Best Cable Modem for Time Warner in 2021 (Reviews and Guide)

Best Cable Modem for Time Warner 

Here are the best Time Warner cable modems to save you money and improve your internet experience.

The right Time Warner cable modem will save you a great deal of money in the long run, and if you have been looking for an avenue for saving money, even as you plan to upgrade your home wireless network, getting a cable modem for Time Warner could be the best move for you.

The rental fees you currently pay to your ISP may not look like much, but if you calculate the cumulative sum of the monthly fees then compare that number with the cost of your own cable modem, you will realize that you could save a significant amount of money in the long run.

But for you to enjoy these savings, you need to find the best cable modem, one that is compatible with Time Warner. By choosing a cable modem that is compatible with the services from your ISP, you are certain that you will be able to enjoy high internet speeds and overall good internet performance.

Unfortunately, it can be confusing to choose the best cable modem for your Time Warner set up, especially because there are many options of compatible cable modems on the market, hence this review. We’ll take a look at some of the best options of cable modems on the market, as well as the considerations that you must keep in mind in the search for your best cable modem for Time Warner.

Best Cable Modem for Time Warner Cable (TWC)

Best Cable Modem for Time Warner Cable (TWC)	Best for	Protocol/ Channel Bonding	Price
Motorola MB7621 24×8 Cable Modem	Best Overall Time Warner Modem	DOCSIS 3.0 24×8	Check Price
ARRIS SURFboard SB6190	Best TWC Modem for Multi-Device Streaming	DOCSIS 3.0 32×8	Check Price
MOTOROLA MB7420 16×4 Cable Modem	TWC Modem that Offers Great Value for Money	DOCSIS 3.0 16×4	Check Price
NETGEAR CM600 Cable Modem	High-Performance Cable Modem	DOCSIS 3.0 24X8	Check Price
Linksys CM3024 3.0 24×8 Cable Modem	Best High-Speed Cable Modem for Time Warner	DOCSIS 3.0 24×8	Check Price

Best Cable Modem for Time Warner Cable (TWC) – Reviews

1. Motorola MB7621 24×8 Cable Modem– Best Overall Time Warner Modem

If you are looking for a good TWC modem, this Motorola MB7621cable modem might be exactly what you need, first because it is compatible with the Time Warner Cable system, and also because it promises super high download speeds of up to 1000Mbps.

It is one of the most recommended cable modems on the market today, and it’s designed to support heavy internet use at home or in the office, all thanks to its ability to support high ISP’s speeds of up to 650Mbps. Besides the top-speed performance, this modem comes with a full-band capture digital tuner allowing you to enjoy faster and more reliable internet connections.

As a cable modem with no support for WiFi, it comes with one Gigabit Ethernet port that connects to your WiFi router, which subsequently connects to your digital devices for streaming, browsing, gaming, etc.

It has a 24×8 channel bonding system, meaning you can look forward to very high download, as well as upload speeds. It runs on DOCSIS 3.0, meaning that you will enjoy fast internet connectivity at all times.

Its setup and use is pretty fast, thanks to the simple Quick Start Guide, and you might also like it because of its compact, attractive design – it sits tall an on the shelf, but it won’t take up too much space.

Pros

• Actual modem maximum speeds exceeding 600Mbps
• No more rental fees
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• DOCSIS 3.0 protocol
• 24×8 channel bonding
• Easy setup

Cons

• Not future-proof

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2. ARRIS SURFboard SB6190 – Best TWC Modem for Multi-Device Streaming

If you are looking for a powerful, high-performance cable modem that would enhance streaming efficiency in your home, especially if you often find yourselves streaming from several devices simultaneously, this ARRIS SURFBoard cable modem might be the best fit for you.

For starters, it offers a 32×8 channel bonding, which means high-speed downloads, and overall great streaming performance. This setup and the fact that this modem runs on the DOCSIS 3.0 protocol allows for the high download speeds of 1.4Gbps, hence the best internet performance. Note that this modem is supported by ISPs for high speeds of up to 600Mbps. It comes with one Gigabit Ethernet port to connect to your router, and it works well with Time Warner Cable.

Pros

• Offers high speeds of up to 600Mbps from the ISP
• Reliable DOCSIS 3.0 standard for high-speed performance
• Easy setup and management
• 32×8 channel bonding
• Ideal for streaming
• One Gigabit Ethernet port
• No more rental fees

Cons

• No fan and it run a little hot sometimes
• Some latency issues noted

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3. MOTOROLA MB7420 16×4 Cable Modem – TWC Modem that Offers Great Value for Money

If you are looking for a simple cable modem for your home, a modem that is designed to ensure top performance for your home internet needs, thanks to its Gigabit Ethernet port that allows you to connect the modem to your router seamlessly, this might be the best router for you. It is affordable, and its features show that you get great value for your money.

This 16×4 channel bonded cable modem runs on the DOCSIS 3.0 modem protocol, which means that you will be able to enjoy high internet speeds. With the 16 download/ downstream channels and 4 upload channels, this modem offers great performance, and you can use it for 4K streaming, browsing, and even gaming. The modem tops internet speeds of 686Mbps from your ISP or cable service provider, and the Full-Band Capture Digital Tuner allows you access to super-fast, stable, and the most reliable internet connection.

You might also like this modem because of its easy setup, and even easier network management, as well as the fast access to customer support.

Regarding the design of the modem, it sports a compact design that takes up little shelf space. Its design is also intuitive, and it boasts cooling, extending the life of the modem, which comes with a 2-year warranty period. It also comes with a rugged power surge and lightning circuits, meaning that this device comes with extra protection, and it will last long.

Pros

• Attractive, simple, and compact design
• Easy setup
• DOCSIS 3.0
• Top speeds of 686Mbps
• 16×4 channel bonding
• Stable internet access
• Suitable for Time Warner Cable services
• Affordable
• 300Mbps actual download speeds
• 1 Gigabit Ethernet port
• Good for streaming

Cons

• It reconnects automatically every time the signal is lost
• Runs hot

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4. NETGEAR CM600 Cable Modem – High-Performance Cable Modem

Boasting high-speed internet connectivity at 400Mbps, this Netgear CM600 modem is one of the best modems compatible with Time Warner Cable.

It runs on the popular DOCSIS 3.0 standard for modem, and it also features a 24×8 channel bonding system. These two, along with the single Gigabit Ethernet port on this modem, will work seamlessly and in tandem to deliver stable, high-speed performance. The high-speed connectivity and setup of this modem allow you to stream 4K video content from different platforms, and you will also enjoy the fastest download speeds and even high speeds to meet your gaming needs. Note that the speed of this DOCSIS 3.0 modem is up to 8x faster than the speed of the preceding standard, DOCSIS 2.0.

This modem comes with an 8MB flash and 128MB RAM, and it supports cable ISP plans up to 300Mbps, but you can use it with data plans up to 500Mbps.

Pros

• Savings of up to $168/year
• Works with all wireless routers
• Designed for speed
• Ideal for gaming and 4K HD streaming
• Fast, reliable performance
• 24×8 channel bonding for fast downloads
• DOCSIS 3.0

Cons

• Runs hot
• The modem’s build could be better

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5. Linksys CM3024 3.0 24×8 Cable Modem – Best High-Speed Cable Modem for Time Warner

If you are looking for one of the fastest cable modems for your office, you might like this Linksys cable modem. It runs on the DOCSIS 3.0 protocol and boasts a 24×8 channel bonding configuration, which means that you will be able to enjoy high-speed internet access once you connect your router to the modem via its Gigabit Ethernet port.

It’s a cable-only modem, and it interfaces well with cable systems, specifically, the F-type Female 75-ohm cable system.

The modem comes with the Intel Puma 6 chipset, which is the winning feature for this modem as it allows for the super-high download/ downstream and upstream/ upload speeds/ performance. You will be able to enjoy high speeds from this modem, up to 300Mbps, and these speeds, allow you to stream in HD, surf the web, and you can also stream in HD.

The modem is also one of the best cable modems because of the fast and easy plug-and-play setup.

Pros

• Easy setup
• High-speed performance thanks to the Intel Puma 6 Chipset
• Fast downstream and upstream speeds
• Reliable performance
• DOCSIS 3.0
• 24×8 channel bonding
• Works with your existing ISP plans
• Nice plug-and-play operation

Cons

• Chipset affects gaming performance.

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Buying Guide for The Best Cable Modem for Time Warner 

Before you buy that Time Warmer-compatible cable modem, there are a number of features and factors that you need to keep under consideration. These aspects of the cable modem will determine whether your selection is ideal for use or not, and in other cases, the selected cable modem might be future-proof, meaning you wouldn’t have to worry about replacing the cable modem too soon.

So, which are some of the features that you need to be keen on?

• DOCSIS Protocols

The DOCSIS Protocol is one of the most important aspects of cable modems, and you need to carefully look at the DOCSIS protocol the modem is set on to ensure that you enjoy excellent performance from the cable modem.

DOCSIS stands for Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification, and it refers to the international standard used in telecommunications to allow for the addition of more high-bandwidth data transfer function to the existing coaxial cable TV system. This addition is crucial for internet users and ISPs, as it makes possible the increase in internet speeds without the need for replacing the coaxial cable networks. And since fiber access to everyone is very expensive, ISPs allow their customers to enjoy high internet speeds thanks to the use of DOCSIS, with the customers allowed to choose the DOCSIS standard they want for their cable internet connections.

For your Time Warner system, you need to look out for the modem that’s based on the DOCSIS 3.0 protocol or higher – this is an important consideration for high speeds services/ internet access.

Released in 1997, the DOCSIS standard 1.0 (now we there is a DOCSIS 3.1) refers to the standard that is used by the cable modems for internet access. The changes from DOCSIS 1.0 to 3.1 have been necessitated by technological improvements, which have been driven by the human need for faster, stable, more reliable, and higher-performance internet solutions. As a result, the DOCSIS 3.1 setup offers higher data transfer speeds than the preceding standards, and though there aren’t too many DOCSIS 3.1 devices at the moment, it is clear that the next generation of modems and network devices will require such high-speed setups.

To guide your search, we’ll take a look at two of the main DOCSIS versions, DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 3.1. All of the best cable modems on the market today are based on either one of these two standards, and an understanding of what they are all about/ their differences is important.

Well, the main difference between these two protocols is that DOCSIS 3.0 is the older version, while DOCSIS 3.1 is the newer, higher-performance version. Essentially, the DOCSIS 3.0 channel is designed such that it allows for the channels to bond together, resulting in a drastic increase in the modem’s speeds. The bonding increases the speeds of the modem significantly by bundling the channels together. On the other hand, you have the DOCSIS 3.1 channel, which is an improvement of the DOCSIS 3.0 protocol, meaning that it allows you to enjoy even higher speeds.

Note that DOCSIS systems feature two main components, the PHY (physical layer) and the MAC (or the media access layer). The physical layer has everything to do with the equipment used for cabling and routing, plus the data transmission frequency over the physical networks, which is why fast transmissions result in better performance. However, there are distance restrictions to be considered, which is why installers are careful about the features of the cables and the rest of the cabling infrastructure. Then you have the MAC layer, which determines how much information the cable modem system can handle without too many network ‘traffic jams.’

Understanding your DOCSIS system is important because it determines the overall performance of your modem. With some areas having speed limitations, this information is important in guiding you to make the right decision.

Between DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 3.1, DOCSIS 3.0 is set up to allow for high speeds of up to 1Gbps or Gigabit speeds, while DOCSIS 3.1 is capable of supporting speeds of up to 10Gbps.

• Channel Bonding

As mentioned above, bonding allows for high data transmission speeds. But what is channel bonding?

Well, channel bonding is the technology designed to allow for easy aggregation of a number of downstream and upstream channels to ensure delivery of the high speeds across the board. The best cable modems feature channel bonding, and it looks something like 16×4 (16 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels), or 32×8 for 32 downstream channels and 8 upstream channels.

As you can see from the above, the downstream channels are always more than the upstream channels, and it’s a practical setup because we download more content than we upload. The bigger number of downstream channels translates to high download streams.

• Warranty

Regardless of the modem brand you settle on; you need to make sure that your cable modem comes backed with a warranty. Keep in mind that the modem is hardware, and it should be an investment that lasts. So, check the warranty for the modem and the components covered under warranty.

FAQs

Which is the best cable modem for you?

For starters, the best cable modem for you will be the one that is compatible with your ISP, in this case, Time Warner. Beyond compatibility, the right cable modem will also match your subscribed ISP plan, and most importantly, it provides a good balance of features, price, and warranty.

Should I buy a standalone modem instead of the modem-router combo?

The decision to buy the standalone modem and a standalone router over a combined unit is a personal decision that is based on numerous things, including the size of your home or office and budget. For example, if you need a wireless internet system for your apartment and don’t have many devices, and if you are on a budget, it would be a good idea to opt for the modem-router-combo. However, if you need a network system for your office or a large house, buying a separate modem and a router would be more ideal. It would also be a good idea to buy the standalone units in case of a malfunction – replacing one unit is cheaper than replacing both the router and the modem.

Does channel bonding affect the performance of a modem?

Yes. By allowing for bonding or aggregation of numerous downstream and upstream channels, channel bonding results in high download and upload speeds from your modem.

Conclusion

From this review, it’s clear that there are numerous cable modem options on the market, specifically the modems compatible with Time Warner Cable. But even with the many different modems, you will always find the right modem to match your needs, whether speed requirements, the overall performance, or your budget.