I have Time Warner internet in the Raleigh/Durham area of NC. This is a DOCSIS 3.0 area.My download speeds have been shockingly unreliable ever since I started my internet service about 6 months ago. It is supposed to be 20 mbit down. Sometimes, it is actually better than this (25+ for short times), but more often than not, it is much worse (at times < 5, usually around 10-12). It also fluctuates wildly on a minute-by-minute basis. One minute I'll have great speed, the next it crawls. Even during a single speed test, it would fluctuate between about 5-25 mbit.
TWC support was predictably unhelpful. The best I got from them was "that should not be happening." I pointed out that their own FAQ page says that a DOCSIS 3.0 modem is required for my service tier (so-called "turbo"). They said no, the old DOCSIS 2.0 Motorola SB5101 they gave me was fine. I got the same BS from the "normal" reps as well as the so-called "level 3".
I asked if they would give me a DOCSIS 3.0 modem, even though they claim it is not "required". They said no, I would have to upgrade to "extreme," which would add $10/month for the service and another $2.50/month for their DOCSIS 3.0 gateway.
So instead of doing that, I bought this modem (which is on the TWC approved device list). I called them, gave the MAC address, and I was up and running. When the modem connected, the downstream LED turned blue, which according to the manual, means that the channel is bonded. This is a very good thing.
With this modem, I get 20 mbit on the dot, 24 hours a day. Every speed test I have run confirms (including the 200 MB test on testmy.net). Last night, I downloaded about 15 GB of data with a sustained 20 mbit rate the entire time. It's pretty amazing how effective it is.
My speed is never ABOVE 20 anymore, but it is NOT BELOW either. I believe that the channel bonding makes it easier for the ISP to enforce bandwidth caps, but it also makes the connection more reliable. I'll take that deal any day.
I HIGHLY recommend this modem for TWC customers in DOCSIS 3.0 areas. Don't believe the customer service reps -it absolutely is required. It sucks that TWC won't provide the hardware we actually need to fully use their service, but that's just the way it is.
I opted for the SB6141 DOCSIS because it is has the IPV6 addressing system, is backward compatible and its channel bonding technology to boost my bandwidth speed. The IPV4 addressing is used up (predicted to be end of this year) the internet community will be going to the new IPV6 addressing system.
Granted bandwidth is limited to the CAP set by your provider but your equipment plays a part. Before I bought this modem I was using one from Time Warner. My best speed test (using speedtest.net) was 5.94 Mbps download and 1.92 Mbps upload. As of this morning, my latest test, shows 34.35 Mbps download and 1.92 Mbps upload. The upload limit is obviously kept by Time Warner to discourage uploading of large files (music libraries ,etc.).
It is built on the DOCSIS 3.0 standard (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification). This is the latest version of DOCSIS. It also means that it uses channel bonding technology to gain access to the unused bandwidth capacity available on your network, in effect, boosting your bandwidth speeds.
The modem has 8 download and 4 upload channels. This means that the provider can (doesn't but could) offer data rates over 300 Mbps download and over 100 Mbps upload (at least not to home users). Each channel is capable of 40 Mbps, theoretically, for a maximum of 320 Mbps. But your provider "caps" the maximum at a much lower number. On a home system if you are getting 30+ Mbps you are doing extremely well.
I have 12 devices running off my home network so I am pleased with the results. I also bought a Cisco Linksys E2500 dual band router which basically places six on each band.
Just an FYI: You have to call Time Warner, go through the lengthy process of explaining that you have bought your own modem to replace their modem. You want to have it added to their network. You will have to provide MAC address and SERIAL number of your device, name of the modem including model number and then wait up to two days for them to make the switch. I know, ridiculous right?
Another FYI: The power light at top will be green, the second light blue, next two lights green and last light blinking orange (GigE-RJ45) unless you have Gigabit capability (offers up to 1 gig Mbps transfer speeds). You need a gigabit router, gigabit ethernet card to take advantage of the increased speed AND a provider that offers it. The GigE-RJ45 allows you to obtain Gigabit rates using the same 10/100/1000 ethernet Cat 5e or 6e cables instead of needing Fiber Optic cable. Its geared toward small to medium sized business owners.
Pros: offers AES enhanced AES encryption security, channel banding technology, GIGe-RJ45 port, compatible with EuroDOCSIS, has built-in filter to reduce interference from MoCa signals, easy to access menu, easy to set up and cost less than its predecessors.
I would definitely recommend this product and suggest upgrading to a dual band router.
Buy Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem Now
I just bought this modem and got rid off the SBG6580 due to it's weak wireless signal, plus i already own a good dlink wireless router.Called time warner cable, gave them the mac address and it was up n running in a less than a minute =] it totally rocks!
TWC was charging me 7 bucks a month for the sb6580 rental fee, i live in los angeles and i can confirm this new modem works with TWC internet.
Read Best Reviews of Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem Here
*** PLEASE CLICK "YES" THIS REVIEW WAS HELPFUL SO IT STAYS VISIBLE AND NO ONE ELSE IS DEFRAUDED ***I'll spare you the long, sad story of my hard-to-diagnose internet connectivity problems, and jump to the end. The week before last, my cable modem (the Motorola SB6141 I bought on this page) started "flapping" provider-speak for constant adjustments associated with periodic disconnections from the internet. The modem would connect for 5-10 minutes, then disconnect for 1-2 minutes, then reconnect for 5-10 minutes, then lose connection for 1-2 minutes, on and on, 24/7. The Time Warner Cable guy who came last Friday (about the 12th guy who'd been here recently) said, "Your modem is flapping." My modem had done this once before and I had reported it. I'd even kept a log of on and off times, and shown it to the previous cable guy who came in answer to my service call. But that guy just looked blankly at my log and shrugged. The cable guy who came last week, however, knew what it was and what it was called: "flapping".
He said that usually when he sees flapping, it's caused by a faulty modem. He swapped in a TWC modem, and said to call Level 3 Tech Support in a week to ask if there had been any flapping. I can tell myself (the hard way) if there has been any flapping, and there has not. I've had a week of solid connectivity (for a change). But I called anyway today, and the Level 3 Tech Support guy confirmed: my connection hasn't wavered. There have been no service interruptions, no flapping. The problem was definitely due to a faulty modem.
This surprised me because I think of Motorola as a good brand. I wouldn't have thought that a brand new Motorola cable modem would not work properly. But the evidence was indisputable, so I called the Motorola Warranty number and requested a replacement. Now here's where it gets really interesting.
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***** READ BELOW * READ BELOW * READ BELOW * READ BELOW * READ BELOW *****
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The Motorola Tech Support guy who answered the phone asked me where I bought the cable modem. I told him Amazon. He then asked a very odd question: "What color is your cable modem?" I said, "Black." He said, "Then it's a used modem. That's probably why you're having problems. We're seeing that a lot."
Notice that the black Motorola cable modems are not sold by Amazon directly they are sold by other merchants through Amazon. The SB6141 that Amazon sells directly is the white one: Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem Retail Packaging White (The white and black modems are functionally the same. Motorola colors them differently to identify their distribution channel.)
He went on to explain that the black modems are sold by Motorola ONLY to cable internet providers like Time Warner Cable, and the white version is the one meant for end users. But he knows from warranty calls that black cable modems, advertised as new, are being sold to end-users on Amazon and eBay. These cannot be new because no one but a cable internet provider can buy the black modems new. So where did these sellers get the black modems? They only could have gotten them used from cable internet providers. That also explains how they're able to sell them below retail price. The seller on this page sells the SB6141 for $11 below retail. Another seller offers it for $22 below retail.
Selling AS NEW heavily used modems that by-definition are prone to failure constitutes fraud.
DO NOT BUY BLACK MOTOROLA CABLE MODEMS. THEY WERE PREVIOUSLY OWNED BY A CABLE INTERNET COMPANY, AND LIKELY TO HAVE BEEN HEAVILY USED. THEY ARE *NOT* NEW, AND THEY ARE PRONE TO FAILURE.
Want Motorola SurfBoard SB6141 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem Discount?
The SB6141 is listed on TWC's list of approved modems. No issues with install. Easy to access menu to view power levels. Fast and works as advertised. Highly recommend.
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