Business Customers: If you are a business customer, please reference our approved business modems page HERE.

Sparklight strives to produce a high level of reliability, stability, and security for our high-speed Internet subscribers. As such, we continually evaluate modems on our network for compatibility and performance.

Sparklight requires customers to use a DOCSIS 3.1 or higher Modem. These modems incorporate the latest technology, can deliver faster Internet speeds, and have a longer expected lifetime. Sparklight no longer supports the addition of modems with DOCSIS 2.0 technology.

The following is an up-to-date list of supported modems that have been certified to work on the Sparklight high-speed Internet network. If you wish to purchase your own modem, a DOCSIS 3.1 modem is required to ensure you receive the fastest speeds and maximum connectivity on our network.

Sparklight Recommended Modems 

Brand	Model	Channels	802.11 Wifi compatibility
Arris | Motorola SURFboard	SBG8300	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	WiFi 5
Arris | Motorola SURFboard	SB8200	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None
Arris | SURFboard	G34	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	WiFi 6
Arris | SURFboard	G36	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	WiFi 6
Arris	S33	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None
Hitron	CODA	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None
Hitron	CODA56	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None
Motorola	MB8600	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None
Netgear	CM1000	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None
Netgear	CM1100	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None
Netgear	CM1200	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None
Netgear	Nighthawk C7800	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	WiFi 5
Netgear	CBR750	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	2.4 GHz AX + 5 GHz AX
Netgear	CAX80	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	2.4 GHz AX + 5 GHz AX
Netgear	CAX30	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	2.4 GHz AX + 5 GHz AX
Netgear	CM2000	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None
Netgear	CM3000	DOCSIS 3.1; 32x8	None

Other Supported Modems

Any DOCSIS 3.1 modem from a supported trusted brand (listed below) is expected to function on our network; however, if it's not on our Sparklight Recommended Modems list, it has not been tested in our environment.

We support any of these trusted brands:

• Arris
• Vantiva
• Technicolor
• Hitron
• Netgear
• Motorola

What does "End of Life" mean for my modem?

A modem that is specified as "End of Life" was once a recommended Sparklight modem. Due to the discontinued production, manufacturer support changes, or other technical issues, these modems are no longer recommended or allowed to be registered on our network. At present, active accounts that use these modems will continue to operate normally on our network and are permitted. However, if the account is disconnected and the modem has become unregistered from the account, you will need to upgrade to one of our approved modems listed above. Currently, no dates have been specified to fully retire the DOCSIS 2.0 modems from our network.

If you lease a modem from Sparklight, you don't need to do anything at this time. You will be contacted by a representative from our local Sparklight office soon. Until then, please continue to enjoy your high-speed Internet access provided by Sparklight!

If you have purchased your own modem, we suggest that you replace the modem with an approved Sparklight modem in the near future to avoid any service disruption or connectivity issues. 

Can I purchase my own modem?

If you choose to purchase a modem, Sparklight requires you purchase a modem with DOCSIS 3.1 capability from a reputable source, and select one that is listed on our approved modems list above. Should you wish to purchase a modem that is not on our approved modems list, please contact our team prior to making your purchase to verify compatibility.  Second-hand modems may not work properly on Sparklight's network even if listed above. Sparklight reserves the right to refuse service to any modem or modem model that might impair network performance. See the Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for details.

Why can’t I purchase a secondhand modem or use a modem that was given to me?

Second-hand modems may not work properly on Sparklight's network for a number of reasons. This is why we do not recommend purchasing or using a secondhand modem. The following is a list of possible reasons why the secondhand modem may not work properly:

• The modem is using older DOCSIS technology that no longer works with our network.
• The modem may be broken or nonoperational. There is no way to test this until after you purchase the modem and have tried to activate it. Just because the light comes on when you plug the modem in does not mean it is fully operational.
• There may be a defect in the equipment that can only be identified when the modem is online and configured.
• The modem may be stolen or belong to another Internet Service Provider
• In most cases, you are unable to return a used modem if it does not work.
• The ports on the modem may not be operational.