The Motorola MB7621 is reliable and supports the fastest internet speeds available to the majority of Americans. It’s also compatible with nearly all non-Gigabit plans from all cable internet providers in the U.S., including Xfinity, Spectrum (formerly Time Warner, Charter, and Bright House), Cox, Suddenlink, Sparklight, and WOW, for added flexibility. Masu. (if you move or switch ISPs). The MB7621 is a DOCSIS 3.0 modem that can handle 24 downstream channels and 8 upstream channels, making it suitable for plans up to 600 megabits per second (Mbps). It also comes with a 2 year warranty.
budget selection
Unless saving money is important and you haven’t upgraded to a service plan with speeds higher than 300 Mbps, our previous top pick is still a good choice.
According to Speedtest.net, as of December 2022, the average internet speed in the United States is approximately 193 Mbps. If your plan is within that range and you don’t plan on upgrading beyond 300 Mbps anytime soon, we recommend the Netgear CM500. The CM500 has better ISP compatibility, but its maximum download and upload speeds are slower than our top picks (CM500’s 300 Mbps vs. Motorola MB7621’s 600 Mbps). Although the CM500 has a reputation for reliability, it only comes with a one-year warranty.
(Since ISPs are no longer supporting 8×4 modems, we recommend a 16×4 modem like the CM500, even if your plan will work on a slower model. You’ll save very little upfront, You will need to replace it (not recommended as the modem is many years old).
If you have a Gigabit or Multi-Gig Internet plan and your ISP allows you to use your own modem, the Motorola MB8611 is the best DOCSIS 3.1 modem widely available today, with two years of use at a relatively low price. It belongs to. guarantee. Most cable ISPs require a DOCSIS 3.1 modem to guarantee gigabit speeds. Also, some ISPs such as Sparklight recommend his DOCSIS 3.1 modem for new cable modem activation.
Do not purchase a Gigabit modem unless you already have Gigabit service or know that Gigabit service is available. The additional cost of a DOCSIS 3.1 modem isn’t worth it until you subscribe to these new (and expensive) plans. Especially since ISPs may deploy gigabit over fiber rather than cable. And if you deploy gigabit service, you may not even be allowed to bring your own modem.
Modem compatibility list, updated February 2023
Optimum “recommends” DOCSIS 3.1 modems in its services, and DOCSIS 3.0 (24×8) modems are compatible with services below 500 Mbps. However, you should call Optimum to confirm compatibility before purchasing.
