RCN Approved Cable Modems

If you’re a RCN (Residential Communications Network) subscriber you must be paying around $18.95/month for renting the internet equipment. Although it isn’t a very big amount, but it is 40% of the monthly rental for their fastest gigabit speed plan which costs around $49.99/month.

Like I mentioned earlier, buying the internet equipment provides a better ROI than renting it. Well, the monthly equipment rental is $18.95 which makes the yearly rent go around $227 which is more than enough to get a good quality modem or a combo.

Also, just so you know, you won’t be using a modem for just 1 year. According to my studies, an average US based user continued their subscription active for around 3-4 years. Just multiply the number of years with $227 and not only that, after your term ends, you won’t own the equipment in case of rental.

9 Best Cable Modems For RCN

Isn’t buying a certified modem much better than renting it? Well, that’s why after testing 43 devices from different manufacturers with different RCN service packages, here’s a list of best-rated cable modems that work with RCN.

1. Best For RCN: ASUS CM-32 Modem/Router

ASUS CM-32 is a powerful cable router-modem combo capable of giving an incredible service for years. It gives an internet speed up-to 1.3Gbps for your RCN cable internet connection.

Well, the speed depends on the plan you prefer to buy and thus enjoy as high speed as you can get. Furthermore, the built quality of this device is highly durable and perfect for your home. Similar to other modems, you can eliminate the rental fee that can cost you thousands of dollars.

The design is incredible and very unique. It has every feature that you could ask for in a device for your internet connection. On the back panel, you get four LANs that you can use to connect to your computer, gaming consoles, laptop, Smart TV, and other devices.

Also, it has two USB 2.0 ports that you can also use for connecting to other devices. Furthermore, it has 4 WiFi transmitters and receivers that improves its transmission range and sensitivity.

The in-built router gives out dual bandwidth service with a wireless coverage of up-to 5000 sq ft. You can use multiple devices at once with incredible speed in each of them. It supports the DOCSIS 3.0 technology with 32 download and 8 upload channels. Enjoy uninterrupted high-quality 4K videos on your devices along with playing online games.

The multi-user MIMO technology improves Wifi speed in a multiple-device environment. CM-32 comes pre configured with a unique network name (SSID) and password printed on the bottom of the router. You can easily set the entire thing and since it does not need an additional router, there will be no cluster of wires everywhere.

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2. Best DOCSIS 3.1 Modem: Arris SurfBoard SB8200

Arris is excellent and probably one of the best brands that manufacture some of the most popular modems in this category. Among all of them, we have Arris SurfBoard SB8200 one of the best RCN Approved modems and extremely powerful as well.

Though it does not have an in-built router, of course, you can buy one that gives good speed. You can also try it for other cable internet providers such as Comcast Xfinity and Cox Internet.

The DOCSIS 3.1 technology introduced in this modem is the latest version that is multiple times faster than the previous DOCSIS 3.0 version. It supports channel bonding with 32 downloads and 8 upload channels.

Well, you can easily view 4K videos or stream them for hours without any interruptions, Furthermore, if you are a gamer, you can play uninterrupted hours of online games. Isn’t it something you’ve always wanted?

Unlike most of the, Netgear modems, SurfBoard SB8200 has 2 LAN or ethernet ports that will allow you to create two separate home networks from one device. Each of the ports gives out 1 Gbps of speed on each of them. In fact, if your area does not have the connection to DOCSIS 3.1, you will be happy to know that this modem is backward compatible.

Speaking of the speed, it gives a massive 10 Gbps download speed to all your devices once connected. You can choose a superb Gigabyte plan for your home network and enjoy ultra-high-speed internet connection. The set up is very easy as well and to save your network to get crowded, it is recommended that you create a guest network as well.

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3. Best From Netgear: Netgear CM1000

The Netgear CM1000 is known to be one of the top-rated RCN approved modems with premium features. We truly recommend this product for a lot of other network providers as well since it is highly reliable and secure. It eliminated all the monthly rental fees that are a lot more than the cost of this device. Not only will it save money on a huge margin but also you can keep the device in your control.

It does not come with an inbuilt router so you’ll have to buy a new one separately. You can get it from the site itself at a very low cost. The overall cost of the modem is slightly affordable but considering the fact that you have to buy a router with it may increase the overall cost.

The Netgear CM1000 supports DOCSIS 3.1 technology channel bonding of 32×8 providing ultra-high-speed internet connection. Also, this modem is capable of providing an internet speed of up to 1Gbps.

On the back panel, we have 1 LAN port that you can use to connect to your Router. It gives a speed of 1 Gbps to either your router or the computer. You can easily stream 4k HD videos without buffering, play online multiplayer games, download movies at high speed, and a lot more.

The best part is you can easily set it up within minutes and you are good to go. The channels are exclusively powerful enough to give a good internet speed but it all depends on your internet plan.

We highly recommend this product since it will clear out any interference not letting the speed drop out. Also, you need to make sure that your area supports the new DOCSIS 3.1 technology.

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4. Best For 500 Mbps: Arris SurfBoard SBG7400AC2

The Arris SurfBoard SBG7400AC2 has a similar design and features to that of the SBG6950AC2 model. This modem router combo is perfect for not only RCN cable operators but also some other major services such as Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity & others.

With the package, you are not only getting a modem at this price but also a dual-band WiFi router. Like said, It shall be a better investment than simply renting modems/routers from RCN.

Unlike the other model, this modem has a download speed of up to 1Gbps. It combines the 24 download channels and 8 upstream channels with the DOCSIS 3.0 technology to give you a huge boost up in the overall speed.

But it truly depends on your cable service provider potential and the plan you have chosen. You can achieve at most 600Mbps speed which is perfect for high-quality video streaming.

If at all you are not sure of the compatibility with RCN you can cross-check with them before buying the device for your area. On the back panel, you can use the four 1-Gigabyte Ethernet ports to provide high-speed internet on your computers, Playstations, other gaming consoles, smart TV, and some other devices as well.

This modem is easy to set up and manage with the Surfboard Manager app, or the web Manager. Also, if you are unable to connect through, you will get Phone and online chat support from Arras, plus a YouTube library of how-to videos. You will be able to save a lot of money but also space.

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5. Best For 300 Mbps: Arris SurfBoard SBG6950AC2

We have another Arris model that has been listed as the RCN approved modem and you can use it to get a high-speed internet connection. Arris SurfBoard SBG6950AC2 is a modem router combo device that gives out a max download speed of 686Mbps and 300Mbps upload speed.

Well, as we always mention that it depends on your internet plan for RCN, and the same goes for this modem also.

MATTHEW, FOunder at APPROVED MODEMS

With 2 years of limited warranty, this device has proved to be highly reliable and secure. On the back panel, it has 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports that you can connect to your computers, gaming stations, and other devices for a strong wired connection. It also has a single USB port for any other external device that you would need to connect anytime you want.

With 16 downstream and 4 upstream channels, the SBG6950AC2 offers you more speed and faster streaming & downloading throughout your home. You no longer have to buy any separate device since it already has an in-built router, making it easier for you to manage only a single device. The setup and installation are even easier and you can follow the instructions available with the device.

All the interferences that you may experience from the neighborhood are blocked by the device so that there isn’t any network drop. It may get hot at times, so make sure to keep it away from other devices in your home. Also, you are saving tons of money in the rental fees that you have to pay every month or year.

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6. Best For 100 MbpsTP-Link TC-W7960

The TP-Link TC-W7960 modem router combo is one of the cheapest RCN approved modem and amongst a reliable option. We recommend this product for everyone who has a very low budget to spend on a modem or a router. You are going to save a lot of money overall since there will be no need to buy any other product for yourself. This modem gives a max download speed of about 343Mbps while for streaming only 143Mbps.

As compared to other modems on the list, the range is a bit lower but considering the overall cost, this is incredibly good. It supports DOCSIS 3.0 Technology with 8 download channels and 4 upload channels. The TC-W7960 is a lot easier to set up than many of the routers that you would come across. It has a rather unique design too and is very promising as well.

Apart from RCN, you can use it for some of the major cable service providers such as Xfinity from Comcast, Spectrum (Including Charter, Time Warner Cable, and Bright House Networks), Cox, Suddenlink, Mediacom, and WOW. This device also has parental control features where you can either limit your child’s activity or monitor their usage.

As we tested, the signal strength was extremely strong allowing you to use the device from every corner of your house. Also, make sure the cable provider you have chosen and the plan is perfectly compatible with this modem for maximum output. Furthermore, you can enjoy watching streaming movies and playing games online without slowing down your network.

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7. Best 8×4 Modem: NETGEAR C3000-100NAS

The NETGEAR C3000 is an affordable range of modem that comes in with an in-built router. It has a superb design making it very popular among users who have a low budget. Some of the major cable providers that it is compatible with are Comcast, Spectrum, Cox Internet, CableONE & more.

On the front panel, there are loads of LED indicators that will help you keep track of the internet connection status.

With the help of the Genie app, you can easily filter content or use it as a parental control app that allows you to manage the network from anywhere. In fact, you can even restrict the use of the network and keep track of the usage of your children.

While this modem supports the DOCSIS 3.0 technology that is about 8 times faster than the previous version. The channel bonding of this device gives 8 download channels and 4 upload channels.

You can easily make use of 340Mbps download speed and 140Mbps upload speed for your devices. Everything fits in perfectly, only the wifi range if for medium-sized homes. You can seamlessly stream HD quality videos and play online games all through the day.

On the back panel, it has two Ethernet ports for wired connection to your system. Also, you can find a single USB port to wirelessly share your hard drive. You can also create a guest wifi network other than your private network. This will ensure better speed and complete security.  Furthermore, this modem has the highest level of wireless security with WPA/WPA2.

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8. Best Cheapest: ARRIS SURFboard SB6121

Now, we are moving on with the category of the best RCN approved modem with a little lower on features and also budget. These are the ones that you can turn too when you have no money left with you to spend on a high-end device.

The ARRIS Surfboard SB6121 is an affordable and cheap ranged modem that is compatible with Time Warner Cable, Charter, Cox, Cablevision, and more.

You can get a download speed of about 172Mbps for your RCN cable network or depending on your internet plan. While you can stream HD videos on your devices with the 131Mbps upload speed at the most. You may not get entirely the max range of speed but good enough for uninterrupted video streaming and playing games online.

It does not have an in-built router so you have to buy one yourself. There is a single port at the back which is used to connect the modem to the router. Although it supports the DOCSIS 3.0 technology which is 8 times faster than the previous model. This will ensure that you have no drop in connection to any of your devices.

Such devices are good for smaller homes or for personal use only. You may also find that it Supports IPv4 and IPv6 i.e. the latest Internet standard. Furthermore, it has been equipped with Wifi beamforming technology for max coverage & performance.

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9. Best For Individual: Netgear CMD31T

The Netgear CMD31T is an affordable range of products from the company with an excellent result. It has a satisfying design that can be used in a vertical stand or horizontally as well, anything that will be comfortable for you and your home. This too is only for a small-sized home or only a single person usage. One of the cheapest modem in the market making it even more popular.

It does not come with an in-built router so you will have to buy one for yourself that can give you decent internet speed. CMD31T does not support a high range of connections,  but at this rate, the small range is even worth it. The Gigabit Ethernet port at the back is for you to connect to a reliable router. It gives an average speed of 150Mbps to download and 120Mbps upload speed for streaming high-quality videos.

The set-up process is very easy and you can easily carry it out within minutes. Make sure you read the instructions carefully so that you do not miss out on anything while connecting the other devices to this modem.

The DOCSIS 3.0 technology along with the channel bonding will boost up the internet speed at its level best.

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Verdict

We’ve tried to include the best-rated modems that are highly compatible with RCN. Unlike others, we’ve not just focused on models that are suitable for high-speed plans, but we’ve also listed out the best options that work smoothly with slow-speed plans too.

We first checked out their approved list, we then shortlisted the top-rated options and tested them with various plans, researched the user reviews, and after doing all of it, here’s the final list. Hope, that you’re able to choose the right one for your needs.