Motorola Surfboard SB5101 Cable Modem
by Motorola
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List Price: Our Price: $46.95 You Save: $23.04 (33%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $22.25 (click here) Category: CE See more product details |
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Customers in the UK,
Buy this product at amazon.co.uk
for British Pounds
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Motorola Surfboard SB5101 Cable Modem
Customer Review: Speedy cable modem, easy installation
Summary: 5 Stars
We just ordered th SB-5120 from Fry's, and they sent this model instead. The SB-5101 has almost identical specifications, just the case is a little different, and I guess the 5120 includes TurboDOCS software. We previously had an old Toshiba, which has given stellar service for 5 years, but we decided it was time to replace it before it failed. The Motorola Surfboard was very easy to install, just plug in the ethernet cable to the router (or to your PC), connect the coaxial cable and plug in the power. There is no need to install software or drivers unless you want to use a USB connection. We also had to call Cox Highspeed Internet to give their tech support the new serial number and MAC address of the new cable modem (the Cox website neglects to tell you this step). That was the hardest part of the whole process - it took about 20 minutes, taking into account resetting and rebooting the system at their request. I am not sure that this modem is any faster than the old one, but we have a low signal on our line to start with.
Overall it was very easy to set up and has been fast and reliable. It plays nicely with our router, and has caused no problems in constant daily use on a home network with 4 computers.
Customer Review: Fast modem, no fuss no muss.
Summary: 4 Stars
I had an older Surfboard modem, model SB4200, which I'd used without a problem for about 5 years. It was large, white, and very very well made. But it was no longer on the list of recommended modems for Cox. I figured it was probably too slow anymore and should be replaced. I researched, read reviews on this model, and bought it (good price!) through Amazon.
It was delivered pretty quickly, but it came packaged in the brown Amazon box rather than the manufacturers (Motorola) box which I found odd. Anyway, it's truly a plug and play modem, nothing to set up beyond that. As soon as I had everything hooked up and turned on again, Cox internet immediately recognized the change, did it's own thing behind the scenes, and away I went. Perfectly harmless. I do notice that this modem is much faster on uploads and downloads. And internet pages load more quickly too. I'm on a 24 inch iMac and I use the Apple page as my home page (gotta love Apple stuff) and it loads fast now too.
The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because the build quality isn't nearly as heavy duty and sturdy as the older modem, but it works just great. Happy so far! No freezes or dropped connections. It's a good one.
Customer Review: Agree With Other Reviewers
Summary: 5 Stars
Needing an speed upgrade on my internet connection, I turned in my Verizon Wireless broadband card for the local cable company broadband connection. [Less mobile, but more agile.] After browsing around Amazon for a while, I decided to give the Motorola Surfboard a try based on the positive reviews, availability in my area and reasonable prices.
My cable guy commended me on my choice when he showed up to do the install. He spent more time laying out my wiring, disconnecting the unused dish connection to the cable company's connection and doing some adjustments at the junction box than plugging in my modem and testing it on my laptop. When plugged in, it fired up pretty quickly, acquired a signal and was working within 30-40 seconds of being powered up.
Thanks to all the other 5-star raters that were spot-on in their reviews of this product!
I have paired up my modem with the D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N Wireless Router and they seem to work great together. Although i've been lazy to use it the last few days, the stand-by button is a cool feature. I've had my connection up and running for about a week now with no complaints!
Customer Review: Its still bumpin, can't go wrong - UPDATE: it quit Bumpin
Summary: 5 Stars
Update: on 1/9/2011, my Modem didn't power on any more. I don't know if it was an adapter, or the modem itself (the replacement SB101u adapter didn't work). However, for $30, I got my money's worth. See my new review for the Motorola SURFboard SB5101U DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem - RoHS.
Bought this in 2009, used, $30. When Comcast upped the price from $3 to $5, they also continue to up the price in lieu of raising the price of internet (and this Modem is a better model than what they were charging me for - an ambit).
It works forever. Installation was tuff, cause the reps kept giving me a hard time over the return of the old one, and the serial number of the new one, but I was eventually credited.
Otherwise, perfect for Internet. Save $7 per month, extra franchise fees (they add those for everything you have - each service, each premium channel, each piece of equipment), dump the phone if you have it - and save at least $90 per year.
Customer Review: Solid Iron
Summary: 5 Stars
Motorola makes solid iron and this product lives up to that reputation.
I have had Motorola cable modems (along with phones and radios) for many years now and never had a single problem. Eventually noticed I was not getting the advertised speeds from Comcast and called customer service, thinking there might be an issue with the line. I was told that my old SB4100 modem did not support the higher-speed standard and I would need to upgrade to get those higher speeds. I automatically turned to another Motorola, this time the SB5101.
Changeover was truly painless. Plug in the new one, call Comcast, give them the identifying information and I was up and running within minutes. I recall there was a small glitch when my computer was not found by Comcast. It turned out it was necessary to power off and on the Linksys router also. I immediately noticed the increase in speed which, according to the various online meters, doubled.
I have now had the modem almost one year, have had no problems with it at all and continue to cruise at advertised speeds.