$400 is still a bit too much. I picked a $40 tp link 343mbps cable modem last week. You can pair that with a $60-800ish AC modem. Works as good for 1/4 the price.
Doesn't support gigabit speeds on the cable (though not sure how much this one does without docsis 3.1...), doesn't have a second access point, doesn't have dedicated back channel...
More like you are spending $130 for the modem, $100 for the router, and another $80 for a good extender, and even then the wifi won't be as good as the mesh with its dedicated back channel.
You'd be crazy to get a cable modem with a Puma chipset. The problems are silicon level and Intel's firmware hacks aren't going to fix the root throughput issues, but they have negated much of the problem for CASUAL users. Good luck torrenting on a Puma 6 long term without abysmal performance or it outright crashing every few days.
If you need a cheap modem and don't need gigabit cable speed, get the SB6183. They're around $60, much less refurbished (but then you gamble with activation issues.)
If you need a top notch modem, the Arris SB8200 or the Netgear CM1000 are both DOCSIS 3.1, and a theoretical 10Gbps (realistic is 6Gbps) so you'd be futureproof for the next decade on any BCM3390 chipset modem. They're both about $100.
Modems to avoid, all containing flawed Intel chipsets:
Exactly. Aanadtech, you missed that Puma has such horribly bad TCP performance that DSLReports.com wrote a test for users to confirm/deny if they had a Puma chipset in their cable modem:
You should read the article first before commenting.
The cable modem PCB is based on the Intel Puma chipset (we have reached out to Netgear to confirm that it is not the one affected by the network latency issue).
Netgear has pure cable modems that target the DOCSIS 3.1 market. The modem-wireless router combos are never on the bleeding edge. This product is not for the power users who opt for the highest tier of DOCSIS 3.1.
There's no evidence this hardware is unreliable. It's quite new after all so I doubt anyone has really had time to test it. As for merging functionality, this is a common theme among electronics. Cell phones merged with digital cameras, portable GPS devices, and incorporated PC-like functionality over the years and have proven useful to quite a large segment of the world's population. In my case, I have limited power outlets so my merged DSL modem and wireless router is useful to me. It also cuts down on clutter. Sure, I'd prefer a better performing device or a few more capabilities, but I honestly don't think about it too often and as long as the hardware does what it should, there's little to worry about.
Comcast just rolled out 3.1 in my area too, and without even upgrading my speed tier I noticed lower latency and better upload throughput on my new CM1000 over my old CM600 I gave to my parents. I only have 150Mbps\25Mbps internet, so either was overkill, but who wouldn't take 7ms pings over 19ms and 30mbps uploads over 26mbps uploads for free simply because of reduced protocol overhead and better channel bonding?
The perfect design would screw directly onto a coax wall outlet. At the very least, every standalone cable modem should just be a hockey puck that you screw onto the wall, with an Ethernet out and a pass-through coax out (in case the coax is still needed by a nearby TV/cable box).
A combined cable modem + router should still be a screw-on device, just a slightly larger hockey puck, maybe with four short antenna stumps sticking out flush against the wall (called the Crab or something?) Or maybe no external antennae, since Apple, Netgear, and others have been able to do without them for some routers (like the Orbi).
There is still lots of room for improvement in the user experience for cable modems, routers, gateways, and DSL modems. There are a lot of things we could do regarding clutter, design, security, performance, Powerline and G.hn backhauls, etc. If anyone is looking for UX contributors in this space, I'm available, and you can reach me at jose.[email protected].
Mesh WiFi systems consist of the main router that connects directly to your modem, and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, placed around your house for full WiFi coverage. They are all part of a single wireless network and share the same SSID and password, unlike traditional WiFi routers. to know more - https://www.1800customercarenumber.net/blog/fix-ep...
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Wolfclaw - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
Expect to see this rebranded by Virgin Media and then borked out of existance !milkywayer - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
$400 is still a bit too much. I picked a $40 tp link 343mbps cable modem last week. You can pair that with a $60-800ish AC modem. Works as good for 1/4 the price.Sttm - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
LOL no it wont.Doesn't support gigabit speeds on the cable (though not sure how much this one does without docsis 3.1...), doesn't have a second access point, doesn't have dedicated back channel...
More like you are spending $130 for the modem, $100 for the router, and another $80 for a good extender, and even then the wifi won't be as good as the mesh with its dedicated back channel.
Samus - Wednesday, May 9, 2018 - link
You'd be crazy to get a cable modem with a Puma chipset. The problems are silicon level and Intel's firmware hacks aren't going to fix the root throughput issues, but they have negated much of the problem for CASUAL users. Good luck torrenting on a Puma 6 long term without abysmal performance or it outright crashing every few days.If you need a cheap modem and don't need gigabit cable speed, get the SB6183. They're around $60, much less refurbished (but then you gamble with activation issues.)
If you need a top notch modem, the Arris SB8200 or the Netgear CM1000 are both DOCSIS 3.1, and a theoretical 10Gbps (realistic is 6Gbps) so you'd be futureproof for the next decade on any BCM3390 chipset modem. They're both about $100.
Modems to avoid, all containing flawed Intel chipsets:
Arris:
TM1602A TG1642 TG1662A TG1672A TG2472G TG2492 (Virgin Media Hub 3)
TM1602G TG1662G TG1672G
TG1662S
DG1642 DG1660A DG1662G DG1670A DG2460A DG2470A
DG1670A/ACT
DTG1682G
MG2402
SB6190
AVM:
FRITZ!Box 6460 FRITZ!Box 6490
Cisco:
XG1-V3 DPC 3848 DPC 3848V DPC 3939
DPC3941B / DPC3941TÃ (commonly - Comcast Xfinity XB3)
Compal:
CH7465-LG (Arris TG2492LG / Virgin Media Hub 3) CH7466
Hitron:
CDA Series: CDA-32372 CDA-3-35
CDE Series: CDE-32372
CGN3 Series: CGN3, CGN3ACR,CGN3AMF, CGN3AMR, CGN3ACSMR
CGNM Series: CGNM-2250 CGNM-3552
CGNDM Series:
CGNV Series: CGNV4
Linksys:
CM3016 CM3024 CG7500
Netgear:
CG4500 CG4500TM C6300 C6300BD (Telstra Gateway Max - Australia) CM700
SMC:
D3G2408
crimson117 - Thursday, August 30, 2018 - link
Your recommendations are more like $150+, not $100. (Small difference, but still.)rtho782 - Wednesday, May 9, 2018 - link
No way VM would move to a 32x8 DOCSIS 3.0 system now, it's a sidegrade from the Superhub3.0.Next VM modem will be DOCSIS 3.1
mooninite - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
Anything Puma is trash. Also, DOCSIS 3.0 when Spectrum and others are already active with 3.1 markets? This product is DOA.ikjadoon - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
Exactly. Aanadtech, you missed that Puma has such horribly bad TCP performance that DSLReports.com wrote a test for users to confirm/deny if they had a Puma chipset in their cable modem:http://www.dslreports.com/tools/puma6
ARRIS was literally sued last year because of this steaming pile of junk: it's that bad.
https://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Arris-Sued-Ove...
ganeshts - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
You should read the article first before commenting.ganeshts - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
Netgear has pure cable modems that target the DOCSIS 3.1 market. The modem-wireless router combos are never on the bleeding edge. This product is not for the power users who opt for the highest tier of DOCSIS 3.1.Elanie - Monday, October 1, 2018 - link
cscqsmartthanyou - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
Great…why have two reliable pieces of equipment when you can have one unreliable one.PeachNCream - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
There's no evidence this hardware is unreliable. It's quite new after all so I doubt anyone has really had time to test it. As for merging functionality, this is a common theme among electronics. Cell phones merged with digital cameras, portable GPS devices, and incorporated PC-like functionality over the years and have proven useful to quite a large segment of the world's population. In my case, I have limited power outlets so my merged DSL modem and wireless router is useful to me. It also cuts down on clutter. Sure, I'd prefer a better performing device or a few more capabilities, but I honestly don't think about it too often and as long as the hardware does what it should, there's little to worry about.Slangefar - Tuesday, May 8, 2018 - link
Should be released with DOCSIS 3.1. We have 3.1 locally and the upload for 3.0 is to low.Samus - Wednesday, May 9, 2018 - link
Comcast just rolled out 3.1 in my area too, and without even upgrading my speed tier I noticed lower latency and better upload throughput on my new CM1000 over my old CM600 I gave to my parents. I only have 150Mbps\25Mbps internet, so either was overkill, but who wouldn't take 7ms pings over 19ms and 30mbps uploads over 26mbps uploads for free simply because of reduced protocol overhead and better channel bonding?JoeDuarte - Saturday, May 12, 2018 - link
The perfect design would screw directly onto a coax wall outlet. At the very least, every standalone cable modem should just be a hockey puck that you screw onto the wall, with an Ethernet out and a pass-through coax out (in case the coax is still needed by a nearby TV/cable box).A combined cable modem + router should still be a screw-on device, just a slightly larger hockey puck, maybe with four short antenna stumps sticking out flush against the wall (called the Crab or something?) Or maybe no external antennae, since Apple, Netgear, and others have been able to do without them for some routers (like the Orbi).
There is still lots of room for improvement in the user experience for cable modems, routers, gateways, and DSL modems. There are a lot of things we could do regarding clutter, design, security, performance, Powerline and G.hn backhauls, etc. If anyone is looking for UX contributors in this space, I'm available, and you can reach me at jose.[email protected].
techservice - Monday, November 26, 2018 - link
Mesh WiFi systems consist of the main router that connects directly to your modem, and a series of satellite modules, or nodes, placed around your house for full WiFi coverage. They are all part of a single wireless network and share the same SSID and password, unlike traditional WiFi routers. to know more - https://www.1800customercarenumber.net/blog/fix-ep...