Which Cable Modem Do You Recommend?

**Pinnacle** · June 7th, 2002, 02:14 PM

I plan on getting broadband service soon and plan on buying the modem instead of leasing it from ATT. What brand/model do you suggest? I'm partial to 3Com products, but I would consider something else if it had a good reputation. On <a href="http://www.techbargains.com" target="_blank">www.techbargains.com</a> they have a Motorola SB4200 for $59 after $30 rebate (plus shipping). That sounds reasonable. Also, do you have any preferance between a cable modem that connects via a NIC versus a USB port? Thanks in advance for your help.

**Stanley_Kubrick** · June 7th, 2002, 02:41 PM

Pinnacle, DON'T DO IT!!!!

At&t will begin anal intrusion of its' customers trust, possibly as soon as July, by giving modem owners a piddly 2 dollar discount on their monthly bill.

So a $150 modem at $2 a month credit would take you like six years to break even on...

(edit)oh, heheh i didn't fully process how much you were getting that modem for; i guess for 60 bucks it could be worth it....

**Matridom** · June 7th, 2002, 02:56 PM

I would recommend renting the modem, you save yoruself a LOT of hassel.

If you buy a modem, then if the modem breaks down, YOU are responsible. If yo urent, you pay a premium, but then the ISP is responsible.

Also, you can only buy the modem if the network is DOCSIS compliant. If it's not, don't even bother looking.

Also, your commiting to using the Cable ISP where ever you go. If cable get's bad in yor uarea, and you want to change to DSL, you don't have that option unless you spend loads of dollars.

Now for personal experience. I've worked with the RCA Thonmson and the Ericsson Piperider... both seem to be OK modems.

**Pinnacle** · June 7th, 2002, 03:02 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Matridom:
... Also, you can only buy the modem if the network is DOCSIS compliant. If it's not, don't even bother looking...<hr /></blockquote>If it's what? I'm not familiar with DOCSIS. ATT lists compatible modems on their website for people who decide to buy, so I assume there is not a technical problem with this.

**Matridom** · June 7th, 2002, 03:20 PM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Pinnacle:
 <blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Matridom:
... Also, you can only buy the modem if the network is DOCSIS compliant. If it's not, don't even bother looking...<hr /></blockquote>If it's what? I'm not familiar with DOCSIS. ATT lists compatible modems on their website for people who decide to buy, so I assume there is not a technical problem with this.<hr /></blockquote>Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification.

look here <a href="http://www.cablemodem.com/downloads/sp-cmci-i05-001215.pdf" target="_blank">DOCSIS</a>

Basicly it's an emerging standard for cable modems. If your website is listing some, then stay among those, but i'm willing to bet that if you look throught the documention i'm sure you see that they are all DOCSIS certified.

**KCarter335** · June 9th, 2002, 10:35 AM

I bought a SB4100 when I first signed up for AT&T service in my new house. I got the modem for $75 a few months ago and it saves me $10 per month on the bill for owning it. I would suggest buying it. In a little over half a year, you'll be ,making a decent savings. I haven't heard anything about AT&T reducing their discount to people who own their modems to only $2 a month (which means they'd be jacking up the service charge for modem owners around 17%). I believe it's worth it. Motorola is what brand I use.

**drslot** · June 10th, 2002, 03:51 AM

Cable One supplies all customers with a free modem. They supply the Motorola sb4100. It accepts USB or ethernet. The USB connection requires drivers to be installed, therefore is less reliable. Use an ethernet card. <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank">[email protected]</a>

**Fubar** · June 10th, 2002, 07:03 AM

I have had at least 3 cable modems so far. I haven't had to shell out for any of them as I rent. So usless you are rolling in dough, I reccommend you do the same.

**Skywalker93** · June 10th, 2002, 08:40 AM

I've got several friends with Cable Modem access to a local ISP. They all use the RCA cable modem, and haven't had a problem. Very simple to set up, if you want to configure it yourself. There are a few of them who had the ISP techs come install it for them (not all of my friends are techies, just most of them)

**KCarter335** · June 10th, 2002, 09:17 AM

There shouldn't be any reason to be going through multiple modems unless you're prone to power surges or you're buying garbage modems. You should have a surge supressor in-line with all of your expensive electronic equipment as a precaution. I've known people that have blown up cable modems, stereos, garage door openers, etc... because there wasn't a surge supressor implemented. Just a few months ago, my brothers house was struck by lightning and shot his keyboard off of the kitchen table. He's now slowly replacing component by component after that expensive lesson.

Anyway, On a side note....

Fubar: I just realized you're from Smyrna, Georgia. Thats the US home of Glock Firearms! Do you know where the plant is? Is it a big place?

**geoscomp** · June 10th, 2002, 11:09 AM

This community actually now has Cable Modem access after a long battle for the control of the wire access..and as installers of the service under contract with the local cable company, we don't find much difference between any of the compatible modems, but we do find reliability and data transfer problems with USB connections..so, for what it's worth, whichever kind you buy or rent, go with a NIC for reliability.

**SuBz** · June 10th, 2002, 07:07 PM

I used to do tech support for a cable ISP. The modems that gave us the least troubles were Motorola surfboards (DOCSIS ones), and RCA ones. The ones causing the worst problem were the Com21 modems

**mattyx** · June 11th, 2002, 03:09 PM

i bought a linksys and it has already paid for itself, no problems, speedy. i think it is worth it.

i have seen them as low at $79 now. thats only 8 months to break even.

Mustang · June 12th, 2002, 06:06 AM

The linksys, RCA, and Surfboard modems are all very good modems to get.

I work for a cable internet providor and have seen no problems with any of those.

Also if you wait until the next version of the linksys modem comes out it will be in the same case as thier routers which makes them stackable and therefore they take up less space.

**Pinnacle** · June 12th, 2002, 07:41 AM

<blockquote>quote:<hr />Originally posted by Stanley_Kubrick:
...At&t will begin anal intrusion of its' customers trust, possibly as soon as July, by giving modem owners a piddly 2 dollar discount on their monthly bill...<hr /></blockquote>I was in Best Buy yesterday and asked them about this. They said their ATT rep was in on Friday and did not mention anything about this coming up. Of course, this may not mean much. If ATT does plan on doing this, they probably will not tell their re-sellers until right before it goes into effect. The rates they told me were $35/month if I own a cable modem, and $45/month if I rent one.

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