6 Best Compatible Modems for Sparklight [Full List]

This is our review of the best modems for Sparklight Internet in 2023. 

We have tested several modems during the last couple of months

And from these tests, we determined that the Arris Surfboard SB8200 is the best modem for Sparklight. Because it’s easy to set up, appropriately priced and supports fast Internet plans. 

However, it might not be the best modem for your home. We all have different needs, budgets, home sizes, plans, and Internet use. 

As such, we put together the top 5 modems for Sparklight so you can pick the best one for your home. 

Keep reading to learn more. 

Note: if you have a Sparklight fiber plan, you don’t need a modem at all. 

Top 6 Sparklight Approved Modems

Here are the top 6 modems for Sparklight.

1. Best Overall – Arris Surfboard SB8200 – Cable Modem
2. Best Performer – Netgear CM2000 – Cable Modem
3. Best Mid-tier Option– Netgear CM1000 – Cable Modem
4. Best Budget Option – Motorola MB7621 – Cable Modem
5. Runner Up – Netgear CAX80 – Modem/Router Combo
6. Best Value – Motorola MG7700 – Modem/Router Combo

6 Best Sparklight Compatible Modems

Here are reviews of the best-approved modems for Sparklight. 

#1 Best Overall – Arris Surfboard SB8200

The Arris Surfboard SB8200 is a DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem ideal for Internet plans in the 1000 to 2000 Mbps range. But you can also use it for Sparklight plans with speeds less than 1000 Mbps. 

But to utilize 2,000 Mbps plans, this modem has port bonding, which allows combining two Ethernet Ports into a single data stream.

This means you can connect two 1000 Mbps ports to achieve 2000 Mbps. It’s like filling your cup with two faucets. 

While this modem can support Internet plans up to 2000 Mbps, most areas that Sparklight covers don’t have plans available that exceed 1000 Mbps. Even so, the Modem will future-proof your home network better than other modems on the market today.

A possible downside to this modem is that the lights are very bright. This could bother you while trying to watch television at night or stop you from falling asleep if you put it in your bedroom.

Overall, the Arris Surfboard SB8200 is an excellent choice for those with Sparklight Internet looking for an excellent gigabit modem. It can handle 1000-2000 Mbps plans without issue.

For more details on the Surfboard SB8200, read our review.

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#2 Best Performer – Netgear CM2000

The Netgear CM2000 is the best gigabit modem and will future-proof your Sparklight home network for years to come.

This DOCSIS 3.1 modem is one of the quickest on the market, offering speeds up to 2.5 Gbps (2500 Mbps). However, Sparklight’s fastest plan (1000 Mbps) doesn’t even come close to this right now. 

But even though they don’t offer these higher speeds to customers yet – that could change in the future. And if you already have a modem that can handle faster speeds, you won’t have to upgrade it.

The CM2000 uses a single 2.5 Gbps port. But if you have a slower Sparklight plan, it will still work.

This model is perfect for online gamers and streamers who want the best quality and prepare for future speed increases on their home network.

The CM2000 offers an unbeatable combination of speed and performance – like an amped-up version of the Arris Surfboard SB8200. With its cutting-edge features, however, comes a much steeper price tag.

We only recommend this modem to homeowners if they have Sparklight’s fastest Internet plan and want to future-proof their network for future speed increases. 

Otherwise, it’s overkill, and you won’t be able to take advantage of its capabilities with a slower plan.

For more details on this modem, read our entire review of the Netgear CM2000. 

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#3 Best Mid-Tier Option – Netgear CM1000

If you’re looking for a good gigabit modem that won’t break the bank but still provide great speeds, the Netgear CM1000 modem is a good choice. 

It’s a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, which means it is faster and has better security than a DOCSIS 3.0 modem. Plus, it can handle all of Sparklight’s Internet plans. But it is best suited for their 1000 Mbps plan.

It would be overkill for plans of 300 Mbps or slower. On the flip side, if Sparklight starts offering a faster plan, you will still be limited to 1000 Mbps through this modem.

Essentially, it will future-proof your home for speed increases from Sparklight but not as well as other modems since it only supports plans up to 1000 Mbps. 

That said, it works with almost all ISPs, so it is a great choice if you move often and have to change Internet service routinely. 

For more details about the Netgear CM1000, read our entire review. 

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#4 Best Budget Option – Motorola MB7621

The Motorola MB7621 is a good modem option if you are on a budget. It works with Internet plans up to 600 Mbps. 

It is a DOCSIS 3.0 modem with 24×8 channels, which isn’t as future-proof as a DOCSIS 3.1 unit. But if you have a slower plan, this won’t be an issue. 

The MB7621 is easy to set up and works seamlessly with all Sparklight plans slower than 600 Mbps. 

It is low profile and won’t take up a lot of space on your desk or shelf. One downside is that its lights are kind of bright, but you could disable those in its settings. 

Overall, the MB7621 is a good choice if you don’t want to spend a lot of cash. But you might risk having to buy a new modem if your ISP increases your network speeds or stops supporting DOCSIS 3.0. 

For more information about the Motorola MB7621, read our entire review. 

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#5 Runner Up – Netgear CAX80

The Netgear CAX80 is a great choice for Sparklight Internet if you’re looking for a powerful modem/router combo. 

During our tests, it reached 800 Mbps at 5 feet – tested with an 800 Mbps plan. It also reached 583.15 Mbps at 25 feet and 298.47 Mbps at 50 feet on the 5 GHz band.   

This is fast enough to play any video game online, join video meetings, stream videos, etc., as long as you have a Sparklight Internet plan that is fast enough. 

The CAX80 has a great range, reaching approximately 90-100 feet, which is good enough for any but the largest homes.

It is also DOCSIS 3.1 and supports Wi-Fi 6, which means it is fast, secure, and extremely future-proof. You likely won’t need to upgrade it for many years. 

One drawback of the CAX80 is that it lacks QoS features. This means you can’t prioritize traffic on your network. Another downside is that it’s expensive. 

But remember, it is a modem/router combo. So keep that in mind if you’re price comparing it to standalone modems. 

Altogether, the Netgear CAX80 is a top-performing modem/router combo for Sparklight. Best-suited for homeowners with fast Sparklight Internet plans. 

For more information, see our full review of the Netgear Nighthawk CAX80. 

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#6 Best Value – Motorola MG7700

If you’re on a budget, I strongly suggest the Motorola MG7700 for Sparklights Starter 100 Plus (100 Mbps), Streamer & Gamer 200 Plus (200 Mbps), and Turbo 300 Plus (300 Mbps).

It is a modem/router combo that works well for slower Internet plans.

Don’t get this modem/router combo if you have Sparklight’s GigaONE Plus plan (1000 Mbps). It will bottleneck your bandwidth, and you’ll never get full access to the speeds you are paying for.

During our tests, the MG7700’s Wi-Fi speed reached 441.28 Mbps from 5 feet and 132.82 Mbps from 25 feet. Both are on the 5 GHz band. 

This is fast enough for most streamers, gamers, and home-office workers. And good enough for households of 4-5 people.

It also has a great range- reaching about 80 feet, which is enough to cover most homes, especially if you centrally locate it.

But, it is only a DOCSIS 3.0 modem with 24×8 channels– which won’t future-proof your home network as well as a DOCSIS 3.1 modem.

That said, it is technically compatible with internet speeds up to around 600 Mbps. But Sparklight doesn’t offer a plan between 300 Mbps and 1000 Mbps.

One drawback of the MG7700 is its subpar QoS and Parental Controls and a slow control panel. 

Still, the Motorola MG7700 is a great modem/router combo if you have a Sparklight plan of 400 Mbps or slower. It’s certainly not as future-proof as the other options we recommend. But it is much more affordable. 

For more information, read our entire review of the MG7700.

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Lists of Sparklight Compatible Modems

Here is a list of all Sparklight approved modems. 

Brand	Model #	With Router	Channels	DOCSIS	VoIP	Puma Chipset	Speed (Mbps)
NETGEAR	C7800	Yes	32×8	3.1	No	No	1000
NETGEAR	CM700	No	32×8	3.0	No	Yes	1000
NETGEAR	CM1000	No	32×8	3.1	No	No	1000
NETGEAR	CM1100	No	32×8	3.1	No	No	1000
NETGEAR	CM1200	No	32×8	3.1	No	No	1000
NETGEAR	CM2000	No	32×8	3.1	No	No	1000
NETGEAR	CAX80	Yes	32×8	3.1	No	No	1000
NETGEAR	CBR40	Yes	32×8	3.0	No	Yes	1000
NETGEAR	CBR750	Yes	32×8	3.1	No	Yes	1000
NETGEAR	C6900	Yes	24×8	3.0	No	No	600
NETGEAR	C7000	Yes	24×8	3.0	No	No	600
NETGEAR	C7000v2	Yes	24×8	3.0	No	No	600
NETGEAR	C7500	Yes	24×8	3.0	No	No	600
NETGEAR	CM600	No	24×8	3.0	No	No	600
NETGEAR	C6250	Yes	16×4	3.0	No	No	300
NETGEAR	C6300	Yes	16×4	3.0	No	Yes	300
NETGEAR	CM500	No	16×4	3.0	No	No	300
NETGEAR	C3000-100NAS	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
NETGEAR	C3700-100NAS	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
NETGEAR	C6220	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
NETGEAR	CM400	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
NETGEAR	CG3000Dv2	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
Motorola	MB8600	No	32×8	3.1	No	No	1000
Motorola	MG7700	Yes	24×8	3.0	No	No	600
Motorola	MB7420	No	16×4	3.0	No	No	300
Motorola	MB7621	No	24×8	3.0	No	No	300
Motorola	MG7540	Yes	16×4	3.0	No	No	300
Motorola	MG7550	Yes	16×4	3.0	No	No	300
Motorola	MB7220	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
Motorola	MG7310	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
Motorola	MG7315	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
Hitron	CGNVM-3582	Yes	32×8	3.0	No	Yes	1000
Hitron	CGNM-2252	Yes	24×8	3.0	No	Yes	600
ARRIS	CM8200A	No	32×8	3.1	No	No	1000
ARRIS	DG3270	Yes	32×8	3.0	No	Yes	1000
ARRIS	DG3450	Yes	32×8	3.1	No	Yes	1000
ARRIS	SB6190	No	32×8	3.0	No	Yes	1000
ARRIS	SB8200	No	32×8	3.1	No	No	1000
ARRIS	SBG7580-AC	Yes	32×8	3.0	No	Yes	1000
ARRIS	SBG7600AC2	Yes	32×8	3.0	No	Yes	1000
ARRIS	SBG8300	Yes	32×8	3.1	No	Yes	1000
ARRIS	SBG7400AC2	Yes	24×8	3.0	No	Yes	600
ARRIS	DG1670A	Yes	16×4	3.0	No	Yes	300
ARRIS	SB6183	No	16×4	3.0	No	No	300
ARRIS	SBG10	Yes	16×4	3.0	No	Yes	300
ARRIS	SBG6900-AC	Yes	16×4	3.0	No	No	300
ARRIS	SBG6950AC2	Yes	16×4	3.0	No	Yes	300
ARRIS	CM820	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	DG860	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	DG950	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	SB6141	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	SB6180	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	SB6182	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	SBG6400	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	SBG6580	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	SBG6580-2	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	SBG6700-AC	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	SBG6782-AC	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
ARRIS	TG852G	Yes	8×4	3.0	Yes	No	150
ARRIS	TG862G	Yes	8×4	3.0	Yes	No	150
ARRIS	TM802G	No	8×4	3.0	Yes	No	150
ARRIS	TM822G	No	8×4	3.0	Yes	No	150
ARRIS	SB6120	No	4×4	3.0	No	No	50
ARRIS	SB6121	No	4×4	3.0	No	No	50
Linksys	CG7500	Yes	24×8	3.0	No	Yes	600
Linksys	CM3024	No	24×8	3.0	No	Yes	600
Linksys	CM3016	No	16×4	3.0	No	Yes	300
TP-Link	ARCHER CR700	Yes	16×4	3.0	No	No	300
TP-Link	TC-7620	No	16×4	3.0	No	No	300
TP-Link	TC-7610	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
TP-Link	TC-W7960	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
Zoom	5341J	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
Zoom	5345	No	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
Zoom	5350	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
Zoom	5352	Yes	8×4	3.0	No	No	150
Zoom	5341	No	4×4	3.0	No	No	50

What to Consider Before Buying A Sparklight Approved Modem

Here are some things you need to consider before you purchase a modem for Sparklight Internet. See our modem buying guide for even more tips. 

Approved and Compatible with Sparklight

Whether or not a modem is approved for (or compatible with) Sparklight Internet is the most important consideration when choosing your modem. 

All the modems we recommend in this article are approved for Sparklight, but if you purchase a different modem, you will want to ensure it is on the “approved” list for Sparklight. 

“Approved’ means someone tested and verified the modem works with Sparklight. But sometimes, it just means the specs are compatible with their network. 

Compatible, certified, and supported are all synonymous with approved in this case. 

DOCSIS 3.1 vs. 3.0

Another important consideration for cable modems is choosing between DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1. 

DOCSIS 3.1 is newer, can reach faster speeds, and will future-proof your home network much better. On the other hand, DOCSIS 3.0 is slower and doesn’t have as good security, but it is cheaper.

For Sparklight, I recommend using a DOCSIS 3.1 modem as they are actively improving its speeds and infrastructure. 

So, they might move to faster Internet plans altogether, then you might need to upgrade to a DOCSIS 3.1 modem anyways. 

For more information and considerations, read our DOCSIS 3.1 or 3.0 guide. 

Channels

If you have one of Sparklight’s slower Internet plans and are on a budget, you might choose a DOCSIS 3.0 modem. In that case, you should consider the number of channels it has. 

The higher number of channels means a DOCSIS 3.0 can reach higher speeds. 

Regardless of your Internet plan from Sparklight, I recommend using at least 24 channels for optimal performance. 

And if you have a 500 Mbps plan or faster, I recommend getting a DOCSIS 3.1 modem. Technically, DOCSIS 3.0 modems can handle that speed. But if you upgrade to a Gigabit Internet plan, you’ll need to get a new modem to access the increased speed. 

Recommendations for Each Internet Plan

Here are our recommendations for what DOCSIS and channels you should get depending on your plan’s Internet speed.

If you have a tight budget, get the minimum requirement. But if you want the best performance and future-proof your network, get the highest recommendation. 

Internet Plan	DOCSIS	Channels
50 Mbps Internet	3.0 or 3.1	24×8 or 32×8
100 Mbps Internet	3.0 or 3.1	24×8 or 32×8
250 Mbps Internet	3.0 or 3.1	24×8 or 32×8
330 Mbps Internet	3.0 or 3.1	24×8 or 32×8
500 Mbps Internet	3.1	N/A*
940 Mbps Internet	3.1	N/A*

*DOCSIS 3.1 do not use channels. 

Modem/Router Combo or Separate

Another major consideration is getting a separate modem and router or a modem/router combo. 

Separate devices are self-explanatory– the modem and router are two different devices. A modem/router combo integrates both in a single device. 

They both have their pros and cons. But I will always recommend separate devices. 

Separate devices give you more control, better performance, and makes it easier to upgrade. 

But modem/router combos take up less space and are more convenient from a setup perspective. And they’re generally less expensive than separate devices with similar specs. 

Separate Devices Advantages	Modem/Router Combos Advantages
Full control	Easier to set up
Easier to upgrade one device	Takes up less space
Better performance	Usually costs less
Easier troubleshooting	More convenient

For more information, see our modem/router combo versus separate devices article. 

Sparklight Voice Service

If you have your Sparklight Voice Service, you have to rent a certified modem from them. 

This gives you two options: use the eMTA modem (the rented modem) for both internet and VoIP. 

Or use the eMTA modem for your phone service and get an approved modem for your internet. 

You can do this with a splitter that connects the phone line to the eMTA modem and the internet to the approved modem. 

This will allow you to get a better modem for your internet than you otherwise would have.

But you will, however, still need to pay the renting fee for the eMTA modem every month. 

You will also have to call Sparklight and explain what you are doing. Because they will have to rearrange things so it will work. 

You might also want some help with the setup process, which you can get from their support.

How to Setup a Sparklight Modem

To set up a Sparklight modem:

1. Find a location with good airflow. 
2. Connect the coax cable and the power cord. Additionally, connect the router with an ethernet cable if you have separate devices. 
3. The rest is different for each modem. But follow the setup guide that comes with it. For more info, either click here or check out Sparklights Youtube video regarding setting up a modem. 

Sparklight Fiber

Sparklight offers several Internet plans for homeowners and depending on which plan you have will affect what modem you should get. 

One plan it will soon offer is Fiber Internet. Fiber Internet is much faster than DSL, and it does not need a modem. So, if you plan to switch to Sparklight Fiber once its available, you don’t need a modem. [1]

You only need a good router. See our best router guide for our top recommendations. 

Rent Vs. Buy Sparklight Modems

You may want to opt for purchasing your own modem instead of renting one from Sparklight.

Why? Sparklight charges you a monthly fee of $12.50 just to rent their modems. And while the modems they offer are good for the most part, there are plenty of better ones on the market.

So, if you want a faster one, you’d be better off buying your own. 

And most of the time, buying your own will save you money in the long run. The monthly rental fee often equals the cost of a better modem in one to two years. 

For more details, read our rent versus buy guide. 

FAQ

Here are some common questions about modems for Sparklight. 

Our Verdict

After much consideration and thorough testing, we found that the Arris Surfboard SB8200 is the best modem for Sparklight. 

It’s future-proof, works with fast Internet plans, and is reasonably affordable. Plus, it works with all of Sparklight’s Internet plans.