Half-Dead: Motorola 5120 Cable Modem - [now 59.99AR] @ [Everywhere]

[DestruyaUR]

Ad specifically says - "No activation required"

Link to Details

This modem has the new "TurboDOX" mods that supposedly *can* increase performance up to 20x, but the true value might lay in the fact that this modem plays better with routers than the SB5100.

 

[nowhere2k5]

Thanks OP, maybe it's time to retire the old COM21...

Good deal when you consider that no activation is required, and I've never had a problem with CC rebates.

 

[arswihart]

Guess I'm off the get this, thx for the heads up. So, do you just basically swap this in for your old modem? Any configuration needed?

 

[Basilisk]

Sigh... another order placed.

My 3Com router has had occasional lockups requiring power-cycling, and it was only Docsys 1.1 as I recall, so I've order this. Thanks, OP!

Anyone have any experience with this (Motorola SB5120)? Does it really have faster transfers than Docsys1.1? One owner's review suggested there's an obvious increase in speed, but I haven't found any technical reviews and comparisons (which surprises me). There doseem to be lots of satisfied owners and no complaints about it.

 

[bigfil]

i had the same modem on comcast cable

throughput was through the roof, download speeds reached 3.5-4 easily
i rarely needed to restart the modem, in 1 year i restarted it a handful of times

very reliable and faaast

 

[foolish501]

damn, instore only, i've been looking on ebay at these to replace my old 3com, and they are going for $45 on average

 

[Basilisk]

Originally posted by: foolish501
damn, instore only, i've been looking on ebay at these to replace my old 3com, and they are going for $45 on average

?? I ordered mine on the web, but took the option of instore pick up.

 

[dabuddha]

Worth getting if I already have the SB5100 already?

 

[Deleted member 139972]

.

 

[DestruyaUR]

Originally posted by: dabuddha
Worth getting if I already have the SB5100 already?

Only if you intend on ever installing a router - the 5120 plays nicer with them than the 5100 - a Cox tech confirmed this - they ask people if they're going to hook up routers, and depending on the answer, you get a 5100 or 5120.

 

[DestruyaUR]

Originally posted by: Basilisk
Sigh... another order placed.

My 3Com router has had occasional lockups requiring power-cycling, and it was only Docsys 1.1 as I recall, so I've order this. Thanks, OP!

Anyone have any experience with this (Motorola SB5120)? Does it really have faster transfers than Docsys1.1? One owner's review suggested there's an obvious increase in speed, but I haven't found any technical reviews and comparisons (which surprises me). There doseem to be lots of satisfied owners and no complaints about it.

The "TurboDOX" mods don't seem to do THAT much - the DOCSIS 2.0 cert should give you better "futureproofing" as well as more long-term reliability. 3COM modems, I've heard, are crap - Motorola's pretty much the de facto standard - Surfboards are incredible modems.

 

[DestruyaUR]

Originally posted by: arswihart
Guess I'm off the get this, thx for the heads up. So, do you just basically swap this in for your old modem? Any configuration needed?

Yes, there is ONE thing you need to do when swapping out modems - you need to contact your cable provider, let them know you have your own modem now, and provide them with the serial number and MAC address given on the plethora of stickers they give you.

Takes no more than a few minutes to add your modem to their network.

I upgraded from a 5100 to the 5120 merely because I'm going to be going the router path soon, but I have noticed it's a lot "smoother" connection - there's not MUCH of a difference in speed, but the connections are far more solid than with the 5100. It's just a "feel" thing.

One thing you'll like going from the 5100 to this is the PC/Activity light no longer blinks incessantly - it only blinks when you actually DO something or if your computer is sending/receiving data as a result of your actions or applications. That was one of my little "quirks" with the 5100.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: DestruyaUR

Originally posted by: dabuddha
Worth getting if I already have the SB5100 already?

Only if you intend on ever installing a router - the 5120 plays nicer with them than the 5100 - a Cox tech confirmed this - they ask people if they're going to hook up routers, and depending on the answer, you get a 5100 or 5120.

Well my 5100 is currently hooked up to a router. So you would recommend getting this then?

 

[DestruyaUR]

Well, it's not like you couldn't get this, test it for a day to see if it's worth it, and return it if not.

If the 5100 works fine for you, it might not be worth spending the 79.99, even if you do get 45 of it back.

 

[dabuddha]

Originally posted by: DestruyaUR
Well, it's not like you couldn't get this, test it for a day to see if it's worth it, and return it if not.

If the 5100 works fine for you, it might not be worth spending the 79.99, even if you do get 45 of it back.

That's a good point. My 5100 isn't treating me bad so perhaps I shouldn't upgrade it.

 

[DestruyaUR]

Bump for visibility

 

[GregANDTCH]

For dial-up users, it's on page 9 of the ad.

 

[Kaido]

I'm using a 5100 with a Linksys WRT54GS wireless router and haven't had any problems. I really like the button to put the modem into "sleep" mode when you're away. I also like the fact that it's small and black, rather than big and biege like my old 3100. Fits in with the rest of the equipment a lot nicer Dangit, now I want to upgrade lol.

 

[Basilisk]

Just replaced my 3Com modem with this deal.

Comparling a dozen CNet bandwidth tests of each ( http://reviews.cnet.com/Bandwidth_meter/7004-7254_7-0.html?tag=dir.bw ), results were all over the place and there wasn't any -clear- speed improvement. Nor is there a different visual experience while browsing.

Two days of running a Torrent program (ABC) suggest I'm doing considerably better with the Motorola -- perhaps getting 40% higher downloading throughput. And, the 3Com's lockups (requiring a modem power-cycle) haven't occurred.

So... not a world of difference, but certainly worth the cost if large downloads just run faster and more reliably.

PS: My ISP is Comcast in Medford, NJ....

 

[DestruyaUR]

Last bump - only today and tomorrow before this is gone (the 20 dollar Motorola rebate will still be around, but the CC one will be gone).

 

[ICXRa]

I am wondering if I should upgrade to this! I have a SB4200 and it works fine and maybe needs a power cycle once or twice a year.

 

[Wag]

Guys, if your cable modem works fine there is really no need to replace it. It is meant to be a mostly transparent device- the end user should have no control over it at all- all the upgrades come from the head-end.

DOCSIS 1.0/1.1 is more than adequare. I've been running a Toshiba PCX1100 for 6yrs with no problems at all. Very fast.

 

[angrymaxx]

I got this and set it up last night. I upgraded from a Toshiba PCX1100U. I ran the speedtest on DSLreports about 5 times with my old cable modem and 5 times with the new one. My download averaged 3500 (2700-4000) kbps and upload averaged 400 kbps with the old modem. With the Motorola, I averaged 4000 (3900-4100) kbps down and 450 kbps up. For me it was worth it, plus as someone mentioned earlier, it seems to be "smoother" as in more consistent speeds. I'm going to try BF2 and see if my ping improves.

 

[SirPsycho]

I have a fairly old Best Data CMX110 cable modem, and I also use SunRocket VOIP service. I've been having a lot of intermittent problems with echo and static. What's the likelihood that replacing my old cable modem with one of these would make any difference?

 

[DestruyaUR]

Originally posted by: SirPsycho
I have a fairly old Best Data CMX110 cable modem, and I also use SunRocket VOIP service. I've been having a lot of intermittent problems with echo and static. What's the likelihood that replacing my old cable modem with one of these would make any difference?

Unfortunately, I think VOIP has to use a specific modem. You might want to call your provider to see if the 5120 is compatible.