Modem/Router for Comcast?

[wave rider]

The Comcast (internet only) is supposed to be coming to the building I am in, do we need to use a Comcast branded modem (and/or wireless router) or is it more better to go with a third party source? Brand/model recommendations?

Separate modem and router or combo?

Any caveats for setup? I ended up buying AT&T's DSL modem/router just because of ease of setup, am wondering if getting branded versions for the Comcast would be better idea than another source. Don't think we want to do the monthly rental of the equipment...

This property is in one of those "last mile" islands, DSL has been here just a handful of years, cable laughed gustily at us. The landlady moved to town, the new tenant renting her house was unable to get DSL from AT&T, they had stopped offering the service in our location! The landlady's son was able to get phone numbers, pester the FCC, and browbeat Comcast into pulling a cable from just down the road to the property. As my landlady said, "Never get on the wrong side of a research librarian..."

Thanks for your ideas, wish us luck!
=wr=

[M A V I C]

http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/

I'd go with a Motorola SB6121

I prefer to have routers and modems separate.

[cbelt3]

What MAVIC said. I always prefer a firewall between my network and the evil overlord cable companies.

[freeradical]

I have an SB6141.

[Filliam H. Muffman]

TheWireCutter's opinion on The Best Cable Modem. I got a slightly different Cisco only because it was on sale locally. Pretty much any 8x4 should be fine up to 150 Mbps.

[M A V I C]

Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
TheWireCutter's opinion on The Best Cable Modem. I got a slightly different Cisco only because it was on sale locally. Pretty much any 8x4 should be fine up to 150 Mbps.

Yeah, but it only has a one star certification from Comcast. The 6121 has three.

[The Grim Ninja]

Comcast supplied modems are usually WiFi routers as well. Comcast also turns those into public hotspots. They're supposed to be "separate" from your own cut of bandwidth, and you're supposed to be able to turn the feature off, but do you really want to deal with it if there's an issue?

Buy a Modem with only an Ethernet connection and you know it's not going to become a hotspot for Comcast. [Modem/Router combos could even be turned into hotspots since Comcast controls the firmware for them.]


The Motorola 6121/6141 modems have been as low as $50 lately.

[N-OS X-tasy!]

Filliam H. Muffman wrote:
Pretty much any 8x4 should be fine up to 150 Mbps.

Perhaps, but cable providers tend to be finicky about which modems they support. Best to stick to a modem on the provider's approved list, which for Comcast is: http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/

I advocate the purchase of third-party hardware that is supported by your provider. No sense in giving Comcast one penny more than is absolutely necessary.

[wave rider]

Good advice so far, any wireless router suggestions?

I'm learning a lot, thanks!

=wr=

[N-OS X-tasy!]

I've had good luck with my Time Capsule and my AirPort Extreme before it.