Home > Consumer Reviews > Linksys BEFCMU10 Ethernet Cable Modem

Howdy folks!

Bill the game developer back to tell you about the Cable Modem(BEFCMU10) I purchased from Amazon.com; to add Internet to my wireless network.

Comcast is our cable provider here in Seattle. If you are interested in adding internet to your wired/wireless network; I suggesst the BEFCMU10 as your modem of choice. Why? Check out these features:

Stackable design
5 easy to read LEDs
Quick boot-up
Comcast uses Linksys for the network stuff
etc.

Here is what I did for pain-free installation.

1) Connect the modem via RJ-45 directly to the computer, if you can. You want to make sure you don't have a dead modem.

2) Your computer should be able to see the modem and try to configure it. I have XP Pro and it saw the modem fine.

3) You can configure it with the computer OR connect the modem to your network since you know the modem is not dead.

4) If you decide to install on network, turn off the power to computers, router, etc. Install the modem with your CAT5 cable to your router. Turn on your modem, let it boot up, then fire up the router, then your computers. Make sure you watch the LEDs with each step.

5) Watch your LEDs carefully, noting that your router is picking up the signal from the modem.

6) If everything works great, you are about to enter broadband internet and loving it. All is needed now is for your cable company to create your account, put in your modem model #(serial code) and MAC address.

7) Make sure your cable installer or you(buyer of modem), tells the cable office the correct MAC address. Errors will lead to no internet.

8) Install the software given to you by your cable company on the main computer that you will use the most. I would install the software on a computer that is wired to your network, if at all possible. The software will engage the cable networks to finalize your setup per your account and MAC address on your modem.

9) This modem might take anywhere from a 30 seconds to 2 minutes to find and acquire the signal from your cable company, so don't jump to conclusions that it doesn't work or that your modem is dead.

10) Now, turn everything off again, starting with computers, router and then modem. Wait about 2 minutes and then turn everything on the reverse: MODEM(letting it bootup), then ROUTER(letting it bootup) and last, COMPUTERS.

11) Reconfigure your web browser to connect from LAN, instead of dial-up. You should now be able to connect to the internet through your cable modem and cable company.

Final thoughts:

If I remember correctly, I did not have to use the installation CD that came with the modem. Just follow the "Quick Installation" procedure. The boot-on and boot-off hints I picked up from other users, thanks guys; it works like a charm. The CABLE LED should remain solid when you are "registered" with your cable company. You might have to register more than once, if the first time it doesn't work. If your computer freezes in the middle of installing the cable company software; like mine did, don't panic. Just reboot the computer and start from the beginning of the install again. Although I like DSL; I was fed-up with all the DSL hype because I can't get DSL here. Our phone lines in our area are old which translates to mean "crap". Plus having DSL, you might have two(2) bills; one from phone company AND one from the ISP for your DSL broadband account. Cable broadband is just ONE bill and no-hidden fees or surprises.

I would recommend the BEFCMU10 to anybody who is interested in cable broadband. No doubt in my mind you will love the speed and the ability to chit-chat on the phone while you cruise the net.

Enjoy!!!

Bill B, CEO/Project Lead,
BabyBoy Multimedia Productions
Seattle, WA USA

After frustrating results trying to set up the cable modem and 20 hours on line with @Home... no, not @Home. Today, ATTBI... (will it be ATTBI-Comcast???)

The new ATTBI help desk officially does not support this modem. However, the reason for my troubles was because the flunkies that were helping me failed to properly register my MAC address.

Be persistent with updating your MAC address with your cable ISP and the Linksys BEFCMU10 will work like a charm.

I don't know why I waited two years before purchasing my own modem. I would have saved 2 years' worth of modem rental fees with Comcast Cable.

This is a great modem, and replaces an RCA modem I was renting that was always going offline. I NEVER have to reset the Linksys modem (pulling the plug), and the performance seems a tad faster and more consistent. If you have a Linksys router, their devices are all stackable, so you can save desk space.

I rated it 4/5, only because of one bad feature: heat. While Linksys devices are stackable, the devices get really HOT when stacked on top of each other. I don't know if it would cause a meltdown or anything, but right now I'm trying to figure out how to create some buffer between the two. When they're apart, each stays cool, so I'm pretty sure it's just a question of being too close without enough air circulation.

For $10/month rental fee Cox made the decision to buy a cable modem an easy one once prices dropped below $100. I've had mine for 5 months now and noticed an immediate increase (about 10%) in both down and upstream bitrates compared to the COM21 modem it replaced. Surprisingly the cable modem swap was handled easily over the phone with Cox support.

My only complaint with the modem is it tends to run warm to the touch. The Linksys hub that sits next to the modem stays cool. In my experience, hardware that's warm to the touch doesn't last that long in continuous operation. I took a quiet 60mm fan and simply placed it on top of the modem ventilation holes pulling air through the modem. I'll never know if this prevented modem failure, but for about $5 for the fan I figure it's a good idea since it keeps it cooler than it would be otherwise.

I recently purchased the modem. When I got it today, I noticed that it was not the newiest cable modem v2. it was the older one, which stands up and is not stackable with other Linksys products.
If you want to purchase the modem, so you can stack it with the router, watch out. The current image that is shown in the Amazon site is the newier one which they are not shipping.