Best Cisco Cable Modems

Setting up your home network is finally a painless process thanks to these Cisco cable modems.

Although ISPs will advertise that theirs is the best cable modem service you will ever pay for, the truth is that most ISPs fail to offer cable modems with the best features you could hope for. The most disappointing bit is that your ISP will still charge hefty rental fees for the modem, meaning that you never get what you are paying for.

In the past, you’d feel that there wasn’t much that you could do about it, and you might have been forced to work with the package provided, but that shouldn’t be the case today because you can strike out on your own, ditching the monthly modem rental fees to the ISP, while getting to enjoy the best level internet performance, all thanks to cable modems.

There are many options of cable modems on the market today, and the truth is that owning your own cable modem is easy thanks to their promise of the best internet and the fact that you have many options at your disposal. One of these cable modems providers is Cisco, and this review shares insights into everything you need to know about the Cisco cable modems.

You will be happy to know that the CISCO cable modems are an excellent option for you if you are looking for an upgrade that will enhance your home internet experience while still saving you money.

All you need to do is to make sure that the Cisco cable modem you choose makes use of the latest modem technologies for the best performance. For example, a good modem is one that makes use of the latest DOCSIS 3.1 standards, while allowing you to enjoy multi-gigabit internet speeds and overall great internet browsing performance.

With the basics out of the way, here are some of the best Cisco cable modems.

Comparison of the Best Cisco Cable Modems

Best Cisco Cable Modems	Best for	Price
Cisco DPC3010 Cable Modem	Best Overall Cisco Cable Modem	Check Price
Cisco DPC3008 Cable Modem	Best High-Speed Cable Modem	Check Price
Cisco DPC3825 Cable Modem	Great Software Updates	Check Price
Cisco DPQ3212 Cable Modem	Best for Sturdy Built	Check Price
Cisco DPC3208 Internet Cable Modem	Easy to use the modem	Check Price

Reviews of the Best Cisco Cable Modems

1. Cisco DPC3010 Cable Modem – Best Overall Cisco Cable Modem

No products found.

This is one of the best Cisco cable modems on the market today, and you might like it because of its compatibility with Cox and Time Warner cable, among other ISPS. It’s incompatible with Comcast, though.

This modem has been designed to meet the DOCSIS 3.0 modem specifications, and it is compatible with previous DOCSIS standards. You might also like it because it comes with a 10/100/1000Mbps Ethernet port, hence a seamless connection with your router and other digital devices. It also features an external form factor.

The other impressive feature of this modem is its high-speed internet performance. It delivers download speeds of up to 343Mbps and upload speeds of up to 120Mbps. Thanks to the features of this modem, you can look forward to high-end internet connectivity and performance, as well as a high level of reliability. The DOCSIS 3.0 system means that this modem is up to 8x faster than the DOCSIS 2.0 systems.

Pros

• Reliable performance
• High download and upload speeds
• Ethernet port for wired connection to your router
• Easy setup and use

Cons

• Not compatible with Comcast

View Price on Amazon

2. Cisco DPC3008 Cable Modem – Best High-Speed Cable Modem

While this modem won’t work with your DSL service because it is a cable modem, the DPC3008 is one of the best high-speed broadband modem based on the DOCSIS 3.0 protocol.

It would make an excellent investment if you are looking to eliminate the monthly modem rental fees, and the DOCSIS 3.0 standard means that the modem is backward compatible with previous DOCSIS standards. It’s easy to use, and it’s compatible with Comcast along with other leading cable providers.

The modem features an 8×4 channel bonding system, with 8 bonded downstream channels that offer high data transfer speeds of 340Mbps for DPC and 440Mbps for the EPC systems. It also features four bonded upstream channels that ensure high data transfer speeds of at least 120Mbps. Then there is the 10/100/1000 Ethernet port, specifically called the Base-T auto-sensing or an autoMDIX port. This port allows you to easily connect to the router and a reliable internet connection for your home.

Pros

• High-speed 8×4 bonded channel system
• It works with Comcast and other cable service providers like ATT, Cox, TWC, and Spectrum, among others
• Easy to set up and use
• Ethernet port enhances its performance
• Reliable internet performance
• High download speeds
• It’s EuroDOCSIS 3.0-compliant
• Backward compatible

Cons

• No firewall system like a DMZ or a port filtering

View Price on Amazon

3. Cisco DPC3825 – Great Software Updates

This Cisco cable modem is one of the best cable modems by Cisco, and though it’s based on the DOCSIS 3.0 system, it is backward compatible with older DOCSIS standards, and it offers reliable internet connectivity.

It boasts a lightweight design, and you might like it also because it offers the best automatic upgrades through your ISP. The performance of this modem is also remarkable, and you will be happy to know that you can stream from the modem easily.

You might also like this modem for its high-performance broadband connectivity that will power all your online experiences. It offers high downstream speeds of up to 340Mbps.

Pros

• Lightweight design
• Easy configuration and use
• Offers wired and wireless connectivity
• Four Ethernet ports for enhanced performance
• High speeds of 340Mbps
• High-performance connectivity

Cons

• No support for 802.11ac
• Speed may be lower depending on your ISP

View Price on Amazon

4. Cisco DPQ3212 Cable Modem – Best for Sturdy Built

The Cisco DPQ3212 cable modem might be exactly what you need if you are looking for a sturdily built modem that offers a premium quality level of performance. It is durable, and it promises high-speed internet connectivity thanks to the DOCSIS 3.0 standard for the modem.

It also features an embedded digital voice adapter along with a USB 2.0 Gigabit Ethernet port allowing for ease of use and connection to your router. You can enjoy speeds of up to 340Mbps from this modem.

Pros

• Easy to configure and use
• Easy plug-and-play operation
• High speeds of up to 340Mbps
• 0 Gigabit Ethernet port
• Durable built

Cons

• Not future-proof

View Price on Amazon

5. Cisco DPC3208 Internet Cable Modem – Easy to use the modem

If you are looking for something simple, then this Gigabit cable modem based on the DOCSIS 3.0 standard might be the best option for you.

This modem offers high internet speeds of up to 340Mbps, and it also features an embedded digital voice for charter spectrum. It features 8 downstream high-performance channels and 4 upstream channels that ensure the best performance across your devices.

Unfortunately, it is not compatible with Comcast or Time Warner.

Pros

• Excellent Gigabit connectivity
• Reliable performance
• Ease of use
• 8×4 downstream and upstream channels for reliable internet connectivity

Cons

• Not future-proof
• Not compatible with Time Warner or Comcast

View Price on Amazon

Buying Guide for the Best Cisco Cable Modems

As the world becomes more connected and more people invest in decent home internet connections, you need to ensure that you are not only subscribed to the fastest internet service, but you also need to make sure that you have the best hardware for the high-speed, stable internet connections you seek.

For that to happen, you need a decent router and modem. The router cannot work without a modem because the modem is what allows for the conversion of internet/ cable signals from your ISP into a signal version understood by your digital devices. From the mode, the router will then take over the signals, and it beams the signals out via WiFi, allowing for wireless internet connectivity throughout your home. Now, for this to happen, you have to consider a number of features.

Below, we look at the important considerations you need to keep in mind in your search for the best Cisco cable modems.

Types of Cable Modems

The cable modems are either standard/ standalone or modem-router combos.

The standalone standard modem is the best modem option, and if this is the first time you are looking for a cable modem, we’d recommend the cable modem. The main reason for this is that when a new wireless technology comes along, as it always does, having a standalone modem and router will allow you to easily replace one of the devices at a time. You also get to enjoy a lot of flexibility with standalone modem and router because the standalone devices often come with more features and even configuration options, compared to the combination devices.

The only downside of buying the modem and the router separately is that they might cost a little more than you’d bargained for, and there’s also the matter of setup plus the cables. Two internet devices leave you with more wires to deal with and untidy setups. These factors notwithstanding, the performance of standalone devices is unmatched.

The modem-router combination, on the other hand, refers to a 2-in-1 device that features the modem and the router. Such combination devices will allow you to plug in the devices without having to reset or tweak its settings, especially if you don’t anticipate the need for further changes in the future. Over the years, the combination devices have grown in popularity, and they work quite well straight with their factory settings. The only issue is that of future technologies and the fact that you’d have to replace both pieces of equipment to enjoy advanced wireless technologies.

DOCSIS Protocols

When it comes down to the search for the best cable modem, you need to remember that the best modems will only deliver the desired lightning-fast speed if it features some of the most advanced technologies. Generally, the maximum speed offered by the cable modem selected, will depend on the Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification, better known as DOCSIS protocol.

Essentially, the DOCSIS protocol represents the standard through which all modems are capable of transmitting internet signals via cable. The newest version of the DOCSIS protocol is DOCSIS 3.1, and this standard promises high internet speeds of up to 10Gbps. But if you don’t necessarily need such high internet speeds, you could opt for the modems that run on the DOCSIS 3.0 standard. Although this modem isn’t as fast as the DOCSIS 3.1 protocol modem, the speeds are pretty high, and you still enjoy cool speeds of up to 1Gps – this is good enough for most internet users.

But there’s a catch; while the ISPs promise to offer high internet speeds to match what is promised by the modem manufacturers, the truth is that very few ISPs are capable of offering high 1Gbps internet speeds, especially over DOCSIS 3.0 systems, and in most cases, you will have to buy a DOCSIS 3.1 modem to be able to enjoy internet speeds above 630Mbps. The good news is that the DOCSIS 3.1 modems are backward compatible, which means that these modems would support DOCSIS 3.0 ISPs, and you won’t have to worry about replacing the modem too soon.

Note that if your ISP doesn’t support DOCSIS 3.1 system, you might want to invest in a modem that supports this wireless system. Even if you feel that you won’t need that technology today, you will need it later on. So, even though investing in modems that run on the newer standards is often expensive, it often turns out to be a worthy purchase.

That said, avoid modems that only support the DOCSIS 2.x or DOCSIS 1.x protocols – they aren’t secure and also very slow.

Channels

Also called channel bonding. This is the other factor that you need to look out for in your cable modem because it will affect the internet speeds offered by your modem.

Modem channels are specified as download and upload channels expressed as numbers ‘x’ by the other number (download x upload channels). In this case, a 32×6 modem has 32 download channels and eight upload channels.

When choosing a modem, you will find that the DOCSIS number comes before the channels number. For DOCSIS 3.0 modems, the download speeds reach 43Mbps on each of the channels – hence download speeds of 688Mbps on a 16×4 modem, and subsequently 172Mbps for the 4 channels in upload speeds. The speeds on the DOCSIS 3.1 modem, on the other hand, will be higher, and it’s projected that each downstream channel would offer impressive high speeds of up to 1.89Gbps and upstream channels offer speeds of up to 0.94Gbps.

But these are only theoretical speeds, and the actual internet speeds enjoyed will depend on the ISP’s speeds. So, if you are subscribed to an ISP offering a maximum speed of 100Mbps, that is the maximum internet speed you will enjoy from your modem.

Upload and Download Speeds

Even with the specifications for the DOCSIS standard and the number of channels, modem companies will still specify the modem’s upload and download speeds. A modem that supports speeds of up to 1Gbps is a good option if you need fast internet and if you anticipate rolling out of fast internet speeds by your ISP. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the average internet download speeds you will enjoy will be about 64.17Mbps.

Ethernet ports

The only way for your modem to communicate with your router and the rest of the devices in your home is via the Ethernet port, which is why you need to invest in a modem with at least one Ethernet port that will connect to your router.

Once plugged in, the router will beam out your WiFi signals. Since you are getting the best router with at least four Ethernet ports, you will be able to enjoy wired connections to your computer and smart home hubs, among other devices.

However, if you don’t mind splurging on a modem, you might like the newer DOCSIS 3.1 modems that feature two Ethernet ports. The extra Ethernet port is designed to support a new wired internet feature, the link aggregation 802.3ad system. While Ethernet ports are designed to support Gigabit speeds, the new link aggregation feature allows you to connect two Ethernet cables to the modem (between modem and router), allowing you to enjoy a maximum combined throughput of 2Gbps. But you only get to enjoy the high speeds from the 802.3ad standard if your ISP plan exceeds 1Gbps.

ISP compatibility

Double-check with your ISP before you buy a modem. Some modems are only compatible with specific ISPs. Before you buy the modem, check the ISP website for the list of compatible modems.

Lastly, you need to consider the design. You need something that won’t take up too much space but look good. However, you should never compromise design for speed or performance.

FAQs

When do I need to replace my modem?

Essentially, you will need a new modem if your older one isn’t working well if you don’t wish to pay modem rental fees anymore, and if you need an upgrade to a modem running on the latest technologies, for example, a DOCSIS 3.1 modem.

Should you buy a standalone cable modem and a router or the combo?

Well, the decision to buy a standalone modem and router over the combo device will depend on many factors, including your budget, but if you aren’t worried about technological changes in the future, and you are tired of different setups and configurations, along with the cables that come with two internet devices, the combo might be a good option for you. Just keep in mind that an issue with the combo will mean the replacement of two gadgets rather than one.

How does the Cisco cable modem HWICs work?

The Cisco cable modem High-Speed WAN Interface Cards work by allowing your router to communicate over the HSD/ High-speed data cable network for your office-to-internet/ branch-to-branch connectivity.

Conclusion

The modems above are among the best Cisco cable modems on the market. While Cisco cables are largely DOCSIS 3.0 standard modems, they are still fast and reliable. Just make sure that you buy a modem that’s compatible with your ISP.