# Modem Question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modem-question/675472>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 4, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modem-question/675472 "2013-12-04T13:45:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![SanDiegoTim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@SanDiegoTim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanDiegoTim)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modem-question/675472/1 "2013-12-04T13:45:07Z")

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My cable company (Cox) is recommending I use a “DOCSIS 3.0” modem. My current modem is 4-5 years old. Do I assume it’s not what Cox recommends? Would the difference be noticeable?

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**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modem-question/675472/2 "2013-12-04T13:51:38Z")

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Could be. A 5yo modem might not be able to keep up with the latest cable speeds. If maxing out is your thing, and you pay for high speeds, you might not be getting what you pay for due to a modem bottleneck.

What speed are you paying for, and what [speed](http://www.speakeasy.net/speedtest/) are you getting now?

Also, see if the cable company will give you a new modem, free. Mine did (Charter) and all I had to do was ask (self-installed). There’s very little downside to that kind of offer.

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**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/modem-question/675472/3 "2013-12-04T14:02:44Z")

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Going off the age it sounds like it would be DOCSIS 2. (1 cannot be working on Cox so its a choice of 2 or 3…)

Here’s a list of model numbers indicating version … yours is most likely on it .

> **[Residential Internet Support | Cox Communications](https://www.cox.com/residential/support/internet.html?articleId=%7Bb2ec95d0-7ef9-11df-5590-000000000000%7D)**
>
> Get Help and Support for setting up or troubleshooting your Cox Internet service. Our Guided Help can assist with solving the most frequently encountered issues, testing your Internet speeds or configuring your equipment.

DOCSIS 2 runs at 48 mbs download (and 30 mbs upload), so if your plan doesn’t allow you to go faster than DOCSIS 2 , DOCSIS 2 will do ! (they say DOCSIS 2 is fine for “starter” and “essential” plans.)

DOCSIS 3 will allow you to run at up to 8x 48.83 mbs download, that is, over 300mbs…  
And upload is up to 4x 30.72 … You can see they are multiplying the DOCSIS 2 up and down speeds, up to 8 x 4 x. Watch out, some DOCSIS 3 modems only do 4x 4x.