Cisco-Linksys BEFCMU10 Ethernet Cable Modem

by Cisco

Product Details

Product Manual [4.10mb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 8 x 2 x 6 inches ; 3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005T6GZ
• Item model number: BEFCMU10
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (255 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #12,999 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #99 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Networking Products > Modems
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 1, 2001

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Are you ready to step up to high-speed broadband Internet? The EtherFast cable modem with USB and Ethernet connection from Linksys provides you with the perfect solution for a fast and easy Internet connection.

Now you can make the most of the Internet and cruise the Web at speeds you never imagined possible. Cable-modem Internet service means no more waiting for lagging downloads--even the most graphic-intensive Web pages load in seconds.

And if you're looking for convenience and affordability, the EtherFast cable modem with USB really delivers. Installation is quick and easy. The plug-and-play EtherFast cable modem with USB connects directly to any USB-ready PC--just plug it in and you're ready to surf the Internet. Or connect it to your LAN using a router and share that speed with everyone on your network.

So if you're ready to enjoy broadband Internet speed, then you're ready for the EtherFast cable modem with USB and Ethernet connection from Linksys. It's the easiest and most affordable way to harness the full potential of the Internet.

Features:

• Easy installation--one phone call to your Internet service provider completes the setup
• "Always on" connection eliminates worries about busy signals and time-outs
• Much faster downloads and uploads than dial-up Internet connections
• Seamlessly compatible with Linksys routers

Product Description

If you’re tired of the slow & frustrating performance of 56k modems & dial-up Internet providers, then your salvation is here in the form of the Linksys BEFCMU10 EtherFast Cable Modem. With a cable modem you are always connected to the Internet & you will experience speeds many times that of standard 56k modems. And it’s easy to use. Just plug the plug-and-play device into any USB port on your PC. You can even plug it into your Ethernet port or an optional Linksys Router for easy Internet sharing through the home.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

176 of 186 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars WORKS WELL WITH AT&T BROADBAND, April 24, 2002

By 

G. J. Bruce "gjbruce" (Rowlett, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys BEFCMU10 Ethernet Cable Modem (Personal Computers)

First I need to thank all of you guys who gave the Linksys cable modem 4 and 5 stars. If it had not been for your reviews I would have sent this great modem back to Amazon.

I spent 6 hours trying to get this modem working, getting help from 4 different techs at AT&T. They told me that this modem was bad and that the cable light needed to stay on and that the Linksys modem would not register with their system. They told me I needed to send it back and get another one. {ALL FALSE} So finally I told them to connect my (their) old modem back up. Their modem worked fine.

As I was getting ready to pack my new Linksys modem up to send it back to Amazon. I decided to try it one more time. Following the exact sequence they used to connect their modem. And would you believe it? It works!!!

My problems:
1. bad tech support.
2. must remove router to register modem.
3. given wrong registration address. (MOST IMPORTANT)
4. computer must be turned off before you turn on modem.

Fool proof procedure to be up and running in 10 minutes:

1. Turn computer off.
2. If you have a router, take it out of the loop. connect directly from your computer to the modem thru the ethernet port.
3. Connect the cable.
4. turn on power to the Linksys modem, allow it to boot up.
5. turn on your computer
6. go to the registration page to register your modem. You MUST do this twice, for some reason it does not work the first time. MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT ADDRESS FROM AT&T. They failed to tell me I needed to use "https://" instead of "http://" it won't work without the "s"
enter your account # and registration #.
7. You should be working. Reconnect your router.

41 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Working great with Comcast, April 1, 2005

By 

B. Greene "motophotoman" (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys BEFCMU10 Ethernet Cable Modem (Personal Computers)

After discovering our DSL connection had been degraded by new construction in the area it was time to try cable. We were near the limit for DSL any way but then, after some new construction increased our loop length, our DSL service was downgraded to 384k (download). A quick check of monthly service fees and it was clear cable modem service was a better deal. For us, cable service is $20 a month less and, as it turns out, the speed of cable is almost 10x faster.

Like other reviewers I decided to purchase a modem instead of rent. I checked the Comcast list of approved modems and noticed that this Linksys BEFCMU10 was on the list. I made sure to purchase a V3 model. I liked the idea of being able to stack it with my Linksys wireless router. I read elsewhere that some have had compatibility problems with other Linksys products but I had no such problems.

After calling Comcast to give them the MAC address and the serial number (both clearly printed on the modem's underside label) I was up and running. I had zero problems getting this modem connected and working.

I elected to self install with Comcast which means they send you a kit that contains a splitter to add to your home's cable input and a couple of cables. It is important with all cable modems to provide them with the strongest signal strength possible. This means you need to install the modem with nothing else "ahead" of it on the cable coming into your house. This means you should install the splitter as close to the source (where it comes into your house) as possible. If signal strength becomes an issue you can purchase signal amplifiers to boost your video signal to your TV's, etc., but a decent one with adjustable gain costs as much or more than this modem.

With a good strong signal this modem works perfectly. It stacks neatly onto an existing Linksys router too. The build quality is typical Linksys which I consider quite good for comsumer level gear. My only regret is that we did not switch sooner.

57 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Be careful when purchasing, December 18, 2005

By 

Alan Krueger (Minnesota, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cisco-Linksys BEFCMU10 Ethernet Cable Modem (Personal Computers)

Make sure you get a BEFCMU10 v3 ***NOT*** the v2. There is a well-document problem with the v2 units below a certain firmware level, and Linksys refuses to acknowledge the problem. Search for "BEFCMU10 lockup" in your favorite search engine. Worse, since it's a DOCSIS cable modem, it has to receive updates from your cable provider and many of them refuse to acknowledge this, telling you to talk to the hardware vendor.

This unit works well unless you exceed some traffic threshold. If you use this unit with a broadband router and have multiple computers in your house, you use peer-to-peer file sharing programs, you try to download email while updating your computer, etc., the modem will lock up and need to be rebooted.

Some posters online have been able to get both Linksys and their cable provider to coorperate and get them the updated firmware, but many others can't. I got my cable provider to acknowledge that they needed to provide me with the firmware, but Linksys refused to acknowledge there was a problem, even when pointing out online accounts of this problem and them successfully getting updates.