Difference Between DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 – Which Will Perform Better and Why

Most of users gets confused between docsis 3.0 and docsis 3.1. In this article we are going to talk about difference between docsis 3.0 and docsis 3.1, their advantages, disadvantages and which docsis has better performance. But first, lets talk a about DOCSIS. The Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification (DOCSIS) is an international telecommunications standard for transmitting digital data over cable television networks.

The DOCSIS standard was designed to provide consistent quality of service (QoS) to end-users, independent of the type of cable modem that they have. The standard provides QoS guarantees by assigning preferential bandwidth and queue management treatment to specific types of network traffic, like IPTV video streams or VoIP phone calls.

Docsis 3.1 is the latest modem technology to provide internet connectivity to homes and businesses. It is also known as docsis 3.1 gigabit, which promises speed up to 10x the speed of docsis 3.0, but it is not an upgrade or an improvement over docsis 3.0, it’s a standalone technology with its own set of features and drawbacks.

The most important difference between docsis 3.0 vs docsis 3.1 is their data transfer rate (download speed). Docsis 3.0 has a maximum of 1 Gbps downstream while docsis 3.1 can reach 10 Gbps download speeds with uploads up to 1 Gbps.

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You can easily get download rates of up to 10 Gbps and upload speeds of up to 1 Gbps with a competent DOCSIS 3.1 modem and network, which is much faster than what you could achieve with DOCSIS 3.0. The majority of DOCSIS 3.1 modems provide channel bonding, which employs 32 downstream channels and 8 upstream channels. They aren’t beneficial if you don’t have a gigabit internet connection, but if you have, you’ll notice a significant increase in stability and performance.

To utilize DOCSIS 3.1, you’ll need a cable internet provider such as xfinity in your region that has deployed the technology/infrastructure, as well as a modem that supports it, which may be slightly more expensive than DOCSIS 3.0 modems.

DOCSIS 3.0 was first introduced in August of 2006, making it rather ancient by today’s standards (it’s a precursor to 3.1). Take nothing away from its potential, though. It has download speed of up to 1 Gbps and upload rates of up to 300 Mbps. The fastest DOCSIS 3.0 modem can support up to 32 downstream and 8 upstream channels, making it appropriate for virtually any online activity. It doesn’t matter if you’re gaming, streaming, or browsing internet. You’ll be able to accomplish everything at the same time, even across many devices.

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DOCSIS 3.0 modems start at roughly $50 and run all the way up to $400 for the top tier models. However, I don’t believe most individuals require that level of quickness. On average, a modem costing roughly $150 would suffice. Depending on the model, you may have to spend $20-50 extra if you’re obtaining a combo modem router. DOCSIS 3.0 was the successor of Docsis 2.0. The 50-60 dollar DOCSIS modems have 16×4 or 8×4 channels for download and upload, which makes them usable only for low tier packs such as 100 or 200 Mbps.

I would recommend you to invest in docsis 3.0 modem (if your ISP still supports docsis 3.0), only if you are tight on budget. Otherwise, get a modem with at least 16 downstream and 4 upstream channels, as it will be future proof to some extent, and you will be able to upgrade your plans when needed.

The incompatibility of DOCSIS 3.0 with Gigabit plans is one of the primary drawbacks of adopting it in 2020. Although cable internet providers assure that their equipment can manage very high data speeds, this is only true in exceptional circumstances. To reach these speeds, you must be in specific areas in major cities, and not everyone or every place will have DOCSIS 3.1 installed.

If you aren’t planning on using it for Gigabit speeds, then docsis 3.0 modem should be a good pick. Choose an internet plan with a download speed of roughly 600 Mbps, and you’ll be OK. Furthermore, because this technology is still evolving, Gigabit plans are not as widely available as one might imagine. If you reside in a location where it isn’t available, go for DOCSIS 3.0. It will be significantly less expensive than a DOCSIS 3.1 device.

DOCSIS 3.1 is a very new technology with a long way to go before it is suitable for the general public. The first difficulty is that it is rather costly. Even the most basic DOCSIS 3.1 modem can set you back roughly 170 dollars, which is out of reach for most people. There are very less modem/router combos to choose from as well, so it will simply be a cable modem. So, in addition to the 3.1 modem, you’ll have to pay for a Gigabit router as well.

The second disadvantage of a 3.1 modem is that it is too advanced for ISPs. Yes, it can handle rates of one or two gigabits per second, but its maximum speed is ten gigabits per second. It might take 5 or even 10 years for internet service providers to catch up, and by that time, your modem will be obsolete. Newer modems would have arrived that are far less expensive and have excellent quality-price ratios.

However, if you want the fastest speeds and don’t mind updating your gadget every two years, go ahead and buy it. You’ll receive the fastest download/upload speeds imaginable. I believe that such high data speeds are only necessary for gamers and broadcasters, and that they are the only people who should spend this much money on modems. Apart from these individuals, I would advise you to wait a little longer. Allow the gadgets to evolve before making the purchase when the moment is perfect.

Still confused! Here is the Simplest explanation of what is docsis and explaining different versions of docsis.

Both docsis 3.0 and 3.1 are high performing cable technology. If you are a high end internet user, downloading big files, streaming 4K content on multiple devices and have up to 1 Gbps internet than you should consider docisi 3.1 modem so you can get maximum possible performance. If your internet plan is lower than 1 Gbps than go for docsis 3.0 modem.