Help with my network

[United_Chi]

Hey everyone. I'm building a new pc this black Friday and I'm also looking at my router/modem. I have extremely little understanding of networking.

 

I just found out I've been paying for 200mbps internet from my isp, but I have a modem that is only capable of 172mbps. The router is capable of 300+300mbps dual. The router and modem are ANCIENT (7+years old?).

 

I have 

N600 Wireless Dual Band Router from Netgear.

Motorola Surfboard Modem Model: Sb6121

 

If I have 200mbps internet and no plans on upgrading, would a modem that is capable of just 200mbps be enough. Or are you supposed to get something that can handle more? Would a router that can handle higher mbps handle the isp's internet better? For example, does a 400mbps modem perform more reliable than a 200mbps modem if your isp is capped at 200mbps? I want to squeeze all 200mbps from the isp without being bottlenecks by either the modem or router.

 

Same question for router. Does my 300mbps dual, cut it? Or should I upgrade?

 

What do you guys recommend for a modem/router? Thoughts on modem/router combo?

[United_Chi]

Edit: I understand at this moment in being limited by my modem, as I can only perform as well as the worst component and as good as the isp speed.

I.e. max=200mbps due to isp, but can't exceed 172mbps due to modem.

[Donut417]

17 hours ago, United_Chi said:

Sb6121

Theres your problem. Thats a 4x4 cable modem, the lowest of the D3.0 modems you can buy. You want a 16x4 or 24x8 at least. If your looking on the Cheap an 8x4 modem will work, but Id get a higher end so it will support more upgrades in the future. 

 

So your not confused here. Docsis 3.0 what most cable providers are using, introduced channel bonded. They use mulitple frequencies on the coax to transport data. So a 4x4 modem has 4 down stream channels and 4 upstream channels. The more channels supported, the faster speeds you can get. ALSO even if you have a higher channel modem than what you need, having more channels helps combat congestion. As if a channel gets overly congested you have others that can take its place. 

 

The SB6183, CM500, CM600 are the modems I see suggested. Like I said an 8x4 modem should work, I personally have the SB6141, which at least on the Comcast network can do a max of 200 or 250 Mbps. Ill use this modem until Im upgraded past the 200 Mbps tier we are on, or Until Comcast kicks this modem off its network when it becomes EOL. If money is no object you could go with a Docsis 3.1 modem if your ISP supports them. This is the highest end modems you can buy, and should support speeds up to 1 Gbps. 

 

******Important********

 

Your going to see 32x8 channel Docsis 3.0 modems, which have simular specs to the Docsis 3.1 modems. DO NOT BUY a 32x8 Docsis 3.0 modem. They use the Intel Puma 6 chipset and its known to have issues. So much so Arris one of the biggest modem manufactures was being sued for the SB6190 using this chip set. If you want a 32x8 modem then buy Docsis 3.1. 

17 hours ago, United_Chi said:

Thoughts on modem/router combo?

Never! 

 

17 hours ago, United_Chi said:

router

This kinda depends. You can try your current router to see if it works. But generally Netgear and ASUS are the companies I see recommended. I personally have a RT2600AC from Synology and it works great, but at $200 USD it better. 

 

 

If I were you, figure out what you want to spend. That will give you an idea of what to buy. Id say a new modem will run between $60-$200 depending on specs. Decent routers should be about $80+ depending on specs. 

[United_Chi]

5 hours ago, Donut417 said:

Theres your problem. Thats a 4x4 cable modem, the lowest of the D3.0 modems you can buy. You want a 16x4 or 24x8 at least. If your looking on the Cheap an 8x4 modem will work, but Id get a higher end so it will support more upgrades in the future. 

 

So your not confused here. Docsis 3.0 what most cable providers are using, introduced channel bonded. They use mulitple frequencies on the coax to transport data. So a 4x4 modem has 4 down stream channels and 4 upstream channels. The more channels supported, the faster speeds you can get. ALSO even if you have a higher channel modem than what you need, having more channels helps combat congestion. As if a channel gets overly congested you have others that can take its place. 

 

The SB6183, CM500, CM600 are the modems I see suggested. Like I said an 8x4 modem should work, I personally have the SB6141, which at least on the Comcast network can do a max of 200 or 250 Mbps. Ill use this modem until Im upgraded past the 200 Mbps tier we are on, or Until Comcast kicks this modem off its network when it becomes EOL. If money is no object you could go with a Docsis 3.1 modem if your ISP supports them. This is the highest end modems you can buy, and should support speeds up to 1 Gbps. 

 

******Important********

 

Your going to see 32x8 channel Docsis 3.0 modems, which have simular specs to the Docsis 3.1 modems. DO NOT BUY a 32x8 Docsis 3.0 modem. They use the Intel Puma 6 chipset and its known to have issues. So much so Arris one of the biggest modem manufactures was being sued for the SB6190 using this chip set. If you want a 32x8 modem then buy Docsis 3.1. 

Never! 

 

This kinda depends. You can try your current router to see if it works. But generally Netgear and ASUS are the companies I see recommended. I personally have a RT2600AC from Synology and it works great, but at $200 USD it better. 

 

 

If I were you, figure out what you want to spend. That will give you an idea of what to buy. Id say a new modem will run between $60-$200 depending on specs. Decent routers should be about $80+ depending on specs. 

My budget is probably around 200$USD, don't need absolute beast units, but something that would provide more than enough bandwidth to support my current ISP's speed. If something was to slow me down I would want it to be the internet provider and not the hardware on my end.

So, the CM600 modem would be more than ample with speeds up to 960Mbps. 

What router do you recommend?

 

10 hours ago, Grand Admiral Thrawn said:

First of all, the 300+300 speeds are WiFi speeds. And it usually does not reach that speed at any time. Just to make it clear.

 

Judging by the speed you can achieve of 172Mbps, your LAN (Ethernet) ports are Gigabit and can handle up to 1Gbps (1000Mbps).

The speed you have now is 21,5MB/s (megabytes not megabits!) and the 200Mbps is 25MB/s. That's the non-commercial and real world speed value. So if it is that much of a gap for you and you really need all of the bandwith, then the modem that can handle 200Mbps will do just fine.

 

If you want me to recommend you some modem-/routers I need to know what type of connection you have because there are DSL (phone line) and DOCSIS (cable) modems which have different connections.

 

As for your question about the 300Mbps WiFi of the router, it is enough for your bandwith but I would focus on the standard of the WiFi. Your router is using 802.11n ( that's what N stands for) and it is dual band which means that 5Ghz band is also N. I would recommend to look for a router that has an AC standard but only if your current WiFi connection is not enough.

I have a cable connection not phone line. What modem / routers do you recommend for my current internet speed of 200Mbps.

[United_Chi]

Thoughts? I sitll have no idea what I need. I'm not understanding router speeds. Modems make sense (your ISP speed is 200Mbps, so buy a modem that can handle speeds at least that, it's clearly worded and simple to understand). I just don't know what I'm looking for.

 

CM700
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Download-960Mbps-Certified-CM600-1AZNAS/dp/B07976SNVB/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=CM600&qid=1573669153&sr=8-2&th=1
500Mbps download speeds. Far above what my ISP provides, which leave room for the future and any bottlenecking would be on the internet provider's side.

AC1750
https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-R6700-Nighthawk-Gigabit-Ethernet/dp/B00R2AZLD2/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Netgear+router&qid=1573669488&sr=8-3
Wifi speed of 1750

Combo?

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Nighthawk-C7000-Compatible-Providers-including/dp/B0781Z5PCL/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=Netgear+router&qid=1573669488&sr=8-10

400Mbps download modem / WiFi AC1900

[Donut417]

1 hour ago, United_Chi said:

960Mbps

Don’t believe in the marketing material on modems. The Docsis standard is much like WiFi. It does not perform in the real world like it does in the lab. My 8x4 modem should do over 350 Mbps. But Comcast won’t provision it more than 250 Mbps. But yes the CM600 should be fine. 
 

I have no recommendations for a router. Because the one I have is outside your budget. Brand wise ASUS and Netgear are the ones that are recommended around here. TpLink is good on a budget but will lack features. At the very least get something that’s in the AC wireless standard or WiFi 5.  

[Donut417]

1 hour ago, United_Chi said:

CM700

Don’t get any Docsis 3.0 32 Channel modems. As stated above Intel FUCKed up the Puma 6 chip. There are know issues. You can head over to DSLreports.com to read more on it. If you want 32 channels then get Docsis 3.1 modem.