Approved Modems - Home

Stop Wasting Money On Monthly Lease Fees, Buy Your Own Modem
Select Your Provider Below To Get Started - Find the best modem or WiFi modem for Comcast XFINITY, Spectrum, Cox and more.  Also, view by brand including ARRIS, Netgear and Motorola. Save money on your cable bill by buying your own modem and stop rental fees that never end. ​
Did You Know? An outdated Internet modem can cause lag on the network and may hinder receiving your subscribed internet speed. ​​Some people even report receiving speeds over their subscribed speed by upgrading their cable modem. ​

Best Modem (XFINITY, Cox, Spectrum)

Netgear CM500 Cable Modem

The Netgear CM500 is my top pick for Comcast XFINITY, Cox and Spectrum tiers up to 300 Mbps. The CM500 can be easily setup online with these ISPs. This modem has 16 download channels that provide faster surfing. While I have top picks for other ISPs, the CM500 will work for others not mentioned here. View more info on the Netgear CM500 Cable Modem. 

Select ISP To Find The Best Modem

​Buy A New Cable Modem - Used cable modems are sometimes tagged with another provider or service. If a used modem was used on another providers network, it most likely will not work for you. 
that1cableguy - 4 years ago - Posted On RedditIf the modem is used and is on an account with a balance they won't transfer it either. I would just buy a new one on amazon or at a store.
Know Your Provider's Requirements  - Know the requirements for modems that are compatible with their service. Most now require a DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1 cable modem. If you subscribe to speeds over 900 Mbps, you will more than likely need a 3.1 modem.  Most providers also require 8x4 channel bonding for 100 Mbps or lower speeds. Anything over that requires at least 16x4 channels bonding to be compatible and work with your provider's Internet. If this all is overwhelming, don't fret at all. We have laid out everything you need to know when selecting a new cable modem.

Best WiFi Cable Modem Router

Motorola MG7540 WiFi AC1600 Cable Modem

If you prefer an all-in-one unit, a cable modem with built-in router, I suggest the Motorola MG7540 . It is approved by ​most cable companies including Atlantic Broadband, Cable One, Comcast XFINITY, Spectrum (Time Warner Cable, BHN, Charter) and more with plans up to 300 Mbps. View more on the Motorola MG7540 WiFi Cable Modem.

Best DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem

Netgear CM1000 DOCSIS 3.1 Modem

The Netgear CM1000 DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem is required for XFINITY Gigabit  / XFINITY Gig service. It is also compatible with Cox Ultimate, WOW 300Mbps & over, Cable One GigaOne service and more. Why It's The Best - First available DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem. Approved for speeds up to 1 Gbps which will cover services for at least the next ten years. View more on the Netgear CM1000 Cable Modem.
FAQ About Cable Modems:
What is a cable modem?
A cable modem is needed to connect to your cable providers' Internet network. It receives the Internet signal via a coax wire connected to the modem. Most cable companies strive to lease a modem so they can continuously charge an additional fee each month. However, you can buy your own to forgo this never-ending fee cycle. It's actually a FCC law that each company allow you to buy your own cable modem.  Charter Communications was actually fined by the FCC a few years ago for preventing customers from using their own modem.


What are the different types of cable modems?
Simple cable modem, WiFi cable modem (modem / router combo) and Gateways. Read about the differences below.
  •  Stand-Alone Cable Modem - A standard cable modem receives the cable Internet signal from your provider. From there the signal can be sent via an Ethernet cable to ONE device. That can either be a PC, game system or a router with more wired ports and wireless signal to multiple devices, which is typical in today's high demand for in home WiFi. Most believe that this is the best choice when buying a new cable modem. A separate router can work better with increased speeds and greater distances. Also, with two separate units, if one burns out down the road, it's cheaper to replace an individual device.
  • WiFi Cable Modem - Commonly referred to as a modem / router combo. With a WiFi modem, the router is build-in and offers an all-in-one unit. It typically has four wired Ethernet ports and can support multiple wireless devices in the home. These are more expensive because you don't have to buy a separate router.
  • Gateway - A.K.A an eMTA or Telephony Modem. As with the aforementioned modems, a telephony modem can have a built-in router or be used with a separate router. Only some cable companies allow the use of third-party eMTA modems, so be sure to check on your provider's page here. This rule doesn't apply to the FCC regulations due to the sophistication of the modems and how they are set up by each provider.

How To Select a Cable Modem?
  1. Be sure the cable modem can support the speed that you subscribe to from your ISP.
  2. Select a modem that has enough download channels to support the same speed. This is often a requirement from your provider. You will see this written most of the time as 32x8 (or different numbers), with the first number being download channels and the second upload channels. This is often referred to channel bonding as well.
  3. Decide if you want a separate modem and router, one with a built-in router or an eMTA unit. Please read above for more info on this.
When buying a new cable modem, you should always do just that, buy a new one.  Used modems are often returned because the provider cannot activate it. Most of the times the modem is registered to another provider or user and can't be undone. Some used modems actually belong to cable companies and are reported as stolen often times as well.

Always buy from a reputable seller, such as directly from Amazon or authorized third-party sellers. This ensures that you will be able to register any equipment for warranties and/or replacements shall any issues arise.

Be sure you are at least getting a DOCSIS 3.0 approved modem. This is the most widely used form of DOCSIS today. However, DOCSIS 3.1 is starting to take off too. Most companies require a 3.0 or higher these days. Anything less will hinder the speed of your internet. All featured on this site are 3.0 or higher.
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