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

reply to Melissa2009B

Re: [Speed] May have to switch to Comcast

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.
--
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
--
History does not long entrust the care of freedom to the weak or the timid.
-- Dwight D. Eisenhower

Yeah that's true, and yes I know what a UPS is. LOL

Don't know what EMTA is though, just that I seem to need one...

reply to Melissa2009B
(Embedded-Multimedia Terminal Adapter) A device that combines a DOCSIS cable modem and analog telephone adapter. The cable modem provides the data interface, and the telephone adapter provides the voice over IP (VoIP) interface for one or more analog telephones. The terminal adapter provides the conversion between analog voice signals and IP packets, delivers dial tone and manages the call setup.

I second NetFixer's and mrs schultz's advice. Go with the Comcast supplied EMTA for the install. There's plenty of time to purchase one later, after everything is running smoothly.

Thanks. I just called Comcast tech supt and they told me emta just means it does data and voice. Duh, huh?

They said that on their list, they recommend the TM722G and the SMCD3G-CCR, which would probably be the ones they'd bring out and install if I have them do it. Yay!

Oh ok, didn't know that. No I'm doing their Blast residential service.

Just talked to them. If I want them to install the equipment too, they will only install the gateway, not separate modem / router.

So I gotta decide - either buy my own TM 722G and wireless router, or accept their wireless gateway. AND if the router isn't theirs, they won't support that either, if I have problems.

Looks like we have to rethink this whole thing now. I just called to make sure everything was lined up for next Friday and the woman I talked to earlier was seeing if they could lock in some 6 month price breaks for us. Well now it turned out that they reneged on the whole price break deal. This rep just told me that they "have no promotions" and will be charging $120 a month for HSI and voice, which is $30 more than we even pay CenturyLink for phone and DSL now! And no 6 month break, right from the start!

This stinks!