Hitron CODA DOCSIS 3.1 1Gbps Modem

This review is for the CODA56. I considered the “regular” CODA but decided to splurge for the 2.5 Gbps model in order to future proof. But I am wondering if the regular CODA and less expensive with “up to 934 Mbps” wired download speed would have been fine. Regardless, this modem is working great. I installed it with no issues. I downloaded the Xfinity app to my phone and clicked on the “new equipment to set up” a bit down the main overview page. I would have done preferred not to have downloaded the app on my phone and configured it via a web browser but I did not see it on the Comcast/Xfinity web site. I plugged in the MAC address for the router. Response was it would take 13 minutes to configure, but it took about half that time. I tested first by connecting my laptop directly into the back of the modem and VIOLA! It worked. I was getting speeds around 950Gbps sec. This is about twice that I had from my DOCSIS 3.0 modem. Comcast promises me 1 Gbps so I was satisifed. Upload speeds were about 75 GBS which easily tripled my old speed.

The problem I encountered was when I connected the modem to my pretty darn new TP-Link BE 800 WIFI 7 router. There was no signal. Ugh. A call to TP-Link corrected the problem….I had to “clone” a MAC address from when my PC was directly connected instead of using the default. The tech explained that sometimes this happens. I am not thrilled about it, but it worked. But then my speeds weren’t that great. I had to change the Internet Port Negotiation Speed to 1000 Mbps from Auto. Again not thrilled I had to do this but it worked great. I am getting download speeds around 940 Mbps wired over a very long cable and close to that wirelessly when my PC is in the same room.

Not thrilled that I had to go through all that, but not sure whether it is Hitron’s problem or TP-Links. Therefore I have to give 5 stars since now the modem is doing all that it is advertised – at least on my 1 Gbps Xfinity service.

It is faster than the COX one it replaced. It is priced right, at least for me.

Installing easy? It was when I PHONED INTO COX vs texting to install the modem. I spent about two hours texting a COX rep and in the end he said that the modem was not on the approved list. He sent me the link for approved modems, it was the one I used to find which modem I wanted. The next morning I phoned the COX help line and in several steps I got a woman who knew what to do, and it went very well from there.

I also like it because I attached it to the wall with some screws, which got it out of my way.
YES, I would purchase it again.

TL;DR:
1) The CODA and CODA56 seem to be the best price/value buy for Comcast/Xfinity in 2024
2) Comcast/Xfinity certified for their new improved upload speeds (100 and 200 Mbps, up to ~455Mbps)
3) Easy install via new Xfinity app (no interaction w/ CS needed (yeah!!!)
4) Shaved off 5-6 ms in ping times on my end for both wired and wireless connections with only the cable modem swapped
5) Stable!

Long version:
So far so good, it’s been running 72h so far. I had a very stable setup with the Netgear CM1100 cable modem (excellent as well) and did not really need a new modem, but read somewhere that Comcast offers new uploads of 100 and 200 Mbps in the Bay Area if you have the Gigabit or Gigabit plus speed tier. The CM1100 does not support that. But it also depends on your exact address and if available already at your place (apparently not for us). In any case, I kept reading and figured I get us ready and get a new modem. Never heard of Hitron (Taiwan), but reviews were OK, so I gave it a shot. It works.

Best ever modem install. Downloaded the new (purple) Xfinity app and deleted all the old Xfinity Connect and Account apps (discontinued). Launched the new purple app and said new equipment, entered the MAC address (via cellular Internet), connected and plugged in the new cable modem and voila. App was searching a few minutes, then downloading new firmware to cable modem, restarting, and we were live. No wasted 45min chatting with CSR as many times in the past.

I have the 2x ASUS RT-86S routers running Merlin in mesh behind the modem and a set MAC for WAN there, so nothing else needed to be changed. Rebooted the AI-Mesh and the modem one more time and everything has been running fine the last 72.

I have “SuperFast” speed or whatever they call it listed at 800/20, and I usually get about ~940/24 wired and wireless download depends on the device. We have mostly Apple and only the new 15pro supports 160 MHz WiFi, so I have 160 MHz actually still turned off so far. The 15pro is by far the fastest WiFi device in the house, I have seen ~940 download on WiFi now for the first time when I tested the 160 MHz shortly.

I checked with Comcast, and I cannot get the 100 upload yet, but it’s supposedly coming… The one thing I saw that the modem change reduced the ping times. From a regular ~15ms on wired it went to ~9ms, I even saw 8 once. And on wireless I see 12-15ms now instead of 17-20ms. I am not an online gamer and don’t really care, but that is good reduction and consistent.

Of note: This modem has one 2.5 Gbps Ethernet port only (downward compatible, of course), but you cannot do WAN aggregation. So, if you have the RT-AX86U/Pro with the 2.5 port and want to use that for the LAN, you cannot leverage higher WAN speeds. The CM1100 allows to combine two 1Gbps ports and the AX-86S/U allow to use 2x 1Gbps for WAN as well, and then you could use a 2.5 Gbps for LAN. If any of this concerns you, then the Netgear CM3000 modem may be your friend, albeit at a much higher price. It’s also on the recommended Comcast list supporting the latest speed tiers. It has 3 ports, 1x 2.5 Gpbs, and 2x 1Gbps for link aggregation.

For regular use though, from a price value perspective, the CODA or this CODA56 seems to be the way to go. The regular CODA is the cheapest of the bunch and the only difference is the 1Gbps port vs 2.5 Gbps port. Both support up to ~455 Mbps upload speed on Comcast/Xfinity as stated by Comcast.