Best Cable Modem?

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PoTTeR83

Limp Gawd
Joined
Oct 8, 2005
Messages
366
My modem recently crapped out on me, it was a motorola SB5120. For a quick fix I borrowed my buddy's unused SB5100. I would just keep this thing, but everytime I leave stuff downloading from bittorent the modem poops out and I have to reset it, of course not any one download gets done. I'm gonna try to flash the bios on it right now and see if it helps, but I'm probably gonna end up buying another modem. I just assume get the SB5120 again unless someone can convince me otherwise. BTW the ISP is comcast. Thanks in advance for your advice\opinions.
 
I've been using my Motorola SB5100 for about 4 years across 2 ISP's (Cox and Comcast), and I love it. I've never experienced the bittorrent issues you are discussing, are you sure that it is the modem and not another component of the network, possibly even something on their side? I've also heard rumor of Comcast playing network havoc/packetshaping heavy bittorrent users.

In fact, the cable modem that Comcast gave us was so bad that I hooked up my SB5100 and all of the problems went away. I reside in the Seattle area for reference.
 
I'd stick with the Motorola's, I've used them exclusively for the last 8 years and have never had a problem with them. Currently using a SB5120 that's been doing great for 2 years now.

You may see if you can get a tech out to check your line for excessive noise, every time I've had a connection crap out it was because of that.
 
Will they come out for free to check for noise? I don't think it is that though because I never had the issue with the other modem. I still haven't tried updating the bios, so I will do that and let you know how it goes.
 
Comcast updates the firmware huh. Well maybe that is what has been causing the drops, just got it goin last night.
 
My 5100 has been woking like a champ for around 3-4 years, since my 3Com shit the bed.

Is your TV on the same cable? If so, and your picture looks fine, it's probably not noise, but they shouldn't charge you to check it.
 
I had a 5100 for about 3 years, no problems, switched services and then back and got stuck with a Scientific Atlanta thing with tons of resets, recently had comcast replace it with a motorola 5120, hopefully this one fullfills it's predecessor's footsteps.

Also, I might recommend the Cisco UBR900, I know it sounds like overkill, but I have a client (a middle school) who runs one, and it's been rock solid for ~3 months now without a reset, and there's a lot of little traffic, about 50 computers. Also, I just looked on ebay, and there are a few for around 20 bucks. Could also be a good learning experience if you're into cisco or networking. I may pick one up myself.
 
smizack said:
Is your TV on the same cable? If so, and your picture looks fine, it's probably not noise, but they shouldn't charge you to check it.
Click to expand...

Yeah tv is fine, I've had it goin for about 5 hours now without a reset, we'll see what it does. And yeah I think that other modem is a bit of overkill, probably would be fun to tinker with cisco and stuff, but my girlfriend would probably kill me.
 
The 5120 is pretty much the most preferred modem for cable..especially Comcast. Search various tech forums that have knowledgeable people answering questions about cable modems...and you'll find the 5120 at the top of the recommendation list.
 
I am another very satisfied SB51xx user. If you want to check on the signal level, try putting the following URL into your browser.

http://192.168.100.1

If it comes up, click on the signal tab. The power level entry is the most important. In general, the specs say the level should be anywhere from +5 db down to -15 db. However, in my experience, anything under -10 and you start having problems. If you see wide swings (more than a +/- 1 db shift) then you might consider calling the company.
 
Well I've got 36 hours now of continuous downloading and no resets, so I think comcast was just updating the firmware or something when it reset before. Thanks for that signal info, thats good to know. mine is at -4. Thanks for all your input guys, I think I was just jumping the gun to blame the modem.
 
sorry for resurrecting the (nearly) dead, but...

I have had the same problems consistenty over the past year and a half on my comcast, so i just sorta stopped downloading (a little here and there, that's it) because my roommate needs internet going consistently for work so i try not to mess with his thing.

We basically have the same setup as described - whatever comcast modem > vonage > linksys wireless router > everyone connected wirelessly (including ps3s). Now, we haven't had too many problems over the past few months (because nobody has been bittorrenting), but now and then we'll get resets, etc. at (seemingly) random.

(Finishing up my over explaination) my list of torrents to download have been piling up and a few need to get done and was wondering if i'm a candidate for getting one of said motorala modems?

Our analysis concludes that our network problems (when downloading) are always on the vonage/comcast modem side btw.
 
coolguy2k said:
We basically have the same setup as described - whatever comcast modem > vonage > linksys wireless router > everyone connected wirelessly (including ps3s). Now, we haven't had too many problems over the past few months (because nobody has been bittorrenting), but now and then we'll get resets, etc. at (seemingly) random.

Our analysis concludes that our network problems (when downloading) are always on the vonage/comcast modem side btw.
Click to expand...

I didn't want all my traffic going through that wimpy Vonage box first...I have it behind my primary router, not in front of it.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
I didn't want all my traffic going through that wimpy Vonage box first...I have it behind my primary router, not in front of it.
Click to expand...

yeah i was wondering about that too - it seems like the least efficient way to do things, totally counterintuitive. --- So you're saying you take a primary router (such as???) behind the modem then go into the wireless router? Why? Doesn't the wireless router do the same thing (except in this case with the vonage, of course - that makes total sense?) And should I go out and grab one of those modems (and do i grab it from Comcast - have them swap it out w/ the current one?)

Sorry for the noobness here, just like knowing what i'm doing and how to get 'er all working right.

Thanks for the help.
 
coolguy2k said:
yeah i was wondering about that too - it seems like the least efficient way to do things, totally counterintuitive. --- So you're saying you take a primary router (such as???) behind the modem then go into the wireless router? Why? Doesn't the wireless router do the same thing (except in this case with the vonage, of course - that makes total sense?) And should I go out and grab one of those modems (and do i grab it from Comcast - have them swap it out w/ the current one?)

Sorry for the noobness here, just like knowing what i'm doing and how to get 'er all working right.

Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...

I don't run wireless routers behind a main router..that would be double NAT'ing. Either just use a wireless router....or, if you have another router that you want to use..and you want to run wireless but you only have another wireless router...flip the wireless router to run only as an access point.

Cable modem ==> Primary router. Behind the primary router...access point, all my computers, and my Vonage box.

What model cable modem do you have?
 
I'd stick with the later Moto's. They simply work, and support most if not all features a cable company uses.

It may just be the power supply. When you get the new one, if it's the exact same model, try the power supply on the old one first. If it works, cool as this will save you from having to re-configure with your cable company.

Then you can just order a replacement a/c adapter and you'll have a spare modem :)

I work from home, so I always have a spare on hand.
 
YeOldeStonecat said:
Cable modem ==> Primary router. Behind the primary router...access point, all my computers, and my Vonage box.

What model cable modem do you have?
Click to expand...

So in the past i've tried to put the vonage coming out of the router and no worky, but i'm not real concerned at this point about that...

Toshiba PCX2600 is the modem they gave us.
 
The Toshiba modems I have dealt with in the past have all been garbage while the Motorola models have been generally rock solid.
 
You can actually check your own noise and signal levels.

You can enter the firmware for most Moto cable modems by entering:

192.168.100.1

into your browser.

You can't really change anything, but there's quite a bit of info there.


PoTTeR83 said:
Will they come out for free to check for noise? I don't think it is that though because I never had the issue with the other modem. I still haven't tried updating the bios, so I will do that and let you know how it goes.
Click to expand...
 
PoTTeR83 said:
Well I've got 36 hours now of continuous downloading and no resets, so I think comcast was just updating the firmware or something when it reset before. Thanks for that signal info, thats good to know. mine is at -4. Thanks for all your input guys, I think I was just jumping the gun to blame the modem.
Click to expand...

mines at -4 too. :)
 
motorola sb4100

been running for about 6 - 7 years now

never dropped a connection
 
aaronearles said:
I had a 5100 for about 3 years, no problems, switched services and then back and got stuck with a Scientific Atlanta thing with tons of resets, recently had comcast replace it with a motorola 5120, hopefully this one fullfills it's predecessor's footsteps.

Also, I might recommend the Cisco UBR900, I know it sounds like overkill, but I have a client (a middle school) who runs one, and it's been rock solid for ~3 months now without a reset, and there's a lot of little traffic, about 50 computers. Also, I just looked on ebay, and there are a few for around 20 bucks. Could also be a good learning experience if you're into cisco or networking. I may pick one up myself.
Click to expand...

Are the UBR series Docsis 2.0?
 
In the spirit of the title: "Best" cable modem ....

Cisco 1841 with a Cable Modem HWIC.

... if you don't mind paying the price to have the best =)
 
One thing to be aware of...

The 41xx series modems can't pass more than about 5Mbit/sec wan-to-lan, so if you upgrade to an internet connection faster than 5Mbit, you'll need to change it out.

Been there, done that :)

If your cable company provides SpeedBoost, you may already be losing performance.



ring.of.steel said:
motorola sb4100

been running for about 6 - 7 years now

never dropped a connection
Click to expand...
 
I've used the Toshiba PCX2600 for three years now and so far I don't have any complaints.
 
I've been rock solid with a sb5100 (after getting some stuff straightened out at the pole). Much better, and faster, than my old RCA from charter, whose notable feature was the power connector that would come loose if you looked (nay glanced) at it.
 
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