Suggestions for new DOCSIS 3.0 modem and router?

As the title states, I'm moving and need to get a new modem and router.

Depends on what you are going to be using.

First thing, I'd recommend you use a separate modem and router.

Next, do you want gigabit Ethernet, and how much do you want the very fastest wireless speeds? This basically decides the price range you're looking at - unless you have a set budget, then it's the other way around.

GameboyRMH wrote: First thing, I'd recommend you use a separate modem and router.

Are their no good combined units? Don't really have a price range, under $200 would be nice though.

iRacing, Netflix, general internet surfing. Nothing to crazy.

There are good combined units but it's an inflexible solution - you'll want to upgrade your router much more often than your modem, and if the two are stuck together, you'll have to toss a perfectly good modem.

For those things you could just get away with 100mbps ethernet, and 802.11n wifi should be good enough but 802.11ac would be a more futureproof setup - although at a hefty premium right now.

Check this out:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833892003&cm_re=Docsis_3.0_802.11n--33-892-003--Product

I was looking at this one?

http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-SURFboard-SBG6580-Packaging-570763-006-00/dp/B0040IUI46/ref=sr_1_4?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1425996569&sr=1-4&keywords=cable+modem

As long as I get a few years out of it I'm OK.

I looked at that one as well, the specs are nearly identical to the Zoom modem but it's more expensive. And it has fixed internal antennas which are never helpful.

I'm running a Motorola Surfboard and mid-level Cisco router. I'd recommend whatever you can score the best deal on. Only thing to remember is that wireless range is pretty well tied to cost. The cheap units won't cover a big house.

I'll be in a 700 sq ft 1 bd, loft style apartment. I'm not too worried about range.

Whatever you do, don't rent the thing from the cable company. My Surfboard has been chugging away for almost 3 years without a hiccup, and it cost me $60 shipped on Amazon. I've gone through a couple of routers, but that's only because I'd snag a deal on a better unit. That's the good thing about having them separate. My network has been completely changed twice, and I'm still using the same modem.

My current Surfboard modem has been chugging along for 5+ years. Had to replace the router a few years ago, but that's only because of a lightning strike, it was the only thing not plugged into the Panamax surge protector/power conditioner.

You'll almost always get a better system for less money with discrete components. Unless you're trying to stream 4k in more than one room at a time or some other crazy stuff, a dual band "300Mpbs" wireless N router should be plenty adequate. I had good luck with a cheap TP-LINK with the detachable antenna option running custom firmware (Gargoyle), but that's probably too geeky for most.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Unless you're trying to stream 4k in more than one room at a time or some other crazy stuff, a dual band wireless N router should be plenty adequate.

Hahaha no, it doesn't take anything special to bog down a wireless-N connection - you won't get even one 4k stream through. Just one or two 1080p streams will do the job - and if you have any devices on your network that only have wireless-G adapters, the speed of the entire network will be downgraded and then a single 720p stream is about as much as you can get through.

I went ahead and ordered the one I posted earlier, I've always had good luck with Motorola stuff, and being that I'll be the only one in the apt, there will only be one thing going at a time.

Unless I just have Spotify/NetFlix on the TV in the background while I screw around on my phone.