Can someone recommend a modem/router for Comcast/Xfinity?

U

UMASS

Gawd
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Jan 17, 2008
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Hi All. I moving & I can't use DirecTV anymore. I'm stuck with Comcast. I called them the other day & they now charge $14.00 a month for their modem/router! That's insane. Any insight would be great appreciated. Thanks All!
 
Fuck comcast. That is what I mainly came to say.

But if you have a modem then connect it and sign up through it. Then call customer service and bitch about the charges every month until they remove them. They are not doing anything special with the signal, any docsis 2.0 or 3.0 should work.
 
I really was looking for a manufacturer & model # I have no clue. Yes...Comcast does suck ass no question.
 
Comcast has a compatibility list you will need to check against too. They will not activate anything not on it.
 
Ask on the DSLReports comcast hsi forum. I havent been keeping up on what's recommended these days. What is the highest speed you can get / want and do you need an emta for voip service?
 
ARRIS SURFboard SB6183
http://www.mbreviews.com/arris-sb8200-review/
SB8200 looks good if you want Gigabit in the future

I've read the sb6190 has some glitchy stuff in it that really ruins the experience and this was overall much more reliable.

Router? Tons to choose from.

Good job on not renting a modem. Don't ever do it. $10/month for life for a $70 modem. Maybe $120 for the modem-router combos, if you even want that. Just ISPs fleecing customers
 
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Which service are you going to be using?
Standard cable or Gig Internet?

Currently, in my area, for GigSpeed, they're using the Technicolor TC4400 which isn't available for purchase anywhere.
 
I have a netgear CM1000 which is DOCSIS 3.1 compatible - it's future-proof for at least a few years and has been problem free. CM500 is only DOCSIS 3.0 compatible- that's what's in use now, but you might miss out on gigabit cable speeds when (if) they ever come out. I would avoid anything with the Intel Puma 6 chipset.
 
Don't get the netgear combo items. Wi-Fi is weak. Just get a surfboard 16x4 modem and your favorite router and wifi combo. Or go for broke and get unifi AP, separate router and 3.0 16x4 modem.
 
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I chose to seperate my equipment as much as possible. Seperate modem, firewall, switch, access point.

For a modem, I've had really good luck with my Arris SB6183. Hasn't given me any problems, and setting it up with Comcast was very easy.

My Firewall/Gateway is a PCEngines APU2 running pfSense. I have a DLink DGS-1100-16 behind that for a switch, and a couple of Ubiquiti UAP-LR's for access points.
 
Comcast's supported modem list isn't what I'd call comprehensive. There are modems (even bleeding edge ones) not on the list that still work, so ymmv.

The lowly SB6121 still works even if it's no longer on Comcast's supported list. Despite its peasant 4x4, I'm getting reliable 100mbps speeds.

Might be a worthy investment for OP to jump in on the DOCSIS 3.1 bandwagon. If anything, to future proof yourself.
 
Just a reference point. I am currently using Arris SURFBoard SBG6700-AC for my Comcast Broadband Internet. It is a modem/router combo.

The router function is disabled because I am using EdgeRouter X as my router.
 
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Looks nice but I never liked the all in one gateways with wifi. Dedicated APs are the way to go. Should pay for its self in 16 to 18 months
 
ZeqOBpf6 said:
I've read the sb6190 has some glitchy stuff in it that really ruins the experience and this was overall much more reliable.
Click to expand...
marshac said:
I would avoid anything with the Intel Puma 6 chipset.
Click to expand...
I have two sb6190s and have been running them for over a year with comcast's service. Both pass the dslreports puma 6 test with flying colors. The whole puma thing is completely blown out of proportion. And I'm using rdp 100% of time through these so any latency issues are something I would instantly see, but they're solid and stable.

As far as if you did good with the one you bought--it's basically the exact same thing comcast gave us initially and works well even though it's a router/modem combo, but we have a small apartment so the wifi may not work so well in a house. But since it was cheaper than a standalone sb8200, I say you did pretty well.
 
UMASS said:
Thanks everyone. I really appreciate all of your insight. I decided on this Arris modem/router here:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XDGWKSB/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1

Paid a little under $200.00 with a Amazon coupon. I refuse to pay Comcast @14.00 a month for their hardware. So it will be paid for within 1+ years. Did I do a good job?
Click to expand...

If it was me, I would return it and get a modem and a router that is separate. You will have better performance and less likely to have some security issues with it. If ARRIS decides to not patch a vulnerability with the hardware you bought, you are stuck with it and have to buy a new modem and router because of it. It is not uncommon to have a manufacture not provide security updates especially for consumer devices. If you bought 2 separate devices and later you find out the router you bought is vulnerable, you only have to patch/replace your router, not an all in one router/modem. On top of that you don't have as much of control on opening ports or disabling UPnP as you would on a separate router setup.

It also looks like it has VoIP hardware in the unit too... Are you getting phone service through Comcast? Just seems like you are paying for stuff you aren't using and there is just more hardware to break or something to go wrong.
 
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