If you are looking for a cable modem with a Voice over Internet Protocol, you will need to really be looking for the best cable modem with a phone jack.
Cable modems are easy to find, but when it comes to finding one that has a phone jack as well, you might run into some trouble.
Even if you do find a VoIP cable modem, how can you know what makes a good cable modem with VoIP? We have broken it all down to make it easy for you to find the perfect cable modem for your network.
What Is VoIP And How Does It Work?
To begin with, let’s look at what VoIP is. Voice over Internet Protocol is a standard that lets you make phone calls through your internet connection. Instead of having a phone connection through DSL, you can also have a connection through cable internet.
VoIP takes voices and converts them into a digital signal that can be sent across the web to a receiver on the other end. It saves you on long distance charges, for those who still need a landline connection.
Factors To Consider When Choosing A Cable Modem With A Phone Jack
ISP Compatibility
Finding a VoIP modem that is compatible with your ISP is incredibly important. You modem will not work otherwise. All of the modems that we have reviewed below are approved by Xfinity, but if you have another cable company, you will need to check compatibility with them first.
Otherwise, DSL modems will not work with cable internet and fiber connections don’t even use modems. Look at what you have first and go from there.
Channel Bonding
Another factor that you should look at is the kind of channel bonding that you are getting from your modem. Channel bonding is the transmission speed across bonded channels.
The more bonded channels you have, the more transmission capacity that you will have, increase the overall speed of your network. For example, a cable modem at 16x4 channel bonding usually can reach 680 Mbps, whereas 8x4 channel bonding can only reach 343 Mbps.
Ethernet Ports & Phone Jack Ports
You should also look at the amount of Ethernet ports and phone jacks that the modem comes with. Ethernet ports allow you to hardwire in other devices, like a separate router or a gaming system.
If you are hoping to do VoIP, you need a phone jack to be able to connect the modem to your phone. All modems should tell you how many ports they have before you buy.
7 Best Cable Modems With A Phone Jack (2022)
Device | Speed | Ports | Rating | Check Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1. Motorola MT7711 Editor's Choice | 1900 Mbps | 6 Ports | 100% | |
2. Netgear C7100V High Performance | 1900 Mbps | 6 Ports | 99% | |
3. Netgear CM500V Budget Friendly | 1750 Mbps | 3 Ports | 96% | |
4. Arris SVG2482AC | 1750 Mbps | 6 Ports | 95% | |
5. Netgear CM1150V DOCSIS 3.1 Modem | 2000 Mbps | 6 Ports | 98% | |
6. Arris SURFboard T25 | 2000 Mbps | 4 Ports | 94% | |
7. Arris SBV3202 | 600 Mbps | 3 Ports | 92% |
1. Motorola MT7711 Modem Router Combo
Best Cable Modem With A Phone Jack (Editor's Choice)
Our pick for the best cable modem with a phone jack is the Motorola MT7711. The MT7711 is an extremely powerful router that should have everything you need to have good coverage and still be able to use VoIP.
This device has been approved by Comcast to work with Xfinity Voice especially, so if you don’t have Xfinity, check to make sure your ISP will work.
Design
To begin with, it is a tower design, which means that it will always keep cooler than modems that rest horizontally. The airflow is generally better with this type of design and it is an appealing grey and black colour as well. The design of the MT7711 is more appealing than a lot of other modems on the market.
Additionally, the MT7711 also comes with four 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports, which will allow for a wired connection for the devices that need one. It has two Xfinity Voice compatible phone ports to let you wire the voice function in directly, which should be what you’re looking for.
Performance
TheMT7711 modem is a DOCSIS 3.0, which is a great standard to be working with. The MT7711 has speeds up to 400 Mbps, which might not be the fastest speeds on the market, but still should be enough for most VoIP service packages.
In addition to the modem, the MT7711 has a dual-band router with AnyBeam beamforming, so both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands will extend even further than they would have otherwise. The router has 24x8 channel bonding and the Wireless Power Boost is there for amplify the wireless signal.
2. Netgear Nighthawk C7100V Modem Router
High Performance
If you are after a more high performance modem to work with VoIP, we suggest the Netgear Nighthawk C7100V. This is one of the most powerful cable modems that you can get.
Design
The design of the C7100V is an upright, tower design. It is a little bulky, but since you will be able to conceal it on a shelf, it might not be a deal breaker. It has a lot of great venting along the sides as well, ensuring that it will not overheat on you.
The modem comes with two phone jacks so you can plug two separate lines in directly. It also has four 1 Gigabit Ethernet connections, so you can plug in a router or a gaming system directly into your modem if you wanted to. There are also two USB ports for external storage across the network.
Performance
This modem has fast WiFi performance and excellent cable performance. It does have 24x8 channel bonding, so you will be able to get speeds up to 400 Mbps. It is also a certified Xfinity modem router combo if you have that ISP.
The router portion of the device also provides up to 1800 square feet in WiFi coverage. This is due to the amplified antennas and range-boosting Beamforming+ technology that is on board to extend the reach of your router across the entirety of your network.
The modem itself is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem, which is the most powerful protocol out there.
You can also connect up to 30 devices to your wireless router, really tackling any challenge without a problem.
3. Netgear Cable Modem CM500V
Budget Friendly
Even if you are working within a budget, you should be able to find a decent cable modem with a phone jack within your budget and still have a good modem. If that sounds like you, we recommend the Netgear CM500V.
Design
The design for the CM500 is a nice, vertical design. The modem itself is very slim and it will not take up much in the way of space. It also comes with a lot of ventilation, so you should not need to worry about whether your modem is going to overheat on you.
It is important to note that this cable modem is a stand-alone unit. There is not an internal router within it, so you will need to purchase that separately if you want one. It comes with one Gigabit Ethernet port, so you can plug in a router to the modem. It also can support two phone lines.
Performance
There might not be all of the performance bells and whistles with this modem that you can get with other modems, but it still will get the job done for you. It has 16x4 channel bonding with speeds up to 300 Mbps, which is still considered high speed.
The voice capabilities with this modem include 3-way conference calling, caller ID, call forwarding, and other call features that you might want in a home office or small business. It will prioritize voice over internet to make sure that your calls will be as clear as possible.
The modem is also easy to setup, so you should be up and going in less than 5 minutes. This is really nice for a VoIP modem.
4. ARRIS Surfboard SVG2482AC Modem Router
Another great choice for a cable modem with a phone jack is the ARRIS Surfboard SVG2482AC. This is a pretty high performance modem, so you should do well with it.
Design
The design for this ARRIS Surfboard is a tower design, which is especially nice for devices. Not only do tower designs take up much less room on your shelf, but they also have better ventilation, further enhanced by the built-in ventilation of the modem. The casing on this modem is white, which goes against the more typical black.
The modem has four 1 Gigabit Ethernet ports as well as two telephony ports for the best connectivity you can get. There is one issue where the modem seems to take several minutes to restart once it has been rebooted. Since it is a complex device, that should be somewhat understandable, so just prepare yourself.
Performance
What might be the best thing about this modem is that it really is four different devices combined into one: it is a DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem, it is a WiFi access point, a router, and a VoIP.
That means that you should be able to only work with one device rather than several and still get what you want. You will also save yourself money and space while only accommodating one device rather than having to make room for many.
Looking at the speeds for this modem, you will see that it can reach up to 600 Mbps with its 24x8 channel bonding. This should allow you to do whatever you need to online without running into any unnecessary hiccups or slowdowns.
5. Netgear Nighthawk CM1150V Modem
DOCSIS 3.1 Cable Modem With A Phone Jack
The last modem that we are going to look at is the Netgear Nighthawk CM1150V. This modem offers amazing speeds that are sure to provide the best online experience possible, especially since it is a DOCSIS 3.1 modem.
Design
The CM1150V is another vertical modem. It is a little slimmer than most other modems, but its base is not entirely sturdy either, so put it somewhere you are not going to knock it down. It is a well-ventilated device as well.
It also has 2 telephone ports that will prioritize voice over internet if you are using a voice service with your cable package. As a bonus, it is also easy to setup and can be accomplished in only 5 minutes, taking away a lot of the heavy work of getting a modem up and running.
Performance
The CM1150V is built for online streaming, easily taking on multi-player gaming and 4K HD streaming. This is important if you have a network that streams from multiple devices regularly.
The 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports will give you the fastest wired speeds possible, whether you are attaching it to your computer, a router, or to another device. The link aggregation combines 2 1-Gigabit ports into a 2-Gigabit port to give you even faster speeds.
You will notice a great amount of speed capabilities from this Nighthawk modem, especially with the 32x8 channel bonding. As long as you can get it from your cable provider, this modem can reach speeds up to 2 Gbps, which is incredibly fast. It does not come with a built-in router so if you want one, you will need to buy it separately.
6. ARRIS SURFboard T25 Cable Modem
ARRIS SURFboard T25 is a sturdy modem that has the latest modem technology on the market and will be able to do exactly what you need it to.
Design
The design of the ARRIS SURFboard T25 is a tower, which is less common to see in a modem. This is nice, because it will take up much less room and has a less risk of overheating than the horizontal modems do. There are vents down the sides of it as well, which will help to keep it cool.
The modem comes with two 1-Gigabit Ethernet ports as well as 2 telephony ports. The telephony ports allow Xfinity digital voice service, but it is not known if it will work with other cable telephone setups.
Performance
When we look at its performance, the first thing of note is that there is no built-in router with this modem. If you want wireless connectivity, you will need to get a router separately.
Additionally, this modem has been certified to work with Xfinity, but not with any of cable internet provider, so proceed with caution if you have something other than Xfinity.
The modem has 32 downstream and 8 upstream DOCSIS 3.0 channels. DOCSIS 3.0 is the old standard, but still the most common. It also has 2 downstream and 2 upstream OFDM DOCSIS 3.1 channels, which can reach speeds up to 10 Gbps, if your ISP will allow it.
7. ARRIS SURFboard SBV3202 Cable Modem
Another great modem with a phone jack is the ARRIS SURFboardSBV3202. This is a great modem for Xfinity Voice as well, with good speeds and the connectivity that you really need.
Design
Let’s look at the design of the ARRIS SURFboardSBV3202. This is a horizontal modem, so it looks like the standard modem. It has vents along the top to help keep the modem as cool as possible. But, due to its design, you will want to keep it in a cool location.
The ARRIS SURFboardSBV3202 modem comes with one Gigabit Ethernet port to allow you to connect a router if you wanted to.
You can also use it to plug in a device directly, like your home PC, but with only one port, you will really want to be careful how you use it. It also has two telephony ports that can work with Xfinity Voice.
Performance
When we look at the performance for the ARRIS SURFboardSBV3202, the first thing to mention is that this is a cable modem only. It does not have a built-in router, so if you want one, you will need to use the Gigabit port that comes with the device for that.
It is a DOCSIS 3.0 modem with 32 downstream and 8 upstream channels. It can reach speeds up to 600 Mbps, which should be perfect for most cable internet speed plans. Most plans are slower than 600 Mbps, so this one should be able to use the speeds that are available.
How To Connect VoIP Phone To Your Cable Modem Router With Phone Jack
Connecting your VOIP phone to your cable modem router is not a problem at all. There are a few cords involved, but you can sort it out.
Do not think that you can just plug in your phone to the modem and be done with it. There are some other steps to do first.
- Turn off your modem and router as well as any connected devices.
- Attach the AC adapter to the outlet plug on the base station.
- If you have a corded phone, connect it to a phone jack at the base station.
- Connect the Ethernet cable from your phone to the phone port.
- Connect the Ethernet cable to modem.
- Turn the modem and router back on.
- Plug in the base station and watch for it to turn on.
- Pick up your phone receiver and confirm you have a dial tone.
Benefits Of Having Your Own Cable Modem With Phone Jack
Save Money On Rental Fees
There are a lot of benefits to having your own cable modem with a phone jack, the first one being that it is going to save you money.
Most ISPs charge $10 or so a month on rental fees. The rental router likely doesn’t have VoIP and you still do not own the modem at the end of it. Save money and get the router you want; just buy a new one.
You Don't Need A Landline
As we explain below, a landline and a VoIP are not exactly the same thing, but a modem with a phone jack is still a nice alternative to having a landline.
This way, you are not paying a separate company for the ability to talk to our friends and family. There is no sense in taking up so much money for a phone that you rarely use.
Faster Internet Connection
Getting faster internet means getting overall performance. You should be able to stream anything that you want to in your home, whether it is an online gaming or a video.
If your modem is capable of the higher speeds, you will be able to experience the internet without lags or buffering. Look at the channel bonding of your modem before you buy and see what you can expect to get from it.
You Can Upgrade To DOCSIS 3.1
Another bonus to buying your own modem is that you can upgrade to DOCSIS 3.1. DOCSIS 3.0 was the previous cable protocol, but now DOCSIS 3.1 has entered the scene and is made to impress.
The amount of power that you can get from DOCSIS 3.1 is impressive, so if you can get a modem that is already DOCSIS 3.1, you will be all set to do whatever you like online.
VoIP vs Landline
We should also take a moment and go over what the real difference between VoIP and landlines is. Landline usually refers to the telephone line that you get from the telephone company right into your house.
It uses basic copper wiring technology to carry voices over phone lines. Meanwhile, VoIP takes the voice sound and compresses it into a digital file. It then travels across the internet.
Landlines are difficult to maintain and it can be catastrophic if something breaks. They also take up a lot of room, due to the immense amount of wiring they require. VoIP uses a broadband internet connection and does not require any more wires than were already there for the cable internet.
Since VoIP uses the internet, you can get more features from it than you can from a traditional landline. VoIP is an excellent choice for businesses, provided they have enough bandwidth to take on voice services.
Final Words
Our choice for the best cable modem with a phone jack is the Motorola MT7711. This modem was built to actually handle Xfinity Voice, so if that is what you have, it is a great choice. If you are using a different VoIP service, you will need to confirm that this is the best modem for you.
There are a few great VoIP modems on the market, but you still need to be cautious about brand. You do not need to get tricked into buying a modem that will never work. Find out if there is an approved list from your ISP and go from there.
Hey, it’s James here. I’m the founder and editor here at RiverstoneNet.com. I’m a network engineer during the day and a blogger at night. Let me know if I can help you with choosing a new modem/router or troubleshooting your Internet connection.