I've been using an Arris Surfboard since my Comcast supplied modem went TU.

That's at the store. We have Comcast Business 100 MBs and it's pretty much flawless.

I would just make sure it's at least DOCSIS 3.1

Costco has two models that are DOCSIS 3.1 - both are NetGear - one doesn't have WiFi, the other does. CM1100 and CAX30 - $199 and $229.

I prefer to separate my modem and WiFi whenever possible.

If you're not averse to Best Buy, they have several models in the same price range of different manufacturers.

I went with the Motorola MB8600. Comcast had a discount link in the email which gave me the price of $129.

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.

Cox charges $10.00/month and you can save that much money less what you pay for the modem's use for 4 years or more. 4 years would be $480.00 in rent and you're not going to pay that for a modem.

My first modem here lasted 14 years or so until Cox said it was not going to be compatible so I bought a new one.

If you rent and use an Xfinity/Comcast modem, you cannot turn off the WiFi that Xfinity/Comcast uses to create Xfinity hotspots. I don’t really need people parked outside my house in the street or canal using the hotspot. I also don’t need extra WiFi channels being used around my house interfering with the one I’ve set for my WAPs.

Always been happy with the Arris/Motorola Surfboard. Good price compared to what they charge as rent.

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:

If you rent and use an Xfinity/Comcast modem, you cannot turn off the WiFi that Xfinity/Comcast uses to create Xfinity hotspots. I don’t really need people parked outside my house in the street or canal using the hotspot. I also don’t need extra WiFi channels being used around my house interfering with the one I’ve set for my WAPs.

I have a Spectrum business account at the hangar -- Spectrum says that it has to a business account because the address is not zoned for residential use.

Spectrum does not permit users to supply their own modems for business accounts, they claim that this is to protect the integrity of the network. When the account started, I told them that I wanted a modem only, no router function, no DHCP function, no WiFi function, just an ethernet connection to my own router / wifi equipment. Sure enough, the installer showed up with a combination box. I accepted it in order to get service on the air, but on the way home from the hangar I stopped at the local Spectrum store and got a modem only. No extra charge for any of this, Spectrum includes the user's choice of modem only, or combination modem / router / WiFi, in the monthly service charge.

quote:

I have a Spectrum business account

same here, had the wifi turned off and use my own router behind their modem.

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:

quote:

I have a Spectrum business account

same here, had the wifi turned off and use my own router behind their modem.

The reason I insisted on a modem-only box: Sure, it's possible to put the combination box into bridge mode, but any time that you have to do some sort of reset, maybe after a power failure, you have to get into the box's settings and turn the wifi off again, as the reset takes it back to default state, which is wifi on.

In order to do that, there's a bunch of cable plugging and un-plugging that needs to be done, in order to connect a computer directly to the Spectrum box. Pain In The Anatomy, and does not have to be done with a modem-only box.

And, if recovery from a power hit happens when I'm not at the hangar, there's a good chance of a double NAT situation with a combination box, but that won't happen with a modem-only.

Ok. One month in with the new modem and they are again telling me that I need to get a new modem.

Was the Motorola not on the list? I would be curious to know what they are upgrading and why the MB8600 is no longer compatible?

quote:

Originally posted by redstone:
Was the Motorola not on the list? I would be curious to know what they are upgrading and why the MB8600 is no longer compatible?

Yes, It's on their list. The motorola specs say "Approved by Comcast Xfinity and Xfinity X1, Cox, and CableOne for all speeds including Comcast Gigabit services and Cox Gigablast".

I'm chatting with Comcast now. They are "refreshing" my modem.

quote:

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

The modem is usually a separate item that is leased and their modems usually aren't the "best." And another thing is that the company supplied modem is usually a modem wifi router combination which I've read elsewhere aren't optimized for any one thing.

I opted to buy my own modem for $209 versus renting at $12 a month. If I have to replace it after 18 months, I'm even. If it last for 2 years, I saved money.

Before I bought the modem, I did call the ISP to see if it was compatible with their system. After I got the modem, I called again and they transferred me to a technician who activated the modem after I gave him the MAC address.

Just FYI - I went through this BULLSHIT a while back w/ Comcast...I had been having issues with my modem semi-regularly 'disconnecting' and having to contact Comcast Tech Support to get it reconnected/working again. Over and over they needed to 're-provision' my modem by (re)sending a new config file, and then it would connect. This happened a half dozen times or so, and then told me that my Toshiba DOCSIS 3.0 modem was 'end-of-life' and it needed to be replaced because somehow IT WAS the problem. As I was NOT going to rent a modem from Comcast, I purchased a Motorola SB6120 (also DOCSIS 3.0) and contacted Comcast to get the modem provisioned once I had it connected to my network. Everything went great...Got it up & running/connected quickly, AND THEN while I was still on the phone with Tech Support, Comcast apparently sent a config file to 'refresh' my modem, which DISABLED it! When I questioned what happened, they indicated that their system will periodically send a 'new' config file to 'refresh' the modem. I'm convinced that's what was happening all along with my perfectly good modem, that Comcast told me I had to replace! They SUCK!

All of this occurred several years ago, and since that time I had to replace my modem once again in order to take advantage of the service 'improvements'/'upgrades' they had made, which required an upgraded modem. I purchased a Netgear CM700 Gigabit rated Modem (also DOCSIS 3.0), which is actually capable of 1.4 Gigabit bandwidth through channel bonding. Somehow, my Gigabit Modem is only capable of 900MB service from Comcast though, or at least that's what the tell me it's limited to. I say that because I can never get better than 600MB Bandwidth via an Ethernet cable connected to the Gigabit port on my Router anyway!

Hope you have better luck and they get this sorted out for you. As for me, I can't wait to get Fidium Fiber, which is building out their network/service in NH and put Comcast Xfinity in the rear view mirror FOREVER!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: nhracecraft,

Ok. After scheduling a tech visit they somehow increased my speed to 670Mbps which is much better. I’m happy with it but wondering if that’s expected on an 800Mbps plan.

I canceled the tech.

I get about 390mbps on my 400mbps plan. That’s over WiFi though.

quote:

Originally posted by mark123:
Ok. After scheduling a tech visit they somehow increased my speed to 670Mbps which is much better. I’m happy with it but wondering if that’s expected on an 800Mbps plan.

If you have an 800mb/s plan you should see 800mb/s most of the time.

There is a "Comcast Direct" forum at DSL Reports/Broadband Reports. That has been effective for many people.

(Not to beat a dead horse, but, what you're going through is why some of us pay the premium for Business.)

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.

For me, because Xfinity/Comcast just beg to be hated!

We dropped them a year ago because their pricing was terrible and forced us into bundling tv or phone service, so we signed up with a supposedly Wicked Fast wireless service, which is Wicked Unreliable with Wicked Poor customer service.

I went back this week to the local Xfinity/Comcast store to inquire about internet service. They only offer unlimited data if we get their "free" included modem and wifi router. Data is capped if we use our own equipment. Of course I just bought a not-cheap wifi system for the house last year which works way better than their system ever did. And their "free" modem/wifi actually costs $10/month since they will discount that amount if I don't take it. But the unlimited data plan is an additional $30/month without their modem/wifi.

Basically, for the first 24 months either rent a unit for $10/month that isn't as good as I already own, or pay an additional $20/month to use my own equipment but be capped in data usage.

After 24 months the cost of renting their "free" modem/wifi is $25 per month.

They are a cable company after all, so maybe this should all be expected. We have very limited choice here in the mountains, but I won't go back to Xfinity.

Piggybacking on this question a little bit but it appears that having a separate modem and router is a good idea, what are the advantages of this and how hard are they to get setup?


If I do got this set-up, can anyone recommend a good router that I could use?