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It’s no secret that you can save a bunch of money by buying your own Cox compatible modem and router instead of renting the flawed TG1682 “Panoramic WiFi Modem” for $12.00 a month. The approved replacement increases your performance and pays for itself in the long run. Otherwise, you’re stuck renting forever. But with so many options out there, what Cox modem and router should you buy?
Here are our best choices for each situation with Cox Communications for replacing the panoramic wifi with your own approved modem and router.
Best Panoramic WiFi Gateway Replacement
Why Choose an All In One Gateway Modem? | Easiest Option For Cox Gigablast, Single Gateway Device.
Powerful wireless AC, great for a normal to a large house, single device, fewer wires, supreme coverage, good for non-power users who just want the easiest option for Cox Panoramic WiFi.
If you do not need a Gigabit modem and want to save money, you have a cheaper gateway shown in this comparison chart below.
Rank | 1st | 2nd | 3rd |
---|---|---|---|
Brand | Netgear | Netgear | ARRIS |
Model | C7800 | C7000 | TG1682 |
Cable Type | DOCSIS 3.1 | DOCSIS 3.0 | DOCSIS 3.0 |
Combo Modem | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Download Speed | 2 Gbps | 400 Mbps | 300 Mbps |
WiFi Router | AC3200 | AC1900 | AC1750 |
CPU Chip | 1.5 GHz | 1.6 GHz | 1.2 GHz |
Gig Ethernet Ports | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Channels | 32×8 | 24×8 | 24×8 |
Data Sheet | Source | Source | Source |
Amazon | Price | Price | Rent $12.00 from Cox |
Important Note Regarding Cox Voice Modems: None of these modems are compatible with Cox Voice packages. They have limited your options in this field, and you must use a Cox-provided modem for the voice. However, that does not mean you are stuck using their router. You may use a modem you rent from them with your own WiFi router from the list in the next section.
Best Stand Alone Router for Cox WiFI
Newest Wireless AX Router Technology Amazon
Remember, you asked for the best. That means DOCSIS 3.1 + Wireless AX. If you want a cheaper router, view this router buying guide which is based on house size.
While the All-in-One Router Gateways are stronger than the Panoramic WiFi modem issued by Cox, they are still not the strongest routers available on the market today. In order to have the strongest possible router, you will need to pick a stand-alone modem from the next list and pair it with a Wireless AX Router. This is our preferred method because it allows for 2 devices with more power.
Strongest? Wireless AX is here. The latest and newest in Wi-Fi standards. Cutting-edge hardware offers the best possible performance. With a full-on Quad-Core 1.8GHz CPU to handle a plethora of connected streaming devices simultaneously.
Easy to use for a beginner yet full of advanced options for a techie. USB 3.0 Ports for network storage and FTP access. +more.
While this is our top choice and the most practical for most situations, some people have much larger houses(mansions), and a standard router will not provide ample coverage.
Router for a Mansion? This is where Wireless Mesh comes in. Cox’s Panoramic WiFi Pods use the wireless mesh system but at a much poorer performance level. You’ll want the top of the line, the best wireless mesh.
Best Approved Cox Modems
As mentioned above, if you truly want the best home wireless network, you will need a separate modem and router. The Wireless-AX and a Gigablast modem. And now for modems approved for Cox. This can be the most confusing topic for many because there are so many price points, performance tiers, and internet packages. No worries, though, We break it down in these easy-to-read visual charts for you.
Modem Speed Tiers
Plan Name | Starter | Essential | Preferred | Ultimate | Gigablast |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Download Speed | 10 Mbps | 30 Mbps | 150 Mbps | 300 Mbps | 940 Mbps |
Upload Speed | 1 Mbps | 3 Mbps | 10 Mbps | 30 Mbps | 35 Mbps |
Best Modem | CM500 | CM600 | CM1200 |
The first step in choosing an approved modem is knowing how fast your internet is. Cox has several speed tiers at different price points. When buying a modem, there is no need to buy a modem approved for a higher speed if you never plan on upgrading. You would, however, buy a higher-rated modem if you plan on upgrading to Gigablast in the future.
Gigablast DOCSIS 3.1 Modem
If you want the absolute best possible modem out on the market, you must get the brand new DOCSIS 3.1 modem which is ready for Gigabit speeds, and the Cox Gigablast package. It will be standard someday, so now is the time. Do not worry; it’ll be a long time before DOCSIS 3.1 goes away, so you do not have to worry about your equipment becoming outdated for a decade. This, with a Wireless-AX router or Wireless Mesh system, will outperform the Cox Panoramic WiFi issued modem on all levels.
Cheaper DOCSIS 3.0 Replacement Modem:
These modems are fine. In fact, perfect if you never plan on upgrading to Gigablast, the CM500 is an all-around great modem for any normal Cox package.
All modems we listed are supported. List of Cox supported modems.
TG1682 Panoramic WiFi Gateway Review
Warning: The TG1682 is actually on the bad modem list. Why is that? Because it has a flawed Puma 6 chip. This reason alone should be the reason you do not go with the Cox-issued Panoramic WiFi modem.
What is “Panoramic WiFi“? It is just a fancy term or way for Cox to brand equipment that you can purchase on your own. They do this so you have to pay them an extra $12.00 a month. That comes out to $144.00 a year.
Cox uses scare tactics and tries to convince you that if you buy your own modem, it will become obsolete. They claim if you pay to rent theirs, they will keep you up to date. The truth is, if you buy a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, it will not be obsolete for possibly over a decade, and you will save a lot of money in the long run by not having to pay the extra rental fees. Have they ever even contacted you and tried to give you a free upgrade replacement modem? No, it’s not going to happen.
When you own your equipment, you may use it wherever you move in the future. So if you move to a Comcast region, you’ll still have your own modem and router.
The bottom should be clear by now. In no universe should you pay Cox to rent an ARRIS TG1682 modem when you know it has a bad chip. You know you can buy your own supported modem or gateway to save money in the long run while getting optimal performance.
Other Panoramic WiFi Modems That Cox Uses
You may rent a few other options from COX at a monthly fee. It is still recommended that you buy your own replacement from the list above.
- Technicolor CGM4141 – DCOSIS 3.1 Wireless AC 32×8 Panoramic WiFi Modem Combo
- Technicolor CGM4331 – DOCSIS 3.1 Panoramic WiFi Modem Combo
- Arris TG2472 – DOCSIS 3.0 Wireless AC 24×8 Panoramic WiFi Modem
- ARRIS TM3402 – DOCSIS 3.0 NO Wireless Modem Only 32×8
Cox Approved Modem Summary
Now you know, hands down no question, to save money and get faster internet speeds, you have to buy a new DOCSIS 3.1 modem. You will save thousands of dollars over time. Assuming you’ll continue to have the internet in your home.
As for our personal opinion on Cox as an ISP, we prefer them. I have worked for DirecTV, Comcast, and AT&T. All horrible places to work(AT&T is the worst) and terrible massive corporations price-gouging customers and underpaying their employees. But you must choose one and Cox has the fastest internet at the best price range. Could it be cheaper? Heck yes, but that is not an option. The bottom line is cable is a much better option than DSL. I never have outages with Cox, and I never need to reboot my modem or router.
Good luck, please share and feel free to ask questions below!
Sources:
- What is Cox Panoramic WiFi? – Explanation
- What modem does Cox Panoramic WiFi use? – TG1682 | Data Sheet | User Guide
- Netgear WiFi Modem – C7000 | C7800
- Cox Speed Tiers – Plans