seanm5
join:2005-07-29
West Orange, NJ
 ·Comcast
| [Connectivity] SB5120 modem has issues with Comcast?
Some of you guys may remember my posts where I was having a lot of problems with disconnects. 75 times in July, and 37 times in the first 2 weeks of August added up to 111 disconnects. Some would happen for 2 minutes, some for like 45 minutes. A few technicians came, but the problem was still going on.
After reading some posts, I finally figured out the issue - the (Motorola Surfboard) SB5120 cable modem. Ever since I replaced it with an RCA DCM425 modem by Comcast, my connection has been perfect, not one outage. I also noticed that my signal levels were better on the RCA one.
I guess this is kind of a buyer beware thread. Even though the SB5120 is listed as a supported modem, it doesn't really work well. |
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darcilicious
Cyber Librarian
Premium
join:2001-01-02
Forest Grove, OR | Re: [Connectivity] SB5120 modem has issues with Co
You're one of the very few people (if not the only one) to report such a major disconnection issue with the SB5120 -- it may have just been a bad modem. Most folks are pretty happy with their SB51xx modems (myself included(. |
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seanm5
join:2005-07-29
West Orange, NJ
·Comcast
2 edits | reply to seanm5
Re: [Connectivity] SB5120 modem has issues with Comcast?
The SB5100 model is fine as far as I know. That's the reason I went out and bought a Surfboard. Then when I was at the store, I figured the one that cost $10 more should be better. But later I learned the SB5120 has a different (weaker) chipset from Texas Instruments, and that is the problem with all of the disconnects I believe. I loved my SB5120, but I need reliability.
You can see these recent threads for more people having issues with the SB5120, so I don't think it's just me:
»[Connectivity] Problems with Comcast and SB5120 Modem
»Re: [Speed] Speed problems while playing games
»SB5120 Randomly Disconnecting
»Swapped to 5100 from 5120 and it still works?
And another thing I found wrong with the SB5120 (doesn't work in Apples Safari web browser):
»Can't Access SB5120 Config Manager W/ Macintosh
In my opinion there is no reason to buy a SB5120 - instead buy a SB5100. The only difference is the chipset, which apparently is worse, and the price (which is more). I purchased this modem and can't return it now, so I'm trying to warn people not to make the same mistake as me. |
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Morty
Premium
join:2004-09-18 | Re: [Connectivity] SB5120 modem has issues with Co
E-Bay my friend. almost "new", "barely" used lol. |
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dnoyeB
Ferrous Phallus
join:2000-10-09
Southfield, MI | reply to seanm5
Perhaps you got a bad modem. |
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hbreg
Premium
join:2000-11-09
Feasterville Trevose, PA
| reply to seanm5
said by seanm5  :In my opinion there is no reason to buy a SB5120 - instead buy a SB5100. The only difference is the chipset, which apparently is worse, and the price (which is more). I purchased this modem and can't return it now, so I'm trying to warn people not to make the same mistake as me. I have to agree with the other posters in this thread that you most likely got a bad modem. I have had the SB5120 since April and it has been running flawlessly for me, including the new upgrade.
If your area got the upgrade (which i believe all of NJ has) there are threads you can look up about people having lots of problems with the DCM425. But with most anything YMMV.
--
I try to keep an open mind, but not so open that my brains fall out. -- Judge Harold T. Stone |
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RileyRR
join:2003-01-27
Blue Bell, PA | reply to seanm5
Re: [Connectivity] SB5120 modem has issues with Comcast?
Just got my SB5120 (as a replacement for my 3Com which wouldn't get the 6MB upgrade or stay connected). Have had it installed for two days with no disconnects so far. I hadn't read too many bad things about it, so I am hopeful... |
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PGHammer
join:2003-06-09
Accokeek, MD
clubs:
·Comcast
| reply to hbreg
Re: [Connectivity] SB5120 modem has issues with Co
said by hbreg :said by seanm5 :In my opinion there is no reason to buy a SB5120 - instead buy a SB5100. The only difference is the chipset, which apparently is worse, and the price (which is more). I purchased this modem and can't return it now, so I'm trying to warn people not to make the same mistake as me. I have to agree with the other posters in this thread that you most likely got a bad modem. I have had the SB5120 since April and it has been running flawlessly for me, including the new upgrade. If your area got the upgrade (which i believe all of NJ has) there are threads you can look up about people having lots of problems with the DCM425. But with most anything YMMV. I also have the SB-5120, which replaced the SB-4100 (both are personally owned, as opposed to leased, modems). Both are solid performers even with low signals, as I am on the end of *three* splitters (and that's just from the central drop in the garage) and thus have a signal strength of -18 dBv (below the CHSI threshold, which is why I am having a technician come out to reconfigure the drops), yet I am living zippily in the silver (6000 kbps) tier (775 kb/sec download from Apple earlier). |
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