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Modem recommendation (2026)

El_Capitan

El_Capitan

[H]ard|Gawd
2FA
Joined
Nov 11, 2012
Messages
1,757
Anyone have a modem recommendation? I'm getting frequent internet disconnects. I'm thinking it's my cable modem, and not my new routers and switches. Or, it could just be my crappy ISP. I'm using a Netgear CM1000. I've been thinking of sidegrading to an Arris Surfboard SB8200.

I could use some recommendations.
 
Access the modem’s diagnostic webpage (often at 192.168.100.1 or 192.168.0.1) to review the event log and RF parameters. Look for critical errors such as:
  • T3/T4 time-outs: Indicates no ranging response from the ISP.
  • High upstream power levels: Values above 58 dBmV suggest signal loss in the line.
  • Channel suckouts: Significant dips in downstream power levels indicate frequency-specific interference.
If the signal levels are normal, ping your gateway (ping -t 192.168.1.1) and an external IP (like 8.8.8.8) simultaneously to isolate whether the drop occurs within your local network or at the ISP level. Finally, check for firmware updates and ensure your modem is not overheating or experiencing power supply issues.
 
when i had cable I literally just bought whatever the cheapest Moto modem was that would fit my specs/needs/inline plan - Arris are the ones who used to make the older Moto modems so that brand is OK too IMO (newer Moto ones still OK too IMO)

just get whatever cheapest DOCIS 3.1 version of those that supports your speeds and any you might purchase/upgrade to
 
Mega6 said:
Access the modem’s diagnostic webpage (often at 192.168.100.1 or 192.168.0.1) to review the event log and RF parameters. Look for critical errors such as:
  • T3/T4 time-outs: Indicates no ranging response from the ISP.
  • High upstream power levels: Values above 58 dBmV suggest signal loss in the line.
  • Channel suckouts: Significant dips in downstream power levels indicate frequency-specific interference.
If the signal levels are normal, ping your gateway (ping -t 192.168.1.1) and an external IP (like 8.8.8.8) simultaneously to isolate whether the drop occurs within your local network or at the ISP level. Finally, check for firmware updates and ensure your modem is not overheating or experiencing power supply issues.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I never saw any errors or anything in my logs. My local network is fine when the internet drops. I can get hours or days without droppage, so that's why I'm thinking it's just my ISP or cable modem. We had ALLO fiber once, and never had a single drop. It's just cheaper with Spectrum, and we have a locked in deal with Spectrum Mobile. $40/month for 600MBps Internet, and $40/month for 2 phones unlimited.

kram182 said:
when i had cable I literally just bought whatever the cheapest Moto modem was that would fit my specs/needs/inline plan - Arris are the ones who used to make the older Moto modems so that brand is OK too IMO (newer Moto ones still OK too IMO)

just get whatever cheapest DOCIS 3.1 version of those that supports your speeds and any you might purchase/upgrade to
Click to expand...
I just ordered a used Arris Surfboard SB8200 on eBay for like $24. I could always use another cable modem, or as a backup.
 
Not sure what ISP you have, but you might check to see what they are doing as far as speed tiers and upgrades go. Many cable ISPs are in the process of implementing what is known as Mid-Split and High-Split upgrades. This basically takes some of the frequencies that were previously allocated to the downstream channels and re-allocates them for upstream usage. Mid-Split is something of an intermediary step, with High-Split being the eventual goal to enable upload speeds up to 1Gbps to better compete with symmetrical fiber connections which are becoming more common. This tech will become part of the DOCSIS 4.0 standard, but it's already being implemented in newer DOCSIS 3.1 modems that are specifically branded as Mid-Split/High-Split compatible.

I ran an Arris SB8200 for years and the thing is a brick. Nothing bad to say about it at all. But it is a classic DOCSIS 3.1 modem with no Mid-Split/High-Split capability whatsoever. Soon after my ISP did some recent upgrades, I started getting frequent dropouts despite good signal levels. When the tech came out, he conveniently had his supervisor with him so we had a bit of a chat. Apparently the upgrades were related to Mid-Split/High-Split and were causing issues with many older modems. I upgraded to a Netgear CM3000 which is one of the few Mid-Split/High-Split consumer modems on the market at the moment and everything has been perfect ever since, and now I'm primed for new speed tiers which will be rolling out soon.

If something similar is playing out with your ISP, it might be worth investigating.
 
GotNoRice said:
Not sure what ISP you have, but you might check to see what they are doing as far as speed tiers and upgrades go. Many cable ISPs are in the process of implementing what is known as Mid-Split and High-Split upgrades. This basically takes some of the frequencies that were previously allocated to the downstream channels and re-allocates them for upstream usage. Mid-Split is something of an intermediary step, with High-Split being the eventual goal to enable upload speeds up to 1Gbps to better compete with symmetrical fiber connections which are becoming more common. This tech will become part of the DOCSIS 4.0 standard, but it's already being implemented in newer DOCSIS 3.1 modems that are specifically branded as Mid-Split/High-Split compatible.

I ran an Arris SB8200 for years and the thing is a brick. Nothing bad to say about it at all. But it is a classic DOCSIS 3.1 modem with no Mid-Split/High-Split capability whatsoever. Soon after my ISP did some recent upgrades, I started getting frequent dropouts despite good signal levels. When the tech came out, he conveniently had his supervisor with him so we had a bit of a chat. Apparently the upgrades were related to Mid-Split/High-Split and were causing issues with many older modems. I upgraded to a Netgear CM3000 which is one of the few Mid-Split/High-Split consumer modems on the market at the moment and everything has been perfect ever since, and now I'm primed for new speed tiers which will be rolling out soon.

If something similar is playing out with your ISP, it might be worth investigating.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that might be it. It makes the most sense. I looked it up, and it's something that seems to be happening in my area with my ISP (answer is from an AI summary, I can't find relevant news articles).

Nobu said:
I have a TP-link 7610. Aside from being old and TP-link, it works alright.
Click to expand...
Lol
 
post your modem signal page, I want to see your SNR, downstream power level and upstream power levels. I hope you don't have an additional splitter inline with your modem. I use to work for a ISP when I was younger.
 
mullet said:
post your modem signal page, I want to see your SNR, downstream power level and upstream power levels. I hope you don't have an additional splitter inline with your modem. I use to work for a ISP when I was younger.
Click to expand...
I was just going to say that. Show me your signal stats. Well not you, the OP.

Netgear CM1000 is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, so I wouldn't expect it to be negatively affected by ISPs moving frequency bands from 3.0 to 3.1. I have Comcast and they've been doing this. They're slowly phasing out DOCSIS 3.0 support and reducing the # of channels while adding to 3.1. Works well for me since I have a 3.1 modem. Not so well for people who own 10yo 3.0 modems and don't want to buy an upgrade. Eventually they'll be forced to. But you're not in that crowd since the CM1000 is a 3.1 modem.

And yeah removing splitters can help. If you don't have cable TV you should have no splitters in the path to your modem. If you do maybe 1. My Comcast signal is excellent. Also comes off the pole, I've got one splice in the box on the side of the house, and no splitters. Just goes right into my modem.
 
zandor said:
Netgear CM1000 is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, so I wouldn't expect it to be negatively affected by ISPs moving frequency bands from 3.0 to 3.1. I have Comcast and they've been doing this. They're slowly phasing out DOCSIS 3.0 support and reducing the # of channels while adding to 3.1. Works well for me since I have a 3.1 modem. Not so well for people who own 10yo 3.0 modems and don't want to buy an upgrade. Eventually they'll be forced to. But you're not in that crowd since the CM1000 is a 3.1 modem.
Click to expand...

The upgrades to Mid-Split/High-Split are not simply the result of phasing-out DOCSIS 3.0. Those two things might be occurring at the same time with some ISPs but they are not directly related. Keep in mind that DOCSIS 3.1 is a standard that is over a decade old now. The CM1000 was released in January 2017. My Arris SB8200 was negatively impacted by the Mid-Split/High-Split upgrades despite being fully DOCSIS 3.1 compliant.
 
SamirD said:
And this is why when ISPs give you a modem for free, you just take it. And let them deal with upgrades, etc.
Click to expand...
exactly...

1788202125525.png
 
SamirD said:
Yep, put that mf in bridge mode and it's like anything you would buy, but it's free.
Click to expand...
Cox charges $5/mo for theirs, at least in this area. Every time I change plan (not often) they send another, because there's no way to opt out, so I have to lug it back over to them and get a receipt in case they lose it or something.
 
SamirD said:
And this is why when ISPs give you a modem for free, you just take it. And let them deal with upgrades, etc.
Click to expand...

If an ISP is giving you a modem for free, that is a pretty good deal.

But every ISP that I've had in the last 20 years has charged a rental fee for using their modem, typically $15/month.

I bought my SB8200 in 2019, used it for 7 years. It cost me $200, but I saved over $1200 in rental fees. With the Netgear CM3000 that I have now, even having paid close to full price, it will still only take me about 18 months to break even. Unless it dies an early death I fully expect to be using it much longer than that.

Also, many ISPs have shown willingness to use customer's rented modems for their own purposes. With Comcast/Xfinity for example, your rented modem will be used to broadcast a separate WiFi network that anyone with an Xfinity account can connect to. Whether that is actually disabled or not by switching to bridged mode, I'm not totally sure, but the fact that they have no issues doing shady stuff like that when they can, is enough reason for me to make 100% sure that they can't, by using my own equipment.
 
I used to buy my own modem back when they were doing the rental fee because it was cheaper, after they (spectrum) got rid of it, then i just took their free one.
 
GotNoRice said:
If an ISP is giving you a modem for free, that is a pretty good deal.

But every ISP that I've had in the last 20 years has charged a rental fee for using their modem, typically $15.

I bought my SB8200 in 2019, used it for 7 years. It cost me $200, but I saved over $1200 in rental fees. With the Netgear CM3000 that I have now, even having paid close to full price, it will still only take me about 18 months to break even. Unless it dies an early death I fully expect to be using it much longer than that.

Also, many ISPs have shown willingness to use customer's rented modems for their own purposes. With Comcast/Xfinity for example, your rented modem will be used to broadcast a separate WiFi network that anyone with an Xfinity account can connect to. Whether that is actually disabled or not by switching to bridged mode, I'm not totally sure, but the fact that they have no issues doing shady stuff like that when they can, is enough reason for me to make 100% sure that they can't, by using my own equipment.
Click to expand...

Plus I do a lot of sailing the high seas, sure they can see see the signals/traffic still, but the less access they have to equipment to monitor IMO the better

For a brief period of time back in the early-late aughts I stole internet by using a modified modem my friend hooked me up with lol - had to constantly scan+add new IPs or MACs or something as it was a game of cat+mouse with them 'seeing your modem + kicking you off' then having to do the rescan+add again etc - got tired of it so I only stuck with it for like a year or two
 
I just had the service tech over this morning. Internet has been out since Friday. Put in the new CM3000, and they couldn't activate it. I put the old CM1000 back in, and nothing worked. Head scratcher. Service tech fixed a few connection issues on the outside, and installed a new modem for free. Connections on his side were fixed, but I had to factory reset my routers, for it to connect properly. Everything is working great so far. I use Spectrum, and the tech said they just bought Cox.
 
GotNoRice said:
If an ISP is giving you a modem for free, that is a pretty good deal.

But every ISP that I've had in the last 20 years has charged a rental fee for using their modem, typically $15/month.

I bought my SB8200 in 2019, used it for 7 years. It cost me $200, but I saved over $1200 in rental fees. With the Netgear CM3000 that I have now, even having paid close to full price, it will still only take me about 18 months to break even. Unless it dies an early death I fully expect to be using it much longer than that.

Also, many ISPs have shown willingness to use customer's rented modems for their own purposes. With Comcast/Xfinity for example, your rented modem will be used to broadcast a separate WiFi network that anyone with an Xfinity account can connect to. Whether that is actually disabled or not by switching to bridged mode, I'm not totally sure, but the fact that they have no issues doing shady stuff like that when they can, is enough reason for me to make 100% sure that they can't, by using my own equipment.
Click to expand...
Spectrum is one of the isps I deal with that just provides the modem. But I know this also varies by region.

Yep, Comcast is really bad about that. But the bridge mode kills it.
 
kram182 said:
Plus I do a lot of sailing the high seas, sure they can see see the signals/traffic still, but the less access they have to equipment to monitor IMO the better

For a brief period of time back in the early-late aughts I stole internet by using a modified modem my friend hooked me up with lol - had to constantly scan+add new IPs or MACs or something as it was a game of cat+mouse with them 'seeing your modem + kicking you off' then having to do the rescan+add again etc - got tired of it so I only stuck with it for like a year or two
Click to expand...
LOL!! That had to be when they would allow you to pull as many public IPs as you wanted too, haha. I miss those days.
 
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