Comcast cable users
 

In my area they have been doing upgrades to a new system called QAM256.
Before that it was QAM64.

With this upgrade, it has made my Toshiba PCX1100U modem to cut in and out.

Sometimes when I click on a link nothing will happen, and I can watch the #1 on my Netgear router just sit there, and then it will start blinking as the data streams in.

This just stated to happen last week.
Sometimes I can not even get a lock.
This is a known issue with my modem and others on the Comcast system.

What are you running for a modem for those of you on Comcast?
I wanted to upgrade to a Motorola Surfboard 5100, but I guess even those are having upload issues.
A guy on DSL Reports forum told me to lease one from Comcast like his which is the Motorola 5120.

From what I have read over there, you can not buy the 5120 model, only the 5100 in stores, but Comcast can lease you the 5120 one which does not have the upload issue.

Anyone running this one?
I hate to have to pay $3 extra per month if I go with leasing one, but it looks like Comcast may not be planning on making their system cooperate with my Toshiba one.

Corey, sorry about your issues. I don't have a Motorola, although I requested one when my last RCA quit, the third one to go down in two years. They brought along another RCA, this time a model DCM245 that looks like the other two but has better mechanical connectors, the weak link in the others.

I guess leasing paid off with the RCA's anyway. So far I've spent ~$75 in lease fees but have had three replaced by a no-charge in home Comcast tech who showed up on time and even gave me a spare modem to computer cable.

Thanks Bob.
Even though they are closed today down here, I am going to take a drive there and see if I can get in.

If not, I need to get out anyways and hit the Starbucks at Safeway to get my mocha Frapachino ala Vente size ;)

i have a Motorola, but i think that it is an older one, the model number is SB4220 :dunno:

Corey,

I use to install modems for At&t before it changed to comcast and my neighbor actually works for comcast in the dept who tests and fixes problems all over I will ask him? I have a 3 COM which we called the shark fin because that is what it looks like. The model # is quite long but I have know trouble with it, the motorola 5100 is a good one there is also a 5200 out there that is even better. The RCA dcm245 is also good and real reliable. those you should have no problems with but it is worth the $3 a month for the rental, cause Comcast is making some bigg changes in the future like 10meg download and 8 up(?) with that you'll probalby need a different one any way.
I will ask my neigbor and see what he says.
Brandi

Brandi, here are a few posts, and the shark fin model some markets are seeing a problem with them.

This post below shows the trouble with my Toshiba.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...6758~mode=flat

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...9778~mode=flat

Shark fin one.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...2755~mode=flat

Looking forward to your neighbors advice.

According to one of the posts above, Navy Dude says to stay away from the SB5100, and to rent the 5120 which is a Comcast only item.

I've been using the 5100 for about a year now and haven't had any trouble with it. As for leasing a modem that is proprietary to Comcast, I'd shy away from that. I did that when I had DSL and I did have some compatibility issues with it. One was the firmware would never update. Qwest/MSN couldn't figure it out. I even tried a different modem and it wouldn't work. So now I try to stick with industry standard parts. Only my experience though.

corey
talked to my buddy he said best to rent with changes coming. to much tech stuff for me to repeat.
brandi

Sounds good Brandi.
I will go for the 5120 later.

Doug, it seems the 5100 will have problems though when Puyallup upgrades to the QAM256 according to the DSL Reports threads I have been following.

It screws with the upload, but the download is not effected.

Wow!

I checked my ol'Linksys and discovered the HTTP1.1 interface is disabled. Think I will look at a RCA315.

Good info to know. I will definitely upgrade to something else. I don't know a whole lot about this sort of stuff, but the system needs to be reliable for work stuff. I'm going to check out the DSL report though.

Thanks.

Doug, here is my original post, and from it if you scroll down you will see the QAM64 & QAM256 stuff from a link that wadewood had.
http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...2946~mode=flat

http://www.dslreports.com/forum/rema...2755~mode=flat

Thanks. I understand the problem a little better now.