US Cable Support > Comcast HSI > [Speed] May have to switch to Comcast

reply to Melissa2009B

Re: [Speed] May have to switch to Comcast

We have a UBC modular house ( on a foundation ) and it has insulation and plastic sheet under it, so running ethernet cables compromises that. Plus we have a cockatoo in one office, who has destroyed every ethernet cable we tried to put in there, until we finally went wireless.

reply to PeteC2
Can anyone else verify this about their wireless?

But ok, they charge $50 for installation without wireless and $100 with it, which is odd because I assume without it, they have to run wires in the crawl space?

But hypothetically, say we didn't get wireless. They run ethernet?

Our Roku boxes are wireless only. So how do we watch streaming without them, if they run ethernet to the TV's?

What Pete was saying is don't get the Comcast Wireless Gateway - it is known to be less-than-stellar performance wise. Using YOUR OWN wireless router (no ethernet required) is perfectly OK; you just don't want the modem and router to be one unit. As far as the install fees, the $100 is if they install THEIR wireless gateway, which you DON'T want. They will NOT run ethernet anywhere, though they will give you 1 ethernet cable to plug in 1 computer next to the modem or to connect to your router, which will then provide the wireless signal to everything else. This isn't complicated really, but you may wind up having to learn a few things about networking you didn't have to know before - in the long run you'll have a network you can depend on, and hopefully save some bucks on your phone service as well. There are articles on basic networking and routers all over the internet you can peruse before making your final decision. If you are totally uncomfortable with this, find a computer-knowledgeable friend you can trust (or be prepared to pay a computer professional who comes highly recommended) who can hook all this up and get it running for you.

The good thing about getting a Comcast Digital Voice / Internet bundle is it will probably be cheaper if ordered together and you can try the CDV (they'll give you a new number) and see if you like it BEFORE you port your existing number and then cancel CenturyLink. (DO NOT cancel CenturyLink until your number is COMPLETELY ported - this can cause the porting to fail and you could lose your number)

You should be able to get great internet for your business AND entertainment needs, as well as far better phone service that does what you need, at some degree of savings; and you'll have a LOT more flexibility down the road when/if your needs change.

No, I set up this network here, myself. I'm just not so familiar with all the official terms. The difference between a gateway and a router, for example. They run the cable. At the cable ( if I dont want to rent ) I need a [....] and/or a [....] for wireless?

All I need to get right are the terms here ( and maybe the best models for me to buy? ), I know how to set the stuff up.

Just for some background on me, I have an ASET ( Associate in Science in Electronics Technology ), admittedly from 1969 which gives away my age and have held an advanced amateur radio license since then too.

So the big question is whether to let them set up the wireless for me first, then swap it out for better gear, or just get my own better gear to begin with.

Oh, and this house is about 80 feet from end to end, so if possible it would be nice to get a wireless unit with a little more power?

SO we need their cable run to the middle of the house ( I already have a shelf installed there, ready for this. ) Then we need one or two devices ( a [....] and/or a [....] ) to get from their cable to two of our Roku boxes wirelessly, and two of our PC's wirelessly, at full speed ahead.

And yes, I get excited about the prospect of totally dumping all services from CenturyLink ( which we refer to here, as "Banana Republic Phone Company ).

Update: I just called Comcast and added the phone service too, and the guy said that he didn't understand why people wouldn't think their wireless gizmo wouldn't be the best. he said I could google it - that it was rated #1 by PC Magazine, but he didn't know the model number. He said it's a wireless gateway modem, is the way he described it. Comments?

reply to Melissa2009B

OK, thanks for explaining that last part. I tried googling them and was still a little confused. So the cable modem hooks up to the cable, and the router goes into that somehow ( wired or wirelessly? ) and then you route all your home devices through the router?

But doesn't that just add another speed bump or something to fail?

And does it cost double to buy both, instead of getting it all in the gateway?

When you say ; "compromises (AKA, jack of all trades and master of none)", is that something that I, as a home user, would be concerned about, or more for a sophisticated network guru in a workplace?

Great, thanks!

Edit: I'm looking around and see recommendations for a Docsis 3 modem and Wireless N router.

Look at this in a refurb:

»www.amazon.com/NetGear-WNR3500L-···-catcorr

Now I'm getting somewhere. Just called Comcast and they gave me:
»mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/

Are you getting phone service as well or did you change your mind on that? Also are you getting residential or business class service?

If getting phone service I'd rent the modem from Comcast since they will replace it if there is a problem. If getting only internet now but adding phone later you'll need to decide if you want to get your own modem now that can do phone so you don't have to replace it. (a normal modem doesn't have the phone jack)

As for that router, it looks OK, although I prefer ones with external antenna. Everyone will suggest different ones, I've had good luck with Buffalo:

»www.amazon.com/Buffalo-Technolog···9&sr=1-2

Gonna try the phone service too, and we're getting the Blast! residential service, so it appears I need a DOCSIS 3.0 Telephony Modem from that recommended list? Or will any DOCSIS 3.0 Telephony Modem do?

That router looks like a fantastic deal though, but will I ever need everything it can do? Doubt it. I don't even know what all that stuff is, they say it can do. LOL!

Here's something on the Rangemax. It doesn't appear to suffer from lack of external antenna:

»support.netgear.com/app/answers/···chnology

Just found a good price on the Arris TM822G Touchstone® DOCSIS 3.0 8x4 Ultra-High Speed Telephony Modem, at Amazon, but some people up until just recently said that Comcast won't activate it, then one said they can now.

That refurbed router with RangeMax says it can reach 500 feet.

Just looked on Amazon for that modem, only available from 3rd party sellers and they look shady.

If you like that router go ahead, you could get it now, set it up by plugging it into your DSL setup and get everything connected to it, then when Comcast is installed plug the router into the cable modem. That's what I did when switching from DSL to Comcast HSI, made the switch pretty quick and seamless.

reply to Melissa2009B

Oh ok, good idea. And if it works great, I may as well just buy one exactly like it and replace it.

Thanks!

Melissa, not to complicate things (just the opposite) - a few "points?"

1. If you are getting internet only then bying your own modem makes a lot of sense. Buy either the Zoom 5341J (best recommendation) or the Motorola SB6121 (very close second). At any rate, you only want a Docsis 3.0 modem, and yes, it needs to be on Comcast's approved list. (even if someone says it "should" work...even if they are from Comcast...take that with a grain of salt!)

2. If you are going to get voice and internet...rent Comcast's eMTA modem...buying is very, very limited, and it is at best a crapshoot that you will save any money over renting. BTW, there is no guarantee that the Arris TM822g can be provisioned for Comcast. The only user-owned eMTA currently allowed is the Arris TM722G, and only if bought from an authorized Comcast re-seller such as select Best Buy stores - and it really is not all that good a deal.

3. Whether you go "wireless" or not, Comcast hooks you up to one cable entry point...there will be no additional cabling supplied past that point.

4. As you have already run your own network, setting up one for a Comcast connection is duck soup! As they say "So easy, even a cave man (woman) could do it!"

5. Along that line: I recommend avoiding refurb routers. Yes, you will spend a few more bucks on a new router, but keep in mind what an important role that router plays in your network (precisely why wireless gateways are such losers!). You have a lot of info flowing through your network for internet access, t.v. and movies, etc. If you want an absolute no-brainer, quality set up, consider the Linksys EA2700, 3500, or 4500 routers. Just my opinion, but do it once, do it right, and you will have no regrets later.

I know, logic would make you think that a single device such as a wireless gateway would simplify your set up and ensure more stable operation, being one less device in the chain...it is just the opposite!

If you stick with a separate modem (or eMTA if you have voice) and a stand alone router, you will find that you have better range, easier trouble-shooting if you do ever have an issue, and all around better flexibility to get the best set up for your home environment.
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Deeds, not words

Pete,

I guess I resent that they only have a list of very old modems that are "approved" AND I have to buy them only at absolute retail price from an "approved" dealer? Sounds like they're trying as hard as they can, to make it where you HAVE to rent from them instead of buying. Yes, the prices on their older model "approved" modems may be quadruple what something like that TM822g sells for. What a coincidence.

Well if a cave man could do it, maybe a 63 year old electronics tech could even do it. LOL

And yes on the router! BUT it appears from the reviews, that in this one case ( NetGear WNR3500L-100NAS Rangemax Wireless-N Gigabit Router with USB (Factory Refurbished) ), you're getting new and wonderful guts in a refurbed router AND the Rangemax apparently means a 500 foot range, without an external antenna! Whoa!

So if I want that router, and voice, I guess I just rent their darned modem and use my own router like this one.

I called Comcast. Bless them, they're open 24/7 here in Denver.
They said I don't have to buy from an authorized dealer, just make sure not to buy a used one where someone hasn't paid their bill and it cant be activated, so only buy new and from their list. If it's not on their list and I call for troubleshooting, I'm SOL. So that's good to know.

So I just spent half an hour calling Best Buy and getting transferred all over the place. It seems that they don't carry Comcast modems in all their stores and only one store in the area has a Comcast specialist. I called that store, she was busy, but will call me back.

But one guy said I need to make sure that whatever modem I get, not only has voice, but battery backup for it, so we don't lose phones if the power goes out. hadn't thought of that. Now I need to find one on their list that does all that.

On their list at »mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/
what do IMS NCS or SIP mean?

I cant reach the "Specialist" at Best Buy, she won't call me back. I cant deal with them, which is why I never shop there.

Can someone please recommend a good lower cost readily available modem with voice and L-ion backup battery, from the above list?

The information you got from the Comcast rep likely only applies to standard cable modems, not to emta voice modems (and that has always been true for standard cable modems). Unless Comcast has very, very recently changed their policy, you can only use an emta voice modem with their CDV service if you obtain it from them, or from one of their authorized resellers (such as Bestbuy..and as you have found out, not all Bestbuy stores are authorized Comcast resellers).

I think that most (if not all) emta modems come with an internal battery backup, but even if you found one that you can use that does not have an internal battery backup, you can always use an external UPS* device to power it. I have several UPS boxes for all of my modems, routers, switches, servers, cordless phone base station, etc, and I keep a charged spare UPS and several charged spare batteries.

* Uninterruptible Power Source
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