Upgrade home equipment

Question

I am looking to move to Xfinity home internet and get the gigabit plan. I don't want to rent a router so looking to get one from Netgear and my options are CAX80, CM2000, and CM2050v. I am thinking of going with the CM2000 and having wirelss separate from the router. Then for wireless for my home going with the hole house mesh network. Orbi would be nice but it seems pretty pricey so going with the Nighthawk series. I see there are different options and some include a router, and some are just the access points. So here are my questions.

Should I get just the cable modem by itself, or should I get the cable modem that has wifi in it as well?

Do I need wifi router or does the cable modem do all the routing as well?

If I buy the mesh access points can I buy package without the router or do I need the router as well.

plemans · Answer

I always recommend getting a modem seperate from the router. It gives you options for upgrading in the future without having to replace everything and it lets you control the firmware for the router.
I've got the CM2000 on xfinity and its been rock solid. I get 1.2 gig (when ran through a 2.5gig router--&gt;computer)
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In terms of routers. The MK nighthawk series is a solid setup. I'd recommend the triband version (80 series) over the dual band for performance. The dedicated backhaul does make a different in performance/latency and is with the $ in my opinion. I'm not a fan of the dual band mesh systems unless you're hardwiring them in.&nbsp;
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both the MK series and the Orbi need a router controlling them. The kits all include a router. You can buy the satellites seperate if you're needing more coverage.&nbsp;

plemans · Answer

One thing I forgot to mention. The cm2000 has a 2.5gig port on it. None of the MK series of routers do. The only consumer mesh from netgear with a 2.5gig port is the orbi 850 series (expensive one).

It'll limit your speeds to 1 gig. So if you're not planning on upgrading the router for a while (or at all) to 2.5gig, you could get away with a CM1000, CM1100, CM1200 as they're all capable of saturating gigabit.

mshaw32 · Answer

First off thank you very much for the help it’s extremely appreciated!!

So for the modem I’m set on the CM2000.

What I’m confused about is why get a RAXE500 router when I plan to buy the Orbi mesh system which comes with a router? Why do I need two routers?

plemans · Answer

mshaw32&nbsp;wrote:What I’m confused about is why get a RAXE500 router when I plan to buy the Orbi mesh system which comes with a router? Why do I need two routers?
Sorry! That's just my signature of what my current setup is :)
Its not a recommendation of what to get.&nbsp;
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mshaw32 · Answer

You also said it in your comment that the nighthawk wireless router is a good one. So it sounds like I don’t need two routers? I’m not the best networking guy I am more of a systems infrastructure operations guy but I can’t see the value in two routers or what they would do for you unless the router that comes with the Orbi system isn’t really an advanced router and doesn’t do any kind of advanced routing. Maybe then I would see the value in the night hawk wireless router the Tri band one. i think it’s like 600 bucks. Would that give me added functionality that the router with the orbi system can’t do? Not looking to do anything too fancy but VPN tunnels, etc. I might be better off in getting an actual netgear firewall\router, instead of a wireless router, then get the modem and the orbi mesh system.

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