A Solid Cable Modem
Written: Sep 06 '02
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Ethernet + USB connection, fast "power cycle"
Cons: none
The Bottom Line: Just a great cable modem.
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| whitesf's Full Review: Toshiba PCX1100U |
I had no choice
When I signed up for Time/Warner RoadRunner service, this is the modem they gave me. So far, it has performed flawlessly.
Ethernet or USB - Your Choice
If you don't have an ethernet card installed in your computer, you can connect this modem via USB. I do not recommend this, however, as it can limit your bandwidth (if you have the highest tier of cable modem service). USB 1.0 (which is what most people have as it is the stock on most store-bought PCs) only supports data transfer up to 2.0Mbps. Your cable connection can be as high as 3Mbps (and sometimes even higher than this), you could be losing bandwidth for no reason. You're paying the big bucks, so you might as well get all the juice.
Also, if you plan on adding a router to create a LAN at home, you'll need the ethernet connection. So far, none of the commercially available consumer routers support USB connections from the cable modem.
Go ahead and get an ethernet card. It'll save you bandwidth and headaches down the road.
Fast "Power Cycling"
If you've ever been on the phone with ISP tech support (and I imagine that you have), they often tell you to unplug the modem, wait 60 seconds, and then plug it back it in. This is called "power cycling". Lots of modems take up to a minute or more to fully power down and disconnect from the DNS servers at the ISP. This baby shuts down immediately! It can power cycle in about 3 seconds, or as fast as you can unplug it and plug it back in.
Overall
That's about all I can say about this modem. It works perfectly all the time, so there's not a whole lot to say. And that's a good thing.
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 100
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Epinions.com ID:
whitesf
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Location: Staten Island, NY
Reviews written: 43
Trusted by: 7 members
About Me:
I'm a hombrewing computer nerd guitar nut.
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