NETGEAR Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.1 Mid/high-Split Cable Modem (CM3000-1AZNAS) – Approved for Today’s Fastest Speeds - Works With all Cable Providers, Incl. Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox - Cable Plans up to 2.5Gbps

I own an Arris TG862G modem for many years now. At the time, this was the approved model for VIOP phone lines. At $200 it has paid for itself many times over. Due to retirement living on a fix income, cost cuts were needed so I dropped the Triple Play and now subscribed to internet (Blast - 800Mbps). Recently I keep getting email from Xfinity says my modem (DOCSIS 3.0) is outdated and keeping me from getting my maximum download speeds promised by my plan. After so many of these notices, I decided to take the plunge and get a new DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem. I decided on the Netgear model CM3000-1AZNAS.Installation was easy. I already had downloaded the Xfinity App on my phone. It has a place to activate new equipment and recommended because you lose your internet. The switch over took about 10-15 minutes. I had internet in no time. The problem lay in that Speed Tests didn't reveal any, and I mean any gain in speed. So not wanting to admit I just spent $300 for nothing, I contact them with chat. I explained that I just installed a new modem and no change. Perhaps my modem (account) needs provisioned to accommodate the new modem. He tells me he can get me a higher speed package for less than I paying. So from 800 to 1100, when I wasn't even getting the 800. But less money is better so I agreed, thinking this would surely provision my account to the 1100Mbsp. Well after a day, still no change. I don't think it is this modem's fault, but Comcast's fault. I will try CS one more time. The moral of the story, "If it ain't broke, Don't try to fix it!"

Worked Great - easy to install for a non-IT guy and works with Xfinity right out of the box.I have DREADED the idea of getting a new modem that was not directly from Xfinity because I thought it would be a huge hassle and involve a bunch of time on service calls.In the end, this was SUPER easy and I regret not doing it sooner. I recommend downloading any apps and confirming this modem through the Xfinity app before you swap. This way you have full internet before "going dark" during the swap over.This was direct plug and play and it's been fantastic, I would highly recommend.I paired this with TP-Link mesh routers and now I have great speed and coverage in my whole home. Should have done this long ago.

The ISP (which will remain nameless), that I rented my Internet gateway from did not adhere to sound security protocol. I myself, as a cybersecurity professional with more than 10 years experience, am naturally paranoid about weak passwords. This particular ISP limits the variety of keyboard characters allowed for cable modem management passwords, making them easier to crack! In fact, on a few occasions, my passwords were changed without my consent. From that point forward I decided to buy my own cable modem that would allow me to choose the access passwords without character limitations. Now that it is up and running I am beyond happy. My desired security posture is now a reality, and my internet finally achieves 1gb downloads, better than the ISP's cable modem that was supposed to do the same thing. My network is tight security wise, and this Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 helped me realize that. Finally, I had to overcome one technical issue that I thought was generated by the CM2000. After registering my cable modem with Netgear, called tech support. Best dang support I've dealt with in a long time! From one geek to another, we were able to speak the same tech-ease and I learned more about my new CM2000 and the DOCSIS standard than I knew before the call. Found out that the CM2000 was not the culprit, so I called the ISP to handle it, problem resolved. The one setback for Netgear that I thought was serious enough to mention is that as far as firmware upgrades there seems to be tit-for-tat between Netgear and this particular ISP. Either group seems to point the finger at the other when it comes to whose responsibility it is to push out firmware upgrades. I hope, for customers' sake, that these two outfits work out their differences on this. Heavens forbid that there is a security vulnerability that requires a firmware upgrade! I shiver to think about that outcome. Other than that, I am very happy with my purchase.UPDATE (6/2025)It's been a few years since I pinned the above review of the CM2000. Now it's time for an upgrade from the CM2000 to the CM3000. This is what I've learned: The CM2000 performed honorably for the most part. However over time the status LED lights began to shut off one after the other. Today the only one that is still operational is the Online LED. I understand that there are others who've experienced the same malfunctioning LED issues as well. Other than that I am pleased with its performance, so much so that I am considering purchasing it's more mature cousin, the CM3000. The one BIG issue I have with this consumer-class cable modem is what seems to be the unwillingness of its manufacturer Netgear & my cable service provider Xfinity/Comcast to agree on WHO WILL PROVIDE THE FIRMWARE UPGRADES! This was the 800lb gorilla that otherwise would make the experience with this product a 9/10! Just as with the CM2000, Netgear advises users to access their cable service provider for the firmware upgrade for the CM3000. With both devices Xfinity does not have documentation on its website which gives instructions on upgrading the Nighthawk CM model firmware: https://www.xfinity.com/search?q=Netgear%20cm2000 . Similarly, Netgear support encourages users to contact their ISP for upgrades: https://kb.netgear.com/000036375/What-is-the-latest-firmware-version-of-my-NETGEAR-cable-modem-or-modem-router . Either way, if there is a need for a future firmware update anyone purchasing this item will risk ending up with an expensive paper weight if both the manufacturer and the ISP refuse to come together and resolve the issue. For this reason I am exploring other cable modem options, ones where firmware updates are available for ISP-approved devices.

Since I purchased this item for over $200, I thought it would be a good product. It worked for about 3 weeks. Then, suddenly, it would not connect to the internet. Calling Netgear was not productive. They suggested it was my internet provider that was to blame. After calling my internet provider and having them come to my place to check cables and connections to diagnose the problem, I was told that it was the Netgear Nighthawk modem that was the problem. I called Netgear to get a replacement or trade. If you have lots of time and you are able to stay on the telephone for long menus and wait times, I congratulate your patience. This run-around from Netgear was extremely frustrating. They do not honor their warrantee so forget that you even saw that statement on their paperwork that they send with the unit. I called Netgear several times and when my call was transferred to another person, their phone system took me back to the first long drawn-out menu. I would only have to call back to start the process all over again. Dont bother wasting over $200 of your money and your time with Netgear. Send it back immediately to Amazon. Netgear’s warrantee is false and misleading. There is no warrantee. Netgear’s customer support is very poor. Don’t expect any. Netgear’s products are something I will never buy again.