Cable Modems ( & Comcast )

[l008com]

I first got cable internet back in 1999 when Comcast was Media one. I bought my cable modem outright from CompUSA, but it was the same model they rent out, those really crappy ones. {visual aide} So after 2 years of always loosing my connection and having to reset my modem daily, someone told me a need a Docsis compliant modem, and pointed me to a 3Com. {something like this} The 3Com was GREAT. Still works ok. Although my connection does tend to go out for a minute or two often. Comcast looked at it and said that everything looks good, except my modem sync or resyncs or something, a lot. Like a WHOLE lot. Then out of the blue, one comcast modem goes:

WOAH, your modem is a 3Com, theres your problem. 3Com modems aren't compatible with comcast, and come the next speed upgrade, you won't be able to get online at all with a 3Com modem.

Of course I asked why and got no answer. What is the real deal with 3Com and comcast? What is a good modem to get? I don't want a router modem combo or anything like that. I already have a reliable router and just want a reliable modem to replace my 3Com. Thoughts?

 

[deuce868]

I've always gone the rental route. I have a hard enough time getting support because I have to hide that I'm running linux. I don't need to also get the run around on hardware as well.

I don't know why the 3Com would all of a sudden be incompatible, but you might need to fight for help/support with a modem they didn't hand you/tell you was one they support.

 

[Met-AL]

It's more then likely due to the version of DOSIS that the modem is compliant to.

Does Comcast sell the modems as well as rent them out? My ISP gives you the choice of bring your own, rent, or buy. They sell them at very reasonable prices, $50 if I remember correctly.

I've always gone the rental route. I have a hard enough time getting support because I have to hide that I'm running linux. I don't need to also get the run around on hardware as well.

I can relate to that from when I was running a m0n0wall. "A what wall? That isn't supported....."

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I've always gone the rental route. I have a hard enough time getting support because I have to hide that I'm running linux. I don't need to also get the run around on hardware as well.

You don't have to hide that you're running *nix..they don't care what you run. They may not be able to help you if you don't run a common router like a Linksys or Nutgear...but they don't mind what you run at all. I change routers and *nix routers every few months as I try new things. Last week I upgraded my Comcast to their voice/phone/hidef digital setup...the tech was onsite...as he provisioned the new Arris modem he watched as I logged into my linux router and released/renewed and went surfing.

Several days later that Arris modem lost it's provisioning...I called Comcast..in a couple of minutes the tech remoted in and reprovisioned the modem....asked me to reboot my PC or router..I said I had a linux router...I just had to release/renew. She said "fine...I'll hang on til you're up and running".

To the OP....Motorola Surfboard 5120's are excellent units. Or..if you use their IP phone service, they use Arris E-MTA units..which from my experience are quite fast, actually I'm benching a bit faster now with my Arris (33 megs) than I did with my 5120 (26 megs)

 

[deuce868]

Well, your experience is different than mine. When arrived with a windows CD that had to run in order to setup my account and I could not get activated and online until the cd app was run. I had to borrow my gf's laptop at the time to run it at a later date. So the installed basically handed me a modem and a cd and left.

 

[l008com]

So is there a specific version of DOSIS that I need to support? What is the newest version? Any chace I can just flash my modem? That one I doubt.

 

[[Spectre]]

Well, your experience is different than mine. When arrived with a windows CD that had to run in order to setup my account and I could not get activated and online until the cd app was run. I had to borrow my gf's laptop at the time to run it at a later date. So the installed basically handed me a modem and a cd and left.

Did you connect via USB?

My wife set ours up last time, because the tech (who she showed the door to right away) came while I was at work, without installing any software.

 

[warbird]

So is there a specific version of DOSIS that I need to support? What is the newest version? Any chace I can just flash my modem? That one I doubt.

Comcast is now using DOCSIS 1.1.
You could rent a modem from Comcast to be certain you get a compatible model (with the latest DOCSIS) for their systems.

Or like YeOldeStonecat said, you could buy a Motorola 5120. The 5120 is approved by Comcast. Your old 3com, depending on the model, may be out of luck.

If you still want to purchase your own, here’s a website that will show all approved cable modems for Comcast: Comcast approved modems.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

Well, your experience is different than mine. When arrived with a windows CD that had to run in order to setup my account and I could not get activated and online until the cd app was run. I had to borrow my gf's laptop at the time to run it at a later date. So the installed basically handed me a modem and a cd and left.

You don't have to run any software. It's a matter of calling them...you read them the MAC Of your cable modem..they remote in..."provision it"...power cycle it..and you're done. Takes a whole..oh...10-15 minutes.

 

[Orinthical]

You don't have to run any software. It's a matter of calling them...you read them the MAC Of your cable modem..they remote in..."provision it"...power cycle it..and you're done. Takes a whole..oh...10-15 minutes.

While that is the truth of the matter, convincing the tech on the phone that that is all he or she needs to do is sometimes another matter entirely.

But to the OP: Just grab a Motorola Surfboard 5100/5120 cable modem off of ebay just as has been suggested. Call them up and tell them you've replaced your modem, read off the MAC and a few moments later they should have it up and running.