Best Docsis 3.0 Modem for Comcast – Sadly, many internet service providers (ISPs) charge a monthly leasing fee– sometimes as high as $15– that can stack up after a while (not all ISPs have this fee though). Buying your own compatible modem, however, is a great way to eliminate this unneeded cost. Within a year, you will start recovering the cost of the modem.
That being said, there are some– tedious– things you should be aware of. For instance, modems are only supported by specific ISPs. For this article, we will be discussing the best cable modems for DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 3.1 in this article, which is the main protocol used for cable internet.
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1.NETGEAR C6300-100NAS
Features
- Compatible with Comcast Xfinity, Time Warner Cable, Charter, Cox, Cablevision, and more. Requires Cable Internet Service
- Not compatible with: Verizon, AT&T, or CenturyLink
- Two-in-one DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem + AC1750 WiFi Router
- DOCSIS 3.0 unleashes 8x faster download speeds than DOCSIS 2.0
- Ideal for streaming HD videos, faster downloads, and high-speed online gaming
- Required for the fastest cable Internet speed tiers
The C6300-100NAS Dual Band Wireless-AC1750 Wi-Fi Cable Modem Router from NETGEAR eliminates the need for a separate cable modem and router. This single device contains an integrated CableLabs certified DOCSIS 3.0 modem along with a 4-port Gigabit Ethernet 802.11ac Wi-Fi router. By combining the cable modem with the router you no longer need to purchase a separate router or rent a cable modem from the cable company.
With dual band Wi-Fi connectivity the C6300 from NETGEAR operates on both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies effectively eliminating most of the interference experienced with traditional 2.4 GHz wireless routers. In addition to dual band functionality, this router features 802.11ac connectivity for a total bandwidth of up to 1750 Mbps. You can also connect Ethernet enabled devices to any of the four Gigabit Ethernet ports for a reliable wired connection.
2.ARRIS SURFboard SB8200
Features
- DOCSIS 3 1 Cable Modem best for cable internet speed plans up to 2 Gbps. Note, a 2nd IP address is required from your cable internet provider to reach 2 Gbps.
- 32 downstream x 8 upstream DOCSIS 3 0 bonded channels, 2 downstream x 2 upstream OFDM DOCSIS 3 1 channels
- Two 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports
- Not compatible with ATT, Verizon, CenturyLink or other DSL or Fiber internet providers
- Cable internet service required; Does not inlcude Wi-Fi and does not support cable digital voice service
The SURFboard SB8200 uses newer DOCSIS 3.1 technology to support download speeds up to 2,000 Mbps (or 2 Gbps).3 That’s perfect if you’re rocking Xfinity’s Gigabit internet plan—or if you’re running your home business on its 2,000 Mbps Gigabit Pro plan.
We’ve recommended ARRIS’s SURFboard routers before, so it’s no surprise to us that the SB8200 made it into our top-five lineup.
3.NETGEAR CM1000
Features
- Compatible with all major cable internet providers with internet speed up to 1Gbps. Currently certified with Spectrum and Cox (up to 1Gbps), Xfinity (up to 800Mbps). Not compatible with Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink, DSL providers, DirecTV, DISH and any bundled voice service.
- Save monthly rental fees: Model CM1000 replaces your cable modem saving you up to dollar 168/year in equipment rental fees.
- Works with any Wi-Fi router: Connect any Wi-Fi router to this modem's Ethernet port to support all your wireless devices.
- Ethernet connections: 1 Gigabit Ethernet port connects to your computer or separate Wi-Fi router.
NETGEAR CM1000 is also one of the latest cable modems, despite supporting DOCSIS 3.1, it’s not exactly a high-speed modem offering slower transfer rates than the DOCSIS 3.1 ARRIS SB8200. The company could have made this product better by using better Ethernet ports, as the current limitation for the DOCSIS 3.1 connection in this product is the 1 Gbps Ethernet ports.
If the Ethernet ports would have provided better transfer rates, then a maximum transfer rate of 6 Gbps could have been achieved. This isn’t a huge deal since internet speeds will still only rarely meet this standard, but all things being equal this costs more for less speed than the SB8200.
4.NETGEAR (CM1150)
Features
- Supports internet speed up to 2Gbps. Certified with Xfinity Internet & Voice Plans up to 800Mbps speed. Future speed with Xfinity is subject to change
- Works with any WiFi router. Connect any WiFi router to this modem’s Ethernet port to support all your wireless devices
- Save monthly rental fees. Model CM1150V replaces your cable modem saving you up to $150/yr in equipment rental fees
- Four (4) Gigabit Ethernet ports give you fast wired connections to your computer, separate WiFi router, printer, game box, and other devices
- For use with Xfinity Voice service and up to 2 telephone lines with enhanced call features including caller ID, 3 way conference calling, call forwarding and more
- Modem technology: Engineered with 32x8 channel bonding, OFDM 2x2, and DOCSIS 3.1
- Multi-gig Ethernet: Link aggregation combines two 1G ports into one 2G port for faster wired ethernet speed
If you’re getting a voice plan from Xfinity, the NETGEAR CM1150V will help connect your phone service as well as your internet service. Then you can call and tell all your friends about it (lol).
This modem is about as souped-up as the ARRIS S33, so it can handle Xfinity’s Gigabit plan, no sweat.
But this little baby from NETGEAR is a bit pricey, so if you’ve got a slower plan, you can save some money with another product like ARRIS SVG2482AC. This second option can handle speeds up to 600 Mbps, and it comes with a Wi-Fi router built-in too.
5.MOTOROLA MG7540
Features
- 16x4 DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem plus a built-in AC1600 Dual Band (2.4 GHz and 5 GHz) WiFi Gigabit Router with four Gigabit (GigE) Ethernet ports, a firewall, and more. This product is recommended for actual cable Internet service speeds up to 375 Mbps. A Broadcom cable modem chipset provides security from Denial of Service attacks.
- Requires cable Internet service. Approved by Comcast Xfinity and Xfinity X1, Cox, Charter Spectrum, BrightHouse, WOW., CableOne, RCN, Mediacom and other cable service providers. Eliminate cable modem rental fees up to 168 dollars per year. (Savings are shown for Xfinity and vary by provider). Not compatible with Verizon, AT&T, CenturyLink and other fiber optic, DSL or satellite services. Model MG7540 does not have a phone jack. This model cannot be used for making or receiving telephone calls.
- Built-in high-speed Wi-Fi router with AC1600 Wi-Fi provides Internet access for Wi-Fi devices including smartphones, notebooks, tablets, game stations, HDTVs, Amazon Echo, Google Home, Chromecast, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and AppleTV. 4 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports provide wired connections to Windows and Mac computers, HDTVs, game stations, streaming TV devices, and other Ethernet-capable devices.
- The router can work on WiFi DFS frequencies, unlike most routers, so it is much less vulnerable to WiFi interference from neighbors. AnyBeam beamforming at both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies focuses the signal on wireless clients to further enhance performance and range.
- Integrating the cable modem and router creates a reliable connection that reduces unwieldy wiring and power adapter clutter while conserving desk space. The vertical design minimizes shelf space and improves cooling while looking great in any home or office. A 2-year warranty plus rugged lightning and power surge circuits protect your investment.
This Motorola cable modem provides the functionality of both the modem and the WiFi router, which makes the Motorola MG7540 attractive to many consumers. After all, not a lot of people want to use two devices. The modem is bundled with an AC1600 dual-band WiFi router, i.e. it works in both 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz mode.
This DOCSIS 3.0 modem provides 16 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels, which is enough for most of the users. As far as the router interface is concerned, it provides four Ethernet ports along with the listed dual-band WiFi and also has other router features like Firewall.
6.ARRIS Surfboard SB6183-RB
Features
- APPROVED with Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum (Charter, Time Warner, Brighthouse), Cox and more. If not sure call your cable provider to find out if approved to use. REQUIRES Cable Internet Service. Not compatible with: Verizon, AT&T, or CenturyLink
- Cable Modem only (no WiFi router). NO support for Cable TELCO options
- Internet speeds up to 686 Mbps on 16 Download Channels and 131 Mbps on 4 Upload Channels, based on your cable ISP subscription. Approved for plans up to 400Mbps. Gigabit Ethernet port to connect to computer or router
- Great for streaming HD Video and gaming on multiple devices at a time
- 90 Day Warranty. ARRIS Certified Refurbished. US Technical support. ARRIS Certified Refurbished products will ALWAYS be branded ARRIS, Never Motorola! If you get Motorola branded product they are illegitimate, need to be returned to Seller and Reported to Amazon
While the ARRIS SB6183 runs on DOCSIS 3.0 tech—older than the DOCSIS 3.1 of the two previous devices—it’s still a zippy little modem. If you have an Xfinity Blast! or Blast! Pro Plus plan, go for this device to get the speeds you need without forking out a ton of dough.
7.NETGEAR CM500
Features
- Save monthly rental fees: Model CM500 replaces your cable modem, saving you up to $168/yr in equipment rental fees.
- Speeds by carrier: Spectrum (up to 400Mbps), Xfinity (up to 200Mbps), Cox (up to 150Mbps).
- Works with any wifi router: Connect any WiFi router to this modem's Ethernet port to support all your wireless devices.
- Ethernet connections: 1 Gigabit Ethernet port connects to your computer or separate WiFi router.
- Modem technology: Engineered with 16x4 channel bonding and DOCSIS 3.0.
If you don’t get Xfinity’s Gigabit plan, you can save a little money with the budget-priced NETGEAR CM500 modem. It supports wired internet speeds up to 680 Mbps.2
User reviews of the CM500 note that its installation was a breeze. So if you’re putting off getting your own modem because you’re not tech-savvy, give the CM500 a go.
Our only complaint about this modem (and all NETGEAR modems) is that it comes with only a one-year, limited hardware warranty.
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Best Docsis 3.0 Modem for Comcast – Cable modems are required for the modulation and demodulation of the signals with Aux cables as the interface. In layman’s terms, the modem (not to be confused with the router) changes the signal so you can receive internet.
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