quote:

Due to expiration of a certificate on your equipment required for internet service, your internet equipment will no longer be compatible with our network after March 13, 2023. To avoid a service interruption, please replace your internet equipment with a compatible gateway or modem.

A question for all you networking guys, should I go for a more expensive and [relatively more] future-proof modem or just grab another cheap one because it doesn't matter?

Right now we're on the 200Mbps/12Mbps plan so I'm not sure it matters now but who knows what's going to be available in the coming years. Should I go with something with a 2.5Gb port? I do have one device (WAP) with a 2.5 port but it's behind a 1Gb switch. I may upgrade piece by piece but I'm just wondering if going expensive makes any sense. Some of the modems are over $350 and if there is no point to it, I'll just grab a $150 modem.

There is no such thing as future-proof when it comes to electronics.

I was in this same situation a few years ago and I just bought a medium priced modem that did everything I wanted it to.

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Originally posted by Flash-LB:
There is no such thing as future-proof when it comes to electronics. ...

OK, fine, "more future-proof" then. The point is in asking if I should just spend the extra or if there is no real reason for it.

quote:

Originally posted by Flash-LB:
... I was in this same situation a few years ago and I just bought a medium priced modem that did everything I wanted it to.

I really don't need it to do anything other than let the internet in. I've got the routing, switching and all that good stuff handled.

If you want an instant karma Mark123, I have a Netgear CM500 that was only used a short time before I switched to fiber. It’s rated up to 400Mbps, it’s DOCSIS 3.0

Let me know, send me your address if you want to my profile email.

This is the model:

NETGEAR Cable Modem CM500 - Compatible with all Cable Providers incl. Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox | For Cable Plans up to 400Mbps | DOCSIS 3.0 https://a.co/d/gNQqFxv

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
If you want an instant karma Mark123, I have a Netgear CM500 that was only used a short time before I switched to fiber. It’s rated up to 400Mbps, it’s DOCSIS 3.0

Let me know, send me your address if you want to my profile email.

This is the model:

NETGEAR Cable Modem CM500 - Compatible with all Cable Providers incl. Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox | For Cable Plans up to 400Mbps | DOCSIS 3.0 https://a.co/d/gNQqFxv

Thank you, sir. That is very much appreciated. However, it’s not on the compatibility list. The closest one is the CM600.

I’ll put you on the “cool cat” list.

I've got a Motorola SB6141 I'll send you for free. Its been sitting since I switched to google fiber and I don't see myself going back to Spectrum. Let me know if you want it.

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Originally posted by mark123:
Thank you, sir. That is very much appreciated. However, it’s not on the compatibility list. The closest one is the CM600.

I’ll put you on the “cool cat” list.

I used it on Comcast here in PA (Berks Co)

Worked fine?

Curious as to why the decision deal with owning your own modem, what is the upside?

Since providers supply them included in the cost of service, no problems with obsolescence, stops working they replace, problems with connections they can diagnose issues from remote.

I run a router behind their router/modem to separate my equipment from direct connection to the net anyway.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
Thank you, sir. That is very much appreciated. However, it’s not on the compatibility list. The closest one is the CM600.

I’ll put you on the “cool cat” list.

I used it on Comcast here in PA (Berks Co)

Worked fine?

Yeah, Comcast updated their compatibility list. It’s rather slim now. Something to do with the security certificate that a firmware update won’t fix.

Here’s where you can see the current compatibility list: https://www.xfinity.com/suppor...on_UD20230111#unauth

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Curious as to why the decision deal with owning your own modem, what is the upside?

Since providers supply them included in the cost of service, no problems with obsolescence, stops working they replace, problems with connections they can diagnose issues from remote.

I run a router behind their router/modem to separate my equipment from direct connection to the net anyway.

It’s something like $14/month the cost is easily recoverable and Comcast modems also have an open guest network that anyone with a Xfinity account can access.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Curious as to why the decision deal with owning your own modem, what is the upside?

Since providers supply them included in the cost of service, no problems with obsolescence, stops working they replace, problems with connections they can diagnose issues from remote.

I run a router behind their router/modem to separate my equipment from direct connection to the net anyway.

The arithmetic was always really easy. I did it 20 years ago by buying my own cable modem. Cost me $88 to own it and Comcast was charging me $10 a month.

For us, the better option has been to leave Comcast and go to a different Internet service provider (fiber), and get YouTube TV. You have much better DVR functions and the quality a picture is far superior. For us the cost is a lot less.

Just checked. Modem rental is up to $15/month. Even if I went with a higher cost model it would pay for itself in less than 17 months. The one I have now (10 years old) paid for itself in just over 3 months.

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Originally posted by SIGnified:
For us, the better option has been to leave Comcast and go to a different Internet service provider (fiber), and get YouTube TV. You have much better DVR functions and the quality a picture is far superior. For us the cost is a lot less.

I asked Verizon when FIOS was coming to my city and they laughed at me. We don’t do tv except for Peacock and the premium version is free with Comcast.

Some interesting info here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeN..._31_update_required/

It does appear you may have to update the modems cert or get another modem so it is recognized on their network.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

Comcast modems also have an open guest network that anyone with a Xfinity account can access.

That sounds like a combination modem / router.

Spectrum tried to give me one of those combination boxes; I said "absolutely not." I insisted on just a plain modem with no router functions, no wifi functions, no DHCP functions, just a plain modem that would connect to my own router.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:

quote:

Originally posted by SIGnified:
For us, the better option has been to leave Comcast and go to a different Internet service provider (fiber), and get YouTube TV. You have much better DVR functions and the quality a picture is far superior. For us the cost is a lot less.

I asked Verizon when FIOS was coming to my city and they laughed at me. We don’t do tv except for Peacock and the premium version is free with Comcast.

Maybe Starlink?

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Originally posted by smschulz:
Some interesting info here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/HomeN..._31_update_required/

It does appear you may have to update the modems cert or get another modem so it is recognized on their network.

Thanks! From that link:

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… With Docsis 4 on the horizon, I likely wouldn’t “future proof” at this time.

Looks like a cheapie is the best choice.

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Originally posted by HRK:


Since providers supply them included in the cost of service

Not with Comcast/Xfinity

You basically lease their modem/gateway with an additional fee which never made sense to me as your own modem is a one-time cost and theirs is an ongoing cost which often ends up being 2-3 or more times the cost of a personally owned modem over a set period of time.

I’ve ALWAYS run my own modem when I had Comcast, there’s no way I’m giving them one more thin dime than is necessary.

Considering there’s no point in an attempt at future-proofing, I went with a Motorola MB8600.

Trust me, if you just use what they give you, you're paying for it somehow, be it rent, or "fee's".

I went with the MB8600 2 years ago, no problems whatsoever.