Gdiguy said:I'm seeing some comments on the SB6141 (refurbs with old firmware versions in particular) having firmware issues on Time Warner - either of you guys have any experience with that? I probably should get one as well
Few, if any, professional reviewers have taken the time to test cable modems. But we’re confident based on our research that the Surfboard 6141 is the best DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem available today for those with super fast Internet service. The slightly older 6121 is a more economical alternative for more economical service plans but that $10 in savings will definitely be cut short as the 6141 will stay relevant for at least a year or two longer when your carrier requires DOCSIS 3.0.
Dernells Casket n Flagon said:The slightly older 6121 is a more economical alternative for more economical service plans but that $10 in savings will definitely be cut short as the 6141 will stay relevant for at least a year or two longer when your carrier requires DOCSIS 3.0.
weeba said:Any warranty concerns with going refurb? It's basically $25-30 cheaper than new. (new 6121 costs the same as refurb 6141)
weeba said:I'm at performance internet now (supposed to be 25mb). Looks like blast might only be $10 more, which is defintely offset by the $8 savings in returning the modem. Just would have to see if it screws with my other discounts, since I'm only 4 months into my contract.
Smiling Joe Hesketh said:
I just bought a new 6141 and looked into the refurb. User reviews urged me to stay away; apparently some of the refurbs are the black case models which were technically commercial units and won't work with Comcast's network.
I'd just go new, honestly. I just swapped out Camcast's shitty end of life modem with a 6141 and I get light speeds now.
Corsi said:
Interesting. I hadn't opened the box that it was shipped in yet, but the photo on ebay was of the white case model. Hopefully I don't run into any issues.
BC1994 said:What if one has phone service through Comcast? This all-in-one modem, router, phone thing keeps losing signals, keeps losing internet, etc. I forget the exact model number...
I know, I know... landlines are for geezers...
weeba said:
Any comments on this router?
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0049YQVHE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
ASUS Dual-Band Wireless-N 600 Router (RT-N56U)
Joe Sixpack said:
I don't really understand this statement. The 6121 also supports DOCSIS 3.0. It also supports download speeds of up to 172mbit, so I'm not worried about it becoming obsolete any time soon.
Couperin47 said:
6121 hardware can do bonded channels, but not as many as the 6141, the fastest new speeds TW and Comcast are or soon will be offering cannot be implemented on a 6121. If you know you're never going to want to pay the premium for say symmetrical 50/50 or 30/100 then you don't have to care. OTOH for $15/20 dollars difference...the 6141 is future proofing yourself.
Joe Sixpack said:
Thanks. That is a helpful explanation. I wish I had known that when I bought my 6121 3 months ago.
Corsi said:So I'm getting about 110mbps when plugged directly into the SB6141, but it drops to like 15mbps when going through the router. The router is old and probably lousy, so I want to go out and pick up a new one today at Best Buy.
I know I'll take a bath buying from Best Buy, but I need one in order to do some work tonight. Considering I have the Blast internet from Comcast, what's the best router I can buy from Best Buy in the $40-$50 range?
Couperin47 said:
Define 'router'.. do you mean a wireless router or literally just something to connect directly to a computer, in which case you could just use a fast switch.... also since you're going to be limited to just a few brands, don't overlook Walmart which will also have a similarly lousy selection of 2 or 3 major brands (but a Netgear is a Netgear no matter the provenance ...)
ThePrideofShiner said:Just bought the 6141 on Amazon for $96 after tax.
I live in an apartment and my all-in-one Comcast modem/router is set up 30 feet from my laptop, but I rarely have better than 20 mbps despite paying for Blast. When I plug my laptop into the all-in-one using the ethernet cord, then I generally have lightning fast internet. So, I assume it is their crappy hardware. Anyway, hoping this solves that problem, and it will save me money in the long run.
Couperin47 said:
1. Does you laptop have b/g wireless or b/g/n wireless ? If the first, you're restricted to 54 Mbps, and that's the theoretical rate: in the real world you're doing great if you get 60% of that. To do any better you're going to have to upgrade either your internal or add an external wifi (usb plug in) that can do some version of 'n'.
2. N comes in tons of 'flavors'.. minimally N150 on the 2.4 band does... 65 Mbps. At the other end an N900 when connected to the newest AC2300 wifi can do 300 Mbps on 2.4 band. Theoretical rates on the 5 Ghz band can go much higher, but range is substantially less and 5 Ghz does not penetrate walls and sold stuff nearly as well.
3. If your laptop 'has N" find out what N...most do no more than N300 to N600, any N wireless router over $50 will handle that..of course some do much better than others... the ASUS line are safe bets at most pricepoints these days.
4. If your laptop does "a", that's a superset of n, generally only found on things shipping in last 18 months, and, again, 'a' comes in speeds running from 580 to 2300.
If your eyes haven't already glazed over get a handle on the details here: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-basics/32175-how-fast-can-your-wi-fi-go
derekson said:
"a" was the wifi on the 5 Ghz band before N. AC is the new high speed wifi.
Couperin47 said:
1. Does you laptop have b/g wireless or b/g/n wireless ? If the first, you're restricted to 54 Mbps, and that's the theoretical rate: in the real world you're doing great if you get 60% of that. To do any better you're going to have to upgrade either your internal or add an external wifi (usb plug in) that can do some version of 'n'.
2. N comes in tons of 'flavors'.. minimally N150 on the 2.4 band does... 65 Mbps. At the other end an N900 when connected to the newest AC2300 wifi can do 300 Mbps on 2.4 band. Theoretical rates on the 5 Ghz band can go much higher, but range is substantially less and 5 Ghz does not penetrate walls and sold stuff nearly as well.
3. If your laptop 'has N" find out what N...most do no more than N300 to N600, any N wireless router over $50 will handle that..of course some do much better than others... the ASUS line are safe bets at most pricepoints these days.
4. If your laptop does "a", that's a superset of n, generally only found on things shipping in last 18 months, and, again, 'a' comes in speeds running from 580 to 2300.
If your eyes haven't already glazed over get a handle on the details here: http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-basics/32175-how-fast-can-your-wi-fi-go
ThePrideofShiner said:
I have no idea what any of that means. But I do own a Netgear N 300 wireless router WNR2000 (at least that is what it says on the back). It worked great when I had Charter before I moved and Comcast told me I had to use their modem/router.
Couperin47 said:
If you don't have their phone service, you don't HAVE to use their equipment, you can buy an SB6141 and connect it's output to the Netgear N300. If you have their phone service, you have to use their equipment to connect your wired phones, but, with a proper splitter, you can attach the SB6141 + Netgear N300 and use them for everything else. Note you need a very high quality splitter, best provided and installed by Comcast or someone who knows what they are doing.
ThePrideofShiner said:
I don't have phone service, so I'm good to go. I do have a portable cell phone tower from AT&T, but that is another story entirely.
Couperin47 said:
One caveat, this all assumes your Comcast service is via coax cable, if you're one of the few lucky bastards to have fibre optic directly into your home, you can't do any of this and I hate your guts...