Reddit reviews TP-Link DOCSIS 3.0 (8x4) High Speed Cable Modem | Max Download Speeds Up to 343Mbps | Certified for XFINITY, Spectrum, Cox, and More (TC-7610-E)

TP-Link DOCSIS 3.0 (8x4) Cable Modem (TC-7610-E)

Was original listed at $50. Then the price dropped to $30, so I picked one up. But it seems the price has risen again.

> If you did have the two separate devices and the internet craps out, how would you identify whether the problem is with the router, the modem, or the ISP? And even then, either way isn't the end result the same (you're temporarily without internet service)?

Usually you can troubleshoot each one individually. For instance you can plug a computer straight into the modem and see if you have internet without the router in the mix. But yes, you are without service either way. However replacing the faulty piece is usually cheaper.

>Could you recommend any quality modems and routers that, with the costs added together, total less than $150? I've been looking at modems and routers and it looks like the "good ones" are over $100 each, while a "good" combo unit, like the Surfboard ones, are $100 or less. So I thought splitting the devices would be substantially more expensive.

Sure:

Modem: https://smile.amazon.com/TP-Link-DOCSIS-Speed-Cable-TC-7610-E/dp/B01CH8ZNJ0/

Router: https://smile.amazon.com/TP-Link-Archer-C7-Wireless-Gigabit/dp/B00BUSDVBQ

Just confirm the modem against Comcast's compatibility list based on whatever package you have. It will work regardless but they might get bitchy if you call for support and it's not on the list. Cheers!

I have a Cisco DCP 3008. It works fine for now.

As long as you have a DOCSIS 3.0 modem with at least 8x4 I'd hobble along with what you got until DOCSIS 3.1. At least that's my plan.

Edit: I see your modem only has 4 DS channels. You can hobble along with that (though you might not get full speeds) or pick up the cheapest 8x4 DOCSIS modem you can find (something like this)

Alternatively, you can go balls to the wall with DOCSIS 3.0 if you really want to.

Can't say what is "best" per say, but I use this one because it's inexpensive and I had prior versions that worked well for me also.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I've set up router/modem combos for a family/friends and the one I like the most (and is the most cost effecient) is TP-Link router + TP-Link router.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BUSDVBQ/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (AC1750)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (TC-7610-E)

My connection is 100/5 mbps and I get about 120/6 mbps down with that setup.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$40. The rantal from Spectrum is $5/month. In your first year you are saving money.

I got the following, it works great on Xfinity and is only $39.99. Haven't had much luck with surfboard modems myself. https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o05_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This was $35 yesterday.
https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

give this one from tp-link a try.

This one is reasonably priced and highly rated. Yes, it's a slight overkill for your setup but it is likely to be supported by your ISP for many years. https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-343Mbps-Certified-Spectrum-TC-7610-E/dp/B01CH8ZNJ0

Check your ISP's list of supported modems to ensure it will work with them.

I don't recommend a combo modem/router. Reviews on them indicate they are troublesome.

This is all you need https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_bjjfzbPKHCDPQ

Will they be better? Possibly. Best use of money? Probably not.

Paying for 200Mbps, you don't need to spend that much on a modem. save some money and get an 8x4 like this instead, unless you're planning on upgrading your speed sometime soon.

As for the speedtest, are you doing it wired or wireless? that can definitely make a difference in your speed.

with budget of $80.. You will be looking at used market.

This and this are typical inexpensive setup. People usually pay a little bit more for the both.

I went with this modem:
TP-LinkDocsis 3.0 Cable Modem

I spent a lot of time researching routers and reading reviews. I finally got the TP-Link AC1200 Gigabit Wireless Wi-Fi Router.

Full disclosure, I was trying to do this on a budget and weighed the reviews and price carefully. I almost got the TP-Link Archer 7, but there were just too many disgruntled reviewers on Amazon and The Wirecutter.

Good luck!

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_other_apa_Er9IzbDNR9TMR

Would this work?

Thank you for the help. Unfortunately, our budget at the moment only allows for one or the other. I'm wondering if the Archer C7 is maybe our best bet? Or, would we still be ok with just the Unifi? Maybe it is best if I show you what I'm looking at. Considering we have 150 mbps speed, which of these is my best option?

This Unifi, which has multiple models and I don't know which one I should go for

This Archer C7 router and modem bundle, which I think is what you're talking about

Or should I combine this modem with this wifi router?

Or, if I'm completely missing the point, should I combine this modem with this Unifi? The Unifi is kind of pricey, so I'm wondering if this cheaper model will handle my speed just fine. At most, we have 1 computer gaming, 1 Amazon Fire-Stick streaming, and 2 phones connected to WiFi.

I know some of this doesn't line up with what you're saying, but I'm trying to incorporate what I'm learning with what my budget is :/

Here's a clean amazon smile link.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B01CH8ZNJ0/

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_m4MIzbRFGT1EY

regular link if post isnt removed

I'm embarrassed to think about how long I put it off when we moved to Richmond. When I did the math on how much I spent in those years, I feel like an idiot. I'm good with tech so making sure I found a good one that would be the right specs wasn't even hard.

I got a combo of a very basic, small modem that fit the right DOCSIS version and an router that got good reviews for really good wifi coverage. No issues with either until recently, router got wonky and had to update firmware. It's totally worth it. If you want to have to do no work, here's what I have:

Router: https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-AC1750-Smart-WiFi-Router/dp/B079JD7F7G/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=archer+ac1750&qid=1570811359&sr=8-3

Modem: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

The modem doesn't have as high a download speed as some but it's still capable of more than twice my plan's speed.

It's not an Arris modem. it's a TP Link 7210 (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T1_DWhszb89XSA23).

Says its compatible with WOW, Spectrum, and pretty much everyone else.

I'm thinking it's falling squarely under the category of "wow pulled a fast one on my mother in law and sold her a modem".

I'll be down there in two weeks - reset the modem - and call wow activation to get it settled.

However - this whole thing really grinds my gears.

Thanks for the info. I kept coming across the ones below in my research. Would you recommend one of these over the other? Or an entirely different recommendation? Thanks for the help

netgear 6400

Archer c7

Modems

Arris surfboard 6141

tp Link 7610

Arris is not the best quality modem - any DOCSIS 3 modem is capable of the same speeds. Comcast leases these kinds of modems to consumers and they are very common to go bad.

Try this: https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-DOCSIS-Speed-Cable-TC-7610-E/dp/B01CH8ZNJ0

It's brand new, reliable (I have had the same one for many months), and just $5 more.

I just asked another guy but Ill ask you as well. If youre willing to help me get in over my head, please do. I want to order a Ubiquiti Edge Router X and hook it up to a Ubiquiti AC Lite access point. And I'll need a modem for that right? I just bought a TP Link modem but I can send that guy back if ya think its lame or whatever.

I'm pretty sure thats a common reccomendation but I've never used anything but consumer stuff like a Linksys. Or I just bought a TP Link AC3150 that I am sending back because the 5G kept disappearing and after a few weeks the WiFi completely disappeared permanently.

Will I have a firewall and shit? Does a consumer router automatically have that or something? What modem should I get? I dont need much control, just want to set a custom DNS for streaming NHL games.

Anyways, this is too long. Thanks if you help me out.