Home > Consumer Reviews > Linksys BEFCMU10 Ethernet Cable Modem

I recently purchased this item from Amazon. What I received was version 2 of this modem. The current version on the Linksys site is version 4. As a Cox customer, the results of my purchase were unsatisfactory. I will be returning this and purchasing the version 4 Linksys from another vendor.

OK, I'll probably get flamed to crispy critters for saying so, but this modem is better than the Motorola Surfboard. Hear me out. Several months ago, I signed up for Comcast cable modem Internet service. Along with that, I got a brand new Motorola SB5100 cable modem. I was renting it from comcast. I'd read many reviews on it, and believed it to be a great cable modem, based on those reviews. And it was a great modem, usually. Web pages loaded fast and online speed tests confirmed that I was pretty close to the maximum speed that the cable company had provisioned me for.

The problem was, my Internet connection with the Motorola SB5100 would mysteriously freeze on me quite frequently. Not often enough to stop me from using my Internet connection, but often enough to be really annoying. I later switched to Earthlink (Earthlink through Comcast) cable modem service. The price was lower, I was able to use my current SB5100 (still leased from comcast), and I got some free dial-up hours, also, for travelling. After my modem was re-provisioned for Earthlink, I still had the annoying freezing problem. Unplugging the modem and rebooting the computer didn't help. Many phone calls, e-mails, chat sessions and even a couple of visits from the cable company did not solve the problem.

A Linksys BEFCMU10 (V3) solved the problem!!! Since I bought this Linksys cable modem (and returned the Motorola SB5100 to Comcast), my Internet connection has been rock-solid stable, no complaints at all. Also, with the Linksys modem, my connection speed has increased, both up and down. I'm now consistently seeing online speed tests that exceed the speed I'm supposedly provisioned at, averaging about 3500 down and 500 UP!!! So the Linksys is both faster AND more reliable than the Motorola.

The Linksys was also very easy to set up. A quick call to Comcast had it set up for (Earthlink through Comcast) service. Then I threw a Netgear WGR614 wireless "g" router into the mix. I wanted to do that a long time ago, but I waited until I was sure my Internet connection was finally STABLE, as I didn't want to complicate an already iffy connection. Now all my computers have lighting fast, stable Internet connection . . . including my 802.11g notebooks. I couldn't be happier.

I know that there are many reviews that say, basically, "buy a Motorola because the Linksys is crap and the Motorola rocks!!". I believe the version makes a difference though. My Linksys BEFCMU10 is version 3. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this Linksys cable modem to all my friends. In my experience, it kicks the crap out of a Surfboard. :)

What can I say? This thing does what it says it will do. After the cable installer setup my connection, it was working. The speed seems constant and after using it for about a month, it hasn't failed me yet.

When I do a speed test on bandwidthplace.com, I get speeds of 1.8 megabits per second. My friend who lives about a block away gets speeds of 1.6 megabits per second on his Surfboard 4100 modem. I don't know if it's his location or the modem, but my connection is faster - a source of bragging rights for me! :)

The modem is DOCSIS 1.0 compatible and upgradeable to DOCSIS 1.1. I am on ATTBI now that excite@home has pulled the plug. It works great with ATTBI service in Dallas.

I am very satisfied with this modem. My installer indicated that he was impressed with this modem as well. One feature he used was to browse to 192.168.100.1. This connects to your cable modem only, not the internet. It will bring up a linksys graphical page with information about your modem. This might be helpful if you ever need to call in a service ticket to the cable company.

If you're looking for a cable modem, this one seems rock solid. Since it will pay for itself in 10 months, it's a good option. I highly recommend it.

This attractive cable modem utilizes the most popular DOCSIS protocol, and is therefore compatible with most systems (check /w your cable provider before ordering any cable modem). I particularly like the vertical setup (& stability), the easy-to-interpret LEDs, and the ethernet *and* USB connectivity. Of note, the Linksys products I've bought have always been trouble-free and their support reputation is good, just in case you were to have a problem. Lastly, prices are falling rather quickly since Linksys has entered the market, and this is right now the best buy around.

I'm extremely pleased with the Linksys BEFCMU10 cable modem. Linksys has managed to develop a standards-based cable modem that will work with any DOCSIS 1.0 cable ISP. AT&T Broadband is really supportive of 3rd party cable modems. I just plugged it in, plugged my computer in, and I was online! And this cable modem is FAST, too! The average consumer's experience with this product will depend highly on the support and speed of their ISP. This modem is top-notch, and a screamer! It has a 10/100Mbps Ethenet! If something goes wrong, it won't be with the cable modem. I would happily recommend this cable modem to anyone looking for a quality product that delivers performance and reliability.