SB5120 Surfboard Cable Modem Docsis 1.1 and 2.0 Certified USB Reviews

• Outstanding modem!

  
  By A1B3GNO9C8YX0N on 2005-12-16
  My old RCA modem for my [...] service turned flakey so I called Comcast to come out and see what was wrong. They replaced the modem with some no-name cheapie and I saw my download rate drop from 4 MBps to 1.2 MBps ! Yikes! I called their techs again and asked what happened. Their response: "The ping looks great, you can't trust those speed test websites (dslreports in this case) and modems don't make any difference in speed". Yeah, right. I immediately bought this Surfboard modem, replaced the no-name one, called Comcast to enable the MAC address and what was 1.2 MPs download immediately prior to the modem switch-out was now happily above 4 MBps and a totally solid connection! The cable modem makes a huge difference and this is a great one!
  
  

• Fast, Reliable, Better Than Linksys

  
  By A2NARAMNZ4SXST on 2005-08-09
  Used the SB5120 to replace Linksys BEFCMU10 (Version 3.0). The SB5120 performs better and is much more stable.
  
  I had performance and reliability problems using VOIP service over my Linksys cable modem. Under load the Linksys cable modem has high latency and performs poorly. The Linksys cable modem required a reset a few times a week. (Note: no problems with my Linksys VOIP router.)
  
  With the SB5120 my VOIP connection sounds better and is more stable (no cable modem resets required). My overall latency is lower and WEB pages load much faster.
  
  Packet forwarding performance is much better with the SB5120.
  
  

• No longer manufactured by Motorola

  
  By A11GRINF3GMNF9 on 2007-11-17
  Recently I started looking for a modem to replace my aging Motorola SB4100. Based on the good reviews, I decided to buy the Motorola SB5120. Unfortunately, I found the SB5120 extremely hard to find (Amazon did not have it in stock at the time). The SB5101 however was in stock everywhere for about $50. Out of frustration, I contacted Motorola to ask about availability and the significant differences between the 5120 and the 5101. The Motorola technician that I talked to told me that the reason the 5120 is scarce is that it is no longer manufactured. He also explained that the difference between the two modems is the internal chipset. The 5120 is a TI and the 5101 is a Broadcom. He also said that there is no difference in performance; both are capable of 38 Mbps downstream and 30 Mbps upstream (limited by the cable company's tiers and number of users on the net).
  
  Finally, I asked him which he preferred (since I could still track down a 5120 if I was willing to pay enough...). He stated unequivocally that he preferred the SB5101 and the Broadcom chipset. He also stated that the speed on the modems is artificially capped by the cable companies so that they can sell tiers of service. This modem, he said, has a lot of available overhead so as the broadband companies compete and raise their level of service, this modem can handle it. Finally, he told me that there is a new DOCSIS standard (3.0) recently approved; the 5101 modem is upgradeable to DOCSIS 3.0 should the cable company choose to do so.
  
  That said, I followed his recommendation and bought a 5101.
  
  
  

• What a difference

  
  By A3I7145RF9H91E on 2006-03-23
  I echo the sentiments of several of the reviewers about slow degradation of modems over time resulting in flaky function with intermittent loss of service, and subpar download speeds. I also share the experience with tech support at Comcast that was clueless about this possibility, never suggesting it, doing a lot of meaningless tests with reassurances, making me go through a lot of purposeless handstands as they tried to troubleshoot the difficulty.
  
  Exasperated, to experiment on my own, I replaced my 5 year old RCA modem with this Motorola, basically to save the tech fee for a housecall if it was simply the modem, and it most certainly was that. So the savings in the tech fee paid for the modem!! (...) Although my download speed never exceeded 3.5 Mb/s with the old modem, I was supposed to be getting 5+ Mb/s. With this Motorola modem I am getting about 9.2 Mb/s!! The surfing efficiency is very noticeably improved, and I should have tried this months ago.
  
  The installation is trivial, and once the ISP configures the modem, you're up and running. If you are using a router in a network, you may have to reconfigure your router with the new setup. My Linksys router would not function even though I reset it, until I went through the steps to completely reconfigure it which only took a couple of minutes.
  
  This modem also has a handy standby switch which effectively breaks the connection of the modem to the network computers as an added security feature when you are not using the internet. It does have a very narrow profile with a shallow footed base, so with cords attached, it is a little metastable on a desktop. It is best to place it against a more solid structure on the desk, or if you have it in the kneewell of a desk, as I do, it fits beautifully and securely against the sidewall on top of my multimedia subwoofer.
  
  Highly recommended product.
  
  

• Wow- 3.5x faster than older Docsis 1.1 modem

  
  By AU3R7YCC5ZWD4 on 2005-12-09
  I'm having some router problems which I thought might be related to the cable modem, so I bought this to replace a Toshiba PCX2200 Docsis 1.1 modem on my Adelphia service (which they say is all upgraded to Docsis 2.0)
  
  Both modems work so I can switch back and forth and compare pretty close to real time. So I ran 3 different online bandwidth tests from different sites to see if it's worth the money for the upgrade.
  
  The average download performance upgrade was 3.5x better (up to 5.9Mbit/sec) and the average upload gain was 7x better.
  
  I've got nothing against the Toshiba - it's worked perfectly for a few years and all the online and help desk reviews of it are good. Even though Toshiba is working fine, it's worth the extra money to get a 3x improvement (especially considering the high price I pay to Adelphia every month).
  
  I'm using it on a Mac, I never installed the software, works fine out of the box.
  
  Highly recommended.
  
  (It has a standby switch which disconnects the computers but keeps the cable side live. That would be nice in a small setup but my modem is inconveniently located and I have mutiple computers).
  
  
• An excellent modem - at an excellent price!
  By A30J7WQV0ZNRXG on 2005-11-28
  Cable modems DO age. I am sure I knew this, but it simply did not occur to me that when my broadband (cable) internet connection began behaving erratically, that a worn, old and obsolete cable modem was at the cause.
  I had been using a (very good) Best Data model CMX 110 since connecting via cable a little over 4 years ago. At the time, the provider I used (then, @home) offered a rental for a fee- so I simply bought this Best Data (docsis compliant) one and,until recently, all was well. Then the problems began. Connections dropped. Data light out for periods of time. Calling my current provider (Comcast) didn't help much. They NEVER asked about my modem - simply suggesting that I recycle the power (reboot) it, which I did - and that made things OK - but for just a little while.
  I began to suspect something hardware wise. First guess was wrong- I guessed the cable connecting the modem to the computer was faulty (One end had actually separated from the plug a little) - I replaced it - no change. I then suspected that the cable, itself, had been bent or compromised in some way to disturb the signal - I replaced that, too - again, no change.
  Then, I ordered a 'refurbished' 3-Com cable modem from an online reseller. It was trash - and, I found out too late, not currently 'supported' by Comcast. Kicking myself for wasting some (thank goodness just a little) cash on this item, I came across an ad for a special (at Circuit City) for the Motorola modem. This time, before buying, I looked more deeply into the Comcast situation and determined that it IS supported by Comcast, and that with the rebates available (totalling $60.), the net cost to me would be $19.99 + tax. I ran over to Circuit City, bought one. Installed it in ten minutes and called Comcast to have it activated. No sweat. And I am please to report that my connection is, again, as I want it. Smooth, reliable and fast.
  This modem is docsis compliant to both 1.1 AND 2.0 standards. It is about a third the size of the old Best Data box and has the neat feature of a kind of 'hold' button on top that is used to deactivate the modem when and if you might wish to do so to perform specific tasks on your computer.
  I am watching the lights on the modem and smiling as I write this. No blinking - no connection interruption.... and I saved $60. on top of it.
  A beautiful piece of necessary equipment at a beautiful price.
  
  
• Simple, solidly-built
  By A3D6ZKRH88JD7E on 2005-12-10
  I installed this for my mom when her old cable modem died. For us, ease-of-use and simplicity are the most important features.
  
  It was easy to install. We did not bother with the included software; it just worked when we plugged it in. I didn't benchmark speed, as that's not a concern for my mom, but subjectively it seems faster than her old RCA cable modem.
  
  In addition to looking sleek, it is solidly built. The front panel LEDs are bright. The power transformer is in the middle of the cord, so the plug won't block other outlets. And it has only a single button, the power standby button.
  
  The only possible problem is that the power standby button is on the top of the unit and easy to hit accidentally, so I made sure to locate the modem in a place where she won't bump it.
  
  After installing the cable modem, we had to run a special program provided by our cable company to "register" the modem with the cable system. That was the only hassle, but it's the cable company's fault, not Motorola's fault.
  
  
• Solid performer
  By A326BMSKB0P4BK on 2005-08-11
  The SB5120 highlights are its easy installation and reliable performance. It is connected to Comcast and to a Linksys WRTP54G phone adapter/router. Even with occassional power and cable interruptions due to lighting storms in Texas, the unit recovers gracefully and resumes service without any intervention. The front panel status lights are positioned well to display connectivity issues. Installation took less than 15 minutes using the installation guide on CD. The SB5120 is a well made cable modem.
  
  
• Long-overdue cable modem upgrade
  By A5NXWTS1D5ZXD on 2005-09-28
  I had been using a purchased 3COM "Shark Fin" cable modem on my Comcast Internet service for 3-4 years. In retrospect, it appears that as Comcast went through several "speed bumps", boosting download speed to 4Mbps and beyond in my area, the 3COM modem was having trouble keeping up. Many modem disconnects and resynchs per day were an annoyance for me, but a disaster to my son, an online gamer.
  
  I did a bit of web research on possible modem replacements, and found units from Motorola and Linksys generally rated most highly (or frequently). Even though I'm a loyal Linksys router user, I went with the Motorola SB5120 because of its good reviews. The unit has performed very well now in two months of service. Reliability has been rock-solid (my son is back in the saddle with Halo2!), and download speed has gotten as high as 5.5Mbps, earning me a "Dude!" rating.
  
  
• Easy to set-up and works great
  By A1JFIXWU13MXVX on 2006-08-27
  I recently switched from DSL to Comcast Cable high speed internet. The modem sent to me by Comcast (an RCA) didn't work at all, but thankfully I'd already planned on using my own modem instead of leasing theirs (it's cheaper if you have cable for over a year). The Surfboard worked easily and immediately, suggesting that any issues previous releases have had with Comcast cable have been resolved by Motorola.
  
  One important thing to note is that because this modem uses Docsis, it will be slower on some Macs than on computers running Windows or *nix. There is an easy way around this, however, that involves downloading a program called IPNetTunerX. See this article from MacFixIt to find out more. IPNetTunerX even has a preset for the Motorola Surfboard, making it no longer necessary to adjust settings manually. Since using this application to make minor changes in my IP settings, I've gone from downloading at 2.5Mbps to nearly 6Mbps on my G4 Powerbook.
  
  
• An Excellent Modem
  By AT8BFGX1FOEVT on 2005-10-23
  I hooked up this modem about 3 days ago. So far it's worked perfectly.
  Before I bought this modem I started paying Comcast for their extra speed package which allows 8Mbps download,[...]. It was a let down. So I began doing some research. This modem has TurboDox which will help with difficult line situations, and in my case it boosted my connection slightly exceed 8Mbps!
  I haven't had any stability problems, and 8Mbps is easily established during peak hours!
  Installation was a breeze. I plugged in a coax cable, then the power supply, and waited for the front lights to show it established a connection. Then plugged in the ethernet cable directly to my computer and opened Internet Explorer. Just for the fun of it, I tried to surf to a page, but a comcast intall page was immediately brought up, (through the Comcast cable connection) and which allowed me to register my new modem with my Comcast account. It took less than 5 minutes and I didn't even have to call customer service.
  It's a very good modem and I highly recommend it.
  
  
• DON'T BUY HERE! NEVER AGAIN!
  By A23Z8QC9QT85K8 on 2007-04-18
  Amazon allows this company, Electronica Direct, to change their prices AFTER you place your order. I bought this cable modem, Motorola Surfboard Cable Modem SB5120, at $49.99 from Amazon. Then got BILLED for $59.99. When I called Amazon to get this straightened out, they told me it was my problem as they did not sell me this item, Electronica Direct was the seller. This may be true, but they still took their cut of the money, and allow this company to still do business on Amazon.com. This is a disreputable company that Amazon is allowing to do this to us, their customers. I, for one, will NEVER do business with either of these two companies again.
  
  
• As good as advertised
  By A3T3WG7TOW1KKB on 2006-03-27
  This cable modem was easy to setup and has performed flawlessly.
  
  
• Customer Service Was Tops
  By A22O6YF1CAFMT8 on 2005-11-01
  I tend to rate a product not only by its success but also by its product support. Motorola has, by far, exceeded any expectations in this realm. Although my equipment has been flawless, my system had issues. Understanding that they can only provide support for their own unit, they were able to quickly and efficiently send me on my way towards the right path of resolution. The information provided by the customer service department cut the previous four hours of online service chat with other providers down to a five minute repair. It helps to know who to talk to first I suppose. With this in mind, a great product just became better.
  
  
• best of breed
  By AW62ORFIPXJNA on 2005-12-22
  I have been using this sb5120 for almost an year, so far it has worked flawlessly. I have connected vonage phone adaptor as well as D-link wireless G router to this cable modem.
  I never had a internet outage or connection drop because of the
  modem. I highly recomend this product from motorolla.
  
  
• If your a gamer read thise review
  By A22N7KDAP994PU on 2006-03-29
  I play halo2 alot and if you play as much as i do you know about how u have to get host not to get modded standbyed and your battle rifle and shotgun is 5times stronger well i never got host then i bought this and i nomaly get host every time if you are a gaming looking for a better connection order this RIGHT NOW!!!
  
  
• Excellent modem, high industry credibility, and you can monitor your connection
  By A2V7EO331SFUF6 on 2006-06-11
  I've been using Motorola SB5100s from my local cable company for years. They're solid, hardy, reliable little units. One thing worth noting is that you can monitor your line quality by connecting to the modem at 192.168.100.1. The Signal, Configuration and Logs screens of the modem's web interface are very informative if/when you're having connectivity issues.
  
  
• Very bad - never will use it
  By A3KRR6MAYT1KHJ on 2006-12-18
  I bought it in last October last year for $80. 6 month later, Ethernet port quit, and customer service from Motorola said sine USB port still functions, they can't repair it. Then another 6 month later, USB port quit all the sudden. Now it's completely gone.
  
  
• Works Great with Cox
  By A3DQWFWINN3V5A on 2007-01-28
  My old Toshiba PCX 1100U cable modem was getting a little long in the tooth. Cox no longer supported it and, at one point, I measured a speed on CNET of only about 150kbps. I looked around, and the best cable modem I could find research on was this Motorola Surfboard SB5120. Since Amazon's Prime version of this wanted 1-2 WEEKS before shipping (and thus lost the sale to a more expensive, local option), I bought it locally and brought it home. Setup was a snap. Plug the power in, plug in the RJ45 between the cable modem and switch/computer, and plug in the RG6 from the cable company. In my case, when I first tried to browse the web with the new modem, it popped up a screen saying to call Cox and give them the new MAC Address and Customer S/N from the box. Cox uploaded a configuration file to the modem, and in a few minutes, I was up and running. That same CNET speed test now shows over 2,200kbps. I'm very satisfied with this SB5120 and rate it at an Excellent 5 stars out of 5.
  
  
• Works like a charm. Easy setup.
  By A3BRLX11KB0329 on 2005-09-21
  This modem works great and was very easy to set up. Basically, plug it in and go. I have a lot of splitters on my cable line which lowers the power of the signal, but this modem has no problem synching and connecting to the internet. My old modem couldn't do it.
  
  
• Compact and reliable
  By A3S3TAWTJUZ077 on 2006-03-13
  Our ComCast supplied modem was requiring frequent resetting. Our guru had been having the same problem. He switched to this modem and reported no resetting and faster speed. Ours has been very reliable, and we have recommended this modem to others.
  
  
• Another vote for this one
  By A1FIREIZ34WELN on 2006-07-27
  Replaced a NetGear modem that would drop every week or so with my Comcast service and maxxed at 3.5 Mb service (paying for 6). The motorola syncs faster, boosted speeds to 5.2 Mb and so far has stayed up consistently. (Used with a Dlink router)
  
  
• simple to install and works great
  By A2CEUK6NJ26QAA on 2006-10-02
  I've only had mine a couple weeks, so I don't know about longevity, but I was very happy with how easy it was to set up, and it seems to produce very fast service. I'm using it with Cox Cable in San Diego (I had to call them to tell them the MAC address), and I have it hooked up with an Apple Airport Express wireless base station.
  
  
• Three Strikes and Motorola is OUT
  By AQ4LTNH9C3W9M on 2007-06-27
  I have tried THREE different SB5120's and each has had to be returned under warranty. I noticed that they are now made in China (used to be made in Mexico). Motorola is ditching their quality for profit - the bastids.
  
  
• Nice cable modem
  By A2PR5G1680ISEY on 2006-02-15
  I bought this cable modem because I was concerned that Comcast would give me a low quality device to use. I have been using the Motorola Surfboard for a few weeks, and it has been trouble-free. My only complaint is that it is not practical to lay the modem on its side. It would be convenient for me to do so.
  
  Comcast only gives $3/month discount for customers who buy their own cable modems. Recently, I noticed one of these Surfboard cable modems on a counter in a Comcast billing center, too. So Comcast might be handing out these cable modems to their customers. If so, buying this gadget to save $3/month was a bad choice.
  
  
• Speeds Surf's Up!
  By A3W4D8XOGLWUN5 on 2006-07-04
  I recently switched my internet service to broadband, and it feels a whole lot easier to not just sure the web, but also to download files faster and easier. Motorola also knows their stuff about downloading with their SB5120 Cable Modem. It is simple, convient, and easy to operate and install, and it just is a speed demon. You could surf the internet much faster and quicker than you could with dial-up modems abd their subsequent services. You also would need high speed service as well, inorder to get the optimum speeds from the modem like Road Runner from Time Warner, or Optimum Online from Cablevision. I love this modem a whole lot, and it is worth it.
  
  Price: A
  
  Convience: A+
  
  Overall: A 1/2+
  
  
• Amazing Modem
  By A155M03XPPCF73 on 2006-07-10
  Its really fast, I like it. I replace my older version cable modem 5100, and this new one have a turbodox its speeds up youre connection much faster, I really love it.
  
  
• Better...but not perfect
  By AJ4ZFLSZPIPYL on 2007-01-11
  I bought this modem because the one I was leasing from Comcast cable was spontaneously resetting several times an hour. When I complained, Comcast told me it wasn't the modem's fault, but said they didn't know what was causing the problem. I had an Amazon bonus coupon that made the modem virtually fee, so I bought my own. The spontaneous reset problem has disappeared, but I still have some odd problems. For example, trying to batch upload photographs via Google's Picasa2 freezes the modem, requiring a power-down for both the modem and my router. Occasionally I have the same problem while just browing the 'net. Calls to Comcast technical support are a waste of time. Another problem is the documentation--both Motorola's and Comcast's--which don't make it entirely clear how to get the cable system to recognize the device. But at least I'm not getting interrupted all day long. The final straw came when I returned the leased modem. The technician said, "You know you could have just gotten a new one from us." When I told her why I bought my own, she said, "Well, these modems are only good for a couple of years at best." That would have been nice to know when Comcast tech support was repeatedly denying that their five year old modem could have been the source of the reset problem.
  
  
• Great modem.
  By AE6DDIKFMC2RY on 2007-01-27
  Just received this modem and it works great. Amazon's service was excellent, also. Bought the modem to replace a Toshiba PCX2600 that Time Warner's Road Runner Service in Houston plans to begin charging rent for. If you're buying for the same purpose, be sure and hang onto to your old modem until your ISP activates the new modem's MAC address on their system. It took Houston Road Runner six days to do that. I called tech support with the new MAC address and they sent the information over to the "warehouse" for entry into the system. Not very efficient, but this modem was worth the wait.
  
  
• Good performance and easy to install
  By A1JWSDDIH5Z7DV on 2007-04-22
  Recently I upgraded my cable internet service speed from 5 Mbps to 15 Mbps, but at first I didn't see any increase in speed using my 4 or 5 year old modem. My cable company advised me to get a new modem and recommended this one. It was very easy to install and now I am getting noticably faster download speed. Incidentally, this modem is recommended for Macs as well as PCs and works fine with my Mac G4. Over the years I have had several Motorola products and have been satisfied with all of them.
  
  

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