What modem you guys using on Comcast?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:49 am

They're officially supporting DOCSIS 3.0 here and I'm still using a Motorola Surfboard 5100 DOCSIS 2.0.

Checked Comcast's certified list and Comcast forum posts.

Comcast techs like to recommend the Motorola SB6121 and it's 3 star certified on Comcast's list.

However there are come people complaining of firmware issues and a lot of people prefer the Zoom 5341J. tech heads like the Zoom because it has 8 downstream channels. I believe the Motorola SB6121 only has 4. However Comcast only gives it 1 star certified.

I'm also hearing good things about the Linksys/Cisco DPC3008 which also has 8 downstream channels, and 3 star certified by Comcast.

All of these are IPv6 compliant.

Would like to hear what you guys are using.

Thanks.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:54 am

I'm just using the one they provide for VoIP users.. I want to say it's an Aeris w/Wireless N.. No complaints other than my laptop doesn't like to stay connected to it without a reboot for more than a couple of days.. ;\ So I hard wired it in as the laptop never leaves the desk.

DaMaN · Post by **DaMaN** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 9:57 am

I bought a Cisco DPC3008CC for like $40.00 a few months ago from a slickdeals.net deal. Works great.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 10:00 am

I'm using : Touchstone Wireless Gateway TG862 Is there any real benefit to owning your modem with comcast? i.e. how much would I save a month and can I get a modem that does the VoIP and them not have a fit about it?

DaMaN · Post by **DaMaN** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 10:12 am

Cost savings ( I think it was like $6-8 / month to rent an inferior Comcast modem). I use a Magic Jack + 24/7 on the above mentioned Cisco with no issues with Comcast.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Thu Dec 06, 2012 11:03 am

My VoIP is provided by Comcast.. lol So that's more what I was talking about.. But have been thinking about dropping that all together, so my own modem might now be a bad idea.. We'll see..

renovation · Post by **renovation** » Fri Dec 07, 2012 3:06 pm

Motorola SB6121 is what Im using nothing special about it . and it was about all my local best buy had in stock !

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat Dec 29, 2012 12:30 pm

Got the Zoom 5341J modem. Hooked it up yesterday. Self activation worked fine with a laptop plugged directly into the modem.

I did some bandwith tests on several services before and after, and all show some improvement on the download speed (upload stayed the same because that's capped at 4Mbit and I was already getting that). Also the modem status page confirms I now have 8 seperate downstream channels.

The speed test at http://whatismyipaddress.com/speed-test is my new fav. It seems to ignore Comcast's burst speed.

http://speedtest.comcast.net/
BOSTON
Old modem: 13.65 Mbit/s
New modem: 17.37 Mbit/s

http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/
CHICAGO
Old Modem: 14.25 Mbit/s
New Modem: 18.58 Mbit/s

http://whatismyipaddress.com/speed-test
Old modem: 7.26 Mbit/s
new modem: 15.47 Mbit/s

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 4:06 pm

FOLLOWUP:

First modem died after 2 days. I re-installed my old Motorola Surfboard (thankfully Comcast now supports self-activation here so it's easy to swap out a modem).

I had already tossed the box (I usually don't do that) so I contacted Zoom for an RMA. They were very nice and got a replacement back to me in about 10 business days. They included a note that apologized for my issues and stated that since I had specified Comcast as my ISP the had "ensured that the replacement modem was specifically configured to work with my ISP". Sat on my desk for a week until I had time to install it.

Again, Comcast's new self-activation was easy - it just takes several minutes while it queries does some sort of test on the modem.

Forget the speed tests, the BEST indicator of how fast this modem is compared to my old one is watching game downloads updates from Steam. I'm getting a SUSTAINED (not burst) 16 Mbit/s download - more than double what I used to get on the Surfboard.

Been running smoothly for 3 weeks now.

CaterpillarAssassin · Post by **CaterpillarAssassin** » Thu Feb 21, 2013 7:34 pm

I have the Zoom modem as well. My only gripe is that there are no wallmount slots for it. I just use some small shears and made my own. I only get about 1mbps on the whatismyip one, but the others I am between 18 and 25mbps sustained.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 10:11 am

Well, considering that I'm going to be dropping the VoIP and TV next week as I recently got a couple of RokuHDs I am going to snatch one of these up and see how it goes. I'm going to have to get it in before I drop the other stuff as I want them to pick it all up at the same time.. heh

eGo

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 8:59 pm

Update : I just bought the modem FP recommends.. I called and cancelled my home phone/TV through Comcast. Boy did they like that.. But $70 vs $200+ a month is a whole lot better in my book.. Even when you add the $16 a month for Hulu Plus & Netflix I'm still making out..

Anything I should know about this modem/setup?

Thanks!

eGo

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Feb 22, 2013 9:35 pm

Nothing special. I didn't call them for activation. Just connected the modem with a laptop connected straight to the modem. Browse any web site and you get the activation screen (both times it took a while before it would come up).

You'll need you account number off the bill.

If you don't get an activation screen then you'll need to call.

eGoCeNTRoNiX · Post by **eGoCeNTRoNiX** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 10:41 am

FlyingPenguin wrote:Nothing special. I didn't call them for activation. Just connected the modem with a laptop connected straight to the modem. Browse any web site and you get the activation screen (both times it took a while before it would come up).

You'll need you account number off the bill.

If you don't get an activation screen then you'll need to call.

Yup, it was just that easy.. Then I realized that I never read well enough and that it wasn't a wireless router/modem. haha So out to the shed I went to dig out one of my trusty WRT54Gs. After a quick power supply repair (mouse chewed the cord) I was off and running. I do need to DD-WRT it, but for now it will do. Things are all streaming just fine, had the PS3 playing NetFlix and both Roku's going with no issues. But, now I'm in the market for a sub $50 Wireless N router to replace the WRT54G. If I can't find a decent one for less than that, I'll wait. Saw Rosewill had one, but KKM had issues with his recently, not sure I want to fight that battle. I will say that I have bought over 50 of their smaller 8 port switches and they're all still in service after 4+ years. And I've bought a bunch of their cases and PSUs as well with no complaints.

eGo

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 11:49 am

I've been using Tomato instead of DD-WRT lately. Much simpler to Flash, and a very clean control panel. It also reboots MUCH quicker after making setting changes.

http://www.polarcloud.com/tomato

Unless you NEED 802.11n speeds, I'd stick to the WRT54G. That's what I use - I have 3 of them around the house setup with the same wireless settings (but different radio channels) so that devices just stay connected no matter where you walk in the house.

Honestly, unless you're transferring files, you don't need N wireless speeds. Wireless G is WAY faster than your internet. I also strongly believe G has better range.

The only good excuse for N is if you live in an apartment building with a lot of other routers nearby. Getting a newer N300 router will put you on an empty area of the spectrum.