Is a 16x4 cable modem worth paying extra for?

[79wjd]

I'm going to be getting 200Mbps internet and plan to get my own modem, but I'm wondering if there's any real-world benefit to the 8 extra channels (when the download tier is only 200Mbps).

 

P.s. I have Optimum Online, but from what I can tell, pretty much any modem should work for internet (I just can't use Optimum Voice).

 

SB6183 -- $62

SB6141 -- $43

[LogicWeasel]

I guess the upside to going with more channels is IF you think your ISP (or a future one) will be using 16x4 service.  Hard to know so unless Optimum has stated outright that they plan to allow you to saturate those channels, may as well go cheap for now?

[Jimkirk363]

@79wjd I would check with ISP if they allow the use of 3rd party Modems.

 

Now i'm with Virgin Media in the UK and they do not allow 3rd party modems, u have to use those they supply.

[79wjd]

12 minutes ago, jimkirk363 said:

@79wjd I would check with ISP if they allow the use of 3rd party Modems.

 

Now i'm with Virgin Media in the UK and they do not allow 3rd party modems, u have to use those they supply.

They do.

[ARikozuM]

I would get the 16x4. Better to have a small upgrade for later than to buy another device on top of the initial. 

[79wjd]

11 minutes ago, ARikozuM said:

I would get the 16x4. Better to have a small upgrade for later than to buy another device on top of the initial. 

Well, in theory 8x4 is enough for 384mbps (emphasis on in theory), and I doubt Optimum will bump up speeds anytime soon -- not to mention I'd honestly be fine with 100mbps now anyway (200 is just the cheapest option). I've also heard rumors that Optimum is planning on switching to Fiber within the next few years.

[LogicWeasel]

3 minutes ago, 79wjd said:

Well, in theory 8x4 is enough for 384mbps (emphasis on in theory), and I doubt Optimum will bump up speeds anytime soon -- not to mention I'd honestly be fine with 100mbps now anyway (200 is just the cheapest option). I've also heard rumors that Optimum is planning on switching to Fiber within the next few years.

Yup, and that's why I figure, why over-buy on copper now when you can get fiber later.  Sounds like the 8x4 will serve you fine.

[79wjd]

Just now, LogicWeasel said:

Yup, and that's why I figure, why over-buy on copper now when you can get fiber later.  Sounds like the 8x4 will serve you fine.

I just checked, and I have (and have been using) an 8x4 TM822G for a few years and it's been more than good enough (and there is more traffic on this network than there will be on mine). The difference will be population density -- this network is in a fairly sparse area whereas I'm moving into an apartment building with 400~ units.

[LogicWeasel]

3 minutes ago, 79wjd said:

I just checked, and I have (and have been using) an 8x4 TM822G for a few years and it's been more than good enough (and there is more traffic on this network than there will be on mine). The difference will be population density -- this network is in a fairly sparse area whereas I'm moving into an apartment building with 400~ units.

Having more channels won't give you priority over that apartment building area.  It just means you want to hope and pray that the ISP put in enough infrastructure to provide high speed to all those users or you're going to be sharing the pipe come peak times.

[79wjd]

15 minutes ago, LogicWeasel said:

Having more channels won't give you priority over that apartment building area.  It just means you want to hope and pray that the ISP put in enough infrastructure to provide high speed to all those users or you're going to be sharing the pipe come peak times.

It will mean that I have more channels to choose from though -- and thus likely a better chance of the channel not being congested.

[Donut417]

1 hour ago, 79wjd said:

I'm going to be getting 200Mbps internet and plan to get my own modem, but I'm wondering if there's any real-world benefit to the 8 extra channels (when the download tier is only 200Mbps).

 

P.s. I have Optimum Online, but from what I can tell, pretty much any modem should work for internet (I just can't use Optimum Voice).

 

SB6183 -- $62

SB6141 -- $43

Not sure about Optimum but Comcast will only provision the SB6141 at a max of just over 200 Mbps. So if you go with that modem and get a free upgrade at some point, your going to have to buy a new modem most likely. More channels means that even at lower tiers of service, if one or multiple channels get a lot of traffic on them, you wont experience as much issues with speed drops. Also, if a frequency has some interference on it, again you will have a less of a change of service issues. Truthfully, a 16 channel modem is the minimum I would buy now days. Or might even say fuck it and got Docsis 3.1 modem, just so you  have a modem that supports all the speed tiers. 

 

If you do go with the SB6141 I will say its solid. Ive had mine for maybe 4 or 5 years. It gets the job done. Though the word on the street is Comcast is trying to kill off all of the 4x4 and 8x4 modems on their network. Not sure what Optimum's stand is, but with Docsis 3.1 being deployed from about every Cable provider, its hard to say.