Which modem?

[Pablo]

1. Arris Surfboard SB8200
2. Netgear Nighthawk C7000
3. Motorola MB8600
4. TP-Link Archer C7
5. Asus RT-AC68U

 

[dogememe]

some of those are just routers not modems. What is your ISP? What is your internet speed plan? How large of a property? What are your performance needs?

 

[Quattro Pete]

2, 4, and 5 are not modems.

 

[mk378]

#2 the Netgear C7000 is a 3.0 cable modem and router combo.

OP does need to clarify. If you are using a major cable ISP they probably support mid-split 3.1. I don't know if the MB8600 is mid-split capable, the SB8200 is not. #4 and 5 are discontinued wifi router-only devices with small CPU and not that suitable for triple-digit speeds.

Cable Internet in general should only be considered where you can't get fiber.

 

[AandPDan]

The Asus and TP-Link are routers and considered "end of life" so likely no additional support will be offered. The Netgear modem/router is also "end of life."

 

[JavierH19]

Is it even possible to change that out? They make it all proprietary and locked down from what I know. I got att fiber as of recently and they have this white box that's an all in one unit modem and router and it's not bad.

 

[mk378]

AT&T fiber in particular makes it really hard to use your own router, but that is not the topic of this thread.

 

[mdtn952]

I've always gravitated towards the Motorola/Arris brand...never a hardware problem.

 

[BrendanC]

more importantly, do you need an “aftermarket” modem or do you need better wifi coverage/speed? what is the root problem.

 

[Quattro Pete]

#2 the Netgear C7000 is a 3.0 cable modem and router combo.

Oops, my bad.

In any case, in my experience, an all-in-one device isn't the best from performance/reliability standpoint. Best to separate the modem from the router.

 

[JavierH19]

AT&T fiber in particular makes it really hard to use your own router, but that is not the topic of this thread.

From what the installer told me I can go into the settings to disable the wifi radios and plug the ethernet cable for the living room into the wired ethernet port and connect to a better wifi router in the living room where the signal would be centered to the whole house and only use that if I wanted so devices don't go crazy switching all the time but I still have to use the white box as the gateway but it performs fine so I'll leave it alone.

 

[JeffKeryk]

I hate computers.

 

[fsdork]

From what the installer told me I can go into the settings to disable the wifi radios and plug one of the ethernet cables for the living room into the wired ethernet port and connect a better wifi router to that cable and only use that if i wanted so devices don't go crazy switching all the time but I still have to use the white box as gateway but it performs fine so I'll leave it alone.

Or, there is the option to take a hybrid approach - kill one of the two WiFi bands on your ISP router, and make a wired connection to a second router to handle the other frequency. I did this to keep some of my devices from dropping into 2.4GHz when I didn't want them to. Since they only know the 5GHz (ISP) router exists, it's 5GHz or nothing.

This also keeps my "smart home" 2.4GHz devices on the secondary router.

 

[Pablo]

Sorry thought they were modem part numbers. Blame AI

I don’t want or need a router

 

[DCDG]

Best option is to use the isp’s modem or NID and branch off using your own router

 

[Pablo]

some of those are just routers not modems. What is your ISP? What is your internet speed plan? How large of a property? What are your performance needs?

I have a router wired to my existing modem

My modem is old

Astound broadband said my modem is ancient. I need to check what they recommend. I just asked AI what are good modems with Astound

 

[Pew]

Hmmm, does Astound offer a modem or are you set on using your own?

 

[Pablo]

Hmmm, does Astound offer a modem or are you set on using your own?

I can lease but $12 and $ service call

 

[Quattro Pete]

I have a router wired to my existing modem

My modem is old

Astound broadband said my modem is ancient. I need to check what they recommend. I just asked AI what are good modems with Astound

Their website has some recommendations:
https://www.astound.com/support/internet/bring-your-own-modem/#modem

 

[John Galt]

Eero is my recommendation. They can act alone, more than one will link up to the base like a repeater or mesh network and can be placed throughout the house and outside to create a total surround WiFi network.

https://www.amazon.com/eero-reliable-gigabit-connect-Coverage/dp/B08ZK2BHP2