View Full Version : Which router/modem for Comcast?
Back in 2014, Jer posted this handy tip --> https://www.ar-15.co/threads/143417-PSA-Comcast-increased-their-internet-speeds?p=1798767&viewfull=1#post1798767 and I was able to get a decent modem. Well, now both our router and modem are running pretty poorly. Just wondering what the new standard is so we can stop having crap internet. Current models are D-Link DIR 810L and the above mentioned modem.
We had a Comcast guy (contractor) out on something unrelated a few months ago and he brought the poor performance to my attention (it's much worse now). He suggested this modem --> https://www.amazon.com/ARRIS-SURFboard-SB6190-DOCSIS-Cable/dp/B016PE1X5K/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1508370591&sr=1-2&keywords=Arris+SB6190
and this router --> https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-AC1750-Gigabit-Router-compatible/dp/B00Z0V2NQ8/ref=sr_1_2?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1508370623&sr=1-2&keywords=Netgear+AC1750
I'm having trouble getting good wifi on my laptop on the other side of the house (the laptop is half of the problem though, because my other devices don't seem to have an issue), and he said this combo would give me a much stronger signal. Thought I ask the people on here who are in the know. Bonus points for anything that I can get through Quill.com.
Thanks in advance. I'll take my answer off the air.
USMC88-93
10-18-2017, 18:07
Do you have phone with Comcast? That would limit the list of approved devices.
https://mydeviceinfo.xfinity.com/customerinfohttp://
No we do not. Right now we have cable and internet, soon to only have internet. My wife looked at the new price for internet only for (I think) 150mbs? and she said Comcast said we'd have to upgrade our router. So the plan is to drop cable, and have internet only by the end of this month. We have a Roku and really only watch Netflix and SlingTV. I stream a lot of Pandora and we both work from home. Plus kids are constantly watching something online at our house. So reliable, fast internet is becoming more and more important.
Some carrier (I think CenturyLink) just installed fiber in our neighborhood. Perhaps we should look into that as well. I'm reluctant to change, but if anyone has input on switching for fiber, I'm open to suggestions.
USMC88-93
10-18-2017, 18:17
As much as you want to go Internet only, you will likely get a better deal keeping some sort of video service. Strange as it may seem sometimes 2 product accounts can cost less per month than internet only. You can keep the Comcast Video converter in the closet if you do not want it but you should make sure internet only is the cheapest alternative. The link in my last post is the link to view all Comcast approved devices for your speed tier. Any DOCSIS 3.0 modem on thatt list will work for you but if you really want to have something that will not be obsolete in the foreseeable future look at the DOCSIS 3.1 offerings. That combo suggested would work for you but as always there is more than one way to get there.
My wife is in charge of finding deals, so she's already vetted the Comcast options and can get us just internet for cheaper than we're paying now, which is the lowest cable package they offer, and quite frankly isn't even worth paying for at all, in my opinion. Thanks for the link.
Looks like on that list, the only wireless router they have is the NetGear C7800, which is $400 on Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Nighthawk-Ultra-High-Compatible-Xfinity/dp/B01I8KA48G/ref=sr_1_1?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1508373181&sr=1-1&keywords=netgear+c7800
Right now I'm looking at Netgear CM1000 https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-CM1000-DOCSIS-Ultra-High-download/dp/B01I5TJGSE/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1508373698&sr=1-1&keywords=netgear+cm1000
and ASUS® AC1900 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Gigabit Router https://www.amazon.com/Dual-band-Wireless-AC1900-Gigabit-Router-RT-AC68U/dp/B00FB45SI4/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1508373754&sr=1-3&keywords=asus+ac1900+router
Anyone see any issues with this combo? Again, thank you for the input.
I just recently got the google wifi offering and think it's awesome. You get 3 little pucks that all link up and create a mesh. They cover the entire house and are way faster than anything I've used before. In terms of the actual modem I have no advice there.
https://store.google.com/us/product/google_wifi?gclid=Cj0KCQjw95vPBRDVARIsAKvPd3Kozsfs geLmFMzInXUlAjLRoZ3ua0edE9uJMQcKnn4TIDq5cTIzdP0aAk L5EALw_wcB&dclid=CPy3k6jQ-9YCFVGuTwodRkwM3w
That's interesting, thank you. My house is pretty small, but the partial lathe in the old walls, and the added on room on the other side of brick veneer makes the back room difficult for my current router to reach. I'm not sure how many devices the Google wifi can support at once, but I'm probably under that amount. However, that is inspiration to get a bigger house...
OtterbatHellcat
10-18-2017, 20:35
I wish I could help you brother, I just don't know enough about that kind of stuff.
Cant help on the cable to lan part, but the rest of it I sugest Ubiquity gear. I ended up with a security gateway, an 8 way switch and a long range access point. This allowed me to get some game boxes and pc to get off wifi. So far the ubiquiti stuff has been super solid and painless.
ChadAmberg
10-19-2017, 09:04
Cant help on the cable to lan part, but the rest of it I sugest Ubiquity gear. I ended up with a security gateway, an 8 way switch and a long range access point. This allowed me to get some game boxes and pc to get off wifi. So far the ubiquiti stuff has been super solid and painless.
Consider the Amplifi made by Ubiquity. Same quality, but designed for home use. I've had it and love it, it simply works with no hassle, no real needing to know anything.
ChadAmberg
10-19-2017, 09:06
That's interesting, thank you. My house is pretty small, but the partial lathe in the old walls, and the added on room on the other side of brick veneer makes the back room difficult for my current router to reach. I'm not sure how many devices the Google wifi can support at once, but I'm probably under that amount. However, that is inspiration to get a bigger house...
Mine is the same way and let me again say to check out the Amplifi. I have the router in the back of the house, separated from the main part by 100 year old exterior walls. In the main part of the house, I put one of the extenders that come with it, and then another extender out back in the detached garage. Absolutely no issues, and the placement of the extenders is greatly helped by LEDs that tell you when it's getting a good signal.
Okay, components purchased, thanks everyone.
Okay, components purchased, thanks everyone.
Seriously? You going to leave us hanging like that?
Sorry, I ordered the stuff that I linked earlier. Excited to have better internet reliability again.
Stuff I ordered is definitely working better than my old stuff. Stronger signal as well. I picked up a Skybell HD and that is working as it's supposed to as well.
I saw this article today and it pertains to discussion in this thread. Basically you can have this company custom 3D print you a shield for your WiFi antenna that can direct, or shield, signal to where you need it. Once you receive the shield, you wrap it in aluminum foil.
https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/08/researchers-discover-aluminum-foil-actually-does-improve-your-wireless-speed/
Great-Kazoo
11-08-2017, 18:14
Stuff I ordered is definitely working better than my old stuff. Stronger signal as well. I picked up a Skybell HD and that is working as it's supposed to as well.
I saw this article today and it pertains to discussion in this thread. Basically you can have this company custom 3D print you a shield for your WiFi antenna that can direct, or shield, signal to where you need it. Once you receive the shield, you wrap it in aluminum foil.
https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/08/researchers-discover-aluminum-foil-actually-does-improve-your-wireless-speed/
So.. for $33 less. you can cut a piece of schedule 40 pvc in half,wrap in foil, call it good.
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