Forum Discussion

rbreeze's avatar
rbreeze
New Contributor
5 years ago

Ultimate 500 modems

Just confused at why modems rated higher than 500mbps are stuck at the Ultimate Classic tier, which to my understanding is 300mbps and not even offered anymore (grandfathered plan)

- If the modem is rated for 680mbps, what's the technical limitation as to why it can't support 500mbps?

- The current tiers go from 150 mbps service to 500 mbps service.  If you don't even offer Ultimate Classic service anymore, why is it listed on the Cox compatible modem page https://www.cox.com/residential/support/cox-certified-cable-modems.html

  • Bruce's avatar
    Bruce
    Honored Contributor III

    "Modems rated higher than 500mbps are stuck at the Ultimate Classic tier"
      False
      Modems rated higher than Ultimate 500 support up to Gigablast.

    "Ultimate Classic not even offered anymore"
      False
      Cox offers 7 plans with Ultimate Classic being a plan.

    "The current tiers go from 150 mbps service to 500 mbps service"
      False
      The current tiers range from 25 to 940 Mbps

    Stop researching the manufacturer's promise of bandwidth and concentrate on its version of DOCSIS and number of channels.  If you want 1 of the top-3 tiers, get a DOCSIS 3.1.

    Gigablast:  940/35 Mbps
    Ultimate 500:  500/10 Mbps
    Ultimate Classic 300:  300/30 Mbps
    Preferred 150:  150/10 Mbps
    Essential 50:  50/3 Mbps
    Starter 10:  10/1 Mbps (You should get this one)
    Connect2Compete:  25/3 Mbps

    Cox does need to update their list of Certified Cable Modems.  Cox now offers a 500 Mbps plan but it's not listed as 1 of the highest compatible package.  You only see 3 packages on this page because those 3 packages are just milestones within all the plans:  150, 300 and 940 Mbps.  Perhaps 500 is now a milestone but...like I said...this page needs an update.

  • Hi Rbreeze. The requirements for the new Ultimate 500 plan is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem. - Lisa, Cox Support Forums Moderator
  • bearone2's avatar
    bearone2
    Contributor III

    what the mfg tells you the modem will do vs what it actually does, apples/oranges

    • Bruce's avatar
      Bruce
      Honored Contributor III

      I thought that'd be more so for routers than modems.  The technology (D3.1) should be the primary consideration to push bandwidth.

      • bearone2's avatar
        bearone2
        Contributor III

        sure it should be but when folks see "cox certified", they don't read the specs of what  the device will do.

        that's why when so many folks are told to stay away from cox equipment, provide their own, they don't have a clue or expertise to resolve the issue & end up in the forum.