Need a new cable modem. What should I know? Suggestions?

For the past year or so, my internet connection has been really crappy. by crappy, I mean it disconnects randomly every so often (we have 4 computers, a wireless laptop, and sometimes a wireless Xbox 360 on the network). It should getting 10 MB/s (our ISP is Charter), but it doesnt seem to be. The main problem though is the disconnects. They happen at the most inconvient times (downloading, playing games, making hotel reservations). It seems that my cable modem is the problem, its at least 3 years old.

Basically, what should I know when shopping for a new cable modem? Any suggestions on what the best model I can get is?

Have you run an internet speed test lately? Google it and run a few if you haven't. If you've upgraded your service since you initially got it hooked up a few years ago I would hazard a guess that your modem isn't rated for your new speed. I have Charter as well and that's exactly what happened to me. They upgraded my speed and let me pay for it even though the modem I was leasing from them was rated to only half the speed I was paying for. I went out and bought my own modem that was able to handle the new speed. It's a Motorola SURFboard, can't remember the model number though, sorry. If you do that you'll have to call them and tell them you bought your own modem. They'll want to know the make, model and MAC address. That's what I had to do anyway.Bane_v2

alright, I ran the internet speed test and we are getting what were paying for. Thats a good start. If thats working fine then the cable modem probably isnt the problem right?

connect the modem directly to just 1 computer and test it for a while, if your connection doesn't drop, then it's your router.hercule5

This is a good idea, but here's the thing. The connection drops are wicked random. IE, sometimes we can have all the computers occupied with people online surfing the net, AND me playing something like Left 4 Dead and the net wont slow down, or come close to crashing. Other days with the same scenario it can be constant drops, like every 15 minutes. Even days when its just 2 or 3 comps in use it can drop, and thats when people are just net surfing. So say we get lucky and its a good night with no drops, from 1 comp directly connected to the modem, is that a good indication?

[QUOTE="Bane_v2"]Have you run an internet speed test lately? Google it and run a few if you haven't. If you've upgraded your service since you initially got it hooked up a few years ago I would hazard a guess that your modem isn't rated for your new speed. I have Charter as well and that's exactly what happened to me. They upgraded my speed and let me pay for it even though the modem I was leasing from them was rated to only half the speed I was paying for. I went out and bought my own modem that was able to handle the new speed. It's a Motorola SURFboard, can't remember the model number though, sorry. If you do that you'll have to call them and tell them you bought your own modem. They'll want to know the make, model and MAC address. That's what I had to do anyway.DDX2

alright, I ran the internet speed test and we are getting what were paying for. Thats a good start. If thats working fine then the cable modem probably isnt the problem right?

connect the modem directly to just 1 computer and test it for a while, if your connection doesn't drop, then it's your router.hercule5

This is a good idea, but here's the thing. The connection drops are wicked random. IE, sometimes we can have all the computers occupied with people online surfing the net, AND me playing something like Left 4 Dead and the net wont slow down, or come close to crashing. Other days with the same scenario it can be constant drops, like every 15 minutes. Even days when its just 2 or 3 comps in use it can drop, and thats when people are just net surfing. So say we get lucky and its a good night with no drops, from 1 comp directly connected to the modem, is that a good indication?

It's pretty rare for a modem to be jerking out on you, a modem's job is very simple. The big source of the problem is the router, are you sure it's not that that? Some good routers on top of my head are the dgl-4300/4500 linksys wrt54gl and the D-Link DIR-655JigglyWiggly_

Ummmm think again. Happened to me last summer. Our internet was disconnecting so we asked the ISP to come in and the guy laughed at us when he saw our modem. It was 5 years old and he thought nobody used them anymore. So he replaced it and we actually get closer to what the ISP's 5mbps is rather than the 1-2mbps our old modem was giving out.

@TC: Try contacting your isp and tell them you think its the modem. They have ways of checking if it is or not.

[QUOTE="JigglyWiggly_"]It's pretty rare for a modem to be jerking out on you, a modem's job is very simple. The big source of the problem is the router, are you sure it's not that that? Some good routers on top of my head are the dgl-4300/4500 linksys wrt54gl and the D-Link DIR-655simardbrad

Ummmm think again. Happened to me last summer. Our internet was disconnecting so we asked the ISP to come in and the guy laughed at us when he saw our modem. It was 5 years old and he thought nobody used them anymore. So he replaced it and we actually get closer to what the ISP's 5mbps is rather than the 1-2mbps our old modem was giving out.

@TC: Try contacting your isp and tell them you think its the modem. They have ways of checking if it is or not.

Tell say to try without the router before...Router's can cause of sort or problemes.