I recently found out that my normally cost-conscious father has been renting his modems from his ISP for like 25 years and for Christmas I want to give him the gift of not having to pay $15 a month to Comcast anymore, but I was hoping for some guidance.

He’s currently paying for 800mb/s and they have him Arris TG3482G wireless gateway.

He lives in a ~1700 sf one story (plus basement) housee. All three bedrooms (and maybe the kitchen?) are wired with with ethernet jacks if that matters. Both he and my mom have said the signal in their bedroom can occasionally get spotty (in the rough sketch of their house below, the router is in the basement roughly on the X, room with occasional coverage issues is red square). That initially made me think maybe I should look into a mesh network, but then I realized it could just be that the signal on those modem/router combos really is that bad and a decent traditional modem could suffice.

Their internet usage typically consists of your run of the mill web surfing and occasional streaming. My dad also works from home over the wired connection.

They recently moved their landline over to Xfinity, so the modem requires voice. The modems xfinity lists as compatible with their plan:

  • NetgearCM2050V
  • Motorola MT8733
  • Arris T25
  • Netgear CM1150V
  • Arris SBV3202
  • Netgear C7100V
  • Motorola MT7711
  • Arris SVG2482AC
  • Arris SBV2402

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Any thoughts on which modem and router would best fit their situation and needs? Obviously the CM2050V appears to be the superior modem on the list, but also seems like a overkill given their plan and usage habits (unless it’d be a good idea for a bit of future proofing in case their plan ever gets upgraded?).

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https://preview.redd.it/t4u5ysbfcl2c1.png?width=1714&format=png&auto=webp&s=1fdd52b6961209600b2850c5d1cb377b641c7e00

  • JerseyboyhamBEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    I have always owned my own modems and routers. Never had an issue. Now using eero+ mesh routers. Great service throughout my house and even detached garage.

  • val319BEnglish
    1·
    1 year ago

    So here’s the deal you’re in the 1.2 gig zone. Shit ain’t cheap. All troubleshooting happens on your end. Cables, cords and issues are on you.

    If you are unfamiliar there’s no such thing as limiting speeds. Roku? It’s a lie. Asus you can go in a restrict and slow. It’s work. Other option you shut down when you get close. You get 3 complementary overages a year last I knew. The issue you. Can’t fight the speed. It’s gonna go as fast as it can. Speed used to be a 75 modem and router. It’s not. My modem was 150, had a coupon. Wi-Fi. What’s your budget. Unless you’re buying to slow there will be many instances you need to take the xfi unlimited deal.