Author Topic: Cable Modems (Read 324 times)

DREDIOCK · « **on:** February 02, 2005, 09:50:48 PM »

Have been having some intermittent connection problems which the Tech from the cable Co claims are due to an outdated Cable modem.

Sooooo Looks like I'll be getting a new modem.

Question is What makes one cable modem better then another?

Here are two for example I am considering

MotorolaSB5100 Surfboard DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem For about $70

and

LYNKSYS EtherFast Cable Modem for about $60

There is also a

Belkin High-Speed Cable Modem for $30

Whats the flipp'n difference?

Is there something that makes one any better then any other?

Im tending to shy away from the Belkin as anything I've ever owned by Belkin from mice to ethernet cards has given me nothing but greif.

Lynksys on the other hand have always been a snap to deal with.

I have no experiance at all with Motorola other then a TV we had when I was a kid and lasted almost 25 years before it finally died for good.

38ruk · « **Reply #1 on:** February 02, 2005, 10:34:57 PM »

hello , i did tech support for a major cable co, and we used sb5100's along with 4 or 5 others , out of them the sb5100's were by way the least problematic. What modem do you have now , and who is your provider ? ... If you own your own modem the cable co's will at time blame your hardware when there is actually a problem on there end . but if i had to make a choice of the modems you listed, id go with a surfboard <~~> 38~~

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #2 on:** February 03, 2005, 12:21:51 AM »

Currently im running an RCA DCM226
Bout 3-5 years old. I forget But its served me well for the time I've had it. Still works well now cept a few times a night, and day for that matter I loose connection for like 4-5 seconds then it cycles itself and comes right back on.
Cable guy claims its the modem they upgraded their systems and dont support this one anymore as they couldnt get a flash update for it.
In any event he reccomended I either Rent from them. or buy a new one. I plan on buying one as opposed to renting as the cable Co already gts too much of my money as it is LOL

Cable Co is Comcast

Why the surfboard?

Or is it just that its been the least problematic?

Is there any real difference performance wise between them?

wombatt · « **Reply #3 on:** February 03, 2005, 02:02:52 AM »

sb5100 is the way to go.

Eagler · « **Reply #4 on:** February 03, 2005, 05:23:40 AM »

motorola - the have been in the cable modem business the longest

why buy though, doesn't your cable co supply you with one included in your $40 a month?

DREDIOCK · « **Reply #5 on:** February 03, 2005, 07:13:05 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Eagler

why buy though, doesn't your cable co supply you with one included in your $40 a month?

I got this one at Radio shack when they were offering one of those sef instalation deals.

No its not included. It would run me an extra $3 and change a month to rent from them.

Yes yes I know its only $3.
But its at the point where its the principle of the thing with the Cable Co already.
Plus I hate oweing.
This way I can say its mine and in less then two years it will have paid for itself

Blade69 · « **Reply #6 on:** February 03, 2005, 09:01:12 AM »

Motorola is a good modem as long as you dont need a flash update or repairs done to them. About two years ago they stoped repairing them here in the states sent it to mexico and laid off the workers that where doing the job. Than about a year later the closed the whole facility sent halve the work that was being done there over seas. out of 500 workers laid off 200 those of us that where left could see the writing on the wall so most bailed out of the sinking ship. I dont care how good anything they make is anymore (have seen how the repairs are done) wont give them any of my money anymore.

Halo · « **Reply #7 on:** February 03, 2005, 09:06:58 AM »

I've always rented my cable modem from Comcast and have had it replaced about once every year or so. Figured the way Comcast keeps growing and changing, better to rent than buy my own.

During replacements, technicians often have commented yeah this modem has been giving us problems, this new one is much better.

Fortunately the modems and the service do keep getting better. Still occasionally have to unplug my Linkysys wireless router (two computers, one upstairs and one downstairs) and give it 90 seconds to restore connections.

I'm guessing that happens during the periodic address resettings which supposedly fix themselves sooner or later. It does seem any online disconnects the past couple years are because of the router, not the modem (e.g., in past, used to have to unplug the Comcast modems so they could reset themselves)

Present Comcast modem is a Terayon TJ715.

maddog · « **Reply #8 on:** February 03, 2005, 10:13:52 AM »

Have been running Linksys cable modem for many years now on comcast..... No problems at all.... Have to reset it about once a year....

38ruk · « **Reply #9 on:** February 03, 2005, 07:27:52 PM »

well 1 of the features i liked about the SB is that it has a standyby button on it that locks the pc from the network while your not using it , and from the tech support side of it , it was the least problematic of the 5 we used ... the tj 715 was probably 2nd , then the scientific atlanta , followed by com21 . rca was last in my opinion. As far as performance , with the cable co's capping the modems anyways , i havent seen much of a performance difference between them , the rca's we used had bad power supply connections that would go off and on from time to time . hope this helps 38