What do these letters and numbers mean anyway? If you have cable internet, then you’re using DOCSIS technology. DOCSIS, which stands for data over cable service interface specifications, is a standard that defines how your modem relays cable internet signals going to and from your home. If you have cable internet, whether from Cox, Spectrum, Xfinity or one of many regional cable internet providers like Armstrong, you’re using a DOCSIS-compliant modem.
The DOCSIS 4.0 cable modem is ideal since it produces faster upload speeds. But while specifications for DOCSIS 4.0 have been released, DOCSIS 4.0 modems aren’t yet widely available for retail purchase. That said, if you’re shopping for a new cable internet modem, you’ll likely only have the choice of DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1. As the numbers suggest, the two modem versions are similar, but we recommend opting for DOCSIS 3.1 while you wait for a new 4.0 modem.
Modern cable modems are compliant with DOCSIS 3.0 or 3.1, with more and more internet service providers recommending DOCSIS 3.1 modems.
DOCSIS 3.0 vs. 3.1 vs. 4.0: What are the differences?
Despite the simple one-tenth difference in versions, DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 modems vary significantly in performance, pricing and availability. DOCSIS 4.0 would imply a bigger jump in performance, but the improvement largely has to do with upstream capacity. Here’s a quick look at the advantages of each.
DOCSIS 3.0 modem advantages
- Price: DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems are generally cheaper than their 3.1 counterparts.
- Availability: You’re likely to have more options, including used or refurbished devices, when shopping for a DOCSIS 3.0 modem.
DOCSIS 3.1 modem advantages
- Speed: DOCSIS 3.1 cable modems support faster speeds than DOCSIS 3.0 modems and are thus better suited for high-speed plans, especially those with gig speeds or higher.
- Security: DOCSIS 3.1 modems may offer better online security than 3.0 models, especially if you purchase a modem-router combo device.
DOCSIS 4.0 modem advantages
- Upload speeds: DOCSIS 4.0 is designed to “significantly increase upstream capacity,” according to CableLabs, the organization that sets and tests DOCSIS specifications.
- Future proof: DOCSIS 3.1 is the current standard, but 3.0 is still in use, nearly two decades after its introduction in 2006. It’s safe to assume that 4.0 modems will be useful for many years to come.
