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Best DOCSIS 3.1 Modems in 2022

Today we’ll be looking at the best DOCSIS 3.1 modems for your home needs as well as what features you should consider before buying one.
Last Updated on August 19, 2022
best docsis 3.1 modem

It can be frustrating having to pay your internet service provider (ISP) monthly rental fees for your modem. That’s all on top of what you already pay for access to the internet! So why should you be paying this additional fee when you can buy your very own modem and cut the costs? Yes, these modems are often pricey when bought upfront. But you can easily earn the money back the longer you have it and the more you use your new modem.

However, if you’re not entirely sure what makes a modem, router, or wireless access point different, it can be tricky when trying to find the best DOCSIS 3.1 modem for your needs. What kind of features should you look for in a modem? What makes your chosen DOCSIS 3.1 modem better than anything else on the market? There are so many different things to consider that the experience can often be overwhelming.

Today, we’ll be taking a look at the best DOCSIS 3.1 modems to help you find the right modem for your home.

Products at a Glance

What to look for: DOCSIS

In terms of specifications, you’ll always want to check for the DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) is 3.0 or higher and never 2.0. This will immediately cap you at 40~mb/s, severely ruining your fancy gigabit-capable internet.

DOCSIS essentially dictates how fast your connection can go, which as of 3.0, is around 1000mb/s, while 3.1 can do up to 10Gb/s, so if you plan on buying 3.1 capable modems, you’ll want to just know that this thing is going to last a while, as who knows when providers will be able to funnel in the fastest speeds to you?

3.1 also allows for a 1Gbps upstream, so your uploads are about to go haywire once it hits the masses.

How we picked the Best DOCSIS 3.1 Modems

Searching for the best DOCSIS 3.1 modem can be a daunting task. Especially if you’re not entirely sure what you’re meant to be looking for! There are so many different models available on the market that it’s often tempting to just buy the first modem you find. What features should you be prioritizing? What are the key things that you need to look for to ensure that your chosen DOCSIS 3.1 modem is suitable for use in your home?

There’s no need to worry. We’ve done all the research so that you don’t have to. We looked at factors such as compatibility, speed, and many more to determine which modem was the best of the best when it came to DOCSIS 3.1 technology. You can rest assured that all of the DOCSIS 3.1 modems we’ve selected will be ideal for your needs.

So let’s take a look at the best DOCSIS 3.1 modems!

Our Recommended

Best DOCSIS 3.1 Modems in 2022

1
PROS
  • Best for speed plans up to 2 Gbps
  • Two 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports
  • No monthly rental fees
  • 2 year limited warranty
CONS
  • Modem only

The Arris SURFboard SB8200 easily earns the spot of our top pick. This particular modem comes with a range of great features but at a more affordable price. It’s capable of making use of the latest DOCSIS 3.1 technology for the faster, more efficient internet speeds. This is great if you want to achieve the fast speeds your internet provider has promised you.

This modem also offers quick and easy setup. You won’t have to spend hours pressing buttons and tapping away at settings to get it set up in your home. Simply connect the right cables, visit your internet service provider’s (ISP) self-activation portal, and your network will be running smoothly in no time at all. Then all you’ll need to do is connect your new modem to your Wi-FI router to get surfing the web!

Another handy feature of this modem is that it comes with two 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports. These ports are able to provide speeds of up to 2 Gbps. It is worth noting that you may need an additional IP address from your internet provider to make use of the fastest speed.

The Arris SURFboard SB8200 modem features 32 downstream and 8 upstream DOCSIS 3.0 bonded channels. This is as well as 2 downstream and 2 upstream DOCSIS 3.1 bonded channels. So you can easily take advantage of the latest technology in your home thanks to this impressive DOCSIS 3.1 modem.

Overall the Arris SURFboard SB8200 comes with a range of great specs for use around the home.

2
PROS
  • Widely compatible
  • Supports speeds of up to 2 Gigabits
  • Works with any WiFi router
  • Latest technology
CONS
  • Misleading ethernet ports

The Netgear Nighthawk CM1200 is the best DOCSIS 3.1 modem if you’re looking for something that’s super easy to set up. This particular modem can be set up within 5 minutes to let you enjoy the super-fast internet connection that you’re after. It’s also highly compatible with virtually any WiFi router. All you need to do is plug your new modem into the router and you can improve your wireless needs. This modem is also compatible with all the major internet providers.

This particular modem has been designed with the fastest internet speeds in mind. It’s capable of delivering a speed of up to 2 Gigabits depending on your internet plan. This is great if you want to use the latest technology for the fastest possible speeds for your streaming or gaming.

The Netgear Nighthawk CM1200 comes with 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports for you to use. This means you can give your computer, separate WiFi router, printer, and games console fast wired connections. It’s worth bearing in mind that some ISPs require you to purchase an additional IP address in order to use more than one Ethernet port at a time via your modem.

Another great feature of this modem is that it supports the most recent DOCSIS 3.1 technology for those faster speeds. This modem comes with DOCSIS 3.1 technology, as well as 32 x 8 channel bonding, and OFDM 2×2 technology.

All in all the Netgear Nighthawk CM1200 is the perfect choice if you want to cut down on rental fees and still achieve the faster speeds of your chosen internet provider.

3
PROS
  • Super fast speeds
  • Built in DOCSIS 3.1 technology
  • Saves you money
  • Widely compatible
CONS
  • Misleading ethernet ports

If you’re wanting a super-fast modem that’s going to help you take advantage of your ISP’s top speeds, then the Motorola MB8600 is the modem you need. This modem uses the latest DOCSIS 3.1 and 3.0 technology combined with Active Queue Management (AQM) to reduce lag. This gives you faster loading web pages and enhanced interactivity. This will be particularly useful if you’re a keen online gamer. This modem is capable of delivering fast speeds up to 1,000 Mbps.

Another great feature of this particular modem is that it’s compatible with the majority of internet providers. It’s suitable for use with providers such as Comcast Xfinity, Cox, CableOne, and many more. This will be great if you use one of the more popular ISPs and want to save on rental fees. This modem is also widely compatible with a range of WiFi routers.

One of the best features that the Motorola MB8600 modem is able to boast is the power of DOCSIS 3.1 technology. This helps you make the most of the fastest internet speeds possible with your internet package. It also significantly reduces lag, which will be handy if you’re a keen gamer. This works to deliver more responsive gaming, as well as other features such as video conferencing.

The Motorola MB8600 DOCSIS 3.1 modem also comes with proactive network security. It makes use of a Broadcom chipset which helps to provide you with advanced security. So you won’t have to worry about your modem being susceptible to denial-of-service attacks.

This modem is another great choice if you’re looking for those super-fast speeds with minimal lag.

4
PROS
  • Modem and router in one
  • Widely compatible
  • Fast 2 Gigabits speed
  • 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports
CONS
  • Expensive

The Netgear Nighthawk C7800 modem-router combo is the perfect choice if you want a device that will be able to tackle all of your internet connectivity needs. This product combines both a modem and a router, so you won’t have to worry about buying an additional router in order to get connected to the internet. This modem-router combo is also designed to work with the fastest speeds and is capable of delivering up to 2 Gigabits of speed depending on your internet package.

This particular modem-router combo is widely compatible with a range of internet service providers. It makes use of the latest DOCSIS 3.1 technology to deliver superfast speeds to make it one of the most competitive models on the market. It’s also equipped with DOCSIS 3.0 technology as well as 32×8 channel bonding.

A great feature of the Netgear Nighthawk C7800 is that because it’s a modem-router combo, you can easily make use of the 4 Ethernet ports. This allows you to connect several devices to the internet using a LAN connection. This modem-router combo also features 2 USB 3.0 ports to use with other devices such as printers. This will be great if you have a range of devices that aren’t WiFi-enabled.

Because this is a modem-router combination, you get wide WiFi coverage. This model is capable of covering up to 3,000 square feet in your home for superior connectivity. It also includes a range of great other features such as parental controls to help keep the whole family safe.

Overall this is a solid combo device that allows you to save on rental fees and offer you great connectivity.

5
PROS
  • 3 products in 1
  • Widely compatible
  • 4 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports
  • 10 times faster than DOCSIS 3.0
CONS
  • Pricy

Looking for a more affordable modem-router combo unit? The Arris SURFboard SBG8300 modem-router combo is the perfect device for your home if you want to get those super-fast internet speeds without paying a small fortune on rental fees.

This particular device makes use of 3 products all built into 1. You’ll be able to cut out those rental fees thanks to the built-in modem. You’ll be able to make use of WiFi without having to buy an additional device. It also features a built-in router, saving you from buying an additional product to get access to the internet.

A great feature of this modem-router combo is that it’s suitable for use with the vast majority of major US cable internet providers. So you won’t have to worry about checking whether it’s suitable for use in your home. This modem-router combo makes use of the latest DOCSIS 3.1 technology for super-fast internet speeds. It features 4 1 Gigabit ports to help you achieve the fastest speeds your internet provider is able to offer you.

A handy feature of this modem-router combo is that you can easily manage your network using the SURFboard manager app. This allows you to manage your WiFi settings. You can also configure your modem-router combo device for use with Alexa for easier usability.

All in all this modem-router combo is a solid choice if you want to combine usability with a more budget-friendly device.

Compatibility

Of course, the most important factor to consider is that you will need to choose a modem compatible with your preferred internet service provider. It’s all well and good to opt for a reasonably priced modem only to discover that you can’t use it. Ensuring that your chosen DOCSIS 3.1 modem is definitely compatible with your preferred internet service provider will be worth ensuring.

Most modems should list the providers that they’re able to work within the product specifications. It’s also worth noting that most cable modems like the ones we’ve highlighted above won’t be suitable for use with certain packages that include bundled voice services. Similarly, most modems will also list which providers they’re not compatible with.

Speed

Another factor to consider is the speed that your new modem is able to support. The whole point of DOCSIS 3.1 technology is so that you can take advantage of faster speeds. Whereas most modems or routers are only able to achieve a couple of megabytes (MB), DOCSIS 3.1 technology allows you to use gigabyte technology. So the faster speeds that your modem is able to support, the more of this technology you’ll be able to use.

Another great advantage of DOCSIS 3.1 technology is that you can use it for cutting down on internet lag. These faster speeds help to reduce the lag you experience when using your modem for internet gaming, streaming, or even video conferencing. So it only makes sense to choose a modem that allows you to take advantage of this technology!

Modem vs modem-router combo

One of the major factors that you will need to consider is whether you opt for a modem or a modem-router combo. A modem on its own will be arguably much cheaper than a modem-router combo. So you will still be saving on those rental fees that you can invest in other things. However, it’s worth bearing in mind that a modem is only part of the technology you need to get connected to the internet. You will still need a router to attach to your modem so that you can get those super fast speeds.

A modem-router is two devices built into one. So you’ll still be able to save on those modem rental fees, but you won’t have to fork out extra money on getting a suitable WiFi router to get connected to the internet. However, the downside to these models is that they are often much more expensive than the modem on their own. You should weigh up the pros and cons of both to help you decide which will be the best option for your needs.

Our Verdict

The Arris SURFboard SB8200 is first on our list. This DOCSIS 3.1 modem allows you to reach those top speeds but without having to fork out a fortune for some of the more complex modems on the market.

Next up is the Netgear Nighthawk CM1200. This DOCSIS 3.1 modem is the perfect choice if you want to cut back on rental fees without having to sacrifice the faster speeds that DOCSIS 3.1 technology offers.

The Motorola MB8600 ranks in third place. This modem is a great choice if you’re looking for super fast internet speeds but with minimal lag. It’s the perfect fit for keen gamers.

The Netgear Nighthawk C7800 Modem-Router Combo is a great choice if you don’t want to buy an additional router. You get all the great connectivity you need in one product, all while saving on rental fees.

Last but not least is the Arris SURFboard SBG8300 Modem-Router Combo. This DOCSIS 3.1 modem is a great choice if you want to prioritize great functionality with a more budget friendly option. This will be ideal if you’re looking for a more affordable modem-router combo.

And so our guide to the best DOCSIS 3.1 modem comes to an end! All of the products we’ve highlighted in more detail above will be ideal for your needs. You should now know everything you need to know about DOCSIS 3.1 modems to help you find the best product for your needs! Have any questions for us about the best DOCSIS 3.1 modem? Drop us a line in the comments below and we’ll be happy to help.