The vast majority of us think that renting beaten-up cable modems from Internet service providers is less expensive than purchasing one outright. Obviously, this is not the case!
Consider Xfinity, which is owned by Comcast and charges customers for equipment rental costs that may reach up to $14 a month.
This works out to $168 per year in total savings. Instead, you may spend as little as $70 on a high-quality Xfinity-compliant modem.
Investment in a personal modem, on the other hand, is only becoming more compelling. In addition to saving money, you will be able to make use of the most up-to-date technology while enjoying faster speeds.
Having used the Comcast Xfinity Voice gateway and router for quite some time, I can attest to its reliability.
However, after discovering that I could save a significant amount of money by just investing in an Xfinity-compatible third-party router like the Netgear Nighthawk, I began studying HomeKit-enabled routers such as the Eero and Google Nest Wi-Fi, which are both available now.
In the end, though, cable modems proved to be the most suitable for my requirements, and I reduced my search to just include those.
By itself, the task of finding a model that could be utilized in conjunction with Xfinity Voice was challenging enough.
Because the model numbers used to distinguish between the modems were difficult to decipher, it was made much more difficult.
To save you time and effort, I’ve attempted to simplify the process by listing the best three Xfinity Voice-compatible modems that are simple to set up and use in the following sections:
Technology support, ease of installation, and signal strength were all variables I explored before settling on a solution.
Due to its great speeds, cheap pricing, simplicity of installation, and compatibility with both older and modern cable-internet services, the Motorola MB8600 is my recommended modem.
Does Xfinity Voice Require A Special Modem?
Although you don’t need a special modem to use conventional VoIP services, you will need to invest in a device that has been certified to run on the Xfinity Voice network in order to use Xfinity Voice.
As more and more customers express an interest in purchasing their own modem, numerous third-party manufacturers are now releasing devices that are natively compatible with the Xfinity Voice service.
To determine whether or if a modem is compatible with the Xfinity network before buying one, you may enter the retail information for the device in this field before making a purchase decision.
That is how I was able to locate the Motorola MB8600 Cable Modem for my own use.
The best Comcast XFINITY-approved modems include the Motorola MB8600 cable modem, the NETGEAR CM500 cable modem, and the ARRIS SVG2482AC satellite modem.
Motorola MB8600 Cable Modem: Best Overall Xfinity Voice Modem
The Motorola MB8600 is one of the most recent modems to join the DOCSIS 3.1 group, having been released in November.
The modem has been developed with all conceivable future requirements in mind in terms of internet service provision in mind.
Despite the fact that it is equipped with the most up-to-date DOCSIS technology and offers faster internet speeds, it retains the somewhat outdated DOCSIS 3.0 standard.
As a result, it makes no difference whether or not you have updated your internet service; you may still invest in this modem.
I have to relocate every year for the nature of my profession, and I’m not sure what internet services I will be able to use in the next area.
Following this, I spent some time hunting for the ideal modem before settling on the Motorola MB8600 for my needs.
It is one of the very few items available on the market that is capable of working with both old and modern technology at the same time.
For me, it was a one-time investment in terms of money. Since purchasing the modem three years ago, I’ve used it with a variety of service providers and plans, and it has always operated well, providing me with strong signal strength.
The absence of an Ethernet connector is the only disadvantage I’ve encountered so far. The gadget only has one Gigabit Ethernet LAN connection that supports 10/100/1000 Mbps speeds.
The procedure of setting up a new account is pretty straightforward. If you have a basic understanding of how modems operate, you should have no trouble configuring this one.
Aside from that, Comcast offers a free modem setup with the purchase of its Xfinity services.
Their technical support is also a pleasant group of individuals that will gladly answer any and all of your inquiries. The gadget is compatible with Xfinity’s gigabit internet services.
Pros
- The modem is capable of supporting both DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 protocols.
- It has the capability of providing rates of up to 1 Gbps.
- The process of getting everything set up is quite simple.
- It is capable of handling download routes that are farther downstream.
Cons
- There is just one ethernet port on the computer.
ARRIS SVG2482AC: Best Versatile Xfinity Voice Modem
It is also known as the ARRIS SURFboard AC1750 SVG2482AC, and it is a combo box that includes a high-speed cable modem, a Wi-Fi router, and Xfinity voice services all in a single package.
In the event that you are combining your Xfinity phone plan with internet and television services, this modem/router may serve as a one-stop-shop.
It has been developed to provide Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1750 Mbps and download speeds of up to 1 Gbps for video streaming.
In spite of the fact that it is equipped with the previous-generation DOCSIS 3.0 technology, the 24-download and 8-upload channels, as well as the two telephone ports, more than makeup for the outdated technology, resulting in strong signal strength.
Also included are four gigabit Ethernet connections, which enable you to connect many devices at the same time to your computer. The switch function is used to communicate between the two.
This modem will function well if you wish to subscribe to the Xfinity X1 package, which includes TV, Internet, and VoIP.
Also included are on-screen identification notifications, as well as the ability to handle voicemails from your television.
Due to the fact that this is a 3-in-1 device, the setup procedure is more complicated than it would be with the other modems listed.
The product’s setup instructions, I discovered when evaluating it, are quite random.
Understanding what goes where took some time for me. Also, I had to contact technical support to get the gadget configured. They were excellent and patient with me. In spite of that, this is just a one-time inconvenience
Pros
- Excellent engineering has gone into this device.
- Fast Wi-Fi and download rates are provided by this device.
- There are various gadgets that may be connected to the device at any one time.
- A two-year warranty is included with the purchase.
Cons
- The process of getting everything set up is time-consuming and complicated.
- It is possible to purchase a battery backup on its own.
NETGEAR CM500 Cable Modem: Best Budget-Friendly Xfinity Voice Modem
It is worth noting that the NETGEAR CM500 is a low-cost cable modem that performs on par with the more costly modems available on the market today.
If you have enrolled to the basic Xfinity package, this is a wonderful choice for you to choose from (not compatible with the gigabit plan).
Despite the fact that it does not have the most up-to-date DOCSIS 3.1 technology, it includes the previous generation DOCSIS 3.0 technology, which is suitable for most homes and retains a strong signal.
The configuration is straightforward as well. Installing and configuring it takes nearly no time.
As part of my study into the finest Xfinity Voice-compatible modems, I discovered that the NETGEAR CM500 Cable Modem works quite well, even when you are using bandwidth-intensive software programs.
I put it to the test by downloading some large files on one PC while concurrently watching Netflix on another and playing Fortnite on my PlayStation 4. It worked well.
Furthermore, it was interesting to find that, despite the fact that the modem is rated for speeds of 300 Mbps or below, it operated well for Xfinity’s 400 Mbps speed plan.
Considering that it has a total of 16 linked channels, the modem has the potential to reach a maximum speed of up to 680 Mbps in the theoretical realm.
The estimated maximum speeds are seldom reached, as we all know. YOU MAY SEE THE MODEM’S advanced diagnostics results on NETGEAR’s website, which is simple to use and access.
Their technical assistance is also fantastic, and they assisted me in learning how to use the system.
But even though it operated well at speeds more than its stated maximum, I would recommend the Motorola MB8600 modem instead if you want a modem that can handle data transfer rates greater than 300 Mbps.
Pros
- The device features a compact and elegant design.
- There is very reasonable pricing for this product.
- It is also compatible with Spectrum and Cox, in addition to Xfinity.
- Even bandwidth-intensive programs will have no problems running on the device.
Cons
- Because it does not have any ventilation grilles in its design, it operates hotter than most other modems.
Buyers’ Guide for Best Comcast XFINITY Approved Modems
The process of selecting the appropriate cable modem may be intimidating, particularly if you are unfamiliar with the many terms and acronyms.
I’ve broken down the things that you should examine before purchasing in a cable modem to make it easier for you to grasp.
ISP compatibility
When selecting a cable modem, make certain that it is compatible with the internet service provider with whom you will be connecting.
Since we’re talking about Comcast Xfinity in this piece, you may use their My Device page to see whether or not any particular modem is compatible with the service.
In addition, you may use this gateway to determine whether or not your older modem is compatible with the service.
In other words, Since we’re talking about Comcast Xfinity in this piece, you may use their My Device page to see whether or not any particular modem is compatible with the service.
In addition, you may use this gateway to determine whether or not your older modem is compatible with the service.
DOCSIS protocols
You may have noticed that I have discussed the DOCSIS protocol in relation to each of the modems I have described so far.
The DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1 protocol is used by the majority of current modems. This implies that the modem has the capability of providing a high-speed internet connection.
As the titles imply, the DOCSIS 3.0 protocol is the previous generation protocol, and the DOCSIS 3.1 protocol is the most recent generation protocol.
Internet speeds, as well as the number of simultaneous connections supported, are the primary differences between the two services.
upstream and downstream Channels
The number of upload channels that are bonded with the modem is referred to as the upstream channels, and the number of download data lanes that are bonded with the modem is referred to as the downstream channels.
Because customers are primarily concerned with download speeds, most modems contain more downstream channels and fewer upstream channels than they have upstream channels.
When browsing for models, you’ll often come across numbers such as ’24 x 8′ and other variations. The number of downstream channels is 24, while the number of upstream channels is eight in this example.
Speeds
The upload and download speeds of a modem are crucial aspects. It’s important to note that most manufacturers only offer download speeds, not upload speeds.
If you notice an advertised modem speed of 1 Gbps, this implies that it has the capability of pulling up to 1000 Mbps from the service provider at a moment.
Upload speeds are often slower than download rates. The more data you can extract from your internet service provider, the more money you will have to pay.
Always keep this in mind when going overboard and purchasing an incredibly fast modem or internet access device.
Conclusion
I’m aware that the majority of you are still paying rental fees for the beaten-up modems that your internet service providers have provided you.
Most of my friends are apprehensive about investing in a new modem because of the extensive study and grasp of technical words that will be required to make the purchase.
However, keep in mind that it is a one-time activity that will save you a significant amount of money while also significantly increasing the internet speeds that you get.
If your services are based on outdated technology, and you want to be able to keep using the same modem when you update, the Motorola MB8600 is a good option to look into.
Link: https://robotpoweredhome.com/best-xfinity-voice-modem/
