Motorola SURFboard SB5120 (SB5120) 38 Mbps Modem

Motorola's next-generation SURFboard SB5120 Cable Modem incorporates the latest DOCSIS 2.0 Advanced Time Division Multiple Access (A-TDMA) and Sychnronous Code Division Multiple Access (S-CDMA) technologies to provide up to three times greater upstream capacity than DOCSIS 1.0/1.1 systems. Packed with power, the SB5120 is interoperable and backward compatible with DOCSIS 1.0 and 1.1 for a fast and timely transition - operators can deploy the SB5120 today without a service interruption. The Motorola SURFboard SB5120 is flexible and allows operators to maximize their current infrastructure investments and also offer additional cost-effective services, all at the same time

Nothing to dislike, it works. It's fast. This is now my 4th cable modem in about 11 years, it seems they have all started to fail after so many years. My last one (A DLink DBDCM202) was just as fast, but it failed after about 4 years of use just like all of them have. They start to drop connections and I would have to go re-boot the cable modem. It would get so bad, I had to reboot the modems at least once a day. When it was happening up to 2 times a day, I HAD IT! That was time to buy a Brand New modem! I haven't been using this one now for long, but my original old SURFboard SB4200 only lasted about 4 years as well.

It should be noted that I use my cable modem 24hrs a day around the clock, I never turn them off and I work from home so they get very heavy use, especially since 2007 what with all the TV & Movie content coming right off the Internet now (Netflix Watch Instantly etc.)

This modem was a good replacement on Charter service to take full advantage of my 12mbps speed limit. I had a Toshiba PCX2200 docsis 1.0 modem (which I found out is blacklisted by Charter). Old modem gave 8.07 mbps, and the new Motorola gave 11.79mbps. Be careful about buying cable modems, because many are "blacklisted" by providers (won't work correctly or won't be activated at all). Most Motorola SURFboard modems are ok, but even the 5100E is blacklisted. Check with your provider before you bid.

I, like most others was renting a modem from the cable company. Well one day I decided to do the math and realized that at $3 a month I could have purchased 2 new & 4 to 6 used of these over the last 4 years I've had the service. Not only that but the Motorola Surfboard is a sleek looking and speedy little device. After plugging it in and connecting up to the service I now get speeds in the 400 to 600 Mb/s range with spikes of up to 15Mb depending on the server I'm hitting and the time of day. Plus the on board configuration pages are simple and easy to read & understand.

Motorola SURFboard SB5120 offers plenty of speed and added protection for your high-speed pipeline.

The SB5120 is easy to install. It offers both USB and Ethernet connections (and comes with the cables for both) and you can also use it as a bridge between your system and an Ethernet LAN, hooking the USB cable to your system and the Ethernet cable to a router.

The modem stands upright to save desktop space, with the front panel illuminated by LED indicator lights to let you know that it's connected to your system

This modem has a stand-by switch on the top that can be pressed to easily disconnect the modem from the computer, thereby protecting it from the rest of the web when not in use. When you return, simply press the button again to reconnect it to the system.


Pros: USB or Ethernet, standby switch, Excellent Modem
Cons: None