Motorola MB8611 DOCSIS 3.1 Multi-Gig Cab

Received the Motorola DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem on-time from Amazon. Up and running within 15 minutes, No call to Comcast. Motorola Ultra Fast DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem, Model MB8600, plus 32x8 DOCSIS 3.0, Certified by Comcast XFINITY Paper instructions were in the box and also online. No firmware available for prior update. I had previously confirmed that this device is acceptable to Comcast. Before buying any network device, always check that your ISP supports the device you plan to buy. Unacceptable for us to rate an item poorly if its is not compatible with your stuff... I replaced a Cisco - Linksys model DPC3008 DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem purchased thru Amazon for $90 exactly five years ago. It has never failed. I would have paid Comcast say $10 / month to lease their inferior modem for the last 60 months, using the roughly $510 savings to enjoy Comcast "Blast" speeds not supported by their leased modem. I viewed this purchase as another future-proof, leading edge decision to replace a 5-year old $90 device. I did not expect a speed increase. Here is why. If I log into my Comcast account and search for upgrades for my Internet service, there is only a fiber option. I am maxed out at a supported wire speed of "150 mbps". I attained that with the 5-year old DOCSIS 3.0 device. So, Comcast does not yet offer DOCSIS 3.1 service here; and, they will not reveal that to customers. I searched for a couple of hours for that revelation. The new MB8600 has a connect LED the turns blue with a 3.1 connection else stays green to confirm 3.0 per the instructions. Mine is green now. So, "NO", Comcast has not brought DOCSIS 3.1 to my area. Follow the instructions. They work. I suggest however that you perform a broadband speed test prior to switching out your old cable modem. I also suggest you have your Comcast account number from a bill and ensure your Comcast account has your current phone number. NOT clearly said; but, I also suggest that you eliminate your network's switches / routers / Wi-Fi and simply Ethernet connect to any one of the four gigabit Ethernet ports on the back of the MB8600. I used port one. The MB8600 synced up with Comcast quickly (according to the lights); but, I could not obtain an Internet connection. I'm guessing Windows 10 Pro simply was trying to protect me from a new intrusion. This is not a Windows 10 / Microsoft Edge issue. Solution: delete all network settings, reboot and there it was, Comcast activate. Enter your data and your MB8600 will reset. Once completed, I was online within 15 minutes. But, the speeds I had before were faster than now. Guess that my firmware had not yet been updated by Comcast. The label on the bottom of the MB8600 has an IP address, user name and password. I logged in and saw that the modem had provisioned to DOCSIS 3.0 with only one channel down and three channels up, far below its capacity in 3.0. You resolve this by pressing in the RESET button on the back of the MB8600 for several seconds till the lights flash. After, I now have 24 channels down and three channels up. I then retested my speeds to confirm that I was exceeding the Comcast Extreme 150 service level I am paying for: 180 mbps down / 24 up. That is a roughly 10% improvement still on DOCSIS 3.0. Again, Comcast here does not seem to support any faster wired speed than 150 mbps, and deeper level of DOCSIS 3.0 than 24X3 and no DOCSIS 3.1, now, no DOCSIS 3.0 32x4 either. I can hope but AOL is perceived as "high tech" here... I hate contacting Comcast customer service since I always feel as if I am training them. I may invest the day it will likely take to get Comcast to remotely re-provision my interface with them. Maybe not. Satisfied that I was connected as well as I could, I then moved on to reconnect my router for its Wi-Fi and more importantly for its added Trend Micro security not offered by the MB8600 since it is not a router, its a cable modem. My configuration is MB8600 to an Asus router with 4 gigabit ports and Wi-Fi AC2400. One wired port feeds a dumb Gigabit switch supporting five devices. A second wired port supports my Microsoft Book. I'm a retired IT guy so I avoid wireless connections excepting my cell. Yes, I have my cable modem, router and PC powered thru an uninterruptable power supply. The MB8600 documentation states that its power supply is resistant to power surges. We have afternoon storms all summer. Its fun to continue surfing while neighbors are dark; yet, my Comcast and DirecTV both work fine with a UPS power supply. Good that Motorola upgraded to some surge protection; but, I want that and sine wave continuous power. For your consideration.... The MB8600 has been connected for roughly six hours. It is barely warm and only at its top. Off to a good start. UPDATE JUL2018: The MB8600 is still running like a champ. No issues. Comcast finally has some competition from Century Link with its fiber optic Gigabit offering wired into my neighborhood just days before hurricane Irma. I signed up for it since its cost was just a minor bump for gigabit from 150 mbps. A few months ago, the green DOCSIS icon turned from green to blue indicating that Comcast had turned on version 3.1 but; I was provisioned for 150 Mbps and did not see a speed jump. Nine months later, still no Century Link offer. Regardless, I opted to move to a different home. Unfortunately an older neighborhood with no Century Link fiber optic. But Comcast does offer Gigabit speed at a higher price. Comcast's cables here are 30 to 40 years old unfortunately. I've been with Comcast for well more than 8 years. This was the first move / install that was completed correctly the first time. The tech clocked 960 Mbps at the MB8600 down. My PC sees less speed (580 to 870 down) with a reliable 40 Mbps up. The MB8600 performs as advertised. All 32 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels are locked.