Wireless broadband is the most recent addition to the broadband family. Affording users a greater amount of freedom than its standard broadband predecessors, wireless technology produces a broadband signal in the form of radio waves. The signal is transmitted from a unit (wireless cable modem) near the broadband access point, and received by a wireless network adapter located on/in your computer. The range of the broadband signal varies depending on the wireless cable modem, however it is not uncommon to to receive a signal from as far away as 1,000 (+) feet from the access point.
Take a look at some of the popular wireless cable modems being offered by two of the more reputable producers of cable modems in the industry, Motorola and NetGear.
Wireless Cable Modem Types
Motorola Surfboard SBG900 Wireless Cable Modem Gateway
Motorola has taken advantage of the popularity of its Surfboard modem series by adding a wireless cable modem to compete with its standard SB5100 & SB5120 models. Combining a cable modem and a wireless access point into one easy-to-use unit, the Surfboard SBG900 allows multiple users to connect to the wireless modem without any type of physical connection.
Surfboard SBG900 features include:
- Capable of transmitting a wireless signal over 1300 feet.
- Internet Explorer 5.2 (and higher) / Netscape 6.2 (and higher) compatible.
- Transfer speeds 100 times faster than 28.8k modems.
Motorola SBG1000 Wireless Cable Modem Gateway
Motorola’s SBG1000 Wireless Cable Modem is one of the most exciting and resourceful wireless models on the market today. Combing six networking devices into a single unit, the SBG1000 houses a Motorola Surfboard cable modem, an 802.11b wireless access point, a phone-line adapter, a firewall, a 5-port Ethernet switch and a print server. The SBG1000 is an excellent choice for your home or small office.
SBG1000 Wireless Cable Modem features include:
- Six networking devices in one unit.
- DOCSIS 1.0 compliant.
- 13 rear connectors in addition to a ‘reset’ switch for restoring default modem settings.
NetGear CG814M Wireless Cable Modem Gateway
Although Motorola is considered by many to be the premier producer of wireless cable modems, NetGear is not too far off pace with their exceptional CG814M model. The sleek, single unit houses a cable modem, an 802.11b wireless access point, a firewall, and a router. The NetGear CG814M is the perfect choice for a family wireless cable modem due to its filtering controls that allow administrators to block certain URL addresses in addition to monitoring Web activity.
CG814M Wireless Cable Modem features include:
- 802.11b wireless access point.
- Installation Assistant providing step-by-step aide.
- USB port along with 4 Ethernet ports for standard connections.
- DOCSIS compatible.
