Edumacate me re: Cable Modem + Router

[Gogar]

Hello!

Upon reading the "wireless speed" thread I have decided to get an upgrade,

I switched from xfinity 20/1.5 Mbps to Comcast 100/6ish Mpbs.

Down from about $100 a month to $40, exaggerated because i'm also dumping my land line. And the $40 will be $70 after a year.

I have chosen NOT to rent a modem for $10 a month, so I need to buy my own stuff.



1. Any advantages to buying seperates instead of a combo cable modem/wifi router?


2. This is my list of 'approved' combo units. Prices range from $199-229.

ARRIS SBG7580-AC It's a combo, for about $229.

ARRIS SBG6900 Same-ish, less DOCSIS channels.

NETGEAR C7000-100NAS is a combo,for about $199. 8 less DOCSIS channels seems to be the only difference. No I don't know what that does.

NETGEAR C6900 Same-ish.





3. Do I really need an "approved" device? Or just good specs?

thank you

[GH85Carrera]

Talk to the cable company. They have to activate that modem to work on their system. The router is whatever you want but that modem has to be compatible with the cable company's system. I just bought mine from my cable company.

[Gogar]

Thanks

[masraum]

I think you'll get better results if you buy separates. Buy a good modem, then buy a good router. I've heard, read from several different sources that the performance will be better with that setup. Also, you then won't be stuck with whatever moderate router is tied to an acceptable modem.

[stomachmonkey]

The Arris boxes are the old Motorola Surboards.

The SBG7580 is AC, dual band next gen standard which you want for wifi.

I have one, not impressed.

Were it me I would go for the ARRIS SB6190 (not the 6900 you listed).

The SB6190 is Comcast approved.

Then grab an AC ASUS WIFI router.

You'll end up with setup similar to the SBG7580 for more money but like I said, not impressed with the SBG7580.

I'd spend the extra.

Do you have T-Mobile for your cell?

[id10t]

Buy separates. All the cable co can say anything about is the cable modem - use whatever router you like. I'd also go separate router and wireless... but then I also have cat5 in my walls

[pen15]

I had a Motorola surfboard with built in wifi router. Modem part died so whole thing was junk. Replaced it with two separate units modem/wireless router. Now if one takes a poo half the cost to replace and easier to upgrade router if needed in future.

[Gogar]

thanks,

I ordered an ASUS wireless router with ac and a Netgear to fit the current speeds I signed up for.

If I ever upgrade maybe I'll replace the modem, but seems like this router will be relevant for a while.

Thanks, SM and others.

[rattlsnak]

Linksys are by far the best and netgear not so good..

[stevej37]

I upgraded my Comcast service this past spring to the Xfinity modem...which the tech said is the best available. I then plugged in my Linksys Router so that I could use my Dropcams in an area that the Comcast box wouldn't supply. Basically, now I have two wireless networks to choose from. When using speedtest, the Linksys is always at least 20Mbps faster than the Comcast modem..even though it's a year older.
I think he meant it is the best available from what they have in stock.

[Gogar]

You boyz aint so bad! Thanks for the help.

FYI Comcast charges you $15 for a "internet self-install kit." I have not received it yet and as such it's obvious that it is bull$ht. Imma try and get the money back.

[Gogar]

Here's with the 5g instead of 2.4g

[rturbo 930]

What modem did you get? I need a new one as well, so I'm curious.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Gogar

Here's with the 5g instead of 2.4g

5ghz, currently, is less saturated than 2.4 and the spread between channels is greater.

You are far more likely to have channel overlap and noise on 2.4 from your neighbors leaking into your coverage area and vice versa which affects performance.

Now what you want to do is restrict all b and g devices that you may have to 2.4 and reserve 5 solely for your N devices.

Remember, WIFI networks run at the speed of the slowest device so if you have older legacy stuff separate it out.

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by stomachmonkey

5ghz, currently, is less saturated than 2.4.

You are far more likely to have channel overlap and noise from your neighbors leaking into your coverage area and vice versa which affects performance.

Now what you want to do is restrict all b and g devices that you may have to 2.4 and reserve 5 solely for your N devices.

Remember, WIFI networks run at the speed of the slowest device so if you have older legacy stuff separate it out.

This is what I do as well. The 2.4 seems to penetrate wall better, so sometimes I have to switch to 2.4. Networks are named Whatever and Whatever 5G.

Side note on network names. I ran across a WiFi network in the neighborhood named "Virus Downloading"

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by rturbo 930

What modem did you get? I need a new one as well, so I'm curious.

I just got a crap Netgear CM500 for $99 from BigBox,

It 'says' 680Mbps capable or something, and has 12 down channels and 4 up.

Now that I'm actually getting interested in it, I think I might just throw down another $50 and get stomachmonkey's recommendation, with 32 down and 8 up channels.

If someone chimes in and tells me that it will help my result $50 worth.

Cheers

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by Gogar

I just got a crap Netgear CM500 for $99 from BigBox,

It 'says' 680Mbps capable or something, and has 12 down channels and 4 up.

Now that I'm actually getting interested in it, I think I might just throw down another $50 and get stomachmonkey's recommendation, with 32 down and 8 up channels.

If someone chimes in and tells me that it will help my result $50 worth.

Cheers

It won't make much difference. Comcast here only allows one "up" channel.

[Gogar]

I read a thread somewhere that says Denver has 24 downstream channels and, as before, I know what that means from 10 minutes of intense googling.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by red-beard

This is what I do as well. The 2.4 seems to penetrate wall better, so sometimes I have to switch to 2.4. Networks are named Whatever and Whatever 5G.

Side note on network names. I ran across a WiFi network in the neighborhood named "Virus Downloading"

2.4 is better at penetrating walls and does broadcast farther however it's noisy. The more densely populated your area the bigger an issue. If you can't see neighbors networks in your available list then that's less of an issue but, there is always a but, cordless phones, security cams, smaller wifi enabled devices tend to be 2.4 so....

5 handles larger data better.

Some people say running your cell phone on 5 will actually improve battery life which makes sense since signal strength, or lack thereof, does chew batteries.

[stomachmonkey]

Originally Posted by Gogar

I just got a crap Netgear CM500 for $99 from BigBox,

It 'says' 680Mbps capable or something, and has 12 down channels and 4 up.

Now that I'm actually getting interested in it, I think I might just throw down another $50 and get stomachmonkey's recommendation, with 32 down and 8 up channels.

If someone chimes in and tells me that it will help my result $50 worth.

Cheers

The number of DOCSIS channels tells you the theoretical potential speed of the device.

A channel is worth 43 mbps.

That bigbox modem is using a bit of deceptive marketing.

12 x 43 = 516

16 x 43 = 688

So they are claiming a total speed of 688 which is not factually correct. You'd need 16 channels down plus x channels up for that claim to be accurate.

Put another way, you should not combine the down / up speed to come to total speed. It's misleading.

BTW, if T-Mobile is your cell provider you can get an ASUS from them for free. Worst case a $25 refundable deposit.

The one they "lend" you retails around $250-300.