DOCSIS 2.0 or 3.0?

Devilsbane

I have just signed up for cable internet through Comcast and in order to avoid their $7/month modem rental fee, I decided to buy my own. I found http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002M3SHXA/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details and after checking Comcast's compatibility list it seemed to be a good deal.

Now someone is trying to tell me that I should get a DOCSIS 3.0 modem if my speed is going to be more than 10Mbps. I signed up for 15 but I get 25 for the first 3 months, in either case I'm over that 10 Mpbs. So is it worth it to buy a 3.0 modem when the 2.0 claims to support up to 38 Mbps?

Everyone

Devilsbane wrote: »

I have just signed up for cable internet through Comcast and in order to avoid their $7/month modem rental fee, I decided to buy my own. I found http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002M3SHXA/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details and after checking Comcast's compatibility list it seemed to be a good deal.

Now someone is trying to tell me that I should get a DOCSIS 3.0 modem if my speed is going to be more than 10Mbps. I signed up for 15 but I get 25 for the first 3 months, in either case I'm over that 10 Mpbs. So is it worth it to buy a 3.0 modem when the 2.0 claims to support up to 38 Mbps?

The 2.0 will work, but they will eventually drop support for those. I bought my first cable modem around 2002, a Motorola SB4200, which was a DOCSIS 1.1. Comcast dropped support for it, so I upgraded to a Motorola SB5101, which is DOCSIS 2.0. That was several years ago (2005 IIRC?), DOCSIS 3.0 has been out for a while, so I'd expect to see support for DOCSIS 2.0 modems start to drop soon.

Get one of the new SB 6000 series DOCSIS 3.0 modems from Motorola, great performance and it will last you many years. It's worth the extra $20-$30.

mikemc90

If you get DOCSIS 3.0 then in the future (when you upgrade speed) you don't have to buy a new modem. Its worth it in my opinion.

Devilsbane

I was looking at the http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-SB6120-SURFboard-eXtreme-Broadband/dp/B001UI2FPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325693541&sr=8-1, also on the approved list.

Or maybe the http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-SB6121-SURFboard-DOCSIS-Cable/dp/B004XC6GJ0/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

mikemc90

I have the SB6121 and it works great. I think they are both great modems.

6121 also supports IPv6

Everyone

Devilsbane wrote: »

I was looking at the http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-SB6120-SURFboard-eXtreme-Broadband/dp/B001UI2FPE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325693541&sr=8-1, also on the approved list.

Or maybe the Amazon.com: Motorola SB6121 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem: Electronics

Both good, just stick with something on the approved list. IMO can't go wrong with Motorola, never had any problems with them, and they perform great.

Akaricloud

I'd stick with a DOCSIS 3 if I were you. It'll allow for future upgrades(if you ever switch to business class you'll need one I believe) and they seem to be better quality overall.

I've had ~6 DOCSIS 2 modems die on me but my SB6121 has been going strong for quite some while!

it_consultant

This would be like getting a DSL modem that doesn't support the 20 MB asynchronous speed (GN+ or something) or doesn't support naked DSL. Go with DOCSIS three so you aren't stuck getting a new one a few years down the road.

TLeTourneau

Devilsbane wrote: »

I was looking at the Amazon.com: Motorola SB6120 SURFboard DOCSIS 3.0 eXtreme Broadband Cable Modem: Electronics, also on the approved list.

Or maybe the http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-SB6121-SURFboard-DOCSIS-Cable/dp/B004XC6GJ0/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

Either one would be good. I have the 6120 and have had no problems with it.

Forsaken_GA

If you're going to buy a new cable modem, and you're going to stick with cable for internet access, just buy a DOCSIS 3 modem. The cost increase is negligible for the future proofing.