My Dad is moving from ATT to Comcast for faster internet, what modem/router combo should I buy him?

[Space Lynx]

We currently do not own a router or modem, and we will be getting the 1000 down on Comcast as opposed to our 50-70 down max on ATT for around same cost. We just need a router and modem combo, I know nothing about networking to be honest, how much is it?

 

[advanced3]

Why not just use the one they supply?

Good luck getting a Tech to your house if ever needed be when using your own equipment too, they refuse to touch it. I wish there was someone else besides Comcast here.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

Because they charge you monthly to use it. Buying your own is a better solution.

For those speeds, you need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, and it will have the “supported” service providers on the box. Personally, I’d get a separate modem and router as you can always upgrade one or the other to go faster when the time comes. My stuff in the PC room is wired and the rest of the house uses wireless through an ASUS AC-RH1300 that I paid a mere $40 for on eBay.

The modem I use escapes me, but it’s a Netgear, one of the highest they produce. It cost $120 (literally one year of renting before it’s saving you money) on eBay as well. They’re about $160 in store when I was shopping for a modem.

Off topic: my modem apparently supports 6 Gbps cable, yet only has a 1 Gbps Ethernet port.

 

[Space Lynx]

Motorola MB8600 DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem - Approved for Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Charter Spectrum, Supports Cable Plans up to 1000 Mbps | 1 Gbps Ethernet Port - Newegg.com

Buy Motorola MB8600 DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem - Approved for Comcast Xfinity, Cox, and Charter Spectrum, Supports Cable Plans up to 1000 Mbps | 1 Gbps Ethernet Port with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

motorola DOC 3.1 or Netgear 3.1? which do you guys think? both same price

NETGEAR DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit Cable Modem - Newegg.com

Buy NETGEAR DOCSIS 3.1 Gigabit Cable Modem. Max download speeds of 6.0 Gbps, For XFINITY by Comcast, Spectrum, and Cox. Compatible with Gig-Speed from Xfinity (CM1000) with fast shipping and top-rated customer service. Once you know, you Newegg!

www.newegg.com

 

[eidairaman1]

Netgear

 

[Vario]

If you can, get Verizon instead. Comcast is very unreliable. Had really bad experiences with them. By comparison, Verizon stays up all the time, I don't need a modem just CAT6 to my router from the ONT, its faster, and its $50 less per month. Comcast would intermittently go down for 5-10 minutes about once every 1-2 hours on average.

 

[eidairaman1]

If you can, get Verizon instead. Comcast is very unreliable. Had really bad experiences with them. By comparison, Verizon stays up all the time, I don't need a modem just CAT6 to my router from the ONT, its faster, and its $50 less per month. Comcast would intermittently go down for 5-10 minutes about once every 1-2 hours on average.

Its Frontier here

 

[shovenose]

Just switched to the 1Gbps Comcast service. My old modem wasn't compatible so I am renting theirs for a month til my friend gives me one that'll work. For a Comcast-provided box it's actually really good.

 

[Deleted member 67555]

They usually say what networks they work with on the box...Your ISP will update your firmware to their stuff and that's it.

 

[Space Lynx]

If you can, get Verizon instead. Comcast is very unreliable. Had really bad experiences with them. By comparison, Verizon stays up all the time, I don't need a modem just CAT6 to my router from the ONT, its faster, and its $50 less per month. Comcast would intermittently go down for 5-10 minutes about once every 1-2 hours on average.

I just checked, Verizon is not in my area sadly.

I am surprised a bit on Comcast's pricing though, it was only $10 more per month to go from 450 down to 1000 down... quite a big jump for only $10 more. I think I will go with the Netgear one I linked, I am not too happy that Lenovo owns Motorola now. Lenovo Chinese owned and caught red handed for telemetry in older laptops, apologized and said they stop... but yeah I doubt they ever stopped.

 

[slightofhand]

If it's American hardware you want then take a look at the Arris 8200 . Arris is owned by CommScope. The Arris products are the Surfboard modems previously developed by Motorola, and except for the SB6190 (lame Intel modem hardware) they are all good. The 8200 is really a very nice modem.

Greg

 

[Xzibit]

We currently do not own a router or modem, and we will be getting the 1000 down on Comcast as opposed to our 50-70 down max on ATT for around same cost. We just need a router and modem combo, I know nothing about networking to be honest, how much is it?

Why not just look at the ones that are compatible with their service / service you'll be getting ? All major ISP in the USA have compatibility list on their sites for 3rd party equipment.

Comcast Service Area compatible (Type in your Info)

Comcast Business Compatible (List of modem models compatible)

My advise don't get one that barely makes the list. They are likely the ones to get dumped during network upgrades. Get one just above of what your service will be so your not limited by it.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

That’s the Netgear modem I have. It has been excellent since I got it.

You can get them significantly cheaper on eBay, brand new, for what it’s worth.

 

[oxrufiioxo]

I have the netgear 3.1 with Comcast 1Gbps and it's been flawless. I use a nighthawk X8 router with it.

 

[newtekie1]

If it's American hardware you want then take a look at the Arris 8200 . Arris is owned by CommScope. The Arris products are the Surfboard modems previously developed by Motorola, and except for the SB6190 (lame Intel modem hardware) they are all good. The 8200 is really a very nice modem.

Greg

Agreed, I was just going to suggest the Arris. It's a good modem.

I ended up renting their modem for $15/month so I can get the unlimited data that comes with it.

 

[Bill_Bright]

I agree with Xzibit and you should check your local Comcast website for their list of compatible devices.

And FTR, I don't like "residential gateway" devices - integrated devices that include the router and modem in the same box. That's too many devices in one box for me (router, WAP - wireless access point, 4-port Ethernet switch, and modem, and maybe VoIP). I like having a separate wireless router and modem. In this way, should my ISP require a new DOCSIS version, for example, I only have to buy a new modem. Or should my wireless range be inadequate, I only have to get a new wireless router.

I've had great service from Motorola/Arris modems.

I ended up renting their modem for $15/month

And it is good to have someone else responsible. But note the excellent Motorola MB8600 32x8 cable modem can be had from Amazon for $168. In less than 2 years at $15/month, you would pay double that cost in rental fees.

Another problem with ISP provided devices is they typically include back doors into those devices. They are NOT for nefarious deeds. They typically are to allow access for strangers in your neighborhood who are customers of the same ISP to piggy-back onto to your connection. In effect, your ISP turns your wireless modem into a free "hotspot" for their customers visiting your area. To learn more, read about Xfinity Wifi (other ISPs have similar services). I don't like that idea and I just assume that eventually a bad guy will figure out how to hack that back door, crack the firewall between my network and the public network, and get into my network.

These guests are not sharing your bandwidth. This is above what your service contract allows for. But your ISP and these guests are using your electricity, even if that is just a tiny bit.

 

[TheMadDutchDude]

I’m not a fan of sharing my WiFi to the general public either.

 

[eidairaman1]

I agree with Xzibit and you should check your local Comcast website for their list of compatible devices.

And FTR, I don't like "residential gateway" devices - integrated devices that include the router and modem in the same box. That's too many devices in one box for me (router, WAP - wireless access point, 4-port Ethernet switch, and modem, and maybe VoIP). I like having a separate wireless router and modem. In this way, should my ISP require a new DOCSIS version, for example, I only have to buy a new modem. Or should my wireless range be inadequate, I only have to get a new wireless router.

I've had great service from Motorola/Arris modems. And it is good to have someone else responsible. But note the excellent Motorola MB8600 32x8 cable modem can be had from Amazon for $168. In less than 2 years at $15/month, you would pay double that cost in rental fees.

Another problem with ISP provided devices is they typically include back doors into those devices. They are NOT for nefarious deeds. They typically are to allow access for strangers in your neighborhood who are customers of the same ISP to piggy-back onto to your connection. In effect, your ISP turns your wireless modem into a free "hotspot" for their customers visiting your area. To learn more, read about Xfinity Wifi (other ISPs have similar services). I don't like that idea and I just assume that eventually a bad guy will figure out how to hack that back door, crack the firewall between my network and the public network, and get into my network.

These guests are not sharing your bandwidth. This is above what your service contract allows for. But your ISP and these guests are using your electricity, even if that is just a tiny bit.

I agree, I've replaced too many modem/ETHERNET/WIFI/HPNA/VOIP Gateways it wasn't funny.
If anything I'd rather have a rack system to attach modem to switch then to Wifi TX/RX, HPNA/MOCA adapter. If I really needed a Phone service Id rather have POT's over VOIP (LET the CO repair the service and maintain the big backup batteries that last weeks/months on end)

 

[Space Lynx]

If it's American hardware you want then take a look at the Arris 8200 . Arris is owned by CommScope. The Arris products are the Surfboard modems previously developed by Motorola, and except for the SB6190 (lame Intel modem hardware) they are all good. The 8200 is really a very nice modem.

Greg

it has a nice price. saving me about 20 bucks

Agreed, I was just going to suggest the Arris. It's a good modem.

I ended up renting their modem for $15/month so I can get the unlimited data that comes with it.

we were just looking at that actually. is that $15 rental it said unlimited data wifi only? so if I go over 1TB on LAN i get charged a fee? but if I unplug and do WiFi I will never be penalized for going over 1TB data cap? (5 people live in my home, all of us do netflix 4k, youtube, gaming, we hit 2tb most months)

 

[Bill_Bright]

we were just looking at that actually. is that $15 rental it said unlimited data wifi only? so if I go over 1TB on LAN i get charged a fee? but if I unplug and do WiFi I will never be penalized for going over 1TB data cap?

It sounds to me like you are confusing cell service with your home cable Internet service. Wifi is inside your own LAN only. Your own LAN is everyone on your side of the gateway device (typically the modem). Once you hit the Internet/ISP side of your modem, the ISP does not care if your device is connecting via wifi or Ethernet. It's all the same to them.

On the cell phone side, if your phone connects to your wifi when you are home, you don't exceed your cell limits because you are going over your cable connection and not through the cell system.

My point is, if your Internet provider is telling you you have unlimited data, it should not matter if you connect to your modem via wireless (wifi) or Ethernet (wired).

 

[Space Lynx]

It sounds to me like you are confusing cell service with your home cable Internet service. Wifi is inside your own LAN only. Your own LAN is everyone on your side of the gateway device (typically the modem). Once you hit the Internet/ISP side of your modem, the ISP does not care if your device is connecting via wifi or Ethernet. It's all the same to them.

On the cell phone side, if your phone connects to your wifi when you are home, you don't exceed your cell limits because you are going over your cable connection and not through the cell system.

My point is, if your Internet provider is telling you you have unlimited data, it should not matter if you connect to your modem via wireless (wifi) or Ethernet (wired).

no on the comcast checkout it says if you pay for their modem and router, you get unlimited wifi data, it literally says that but nothing about the details of it, thats why I am asking newtekiw who owns it as well. i might do that option if that is the case. its a 1TB data cap on LAN and unlimited on wifi, but only if you pay for comcast router and modem i think... on the checkout it says 1TB data cap though, so I

no cell phones here... only internet checkout so I don't know...

@newtekie1 please confirm/explain

 

[advanced3]

You can turn off the Wifi hot spot in the router settings and also password protect it. If you live in a area where Comcast enforces a cap it will cost extra if you go over 1TB a month which I always do, but there's no cap here.

 

[Bill_Bright]

You can turn off the Wifi hot spot in the router settings

This is true. But it is enabled by default. But also, if the ISP pushes out a firmware update, it has been reported that the setting may get enabled again.

thats why I am asking newtekiw who owns it as well

its a 1TB data cap on LAN and unlimited on wifi

Then I would be interested in how that works too. Because again, your data leaves the modem in the same way and out on the same cable, regardless if your computers connect via wifi or Ethernet.

And again, your LAN is everything on your side of the modem. The "WAN" or wide area network (the Internet) is on the ISP side of your modem. What you do on your LAN is none of your ISP's business. You can move a million TB between devices on your LAN and that has no impact at all on your ISP or data usage. Not one byte (or bit) of that data leaves your home. So for them to say unlimited wifi sounds to me like some deceptive marketing. I hope newtekie can clear that up for us.

 

[newtekie1]

And it is good to have someone else responsible. But note the excellent Motorola MB8600 32x8 cable modem can be had from Amazon for $168. In less than 2 years at $15/month, you would pay double that cost in rental fees.

Of course, and that statement makes sense if you only read the tiny part of my post that you quoted. You quoted half a sentence and then responded to it like the second half didn't exist. Who does that?!?

The rented modem pays for itself and then some every single month.

Another problem with ISP provided devices is they typically include back doors into those devices. They are NOT for nefarious deeds. They typically are to allow access for strangers in your neighborhood who are customers of the same ISP to piggy-back onto to your connection. In effect, your ISP turns your wireless modem into a free "hotspot" for their customers visiting your area. To learn more, read about Xfinity Wifi (other ISPs have similar services). I don't like that idea and I just assume that eventually a bad guy will figure out how to hack that back door, crack the firewall between my network and the public network, and get into my network.

A few things here.

1.) You can opt-out of this through your customer account page or by going here.
2.) You should be putting the Comcast gateway into Bridge mode, turning the gateway into effectively a modem.
3.) You should have your own router between the ISP equipment and your LAN. I'd never trust the ISP provided equipment to keep my network safe. So even is someone does manage to crack the VLAN between the public hotspot WiFi and the private customer network, the customer's router will stop anyone from getting into their network.

These guests are not sharing your bandwidth. This is above what your service contract allows for. But your ISP and these guests are using your electricity, even if that is just a tiny bit.

The public hotspot uses 0 extra electricity. It is a VLAN created using the already existing wireless radio. Even if the hotspot didn't exist, the wireless radio would still be on and consuming the same amount of power.

we were just looking at that actually. is that $15 rental it said unlimited data wifi only? so if I go over 1TB on LAN i get charged a fee? but if I unplug and do WiFi I will never be penalized for going over 1TB data cap? (5 people live in my home, all of us do netflix 4k, youtube, gaming, we hit 2tb most months)

It is unlimited data on everything you use. Even streaming through On Demand on your TVs(yes, some of that counts towards your monthly data usage.) It is not just unlimited Wifi.

My point is, if your Internet provider is telling you you have unlimited data, it should not matter if you connect to your modem via wireless (wifi) or Ethernet (wired).

It could technically be possible to monitor data usage at the gateway and that would allow an ISP to determine amount of data used from ethernet and amount from WiFi. Comcast doesn't do this, but it's possible for them if they wanted to program the firmware in the gateway to do it.

 

[Space Lynx]

holy crap... ok I am having my dad change his order then, we will not provide our own router modem after all, we won't buy the $13 option either will do the $15 one... I had no idea it was true unlimited data... that is a game changer for us because we use more than 1TB a month. @newtekie1 ty