12 Best Sparklight Compatible Modems in 2022

Sparklight (formerly Cable One) is one of the largest and most popular ISPs, or internet service providers, in the US today. Like every ISP out there, the connection can be established through a cable modem they offer as a rental. 

However, most casual users don’t know that they can get better service through one of the Sparklight approved modems listed below.

Why Do You Need Compatible Modem? 

As mentioned, cable modems provided by Sparklight or any ISP are for rental. So, why not buy your own instead of renting, right? The cost of great modems or routers is worth a couple of months of rental. 

Therefore, if you plan to stick with your ISP for a couple of years, then investing in your own compatible cable modem is recommended.

Does the rental cable modem and compatible modem seem really different? Technically, no, since the rental and compatible cable modems’ speeds, for both upload and download, are the same. 

However, all modems are equipped to share the signal capability wirelessly to home devices and smart gadgets. That aspect solely depends on the modem quality, in which rental modems are far inferior. 

Additionally, if you have noticed, there is an adjective “compatible” being highlighted. Your preferred modems must have compatibility with the service provided by Sparklight.

It would help if you had modems with a DOCSIS 3.0, DOCSIS 3.1, or a higher protocol for starters. Still, for Sparklight GigaONE customers, DOCSIS 3.1 is the least requirement.

Rental modems don’t do well with fluctuations. Their reaction time can be unreliable. Even when the internet connection is lost, the LED indicator light displays that there is still a signal for a few more seconds. Another instance is that whenever there are electric power fluctuations at home, the rental modem might immediately shut off.

The Best Sparklight Approved Modems 

To select the best-approved modems for Cable One, you need to consider the following: the capability, wherein the more gadgets you wished to connect through Wi-Fi, the more powerful you need; the range, wherein the area to be covered matters; and the cost, if whether you can afford it or not. 

To help you make the right choice, here is a list of the best compatible modems available today.

1. Arris SurfBoard SB6190

Last update on 2022-09-06 at 21:45

This Arris modem is equipped with DOCSIS 3.1 protocol and has an optimum download speed of 1400 Mbps and upload speed of 400 Mbps. If you need multiple devices to be connected, the Arris SB6190 has 32 x 8 channel bonding. 

One main problem is that Intel’s Puma 6 chipset used can have certain technical issues. While this product is easy to install, it cannot function as a router. 

Regardless, it is a budget-friendly, high-speed modem that has an excellent performance.

Pros:

• Easy installation
• High-speed internet
• Durability

Cons:

• Prone to immediate heating
• Puma 6 chipset issues

2. Arris SurfBoard SBG7580-AC

Last update on 2022-09-08 at 18:55

As another Arris modem, this is also equipped with DOCSIS 3.1 protocol. It has an optimum download speed of 1000 Mbps and an upload speed of 343 Mbps. For connectivity of multiple devices, the Arris SBG7580AC has 32 x 8 channel bonding. 

This is great for office usage in which the signal range can reach up to an area of 2600 square feet. The drawback of this Arris modem is that the interface webpage can be challenging to use and not so user-friendly.

Pros:

• Internet speeds good enough for office applications
• Wide range

Cons:

• Not user-friendly interface

Arris SurfBoard SBG7580-AC User Manuals

3. Netgear Nighthawk CM700

Last update on 2022-09-06 at 22:05

Netgear’s modem is one of the best if you are into online gaming. The download speed is a whopping 1400 Mbps to 1900 Mbps, and it uses a DOCSIS 3.1 protocol. This Netgear device also comes with 32 x 8 channel bonding, and the range can reach 1800 square feet. 

The chipset used is Intel’s Puma which makes the modem sturdy. Still, there is a significant chance that performance issues may occur. This modem is also not capable of functioning as a router.

Pros:

• Easy installation
• Extremely fast internet speed
• Durability
• Range

Cons:

• Puma chipset issues

4. Arris SurfBoard SBG6700AC

Last update on 2023-12-01 at 00:00

This Arris modem is one of the approved modems that use a DOCSIS protocol. The overall internet speed may be at 1600 Mbps. Still, the allocation for download and upload speeds for single-use is 343 Mbps and 131 Mbps, respectively. 

For additional safety features, the Arris SBG6700AC employs parental protocols. This product is a modem-router combo and has 8 x 4 channel bonding. It can be a bit costly when taking its capabilities into consideration. The interface can be riddled with a few bugs.

Pros:

• Modem-router combo
• Has parental controls
• Durability

Cons:

• A bit expensive
• Interface has bugs 

5. Netgear C3000 N300

Last update on 2023-12-01 at 00:00

This Netgear modem, equipped with DOCSIS protocol, can function as a router and a switch. Not only is it compatible with Sparklight but it is also compatible with other ISPs as well. It has four upstream and eight downstream channels. 

The download speed of this 3-in-1 Netgear device is 340 Mbps, while the upload speed is 122 Mbps. It also has plenty of security features, such as parental controls and anti-phishing features. 

Pros:

• Modem-router combo
• Plenty of security features
• Compatibility to other ISPs

Cons:

• Not ideal for people with less technical know-how 

6. Arris SurfBoard SBG6580

Last update on 2022-09-08 at 15:57

So far, the Arris brand has dominated the best list, and one of their products made is the SurfBoard SBG6580. It can be compatible with other ISPs and can also function as a router. 

As one of the approved modems that use DOCSIS technology, it has a download speed of 343 Mbps and an upload speed of 131 Mbps. Having 8 x 4 stream channels, there is no shortage of security features across its 802.11n Wi-Fi access point.

Pros:

• Compatibility to other ISPs 
• Modem-router combo
• Has multiple security features
• Great Wi-Fi signal strength

Cons:

• Can encounter frequent reboots

7. Arris SurfBoard SB6121

Last update on 2022-12-24 at 21:51

The Arris SurfBoard SB6121 has a download speed of 172 Mbps and an upload speed of 131 Mbps. It is enough for most uses, and it also employs DOCSIS technology. 

Aside from having 4 x 4 stream channels, the Arris modem achieves the latest criteria of IPv6 and IPv4. It has Wi-Fi capability, and the installation instructions are relatively easy to understand. 

Pros:

• Durability
• Easy installation
• Meets the latest requirement for IPv4 and IPv6

Cons:

• A bit heavy
• Can have a buggy interface

8. Motorola SB6120

Last update on 2023-12-01 at 00:00

Arris Motorola is one of the cable modems with 4 x 4 stream channels. The download and upload speeds are 150 Mbps and 30 Mbps, respectively. 

Aside from having a DOCSIS protocol, the instructions seem intuitive. The LED indicators are easily understandable even to a casual user. 

The major drawback is that the modem identifies itself as a rental, and several pop-up advertisements from various ISPs may be displayed.

Pros:

• Very understandable operation
• Compatible with other ISPs

Cons:

• Pop-up advertisements can appear

9. Zoom Telephonics 5341H

Last update on 2022-09-06 at 19:46

In a list dominated by Arris and Netgear, Zoom Telephonics offers you their 5341H cable modem. As another approved modem with DOCSIS 3.0 protocol, it has internet speeds of 172 Mbps for download and 120 Mbps for upload. 

The 4 x 4 stream channels let you connect 6 to 8 devices through the Wi-Fi connection. Even though it is versatile in supporting older DOCSIS protocols, it can take 2 to 3 minutes to establish full connectivity.

Pros:

• Stable Wi-Fi reception
• Very understandable operation

Cons:

• Takes time for establishing full connectivity

10. Motorola MG7550 

Last update on 2022-09-08 at 16:16

If you are looking for an affordable model-router combo, then this Motorola cable modem might be enough. With a DOCSIS 3.0 protocol, it can have an internet speed reaching 375 Mbps. There are also 4 LAN ports capable of providing Gigabit Ethernet. 

Pros:

• Modem-router combo
• Stable internet speed

Cons:

• Might have limited performance

11. Motorola MG7700 

Last update on 2022-09-22 at 22:15

If you want a higher-performance Motorola modem-router combo, then take a look at this MG7700. Equipped with DOCSIS 3.0 protocol and 24 x 8 stream channels, this approved modem can reach an internet speed of 1900 Mbps. 

Like the other Motorola modem-router listed, it also has 4 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. The vertical design provides an edge both in cooling and in internal space management. 

Pros:

• Very high-speed internet 
• Modem-router combo

Cons:

• Can have limited performance

12. Netgear Nighthawk Pro Gaming XR500

Last update on 2024-03-14 at 14:40

This entry is probably the fastest cable modem of them all, wherein it has an optimum internet speed of 2600 Mbps. This is perfect for Sparklight GigaONE services which require DOCSIS 3.1 technology. 

This modem-router by Netgear is designed for professional gaming and offers 4 Ethernet ports. Operating with a dual-core processor can be optimized for low ping, leading to lessening the lag.

Pros:

• Dual-core processor
• Extremely fast internet speed
• Can have low ping
• Modem-router combo
• Easy connections for VPN
• Can handle hardcore online gaming

Cons:

• Difficult to configure

How To Setup Compatible Modem

Suppose ever you have purchased one of the compatible modems listed. In that case, you can follow the instructions of the manual for installation. 

Just in case you have misplaced it, rest assured that almost all of them have the same methods. Here are the general steps how to prepare your Cable One approved modem:

1. Check the contents: the modem itself, power cord, power adapter, Ethernet cable, coaxial cable, and rechargeable batteries (if required; either free or purchased by you).  
2. Connect the coaxial cable to the outlet of the cable device of Sparklight. 
3. For the coaxial cable’s other end, connect it to the modem. 
4. Connect the Ethernet cable to the modem’s appropriate ports (look for the word ‘output’ or an icon symbolizing a PC). 
5. For the Ethernet cable’s other end, connect it to the appropriate port of the computer. For wireless devices, connect through Wi-Fi.
6. Connect the modem’s power cord from the unit to an electrical outlet.
7. Turn it on. After around 5 minutes, as soon as all the indicators display that signal from Cable One is received, your devices are ready for internet connection. For wireless devices, you must select the correct modem and type the correct password. 

If there are technical difficulties, you can call the Cable One hotline and ask for assistance.

Conclusion

For modems compatible with Cable One, all listed can perform exceptionally. If you wish to utilize cable modems for office use only with limited online activity, select those with relatively slower internet speeds of around 300 Mbps. If you want a broader scope, choose those that have a broader range. 

If you are into online gaming and HD video streaming, select cable modems with an internet speed beyond 1200 Mbps. The lesser the functions, the more affordable the approved modems can be. If you are just a casual user, you may want to factor in the readability of the instructional manual also. 

Whatever you choose to purchase, always remember that any electronic device operated at its full potential can get heated. Make sure to install a proper cooling system if the cable modem you purchased is to be used heavily.