which cable modem should I get?

toant103

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
10,514
1
0
i'm moving off campus and moving to an apartment. I'm going to get cable modem but I don't know what to look for. Any brand, spec i should consider?

I have about 7 computer and want to be able to network them. I have a switch already.

Thanx
 

RossMAN

Grand Nagus
Feb 24, 2000
79,047
445
136
Whichever is compatible with your cable internet ISP.

Motorola and Toshiba make excellent cable modems.
 

fatbaby

Banned
May 7, 2001
6,427
1
0
motorola sb4100

$99 @ bestbuys

It is perhaps the bestest cable modem on the planet with a standby button
 

PsychoAndy

Lifer
Dec 31, 2000
10,735
0
0
AFAIK, most cable providers give you the modem. thats usually the best case, cause if you have to swap it for whatever reason the tech can do it in one day, as opposed to getting and RMA and spending a week from ATOT.
 

Rallispec

Lifer
Jul 26, 2001
12,375
10
81


<< AFAIK, most cable providers give you the modem. thats usually the best case, cause if you have to swap it for whatever reason the tech can do it in one day, as opposed to getting and RMA and spending a week from ATOT. >>



i was about to say the exact same thing. use the one that the cable provider gives you
 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91
My parents used the one from the cable company for $10 a month for a few years. It was nice that they swappped it out, but when that $39 cable modem deal came along 2 weeks ago, they picked one up. It works perffectly fine, and will save them a crapload of money.

As long as its Docsys 1.0 compatable, it will work on nearly every system.
 

GooberPHX420

Banned
Jan 13, 2002
1,567
0
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Hey Bro, I would go Motorola 100%. I made the mistake of going for the "newer is better" Toshiba PCX1100U

NEWER IS NOT BETTER.

Plus, most Motorola's are easily uncapped. Just dont let ur ISP find out.
 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91


<< Hey Bro, I would go Motorola 100%. I made the mistake of going for the "newer is better" Toshiba PCX1100U

NEWER IS NOT BETTER.

Plus, most Motorola's are easily uncapped. Just dont let ur ISP find out.
>>



I have an OLD motorolla back at home and i LOVE it. One of the cable modem guys said not to get the Toshiba either, due to slow speeds and frequent breakdowns.
 

PsychoAndy

Lifer
Dec 31, 2000
10,735
0
0
i have a pcx1100u and it works just fine

BTW, depending on the provider they may or may not let you use your own modem. you can use your own modem with RR, but they told me it wouldnt change the monthly fee (which went up $5 after the AOL merger)
 

aphex

Moderator<br>All Things Apple
Moderator
Jul 19, 2001
38,572
2
91


<< Road Runner gave me a Motorolla to use. >>



[bad humor] did they drop an anvil on your head as well? [/bad humor]
 

toant103

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
10,514
1
0
I'm going to get Alephia. or something like that. If i rent from them, i think they will charge me $10-$15 a month. Might as well buy one.
 

KnickNut3

Platinum Member
Oct 1, 2001
2,382
0
0


<< I have about 7 computer and want to be able to network them. >>



What college student needs 7 computers for himself in one apartment/dorm room? What do you use them all for?
 

bmacd

Lifer
Jan 15, 2001
10,869
1
0
i have RR and i'm stuck with a toshiba PCX2000. Since i was having about 15-20 modem crashes a DAY, i went out and purchased the toshiba 1100. Timewarner would NOT let me add a foreign MAC address to their system. They told me if i was having modem trouble to have a PC tech come out to the house and then have a TW tech come out after. The PC was win2k on a fresh format (and previously on a fresh format of XP) so i think i've come to the conclusion that a) the modem sucks or b) there is a line signal problem

-=bmacd=-
 

pyonir

Lifer
Dec 18, 2001
40,856
321
126
i have the motorola sb4100 and i haven't had a problem yet. my cable company would charge us $10 a month. so i bought one.
 

911paramedic

Diamond Member
Jan 7, 2002
9,448
1
76
I was just going to say 3com, because I have one and it is great. So I went to their site to give you a link and found this:

End of Life - HomeConnect Consumer Cable Modem
3Com Corporation is discontinuing sales of its 3Com® HomeConnect® Consumer Cable Modem product line and related accessories.
Customers who have purchased Cable Modems off of 3Com's website may return them within 30 days of purchase. If you have received a 3Com cable modem through your Cable provider, please contact them directly if you wish to return the product.

 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0
Since I've done tech support for the nation's 3 largest cable ISP's other than RoadRunner, I think you should trust me when I tell you that you'll want a Motorolla Surfboard. :)

SB 3100
SB 4100

get one of those - and, for the love of Christ, use the ethernet option since both modems come with ethernet and USB capability.

nik
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0


<< toshiba pcx1100u it rocks! >>

Toshibas blow goats. :disgust: If something goes wrong, they're a pain in the ass to get working again.

nik
 

NikPreviousAcct

No Lifer
Aug 15, 2000
52,763
1
0


<< i have RR and i'm stuck with a toshiba PCX2000. Since i was having about 15-20 modem crashes a DAY, i went out and purchased the toshiba 1100. Timewarner would NOT let me add a foreign MAC address to their system. They told me if i was having modem trouble to have a PC tech come out to the house and then have a TW tech come out after. The PC was win2k on a fresh format (and previously on a fresh format of XP) so i think i've come to the conclusion that a) the modem sucks or b) there is a line signal problem -=bmacd=- >>

The bootfiles are touchy on these. They take a bigger bootfile and have their own format. It's just like buying a Compaq: everything's proprietary and nothing's compatible unless specifically programmed to do so. Your ISP may not want to take the time and extra effort it takes to accommodate people with the PCX and PCU models.

nik
 

toant103

Lifer
Jul 21, 2001
10,514
1
0
What college student needs 7 computers for himself in one apartment/dorm room? What do you use them all for?



UD

Cancer Research
 

LiQiCE

Golden Member
Oct 9, 1999
1,911
0
0
Definitely make sure the modem you choose is supported by your ISP. I have one of the 3Com OfficeConnect modems and everytime I call for tech support I am told, "Well you know, your modem isnt really supported by our network." My modem works fine, it even works better than the Toshiba PCX1100U that Cox Roadrunner recommended and rents out. (I tried renting the modem from them, and the damn thing never got a synch in my apartment ... the 3Com synchs just fine). I would also recommend the Motorola SB4100 since it seems like all of the ISPs support them.