Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
5/28/2015 10:06:53 AM EDT
I know this might get better answers in Urban Commandos, but it will certainly get more answers here, so.....

I'm moving to a new house so I'll be on a new Comcast account with new hardware.

Considering buying a modem instead of renting from Comcast at $10/mo.

A few questions:

is a modem/wifi router preferable, or should I go with 2 separate devices?

Does anyone have thoughts on this modem?: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AJHDZSI

Assuming I go with a separate router, what wifi router should I go with?

I also plan to run 2 wifi routers in the new house, so if anyone has suggestions on that, sound off.

5/28/2015 10:11:12 AM EDT
[#1]
That modem is good. As long as it is in their list of approved modems (it probably is, but just putting that out there).






I would keep the modem/router separate. The built in routers have shit for functionality/options most of the time.







Router just depends on what you need it to do and how much you want to spend. Many to choose from.

 
5/28/2015 10:17:43 AM EDT
[#2]
Two months ago I bought a Surfboard 6121 for a cable modem the 6141 supports faster downloads but my cable service is only 50Mbps so the 6121 was plenty for me.
So far the Surfboard has been working fine with no problems.


I'd check with your cable company to see if they will actually remove the rental charge if you purchase your own modem - some won't...


 
5/28/2015 10:26:29 AM EDT
[#3]
Do you have phone service through the cable company as well? If so, that modem won't get'er done.
5/28/2015 10:27:58 AM EDT
[#4]
These are on woot every so often for 49 bucks, if wait if you can.

Also, you will want a good router to handle the speed.  I bought a Netgear AC1900 for a good deal at a radio shack right before it closed.
5/28/2015 10:36:23 AM EDT
[#5]
Quote History
Quoted:
Do you have phone service through the cable company as well? If so, that modem won't get'er done.
View Quote


no... no phone service, despite Comcast's hard sell.
5/28/2015 10:39:39 AM EDT
[#6]
That will work wonderfully with Comcast. It's what I use at home.
5/28/2015 10:40:14 AM EDT
[#7]
i think they have that same one at Costco for less. Can't beat their return policy.
5/28/2015 10:43:47 AM EDT
[#8]
Pay$90 for a modem and in 9 months its paid off and $10 in your pocket. I have a 6121 or 6141. forget which. I say get separate modem and router.
5/28/2015 10:43:59 AM EDT
[#9]

Quoted:


I know this might get better answers in Urban Commandos, but it will certainly get more answers here, so.....



I'm moving to a new house so I'll be on a new Comcast account with new hardware.



Considering buying a modem instead of renting from Comcast at $10/mo.



A few questions:



is a modem/wifi router preferable, or should I go with 2 separate devices?



Does anyone have thoughts on this modem?: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AJHDZSI



Assuming I go with a separate router, what wifi router should I go with?



I also plan to run 2 wifi routers in the new house, so if anyone has suggestions on that, sound off.



View Quote




 
That's an excellent cable modem.  I just upgraded my old Surfboard to that one in Jan.




As far as WiFi:




Don't get the combo box with cable modem and WiFi.  Like most chimera devices it ends up doing neither thing well.

Do you want plug and play wireless, or do you want to do interesting things like run DD-WRT or Tomato on your devices?



5/28/2015 10:44:19 AM EDT
[#10]
6141 is what I have.  At $75 it pays off quickly versus renting from Comcast.

I ***DON'T*** like having the modem and the router and the wireless in one unit.  If you get the Comcast one, they configure it and force through their hot spot tech on a frequent basis.  Plus, in all-in-ones what you usually get is an ok modem, a mediocre router, and a really bad wireless AP.  Better to buy separately and configure your network for your needs.

ETA:

What router and wireless AP set up you go with depends on your level of expertise.  If you just want plug and play, get an ASUS with multiple external antenna for $100-200 and call it a day.  

If you can configure using command line and want to run some cable, you can have a top notch SOHO network for a little more cash and effort that will run rings around a consumer router/AP, but you have to know how to set it up (especially the security).  My current set up is 6141 surfboard > Ubiquiti EdgeRouterLite > Cisco SG-200 switch > Cat 6 to a set of Ubiquiti Unifi APs.  I have solid signal all over my property and the network keeps slow devices (phones, tablets, etc) from messing up the bandwidth for the high priority gear.
5/28/2015 10:47:07 AM EDT
[#11]
We have Comcast and have been happy with these:

Modem
Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0


Router
ASUS RT-N66W Dual-Band Wireless-N900
5/28/2015 10:47:09 AM EDT
[#12]
I bought the wireless version of that modem when I switched to my local Cable provider for interwebz service back in April. It works great. Got it on Amazon Prime for about $118.
5/28/2015 10:50:57 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote History
Quoted:

  That's an excellent cable modem.  I just upgraded my old Surfboard to that one in Jan.


As far as WiFi:


Don't get the combo box with cable modem and WiFi.  Like most chimera devices it ends up doing neither thing well.
Do you want plug and play wireless, or do you want to do interesting things like run DD-WRT or Tomato on your devices?


View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I know this might get better answers in Urban Commandos, but it will certainly get more answers here, so.....

I'm moving to a new house so I'll be on a new Comcast account with new hardware.

Considering buying a modem instead of renting from Comcast at $10/mo.

A few questions:

is a modem/wifi router preferable, or should I go with 2 separate devices?

Does anyone have thoughts on this modem?: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AJHDZSI

Assuming I go with a separate router, what wifi router should I go with?

I also plan to run 2 wifi routers in the new house, so if anyone has suggestions on that, sound off.


  That's an excellent cable modem.  I just upgraded my old Surfboard to that one in Jan.


As far as WiFi:


Don't get the combo box with cable modem and WiFi.  Like most chimera devices it ends up doing neither thing well.
Do you want plug and play wireless, or do you want to do interesting things like run DD-WRT or Tomato on your devices?




Plug and play is not important to me... I'm comfortable tweaking stuff.

Also, I'm going to be running multiple monitored security cams....  so in addition to a wifi router, I'll have a PoE router in this configuration. I see that this modem has one output... I suppose I'll have to hardwire the PoE router to the wifi router
5/28/2015 10:53:56 AM EDT
[#14]
OP, that modem is similar to the one I bought earlier this year when I bought a new house. I already had a pretty badass router (Linksys WRT1900AC), so I didn't need an all-in-one device. I'd rather be able to keep them separated, as if one fails, I don't have to replace the other.

I had been on TWC for almost 15 years and always used the modems they provided. I could have saved a TON of money if I used my own modem... so this time around I did that. Had to switch to a different provider in my AO, and only save like $5 a month on it, but a couple years will pay off the modem. Totally worth it IMHO.
5/28/2015 10:55:38 AM EDT
[#15]
Can't go wrong with a SB6141 for $50.  Docsis 3.1 will roll out in the next year, so you'll likely be replacing whatever you buy now.
5/28/2015 11:26:53 AM EDT
[#16]
I've had a 6121 for a few years and it works fine here in Houston, 57mbps up/6mbps down.
5/28/2015 11:28:17 AM EDT
[#17]

Quote History
Quoted:
no... no phone service, despite Comcast's hard sell.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:



Quoted:

Do you have phone service through the cable company as well? If so, that modem won't get'er done.




no... no phone service, despite Comcast's hard sell.




 
It's funny - TWC gives me a separate Motorola cable modem for the phone, but if I used it for internet too I'd have to rent it.  
5/28/2015 11:38:04 AM EDT
[#18]
Quoted:
I know this might get better answers in Urban Commandos, but it will certainly get more answers here, so.....

I'm moving to a new house so I'll be on a new Comcast account with new hardware.

Considering buying a modem instead of renting from Comcast at $10/mo.

A few questions:

is a modem/wifi router preferable, or should I go with 2 separate devices?

Does anyone have thoughts on this modem?: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AJHDZSI

Assuming I go with a separate router, what wifi router should I go with?

I also plan to run 2 wifi routers in the new house, so if anyone has suggestions on that, sound off.

View Quote


My ISP used to use those about 10 years ago or so.
5/28/2015 11:46:01 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote History
Quoted:


My ISP used to use those about 10 years ago or so.
View Quote View All Quotes
View All Quotes
Quote History
Quoted:
Quoted:
I know this might get better answers in Urban Commandos, but it will certainly get more answers here, so.....

I'm moving to a new house so I'll be on a new Comcast account with new hardware.

Considering buying a modem instead of renting from Comcast at $10/mo.

A few questions:

is a modem/wifi router preferable, or should I go with 2 separate devices?

Does anyone have thoughts on this modem?: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AJHDZSI

Assuming I go with a separate router, what wifi router should I go with?

I also plan to run 2 wifi routers in the new house, so if anyone has suggestions on that, sound off.



My ISP used to use those about 10 years ago or so.


Might have been a Motorola Surfboard, but it wasn't this one I don't think
5/28/2015 12:00:17 PM EDT
[#20]
Another vote for Surfboard.

Been using a SBG6580 (modem/router combo) for about 3 years now.  No problems.
5/28/2015 12:17:38 PM EDT
[#21]
I have that modem. I think I paid the same price a year ago at walmart.



I keep modem and router separate.
5/29/2015 5:15:03 AM EDT
[#22]
yup that's the modem you want.
have that and a linksys router.  
no issues.
just remember to clone the mac addy to the router from whatever computer is used to set up the service.