The CM is a little on the tall side, but it's got a funky futuristic look. Like other Netgear modems, it has a one-year warranty. The Arris Surfboard SB was once our pick for the best cable modem thanks to its solid performance that will satisfy most home internet customers who don't pay for high-speed service, though this older modem is harder to find these days. As of this writing, Best Buy is selling the SB If you can track down the SB at a competitive price, its two-year warranty also is a big plus.
The coaxial-cable connector is a little too close to the power connector for my taste, but you're likely to have to deal with that only when setting up the modem. The SB favors a simple row of vertical indicator lights that are easy enough to spot, though the yellow lighting can be a little hard to see if your modem's in direct sunlight.
Still, it's pretty easy to glance at the SB to see if there's any issue with your internet connectivity. The modem has been certified by Comcast for use with its internet service. Arris bills the Surfboard SB as a future-facing modem, capable of handling streaming ultra HD and high-performance gaming with its 32 download and eight upload channels. Motorola's MB modem also has 32 download and eight upload channels with Active Queue Management for speeding up page loads and gaming.
A year-long warranty is the bare minimum you should accept; two years of coverage is even better. As for price, make sure to do some comparison shopping before you buy.
Retailers often offer deals on modems, so you could find the model you want — or a reasonable alternative — at a lower price than you'd normally expect. A 16 x 4 cable modem delivers enough speed to effectively serve the majority of cable customers.
You'll want one with easy-to-spot lights, though if they're too bright, they can really light up a room at night.. Also, consider the size of a modem, since a compact design blends in more easily with your other networking equipment. If your modem is vulnerable, make sure a software patch is available from your ISP. Note that the modems we've reviewed just provide internet connectivity. If you also get your phone service bundled with your internet, that requires an eMTA or telephony modem — an entirely different type of device.
These days, makers of home networking gear seem to favor modem-router combinations over standalone cable modems. It may be tempting to buy one of these hybrid networking devices instead of a separate modem and router, as you can take care of two tasks with one device. We'd advise against modem-router combos, though. First, some background: as our modem-vs. A cable modem brings internet connectivity into your home while the best routers distribute that internet connection wirelessly, so that all your devices — laptops, phones, and smart-home gadgets — can hop on the internet.
If you're dissatisfied with the reach of your network, it's a router, not a modem, that you should be in the market for. So why keep the two networking devices separate? If any part of a hybrid device fails, you're out both a modem and a router. It's also easier to upgrade individual networking devices, as routers add support for new networking features at a more rapid pace.
Modems evolve more slowly, as you can see from the number of older models still available. We test each cable modem on Comcast's Performance Pro home internet service. After running speed tests to make sure the modems are delivering their promised download speeds, we use the modems as part of regular networking setup to gauge dependability. We hook up each modem we review in our reviewer's home, using it as part of our networking setup.
That allows us to verify a modem's compatibility as well as to get a sense of its dependability. Since price is also an important consideration when modem shopping, we also monitor retail sites for the best deals on the modems we've tested. In addition to using the modems in a home with multiple connected laptops, smartphones and tablets, we also evaluate the indicator lights on each modem to see that they're visible. We look at how easy the modems are to set up. However, its most glaring drawback is that it uses the Intel Puma 6 chipset.
We hesitate to recommend modems using this chipset, which The Register reports can cause latency issues especially with online gaming. As of this writing Linksys has not released a firmware fix for the modem.
It is at times more expensive and has a shorter warranty than the Motorola MB, but the CM is a worthy alternative if the latter is unavailable. These particular modems also use the problematic Intel Puma 6 chipset, which can cause latency issues. While the modem makers have distributed updated firmware fixes to the ISPs, it is ultimately up to your cable company to support the modem. Multiple Ethernet ports are needed to connect multi-gig Like the other Netgear modems, they have a one-year warranty.
While we considered the future-proofing each modem provides, 2. In the chart above , we list which of our cable modem contenders work with which ISPs based on information from each ISP. Where applicable, we also include the maximum speeds that each ISP supports.
It promises speeds of up to 10 Gbps, increased download efficiency, and better queue management for large downloads. This means that more cable operators will be able to offer gigabit speeds over the next few years, and many already do. In order to do so, you would need a router with WAN port aggregation or a 2. Gigabit fiber internet plans are growing more popular, too. Fiber is generally faster than cable, especially in upload speeds, but it involves added cost for companies because it requires new cables and network architecture.
That installation cost is at least partially why Google Fiber dialed back plans for its broadband rollout. Those who are looking to cut wires entirely out of the equation are starting to get excited about 5G wireless internet to the home and for mobile use. Future-proofing is good in theory but difficult in practice. It might sound smart to buy the best modem available, but the interplay between the technology, your location, and the ISP means your chances of wasting money on a device that might not work in the future are higher with modems than with other types of electronics.
We surmise new modems will feature a 2. As stated above, this is more of a future-proofing move, as most ISP plans top out at 1-gigabit internet. We'll evaluate them as they become readily available. Mark Bergen, Google Fiber is pulling back on its broadband rollout as pressure grows to cut costs , Recode, August 25, Daniel Frankel, Cox revises gigabit rollout plan, now targeting to go footprintwide: report , FierceVideo, July 12, Joel Santo Domingo is a senior staff writer covering networking and storage at Wirecutter.
Previously he tested and reviewed more than a thousand PCs and tech devices for PCMag and other sites over 17 years. Our pick. Buying a Docsis 3. This would be great if you wanted to connect a gaming console directly to the modem for the best speeds and then connect your home router to the second. The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change.
Every editorial product is independently selected. If you buy something through our links, New York may earn an affiliate commission. Account Profile. Sign Out. Photo: Courtesy Columbia Pictures. Tags: the strategist people's choice electronics computers.
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