In this article:

• Overview SB5101 and SB6120
• Connection with wireless router
• Alternate network

Currently there are two types of most popular wired broadband internet you can subscribe from your ISP: Cable and DSL. The DSL broadband internet is generally run by the Telco Company in each country using existing wired telephone line. The Cable broadband internet is very popular due to the high speed connection. Motorola introduces many types of Cable modems which are very popular installed in user premises such as Surfboard SB5120 and SB6120.

Motorola Surfboard SB5101

The Surfboard SB5101 is one of Motorola cable modem series with stylist design, very fast and high performance.

Main features:

• DOCSIS 1.1 and 2.0 Certified
• Up to 30Mbps upstream data rate
• Includes one Ethernet port and USB 2.0 port
• Front panel status indicator LEDs and online diagnostic page

Click here for SB5101 spec details

Motorola Surfboard SB6120

This SB6120 is the next generation of cable modem which uses DOCSIS 3.0 technology, vey fast and high performance too.

Main features:

• DOCSIS 3.0 / Euro-DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem
• 4x upstream / downstream channel bonding up to 100Mbps each direction
• Gigabit Ethernet port
• Compatible with Windows®, Macintosh® and UNIX® computers.

• Supports IPv4 and IPv6 to expand network addressing capabilities.
• Enhanced security: supports AES traffic encryption

Connect this Sb6120 cable modem to any types of wireless gigabit routers for best data rate throughput.

Both Motorola Surfboard SB5101 and SB6120 are modem only devices which mean they do not include NAT / firewall feature. They connect to a single computer to connect the internet. Therefore you require a router / firewall (with NAT feature) to share your cable broadband internet with many computers on the network. Generally a home wireless router is used to allow you share the internet. With the router, your network is well protected against any types of internet threats such as viruses, hackers and malware. Mostly home wireless routers are compatible with Surfboard cable modem. See also the concept of NAT for internet sharing.

Connection Diagram

To allow you share the internet, you need to connect the Ethernet port of the cable modem to the WAN (internet) port of a wireless router. When you purchase a wireless router, a UTP network cable is generally supplied that comes with the modem. Use this cable for connecting the cable modem in one end and the router in the other end.

In this diagram, Surfboard cable modem connects to the Buffalo Wzr-Hp-Ag300h wireless high gain router. Couples of mobile devices connect wirelessly to the network and two desktop connect to the router using wired cable. Mostly wireless routers include four Ethernet ports, but Apple airport extreme supports only three Ethernet ports. And even the D Link Dir-632 includes 8 Ethernet ports, ideal for small offices.

You may also like:

• SBG6580 Cable Modem Wireless Router selectable dual band with gigabit ports
• DGND3700 N600 ADSL2 Wireless Modem Router N600 router with built-in ADSL modem and one gigabit WAN port for cable modem
• Netgear CGD24N / CGE24N wireless cable modem gateway
• CMD31T-CME31T Netgear Docsis 3 Cable Modem