sundance-communications.com/forum Forums VOIP Phones & IP PBX Networking DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem Recommendation

Hello all,

I currently have the Motorola SBG6580 cable modem. It works fine, but I don't like that I can't change the default IP range it uses. I'm not currently using it as a DHCP server, as my Apple router does that, but in order for port forwarding to work, the IP range has to match what's on the cable modem.

Can any of you recommend a cable modem that supports DOCSIS 3.0 that allows you to change the IP range, i.e. from the 192.168 range to 10.0 or 172.16 ?

Thanks!

Scott

Who is your provider? They will usually dictate what customer provided modems are supported on their network. Generally speaking, Motorola Surfboard modems are highly regarded. Take a look at the SB6121 or SB6141 models. There's a new model that came out recently that will support like 16 downstream and 8 upstream channels for when the cable internet providers switch over to DOCSIS 3.1 or whatever the new standard is.

SBG6580 can probably be put into bridge mode then you can use your Apple Airport router to handle all firewall/DHCP/portforward/etc roles.

Thanks for the response. I have Comcast.

I turned off the DHCP server function on the Surfboard because it's terrible. The web interface is very primitive and I've found it has a few bugs and problems lingering around. I couldn't get it to reserve IP addresses no matter how hard I tried. They'd just change on their own anyway.

So, to counteract this, my Airport Extreme is performing the DHCP server functions.

But, in order for port forwarding to work, I have to keep the Airport set to 192.168.0.XXX in order to match how it's set on the Surfboard, even though DHCP is turned off on the Surfboard.

I don't like using the 192.168 range, mostly for aesthetic reasons. I just prefer to use 172.16.0.XXX or 10.0.X.XXX ranges.

Thanks!

Call Comcast and ask them to put your gateway into bridge mode. Should do what you need. Or buy your own modem and save yourself the monthly rental fee.

I already own the modem and it is in bridge mode. DHCP is turned off, and running on my Airport Express. Maybe I had something configured wrong, I'll go back and play with it this morning.

Scott

The Modem should connect to the internet port on the Apple router.

Then configure the internet type accordingly (Cable providers down here use DHCP)

You should then be able to do all port forwarding in the apple router