Has anyone had problems using the Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem as a replacement for Comcast-issued equipment?
It is on the official Comcast list (http://mydeviceinfo.comcast.net/) of approved devices, but only gets one 'certification' star (whatever that means - presumably something to do with performance.)
I've done a lot of research on other sites and this is the only basic DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem that people do not report having compatibility issues with. And just to be clear, I am talking about the retail version of the device, which is white (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00AJHDZSI/thewire0f-20/?tag=thewire06-20) and not the repurposed black modems that sellers attempt to pass off as new on Amazon, EBay, etc. when in fact most are resold after having been used by cable companies at some point.
For anyone out there that has made the switch, please tell me there is some competent Comcast tech that I can reach via this forum to help with the initial set-up of the new modem and that I don't have to wade through the typical bumbling Comcast phone support to do something that shouldn't even require human interaction. Better yet - tell me that the new device will make the initial handshake with Comcast's network and that I will just have to enter my account information (how it should work!)
Just as a bit of background, the last time I had Comcast cable internet in Virginia (in Atlanta now) I specifically requested a plain old DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem and the Cisco device they sent me worked like a dream. Other than power outages, I was offline a total on one time in an entire year. When I moved to Atlanta, I specifically requested the same set-up and made the phone representative read my request back to me before placing the order. The contracted installer showed up with this crappy Arris TG862 cable modem/wireless gateway I've been forced to use and when I told him it wasn't what I'd requested, he said the work order stated that I already had my own cable modem and only needed a wireless gateway. He had no other device with him, so it was either use what he had or wait another week for a new installation appointment. Really Comcast? Is it too much to ask that the people you employ at all levels of your operation (not just network engineers) have at least a basic understanding of the equipment involved in the services you provide?
Can't wait until Google Fiber comes to Atlanta. I'm even considering switching to AT&T Uverse VDSL if there are any more issues with Comcast. VDSL might not be as fast but friends of mine have it in this area and claim that there is almost zero network downtime. On that note, thanks Comcast for that 2+ hour network outage last night. I really needed you to reallot my external IP address for the fourth time in six months.