Motorola SURFboard SB5101U DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem

by Motorola

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 2.7 x 10.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B002M3SHXA
• Item model number: SB5101U
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (351 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #35 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics)
  • #2 in Electronics > Outlet
  • #3 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Networking Products > Modems
• Date first available at Amazon.com: September 14, 2004

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

Enjoy a super-fast broadband connection with an Environmentally-Friendly Cable Modem.
Get more out of your time online and feel good about using a Green cable modem. Surf the Web and view pages quickly, download video with blazing speed and play online games faster than your opponents with this SURFboard cable modem. Up to 100 times faster than traditional dial-up. No dialing up – no phone line required. Easy-to-install and simple-to-use

Motorola SURFboard® SB5101U Cable Modem

Easy to Install, Activate, and Use.

Product Features

Environmentally-Friendly

All packaging products are made from recycled materials

The shipping carton is made of recycled corrugated material

100% of package contents is created from recycled materials

Energy Star Compliant

Smaller Power Supply (PWB) for reduced environmental impact

USB and Ethernet connectivity to help ensure compatibility with almost any PC or Mac network-ready system

Supports up to 63 users (with additional networking hardware; not included)

No telephone lines needed; always on, always connected

10/100Base-T Ethernet for blazing speed; capable of downloading at speeds up to 100 times faster than a standard 28.8Kbps analog phone modem

High-Speed Internet is as Easy as 1,2,3

Additional Features

• Downstream data speeds up to 38 Mbps
• Upstream data speeds up to 30 Mbps
• Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) Ready - Next-generation Internet Protocol
• Front-panel status LEDs and user-friendly online diagnostics page for quick and easy troubleshooting
• Compatible with Windows, Macintosh and Unix systems
• Integrated DOCSIS 2.0 A-TDMA and S-CDMA technology; backwards compatible with existing DOCSIS 1.0 and 1.1 systems
• Remote configuration and monitoring from the headend using SNMP and TFTP
• Includes USB and Ethernet cables, power adapter and installation CD-ROM
• Note: Ask your cable company if they support DOCSIS cable modems. DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) is the industry standard for cable-based Internet access service.
• 2-year limited warranty

What’s in the Box
Inside the Box - Motorola SB5101U SURFboard Cable Modem,Installation CD-ROM with USB drivers,Power,adapter,Ethernet cable,Quick Start Guide,Warranty card

Product Description

The SURFboard SB5101U Cable Modem DOCSIS 2.0 is designed for easy set-up via USB or Ethernet. Troubleshooting is a breeze too, thanks to front panel status indicator LEDs and an online diagnostics page. Compatible with Windows, Mac, more. Note: Ask your cable company if they support DOCSIS cable modems. DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) is the industry standard for cable-based Internet access service.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

125 of 132 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comcast won't activate! EDIT: Use Chat Support to Activate!, January 8, 2011

By 

Angle Side Side - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Motorola SURFboard SB5101U DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem (Personal Computers)

After being placed on hold for 10 minutes with technical support, I was informed that Comcast wouldn't activate it because I didn't buy it from an "authorized retailer". The interesting part is that Best Buy is the ONLY authorized retailer. I asked the tech support rep if it's an issue of trust with the Motorola brand (counterfeiting, shoddy equipment, etc...) and he just towed the company line and said, "sir, I'm sorry, but you need to purchase this from Best Buy and not Amazon.com". I was flabbergasted.

As of the writing of this review, Best Buy is offering this same modem for $30 more than Amazon, and Comcast just raised their modem rental fees from $5 to $6.61 in my area. I can't help but wonder what kind of profit sharing setup they've got behind the scenes. This feels like marketplace manipulation, collusion, or some other anti-trust lawsuit waiting to happen.

I'll probably try to call back in another day or two and claim that I bought it from Best Buy. Maybe I caught a tech support rep on a bad day. If not, this modem is getting returned. I just wish Comcast didn't have a monopoly over my cable/internet service -- I'd drop them in a heartbeat.

EDIT: As posted below, I was able to successfully activate the modem via Comcast's Online Chat Support.

57 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Buy!, May 29, 2010

By 

Nean (Houston, TX) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Motorola SURFboard SB5101U DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem (Personal Computers)

This modem was economical and very easy to install. I simply disconnected my old Comcast modem, connected my new Motorola Surfboard modem, and called Comcast to give them my MAC ID (located on the modem). Within five minutes I was connected to the internet with the same great speed!

58 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plug-and-Play easy, Energy Star rated Power Adaptor, February 6, 2010

By 

C. Kelly (Mobile, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Motorola SURFboard SB5101U DOCSIS 2.0 Cable Modem (Personal Computers)

Works great. Easy, hassle-free setup, no software install required, just connect the cables, call your cable company to register the modem over the phone and you're done.

This is the only Energy Star rated cable modem I could find. Power adaptor is compact and electronic--not a brick-- so it doesn't get hot or waste energy.