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Replacing my Comcast modem/ router combo. Need advice.

M

mfh6375

Member
Hello. I currently have an Arris TG862G-CT. It is just the standard one that I rent from Comcast. It sucks. It works fine with my desktop, which is connected with an ethernet cable. But, my PS4 constantly drops the wifi conection. The PS4 is only about 20 feet away with two walls in between. My Xbox One drops sometimes, but not as consistently as the PS4. The PS4 stays connected perfectly if I put it in the same room about two feet from the router.

I have heard this is a common problem with these modem/ routers. So, I have decided to replace and see if that fixes my connection issue. Below are two possible replacements I have come up with. Please advise on which would be better. I'm not super knowledgeable about networking, so if you have an idea that you think would be better than these let me know also. Thanks.

1) Netgear Nighthawk AC1900 Dual-Band Router with DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem

or

2) Arris Surfboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem with Netgear AC1750 Dual Band Wi-Fi Router
 
mfh6375 said:
So, do you think the Netgear I listed would give improved performance over my current Comcast router? Will it send a stronger wifi signal?
Click to expand...
Maybe a bit, residential wifi is restricted in it's power output to 1w. So even the highest end router will simply provide more simultaneous streams for more bandwidth, not necessarily larger range. For extending the range of your network you may wish to look at wired access points if you can run ethernet, if you're stuck relying on wifi then a mesh router system might be your best bet depending on the size of the property.
 
Check to see if you are paying a monthly fee to use their WiFi combo. Most do. If so check which ones your cable modems ISP supports. Buy a cable modem only, then buy your own WiFi router. If you are lucky sometimes they'll let you use that same combo but they turn the WiFi off.

In the meantime you can try to improve what you have. Treat WiFi light a light that can go through walls (albeit weaker). Most of the time elevating it helps most people.
 
razel said:
Check to see if you are paying a monthly fee to use their WiFi combo. Most do. If so check which ones your cable modems ISP supports. Buy a cable modem only, then buy your own WiFi router. If you are lucky sometimes they'll let you use that same combo but they turn the WiFi off.

In the meantime you can try to improve what you have. Treat WiFi light a light that can go through walls (albeit weaker). Most of the time elevating it helps most people.
Click to expand...
Yes they charge $10 per month for my current combo.

So, are you saying it would be better to have a separate modem and router, as opposed to just getting a better combo?
 
Absolutely! That's $120 per year. Have an old WiFi router handy? Then I would start by calling them up and removing the $10 a month WiFi. If you get lucky you'll get to keep that same modem/WiFi combo and they turn off the WiFi functionality. You get to keep the cable modem. Then just attach your WiFi router. If they end up wanting it back and not providing you one, tell them you need to buy a cable modem and call back. Chances are... they'll send you to retentions and you'll get to keep that modem.
 
razel said:
Absolutely! That's $120 per year. Have an old WiFi router handy? Then I would start by calling them up and removing the $10 a month WiFi. If you get lucky you'll get to keep that same modem/WiFi combo and they turn off the WiFi functionality. You get to keep the cable modem. Then just attach your WiFi router. If they end up wanting it back and not providing you one, tell them you need to buy a cable modem and call back. Chances are... they'll send you to retentions and you'll get to keep that modem.
Click to expand...
Ok, but if I want to just get rid of their equipment altogether, would there be an advantage to buying a stand alone modem and a stand alone router, or would I be just fine with the Netgear combo I listed above?
 
mfh6375 said:
Ok, but if I want to just get rid of their equipment altogether, would there be an advantage to buying a stand alone modem and a stand alone router, or would I be just fine with the Netgear combo I listed above?
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Standalone units tend to be more stable since they're only responsible for 1 part of the equation.

It also allows greater control if you wanted to upgrade just your wifi for example, you can generally buy access points for far less than a full router/modem wifi combo unit.
 
mnewsham said:
Standalone units tend to be more stable since they're only responsible for 1 part of the equation.

It also allows greater control if you wanted to upgrade just your wifi for example, you can generally buy access points for far less than a full router/modem wifi combo unit.
Click to expand...
Ok, so I have decided to go with standalone units. What do you think of these?

Netgear DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem model CM500-100NAS

with

Netgear AC1750 Dual-Band Wi-Fi router model R6400-100NAS

Would there be any reason to get the AC1900 router instead, or would that just be overkill? FYI this router will be connected to 2 iPhones, 1 iPad, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, Android TV. It will also be connected to my desktop through ethernet.
 
It really depends what sort of speeds you expect. The next step up would be the Netgear R7000 AC1900. In testing it can achieve ~350mbps throughput over wifi in the same room.

For longer range you are still going to need more access points, or better central placement of your router.
 
Well, I ran speed test on my desktop(wired) and got 159mbps. I ran a network test on my PS4, which is within 2 feet of router, and I only got 35mbps.

So, based on that, do you think the AC1750 would meet my needs? I think the difference between AC1750 and AC1900 is speed, not range. Correct?
 
mfh6375 said:
Well, I ran speed test on my desktop(wired) and got 159mbps. I ran a network test on my PS4, which is within 2 feet of router, and I only got 35mbps.

So, based on that, do you think the AC1750 would meet my needs? I think the difference between AC1750 and AC1900 is speed, not range. Correct?
Click to expand...
The PS4 has pretty crap wifi speeds in general from my understanding, it's not the best client device to be using to test wifi speeds.
 
The CM600 would give you access to higher download speeds if you would be interested. I know Comcast is upping their speed tiers in a lot of regions. The CM700 has the dreaded Intel Puma chipset and should be avoided.
 
Ajay said:
@ch33zw1z Some complain (on Amazon) that this runs really hot and has extremely bright LEDs; your thoughts please?
Click to expand...

edit: So you probably mean the SB6183

I don't notice if it's too hot, as long as it works I'm fine.

The lights aren't a problem for me, plus it has this little option to disable all lights except power.

YMQmFNG.png
 
Comcast 250mb subscriber here, I have been using a Motorolla Surfboard 6xxx DOCSIS 3.0 modem (at work, dont remember model) and can confirm it runs pretty warm. It's been running two years without an issue though.

For router I am using one of these fanless i3 u series boxes with pfSense:
https://www.amazon.com/QOTOM-Q330G4-Barebone-Computer-Fanless-firewall/dp/B06ZYG5ZQX/

Performs fine with snort and pfblockerng loaded with rules, did a "stress test" with a bunch of linux torrents and it didn't miss a beat.
 
Charlie22911 said:
Comcast 250mb subscriber here, I have been using a Motorolla Surfboard 6xxx DOCSIS 3.0 modem (at work, dont remember model) and can confirm it runs pretty warm. It's been running two years without an issue though.

For modem I am using one of these fanless i3 u series boxes with pfSense:
https://www.amazon.com/QOTOM-Q330G4-Barebone-Computer-Fanless-firewall/dp/B06ZYG5ZQX/

Performs fine with snort and pfblockerng loaded with rules, did a "stress test" with a bunch of linux torrents and it didn't miss a beat.
Click to expand...


That pfsense box would be a router, not modem.
 
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