Is it worth the cost to upgrade a router from a DOCSIS 2.0 to a DOCSIS 3.0?

jwblue said:
I have Cox internet. They told me that upgrades were done on the network and said if I upgraded to a DOCSIS 3.0 modem I would have faster speeds.

Is it worth the cost?

When are peak usage times?

I can't speak to exact speed increases, but I will tell you that it appears to have been worth it.  I have upgraded awhile back and noticed that the connection seemed to stabilize and the speeds reached the numbers advertised.  From what I've read, it does a couple things.

1. Provides multiple links.  Instead of 1 path connecting, it sets up multiple paths. Depending on the modem, you will have more or less paths.  I currently have up to 8 paths with my modem.
   
   1. I purchased the SB6141 modem from Amazon, but Craigslist has DOCSIS 3.0 modems, too.
   2. The idea behind this is that the links that are connected are more fault tolerant and will help keep one bad path from making your whole Internet connection go bad.
   3. The other side that I've heard is that the ISP, Cox, can better tweak the exact speeds that you are getting.  I'm not real worried about this as the speeds are pretty good.  I've been using DOCSIS 3.0 for over a year.

2. Newer technology.  DOCSIS 2 has been with us for a long time and it makes sense that improvements are coming.  I didn't think it should matter, but I have experienced the difference.

If you don't have Internet on one of the higher rungs of Cox's line, then I wouldn't be too worried about it.  But, I'm guessing that Cox is going to require this in the coming years.  Anyone that's running behind will probably still work, but will suffer more speed decreases due to the outdated tech.  If your service is serving you well, then I wouldn't worry about it.  Maybe setup a craigslist or eBay alert for cheap DOCSIS 3.0 modems!

Hope that helps!

I've been paying $6.99 per month for the last year to rent the Cox recommended Netgear CG3000D gateway, and today I ordered the following replacement cable modem/router/wifi for the paltry sum of $22.36.  It is DOCSIS 3.0, with 8 channels down and 4 channels up.  So a maximum download speed of up to 400 Mbps.

http://www.amazon.com/Netgear-Cg3000d-Official-Manufacturer-Environmentally/dp/B00D35XKW4/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1385027041&sr=8-2&keywords=netgear+cg3000d

-Lucio

Not sure if this is rumor or not but I was told that Cox cannot throttle or control your speed package if you are on an older cable modem. Thus you might be getting the top down and upload speeds but paying for a package that is two tiers lower because the technology needed to control the speed doesn't exist in a docsis 2.0 modem.

If this is true it would make sense they would want everyone to upgrade so that you are only getting what they want you to get based on what you pay. I have been with cox since they first deployed cable modem service back in the 90's and I miss having only one price to pay and getting the best they could provide for that one price.

Be careful of sites likes Craiglists that sometimes sell 2nd hand, or even 4th or 5th hand equipment.  Its just not worth the 10-20$ when it could be a possible brick.

Someone told me that a DOCSIS 2.0 router can easily handle speeds up to 40 mbps.

If this is true why would I need a DOCSIS for a Preferred plan?

I noticed a 2x to 3x download speed increase after upgrading to a Motorola Surfboard SB6141.  Upload speed was roughly the same.  I did DSLreports speeds tests before and after the upgrade to measure the difference.

kevinincalifornia@cox.net said:

I noticed a 2x to 3x download speed increase after upgrading to a Motorola Surfboard SB6141.  Upload speed was roughly the same.  I did DSLreports speeds tests before and after the upgrade to measure the difference.

Which service level? 2x or 3x?  

I have Preferred level service and the upgrade from a Motorola 901 DOCSIS 2 to SBG6580 DOCSIS 3,0 has been a nightmare.

Speed test shows an increase from around 18-29 Mbps to around 30Mbps, but that is not indicative of what actually happens.  In practice, videos won't start, long latency times to get page returns, pages hanging up halfway through the loading process have actually REDUCED the effective speed at the workflow by about half.  Even though the SpeedTest whizzes through the simple process of uploading data.

Of the four upstream Channels, Channel 4 (Channel ID 0) will not lock up and is not functional.

One tech support agent, Michael, #5621 identified the firmware I am at as having 'known channel-lock problems' and indicated there was a firmware upgrade to the Modem to address these.  He said he'd put the ticket in and I'd get better firmware and email when it was applied.  I got neither.

Current rev on the SBG6580 as listed by the router itself is:  SBG6580-3.5.8.4-GA-00-505-NOSH

Multiple contacts with tech support via various phone numbers and chat sessions later, the issue was identified twice and a ticket created and I was promised twice it would be upgraded and thus far - nada.

Last tech support guy, Juan, ID number 718807 did not have command of proper English and wanted to send out a tech support rep to check the 'node of my house' to see if the modem/router was plugged into the cable properly.  My house has no node.

COX has systematically waffled and referred the issue to some mysterious higher tier via ticket number CUI000001821548 and NOTHING has happened to get the forth upstream channel to lock, much less address why all the pages and videos hang.

Last thing I would advise anyone to do with a COX account would be to upgrade to DOCSIS 3.0 at this time.  All you buy with your money is aggravation and time lost.