O Canada! > Canadian > TekSavvy > DCM475 vs MOTOROLA 6120

DCM475 vs MOTOROLA 6120

my 475 has 4 channels bonded. even if the 475 had 8 downstream channels bonded, at the current 15 megs it doesn't really matter.. they are both D3 modems, they should both be fine. Thompson made my speedtouch 516 modems which have lasted years so far. if they put the same quality into the 475, they should work for a while.

reply to Aftcomet
8 channel bonding is not currently used, but it makes the DCM475 more future-proof, whereas the Motorola one has been used for quite a bit of time by a lot of people, so you know it's reliable (not that DCM475 isn't reliable)

reply to Aftcomet
I bought a 6120 for myself. Getting TSI Cable in September. The only reason I bought it was because I got a pretty good deal for one in the US.

From what I've seen so far on these forums though, (minus the 6120 firmware push fiasco), I've little to no complaints about either modem. Unless you can get one at a very good price on your own, you're better off buying the DMC475 from TSI and getting the activation fee discount.

Plus it has more channel bonding capabilities than the 6120. It's a moot point for now, but it might come in handy in the next few years. Either way, I don't think you can go wrong with either of those two modems.

reply to Roop
Thompson modems are junk. You must be the exception to the rule... (your feeble line speed might be why your modem has already lasted around 4 times longer than normal) expect your modem to disintegrate today or tomorrow. Like i said before Motorola modems on average will last about ten times longer than a Thompson modem because of where the components are manufactured. The old adage "it doesn't pay to save a dollar" is oh so true when it comes to modems.

I must be another exception to the rule. Used a Thomson Speedtouch 516 for 3 years on DSL and worked great. I have just recently switched to TSI cable using the DCM475 and so far no problems, which can't be said for the SB6120 users (even though the cause was a firmware push from Rogers.)

reply to Farmer Chuck

I am going to have to agree with the motorola.
I have never had any motorola modem die.
Over the course of the last 5 years, I had 2 thompson ST516 break.

reply to Aftcomet
In my experience Motorola beats Thompson by a long shot!

reply to Aftcomet
Best to have kept the same thread going as it gets confusing really.
As for whats the best/better? thats like asking what kind of car people like....
Different people are going to like different products for a multitude of reasons not limited to: technical specs, personal experience,emotional purchase, price at time of purchase, reccommendation of someone and on and on.
What did I get? like in the previous thread I got a '475.
Its works, its not hot. End of story
In the end you have to make up your own mind(not everyone making it up for you), satisfy yourself and be happy with it.
And in my trade experience you can't hang everything on a name any more well you can thats up to you I have seen way different.

--
Southern Ontario,Canada

No question, I mean Motorola itself, their modems may be great but their mobile phones have just gone to **** in the past few years with locked bootloaders, absolutely pathetic update pace and the nightmare that is Motoblur and this comes from the company that's had several major hits in the mobile sector over the years.

Another one is HP, up until my dv2310-ca I had no issues with them, but that laptop was a disaster. Then my later dv7 series, no major complaints to report. Every manufacturer has their hits and misses and as far as I am concerned, the DCM475 is a Thomson hit and is well worth picking up especially since it comes with the activation discount.

EDIT: Fully expecting that, but I don't really care, if I had been buying a modem when I switched, I would have taken the DCM475, heck I've know 2 people with Thomson Speedtouch DSL modems that are over 5 years old, neither one has had a single issue.

reply to Aftcomet
I have only personally used Thomson's DSL modem for a few months and they were alright but I have been using a Motorola SB5101 for about 8 years and have never had any issues with them.

I think it's a bit of personal preference but I would take the SB6120 over the DCM475 any day.

reply to Tyreman
I'll chime in as well. 5 year old ST516 working just fine. It had a 400 day uptime until somebody unplugged it from its UPS. I've also got a DCM475 for the last month and it runs perfectly. Both just sit on desks.

Let the lynching begin!

reply to zinc

reply to Aftcomet
Just wait till Rogers pushes an update to the 475's...... here comes the shit storm... lol

reply to Aftcomet
I'm trying to decide between the DCM475 and SB6120, but I don't have the context to understand how much of a difference the channel bonding makes.

The Motorola spec page states that the 6120 supports bonding 4 channels up and 4 down, while the DCM475 supports 4 up and 8 down.

But then, confusingly, the spec page for the 6121 says the same 4/4 limit as the 6120. What's going on -- is there a diference between the two?

How much is 4 vs 8 downstream channel going to make in the midterm? Does anyone know the practical limitations of 4 channels? IE, if 4 channels can support up to 100mbit, I don't see the need for 8 in the current Canadian broadband climate. I'll be happy to buy another modem when I can get 100mbit+ srevice at a reasonable price.

I'm just trying to clear up the confusing similarities, both for myself, and for others who find this thread. Thanks for any advice.

Technicolor DCM475 page: »www.technicolor.com/en/hi/digita···s/dcm475
Moto SB6120 page: »www.motorola.com/Video-Solutions···20_US-EN
Moto SB6121 opage: »www.motorola.com/Video-Solutions···21_US-EN

SB6120 vs 6121 is slightly different firmware and a different case ... I would imagine it must have a different chipset inside. But for all practical purposes, they are identical.

In the medium term (greater than a couple years) Rogers MAY choose to bond more than 4 channels ... After all, Rogers is only distributing 4/4 modems to their customers at the moment.

The Technicolor/RCA/Thomson modem may or may not be good ... I personally wouldn't buy TCE products if I had a choice based on past experience - but that doesn't include their modems.

So going with a 4/4 or 8/4 modem at this stage probably isn't going to be a significant matter in the overall scheme of things ... maybe in a few years it might but with downstream speeds currently available with 4/4 it's most unlikely that unless they start allowing much higher data transfer caps, it's not going to matter for most net users.

reply to Aftcomet
SB6120 uses the exact same firmware as the SB6121 check their release notes, they clearly state that the firmware is for all SB612x modems.