Reddit reviews TP-Link DOCSIS 3.0 (16x4) High Speed Cable Modem, Max Download Speeds of 686Mbps, Certified for Comcast XFINITY, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Charter, Spectrum (TC-7620)

I inherited a 12 RU Mid-Atlantic rack and just had to upgrade some things.

Top to bottom:

• Asus RT-ACRH13
  
• Furman PL-8 II
  
• Furman M-8x
  
• Trendnet 12 port patch panel
  
• TP Link TL-SG1024S
  
• Shelf with 5 Raspberry Pis. 4 Pi W Zeros and 1 Pi2 running Pi-Hole, rTorrent, and DuckDNS
  
• Second shelf with Crestron CEN-POE-5, Edge Router ER-X, cheap ass dynex fast ethernet switch and TP Link modem
  
• Not pictured is a TP Link EAP225
  
  Also link to my old lab
  

Unfortunately the 343 and 686 advertised speeds on modems are a bit of a scam. What really matters is the number of upstream and downstream channels. Your modem has 8 down and 4 up channels. For most ISPs, an 8x4 modem will max out at 100 Mbps. You need a 16x4 to get your full 200 Mbps like this one

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CVOLKKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_wRjazbH7Z9SED

That is a modem only, you'd still need a router. If you prefer a combo, you could get the sbc6900-ac

The other option would be to just downgrade your service to 100 Mbps so you aren't paying for service you can't use.

Oh, I figured it out. It's the fine print kind of shit.

After 12 months you pay "retail rates" which can make your bill go up $10-$20.

They recently raised rates on renting the cable modem. I got a Docsis 3.0 686Mbps modem for $75 on Amazon that paid for itself.

I tell everyone to buy their own modem. The ones they give you are old, used, and beaten up.

Edit:

List of compatible modems. Most can be purchased for under $100.

https://www.timewarnercable.com/content/dam/residential/pdfs/support/internet/twc-compatible-modems.pdf

Save yourself a huge headache and buy yourself your own equipment. Keep your own hardware and save yourself some rental fees each month and supply yourself with solid and reliable WiFi.

My equipment:

• TP-Link DOCSIS 3.0 (16x4) High Speed Cable Modem | Max Download Speeds Up to 680Mbps
  
• Linksys AC1900 Dual Band Open Source WiFi Wireless Router (WRT1900ACS)
  
  Spectrum has their recommended modems (which interface properly with them).
  
  http://www.spectrum.net/support/internet/compliant-modems-charter-network/

for 120Mbps, you'd be fine with a 8 or 16 channel modem. A 16 channel modem would be a little more future-proof.

Modem: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Cable-Download-680Mbps-Certified/dp/B01CVOLKKQ

Router: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-AC1750-Smart-WiFi-Router/dp/B00BUSDVBQ

Total would be around $150 + any tax.

I'm on Comcast and recently switched to https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CVOLKKQ

You could also get away with the 343 model at the speeds in your area. Unlike what the other guy said I wouldn't recommend trying to find the exact minimum model to meet your needs, for 40 dollars you can get something that will do 10x that, 60 20x - why gamble on old/bottom of the barrel in that case? Arris also has a lot of good modems. I always recommend getting a modem+router, not a combo box.

The combo boxes tend to either be shitty routers, shitty modems, or both. This is why I went with that TP Link in particular, plug it in and it literally does nothing but bridge your connection out (there is a page you can connect to to see the signal strength if you want but there aren't settings to tweak).

As for routers get something modern with AC and 5 GHz support but don't spend a ton on it. All of them will be fast enough for your needs by at least a factor of 10, if you need extreme range look at getting 2 with a model that supports "AP mode". Wireless-wireless extenders should be avoided, as should buying an expensive wireless router and expecting it to cover the same area as 2x normal wireless router.

This is what i have been using for my parents and my houses over the last three years.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CVOLKKQ/

Seems prices have gone up a bit. I sort of remember paying ~$42 on Prime.
Either way, its yours, pays for itself and no end of service return nightmare. Comcast won't make your cable a public hotspot, either.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CVOLKKQ/

I have Optimum 400 (no voice) and i got this last year, been solid and i get real good speeds. I also xbox (overwatch) with zero issues

Well, there's many things to consider when having a "fast internet". The plan, modem, and router.

The plan is what you have bought from the ISP, make sure the speed you're getting is adequate. Second, make sure you're getting the speed with the equipment that you have.

The modem is the one that interfaces with your ISP and your router. It's very important that you have a DOCSIS 3.0 modem so that you can take advantage of the speed provided by your ISP. The ISP also leases modems to its customers but you can also get your own. ISP modems are clunky and usually prone to drops (Thanks Time Warner). I personally own my own modem which is this TP Link DOCSIS 3.0 modem.

The router is the equipment that distributes your internet adequately to ALL devices on your network. Routers today usually also have an Access Point (wifi).

There's so much to explain and there's a lot of details to go through.

• What're you planning to use the internet for?
  
• How many devices do you have connected?
  
• How many are wireless and how many are wired?
  
• How much coverage do you need for your wifi?

I found one that does 600mbps for around $60 but there is one for $10 more that does 1gbps

Edit: Motorola 24x8 Cable Modem, 1000 Mbps, Model MB7621, Approved by Comcast XFINITY, Charter Spectrum, Suddenlink, CableOne and more https://www.amazon.com/dp/B077BL65HS/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_qT0OAbQGAJ3VV

Vs

TP-Link TC-7620 DOCSIS 3.0 (16x4) Cable Modem. Max Download Speeds Up to 680Mbps. Certified for Comcast XFINITY, Spectrum, Cox, and more. Separate Router is Needed for Wi-Fi https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CVOLKKQ/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_lU0OAb88TXKHX

The modem is certified to work on Xfinity at those speeds
https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-DOCSIS-Certified-XFINITY-TC-7620/dp/B01CVOLKKQ