Advice on Cable modems, routers, and network drives.

[DadMode]

I'm going to try to keep this short. This is a 2 part question:

 

Part 1

I need a new router. I have a Motorola SGB 6580 that I think I can make a bridge, but it's kind of dated at this point. Should I just buy a new modem?

 

Part 2

The big thing I'm wanting to accomplish is to have an assigned drive on my network to serve as a photo dump and to have access to documents off my network. I'd like to have the photos back up to my home PC every so often and erase from the storage. Is that best accomplished by having an external hard-drive connected to the Router or is there a better way? I don't think I want like a full home NAS device, mostly due to the expense and I don't have the need for all that. I'm planning to set up a RAID 1 on my home PC after I get this first function working well.  

 

Cruising Tom's Hardware led me to these suggestions.

 

Cable Modem

https://www.amazon.com/ARRIS-SURFboard-SB6141-DOCSIS-Cable/dp/B00AJHDZSI?tag=bom_tomsguide-20

 

Router

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014MIBLSA?tag=bom_tomsguide-20&ascsubtag=[site|tguus[cat|[art|[pid|B014MIBLSA[undefined[bbc|LESPRIX

 

Again, open to suggestions as I'm a novice to networking. I'm not really looking for another cable modem/router combo. Thanks in advance!

P.S. If any of this is fuzzy, let me know because my wife has been talking at me and I'm trying to be an active listener....

[DrMacintosh]

I'm not so sure about that Modem since its not from a brand I'm familiar with. That router however is very good. 

 

My suggestion is the Apple AirPort Extreme:

https://www.apple.com/shop/product/ME918LL/A/airport-extreme?fnode=58

 

It's the same price for a very reliable and secure Router that apparently the CIA can't get into if you are concerned about privacy at all. But the router you have right there is not bad by any means. I have the same one myself.

[DadMode]

Cool, Thanks for the input! I'm pretty well sold on that router. I think Arris bought some part of Motorola at some point, but they appear to be the same machine re-branded as Arris devices. Even my old Motorola SGB6580 had it's firmware updated to it's Arris version about a year ago.

[Donut417]

10 hours ago, computerdaddy said:

I'm going to try to keep this short. This is a 2 part question:

 

Part 1

I need a new router. I have a Motorola SGB 6580 that I think I can make a bridge, but it's kind of dated at this point. Should I just buy a new modem?

 

Part 2

The big thing I'm wanting to accomplish is to have an assigned drive on my network to serve as a photo dump and to have access to documents off my network. I'd like to have the photos back up to my home PC every so often and erase from the storage. Is that best accomplished by having an external hard-drive connected to the Router or is there a better way? I don't think I want like a full home NAS device, mostly due to the expense and I don't have the need for all that. I'm planning to set up a RAID 1 on my home PC after I get this first function working well.  

 

Cruising Tom's Hardware led me to these suggestions.

 

Cable Modem

https://www.amazon.com/ARRIS-SURFboard-SB6141-DOCSIS-Cable/dp/B00AJHDZSI?tag=bom_tomsguide-20

 

Router

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014MIBLSA?tag=bom_tomsguide-20&ascsubtag=[site|tguus[cat|[art|[pid|B014MIBLSA[undefined[bbc|LESPRIX

 

Again, open to suggestions as I'm a novice to networking. I'm not really looking for another cable modem/router combo. Thanks in advance!

P.S. If any of this is fuzzy, let me know because my wife has been talking at me and I'm trying to be an active listener....

Modem wise I've been told the Netgear CM600 is where it's at. The SB6141 is good but dated as well. Comcast is funny when provisioning this on there Network, as in it's hit or miss. Just for the love of God, stay away from the SB6190 or any modem using Intel's puma 6 chip. They are defective. 

[DadMode]

48 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Modem wise I've been told the Netgear CM600 is where it's at. The SB6141 is good but dated as well. Comcast is funny when provisioning this on there Network, as in it's hit or miss. Just for the love of God, stay away from the SB6190 or any modem using Intel's puma 6 chip. They are defective. 

Hahaha noted. Cool, I looked at the CM600 and if I can get it for good price, I'll probably buy that one over the Arris Modems. Thanks for the input!

[AndrewReaganM]

I purcased a TP link cable modem recently, and have been using it without a hitch on my 100 down 10 up connection.

 

https://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-DOCSIS-Certified-XFINITY-TC-7610-E/dp/B01CH8ZNJ0/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1502124386&sr=1-1&keywords=tp+link+cable+modem

 

Keep in mind that with this or the CM600 you still need a routing solution, but it looks like you already know that!