Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Motorola SB6210 v. SB5101

Aug 12, 2009 6:27AM PDT

I have Charter cable internet. Currently I have the SB5100, and last week I clocked in at roughly 5.5 megs/sec. The modem has been going off intermittently (its 5 years old) and I'd like to replace it. My two options are the 5101 and the 6210.

The 5101 is 53 bucks on Amazon; the 6210 is 88. The 6210 is advertising lots of "new features." I'm wondering if there would be any speed difference between the two. Or would I be paying 35 bucks for features I'd never need?

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
The only thing that counts . . .
Aug 12, 2009 10:14PM PDT

is that the modem be DOCSYS 2.x or greater. All else are bells and whistles. I've found D-link to be superior modems.

- Collapse -
the 5101 is DOCSIS 2.0 compliant
Aug 12, 2009 11:08PM PDT

The only thing that's keeping me with Motorola is that it seems to be cheaper (50 bucks on amazon) than the competition, and the fact is that I've had a lot of use out of my 5100 in the past 5 years or so (brand loyalty). Actually one more thing--other modems haven't gotten great reviews, but I'll go back and check out Dlink modems and see if one can beat the 5101 in those areas.

- Collapse -
Looked at the DCM-202 and reviews were mixed
Aug 12, 2009 11:56PM PDT
- Collapse -
Hmmmmm . . .
Aug 13, 2009 11:37AM PDT

I've had mine since they came out a few years ago. BTW, my Gigabit/wireless N router is D-link, and my Gigabit switch is D-link. Customer loyalty here too.

Your choice. As I said, the only thing that matters is the spec on the DOCSYS. If yours is the latest, then stick with what fits your pocket book.

And DOCSYS 3.x is forthcoming. Which means we all get to buy a new one.

Wayne

Click here to see the CNet faces, learn a little about analog and digital data, Internet connections, Spyware removal, and download free software (and a GREAT chocolate-cherry cobbler recipe).
Daylight Savings Time - "Only white man would believe you could cut off top of blanket, sew it to bottom of blanket, and have longer blanket."