Need a new Cable Modem ~ Suggestions/Input appreciated! :D

Hey!

Need some feedback from you awesome forum peep's.

My Modem has failed after several years of usage. Now, I need to get a new one ~ and am looking for feedback.

Current Modem: Motorola Surfboard SB5100
New Router: Netgear N150 (WNR1000v2)

Reason why I am going to purchase a new one: Many connectivity fails. Replaced the router with new to determine if it was the router (originally had a Linksys WRTG54). Wifi connection still fails continually (daily) even with new router.

I am looking at getting this Modem:
Linksys CM100 RM - Recertified

From searching around it will be $19.99 @newegg tomorrow.

Any feedback on this, or suggestions for another Brand/Model? Appears to have decent reviews. I would like to stay around $30-$35 max.

TiA!!

Cin...

 

Depends on your net connection really... what kind of speeds/what plan are you on right now? If you want anything above 15mb/s then a newer docsis3 modem would be best because of how d3 networks work... but these modems are typically brand new more expensive stuff, like the motorola sb6120 ($80cdn?).

If you have like a 5mb or even up to 10mb connection you aren't going to find a deal to beat what you've already sniffed out (cm-100 for $30), it says it is d2 compatible.

 

Thanks for replying, Hakira!

Here are my current speeds:
Download: 6.25 MB/s
Upload: 3.07 MB/s
Ping: 42ms

I am on Comcasts High Speed Net Connection...Can't find my details..Comcast likes to hide that stuff.

I would need one that can support Lappy, BluRay Player, Wifi Printer, & another lappy if needed. And, at better speeds then showing above...

I was reading that getting a Docsis 3 is a pretty fast modem.

Saw this one. Motorola SB6120 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 eXtreme Broadband Cable Modem, which is the one you mentioned. : )

What I could do is grab one of Comcast's Modems that you can lease for $5/mo, and see what results I get from that & return it for purchase elsewhere...just not sure (purchasing new outweighs leasing)..

Cin...

 

A DOCSIS 3.0 modem may not help you unless in your area Comcast has support for DOCSIS 3.0. They've been rolling it out sort of slowly.

Asking Comcast for and leasing a DOCSIS 3.0 modem first is a good idea. It will give you the luxury of time to find the best deal on a modem and will let you know if your area has DOCSIS 3.0 implementation. If your Performance plan (judging from your speed results) nearly doubles on the D/L side, then you'll know.

Otherwise you can settle for a cheaper third party DOCSIS 2.x modem in the interim.

 

Mm, unless you plan on upgrading net plans or switching ISP's anytime in the next year or so, I don't think you NEED a d3 modem. D3 is for fiberoptic networks and are supposed to support 50mb/s. DOCSIS 2 supports up to ~15mb/s. You will not get the benefit of d3 channel bonding on your current plan; I have a motorola sb 5120 (which is d2) and I can burst speeds of 25mb/s, with ~13mb/s stable.

Your modem probably won't bottleneck you, that usually falls on either your isp plan or your router. If you want to stream HD stuff from your bluray player or ps3 or whatever to/from your laptop, that will be the router doing the work. Even full speed wireless N (300mb/s) can struggle with FHD 1080p streaming, but it will do 720p nicely. You might want to try sticking dd-wrt on your router to make it as efficient as possible, if your home network is unstable as is.

Don't lease! Find a suitable d2 modem imo.

 

I believe it's in my state, not so sure if my City is included. : ) I will check with Comcast on the Modem. If not I will just go with the Linksys I think, unless there is another one to check out.

My speeds are rather disappointing...

I switched from one router to another to check and see if it was the router. And, the problems are continual...: (

Each time I lose my connection I look at the Surfboard Modem and it's on 2 lights, struggling to get to the 3rd. So, I have to do a hard reset. (Comcast likes having you do that also, lol). Look's like the Linksys WRTG54 supports the firmware for the dd-wrt, will check on the Netgear (my new router).

Thanks both of you!

Cin...

 

Have you hooked a new TV or anything up to your cable? Moved anything around that could have nicked a coax cable? Those can cause issues. I've also found that I have more "regular" signal with my system when I cap all of my open cable ends with a terminator. But I also have an 8-way cable splitter for the house...

 

Wouldnt that still be a wifi router issue not the modems?

Ive always found surfboards to be good and reliable

 

No, I haven't connected a new TV or anything like that. I will check the coax cable closer. Maybe, my cat has been around doing his deviant normal things.

I don't have the 8-way cable splitter. Will look at the coax cable.

I tried 2 different routers and the problem continued. My Modem has been good until the past month when all the connectivity problems started. I got that Modem in 2007, and until recent it was reliable. Just trying to pinpoint.


Cin...

 

Oh lol, I thought you had the issue pinpointed already

In order of things you should check for connectivity, they are (sorted by most common/easiest/cheapest):

- wireless channel clutter; mr downloads dude is always recommending a program called inSSIDer to see what the best channel is, usually they are 1/6/11 but YMMV

- coax cable signal strength; if your cable tv is still showing up fine there isn't much reason to believe signal deterioration, but comcast should be able to check this for you (maybe they dug up a line outside your house/area?)

- router issues; dhcp overloads and general active connection overloads can be reasons for connection drops, these can happen when you are running torrents or streaming a LOT of HD content. Mostly solved by sticking dd-wrt on the router

- router issues(2); sometimes it is just too old, but since you just bought one that shouldn't be a problem

- modem issues; they DO die, but in my experience it's incredibly rare that the modem is the problem (gonna say 0.5% fail rate). Obviously if it is indeed the modem you need a new one


So basically, eliminate variables. Try hooking the lappy into your modem directly via an ethernet cable; if you need your whole network to be online (ie. family needs net too) then you will have to rely on your router logs to tell you when and how long your modem connection drops for. If it all possible use wired connections for a day or so to see if it is channel clutter messing up your wifi. Change wireless channels on your router, make sure you are using wpa2/aes encryption (since it can coexist with wep and wpa/tkip on the same channel).

What's the 3rd blinky light on your modem btw? My 5120 has 5 lights that are pretty much always on, cable/send/recieve/pc/power.