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Need a good cable modem and wireless router

EliteRetard

EliteRetard

Diamond Member
Ive got like a 15yr old linksys cable modem...I dont know how its still runs (some of the time). I also have a crappy 5$ wireless G router. I just moved into a place and they want the details on the modem to setup the account and I figured maybe I should finally upgrade. I know you guys all want the 300$ overclockable/hackable routers...but I dont know crap about networking and probably dont need all the super fancy stuff (unless it would really make a difference). Im thinking wireless N, because its an OLD large two story house with only a single cable inlet and it would be a pain to wire everything.

Thanks in advance!
 
Buy the least expensive DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem that you can find and it is approved by Comcast.

Than come back and ask for a Wireless Router recommendation with a price tag.

Your current number $100 does not sit together with your current stipulations.
 
A new cable modem and an 802.11n router for $100...um, I don't think so. How about you re-figure your price a little and come back. First find out if comcast gives you a cable modem (most do) or leases you one. If the lease it to you, find out what model of docsis 3.0 they support and simply buy one. Then after you do that, let us know how much money you have available and we can point you to a good router. 802.11n routers are not cheap - but if you want a reliable router, cheap isn't the way to go.
 
I was looking a little while ago and only found one or two docsis 3.0 modems that comcast will support, the best price I saw was like $80 so I figured I'd just keep renting the modem from Comcast until either prices come down or I actually have a need for docsis 3.0, my current modem supports docsis 2.0 and I can regularly get downloads as fast as 10mpbs occasionally I'll get the advertised 12mbps or higher.
 
Im confused...whats docsis 3? I cant seem to find any. Your telling me that no cable modem on the planet will work with comcast? And yet my cable modem from circa '95 works...though it does occasionally lose signal and takes up to an hour to reset. Ive seen 600kbps download before...seemed fine to me. Plays games Ok too...

They make a billion different modems and not a single one will work? Why do they make them then? And are you all saying that I have to spend more than 100$? Why do I see wireless N routers for like 30$? I figured spending 50$ each was going to be at least mid range.

And theres more than one docsis 3? Again where do I find even one?
 
DOCSIS 3 is the new tech Comcast is rolling out it delivers speeds up to 50 Mbps right now. Docsis 2 I think stops at 20 Mbps for Comcast for now? The Docsis 2.0 modems support up to like 30 something Mbps. So in the future when Comcast upgrades speeds for free as they have done in the past you will already have a Docsis 3.0 modem. If you want to still buy a Docsis 2.0 modem then you can still do that, but I think people are recommending Docsis 3.0 ones for future proofing. There are not that many docsis 3 modems out as it is a new tech and most people just rent them I think. One of the ones that Comcast uses is the Motorola SB6120 it costs about $95 at Frys.com or Amazon.com search around. They also rent out the Cisco DPC3000 but I am not sure how easy it is to find those to buy. I know the Motorola SB6120 can be bought. Not sure about other docsis 3 modems. Here's the cheapest SB6120 I could find from JR.com Link

For docsis 2.0 modems the most popular ones are the Motorula Surfboard SB5101 and SB5120. They can be had for like $40 from Newegg, Amazon, etc. eBay has cheap ones and that is where I would probably buy one from.

Not sure about wireless N routers. Checkout broadbandreports.com the Forums for more info.

This thread about docsis 3 has most of the FAQs Link

Note, that your area might not have docsis 3 yet, but will sooner or later.
 
Originally posted by: ImDonly1
DOCSIS 3 is the new tech Comcast is rolling out it delivers speeds up to 50 Mbps right now. Docsis 2 I think stops at 20 Mbps for Comcast for now? The Docsis 2.0 modems support up to like 30 something Mbps. So in the future when Comcast upgrades speeds for free as they have done in the past you will already have a Docsis 3.0 modem. If you want to still buy a Docsis 2.0 modem then you can still do that, but I think people are recommending Docsis 3.0 ones for future proofing. There are not that many docsis 3 modems out as it is a new tech and most people just rent them I think. One of the ones that Comcast uses is the Motorola SB6120 it costs about $95 at Frys.com or Amazon.com search around. They also rent out the Cisco DPC3000 but I am not sure how easy it is to find those to buy. I know the Motorola SB6120 can be bought. Not sure about other docsis 3 modems. Here's the cheapest SB6120 I could find from JR.com Link

For docsis 2.0 modems the most popular ones are the Motorula Surfboard SB5101 and SB5120. They can be had for like $40 from Newegg, Amazon, etc. eBay has cheap ones and that is where I would probably buy one from.

Not sure about wireless N routers. Checkout broadbandreports.com the Forums for more info.

This thread about docsis 3 has most of the FAQs Link

Note, that your area might not have docsis 3 yet, but will sooner or later.
Click to expand...

Ahhh...information. Thank you. So comcast is a big arse monopoly that not only rips you off for their services but they require that you buy expensive proprietary equipment to get what you pay for. I should really be telling them to fudge off but being a monopoly as they are I really have no choice if I want internet (other than this "borrowed" 56K wireless).

It sounds like I should be perfectly fine with a docsis 2 though...I dont pay for premium speeds (but I do pay a premium) and at half the cost I still get speeds way in excess of whats possible over these lines (theres at least 4 splitters/connectors daisy chaining the cable from their box to the house and all the way around back and into the wall and then going to wireless...Im gonna have so much lag). And really, Ive been using this modem for 15 years (seriously) and I dont think its even docsis 1 and its provided good speed. Its problem is that its dieing, I had a matching router but it blew up and thats why I grabbed a cheap replacement as a stop gap. The modem though I think overheats under stress and craps out. Let it sit for an hour or two and usually you can get back online.

It just sounds like docsis 3 has no benefits to me now and the only reason to get it is if docsis 2 wont work anymore. By the time I can use docsis 3 theyll probably be dirt cheap and I can upgrade then and not have wasted money.

HMMMmmm decisions decisions...
Thanks again.

 
Did you ever hear about Google, http://lmgtfy.com/?q=Docsis+3

In any case, a good inexpensive Wireless Router is, http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16833320023

Would it cover a Big two story house? I Do not know.

It is possible that No one Wireless Router would cover "OLD large two story house", and you would need a Multi wired Access Points System, or WDS.

Extending Distance - http://www.ezlan.net/Distance.html

Wireless Modes - http://www.ezlan.net/Wireless_Modes.html

Wireless Bridging - http://www.ezlan.net/bridging.html

Hi Gain Antenna - http://www.ezlan.net/antennae.html
 
I installed one of these in an older, two-story house, and you can get signal everywhere in the house. (In one room, only about 1-5Mb/sec, but everywhere else the signal is pretty good.) I even get signal in the backyard, about 18Mbit/sec. The router is located on the top floor, in a front room, with the cablemodem. I feel that this model has good signal strength. Pretty sure it's a MIMO draft N router.
 
Originally posted by: EliteRetard

Ahhh...information. Thank you. So comcast is a big arse monopoly that not only rips you off for their services but they require that you buy expensive proprietary equipment to get what you pay for. I should really be telling them to fudge off but being a monopoly as they are I really have no choice if I want internet (other than this "borrowed" 56K wireless).
<snip>
Click to expand...

It's not proprietary so just hold off on the faux comcast outrage. DOCSIS is the standard that allows for interoperability, not proprietary solutions.

You really should rent the modem anyway as if something goes wrong, it's their problem to fix, not yours.
 
Docsis 2.0 will be fine until comcast says their lowest tier package is 30mbps, at that point I'm not sure if a docsis 2.0 or older modem will even work. That's still a couple years away though so I doubt you have anything to be worried about, that said I wouldn't pay full price for a new modem that is only docsis 2.0 capable.

I'm kind of in the same boat as you, expensive cable internet is the only option I'll consider available in my area, there's a phone company that offers DSL, but after being ripped off by this company 3x in the past I won't go back to them for what might be a savings of a few dollars a month and slower speeds. For now I rent the modem from Comcast, but I've been watching the thrift stores for a used cable mode, I saw one last week exactly like the one I have for $3, it didn't have a power cord though and it looks like it may be difficult to find a replacement. I'll keep looking for one at yard sales/ thrift stores, buying a new modem just doesn't make sense, it would take about a year and a half to see any return on investment. It may not be a year and a half before I decide to either upgrade to 50mbps service or I'm given a free upgrade to speeds in excess of what a docsis 2.0 modem can support.
 
For the people renting modems. You should try eBay for a Motorola SB5101 or the 5120 they can be bought for ~$20, which is pretty cheap. I think Comcast rents modems out for $3/month? Maybe more now I think they just raised rental prices?

Edit: Link $5 rental fee some areas only for now. Nationwide soon.
 
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