6 Best Modems for Spectrum
There are many good modems out there if you are tired of paying a monthly fee to use Spectrum. However, you must be careful when buying a modem, as compatibility factors must be considered.
Spectrum has an official list of compatible modems you can use with their service. But compatibility doesn’t mean it will give you the best qualities you need. After testing over 15 of these modems, we have picked five of these as the best for you.
Arris Surfboard SB8200
Thanks to its DOCSIS 3.1 standard and a maximum speed of 2000 Mbps, the Arris Surfboard. It is also future proof so you can use it for a long time regardless of any upgrades by spectrum. Additionally, since DOCSIS 3.1 is backward compatible, it will still work with DOCSIS 3.0.
The Arris Surfboard SB8200 has two Ethernet ports with a maximum speed of 2 Gbps, making it ideal for streamers and gamers. It is also compatible with all spectrum internet plans
| Pros | Cons |
| It has only one Ethernet port | Its features can be excessive for the average user. |
| It runs on DOCSIS 3.1 standard | |
| It supports all spectrum internet plans |
This makes the SB8200 a good choice if you are on high-speed plans and can afford to spend the cash.
NETGEAR Nighthawk Cable Modem Wi-Fi Router Combo C7000
This has a built-in router and modem combination that saves you money and adds convenience. It has 24 upstream and 8 downstream channels and has a theoretical download speed of 600 Mbps. Spectrum advises that the data speed used on it shouldn’t exceed 400 Mbps.
The inbuilt router used the WiFi 5 standard with theoretical speed up to a whopping 1900 Mbps. It also has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports with a USB 2.0 port for network media sharing.
One downside with the Netgear Nighthawk C7000 is that it isn’t future-proof as it runs on DOCSIS 3.0. However, it will undoubtedly serve you a wonderful internet service for the foreseeable future.
| Pros | Cons |
| It has four gigabit Ethernet ports | It’s not future proof |
| It is cheap when its qualities are considered | It doesn’t support gigablast plans |
| It is perfect for mid-range to low speed | It runs on DOCSIS 3.0 standard |
This router-modem combo is amazing if you just want one that will do excellent work for you for the foreseeable future.
Motorola MB8611
The Motorola MB8611 is a premium product if you are looking for a modem that will give you the best performance. It can work for internet speeds of up to 2500, which is far beyond what Spectrum offers presently.
The modem runs with the DOCSIS 3.1 standard and features 32 upstream and 8 downstream channels. To cap it all, it is very easy to set up.
| Pros | Cons |
| It is future proof | The features are excessive, and you probably won’t need them anytime soon. |
| It works with every spectrum plan | |
| It has a 2.5G Ethernet port | |
| It comes along with a two-year warranty |
From these qualities, it is easy to see why the MB8611 is so highly rated. However, you probably will not need it if you are on a medium or low-speed plan.
NETGEAR Orbi CBR750 modem-router combo
The Netgear Orbi CBR750 is the best Modem for large houses. Its modem and router combination serves three purposes in one device, and its mesh support ability makes it an excellent choice for a smart home. It features 4 gigabyte LAN ports and runs on the DOCSIS 3.1 standard.
Additionally, there are 32 downstream and 8 upstream channels, and it supports the state-of-the-art Wi-fi 6 technology. The Orbi CBR750 supports all spectrum internet plans.
| Pros | Cons |
| It supports WiFi 6 | It is expensive |
| It has four Ethernet ports | |
| It runs on DOCSIS 3.1 |
The CBR750 is top-of-the-line if you are looking for a premium modem-router combo. While costly, the features are more than worth the investment.
Arris Surfboard S33
If you want to make the most of your gigabit internet plan, the Arris Surfboard S33 is a wonderful choice. Theoretically, it has a maximum speed of 3.5 Gbps and 1 Gbps with a wired connection. It features a 1 gigabit Ethernet port and 2.5 Gbps port.
The Arris Surfboard S33 allows both DOCSIS 3.1 and 3.0 technologies. This improves its performance massively with the 32×8 SCQAM standard of DOCSIS 3.0 enough to deal with moderate internet usage and the 2×2 OFDMA technology of DOCSIS 3.1 doing the work of heavier tasks like streaming and gaming.
| Pros | Cons |
| It is future proof | It is complicated to configure |
| It supports all spectrum internet plans | It is expensive |
| It has multiple gig ports | |
| It supports DOCSIS 3.1 standard |
Altogether, this makes it a brilliant choice for people like streamers who need very fast internet.
Motorola MB7220
This device is on this list due to its affordability when its qualities are considered. While it is unlikely to serve you well if you use the faster spectrum plans, it is a solid choice if you are on a strict budget and need a modem for a low-speed plan.
| Pros | Cons |
| It is cheap | It is not future proof |
| It is quite slow |
What this modem has going for it is its very low price. It is a solid option to consider if you are on a budget and only need moderate internet.
Conclusion
Buying a modem or router for your internet service can be frustrating if you don’t know what to buy. In this piece, we have gathered the best Modems for Spectrum internet while considering many factors like cost, features, and future-proof.