Which modem should I buy?

[Somethngcreative]

Hi,

I recently got Comcast X-finity Internet and I was hoping to avoid their $7 monthly rental fee for their modem. However, I don't know much about modems so I don't know which one will fit me better. I did narrow it down to two though, which one should I get?

Ps.

We have 4 iPhones+ 1 IPad+ 1 x-box+ 2 laptops that will be connected to it.

Ubee DDM3513:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B005Y1UFIM/ref=aw_d_dsc_pc

Vs

Arris SB6-141:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AJHDZSI/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1377184935&sr=8-4π=AC_SX110_SY165

Thanks!

[sightsandsounds]

Have you asked someone at comcast about it ? But then again, they might not want that,,,, Newegg has good modem deals too. 

[David H. Lipman]

I suggest steering away from just a Cable Modem and you do not state if you already have a Router.  My suggestion is to obtain either a Cable Modem + Router or separate Cable Modem and a Router.  No matter how you go, a Router is important as a level of security and a capability multiplier.
 
The following is a COTS product at BestBuy.  In incorporates WiFi-N and a 4-port Ethernet switch.
Zoom - DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem with Built-In Wireless-N Router
 
Also see the following which is a higher-end unit...
Motorola - SURFboard eXtreme DOCSIS 3.0 Wireless-N Cable Modem and Gigabit Router
 
 
If you have a Router;
Motorola - SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 High-Speed Cable Modem

 

I think you'll find the prices quite reasonable.  I have setup numerous persons on Comcast (and Optimum Online) using the Zoom and other brands.  It's very easy to setup.  You just have to call Comcast and you give them the Cable Side MAC Address.  They use MAC Authentication and tie your unit to your Comcast Account.

[Somethngcreative]

Have you asked someone at comcast about it ? But then again, they might not want that,,,, Newegg has good modem deals too. 

 

 

Thanks. I checked with them today and they just told me that both modems should work with their service

 

I suggest steering away from just a Cable Modem and you do not state if you already have a Router.  My suggestion is to obtain either a Cable Modem + Router or separate Cable Modem and a Router.  No matter how you go, a Router is important as a level of security and a capability multiplier.

 

The following is a COTS product at BestBuy.  In incorporates WiFi-N and a 4-port Ethernet switch.

Zoom - DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem with Built-In Wireless-N Router

 

Also see the following which is a higher-end unit...

Motorola - SURFboard eXtreme DOCSIS 3.0 Wireless-N Cable Modem and Gigabit Router

 

 

If you have a Router;

Motorola - SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 High-Speed Cable Modem

 

I think you'll find the prices quite reasonable.  I have setup numerous persons on Comcast (and Optimum Online) using the Zoom and other brands.  It's very easy to setup.  You just have to call Comcast and you give them the Cable Side MAC Address.  They use MAC Authentication and tie your unit to your Comcast Account.

 

 

I suggest your own router (belkin and the Motorola docs is 3.0 modem) cause the WiFi on the Motorola gateways/other gateways besides a stand alone router is trash cause it can't handle to many WiFi devices at once and after i got the motorola docsis 3.0 modem and used my own router it was so much better (talking from experience going threw 5+ gateways in a year) ..

 

 

Thanks guys. I'll go for the Motorola one . Also, I actually have a router, Linksys WRT610N, but my friend is sellng me an Asus RT-N56U. Should I go for it?

 

Linskys: http://www.amazon.com/Cisco-Linksys-WRT610N-Simultaneous-Dual-N-Wireless/dp/B001AZ01EO

 

Asus: http://www.amazon.com/ASUS-Dual-Band-Wireless-N-Router-RT-N56U/dp/B0049YQVHE/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377221910&sr=1-3&keywords=asus+router

 

Thanks again!

[David H. Lipman]

I think the Asus RT-N56U is better.

 

Cisco degraded the Linksys quality and brand and they didn't get good "returns" on their purchase of Linksys so Linksys was sold to Belkin.  The Linksys WRT610N was made during the Cisco era so I don't recommend it.

 

Motorola makes excellent RF related equipment and has done so for many years.  I think you'll do well with a Motorola SurfBoard and the ASUS Router.

 

A few notes:

*  Make sure you use WPA2 AES (high number bits) encryption and make sure the SSID password is a Strong Password

*  Turn off ICMP responses from the Internet. { Disable WAN ICMP Echo Requests (e.g. pings and ICMP traceroute queries) }

*  Disable any management of the Router from the POV of the Internet.  All management should be performed from the LAN side.

*  Don't use a SSID name that ties the WiFi service to you or your family.  Use whimsical names and the like.

*  Change the default management password of the Router to one you know.

*  Document passwords created and store them in a safe but accessible location.

[CWB]

yes ... motorola does make solid modems .

many years ago the name "surfboard" was the name to look for when you wanted quality and performance .

 

the linksys side of cisco ... as david mentioned , linksys was the po' boy version of cisco designs ...

much as acer and emachines roll off of different sides of the assembly line .

 

some relative information based on personal experience :

however , i do have a cisco DPC3010  that was recently supplied by the local cable company to replace a lightning ground strike induced voltage gradient blown up unit .

the unit had been working well since i installed it .

recently my connection was going up and down like mad ... random up/down times but all were within a 30 minute window .

doing a power down reset of the unit provided only a temporary fix at best .

the unit lays horizontal and runs pretty darn warm (the airflow is not blocked ... no crap sitting around/on it) . the ambient temperature is 72-74F .

i flipped the unit vertically , this changes the convection airflow patterns and allows the unit to run a few degrees cooler ...

that seemed to have fixed the problem .

i called tech support and made a full report of the situation . no line work was being done in my area , etc . he was a nice guy , we chatted about linux operating systems while he was performing tests and history pull-up on his end .

to my notion , any unit that is physically designed to be run horizontally or vertically and depends solely on convection for cooling and fails in one of those modes indicates two items/possibilities :

poor design testing

early mean time between failure (MTF) vs temperature due to poor electronic/mechanical design and/or QC in either of those areas .

 

soooo ... does this mean that cisco is offering up "stuff made to specification" ?

if so , this reminds me of the old zenith slogan "the quality goes in before the name goes on" ...

it has been a whole lot of years since they could honestly use that slogan .