Best Internet Modems for Your Home

Wazzup Pilipinas!?

Nowadays, there are plenty of internet connections available in the market including fiber and DSL networks. With it comes to buying an internet connection, users usually go for a service that is fast in speed and economical in price. Therefore, we recommend cable-based internet service, which is incredibly fast, stable as well as reliable. However, it is not just the connection or the provider that delivers the speed. The equipment you install for establishing the connection is equally important, therefore, in this article, we will enlighten you about the best internet modems that you can use to maximize the speed of your service.

When it comes to the equipment, the internet modem is the most important device that determines the speed of your internet. There are two ways to acquire a modem for your connection. You can either buy the modem or rent one from your provider. Many service providers offer packages that come with all the equipment required to activate the service. For instance, Spectrum Internet offers a free internet modem along with all of its high-speed internet plans. In case you are looking to purchase your own modem, here are some of the best performing options in the market:

1.    Netgear CM-500

Download Speed: 686 Mbps

Upload Speed: 132 Mbps

Channels: 16 Down, 4 Up

Warranty: 1 Year

Top Compatible Cable Providers: Comcast Xfinity,  Spectrum, Cox Communications

J Solid Performance

J Good Compatibility

L Only One-Year Warranty

L Difficult Indication Lights

Netgear CM500 is one of the best modems available on the market. It is easy to find the one that works with most of the cable service providers in the industry. This modem is quite affordable and generally has good reviews on Amazon.

2.    Arris Surfboard SB-6183

Download Speed: 686 Mbps

Upload Speed: 131 Mbps

Channels: 16 Down, 4 Up

Warranty: 2 Years

Top Compatible Cable Providers: Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox Communications

J Solid Performance with Dependability

J Good Compatibility

J Visible Indication Lights

L Poor Placement of Coaxial Cable

Arris Surfboard SB-6183 is by far the first choice of most users because of its top-notch performance and high compatibility with most providers. In addition to this, the modem comes with a two-year warranty, which is quite hard to find on internet equipment these days.

3.    Netgear CM-600

Download Speed: 960 Mbps

Upload Speed: 240 Mbps

Channels: 24 Down, 8 Up

Warranty: 1 Year

Top Compatible Cable Providers: Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox Communications

J Solid and Reliable Performance

J Affordable Price

L Only One-Year Warranty

L Tall and Large Footprint

Netgear CM-600 is ideal for users who are looking for internet speeds of more than 300 Mbps. With no latency issues, this modem comes with upgraded firmware that enables it to take the performance aspect to another level. Although the modem is tall, it does have a futuristic appearance. 

4.    TP-Link TC 7610

Download Speed: 343 Mbps

Upload Speed: 143 Mbps

Channels: 8 Down, 4 Up

Warranty: 2 Years

Top Compatible Cable Providers: Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox Communications

J Reliable Performance

J Affordable Price

L Not Compatible with High-Speed Internet

L Difficult Status Lights

TP-Link TC 7610 is perfect for households that do not require high-speed internet service. This modem comes at an economical price and works reliably with most providers, delivering speeds of up to 100 Mbps. Plus, it comes with a two-year warranty, which is another great rough user.

5.    Arris Surfboard SB-6141

Download Speed: 343 Mbps

Upload Speed: 141 Mbps

Channels: 8 Down, 4 Up

Warranty: 2 Years

Top Compatible Cable Providers: Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox Communications

J Attractive Design 

J Economical Cost

J Two-Year Warranty 

L Does Not Support High-Speed Internet

Featuring one of the best modem designs, Arris Surfboard SB-6141 is quite a dependable modem that supports internet plans going up to 100 Mbps. For most households, this modem works exceptionally well as they are looking for reasonably priced equipment with great compatibility.

6.    Linksys CM-3008

Download Speed: 343 Mbps

Upload Speed: 120 Mbps

Channels: 8 Down, 4 Up

Warranty: 1 Year

Top Compatible Cable Providers: Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox Communications

J Easy Setup  

J Reliable Performance

J Economical Price 

L Does Not Support High-Speed Internet

CM-3008 is another modem that works well in households that do not require high-speed internet connectivity. With a plain design, Linksys CM-3008 provides great functionality to users who do not want to spend much but are looking for all the features in their equipment.

7.    Arris Surfboard SB-6910

Download Speed: 1400 Mbps

Upload Speed: 262 Mbps

Channels: 32 Down, 8 Up

Warranty: 2 Years

Top Compatible Cable Providers: Comcast Xfinity, Charter Spectrum, Cox Communications

J Smart Design 

J Two-Year Warranty 

L Latency Issues

L Expensive

Supporting some of the fastest internet plans, Arris Surfboard SB-6910 performs exceptionally well delivering great bandwidth to backup all your online activities. However, since the modem comes with Puma 6 chipset, users have experienced some latency issues that can be resolved by updating the firmware. Apart from that, there are no performance problems in this modem.

Wrapping Up

In this article, we have mentioned some of the best internet modes in the market. Make sure that you check the compatibility with your service provider before purchasing the modem. You can contact the customer service department of your internet service provider to find out about the compatibility requirements of a modem with your internet connection.

SMDC: Building places Filipinos can call home

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A home, to which one can call their own, is one of the most fundamental human needs for survival. In building one’s family, buying housing or investing in property is often a crucial discussion that takes into consideration price, location, amenities and even the environment as these all impact the way people and families live and grow and how communities thrive in the long-run.

Recently, the many changes brought by the COVID-19 pandemic has caused Filipinos to reassess the way they live, work and reside. The topic on home ownership and residential space has only become much more prominent as its impact towards one’s physical, social and emotional wellbeing was emphasized when companies shifted to work-from-home setups and schools introduced blended learning. It has become likely that up and coming homeowners are looking for new and affordable housing that responds to the new realities of school and work, as well as a healthier and more self-sufficient lifestyle.

For leading real estate developer SM Development Corporation (SMDC), the residential arm of SM Prime Holdings, satisfying personal needs and meeting basic survival for the homeowners of today can be done through meaningful and strategic planning and property development.

Over the years, SMDC has been continuously redefining residential spaces to bring accessibility, convenience, function, style and sustainability in the face of evolving trends and lifestyle changes—assuring prospective buyers of the great value that SMDC properties offer.

This means presenting a range of residences located in prime urban and suburban communities, conveniently situated near major road networks and transportation hubs, and designed to reflect SM’s commitment to luxurious urban living. SMDC properties bring commercial retail shops, entertainment venues, banks and leisure facilities closer to residents against a backdrop of lush and walkable spaces. Such open spaces encourage homeowners to dwell outside and take a break from the isolation that has become a norm lately, and allow residents to safely interact with their neighbors. These spaces also provide amenities that promote a healthy lifestyle among the residents.

Across the available properties, prospect homeowners are able to choose their housing type to fit their own or their family’s needs and functions with units ranging from studio rooms to deluxe two-bedroom suites. On top of being able to customize their living spaces, state-of-the-art facilities such as 24-hour security and CCTV system, fire alarm system, numerous WIFI-ready zones and standby generator set ensures continuous function and prime livability.

However, SMDC’s promise not only pertains to providing a greater quality of life, but to also have its communities take an integral role in their commitment towards sustainability. SMDC aims to promote many green living practices by designing walkable and transport-friendly developments, introducing energy-saving and eco-friendly green buildings and encouraging effective waste management programs among residents. For the property developer, homes are seen as a legacy for future generations and should be built for sustainability and for ease in future modification.

With developments still ongoing and more projects in the pipeline, SMDC allows homebuyers the opportunity to have the home of their choice. Through its affordable investment and flexible payment options, new families or young millennials will be able to live independently in communities that cater to their specific needs.

With its ability to empathize and understand current housing needs while having the foresight to address evolving requirements, SMDC continues to create sustainable and resilient living spaces for Filipinos to call their own.

School Principal Wages War on Waste in Cavite

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“It’s really easy to turn used plastic bottles into bottle bricks,” shares Rhodora Sacramento, a school principal from Cavite. “Just collect as many empty wrappers of candy or junk food as possible, then cut them into small strips and stuff them tightly inside the used plastic bottles. When full, the bottle bricks can be arranged as fences and pathway guides in our schools and homes.”

A veteran school administrator, Rhodora has been waging a War on Waste (WOW) since 2016, leading programs to minimize garbage by convincing her students to stuff plastic wrappers into bottle bricks, giving them their own personal eco-bags and persuading them to throw used bottles and cans in convenient wireframe baskets. Collected bottles and cans are then sold to recyclers. Sales proceeds reached PHP2500 in just the first three months of the program, enough to fund one of Rhodora’s school organization’s Christmas parties.

Bottle bricks were traded to Robinsons Hypermart Bacoor for canvas eco-bags. The bottle bricks were used to build homes for the Yangil tribe in Zambales, while the eco-bags were distributed to Cavite students for their personal use. To further motivate students to maintain the school’s cleanliness, certificates and prizes were awarded to the cleanest rooms at the end of the school year.

“Our War on Waste has drastically reduced the garbage we generate. From around 20 garbage bags a week, we were down to five,” reveals Rhodora, who is currently principal of the Mabolo Elementary School in Bacoor.

The plucky principal is just one of many champions promoting viable ways to reduce plastic waste, preventing them from entering Philippine waterways. She says there are more solutions that can be developed and shared by other schools across the country.

According to the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB), Cavite generated an average of 1514 tons of waste daily in 2018, 22% or 333 tons of which could still be recycled. The Imus River traverses the highest waste-generating cities in Cavite – Bacoor, Dasmariñas and Imus – making it a conveyor belt for leaked plastic waste flowing out to Manila Bay.

“The Philippines has good solid waste management laws, like Republic Act 9003 or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act,” explains Norlan Talay, a barangay secretary in the municipality of Silang. “The problem is effective implementation, because there are too many residents and too few enforcers. Aside from ramping up enforcement efforts, we need residents to be more cooperative in managing waste. We should do all we can to take care of the world our past generations left us.”

Funded by the Government of Norway, Project ASEANO is led by the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS) Indonesia in close collaboration with the PEMSEA Resource Facility and ASEAN Secretariat under the purview of the endorsing ASEAN sectoral body, the ASEAN Working Group on Coastal and Marine Environment (AWGCME).

Project ASEANO promotes the development of sound and sustainable measures to reduce the impacts of plastic pollution and their implications on socioeconomic development and the environment. The project focuses on the local level, with Cavite’s Imus River as one of two project sites in Southeast Asia.

The results of the project will be synthesized into knowledge products (LGU toolkit and best practices policy handbook, monitoring tools and technologies for plastics management and so forth) that can be used as a reference by local governments across the ASEAN region with similar priority management concerns.

How Residents Can Reduce Their Garbage

“Residents can do a lot to minimize the trash they generate. On the household level, they should start with proper segregation, separating waste from items that can still be reused, salvaged or recycled,” says Dr. Ed Lineses of De La Salle University Dasmariñas, who led a part of Project ASEANO’s series of studies. “Households can also choose not to use plastic. There are many things we can buy without using plastic packaging. Policymakers should also be more creative in finding ways to incentivize the refusal of plastics by collaborating with sellers, giving them sensible incentives to minimize their reliance on single-use plastics.”

Through the efforts of local champions like principal Rhodora, Asian waterways might soon become a bit cleaner and clearer.

“If a war on waste is what it takes to clean our rivers, then so be it. Schools are one avenue, apart from households to educate young people on the 3Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle. The youth are destined to inherit the future, but how it looks shall depend on what they choose to do today,” concludes PEMSEA executive director Aimee Gonzales.