The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Best COMCAST cable modem?

    Discussion in 'Networking and Wireless' started by HTWingNut, Sep 10, 2012.

  1. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    I have been "renting" my Comcrap cable modem for a while. Before these modems were several hundred dollars and it made sense to rent. But now I realized most are under $100 and I'm considering buying one. Anyone have recommendations for best Comcast modem?
     
    HTWingNut, Sep 10, 2012
    #1
  2. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,879
    Messages:
    8,926
    Likes Received:
    4,705
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Zoom 5341J - the J is important, do not get the standard 5341 or the Motorola Surfboard SB6121.
     
    saturnotaku, Sep 10, 2012
    #2
  3. HTWingNut

    HTWingNut Potato

    Reputations:
    21,580
    Messages:
    35,370
    Likes Received:
    9,877
    Trophy Points:
    931
    Thanks for the suggestion!

    But shoot, I forgot I have phone service through them which would require phone jacks too. Does this mean I'm stuck with Comcast's modem?
     
    HTWingNut, Sep 10, 2012
    #3
  4. mattcheau

    mattcheau Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    1,041
    Messages:
    1,246
    Likes Received:
    74
    Trophy Points:
    66
    i assume for these reasons? anything not mentioned there? just curious...

    then you're really looking for a docsis eMTA modem/router, if comcast is VoIP in your area already. unfortunately these cost and are about as easy to find as cable modems from years past. not sure if modem/router units even exist yet.


    _____
    EDIT:
    i was looking into this a little more and it turns out that an eMTA modem is required if you're subscribed to comcast digital voice, which is similar in concept to VoIP but uses a dedicated comcast server. extide is correct to point out that you're looking for telephony units from the list he provides, and you'd also want to make sure the unit is docsis 3.0 compliant. (his list also proves that modem/router units do in fact exist.) i found a couple of these units on amazon and ebay for $100-200 bucks. here's a list of best buys that are supposed to sell them at so-called comcast connection centers in-store for $150. the comcast forums are pretty helpful on this too.
     
    mattcheau, Sep 10, 2012
    #4
  5. saturnotaku

    saturnotaku Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    4,879
    Messages:
    8,926
    Likes Received:
    4,705
    Trophy Points:
    431
    Not so much that, but more its better reliability. The suggestion to stay away from the SB6121 is the result of this. Not saying HT won't have problems, but when there seemingly exists a better alternative, why not save the trouble.
     
    saturnotaku, Sep 11, 2012
    #5
  6. Simon

    Simon Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    479
    Messages:
    410
    Likes Received:
    9
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Explains why my SB6121 has been screwing up in the evening for a few minutes. >_<
     
    Simon, Sep 11, 2012
    #6
  7. extide

    extide Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    296
    Messages:
    701
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Check out this site: DOCSIS Devices it allows you to select your service and will list all the modems compatible. Make SURE you get one that is on the list. Even if you get one that is technically compatible, they wont have the configuration files (that it gets via TFTP on boot) for any modems NOT on the list.


    Look for the ones that say 'Telephony Modem'.
     
    extide, Sep 11, 2012
    #7