Cable Modem?

[killdeer]

Cable is just hitting my area. I'd like to purchase a modem. looking at linksys,D-link. Any one brand better then another. USB or Ethernet hookup? Does it make a difference?

 

[Sundog]

Find out who you are using as your carrier and find out what modems they sell and pick up the same make/model# as they sell.

 

[killdeer]

Thanks, any thoughts on the connection to the pc. USB or Ethernet?

 

[Texun]

I am testing a DOCCSIS D-Link now and so far it has been great, but I'm not finished yet. Many cable companies specifically use DOCSIS certified modems, which is an acronym for "Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification". DOCSIS provides a set of standards by which cable companies can achieve cross-platform functionality in Internet delivery. Most cable companies use this standard as their guide when designing a data ready system, however, I suggest that you contact the provider in your area and see. Cox, Comcast, TW use DOCSIS in their larger markets but I can't say for sure about the smaller systems.

My choice is the Motorola 3100B. The difference isn't noticeable to the end user so much, but the Motorola will tolerate more upstream noise than the Toshiba, RCA, and Samsung. My second choice is the Toshiba. It's solid and performs very well

I've heard good things about the COM21 and 3Com's but haven't got my hands on one yet.

Concerning USB or Ethernet: Since the max x-fer of the cable modem will never reach the throughput of USB it shouldn't matter which one you go with. However, my experience has always been more favorable overall with an Ethernet connection. Maybe it's just me, but I can have either and that is what I use.

 

[John]

One would think USB would offer more latency.

 

[Texun]

John, you may have something there.. thanks!

 

[bugsysiegel]

Ethernet, definately. I swear I remember reading that USB throughput is 1.5 to 12 MB/s, where as you can get 100MB/s with ethernet.

USB 2.0 supposedly supports up to 480MB/s transfer, but I'm not sure what type of standard the modem you mentioned runs.

I'm not an expert, this is just what I've read on the net at other boards and web sites. Hope it helps ya some!

 

[Barnaby W. Füi]

usb will hog your cpu a bit more, and IMO usb should be relegated to mice and gamepads and whatnot

 

[Zim Hosein]

<< usb will hog your cpu a bit more, and IMO usb should be relegated to mice and gamepads and whatnot >>



Agreed, go w/ a ethernet hookup.