Are you going to save money if you buy a third-party modem compatible with Atlantic Broadband? Will you get better performance? What modem to buy and what to look for? This article will give you answers to all those questions. We will analyze the costs and potential savings, discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using your own Atlantic Broadband approved modem, list the most important characteristics to look for, and give you some suggestions. Let’s start with some basic info about Atlantic Broadband.
CONTENTS
- Short Overview of Atlantic Broadband Internet Service
- Am I Allowed to Use My Own Modem with Atlantic Broadband?
- Should I Use My Own Atlantic Broadband Approved Modem? What Are the Benefits?
- Am I Going to Lose Some Privileges or Services if I Decide to Use My Own Atlantic Broadband Approved Modem?
- What to Look for When Buying an Atlantic Broadband Approved Modem?
- Best Atlantic Broadband Approved Modems
- 1. Best Under $100 – ARRIS SURFboard SB6190
- 2. Best Under $150 – Motorola MB8600
- 3. Best Under $200 – NETGEAR CM2000
- Best Atlantic Broadband Approved Gateways
- 4. Best Under $200 – NETGEAR Nighthawk C7000
- 5. Best Under $300 – ARRIS SURFboard SBG8300
- 6. Best overall – NETGEAR CAX80
- FAQs
Short Overview of Atlantic Broadband Internet Service
Atlantic Broadband is a small internet provider that operates across the East Coast.
Like other small internet providers (RCN, for example), Atlantic Broadband has its advantages over large ISPs. The two most important ones are more affordable prices and unlimited data plans.
Internet coverage
Atlantic Broadband is a cable internet provider. It’s available in 11 states and has the best coverage in Florida, Pennsylvania, and Mississippi. Atlantic Broadband has more than 450,000 customers. Atlantic Broadband internet, cable TV, and digital phone services are available to almost 2 million people.
Atlantic Broadband cable internet coverage (source – broadbandnow)
Atlantic Broadband has a fiber network, too. However, their fiber internet is available to businesses (not residential subscribers).
Atlantic Broadband fiber coverage – reserved for businesses (source – broadbandnow)
Internet plans and prices
Atlantic Broadband offers very competitive internet plans and promotional prices. Their internet plans range from 50 Mbps (Basic Internet) to 1 Gbps (Unlimited GigaFast).
Atlantic Broadband promotional offers
The above-mentioned prices apply only to those who opt for paperless billing and Autopay. If you don’t want to allow the Autopay option, you will have to pay an additional $10/month.
One thing you should always have in mind when choosing your ISP is that promotional prices don’t last forever. In most cases, you will get a one-year promotion. It’s only 6 months with Atlantic Broadband. After the promotional period, the prices will be increased. The Basic plan will cost you $60/month, while the GigaFast plan will cost you $110/month.
| Plan | Promotional prices | Prices after 6 months |
| Basic – 50 Mbps / 2 Mbps | $34.99 | $59.99 |
| Fast – 100 Mbps / 10 Mbps | $39.99 | $74.99 |
| UltraFast – 400 Mbps / 10 Mbps | $39.99 | $89.99 |
| GigaFast 1 Gig / 50 Mbps | $59.99 | $109.99 |
Contract details
While you can get some additional discount if you sign a contract, you don’t have to sign it and you can pay your bills on a month-to-month basis. This is pretty much standard practice these days – most ISPs offer internet plans without a contract. The most important advantage of this practice is that you don’t have to pay early termination fees if you have to cancel your service. Those fees can be pretty high so, unless you are absolutely certain that you’re not going to move anywhere in the next year or two, it’s smarter not to sign a long-term agreement.
Data caps
For heavy internet users, data caps are the biggest nightmare. Many major ISPs have already imposed data caps (AT&T, Xfinity, CenturyLink, Cox, Suddenlink). Others have imposed data caps for some (but not all) internet plans. Some providers will allow you to pay extra for the unlimited plan. Others don’t even offer unlimited plans and will charge you overage fees if you exceed the limit (usually $10 per 50 GB).
One thing small ISPs are known and praised for is the lack of data caps (at least for now). All Atlantic Broadband internet plans come without data caps. So, you can relax and forget about overage fees.
Note: It is worth mentioning that Atlantic Broadband tried to experiment with data caps a few months ago. They imposed a 200 GB data cap on their Basic Internet plan (50 Mbps), while the other plans were unlimited. It’s pretty obvious that Atlantic Broadband didn’t impose this cap because of some kind of congestion or whatever, but to push customers to choose more expensive plans. Luckily, Atlantic Broadband quickly gave up on this experiment.
Modem rental policy
Some things all internet providers, large and small, have in common are modem rental fees. Almost all providers charge $10-$15/month for the modem/gateway. Atlantic Broadband charges an $11 monthly fee for its gateway.
To put things in perspective, the cumulated fee you will pay in 12 months is $132. As you probably know, ISPs don’t upgrade their equipment every year (unless you decide to upgrade your internet plan). They usually renew modems/gateways every 3-5 years. In three years, you will spend $396 (or $660 in 5 years) just on the modem fees. And you will still have to return the modem if you decide to cancel your plan.
Additional services
Internet providers often offer some additional equipment (like gaming routers or mesh extenders) for an additional fee. Atlantic Broadband has its ‘wi-fi your way’ service. This service includes two SuperPods powered by Plume. These pods use cloud-based AI technology to extend your wi-fi coverage. The SuperPods come with the wi-fi your way app. You can use this app to install SuperPods, but also to monitor your network, adjust parental settings, grant or restrict access to your wi-fi. The Pods also come with cyber security and ad-blocking software.
If you decide to rent the modem from Atlantic Broadband, you will get two SuperPods for free (included in the modem fee). Every additional SuperPod will cost you $5/month.
Most people won’t need more than two Pods, but if you live in a large home (like 2,500 ft2 or larger), you may need additional Pods. One SuperPod will cover up to 1,500 ft2.
Customer satisfaction
The majority of Atlantic Broadband internet subscribers are quite happy with the service. The internet is reliable, the speeds are consistent, and the outages are rare (and even when they happen, the internet is usually back within an hour). Also, the equipment that Atlantic Broadband leases to its customers is pretty good and delivers reliable performance.
The prices are pretty much on par with other internet providers, so we can’t say that they are much better than other ISPs.
Atlantic Broadband customer service has pretty bad reviews. Most customers complained about waiting times (in some areas, it takes more than an hour for a representative to pick up). Some customers have also stated that the representatives were rude and ‘not willing to help’. We were not surprised by these customer reviews since many other internet providers (Frontier, Suddenlink, Optimum) have a similar reputation. We are not trying to say that having bad customer service is normal or acceptable – we are just saying that it’s common. We can’t say that Atlantic Broadband is significantly worse (or better) than others.
Am I Allowed to Use My Own Modem with Atlantic Broadband?
Yes, you are. Since the introduction of the Television Viewer Protection Act in 2019, internet service providers are not allowed to force you to rent their equipment. Instead, you can buy your own. Atlantic Broadband publishes a list (or rather lists) of approved modems for its internet service. We’ve been able to find two different lists of Atlantic Broadband approved modems and gateways on the ABB website – one with older models (DOCSIS 2.0 and DOCSIS 3.0 modems) and the other, shorter list, with newer DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 3.1 approved modems and gateways.
The list of Atlantic Broadband approved modems (source – Atlantic Broadband)
Still, the good news is that you can buy your own modem and that you don’t have to pay $11 every month.
If you want better coverage and you like those SuperPods that come with Atlantic Broadband modem, you can buy them directly from Plume. The price for Pods that come with the ABB modem is $100 per pod, but you can also buy more capable SuperPods with WiFi6 ($159 per pod). Or you can try some other mesh system like NETGEAR Orbi, Google Nest, Amazon eero, Linksys Velop, etc.
Should I Use My Own Atlantic Broadband Approved Modem? What Are the Benefits?
There are two major advantages of buying your own Atlantic Broadband approved modem –money savings and performance improvement.
The math is simple – if we assume that your ISP upgrades your modem every three years (which is rarely the case), then you can save a lot of money if you buy the equipment on your own.
In those three years, you would have to spend $396 just on modem rental fees. If you are subscribed to Basic Internet or Unlimited Fast (or even UltraFast), you can get a very good DOCSIS 3.0 modem for $100-$150 and a nice WiFi5 router for $150 or less. If you’re living in a small apartment or a moderately large house (1,500-2,000 ft2), you won’t even need additional extenders. So, you can get everything you need for $300 or less and save $100.
The best thing is – you don’t have to use the equipment for just three years. Modems, routers, and gateways can last more than that, even more than 5 years. So, unless you have to buy new equipment that supports higher speeds, you can keep using the old one until it breaks and make huge savings. Spending $300 on a modem (and a router) compatible with Atlantic Broadband and using them for 5 years, will save you $364. When you put everything on paper, it becomes obvious that using third-party equipment is a more cost-efficient option than renting.
The other advantage that has to be mentioned is improved performance. Regardless of how good the equipment provided by your ISP is, it’s rarely top-of-the-line equipment. It can be modern and up-to-date, but it’s not the best money can buy. If you need that kind of performance (if you need minimal lag for online gaming or perfect wi-fi coverage in every corner of your home), the best way to get it is using your own modem and router.
Am I Going to Lose Some Privileges or Services if I Decide to Use My Own Atlantic Broadband Approved Modem?
The most important thing to be aware of is that you can’t send your complaints to your ISP if there’s a modem-related issue. If the modem breaks or if there’s some kind of malfunction, you can only ask the seller or the manufacturer to replace your unit. If you’re renting and something happens to your modem (excluding physical damage), you will get a new one from your ISP for free.
One more thing that you should be aware of is that buying a modem on your own is a viable option if you’re subscribed to internet only. If you’re also subscribed to a digital phone service, there’s no guarantee that it will work, even if you buy a voice gateway (or EMTA VoIP modem).
What to Look for When Buying an Atlantic Broadband Approved Modem?
The most important thing is to look for a cable modem because Atlantic Broadband is a cable internet provider. The next thing you should be aware of is the difference between DOCSIS 3.0 and DOCSIS 3.1 modems. DOCSIS 3.1 is more capable, supports higher speeds (only DOCSIS 3.1 supports Gig plans), but it’s also pricier. If you have enough money, go for a DOCSIS 3.1 modem.
DOCSIS 3.0 modems will support speeds up to 600 Mbps (or up to 800 Mbps). However, this doesn’t apply to all DOCSIS 3.0 modems. That’s why you also have to pay attention to channel bonding if you’re buying a DOCSIS 3.0 modem. You have to check how many downlink and uplink channels the modem has. DOCSIS 3.0 modems with more channels will support higher speeds. The best options when it comes to DOCSIS 3.0 modems are those that feature 32×8 and 24×8 channel bonding.
Cheaper plans (like Basic Internet and Unlimited Fast) may not require 24 or 32 downlink channels, but we still recommend getting a 24×8 or 32×8 DOCSIS 3.0 modem. Internet providers will, from time to time, upgrade your speeds, and your modem may not be able to support those speeds if you buy the cheapest 16×4 DOCSIS 3.0 modem.
If you’ve finally decided to buy your own modem and you need some suggestions for your internet plan, here’s our selection of the best Atlantic Broadband approved modems with router recommendations. If you’re looking for more compact solution, scroll down and check out our choice of best gateways compatible with Atlantic Broadband.
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Best Atlantic Broadband Approved Modems
1. Best Under $100 – ARRIS SURFboard SB6190
Router Recommendation: TP-Link Archer A7
Compatible with Atlantic Broadband internet plans up to Unlimited UltraFast (400 Mbps)
Atlantic Broadband customers had only compliments for this budget-friendly modem. SB6190 is affordable, reliable, and easy to use. The installation is a breeze. You just have to contact ABB customer support and ask the representative to activate your modem.
SB6190 is a DOCSIS 3.0 modem. It has 32 downlink and 8 uplink bonded channels. According to the specs, SB6190 supports speeds up to 1.4 Gbps, but it’s not recommended for internet plans higher than 600 Mbps. The modem is approved by most internet providers in the US (Spectrum, xFinity, Cox, etc.). SB6190 will work with any operating system. The unit has one Gigabit Ethernet port. It doesn’t have phone ports and is not compatible with digital phone service.
Our recommended router is TP-Link Archer A7. It’s a budget-friendly but quite capable unit. This is a dual-band WiFi5 modem. The unit has three external antennas and provides great coverage for small apartments and medium-sized homes (up to 2,000 ft2). A7 is classified as AC1750 – this means that it can achieve speeds up to 1750 Mbps. That is the max combined speed on both bands. The max speed on 2.4G is 450 Mbps. You will get 1,300 Mbps over 5G.
The router has 4 Gigabit LAN ports and a USB port for connecting external storage or a printer. It supports all the most common security features and protocols. Various settings can be controlled with the TP-Link’s Tether app. If you need to improve coverage, you can combine A7 with TP-Link’s OneMesh range extenders.
2. Best Under $150 – Motorola MB8600
Router Recommendation: Motorola MR2600
Compatible with Atlantic Broadband internet plans up to Unlimited GigaFast
MB8600 is the only Motorola modem listed on the Atlantic Broadband list of approved cable modems. It’s one of the most popular and highest-rated modems on the market. Most Atlantic Broadband customers had no problems installing it. According to the reviews, the performance of this unit exceeds the price tag and all the expectations. That’s probably the reason why it’s so popular.
MB8600 is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem. Like all the other DOCSIS 3.1 modems, it’s also compatible with DOCSIS 3.0 32×8. If you’re looking for a unit that doesn’t use Intel Puma chipset, you will also be happy to know that MB8600 uses a Broadcom chipset. The unit can handle the highest speeds (1Gig plans) and is approved by most cable internet providers in the US. It has only one Gigabit Ethernet port.
Our recommended router is budget-friendly MR2600. Just like the modem, the router is made by Motorola. It’s a dual-band WiFi5 modem. It has four external antennas and provides great coverage for large homes (2,500-3,000 ft2). The router has four Gigabit LAN ports and a single USB 3.0 port.
The unit is dual-concurrent (it can transmit on both bands simultaneously). It supports MU-MIMO and beamforming. MR2600 is classified as AC2600 (2,600 Mbps is the max combined download speed). 800 Mbps is the max download speed over 2.4 GHz. 1,700+ Mbps is the max speed over 5 GHz.
The unit features all the standard security standards and protocols – DoS attack protection, WPA2-PSK, firewall, etc. You can use the router’s configuration manager to create guest networks and adjust parental settings.
3. Best Under $200 – NETGEAR CM2000
Router Recommendation: NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX120
Compatible with Atlantic Broadband internet plans up to Unlimited GigaFast
NETGEAR CM2000 is one of the most capable cable modems on the market. It’s super easy to use and install.
CM2000 is a DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem. It features 2×2 OFDMA bonded channels and is compatible with DOCSIS 3.0 32×8 channel bonding. It’s approved by most cable internet providers and will work on all operating systems. It has a single 2.5G Ethernet port and can easily handle 1Gig internet speeds. It doesn’t have phone ports and can’t be used for digital phone service.
Our recommended router is NETGEAR Nighthawk RAX120. This is one of the most capable wi-fi routers you can find. It’s a dual-band WiFi6 router. It has only internal antennas (8 in total), but it provides amazing coverage – it can easily cover large areas up to 3,500 ft2.
The router is classified as AX6000. 1,200 Mbps is the max speed over 2.4 GHz. Over 5 GHz, you will get up to 4,800 Mbps. The router is dual-concurrent (transmits on both bands at the same time) and can transmit 12 simultaneous streams.
RAX120 supports all the latest performance-improving technologies including MU-MIMO and beamforming. It supports advanced security protocols (WPA2/WPA2) and guest wi-fi. It features DoS attack protection and firewalls. It also features VPN support and can be controlled with Amazon Alexa.
RAX120 has 4 Gigabit LAN ports (with support for port aggregation), one Multi-Gig port, and two USB 3.0 ports.
The only downside of this router is the price – it costs almost $400. If you are looking for something cheaper, you can try NETGEAR Nighthawk X6S or NETGEAR Nighthawk XR1000 (for gaming). NETGEAR Orbi mesh system is also a viable option.
Best Atlantic Broadband Approved Gateways
4. Best Under $200 – NETGEAR Nighthawk C7000
Compatible with Atlantic Broadband internet plans up to Unlimited UltraFast (400 Mbps)
C7000 is a great option if you are subscribed to those cheaper tiers up to Unlimited UltraFast. It’s DOCSIS 3.0 modem with 24 downlink and 8 uplink bonded channels. The modem is approved not just by ABB, but by most cable providers in the US. It works with all operating systems.
The unit has 4 Gigabit LAN ports and one USB 2.0 port. It has no phone ports and is not compatible with digital phone service.
The gateway has a built-in dual-band WiFi5 router. The router is dual-concurrent. It has no external antennas, but still provides pretty decent coverage (up to 1,500 ft2). The router’s max speed over 2.4G is 600 Mbps. You can get up to 1,300 Mbps over 5G. It can handle up to 30 wireless devices.
The gateway supports all the most common data, routing, and sharing protocols – TCP/IP, Dynamic DNS, DHCP, UPnP, and SMB. It supports WPA2 wireless security protocol. It features DoS attack protection and firewalls. It supports guest network access and parental control settings.
5. Best Under $300 – ARRIS SURFboard SBG8300
Compatible with Atlantic Broadband internet plans up to Unlimited GigaFast
ARRIS SBG8300 is a simple-looking and compact, but quite capable unit compatible with the highest speeds offered by Atlantic Broadband. The gateway is also compatible with numerous other cable internet providers in the US, including major providers like xFinity, Spectrum, and Cox.
SBG8300 has a built-in DOCSIS 3.1 modem (2×2 OFDM channel bonding). It is also compatible with DOCSIS 32×8 channel bonding. The modem is compatible with Windows (Win7 and later versions), Linux, and macOS (10.4 or higher).
Inside SBG8300, there’s a built-in dual-band WiFi5 router. The router can stream on both bands simultaneously (dual-concurrent). 600 Mbps is the max speed over 2.4G, while the max speed on a 5G band is 1,750 Mbps.
The gateway has 4 Gigabit LAN ports. It has no USB ports or phone ports. It comes with the SURFboard Manager app so you can easily set up and monitor your network. The unit is also compatible with Alexa – you just have to add SURFboard skills to it, and you can manage the gateway settings with your voice.
6. Best overall – NETGEAR CAX80
Compatible with Atlantic Broadband internet plans up to Unlimited GigaFast
CAX80 could easily be the best gateway out there. It’s compatible with Atlantic Broadband, but also with numerous other cable internet providers including the major ones like xFinity. The gateway can easily handle Gig speeds over cable.
The modem is DOCSIS 3.1 with two downlink and two uplink OFDM bonded channels. It’s also compatible with 32×8 DOCSIS 3.0.
The router inside this gateway is a dual-band WiFi6 router. It’s classified as AX6000 – the max supported speed on the 2.4G band is 1,150 Mbps. You can get up to 4,850 Mbps on 5G. The router can transmit 8 streams simultaneously and can handle 40+ devices. Although it has no external antennas, the gateway provides impressive coverage – up to 3,000 ft2.
The gateway has one 2.5G port, 4 Gigabit LAN ports (with Link Aggregation support), and a single USB 3.0 port.
The unit comes with the Nighthawk app for network monitoring and adjustments. You will also get a one—month free trial for the NETGEAR Armor cyber security software.
This concludes our list of the best Atlantic Broadband approved modems. Hopefully, this article helped you find the best modem for your budget and your internet plan, or at least gave you the right info on what to look for. If there are some unanswered questions, you can always leave us a message in the comment section below and we will answer promptly.
FAQs
Q: Can I use any modem and router with Atlantic Broadband?
A: The answer is no. You will have to look for the modem and router that support your speeds. DOCSIS 3.0 modem is simply unable to deliver Gig speeds – for that, you need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem. Theoretically, any wi-fi router will create a wi-fi network, and you’ll be able to connect to your wi-fi and surf the internet, but you won’t get speeds that you are paying for if the router doesn’t support your internet plan.
Q: Is NETGEAR CM1000 compatible with Atlantic Broadband?
A: NETGEAR CM1000 is approved by Atlantic Broadband and is compatible with their cable internet service. Besides CM1000, you have a few more Atlantic Broadband approved modems made by NETGEAR – CM1200, C7800, CAX80, CM2000.
Q: Can any modem work with any router?
A: Theoretically, it can. You will get some kind of wi-fi, you will be able to connect to the network, and you’ll be able to surf the internet. But you may not get the speeds you paid for. That’s why it’s important to properly match your modem and your router (and to match them both with your internet plan).
Q: Do I have to use the Atlantic Broadband modem?
A: No, you don’t. You have two options – rent the modem from ABB ($11/month) or buy your own modem (and router) compatible with Atlantic Broadband.
Q: Is Atlantic Broadband cable or satellite?
A: ABB is mostly a cable internet provider. It also has a fiber network, but ABB fiber internet is reserved for businesses.
Q: Can I use a router without a modem?
A: If you don’t need wi-fi, you can. But if you want to connect your wireless devices (phones, tablets, laptops) to your home network, then you definitely need a router, not just a modem. Or you can get a two-in-one device – a modem with a built-in router (aka gateway).
Q: What is the best Atlantic Broadband approved router?
A: Our top three choices when it comes to modems/gateway compatible with Atlantic Broadband are Motorola MB8600 (best DOCSIS 3.1 modem under $150), ARRIS SBG8300 (best DOCSIS 3.1 gateway under $300), and NETGEAR CAX80 (best overall).
Hey, I’m Jeremy Clifford. I hold a bachelor’s degree in information systems, and I’m a certified network specialist. I worked for several internet providers in LA, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Seattle over the past 21 years.
I worked as a customer service operator, field technician, network engineer, and network specialist. During my career in networking, I’ve come across numerous modems, gateways, routers, and other networking hardware. I’ve installed network equipment, fixed it, designed and administrated networks, etc.
Networking is my passion, and I’m eager to share everything I know with you. On this website, you can read my modem and router reviews, as well as various how-to guides designed to help you solve your network problems. I want to liberate you from the fear that most users feel when they have to deal with modem and router settings.
My favorite free-time activities are gaming, movie-watching, and cooking. I also enjoy fishing, although I’m not good at it. What I’m good at is annoying David when we are fishing together. Apparently, you’re not supposed to talk or laugh while fishing – it scares the fishes.
