modem or anything like that?


We have optimum 100/35 if that matters for the download/upload speed.


I saw these are compatible with optimum online


$65 Arris 6183

https://www.amazon.com/ARRIS-SURFbo...00MA5U1FW/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8


$90 Netgear c600
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Down...06XGZBCKP/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8



I did check their official site and saw this new


$99
https://shop.surfboard.com/high-spe...ess-customers-with-optimum-voice-sku-1000182/



The one above looks like the one we currently use which is the Arris TM802.



Does anyone have recommendation on which of these 3 to buy?



They do have used modems like these on amazon that seem to have very good reviews for used.


TM1602A Used $45
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01N21Y832/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A3TJOTVGLPMXIQ&psc=1


TM822 Used $50
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00U2OUZNG/ref=ox_sc_act_title_4?smid=A3TJOTVGLPMXIQ&psc=1


TM822G Used $50
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01KVOKVYY/ref=ox_sc_act_title_3?smid=A3TJOTVGLPMXIQ&psc=1

 

I saw very good reviews for the $65 Arris Surfboard 6183 on amazon and best buy. But then i read some reviews that it gets very hot and gets melted. Should that be a big concern with it though? Also someone mentioned the blinking lights are very noticeable. Anyone have experience on this?

There is also the option of netgear which is $90. And of course buying it directly from arris website and thats $99 new. And of course you could get it used on amazon for about $45 on that exact model.

Thoughts and recommendations if anyone has used any of these modems? I wanted to at first get the TM1602A used because of price but then the hacked thing kind of worries me. Then i thought of the Arris 6183 because $65 and brand new. Then i read reviews it gets very hot and also the flashing lights. I mean are those lights disturbing or something if anyone has used that modem?

 

If you want the DOCSIS 3.1 compatible modem that’s somewhat future proof then get the Arris SB8200 $190. Comcast at least has DOCSIS 3.1 active now in most places as far as I know including mine, though you can still use 3.0 modems. Not sure about your ISP. I’m only on 65-70 Down / 5 Up lol, so overkill for me but I got the SB8200.

For a better priced DOCSIS 3.0 modem get the Arris 6183. It’s a 32x8 modem. More channels means better load balancing in congested areas even if you don’t utilize all the channels.

Avoid any Intel Puma 6 chipset based modems like the Arris 6190, Netgear CM700, Asus or any brand etc:
https://approvedmodemlist.com/intel-puma-6-modem-list-chipset-defects/

That chipset has latency issues, that as far as I know couldn’t really be fully corrected but only masked by firmware updates.


Arris modems are usually well built from internal treardowns I’ve seen.


TLDR: Get the SB6183, well priced and an excellent modem. You can always get extended warranty from Best Buy if worried, pretty cheap. But I’ve never really seen such issues with it.

Edit: As for the light question it’s not too bad but if it bothers you face it the other way, put it under a table or cover up the light with tape or put something in front of it.

 

Hi there. I did like the reviews and price of the sb6183. But the main issue i have now is in the reviews, everyone says there is a huge bright blue light where it lits up the room. So if its in a bedroom, that is very noticeable. Do you or anyone else on this have opinion? Because it will be put in an area that is like an open bedroom. I read lot of ppl say its great for speed except it does get a bit hot... but lot of ppl talk about the blue light which is way too bright.

 

Tape solves that issue rather well

 

Okay another issue with many routers is i read they have that puma 6 chip. There is someone that we rented to where we put the modem in their floor and they have a young kid that is under 10 years old. I don't know if he plays online games or not but i doubt it. But we don't want them to have issues with the internet etc.


So i read the tm1602 has that puma 6 chip. So just avoid any modem that has that regardness even if nobody plays online gaming etc?


Jarhead, i read the reviews and they said there is blue light coming out throughout the entire modem. Such as all the holes in that modem, there is light coming out everywhere. Would tape really fix that though? I read you could use dimlights stickers and buy that for it but not sure if it would completely cover it? Also isn't it bad to tape everything though because it need some air?

Okay so i read very good reviews of the netgear cm600. The arris surfboard 6183 is very good but the blue lights thing seem to be a huge issue if you put it in a bedroom etc. Anyone have this modem?


Also i see there is a cheaper netgear cm500 that cost less than the cm600. The plan we have is 100/35 with optimum online. So does that mean getting a netgear cm 600 is pointless compared to the cm 500 if the plan we have is 100 mbps only? I know optimum online has optimum 200, 300, 400 and 500 plans but we only have the 100 one and that is already fast. We have no plans to ever increase the speed as 100 is more than enough we ever need.

 

Changing to a new modem may not work right away and may require some setup procedure with your ISP and logging on to your account from a PC.

I used an ARRIS 6183 before upgrading to the 8200.Never got very hot and surely never melted.

Unless you're just looking to get the cheapest you can find and strapped for cash I'd get the ARRIS.I have tape on the blinking power light on an HP Color Laser printer and have taped other annoying LEDs....it works.

Don't believe a lot of the junk posted on the Internet.

I sometimes see an 8200 and 6183 factory refurbished on Amazon for very good prices

I'm a big fan of Netgear routers but have no 1st hand experience with their cable modems.

I use the 8200 paired with a Netgear R7800 and Killer 1550/Intel 9260 WiFi adapters in a notebook and desktop.

Wireless networking is a sum of its parts plus proper settings,Internet Service etc.

My Internet Service Provider no longer has 100Mbps.The lowest is 200Mbps that costs what the 100Mbps used to.

Do you stream video from the likes of Amazon,Netflix,Hulu?

Do you transfer a lot of files between devices on your home network?

How many connected devices are in use at the same time on each band?

Usually better equipment properly installed and setup will be less problematic and yield a more pleasant surfing,downloading,streaming experience.

 

When you say you have tape on the blinking light on the arris 6183, its mentioned there are lights everywhere throughout the vents. So you used tape and wrapped it like a christmas present or something? And if so, what type of tape you use?


We stream youtube and yes there will be amazon/netflix or hulu most likely.

Im not sure if transferring lot of files on the devices.

There would be no more than 5 devices connected at once if i had to take a guess. Reason is because we rented to a family with a kid under 10.

But based on that, would you say go with netgear modem or the one you had the arris 6183. That would be easily my number 1 option except the blue led light thing people say is way too much. Now i understand if a few ppl say it but almost everyone says this is very annoying.

For netgear, do you know if a cm500 vs cm600 would be big difference? Its under 50 dollars for the cm500 and under 90 dollars for the cm600. I thought because we have 100mbps, the cm500 advertises even faster than that and the cm600 even more. But we would never upgrade to even higher speed than our current 100mbps. So based on that, is it a waste of money to get the cm600 as oppose to cm500? I did read more negative reviews about cm500 but of course there are over 2000 reviews... there has to be negative reviews.

 

Get the ARRIS 6183

My ISP gets $12/mo for a modem but a cable tv box is free.

I cut the cord 6 months ago after another price increase.

My post above stated I have tape on an HP Laser Printer power light.

I don't have or need tape on the modem in it's present location.

Duct tape and electrical tape will block all light while masking tape will allow some light through so you can easily see it's on and working correctly with the 2 blue lights showing.Add layers to reduce amount of light.

I also duct tape the web cams on tablets and notebooks out of privacy concerns.

My present ARRIS 8200 is in the living room on the TV stand behind the TV along with the Netgear R7800 router that's connected to the modem with CAT 7A cable.

Use quality cables!

 

Hi there. But what type of tape did you put on the arris 6183? So did you put tape all over it because the blue light comes throughout everywhere?

The thing is this modem is put on the 2nd floor where we rented to someone so we don't want things like that to bother them etc.