Contributor
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68 Messages
Wi-Fi Modem vs. modem + router
I seem to recall hearing that the combo wi-fi modems were not as good as having two boxes: a modem and a router. Can anyone comment on this? I'm going to buy new equipment and want to get it right. Cox currently rents a combo Ubee box. Should I buy one of those? Thanks!
AllenP
Valued Contributor
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1.7K Messages
9 years ago
I always recommend a separate modem and router. The gateways Cox sells/rents are dumbed down for ease of support. As has been said here, gateways are for customers who want to plug in a device and have Cox support everything, including their WiFi connection. If you are not at all technical, the gateway may be a good option. The pros for separate units are:
- Some more advanced functions available with a router are disabled in a gateway.
- You can update the firmware for a separate router when released by the manufacturer. With a gateway, Cox updates the firmware after they approve it, which means you may never get firmware updates released by the manufacturer.
- Can be more difficult to isolate problems since with a gateway you can't separate the modem function from the router.
- If you want to upgrade, you can upgrade just the modem or just the router. No need to replace both.
A good choice is the Arris SB6183 (16x4) or SB6190 (32x8) modem, both Cox approved up to Ultimate paired with a Netgear Night or Asus "ac" router.
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grymwulf
Contributor II
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319 Messages
9 years ago
I prefer separate, that way if one fails, I only need to replace the one. Plus it allows me more customization for my network, I'm not tied into a particular vendor and/or setup. The corresponding offset to this is that Cox won't be able to support/troubleshoot any wifi issues unless you rent your gateway (combo modem & router) from them.
The other thing is, is that having a separate router allows you to place the router for better reception. Overall I recommend separate devices, but your mileage may vary.
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