Comcast ending support for cable modem

[Craig234]

Months ago I bought the ARRIS 6141 planning to replace my rented Comcast modem.

I was just getting ready to finally install it when tonight I saw a post showing Comcast ending support for the modem where they won't activate it.

What the hell. That seems like greed, and I had no idea it was a possibility. So, this is about to become useless as a Comcast item.

What are my options? Is there a way to get around Comcast's not wanting to use it?

The only other option I see is changing internet service providers. That's more and more attractive except for limited options - AT&T?

Also, not wanting to lose access to the e-mail history on the account (if I could back it up...)

 

[Tifosi248F1]

The RETAIL SB6141 is not supposed to be EoL according to some discussions on dslreports. The leased from Comcast version is however on the EoL list.

You could always try switching modems and see if it activates.

 

[Fardringle]

The Arris/Motorola SB6141 (retail) is still listed on the compatible modems list and should work just fine after you call Comcast and ask them to activate it on your account. Comcast just isn't sending them out as rental units any more.

 

[Craig234]

OK thanks, the report I saw had it backward that it's the retail that won't be allowed.

 

[Carson Dyle]

What have you been waiting for?

Try to install it. If they refuse to activate it, oh well. If it activates and Comcast decides to EOL it while you're actively using it on your service, don't sweat it. I have yet to hear of Comcast pulling the plug on a modem that is working.

 

[Crusty]

Hmmm... wondering how long my retail SB6121 will work on Comcast...

 

[Carson Dyle]

Hmmm... wondering how long my retail SB6121 will work on Comcast...

Years. Whether or not Comcast EOLs it. If you don't move to a new location or stop and start your service back up, you shouldn't have to worry about it for a very long time. AFAIK, it's only the activation of EOL devices that you need to worry about.

The other consideration is modem speed. I have an SB6120 that I've used on Comcast without bottlenecks at subscribed rates up to 105 Mbps. From what I've read, the SB612x modems top out at about 125 Mbps, so if you were to subscribe or get upgraded to 150 Mbps or faster service and want to take full advantage of it, you'd need to upgrade.

 

[Crusty]

Years. Whether or not Comcast EOLs it. If you don't move to a new location or stop and start your service back up, you shouldn't have to worry about it for a very long time. AFAIK, it's only the activation of EOL devices that you need to worry about.

The other consideration is modem speed. I have an SB6120 that I've used on Comcast without bottlenecks at subscribed rates up to 105 Mbps. From what I've read, the SB612x modems top out at about 125 Mbps, so if you were to subscribe or get upgraded to 150 Mbps or faster service and want to take full advantage of it, you'd need to upgrade.

Yeah I currently top out around ~130mbps, but I guess I'll upgrade next time I move.

 

[Carson Dyle]

I may have been too hasty with my reply.

Here is someone in the DSLReports Comcast forum with an SB6120 claiming that Comcast just shut his modem off and told him it's obsolete. First time that I've heard of that actually happening.

 

[Carson Dyle]

...... and ...... it looks like that report was a false alarm. Turned out to be a local service outage, not Comcast purposely shutting off the customer's EOL modem.