Best Cable Modem???

General discussion related to Cable Modems, DSL, Wireless, Fiber, Mobile Networks, Wireless ISPs, Satellite, or any other type of high-speed Internet connection, general issues and questions here. Review and discuss ISPs as well (AT&T / SBC, BellSouth, Bright House, CableOne, Charter, Comcast, Covad, Cox, Cablevision / Optimum Online, TMobile, Verizon FIOS, Shaw, Telus, Starlink, etc.)
Post Reply
ScYnTiFiK
Member
Posts: 21
Joined: Sun Feb 04, 2001 12:00 am
Location: nj

Best Cable Modem???

Post by ScYnTiFiK »

what are your opinions on what is the best / fastest cable modem out there?
Image
BooM4u
New Member
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2002 4:37 pm

Cable modems and speed

Post by BooM4u »

I work in the industry and I would have to say that cable modems unlike dial up has more of a standard that they must follow. Everybody nowadays is switching there cable modem networks to DOCSIS technology, DOCSIS are used by Ericsson,toshiba,surfboard,motorola, just to name a few. Mainly these modems must follow the specs of the network they are running so mainly there very close as far as performance. Probably more important is the cable CO. network that your connecting to, basically their investment must be maintained and upgraded as neccesary which is probably more important than the cable modem your using since the modems you use can go much faster than your current speeds, DOCSIS just announced docsis 2.0 which can do 30mb up/30 mb down, now we just have to wait for a network that can support it, but remember most cable networks now can do 10mb max, do we use it all.....hell no.!
User avatar
tHE_0ne
Posts: 5870
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2002 3:10 pm
Location: Williamsburg/Norfolk VA

Post by tHE_0ne »

3com

My~Rig
|Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Toledo 2.0GHz @ 2.5Ghz||ASROCK 939Dual-SATA2||OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC3200|ZALMAN 120MM CNPS7700-CU|
|ATI XT 1600 PRO|CSB SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1||WD SE16 SATA 320GB HD|Hitachi SATA 160GB HD|Thermaltake TR2 W0070 ATX 430W Power Supply |WIN 7 Ultimate| (College Budget)
User avatar
Cable_Dood
Regular Member
Posts: 210
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2002 3:53 pm
Location: In the Monolith

Post by Cable_Dood »

Cisco uBR 924.

Built in NAT, 4 port router, IOS upgradeable, supports IP telephony....coming to a cable MSO near you.
User avatar
MosDef112
Senior Member
Posts: 1364
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Bronx, NY

Post by MosDef112 »

I'll second Cisco. You should also try the Motorola SB4100.
OMARNYC.COM - My place on the web
BooM4u
New Member
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2002 4:37 pm

Post by BooM4u »

all those modems u listed all have the same specs. it dont matter im telling you...the network they run on cant handle it anyway so whats it matter...its like having 2 same size straws made by a fifferent straw maker and ur drinking a thick milkshake, still suck the same amount of milkshake dont ya....ya thought so... :rolleyes:
User avatar
Noevo
Posts: 14191
Joined: Mon Feb 28, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Floating in FL Red Tide

Post by Noevo »

Originally posted by BooM4u!
all those modems u listed all have the same specs. it dont matter im telling you...the network they run on cant handle it anyway so whats it matter...its like having 2 same size straws made by a fifferent straw maker and ur drinking a thick milkshake, still suck the same amount of milkshake dont ya....ya thought so... :rolleyes:
v.90 is a standard for dial-up modems and yet there is a world of difference between brands. Just because they work on the same standards does not mean they are equal. Thats like saying all water tastes the same because it's water.

It doesn't matter what they can handle as far as bandwidth, its how they handle it.

I haven't used the cisco. I had a 3com and now have a SB4100. I like the 4100. For one, it seems to run cooler than the 3Com did and it has a standby button for total shutdown. Probably never use it, but it is an option.
User avatar
MosDef112
Senior Member
Posts: 1364
Joined: Thu Feb 08, 2001 12:00 am
Location: Bronx, NY

Post by MosDef112 »

*** To Boom4U! ***

I'm surprised you would make such a suggestion given your claim about working in the industry.

There are some differences amongst DOCSIS compliant modems, whether it be on the firmware/software it implements, or on the chipset they are built with. For those people who are serviced by a cable operator that limits downstream and upstream limits way below the unit's capabilities, yes they will certainly see no difference. For those privileged handful like me who are serviced by a cable operator that delivers up to 10Mb down and 1Mb up, you will absolutely see a performance difference. Some modems make use of concatenation to deliver higher speeds, as well as the acclaimed turbo chipset found in the Terayet and Toshiba units. Whereas other lower end units simply comply to the DOCSIS standard for interoperability, totally disregarding performance on the basis of not needing it to begin with.
OMARNYC.COM - My place on the web
User avatar
Cable_Dood
Regular Member
Posts: 210
Joined: Fri Jan 25, 2002 3:53 pm
Location: In the Monolith

Post by Cable_Dood »

>>I like the 4100. For one, it seems to run cooler than the 3Com did and it has a standby button for total shutdown.<<

That button is a placebo. I can still ping your modem IP even though that button turns off all the LEDs. The only way to disconnect from the network is to yank the RF or power cord. The button just turns off the lights. Pretty comical, really. The SB4100 is an excellent consumer-level CM, though.
BooM4u
New Member
Posts: 12
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2002 4:37 pm

swap modems

Post by BooM4u »

swap modems, ull get the same bandwidth or very close. ive done it and ran pings,tracerts etc. i ve swapped ericsson for toshiba, for a 3com, for a motorola, all very very very close as far as perfomance little or no difference in my experiences and of course there diffrerent inside , theyre all made by diff co's obviously. bottom line, line conditions bus cable levels and snr(signal to noise ratio) basically are your friend or enemy. and as far as bandwidth all the modems u list have much faster capability then current speed so thats not relevent
Brk
SG VIP
Posts: 29518
Joined: Sun Dec 09, 2001 12:00 pm

Post by Brk »

Assuming you can find one, I've had tremendous speeds with my Motorola CyberSurfr...a few others I've tried just don't seem to live up to it...
Kip Patterson
Senior Member
Posts: 4438
Joined: Wed Jun 07, 2000 12:00 pm
Location: Columbus, Ohio

Post by Kip Patterson »

There are real and significant differences between various modems, some of which are listed below.

DOCSIS vs non-DOCSIS: One person suggested a Motorola Cybersurfr. An excellent modem, the only one I've ever had. There are probably more of this modem in service than any other. It is non-DOCSIS, however, and will not work on a DOCSIS system.

Approved by ISP: Your ISP always downloads a configuration file to your modem. He may also download software updates. If you buy a modem not on their list, it is apt to become the excuse for every problem you have with your ISP. You will also not be able to get software updates installed.

Terms of sale: Certain modems such as the Motorola SB4200 are sold without manufacturer's warranty or support. Make sure you know what warranty and support is offered and who will honor it

Performance: Not all DOCSIS modems are equal. Some of the Toshibas, for example, have a design which malfunctions when used on a system that uses a particular diagnostic device. Some have internal web pages, some don't. Some can be upgraded from DOCSIS to 1.0 to 1.1, some can't or at least are not certified for 1.1. None can be updated to DOCSIS 2.0, although it seems almost certain that when 2.0 is installed it will support 1.0 and 1.1 modems.

Kip
Lex Luthor
Advanced Member
Posts: 591
Joined: Sat Apr 01, 2000 12:00 am
Location: Long Island, NY

Post by Lex Luthor »

The terayon terajets work great on Optimum Online. I get 8Mbps down. I'd say that's pretty good :)
User avatar
tHE_0ne
Posts: 5870
Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2002 3:10 pm
Location: Williamsburg/Norfolk VA

Post by tHE_0ne »

another "best cable modem" is one you get for free

My~Rig
|Athlon 64 X2 3800+ Toledo 2.0GHz @ 2.5Ghz||ASROCK 939Dual-SATA2||OCZ Platinum 2GB (2 x 1GB) PC3200|ZALMAN 120MM CNPS7700-CU|
|ATI XT 1600 PRO|CSB SB0570 Audigy SE 7.1||WD SE16 SATA 320GB HD|Hitachi SATA 160GB HD|Thermaltake TR2 W0070 ATX 430W Power Supply |WIN 7 Ultimate| (College Budget)
Post Reply