At a minimum, you need enough channels to support the maximum speed of your cable internet package.
What that means isn’t immediately apparent, but it has a big impact on your internet connection speed.
Here’s what you better know when shopping for an upgrade.
Corbin Davenport / How-To Geek
What Are Cable Modem Channels?
Cable modem channels are divisions of the available frequencies set aside by your cable company to deliver internet access.
Each lane of the highway is a frequency range, or channel.
This dependable and popular option from the Arris Surfboard lineup is perfect for cable internet subscribers with any subscription tier at or below 800 Mbps, which is the majority of cable broadband users in the United States.
Cable modems are built to theData Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) standard, introduced in 1997.
DOCSIS 3.0, among many improvements, introduced channel bonding.
How Many Cable Modem Channels Do I Need?
Advanced cable modems like the Surfboard S33 can handle everything from a basic cable internet package all the way up to multi-gigabit packages, with plenty of room for growth.
Modems like the 32x8Arris Surfboard SB6190are available for under $100 and are often on sale for $50-60.
Your cable internet provider will only provision access to the number of channels required for your internet package.
What Are the DOCSIS 3.0 Channel Configurations?
In the previous section, we highlighted the minimum and optimal configurations for most people.
Before we do, let’s talk about theoretical speeds.
LikeWi-Fi, cable modems have a theoretical maximum speed.
4x4 modems support a theoretical maximum download of around 170 Mbps and 122 Mbps up.
We’re talking about it here as a historical footnote.
The price of new 16x4 models is no longer competitive.
16x4 modems have a theoretical maximum speed of 686 down and 122 Mbps up.
Depending on your provider, you’ll find 24x8 modems are compatible with everything up to 400-800 Mbps.
If you search for 24x8 modems, you’ll quickly find relatively few to pick from.
New or renewed, 24x8 modems are not competitively positioned from a price or hardware standpoint.
32x8 Cable Modems:The highest DOCSIS 3.0 configuration you’ll find on the market is 32x8.
This configuration has a maximum theoretical speed of 1372 Mbps down, and 245 Mbps up.
You’ll find such modems on provider lists for speed tiers up to 800 Mbps.
What If I Have Gigabit Cable Internet?
Instead, if you want near-gigabit speeds or higher, you must use a DOCSIS 3.1 modem.
