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ARRIS SURFboard SBG6580 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem/ Wi-Fi N300 2.4Ghz + N300 5GHz Dual Band Router - Retail Packaging Black (570763-006-00)
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select the return method
- Ship it!
Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | ARRIS |
Internet service provider | spectrum, optimum, cox, xfinity |
Connectivity Technology | WiFi^Wired |
Compatible Devices | Personal Computer |
Product Dimensions | 5.9"L x 1.77"W x 6.69"H |
About this item
- Compatible with Comcast Xfinity, Time Warner Cable, Charter, Cox, Cablevision, and more. Call internet service provider if not listed here. Requires Cable Internet Service and approved for plans up to 100 Mbps. Wifi will not work on certain ISP providers
- Not compatible with: Verizon, AT&T, or CenturyLink
- Two-in-one DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem + N300 WiFi Router
- Docsis 3.0 Modem with 8 DOWNLOAD and 4 UPLOAD Channels capable of 343 Mbps download and 131 Mbps.
- 8X Faster than DOCSIS 2.0. Supports IPv4 and IPv6 – the latest Internet standard. 802.11n Wi-Fi. 4-Port Gigabit Ethernet Router
- 2.4/5.0 GHz Dual-band Switchable
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This product has been fully tested on our PROMPTLINK modem testing platform and is in excellent working condition. Includes, 1 - CAT5 Ethernet Cable, Power Supply. Comes with 30 days warranty
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This Item ARRIS SURFboard SBG6580 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem/ Wi-Fi N300 2.4Ghz + N300 5GHz Dual Band Router - Retail Packaging Black (570763-006-00) | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | -8% $109.98$109.98 List: $119.99 | -10% $197.99$197.99 List: $219.99 | -31% $48.07$48.07 List: $69.99 | -27% $130.90$130.90 List: $179.99 | -31% $131.94$131.94 List: $189.99 | -16% $209.99$209.99 List: $249.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | — | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | — | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Mar 27 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
Tech Support | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 3.4 |
WiFi signal | 3.3 | 3.7 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.8 |
Easy to install | — | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 4.2 | 4.2 |
Durability | 4.1 | — | 4.0 | — | 4.5 | 3.8 |
Quality of material | 4.2 | — | — | — | 4.3 | 4.0 |
Sold By | Dartypartytime | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Mookie’s Footwear | Amazon.com | Amazon.com |
connectivity tech | WiFi^Wired | Ethernet | Ethernet | Cable | Ethernet | Ethernet |
ethernet ports | 5 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 4 |
number of ports | 4 | 2 | — | 6 | 2 | 4 |
data transfer rate | 300 megabits per second | 2500 megabits per second | 400 megabits per second | 6 gigabits per second | 10 gigabits per second | 800 megabits per second |
max downstream rate | 1400 megabits per second | 2500 megabits per second | 131 megabits per second | 686 megabits per second | 10000 megabits per second | 2000 megabits per second |
max upstream rate | 343 megabits per second | 2.5 gigabits per second | 686 megabits per second | 1 gigabits per second | 232 megabits per second | 1000 megabits per second |
Product Description
Product Description
Packed in wholesale brown box, Router, Power Cord, Ethernet Cable, & Instruction ONLY are include. Drivers and install wizards are only online for this product.
The SBG6580 SURFboard Wi-Fi Cable Modem Gateway enables the delivery of innovative ultra-broadband data and multimedia services as well as high-bandwidth home networking. Designed for seamless mobility, Motorola’s SBG6580 is a fully integrated all-in-one home networking solution that combines the functionality of a DOCSIS/EuroDOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, four-port 10/100/1000 Ethernet switch with advanced firewall, and an 802.11n Wi-Fi access point in a sleek, stylish package for the sophisticated consumer. It’s the perfect networking solution for the home, home office, or small business, allowing users to create a custom network to share a single ultra-broadband connection, files, and networked peripherals using wired or Wi-Fi connectivity. Cost-effective, efficient, and secure, the SBG6580 enables users to maximize the potential of their existing resources, while benefiting from next generation high-bandwidth services.Frequency range: DOCSIS and EuroDOCSIS 108 to 1002 MHz (edge to edge). Packed in wholesale brown box, Router, Power Cord, Ethernet Cable, & Instruction ONLY are include. Drivers and install wizards are only for this product.
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Product information
Product Dimensions | 5.9 x 1.77 x 6.69 inches |
---|---|
Item Weight | 15 ounces |
ASIN | B0040IUI46 |
Item model number | SBG6580 |
Customer Reviews |
4.0 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #103,718 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #45 in Modem Router Combos |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | August 24, 2010 |
Manufacturer | ARRIS |
Warranty & Support
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From the manufacturer
ARRIS SURFboard
Since 1997, when the first SURFboard was launched in Retail, SURFboard modems have been amongst the leading modems in the market and saving consumers money on their monthly rental fees.
When you choose an ARRIS SURFboard, you’re joining a 60-year legacy of innovation from the company that invented digital TV and brought wireless Internet into the home with the first cable modem gateway. The same company that the world’s leading service providers choose to connect millions of people around the world to the Internet.
Harness the power of SURFboard and take control of your home network!
SURF with the original and save money!
High-speed Internet and Wi-Fi at your fingertips . The SURFboard SBG6580 Wi-Fi Cable Modem is 3 products in one device: DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem, Dual-Band 802.11n Wi-Fi Access Point and 4-port Gigabit Ethernet Router. Capable of download speeds up to 343 Mbps and Wi-Fi speeds up to 300 Mbps per band, the SBG6580 is an affordable, complete solution for your home network. And with built-in security you never have to worry. Own yours today and save money on monthly rental fees.
Will SURFboard modems work with my cable operator?
They sure will. SURFboard cable modems are compatible with major US Cable Internet Providers like Xfinity by Comcast, Time Warner, Cox, Brighthouse and many others. Don't see your provider listed here? Just give them a call to confirm.
Amazing Features
- Download speeds up to 343 Mbps
- DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem
- 8 download x 4 upload channels
- Dual-band 802.11 Wi-Fi
- 2 x 2 omni-directional antenna
- 4-port Gigabit Ethernet Router
- Supports IPv4 and IPv6 Internet browsing standards
SBG6580 Wi-Fi Modem | SBG6700-AC Wi-Fi Modem | SBG6900-AC Wi-Fi Modem | |
---|---|---|---|
Customer Reviews |
4.0 out of 5 stars
6,268
|
3.9 out of 5 stars
1,654
|
4.2 out of 5 stars
1,469
|
Download Speed | 343 Mbps | 343 Mbps | 686 Mbps |
DOCSIS | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 |
Gigabit Ethernet Ports | 4 | 2 | 4 |
Wi-Fi | N300 dual-switched | AC1600 dual-band concurrent | AC1900 dual-band concurrent |
Preset Wi-Fi Security | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Wireless Guest Access | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Energy Efficient Ethernet | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
2 Year Limited Warranty | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Tech Support by ARRIS | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the performance, ease of configuration, and speed of the networking device. For example, they mention it works flawlessly, is easy to set up, and provides consistent speeds of 60 Mbps. That said, some complain about the power consumption and have mixed opinions on signal strength, value, connectivity, and quality.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers like the performance of the networking device. They say it works flawlessly, and provides a great connection. Some customers also mention that the SB6580 has performed well thus far, and works well with their MacBook Air, iPhones, iPods, PCs, and Skype. Overall, most are satisfied with the performance and functionality of the product.
"...edit 7/12/17: Almost 6 years of service from this device and it's been flawless...." Read more
"...The SB6580 has performed well thus far. The speed and range of this DOCSIS 3.0 is far superior to the previous DOCSIS 2.0...." Read more
"...It's all working great. If you need help getting it into bridge mode, just Google it...." Read more
"...And last, these units work fine with my MacBook Air, my iPhones, my iPods, my PCs, Skype, and my MagicJack phone service...." Read more
Customers find the configuration of the networking device very easy. They mention that it is quick, easy, and painless. They also say there have been no issues with installation and use. Customers appreciate the web-based configuration has been simplified in some places for average users. They say it is easy to setup WPA2 security, change the broadcast name, and change the passphrase.
"...Pretty basic, pretty simple to understand...." Read more
"...First off, unboxing and installation was very easy...." Read more
"...The unit was fairly easy to set up. The problems stated by earlier reviewers regarding the "IP Flood Detection" has been eliminated...." Read more
"...no arguments! Friend reports this unit is now 100% plug and play - no longer need to go into configuration and turn off any settings...." Read more
Customers like the speed of the networking device. For example, they mention it has a high-quality link, consistent speeds of their subscribed 60 Mbps, and with little downtime or issues. They are also pleased to see a significant increase in wireless speed, and mention the setup was quick, easy, and painless. Some mention that there are no performance issues such as lag or slow downloads.
"...is wonderful, covers the whole house (2000sqft, cast walls), speeds are great, there are no drops anymore, and the modem/router seems to have many..." Read more
"...Product seems reliable, with adequate speeds and signal strengths.-..." Read more
"...We have had as many as 8 computers doing various tasks with no performance issues such as lag or slow downloads...." Read more
"...cause it to fail immediately or it will intermittently hang causing Internet performance problems. I bought two of these units...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the signal strength of the networking device. Some mention that the signal is very strong, the wifi has a good range, and the ethernet access is blazing fast. However, others say that it will not get a reliable connection to their home network and experience drops-offs with the internet connection.
"...There's also the option of creating a guest network, which I guess is good for some specific uses, and there's also WPS, which might be useful to..." Read more
"...Modem worked great at first- Started to have intermittent problems with connection, to where either the modem or the connection would turn off..." Read more
"...The wireless connection still works, but my phone only has one bar on the wireless signal indicator, and hovers around -80dB on the wi-fi analyzer..." Read more
"...Things to know:This modem will ONLY work for CABLE-delivered Internet such as Comcast Xfinity (tm) and some other ISP's using CABLE..." Read more
Customers are mixed about the value of the networking device. Some mention that it's worth the money, and will save money after first year of use. However, others say that it is worthless and a waste of time, money, resources.
"...Amazon over Big Box stores - much friendlier about returns - no restocking fee! no arguments!..." Read more
"...Use it as a coaster - it is worthless. It has two programs on it...." Read more
"I got this at a great price for my new Cox connection. I didn't want to buy the modem that Cox gave me simply because it was more expensive...." Read more
"...5GHrz on this device is almost not usable even right beside the device, my Galaxy S4 only gets 3-4bars for some reason...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the connectivity of the router. Some mention that the connection works great for them, while others say that it failed to make the connection. Some say that the cable modem works well on Comcast and provides a high-quality link, while the wireless function and hard wire connections are working fine. However, others say the connection is not consistent, it will not work on AT&T UVerse network, and is not compatible with Comcast business class.
"...It will NOT work on AT&T UVerse network (because UVerse uses a hyped-up DSL technology)1. Unbox unit2...." Read more
"...easy to see and there are separate colors so they are easy to distinguish from a distance (though you'd still need to know which is which)." Read more
"...1. Android phone (Motorola Droid Bionic) would not connect (didn't check my wife's iphone4)2. PS3 would not connect3...." Read more
"...Otherwise the wireless function and hard wire connections are working fine...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the networking device. Some mention that it's handling everything well, is a powerful device, and is smart. However, others say that it seems very poor, is buggy, weak, and inconsistent.
"...It's a minor space saver, and offers a lot of nice features for the price...." Read more
"...The SBG6580 used to have a few problems with earlier firmware. I initially had some problems, too...." Read more
"...Well that is not quite true. It offers the potential of increased performance as service providers increase their speed to very high levels...." Read more
"...It is not faulty hardware, but a configuration settings that forces this behavior...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the power of the networking device. They say that the built-in WiFi would randomly die and they'd either have to reset it from the panel or it Occasionally drops wifi but picks it back up pretty quickly. They also mention that the Internet had random drop out and was not good for gaming. The router has a real problem keeping a WiFi signal active and it frequently shuts itself off for no reason at all.
"...about this product, I discovered a 'problem' where the modem required hard-power off (unplug power and reconnect power) at random, and on a DAILY..." Read more
"...My Brother WIFI printer has stopped WIFI'ing because of the new Arris I.P. Can't figure out how to reset the printer back to factory settings so I..." Read more
"...The connection was absurdly slow. WiFi dropped continually on one of our machines so we eventually gave it a wired connection...." Read more
"...Returned two. Easy to setup and use. After a week my devices started to drop off wifi. Arris told me to talk to my IP. The IP told me to call Arris...." Read more
Reviews with images
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*Short Version Guide:*
Go to 192.168.0.1, type in the username- admin and the password- motorola and look at the page that first appears (should be the Connection page). There should be three tables, look at the second one. Locate the Power column. If your power levels are negative, or if they're not within the range of -8dBmV and +8dBmV (meaning they are 9 or 10, or -9 or -10), you might have a problem. Now look at the third table and locate the power column. If your power levels are higher than 50dBmV, you might have a problem.
If it's not working well (meaning it works, but keeps disconnecting), it might look something like this- [Picture uploaded to costumer photos]
First thing you *should* do, although optional, is call Motorola support line. I've found them to have a great support line, and they'd be able to pinpoint the problem for you- their number is 1877-466-8646.
What they would probably tell you to do, and what you can do anyway if you don't want to call them, is to call your cable company support line. What you need is a technician to come over to your house and check all of your cable lines, to try and see why the power levels are bad, and the replace the cable or instrument that is malfunctioning (most likely not your modem, don't worry). The best way to get that is to call them up, be nice, go through all the hoops and all the attempts they try to restore your connection (if they manage to restore it, wait until it stops working again, call them again, and tell them it doesn't work and that you need a technician), and then eventually tell them that you need a technician because you called Motorola support and they said you have a problem with your power levels.
Usually that would do it. Don't be afraid to talk to the technician, show him the problem, but also listen to the tech and understand what they're saying.
Hopefully they'd get it right on the first visit, if not, do not despair, call them again.
I hope that helps anyone who's had the same issue as I did.
After fixing this issue my modem works great, the wifi extends throughout the whole house (2000sqft, cast walls mostly), and all channels are locked.
Good luck! Check out the extended guide below.
*Long Guide Version:*
*What causes the problem*
So let's get to the heart of the matter- Power levels.
Power levels are the strength of signal that your modem is receiving and sending through the cable connection. The SBG 6580 can handle power levels ranging from -15dBmV to +15dBmV for the download stream, and up to 55dBmV for the upstream (Not so sure about the negative upstream levels). That's all in theory though, because the actual OPTIMAL range is between -8dBmV to 8dBmV for the downstream, and up to about 52dBmV for the up stream. This doesn't necessarily mean that the Modem is crap because it can't handle higher (or lower) power levels, because it seems (after talking to TWC technicians) that these levels are also the cable companies' maximum and minimum power levels. So if you're exceeding these levels, there's a good chance your cable company is doing something wrong.
What are these power levels? In short, and to my completely ignorant understanding, they're the strength of the of the signal coming from through the cable from the cable company. This strength goes down as you move further away from the main line, or the place where they transmit the signal from. So basically the longer the wire is connecting your house to the "tap" (where the signal comes from)- the worse your power levels should be. The longer the cable going around your house- the worse your power levels should be. If it's an old cable, or the "tap" is malfunctioning- you're going to see bad power levels. (I say worse and bad instead of lower and low because I really have no idea how these things can work on a *negative* value, and how any of this works).
*Diagnosing the problem*
But let's not dwell on the technical mumbo jumbo and move on to *How to diagnose your problem, and how to solve it*-
The first thing we need to do is connect to our SBG6580 and get a reading of those power levels. The way to do that could not be easier- just type 192.168.1.1 in your browser address line (yes, it's a weird address, but it'll work). You'll be asked for a username and password- the default for the username is admin (just type in admin) and for the password- motorola (just type in motorola).
And this is what you should see (for a working modem)- [Picture uploaded to costumer photos]
(This was taken after my issue was fixed).
Locate the Power column on the Downstream Bonded Channels table. See how they're all between 6 and 7? That's good. Now look at the power levels on the Upstream table- 34.000 dBmV, that's also good. Notice how all 8 lines of the Downstream table and all 4 lines of the upstream table are full, this means your channels are locked, this is the optimal situation.
Now, this is what I saw when my modem was working, but kept disconnecting ever so often- [Picture uploaded to costumer photos]
Notice now how the downstream power levels are negative, and that they are much closer, or over -8dBmV. Usually I'd see ranges between -7 and -9 when my modem wasn't working well (during the times when it was still able to maintain a connection). This is what the levels look like when your modem is barely hanging on to the connection. It manages to lock all downstream channels, but barely. Now look at the monstrous upstream power level- 55.7dBmV! This would usually be 57dBmV, and it was the source of all my problems, also notice that only one upstream channel is locked, this would usually show when looking at your modem lights- if all channels are locked the light would be blue. If they're not all locked, but the modem is still able to connect, the light would be green. What I'd normally see is a green light for power, a blue light for downstream (the second light down), a green light for upstream (the third light down), and a green light (sometimes flashing) for the 4th light.
If you compare this photo to the one where the modem is working perfectly you can see that the high upstream levels are effectively disrupting all the other channels, causing them to go negative. While this did not cause any decrease in speed, it did cause the modem to lose signal every 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 3 hours, etc.
One thing I'd like to mention here- somehow (and I have no idea how or why), this is not an issue with the modem *itself*, but rather with how it receives the signal from the cable company. When the issue was fixed, it was fixed on the cable line itself (outside my house), and nothing was done to the modem.
Alright, one last thing I'd like to show you- this is how your modem looks while it is disconnected, and cannot reconnect- [Picture uploaded to costumer photos]
Here what we're seeing is the modem struggling to lock on to a signal, in the photo the downstream power level is -7, but I've seen it anywhere between -9.9dBmv to 43.0dBmV, the upstream is 49dBmV, but I've seen that go all the way up to 57 as well. I'm really not sure what's happening *inside* the modem, but it's clear that something is wrong, since it would stay like this for a while (sometimes hours). The lights on the modem, by the way, will flash green when it's trying to connect like this (either the downstream or upstream light).
*solving the problem*
So, now that we've been able to diagnose, how do we *solve the problem?*
Well, sadly there is only one way- call your cable company, and ask for a technician. Most of the time this means you'll have to go through the proper channels, call support, talk to the guy from India trying his hardest to mask his accent (god bless these guys, they do try hard, and do a great job most of the time), and eventually when all fails tell them you're seeing very high/abnormal power levels, and that you definitely need a technician.
When the technician comes tell them you're seeing abnormal power signals. They'll connect their little modem to your cable line and see what they're getting, then they'll check all the wires, and eventually check the tap. They'll then either replace the cables around your house, or the cables connecting to the tap, or they'll have to call a line guy to work on it and fix it the next day.
Do not despair, these guys are usually very nice, and good at what they do. If the problem persists a week later, again, do not despair, just call them again, and tell them what's happening. If you can meet up with the actual line repairman, do so, and explain to them what the problem was.
Hopefully this will help you fix your line and get the steady connection I am getting.
By the way, I have found that remote fixes (where they call you and say "we've changed something in our files, not your internet should work better") do not work very well, or for long. If your internet is working after one of these repairs wait at least 3 days to see if problems eventually persist.
*Actual review-*
Well, I have to admit, I don't really have anything to compare this modem to- it works well, wifi range is wonderful, covers the whole house (2000sqft, cast walls), speeds are great, there are no drops anymore, and the modem/router seems to have many features which I don't really use like uPnP, port forwarding, etc. Pretty basic, pretty simple to understand. There's also the option of creating a guest network, which I guess is good for some specific uses, and there's also WPS, which might be useful to some people.
All in all does what it's meant to, and does it well, I guess. Not much to add, not much I know about routers or modems.
Reviewed in the United States on September 23, 2013
*Short Version Guide:*
Go to 192.168.0.1, type in the username- admin and the password- motorola and look at the page that first appears (should be the Connection page). There should be three tables, look at the second one. Locate the Power column. If your power levels are negative, or if they're not within the range of -8dBmV and +8dBmV (meaning they are 9 or 10, or -9 or -10), you might have a problem. Now look at the third table and locate the power column. If your power levels are higher than 50dBmV, you might have a problem.
If it's not working well (meaning it works, but keeps disconnecting), it might look something like this- [Picture uploaded to costumer photos]
First thing you *should* do, although optional, is call Motorola support line. I've found them to have a great support line, and they'd be able to pinpoint the problem for you- their number is 1877-466-8646.
What they would probably tell you to do, and what you can do anyway if you don't want to call them, is to call your cable company support line. What you need is a technician to come over to your house and check all of your cable lines, to try and see why the power levels are bad, and the replace the cable or instrument that is malfunctioning (most likely not your modem, don't worry). The best way to get that is to call them up, be nice, go through all the hoops and all the attempts they try to restore your connection (if they manage to restore it, wait until it stops working again, call them again, and tell them it doesn't work and that you need a technician), and then eventually tell them that you need a technician because you called Motorola support and they said you have a problem with your power levels.
Usually that would do it. Don't be afraid to talk to the technician, show him the problem, but also listen to the tech and understand what they're saying.
Hopefully they'd get it right on the first visit, if not, do not despair, call them again.
I hope that helps anyone who's had the same issue as I did.
After fixing this issue my modem works great, the wifi extends throughout the whole house (2000sqft, cast walls mostly), and all channels are locked.
Good luck! Check out the extended guide below.
*Long Guide Version:*
*What causes the problem*
So let's get to the heart of the matter- Power levels.
Power levels are the strength of signal that your modem is receiving and sending through the cable connection. The SBG 6580 can handle power levels ranging from -15dBmV to +15dBmV for the download stream, and up to 55dBmV for the upstream (Not so sure about the negative upstream levels). That's all in theory though, because the actual OPTIMAL range is between -8dBmV to 8dBmV for the downstream, and up to about 52dBmV for the up stream. This doesn't necessarily mean that the Modem is crap because it can't handle higher (or lower) power levels, because it seems (after talking to TWC technicians) that these levels are also the cable companies' maximum and minimum power levels. So if you're exceeding these levels, there's a good chance your cable company is doing something wrong.
What are these power levels? In short, and to my completely ignorant understanding, they're the strength of the of the signal coming from through the cable from the cable company. This strength goes down as you move further away from the main line, or the place where they transmit the signal from. So basically the longer the wire is connecting your house to the "tap" (where the signal comes from)- the worse your power levels should be. The longer the cable going around your house- the worse your power levels should be. If it's an old cable, or the "tap" is malfunctioning- you're going to see bad power levels. (I say worse and bad instead of lower and low because I really have no idea how these things can work on a *negative* value, and how any of this works).
*Diagnosing the problem*
But let's not dwell on the technical mumbo jumbo and move on to *How to diagnose your problem, and how to solve it*-
The first thing we need to do is connect to our SBG6580 and get a reading of those power levels. The way to do that could not be easier- just type 192.168.1.1 in your browser address line (yes, it's a weird address, but it'll work). You'll be asked for a username and password- the default for the username is admin (just type in admin) and for the password- motorola (just type in motorola).
And this is what you should see (for a working modem)- [Picture uploaded to costumer photos]
(This was taken after my issue was fixed).
Locate the Power column on the Downstream Bonded Channels table. See how they're all between 6 and 7? That's good. Now look at the power levels on the Upstream table- 34.000 dBmV, that's also good. Notice how all 8 lines of the Downstream table and all 4 lines of the upstream table are full, this means your channels are locked, this is the optimal situation.
Now, this is what I saw when my modem was working, but kept disconnecting ever so often- [Picture uploaded to costumer photos]
Notice now how the downstream power levels are negative, and that they are much closer, or over -8dBmV. Usually I'd see ranges between -7 and -9 when my modem wasn't working well (during the times when it was still able to maintain a connection). This is what the levels look like when your modem is barely hanging on to the connection. It manages to lock all downstream channels, but barely. Now look at the monstrous upstream power level- 55.7dBmV! This would usually be 57dBmV, and it was the source of all my problems, also notice that only one upstream channel is locked, this would usually show when looking at your modem lights- if all channels are locked the light would be blue. If they're not all locked, but the modem is still able to connect, the light would be green. What I'd normally see is a green light for power, a blue light for downstream (the second light down), a green light for upstream (the third light down), and a green light (sometimes flashing) for the 4th light.
If you compare this photo to the one where the modem is working perfectly you can see that the high upstream levels are effectively disrupting all the other channels, causing them to go negative. While this did not cause any decrease in speed, it did cause the modem to lose signal every 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 3 hours, etc.
One thing I'd like to mention here- somehow (and I have no idea how or why), this is not an issue with the modem *itself*, but rather with how it receives the signal from the cable company. When the issue was fixed, it was fixed on the cable line itself (outside my house), and nothing was done to the modem.
Alright, one last thing I'd like to show you- this is how your modem looks while it is disconnected, and cannot reconnect- [Picture uploaded to costumer photos]
Here what we're seeing is the modem struggling to lock on to a signal, in the photo the downstream power level is -7, but I've seen it anywhere between -9.9dBmv to 43.0dBmV, the upstream is 49dBmV, but I've seen that go all the way up to 57 as well. I'm really not sure what's happening *inside* the modem, but it's clear that something is wrong, since it would stay like this for a while (sometimes hours). The lights on the modem, by the way, will flash green when it's trying to connect like this (either the downstream or upstream light).
*solving the problem*
So, now that we've been able to diagnose, how do we *solve the problem?*
Well, sadly there is only one way- call your cable company, and ask for a technician. Most of the time this means you'll have to go through the proper channels, call support, talk to the guy from India trying his hardest to mask his accent (god bless these guys, they do try hard, and do a great job most of the time), and eventually when all fails tell them you're seeing very high/abnormal power levels, and that you definitely need a technician.
When the technician comes tell them you're seeing abnormal power signals. They'll connect their little modem to your cable line and see what they're getting, then they'll check all the wires, and eventually check the tap. They'll then either replace the cables around your house, or the cables connecting to the tap, or they'll have to call a line guy to work on it and fix it the next day.
Do not despair, these guys are usually very nice, and good at what they do. If the problem persists a week later, again, do not despair, just call them again, and tell them what's happening. If you can meet up with the actual line repairman, do so, and explain to them what the problem was.
Hopefully this will help you fix your line and get the steady connection I am getting.
By the way, I have found that remote fixes (where they call you and say "we've changed something in our files, not your internet should work better") do not work very well, or for long. If your internet is working after one of these repairs wait at least 3 days to see if problems eventually persist.
*Actual review-*
Well, I have to admit, I don't really have anything to compare this modem to- it works well, wifi range is wonderful, covers the whole house (2000sqft, cast walls), speeds are great, there are no drops anymore, and the modem/router seems to have many features which I don't really use like uPnP, port forwarding, etc. Pretty basic, pretty simple to understand. There's also the option of creating a guest network, which I guess is good for some specific uses, and there's also WPS, which might be useful to some people.
All in all does what it's meant to, and does it well, I guess. Not much to add, not much I know about routers or modems.
I did not log into this router prior to having Comcast install their own brand of firmware, however I had no problem whatsoever changing the login and passwords without having to look at the users manual or find it online. I'm not sure if this means that Motorola (or maybe Comcast) has updated their software since some of these bad reviews claiming that it's extremely difficult to change the username and password. If this is something that you were afraid of after reading some of the earlier reviews, I don't believe those worries are justified anymore. Another thing that other reviewers seem to be complaining about is the need to reboot the device randomly to maintain an internet connection... I haven't experienced this problem on my device.
After plugging everything in and calling Comcast, I was back online in about 15 minutes. I'm no networking guru, but setting up the wireless SSID and security settings was just as simple as any other router I've ever used. Also like the last reviewer, I didn't test out the push button WPS wireless setup. Instead, I just configured our two Android phones and our two HP Touchpads manually, and all devices connected without issue. The ability to setup a guest SSID is nice, even though I probably won't ever need to use it. Our other networked devices including a TV, Tivo, PS3, Wii, and Blu-Ray Player all utilize wired connections through a couple of switches, and all work as expected for everything from software updates to streaming video.
I forgot to perform a download speed test with my old cable modem prior to disconnecting it, so I cannot compare download speeds, however I can say that it is definitely not slower than my previous router. While I don't know exactly what my download speed is capped at by Comcast, I can say that I recently downloaded about 7GB of data via torrents in a little less than 2 hours using this modem.
One area where I was mildly disappointed is with the wireless range. I was looking forward to having a stronger wireless signal in my garage (about 35' away) where I sometime use Pandora to stream music via my cell phone. The wireless signal strength on this Motorola unit is about the same as it was with my 5 year old D-link wireless G router that I was using prior. I had hoped that the technology would have advanced a bit over the last 5 years. The wireless connection still works, but my phone only has one bar on the wireless signal indicator, and hovers around -80dB on the wi-fi analyzer app. I should also note that I tried a Netgear N300 wirelss N router for 2 days before getting this Motorola modem, and the wireless signal on the Netgear was virtually identical in all the areas that I tested.
All-in-all I would recommend this product to family and friends if I had the opportunity. It's a minor space saver, and offers a lot of nice features for the price. If I would have bought a router only device with all if the same functionality (minus the cable modem), I would have paid about the same amount, and I would still be renting a cable modem from Comcast for $7/mo.
edit 7/12/17: Almost 6 years of service from this device and it's been flawless. Though I've added a Netgear R7000 router to my network for added flexibility, I am still using this as a gateway (modem) and will continue to use it for the foreseeable future. Comcast updated the firmware at some point a couple years back, but everything is essentially the same, just a different look.