A question for people using Comcast Internet access ...

[szh]

Which cable-modem do you have? Do you like it? Any problems with it that you have solved? Any problems with the others (that you know of)?

Apparently, Comcast has number of possible third-party modem suppliers that they have certified (here is the list: http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/), so I am thinking of buying one rather than paying the $7/month extra for whatever they choose to send me (if I go with them - am thinking of changing out from 3Mbits/sec DSL that I currently have).

Thanks for any info!

Z

[AppleBonker]

I didn't have many options when I first went to purchase. I was getting DOCSIS 3.0 service and there weren't many modems on the market at the time. I picked up one of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6825122009

I've been happy with it. No issues over the last few years. Before that I had the generic Moto SURFboard modem and it functioned well for me:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6825122011

[AppleBonker]

And, fwiw, I've been very happy with Comcast as an ISP. Their TV sucks, but I have minimal downtime with my internet. The biggest complaint I have would be the monthly cap, but I haven't managed to go over yet (and I haven't needed to change anything to avoid the overage).

[SHIFT_COUPE]

+1 on the Motorola Surfboard modem. Should pay for itself in 12 months.

[szh]

Thanks, folks!

I am leaning towards the Motorola 6121 at this point, due to reviews at Amazon. Good to see that the 6120 (previous gen model) works well for you all!

Z

[MinisterofDOOM]

I just rented the DOCSIS 3.0 modem Comcast offered for rental. I wasn't sure if I'd ever use it anywhere else, so I figured the rental cost wasn't a big deal anyway. Unfortunately, every model of modem I've EVER rented from Comcast except the Surfboard has failed me multiple times, including whateveer the DOCSIS 3.0 model was (I forget). I've since gone to fiber optic, though, since I was never really happy with Comcast's service quality or customer support or their bandwidth options. I pay more now, but I also get a LOT faster speeds. And I don't need the modem anymore so I'm not bothered that I never bought one outright.

[szh]

Just noticed something ... apparently, the 6120 does not have a DHCP server? Can someone verify this for me?

If this is also true of the 6121, then that means it can only be connected to a single computer at home and not to an internal home network.

I think I will have to spring a bit extra for the 6580 then, since it is a wireless router and also has a DHCP server in it, as far as I can tell!

Z

[szh]

I just rented the DOCSIS 3.0 modem Comcast offered for rental. I wasn't sure if I'd ever use it anywhere else, so I figured the rental cost wasn't a big deal anyway. Unfortunately, every model of modem I've EVER rented from Comcast except the Surfboard has failed me multiple times, including whateveer the DOCSIS 3.0 model was (I forget). I've since gone to fiber optic, though, since I was never really happy with Comcast's service quality or customer support or their bandwidth options. I pay more now, but I also get a LOT faster speeds. And I don't need the modem anymore so I'm not bothered that I never bought one outright.

That is dang fast! As far as I know, nothing like that is offered around here in the SF Bay Area!

I tried to get AT&T U-Verse installed recently, but they gave me a run-around with how they could not even process the order since I had Earthlink DSL coming in today! Huhn? And I would have to cancel that Earthlink service before I could even get the AT&T order entered into their system - which means I would be without any service for days to weeks till they finished the installation. That is amazingly silly and lost them my potential business for sure.

Z

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Just noticed something ... apparently, the 6120 does not have a DHCP server? Can someone verify this for me?

I never noticed since I'm using a separate wireless router anyway. Most cable modems just issue one DHCP address since its not a really a router.

Do you not have a router? If not, then just spring for the other model. I personally like having a separate router device instead of an all in one.

[szh]

Just noticed something ... apparently, the 6120 does not have a DHCP server? Can someone verify this for me?

If this is also true of the 6121, then that means it can only be connected to a single computer at home and not to an internal home network.

I think I will have to spring a bit extra for the 6580 then, since it is a wireless router and also has a DHCP server in it, as far as I can tell!

Yup, I confirmed that the Motorola 6120 is a simple cable mode and does not have a router built in - can't tell about the 6121, but it is probably similar situation. So, they cannot provide DHCP server to my home LAN.

So, the choice is to get the SB6121 along with another router, or get the Motorola 6580, The 6580 comes with a built-in wireless router (which I don't need really). Keeping the items separate makes it possible - in theory - to replace them separately if they break, I suppose.

Z

[szh]

Just noticed something ... apparently, the 6120 does not have a DHCP server? Can someone verify this for me?

I never noticed since I'm using a separate wireless router anyway. Most cable modems just issue one DHCP address since its not a really a router.

Yup, I just learned that through some research ... I was assuming it would be a router rather than just a modem, based on my current "DSL modem" experience, but was wrong!

Do you not have a router? If not, then just spring for the other model. I personally like having a separate router device instead of an all in one.

Saw your post after I posted my last note - we posted at the same time! Yes, I agree - this makes sense!

Yes, I have a D-Link 655 WiFi router connected to my current DSL line modem, for WiFi devices around the house. But I direct-connect my home office laptop docking station to the DSL modem (it provides routing functions - it is a ZyXEL P-600) to avoid using the WiFi when it is docked. Plus, the D-Link is in the family room, and my office is upstairs (where the DSL line and the future Comcast line would come into the house), and I'd rather get a local Ethernet connection to my laptop docking station.

So ... do you all have any inexpensive router recommendations? I don't want to waste money on another WiFi router if I can get something inexpensive ... just need a simple firewall/router box that has Gigabit Ethernet speed (for future-proofing) ... it does not even need multiple switch ports since I have a Netgear GigE switch already.

Z

[SHIFT_COUPE]

Saw your post after I posted my last note - we posted at the same time! Yes, I agree - this makes sense!

Yes, I have a D-Link 655 WiFi router connected to my current DSL line modem, for WiFi devices around the house. But I direct-connect my home office laptop docking station to the DSL modem (it provides routing functions - it is a ZyXEL P-600) to avoid using the WiFi when it is docked. Plus, the D-Link is in the family room, and my office is upstairs (where the DSL line and the future Comcast line would come into the house), and I'd rather get a local Ethernet connection to my laptop docking station.

So ... do you all have any inexpensive router recommendations? I don't want to waste money on another WiFi router if I can get something inexpensive ... just need a simple firewall/router box that has Gigabit Ethernet speed (for future-proofing) ... it does not even need multiple switch ports since I have a Netgear GigE switch already.

Z

It sounds like you really don't need a new router. I wouldn't worry about a gigabit connection on the router since you already have a gigabit switch. Your'e really only going to use that one connection from the router to the switch where your other devices will branch off. This is where you will see the gigabit speeds, not through the built in switch on the router. I know that might sound convoluted! The router is only issuing the IP addresses through DHCP, no local network traffic will go through the device.

If you're dead set on getting a new router I would go with any Linksys product. I've had solid experience with every device I have had from them. If you were to go Gigabit and Wireless N you might spend $80 or so for the most basic of their devices.

[Towncivilian]

I have Comcast and I use a Linksys BEFCMU10 ver. 4 modem and a TRENDnet TEW-633GR router. I never have any issues, connection is always stable. Once I had an internet outage for a few days, but I called Comcast and they sent a tech out. It was just a bad splitter, IIRC.

[AppleBonker]

For a basic follow up to confirm your question: no DHCP on the 6120.

I can't help much on the router side, as I don't have much experience with the cheaper ones. I currently have this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6833122326

Aside from not being able to run DDWRT, I don't have any complaints about it. It offers the features I was interested in, so I went for it. Personally, I've had better luck with Netgear than Lunksys, and I like the UI better. I was looking for simultaneous 2.4/5.0 GHz and the ability to establish a guest network, so that fit my needs.

[szh]

It sounds like you really don't need a new router. I wouldn't worry about a gigabit connection on the router since you already have a gigabit switch. Your'e really only going to use that one connection from the router to the switch where your other devices will branch off. This is where you will see the gigabit speeds, not through the built in switch on the router. I know that might sound convoluted! The router is only issuing the IP addresses through DHCP, no local network traffic will go through the device.

If you're dead set on getting a new router I would go with any Linksys product. I've had solid experience with every device I have had from them. If you were to go Gigabit and Wireless N you might spend $80 or so for the most basic of their devices.

Ah, I think I confused you a bit with my poorly worded earlier description! Here is how I have things hooked up today - pardon the extreme geekiness in this entire post/thread :

Earthlink <---> ZyXEL P-600-R Modem/Router <---> Netgear GigE Switch <---> D-Link 655 WiFi Router <---> Home WiFi devices.

The ZyXEL and Netgear are upstairs in my home office, and the D-Link is downstairs in my family room (my whole house is wired up to a patch panel in my upstairs office, so the connection from the Netgear to the D-Link is via CAT-5e Ethernet wires).

Separately, in my home office, I have a laptop docking station and the GigE port on the dock is connected via a CAT-6 patch cable directly to the Netgear switch. So, when upstairs, my laptop does not use WiFi at all - it is a wired Ethernet connection to the ZyXEL and on to the Internet (since the Netgear is just a switch). Thus, I can also easily configure the ZyXEL from that docked laptop (although I could do it through the D-Link too, I don't like doing firmware updates anywhere using WiFi):

Earthlink DSL <---> ZyXEL P-600-R Modem/Router <---> Netgear Gig Switch <---> Lenovo Laptop dock.

The ZyXEL DSL modem/router provides DHCP services to everything connected to it (specifically, the D-Link and my laptop when docked - the Netgear switch is transparent, of course).

The D-Link provides DHCP services to any WiFi devices talking to it - separate IPv4 ranges, of course, to prevent collisions). There is nothing wired connected to the D-Link switch ports (it has four of them).

Here are the two alternatives as to what I am thinking of doing (one with the 6121 and the other with the 6580). The laptop docking station continues to stay connected to the Netgear switch at all times with the same CAT-6 patch cable:

Alternative 1:

Comcast cable <---> Motorola 6121 modem <---> NEW non-WiFi firewall/router <---> Netgear Gig Switch <---> D-Link 655 WiFi Router <---> Home WiFi devices.

Alternative 2:

Comcast cable <---> Motorola 6580 router (if WiFi can be disabled) <---> Netgear Gig Switch <---> D-Link 655 WiFi Router <---> Home WiFi devices.

With Alternative 1, I would need to buy a new non-WiFi router too and was looking for recommendations for it. Something good enough to do GigE speed firewall/routing performance and it must have good firewall settings controls, DHCP server, time-sync to an external site via NTP, easy DNS configurability (I use http://www.opendns.com for home protection), etc., etc., etc.

Yes, I will explore Cisco/Linksys solutions for this new router if I go with Alternative 1, since the Motorola 6580 Users Manual does not impress me too much ... yet. The device seems to be more limited than I expected from a good router, but I may need to just read more about it.

Thanks for the responses so far, folks!

Z

[szh]

And, fwiw, I've been very happy with Comcast as an ISP.

Good to know! I decided to sign up with them since the price/performance for their Blast service at 30Mbps down seems pretty good ... thanks for the info!

Their TV sucks.

Fortunately, we use Dish Network (my wife like some overseas channels that only Dish provides), so no TV worries from Comcast for us.

Z

[szh]

I have Comcast and I use a Linksys BEFCMU10 ver. 4 modem and a TRENDnet TEW-633GR router. I never have any issues, connection is always stable. Once I had an internet outage for a few days, but I called Comcast and they sent a tech out. It was just a bad splitter, IIRC.

Thanks for the info!

Unfortunately, the LInksys you mentioned above is not DOCSIS 3.0 compliant - which means it would be speed limited compared to the current gen models.

Z

[Towncivilian]

Indeed, you're correct. Perhaps I should have purchased a DOCSIS 3.0 modem instead of that Linksys at the time, but my speed is 22mbit down/2.2mbit up so DOCSIS 3.0 is not a requirement in my case.

[szh]

Learning as I go ... reporting the same for others ... I should probably put this into another forum at NICO!

1. The Motorola 6121 cable modem only does 4 channel bonding for downstream and 4 channel bonding for upstream (limits its theoretical maximum throughput). Overkill for today's service, of course!

2. The Motorola 6141 cable modem does 8 down and 4 up, but is not available yet(?). Not certified for Comcast yet.

3. The Motorola 6180 cable modem does 8 down and 4 up, but is not available yet(?). Not certified for Comcast yet.

4. The Motorola 6580 WiFi cable modem/router does 8 down and 4 up bonding. It also has DHCP, NAT, TOD, SPI firewall. Does not do MAC-based WiFi access control.

Another good possibility is the D-Link product line:

1. The D-Link DCM-301 cable modem does 8 down and 4 up. Comcast certified. Can't find a manual yet.

2. The D-Link DCM-702 WiFi cable modem does 8 down and 4 up. Has DHCP, NAT, TOD, DMZ, SPI firewall, etc. Have not found a manual yet to see what other features it has. Not certified for Comcast yet.

Z

[s0m3th1ngAZ]

I just rented the DOCSIS 3.0 modem Comcast offered for rental. I wasn't sure if I'd ever use it anywhere else, so I figured the rental cost wasn't a big deal anyway. Unfortunately, every model of modem I've EVER rented from Comcast except the Surfboard has failed me multiple times, including whateveer the DOCSIS 3.0 model was (I forget). I've since gone to fiber optic, though, since I was never really happy with Comcast's service quality or customer support or their bandwidth options. I pay more now, but I also get a LOT faster speeds. And I don't need the modem anymore so I'm not bothered that I never bought one outright.

Jesus

[szh]

I just got my Comcast connection installed. Using a Zoom 5341J cable modem (don't forget the "J" - this is the newer version that has 8 channel bonding down rather the 4 of the older non-J model) and am very happy with it - speeds are much better than my old 3MBits/sec down and 768kbits/sec up DSL line:



Next step is to disconnect my computer and get the Netgear router going ... bought a Netgear WNDR4000 (couldn't find a wired-only router with good performance and GigE internal LAN speeds so bought another WiFi router) and need to set it up.

Z

[szh]

Got the Netgear router going some time back, but forgot to report how it all went. Pretty smooth. The Netgear is not as flexible and powerful as the D-LINK DIR-655 in its settings, but does fine.

My speeds are still very good - I am happy with the outcome:



Z

[szh]

Comcast just boosted speeds in the area ... no change in pricing though.

Even better results than before:





Z