Getting a good internet connection is not a problem with all the options around you, the recommendations of friends and family, and all the blogs you can find on the internet regarding good internet service providers. The real problem, however, is the equipment that comes with internet connectivity. Internet service providers usually offer equipment along with their services. You can either rent it out for a monthly fee or choose to purchase it completely. Although, not all service providers offer you the option of completely purchasing the modem and router.
So, what you can do, if you want to purchase a modem, and not rent it out to save money, is buy one yourself. Naturally, you can’t just go into the market and get the first or the most expensive modem you see thinking it’s the best one. Whether it is the most expensive or the least expensive doesn’t determine whether it is compatible with your internet connectivity. You see, that is something you will have to be mindful of when purchasing a modem on your own.
If you are subscribed to a Wave Internet package, then this is the right place to be to find out which modem is suitable for your internet connection. While you can rent out a modem from the service provider, buying your own modem saves you money in the long run. In case, you suddenly have to shift from one city to another, you can use the very same modem as long as it is compatible with that internet connection as well.
Wave Internet Packages
Before we move on to the modems and their details, let’s talk a little bit about the internet packages of Wave Internet.
Internet Packages | Price | Internet speed |
High-Speed 100 | $29.95/mo.(for 12 months) | 100 Mbps |
High-Speed 250 | $39.95/mo.(for 12 months) | 250 Mbps |
High-Speed Gig | $69.95/mo.(for 12 months) | Unlimited speed(conditions apply) |
High-Speed 100
This package is perfect for people that have basic uses and needs of the internet. With a data allowance of 400 GB, you can easily manage work and schoolwork from home and watch TV shows, movies, and stream music. As long as you are a family of 4, you can enjoy a smooth internet experience with this package.
High-Speed 250
This internet package works best for those that want high-speed internet as compared to generally speedy internet. It is like a boost from the regular internet and it is good for heavy internet users. It is ideal for gamers and people who need to download and upload heavy files regularly as part of their work. With a data allowance of 500 GB, users can video call, have meetings and conferences, and do much more with this package.
High-Speed Gig
This package is the ultimate high-speed package and is a premium option for residential users. Users can connect multiple devices to this and still enjoy a smooth experience. It is perfect for homes with smart home devices that need to stay connected to the internet to function properly. At the same time, there are other devices like laptops, phones, etc. that can also stay connected without any issue. Although there is no data limit in this package, some other conditions apply to it. You can find more details on our website.
Wave Internet Modem Requirements
Now, let’s discuss the requirements of Wave Internet for the modems to see what to look for. Firstly, the modem should be either DOCSIS 3.0 or DOCSIS 3.1 certified. Depending on the plan you choose, you can decide on one of the two. For High-Speed 100 or High-Speed 250, a DOCSIS 3.0 will be good to go. But, for a High-Speed Gig, you would need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem.
Internet Plan | DOCSIS | Channels |
High-Speed 100 | 3.0 or 3.1 | 24×8, 32×8 |
High-Speed 250 | 3.0 or 3.1 | 24×8, 32×8 |
High-Speed Gig | 3.1 | 32×8 |
DOCSIS
DOCSIS is the cable that modems use to receive internet over coaxial cables. Most Internet service providers use DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1. The difference between the two is that DOCSIS 3.1 is newer and faster than DOCSIS 3.0. To be specific, it is 10 times faster than DOCSIS 3.0.
Modem/Router combo
If you are thinking of buying your own modem, you will have to consider whether you want to modem only, or a modem/router combo. As you probably already know, the router is just as important as the modem especially if you need to connect to the internet wirelessly. So, you will have to weigh your options and decide whether to get a modem only or a router/modem combo.
Best Wave-Compatible Modems
So, now let’s move on to the modems approved for Wave Internet.
Arris SURFboard SB8200
This modem is perfect for the High-Speed Gig internet plan. The modem uses DOCSIS 3.1 technology. Its ultra-fast design delivers high-speed internet to your home. The channel bonding for this modem is 32×8 DOCSIS 3.0 channels and 2×2 DOCSIS 3.1 OFDM. Some more details for this modem are given below:
Type: Cable Modem
Internet Protocol: IPv4 and IPv6
Memory: 3 GB RAM and 128 MiB dual flash memory
WAN coaxial cable connection: 1
Gigabit Ethernet ports: 2
Wi-Fi router: No
NETGEAR CM1000
This modem is ideal for hardcore gamers. It meets the needs of gamers and streamers with its solid performance. It can deliver speeds of up to 1 Gbps and uses DOCSIS 3.1 technology. The channel bonding is 32×8 SCQAM 2×2 DOCSIS 3.1 OFDM. This is also perfect for the High-Speed Gig internet plan.
Type: Cable Modem
Internet Protocol: IPv6
Memory: 256 MB RAM and 128 MB NAND flash
WAN coaxial cable connection: 1
Gigabit Ethernet port: 1
Wi-Fi router: No
Motorola MB7621
This modem uses DOCSIS 3.0 technology and delivers high-speed internet speeds of up to 1000 Mbps (conditions apply). The channel bonding for this modem is 24×8 DOCSIS 3.0. This is perfect for the High-Speed 100 and High-Speed 250 internet plans.
Type: Cable Modem
Internet Protocol: IPv4 and IPv6
Memory: 3 GB RAM and 128 MB/16 NAND flash
WAN coaxial cable connection: 1
Gigabit Ethernet port: 1
Wi-Fi router: No
Arris SURFboard SB6190
This modem uses DOCSIS 3.0 technology and has maximum speeds of up to 1 Gbps. It has a channel bonding support of 32×8 channels. It is good enough for the High-Speed Gig internet plan. It is not the best modem for gaming but it works fine for all speed tiers of Wave Internet.
Type: Cable Modem
Internet Protocol: IPv4 and IPv6
Memory: 256 MB RAM and 1 TB flash memory
WAN coaxial cable connection: 1
Gigabit Ethernet ports: 1
Wi-Fi router: No
The Verdict
Coming to the end, it is important to remember that your modem will only deliver as much as the internet plan that you purchase. If you purchase a not-so-speedy internet plan and an expensive modem, you can’t expect the modem to deliver more speeds than what you have subscribed for.
So, while purchasing a good modem is necessary, it is also important to make sure that the internet package is a good one. The same applies to a good modem. If you have subscribed to a high-speed internet plan, but you purchase a modem that is not able to deliver those speeds, then you are wasting your money.
With that said, if you want to know more about Wave Internet plans or you want to find which service provider is available on your internet, go on to BuyTVInternetPhone where you can enter your ZIP code and find services available in your area!