NETGEAR Nighthawk DOCSIS 3.1 Mid/high-Split Cable Modem (CM3000-1AZNAS) – Approved for Today’s Fastest Speeds - Works With all Cable Providers, Incl. Xfinity, Spectrum, Cox - Cable Plans up to 2.5Gbps

I recently upgraded my internet from 1.2 gig to 2gig. I also upgraded my modem from CM2000 to CM3000. My internet service is with Xfinity. It was a no brainer to upgrade my internet from 1.2 gig to 2 gig when my cost was only an extra $4. The pictures speak for themselves.

I own an Arris TG862G modem for many years now. At the time, this was the approved model for VIOP phone lines. At $200 it has paid for itself many times over. Due to retirement living on a fix income, cost cuts were needed so I dropped the Triple Play and now subscribed to internet (Blast - 800Mbps). Recently I keep getting email from Xfinity says my modem (DOCSIS 3.0) is outdated and keeping me from getting my maximum download speeds promised by my plan. After so many of these notices, I decided to take the plunge and get a new DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem. I decided on the Netgear model CM3000-1AZNAS.Installation was easy. I already had downloaded the Xfinity App on my phone. It has a place to activate new equipment and recommended because you lose your internet. The switch over took about 10-15 minutes. I had internet in no time. The problem lay in that Speed Tests didn't reveal any, and I mean any gain in speed. So not wanting to admit I just spent $300 for nothing, I contact them with chat. I explained that I just installed a new modem and no change. Perhaps my modem (account) needs provisioned to accommodate the new modem. He tells me he can get me a higher speed package for less than I paying. So from 800 to 1100, when I wasn't even getting the 800. But less money is better so I agreed, thinking this would surely provision my account to the 1100Mbsp. Well after a day, still no change. I don't think it is this modem's fault, but Comcast's fault. I will try CS one more time. The moral of the story, "If it ain't broke, Don't try to fix it!"

I was excited at first to get this because of the reputation. However, 3 weeks into owning this, today it goes out on me for no reason. At first I thought it was a outage with Spectrum but called them an nope, it was my new modem. So I trouble shot it and tried to get Spectrum to re-register it on their network, it absolutely would not register. So I reset it. It would boot up like it normally does but then when it looked like it was ready to go, it started resetting itself over and over again. I called Netgear for support (HUGE WASTE OF 5 HOURS) and they kept having me do the same thing over and over and over again. It was so pitiful and I've been in the IT industry now for 30 + year so I knew what I was doing but I don't think THEY DID!!! I have a horrible back issue so I kept running back and forth between my main computer for the chat and the modem to do things to it. Finally I said after being in so much pain I can't handle anymore, could you please just do a return & repair? No sir, I can't without a diagnostic code off the modem. I said well I don't know how that is to happen if everything you've had me do does not work!!! So it looks like I'm stuck with a $260 modem that does not work because of Netgear's pitiful return policy!!! DO NOT PURCHASE THIS OR ANY OTHER NETGEAR PRODUCTS, EVER!!! Unless you want to deal with numb nuts at the support group at Netgear!!!

The ISP (which will remain nameless), that I rented my Internet gateway from did not adhere to sound security protocol. I myself, as a cybersecurity professional with more than 10 years experience, am naturally paranoid about weak passwords. This particular ISP limits the variety of keyboard characters allowed for cable modem management passwords, making them easier to crack! In fact, on a few occasions, my passwords were changed without my consent. From that point forward I decided to buy my own cable modem that would allow me to choose the access passwords without character limitations. Now that it is up and running I am beyond happy. My desired security posture is now a reality, and my internet finally achieves 1gb downloads, better than the ISP's cable modem that was supposed to do the same thing. My network is tight security wise, and this Netgear Nighthawk CM2000 helped me realize that. Finally, I had to overcome one technical issue that I thought was generated by the CM2000. After registering my cable modem with Netgear, called tech support. Best dang support I've dealt with in a long time! From one geek to another, we were able to speak the same tech-ease and I learned more about my new CM2000 and the DOCSIS standard than I knew before the call. Found out that the CM2000 was not the culprit, so I called the ISP to handle it, problem resolved. The one setback for Netgear that I thought was serious enough to mention is that as far as firmware upgrades there seems to be tit-for-tat between Netgear and this particular ISP. Either group seems to point the finger at the other when it comes to whose responsibility it is to push out firmware upgrades. I hope, for customers' sake, that these two outfits work out their differences on this. Heavens forbid that there is a security vulnerability that requires a firmware upgrade! I shiver to think about that outcome. Other than that, I am very happy with my purchase.UPDATE (6/2025)It's been a few years since I pinned the above review of the CM2000. Now it's time for an upgrade from the CM2000 to the CM3000. This is what I've learned: The CM2000 performed honorably for the most part. However over time the status LED lights began to shut off one after the other. Today the only one that is still operational is the Online LED. I understand that there are others who've experienced the same malfunctioning LED issues as well. Other than that I am pleased with its performance, so much so that I am considering purchasing it's more mature cousin, the CM3000. The one BIG issue I have with this consumer-class cable modem is what seems to be the unwillingness of its manufacturer Netgear & my cable service provider Xfinity/Comcast to agree on WHO WILL PROVIDE THE FIRMWARE UPGRADES! This was the 800lb gorilla that otherwise would make the experience with this product a 9/10! Just as with the CM2000, Netgear advises users to access their cable service provider for the firmware upgrade for the CM3000. With both devices Xfinity does not have documentation on its website which gives instructions on upgrading the Nighthawk CM model firmware: https://www.xfinity.com/search?q=Netgear%20cm2000 . Similarly, Netgear support encourages users to contact their ISP for upgrades: https://kb.netgear.com/000036375/What-is-the-latest-firmware-version-of-my-NETGEAR-cable-modem-or-modem-router . Either way, if there is a need for a future firmware update anyone purchasing this item will risk ending up with an expensive paper weight if both the manufacturer and the ISP refuse to come together and resolve the issue. For this reason I am exploring other cable modem options, ones where firmware updates are available for ISP-approved devices.

Easy to install once the cable company switched on their side. Have Cox cable

Works as expected. Easy to setup. The base is is a little wide, which isn’t a big deal, but if you are trying to tuck it away between piece a furniture and the wall it will come out a little further than you’d probably like, depending on the height of the legs of the furniture or where you are wanting to tuck it way at. It’s not a big enough gripe to not buy it. It works great with my 1.3 gig xfinity service.