If your Internet Service Provider (ISP) is Time Warner Cable (TWC), you can lease the cable modem or buy your own. If you buy your modem, you can save $5.99 monthly in monthly fees. However, buying a modem approved by TWC would be best. There are many modems on their approved list.
Motorola SBG6580 is one of the approved cable modems. It is a good modem that has WiFi capabilities.
Why is my Motorola modem not working?
If you have worked with computers, you probably have heard of the basic troubleshooting tip someone gave you. If you have an issue, reboot your computer.
The same situation applies to your cable modem. There may be an issue with the software inside the cable modem. Rebooting the modem it’s the fastest way to fix your issue.
To reboot your modem, unplug the power cable from the modem, wait 10 seconds, and then plug the cable back in. Once all the LED lights are solid and not blinking, power cycle all the affected client machines.
Intermittent Issues
You may experience intermittent drops in your wireless connection with this modem. It is not due to TWC (though they have their fair share of issues :-). If you directly connect your computer to the modem, you will notice that the intermittent drops disappear.
Your wireless issues with the Motorola SBG6580 are due to the WMM setting. WMM is a wireless network feature of routers that allows you to prioritize different types of traffic (QoS). WMM support helps with traffic such as voice-over IP (VoIP), video applications, and streaming media.
If you live in a crowded WiFi neighborhood, turning on this feature is generally not a good idea. You will experience intermittent signal loss.
To turn off WMM support, connect your computer to the back of the modem. Open a web browser and type 192.168.0.1 in the address bar. For default login, the username is admin, and the password is Motorola.
WARNING: You should change your password. For security reasons, don't leave it as the default unless you want to be hacked.Click on the Wireless tab at the top of the menu. Click on WMM on the left side of the control panel. On the right side, specify the following settings:
* WMM Support: Off
* No-Acknowledgement: Off
* Power Save Support: OffYour changes should take effect immediately.
How do I reset my Motorola SURFboard SBG6580?
If the troubleshooting steps above don’t work, you can factory reset your modem. This will reset your custom configurations to the factory defaults.
To do the reset, find a small pinhole in the middle of the modem. Get a pen or paperclip. Carefully insert the tip of a pen or paperclip into the reset switch hole. Press and hold it for 10 seconds and release it. The LED indicators should turn off when you do it.
After this, connect your device to the modem and see if it works.
How do I know if my Motorola modem is bad?
The signal lights on the front of your Motorola modem should be solid if they are working correctly. If the power light is off or blinking, there may be a problem with the power supply.
If the receiving light is off or blinking, your modem isn’t receiving the data properly. Contact your ISP for any network problems in your area.
If the sending light is off or blinking, your modem isn’t sending the data properly. Same as above, contact your ISP for any issues.
If the online status light is off or blinking, your modem is connected, but something prevents you from getting online. Check with your ISP.
If the activity light is off or blinking, there may be an issue between your modem and your computer.
Get a Router
If you have tried all the above steps and nothing seems to help, it is time to get a router. This cable modem does WiFi, but it’s not the best. One cable modem may be insufficient if your coverage involves a larger home.
Using a mesh router may be a better option. Take a look at the Google Wifi. This is very easy to install, and the user interface is very friendly.
