The main difference between the Motorola MB8611 and Netgear CM2000 is their price. The MB8611 is much more affordable than the CM2000. And they deliver the same performance, both supporting Internet plans up to 2500 Mbps (2.5 Gbps).
However, the CM2000 is approved for more ISPs. So, if you have a fast cable Internet plan or want to future-proof your home network the best you can, either modem is a great choice. If you want the best bang for your buck, choose the MB8611. But if it doesn’t support your ISP, the CM2000 is the better option.
Motorola MB8611
Overall Winner
- Performance – Tie
- Compatibility – Loser
- Design – Tie
- Setup – Tie
- Value for Money – Winner
Netgear CM2000
More Compatible
- Performance – Tie
- Compatibility – Winner
- Design – Tie
- Setup – Tie
- Value for Money – Loser
I’m Jon, a home networking hobbyist. I currently use the MB8611 for my home Internet and strongly considered the CM2000 before I bought it. I made this guide to help you choose whether the CM2000 or MB8611 is best for your home.
Keep reading to learn the key differences, pros, and cons of these modems.
Key Takeaways
- The Motorola MB8611 and Netgear CM2000 are both fast and future-proof modems, supporting speeds up to 2500 Mbps (2.5 Gbps).
- The MB8611 is much more affordable than the CM2000 while delivering the same performance.
- The CM2000 is compatible with more ISPs than the MB8611.
Motorola MB8611 & Netgear CM2000 Compared
Here is a comparison of the key specifications of the Motorola MB8611 and Netgear CM2000.
| Specs | MB8611 | CM2000 |
| Recommended for | Plans up to 2500 Mbps | Plans up to 2500 Mbps |
| Tops Speeds | 2500 Mbps (2.5 Gbps) | 2500 Mbps (2.5 Gbps) |
| Compatible ISPs | Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox, Grande, Suddenlink, WOW | Armstrong, Breezeline, Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox, GCI, Grande, Mediacom, Midco, Suddenlink, WOW, Sparklight, Optimum, RCN, Wave |
| Not supported ISPs | Astound Broadband (RCN, Grande, or Wave), Optimum | N/A |
| Ports | 1 × 2.5 Gbps LAN & 1 × Coax | 1 × 2.5 Gbps LAN & 1 × Coax |
| Future-proof | Future-proof | Future-proof |
| Ethernet aggregation | No, single 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port | No, single 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port |
| DOCSIS | 3.1 | 3.1 |
| Dimensions | 7.25 × 2.25 × 7.88 inches | 8.2 x 6.8 x 3.7 inches |
| Weight | 18.4 ounces | 16.32 ounces |
| Price | $$ | $$$ |
| Winner | Loser |
MB8611 Review
The Motorola MB8611 is one the fastest and most future-proof modems on the market today. It can support cable Internet plans up to 2.5 Gbps. For reference, most ISPs top out at 1.0 Gbps (1000 Mbps). So, this modem is a great investment that should prevent the need to upgrade to a new modem for years.
The MB8611 is the modem I use for my home Internet plan (1200 Mbps). So I can confidently say it is reliable, easy to set up, reasonably priced, and top performing.
That said, it can be overkill for some homes. For example, if you have a slower Internet plan (1000 Mbps or less) or an incompatible ISP (RCN and Optimum), this modem might not be right for you.
However, if you expect your ISP to increase its Internet speeds in the next few years, the MB8611 is a great option. But if your ISP is laying the groundwork for fiber Internet and will offer it soon, don’t get this modem. Choose a cheaper one instead.
Why? Fiber Internet does not require a modem like cable Internet, so you’d be wasting money.
See our complete review of the Motorola MB8611 for more information and considerations.
CM2000 Review
The Netgear CM2000 is another fast and future-proof DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem. Like the MB8611, it can support Internet plans as fast as 2500 Mbps (2.5 Gbps). So you won’t have to worry about upgrading it for several years.
Like Netgear’s CM1000, the CM2000 is one of the most ISP-approved cable modems on the market. So, you shouldn’t have to worry about it working with your current ISP or a future one (if you plan on moving soon).
One downside of the CM2000 is that it’s quite expensive. Much more so than the Motorola MB8611.
Still, the CM2000 is one of the best modems available. It has great performance, a no-fuss setup, a great design, and works for all Internet plans– no matter your speed.
Look over our full review of the Netgear CM2000 cable modem for more information.
Performance – Draw
Since the Motorola MB8611 and Netgear CM2000 are both DOCSIS 3.1 modems that support plans as fast as 2500 Mbps, they are tied in the performance category.
Both modems have one coax cable and one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port. So, compared to modems that use port bonding/Ethernet aggregation to reach these speeds, the CM2000 and MB8611 are superior options.
With that said, very few ISPs offer plans faster than 1000 Mbps today. But I happen to be one of the lucky ones and get 1200 Mbps from my ISP, which is why I chose the MB8611 for my home.
Both the Motorola MB8611 and the Netgear CM2000 are DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems. This is the newest standard for the cable transmission of Internet Protocol (IP) data services.
It is more secure, has lower latency, uses less power, and is faster than the previous standard, DOCSIS 3.0. Most ISPs are already using DOCSIS 3.1, but a few haven’t upgraded from DOCSIS 3.0 yet.
But you don’t need to worry about that. These two modems are backward compatible with DOCSIS 3.0 (but they would be overkill for those Internet plans).
To read more on DOCSIS 3.1 and 3.0, see our guide here.
Compatibility – Winner Negear CM2000
Both modems are compatible with many leading ISPs, but the Netgear CM2000 is approved with almost all of them.
“Approved,” “compatible with,” and “works with” means a third-party tested and verified the modem works on the network. If an ISP isn’t on a modem’s approved list, it could just mean it wasn’t tested or documented yet.
There are just a few that the Motorola MB8611 doesn’t work with, listed here:
- Astound Broadband (including RCN, Grande, and Wave)
- Optimum
MB8611 Supported ISPs
Here are all the approved ISPs for the MB8611:
- Comcast Xfinity
- Charter Spectrum
- Cox
- Grande
- Suddenlink
- WOW
The MB8611 could work with other ISPs. This isn’t an exhaustive list. So call your ISP and ask them if it works if you’re unsure.
CM2000 Supported ISPs
Here are all the ISPs the Netgear CM2000 is approved for:
- Comcast Xfinity
- Spectrum
- Cox
- Sparklight
- WOW
- Suddenlink (not recommended for plans below 200 Mbps)
- Armstrong
- Breezeline (formerly Atlantic Broadband)
- Astound Broadband (Grande)
- Astound Broadband (RCN)
- Astound Broadband (Wave)
- Mediacom
- Optimum (in some areas)
Again, if your ISP isn’t in this approved list, it doesn’t mean the CM2000 won’t work with your ISP. Contact them to be sure (it probably does; we haven’t heard of any incompatible ones).
Design – Draw
Design-wise, the MB8611, and the CM2000 both look modern and sleek. Yet, they have distinct designs.
They both have slim, vertical designs that don’t take up much shelf or desk space. The Netgear CM2000 features a matte black color scheme, while the MB8611 is dark gray with a glossy black status indication pane.
Both have several cooling vents– the MB8611 is on its sides, and the CM2000’s are on its top and bottom. The MB8611 features rounded corners, which aren’t as bold as the Netgear’s CM2000’s Lamborghini-esque angled edges.
Depending on your personal tastes, one might be more appealing to you.
The CM2000 and MB8611 each have standard modem LEDs vertically arranged on the front. The LEDs indicate power, downstream Internet, upstream Internet, Ethernet, and Internet connection.
On the modems’ backside, you’ll find one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port, one coax connection, a reset button, and a power port.
Setup – Draw
The setup for both the Motorola MB8611 and the Netgear CM2000 is fast and easy. Both took just a few minutes to get up and running.
Here are the basics steps to set up the MB8611 and CM2000:
- Connect the power and coax cables to the back of the modem.
- Turn the modem on and wait for the second light from the bottom to turn on.
- Connect the supplied Ethernet cord to the modem and the other end to your router or computer.
- Active your modem on its self-activation page by opening any web browser on your computer. Or you can call your ISP and provide them with your modem’s MAC address (on its back or bottom label) to activate it.
To access the MB8611 and CM2000’s modem pages, put 192.168.100.1 into your browser’s URL bar and press the Enter key.
On your modem page, you can see your network status, view logs, and review additional information. [2]
For more instructions, see the setup guides for the CM2000 and MB8611 to review before you buy one.
For additional help setting up your cable modem, read our general guide.
Value – Motorola MB8611
The Motorola MB8611 has a better value than the Netgear CM2000.
They have the same performance, reach the same top speeds, and aren’t much different. So, since the MB8611 has a much lower cost, it is the option I recommend to everyone.
However, if your ISP is Astound Broadband (including RCN, Grande, and Wave) or Optimum, spend the extra money to get the Netgear CM2000 if you want a fast modem and the best future-proofing. It is worth it.
FAQs
Here are some common questions about the Motorola MB8611 and Netgear CM2000 cable modems.
What’s the difference between the MB8611 and the CM2000?
The cost is the main difference between the Motorola MB8611 and the Netgear CM2000. The MB8611 is cheaper than the CM2000. However, the CM2000 works with more ISPs.
Are the MB8611 and CM2000 modems or routers?
The Motorola MB8611 and Netgear CM2000 are both modems. Modems convert the data stream from your ISP’s coax connection to your router.
A router creates your Wi-Fi network and manages the network’s traffic. If you buy either of these modems, you’ll need a router too.
What if my ISP isn’t on the MB8611 and CM2000’s approved ISP list?
If your ISP isn’t on either modem’s approved ISP list, it doesn’t mean the modem won’t work. It’s likely that it just hasn’t been tested and verified to work. Call your ISP and search online forums and reviews to verify before you purchase one.
Final Thoughts
The Motorola MB8611 and Netgear CM2000 are two of the best-performing DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems available.
They are each compatible with Internet plans as fast as 2.5 Gbps (2500 Mbps). And with most ISPs offering maximum speeds of around 1000 Mbps in 2023, either modem will surely future-proof your home network for years to come.
The Motorola MB8611 is less expensive but is not compatible with a few ISPs (Astound Broadband [RCN, Grande, or Wave] and Optimum.
On the other hand, the Netgear CM2000 is noticeably more expensive but works with almost every ISP. So, choose the MB8611 if your ISP is compatible, as it will save you money. But pick the CM2000 if you want the same performance and have an ISP not approved with the MB8611.
