Netgear CM1000 Review

Netgear CM1000
Source: Netgear.com

Our Verdict

4.5
4.5/5
The Netgear CM1000 proved itself a fast, future-proof cable modem that will work for every major cable ISP. Nevertheless, it’s not the best DOCSIS 3.1 modem out there. With some other options getting you more value for the cost.

Pros

Cons

Performance

4.3
4.3/5

Design

4.6
4.6/5

Compatibility

5.0
5.0/5

Setup

4.6
4.6/5

Value

4
4/5

As a Network Engineer, I have bought the Netgear CM1000 and tested it for a week. 

And after this test, I can say that it’s a fast, reliable cable modem that has its place. But it’s not the best of its class.

Keep reading to learn more.  

Netgear CM1000 Overview

Netgear CM1000 Full view

The Netgear CM1000 is a standard cable modem, meaning it has no router and only works with cable internet. 

It’s compatible with every major ISPs, making it a decent option if you want to replace your older modem or stop renting one from your ISP. 

The modem is DOCSIS 3.1, making it fast and future-proof. Nevertheless, its largest drawback is that it only has a single 1 Gig Ethernet port. 

This makes the CM1000 compatible with internet plans up to 1000 Mbps. And even if this sounds like a lot,  it is not considering it’s a DOCSIS 3.1 modem.

Other similarly priced alternatives like the Arris Surfboard SB8200 and the Motorola MB8600 are faster options. 

Because due to having a Port Bonding (the ability to combine to ethernet ports) they are compatible with internet plans up to 2000 Mbps.

Furthermore, they also have a two-year warranty instead of a one-year warranty like the CM1000.

Arris Surfboard SB8200 and the Netgear CM1000 and the Motorola MB8600
SB8200, CM1000, and MB8600 side by side

That said, the Netgear CM1000 is far from a bad modem. It’s simply overshone by some other models. 

But, if you prefer Netgear over other brands or simply likes the design (I know I do), you can get it. 

Furthermore, if you have GCI, the CM1000 is one of the few modems approved for them. 

Netgear CM1000 Specs

TypeCable Modem
Wi-FiNo Router
BrandNetgear
ModelCM1000
StandardsDOCSIS 3.1 & DOCSIS 3.0 32×8
Top WAN speed6000 Mbps
Ports1 Gigabit Ethernet port & 1 Coax port
Top internet plan supported.1000 Mbps
Supported ISP’sArmstrong, Atlantic Broadband, Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox, GCI, Grande, Mediacom, Midco, Suddenlink, WOW, Sparklight, Optimum, RCN, Wave
Not supported ISP’sN/A
Weight0.95 pounds
Dimensions8.8 x 3.5 x 5.9 inches
Warranty1-year

For more info, check out the official datasheet.

Performance – 4.3

During testing, the Netgear CM1000 performed excellently, maintaining a steady connection of 800 Mbps (which was the internet plan’s speed) the entire time.

It required no restart or reset during the week I used it. 

Moreover, I also tested it with a 100 Mbps, 200 Mbps, and a 400 Mbps internet plan. All of which it had no issues with. 

The thing that drags down the performance score of the CM1000 is that it’s constrained by its Ethernet port. 

Because it only has a single 1-Gig port that only can handle around 940 Mbps at max. This makes it so the modem only supports plans up to 1-Gig. [1]

And I know that might sound like a lot, but compared to other alternatives, it’s not. 

Because modems like the CM1200, the SB8200, or the MB8600 use somethings called Port Bonding. 

This feature is far from perfect, but it allows the modems to support plans up to 2000 Mbps by combining ethernet ports. 

A better solution is what the CM2000, the S33, and the MB8611 use, a 2.5G Ethernet port. This makes the modem compatible with internet plans up to 2500 Mbps. 

Design –  4.6

Personally, I like the CM1000 design. It’s a simple design of 8.8 x 3.5 x 5.9 inches. A bit taller than some other options, but also slimmer. 

CM1000 from the side

The backside has three inputs, the 1-Gig Ethernet port, the Coax port, and the power input. Furthermore, it also has an ON/OFF switch and a reset button. 

CM1000 from the back

The CM1000 also has five lights in the front. The first one is the ON/OFF light, the second and third one is the down- and up-stream channels. 

The fourth light is for if the modem is online or not, while the last is for the Ethernet port. 

Some modems have a problem with the lights being too strong, like the Arris SB8200. This makes them very visible, especially at night.

But the CM1000 does not have that problem, which is a plus in the design. 

Compatibility – 5.0

I can never 100% guarantee that a modem will work for you. Because I can’t test every single ISP across the entire country.

Nevertheless, I have done hours of research for what modems are approved for what ISP when creating the approved modems hub

So, I have a good idea of which modems should work where. Thus, here are all the ISPs that have approved the CM1000 (ISP it should work for).

Approved for

  • Armstrong
  • Atlantic Broadband
  • GCI
  • Comcast Xfinity
  • Charter Spectrum
  • Cox
  • Grande
  • Mediacom
  • Midco
  • Suddenlink (be careful on slower internet plans)
  • WOW
  • Sparklight
  • Optimum
  • RCN
  • Wave

As you can see, there is a lot of them. 

This is because the Netgear CM1000 is the most approved cable modem on the market. This makes it a good option if your ISP is unclear what modem will work for you. 

Setup – 4.6

CM1000 Setup

The Setup for the CM1000 went smooth and easy. It comes with simple instructions that are very easy to follow. 

The biggest problem with the setup is likely your ISP, which sometimes can be slow to activate the modem. 

Here is a short summary of how you set up the CM1000: [2]

  1. Connect the Coax cable and the power cord, then turn on the modem. 
  2. Wait for the fourth light to turn green. This might take up to 10 minutes.
  3. Then connect the modem either to a computer or a router. If you connect it to a router, connect a device to the router for activation.  
  4. The activation of the modem depends on your ISP. But most often, you can open any browser and get redirected to a self-activation page. There you need to enter the device’s MAC ID (found on the bottom of the modem). You can also call your ISP to activate the modem.

Note that the coax cable is not included with the modem, but the power cable and ethernet cable are. 

What comes with the CM1000
What the CM1000 comes with

Furthermore, you can also access the modem by entering http://192.168.100.1/ in any browser. 

This will give you access to things like event logs and custom settings. For most, however, it’s not that useful. Moreover, it’s pretty slow to work in. 

For more info on the Web Manager page, click here

Value – 4.0

The Netgear CM1000 is not the best modem for value for the price. 

This is due to what we previously talked about – the 1-Gig Ethernet port, which limits the max speed of the modem support to 1000 Mbps. 

And when there exist alternatives with similar costs (depends from week to week), I simply can’t rate it higher. 

The Netgear CM1000 does, however, have some strengths. The biggest one is how universal and used it is. 

This has led the modem to be approved by every single major ISP. So if you want to be sure that a modem will work for you, it is a great option.

A further note about the value is that it’s not sure that you served best by a DOCSIS 3.1 modem. Because for some, it might be excessive.

The biggest strength of DOCSIS 3.1 is that it makes the cable modem future-proof. But, if you are not planning to have cable internet in the future, it might be a waste. [3]

Because DOCSIS 3.1 is only necessary if you have a Gigabit plan or your ISP requires it (like Midco and Mediacom). 

If neither of these is the case, and you’re switching fiber in a year or less, a slower DOCSIS 3.0 modem is likely a better option. 

Check out the alternatives for some options. 

Netgear CM1000 Reviews

After reading what feels like hundreds of reviews of this modem, I can confidently say that the overwhelming is positive. 

Compared to other models I have reviewed, it felt like the CM1000 had fewer defect units, with a lot fewer angry comments about it not working. But I have no way of verifying this.

However, I did notice that compared to Arris or Motorola, Netgear has a way more bothersome return system and worse support. 

Because Netgear only offers 90-days of free support and a 1-year warranty. Compared to Motorola’s and Arris’s 2-year warranty and unlimited support. 

This left some people very angry when they didn’t feel they got the help they should have gotten. 

Alternatives

As previously stated, I don’t think the Netgear CM1000 is the best DOCSIS 3.1 modem out there. So, here are some alternatives that might fit you better.

Arris Surfboard SB8200
Source: Surfboard.com

Arris Surfboard SB8200 - Similar Price, Better Performance

The SB8200 is also a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, but instead of having a single ethernet port like the CM1000, it has two ports. These ports support Port Boding, which makes the modem compatible with internet plans up to 2000 Mbps.
Netgear CM2000
Source: Netgear.com

Netgear CM2000 - Same Brand, But Faster

A faster option to the CM1000 is the CM2000. Instead of having a single 1-Gig port, the CM2000 has a 2.5-Gig port. This enables the modem to support internet plans up to 2500 Mbps. A perfect modem if you really want to future-proof your internet.
Netgear CM600
Source: Netgear.com

Netgear CM600 - Slower But Cheaper

If you find the CM1000 excessive for your circumstances, consider the Netgear CM600. It’s a DOCSIS 3.0 modem with 24×8 channels. This makes it support internet plans up to around 600 Mbps (it differs from every ISP). The CM600 is not future-proof but will cost you less in the short term.

Bottom Line

The Netgear CM1000 is a fast, future-proof cable modem approved for every major cable internet provider. 

This makes it a good option if you just want something fast that works, but if you are looking for value for the money, there are some better options (see the alternatives). 

Furthermore, for some, a slower option might serve you better.

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2 thoughts on “Netgear CM1000 Review”

  1. Arris Surfboard SB8200 – I am looking at going with Blue Ridge Cable but probably only getting 500 MBPS for now. I want something that will be able to handle higher speeds in the future. Will this modem work or is it an overkill? Also, what secure router would you recommend to go with this modem? I am looking at TP Link Deco 20 or do you have another choice? My house is around 2800 sq ft in size

    Reply
    • Hi Kevin,

      The Arris Surfboard SB8200 is a good option if you want to future-proof your modem. Just make sure it will work for you, as it’s not on Blue Ridge approved modems list. I would contact and ask them to make sure. You can also read my review on the SB8200 if you want to learn more about it.

      For the router, I think the TP-Link Deco AX20 will do. I haven’t tested it yet, but from what I know, it’s pretty fast and should be able to deliver you around 500 Mbps across your entire home.

      Security-wise, I think TP-Link generally does a pretty good job so I wouldn’t worry too much. Just make sure to change the default password, and you should be secure.

      Reply

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