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Cable Modem ?

N

ncage

Golden Member
Does motorola still make the best cable modems or are all cable modems pretty much the same? Im switching from DSL to cable and im wondering if i should buy the cable modem from my cable company (ive heard they use RCA) or just buy a used motorola cable modem off of ebay or something like that. I know motorola cable modems use to definitly be the best. I used to have a SB4100 but i don't know if you can really tell a difference anymore. Any help would be apprecaited.

thanks,
ncage
 
Originally posted by: ncage
Does motorola still make the best cable modems or are all cable modems pretty much the same? Im switching from DSL to cable and im wondering if i should buy the cable modem from my cable company (ive heard they use RCA) or just buy a used motorola cable modem off of ebay or something like that. I know motorola cable modems use to definitly be the best. I used to have a SB4100 but i don't know if you can really tell a difference anymore. Any help would be apprecaited.

thanks,
ncage
Click to expand...

I have an SB5100 and my parents have 3100 (3000?). Both are excellent. I like mine because it's black and has a "sleep" button for when you go on vacation or whatever. I believe the latest model is the SB5120, which can be had for under $60 new online.
 
Typicaly its best to use what your cable company is standardized on, but if you have a choice the Motorola SB51xx series tend to be the best.
 
Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
Typicaly its best to use what your cable company is standardized on, but if you have a choice the Motorola SB51xx series tend to be the best.
Click to expand...


So if you were me would you go with the Motorola or whatever insight has. A used motorola goes for more on ebay than a new cable modem that the cable company will sell me.
 
Originally posted by: ncage
Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
Typicaly its best to use what your cable company is standardized on, but if you have a choice the Motorola SB51xx series tend to be the best.
Click to expand...


So if you were me would you go with the Motorola or whatever insight has. A used motorola goes for more on ebay than a new cable modem that the cable company will sell me.
Click to expand...

Sell or lease? I found it was eaiser just to buy my own; I've been able to take it with me as I've moved (Cox, Comcast, etc.).
 
Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
Typicaly its best to use what your cable company is standardized on, but if you have a choice the Motorola SB51xx series tend to be the best.
Click to expand...


Not true. I've had all kinds of problems.
 
Originally posted by: 8No8
Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
Typicaly its best to use what your cable company is standardized on, but if you have a choice the Motorola SB51xx series tend to be the best.
Click to expand...


Not true. I've had all kinds of problems.
Click to expand...

Umm please be a little more clear. You had all kinds of problems with what? If you mean a Motorola Sb51xx series model are you sure it was the cable modem? When you swapped out the modem did your problems disappear?
 
Originally posted by: ncage
Originally posted by: 8No8
Originally posted by: Arcanedeath
Typicaly its best to use what your cable company is standardized on, but if you have a choice the Motorola SB51xx series tend to be the best.
Click to expand...


Not true. I've had all kinds of problems.
Click to expand...

Umm please be a little more clear. You had all kinds of problems with what? If you mean a Motorola Sb51xx series model are you sure it was the cable modem? When you swapped out the modem did your problems disappear?
Click to expand...

Just ignore him, all of his posts have just been to contradict someone else so far, and he's already gotten a warning from the mods in this thread.
 
A friend and I both replaced our several year old Toshiba PCX2200 modems with Motorola SB5120 modems back in March. We were having problems with the Toshibas losing connection and reseting themselves on a regular basis. Neither of us have had any issues since switching to the Surfboard modems.
 
I used Motorola while I leased from cable company. After a few years, during which I probably paid for it a few times over, I returned it to the company and bought a cheap RCA model of eBay. IIRC it was only about 25 bucks, came packaged like crap, and looks like sh!t, BUT it works like a charm. Of course, you need to check with your cable co. to make sure it's on their list of approved modems.
 
I rented an RCA from the cable company for about 18 months - then it crapped out. So, I bought my own Motorola and it is just fine.
 
Well i kind of got the best of both worlds here. I found a motorola surfboard 5120 free after rebate from best buy. You have to order your internet service directly through them though and when i did they tacked on an extra 39.95 for a hardware fee which they shouldn't have done. I guess i will have to take this up with insight.
 
The Motorola SB5100/5120 is arguably the best cable modem available and has been for several years now. The Linksys BEFCMU10 v4 is DOCSIS 2.0 and a fine modem as well. If you have a Linksys router you can stack them. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: Patrick Wolf
Make sure the modem you buy is combatible with your internet company.
Click to expand...


Bingo.

I personally have always bought the ISP's recommended modem to avoid issues.
 
Originally posted by: n7
Originally posted by: Patrick Wolf
Make sure the modem you buy is combatible with your internet company.
Click to expand...


Bingo.

I personally have always bought the ISP's recommended modem to avoid issues.
Click to expand...

I get internet through Midcontinent and they have a list of compatible modems on their site. I think they say any modem not listed is unlikely to work with their service.

Luckily the DCM-202 is compatible with my service.
 
Most every cable company uses the DOCSIS standard so make sure you get a modem that is compatable. Actually, I don't know of any cable modem not built on the DOCSIS standard now days, but I do know tha the Motorola is an excellent modem. While Linksys, D-Link and others are DOCSIS modems the Moto SB series will stand up to noise a bit better than the rest.
 
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