Zoom 5370 Review – Own Your Cable Modem And Save Money Now!
2021 Update:
The 5370 is no longer being sold online.
Our recommendation is now the 5345, along with a couple of other similar models. Check them out here:
Are you tired of paying monthly rental fees for your cable modem every month? Then it is time to take control of the situation and get your own cable modem. When you select a modem it is important to find one that is faster than the one from your internet service provider to get the best out of the service.
But how do you find a good cable modem that is not only compatible with your internet service provider but is also easy in your pocket?Trying to narrow down from the huge list of cable modems on the market can be a daunting task not to forget that these even include cheap modems that disguise themselves as quality modems.
Don’t fall into the trap of buying these cheap modems as they end up frustrating you with the poor performance or may even completely stop working after a few uses. Leave the task of finding a good cable modem for your needs as we have handpicked an affordable cable modem that is chock full of features to give even some top models a run for their money.
Read our review below to find out if the Zoom 5370 is as good as it claims to be. It will help you decide if it is the right cable modem for your requirements.
Zoom 5370 Specs
- Super-fast with top speeds of 686 Mbps
- 16 x 4 modem for a high download speed
- Compatible with most US internet service providers
- Backed by a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty
Is The Zoom 5370 The Most Affordable Cable Modem On The Market?
The Zoom 5370 is a great cable modem that you can get for under $70. It has everything from top speeds to ability to use multiple devices to broad compatibility to easy installation and more than you can ask for in a cable modem.
With the advent of wireless routers, it might seem like cable modems has become outdated. But the Zoom 5370 performs so well that it gives some high-end routers a run of their money. Additionally, the modem can also be connected to a router for connecting multiple devices wirelessly.
What you have seen is just the tip of the iceberg. The Zoom 5370 is chock full of features and we will look at each of these features in great detail below. We are sure that you will be equally impressed with it.
Speed
The Zoom 5370 is a mid-range cable modem that gives you a maximum download speed of 686 Mbps. This high speed is suitable for high-speed internet plans and is possible as it employs the DOCSIS 3.0 cable standard.
The number of channels shows how fast your modem is. This 16 x 4 cable modem gives you super-fast speeds by bonding 16 channels for downloads and 4 channels for uploads. Sixteen channels are twice as fast than most other models in the segment that use only 8 channels.
Design
This cable modem has a very slim design and a small footprint measuring only 6.9 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches. So it takes up very little space on your desk or shelf and its all black color blends in with most computer set-ups.
On the front panel are bright LED lights showing the connection status and unlike some other cable modems which have icons, the Zoom 5370 comes with labels making it easier to understand for everyone. The LED indicators are for power on/off, downstream connection, upstream connection, online connection status and LAN connection status.
The back has a power on/off button which can be used to reset your modem or even completely turn off the modem when not in use. This can come in handy if you have kids who refuse to log off the internet.
The Zoom 5370 offers two ways of mounting. You can either wall mount it or simply place it on your desk as it will hardly take any space owing to its small size. The problem with upright modems is that they remain stable but when you connect all the cables, they tend to wobble or tilt backward. But you won’t face this issue with the Zoom 5370 as its base comes with an attached platform that ensures the stability of the modem.
Input Ports
All the input ports for wired connectivity are placed on the rear panel. There is a LAN port, an RF port for use with a coaxial cable and a power input port. In addition to these ports, there is also a power on/off button and a reset button. If you need to reset the modem, then use a pin or a paper clip and long press the reset button for about five seconds.
Multiple Devices
Even though this is a cable modem, you can connect the Zoom 5370 to a router and use multiple devices at the same time. You can use it for everything from gaming to high-definition video streaming and much more.
Size
The Zoom 5370 is a light and compact cable modem that has been designed to fit even in tight spaces. It measures 6.8 x 5.3 x 1.5 inches and weighs a mere 10.4 ounces. It has a small footprint and so will not take a lot of space on your desk.
Hardware
A Broadcom BCM33843D chipset is at the core of the Zoom 5370 that uses ‘Full-Band capture digital tuning’. What this basically does is help your internet service provider to give you a much faster and a dependable internet connection.
This is a DOCSIS 3.0 modem which is much faster than DOCSIS 2.0 and hence gives you high-speed data transfer using your existing cable TV. It also has backward compatibility with DOCSIS 2.0 and 1.0 in case you want to use it with older cable systems.
IPV4 and IPV6
Source: electrosome.com
IPV-6 is the latest in internet protocol and even though most devices still use the older IPV-4 version, there is a slow and steady transition to the IPV6 protocol. So don’t worry about your modem becoming outdated as it is both IPV4 and IPV6 compatible making it ready for use with future devices.
Compatibility
The Zoom 5370 is quite flexible in its compatibility with the various operating systems. You can connect it to Linux, Unix, Windows, Mac or any other Ethernet-enabled computers. You can also connect the cable modem to a wired or a wireless modem and connect multiple devices to the internet.
Certification
The Zoom 5370 comes certified to support DOCSIS 3.0, 2.0 and 1.1. It is also certified by major cable service providers such as Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Bright hour and Cox to name a few.
Easy To Install
Setting up your cable modem is a breeze as it is very intuitive and comes with the necessary instructions in the box. You won’t need any extensive knowledge about modems and anyone can do it. All you will need to do to install is connect all the cables and login to the user-friendly interface and follow the step-by-step set-up. The set-up also does not take a lot of time, so you won’t have to wait for a long time before you can start using your cable modem.
Saves Money
When you buy your own cable modem, you can stop paying the monthly rental to your service provider. In most cases, you would recover the cost of the new modem within a year. This is because typical modem rental fees run anywhere between $8 and $10. But you won’t even have to wait for long with the Zoom 5370, as it is an affordable cable modem retailing under $70.
Warranty
An easy way to find a quality product is to buy from a name brand. But as name brands can be expensive, you can use the warranty period as a measure to gauge the quality of a product. The Zoom 5370 comes with a 2-year manufacturer’s warranty which stands proof for its superior quality. It is not only durable but will also give you a long-lasting performance.
Pros
- Super-fast speeds for all your tasks
- Future-ready with IPV4 and IPV6 compatibility
- High number of channels for improved speed
- Saves you from paying monthly modem rental fees
Cons
- Does not come with the wall mounting option even though it is possible to wall mount it
Conclusion
The Zoon 5370 is a great modem that’s packed with a lot of features for its price point. It not only saves you a lot of money every year by avoiding the monthly modem rental fees but also gives you super-fast cable speeds for all your tasks.
So whether you want to play online video games or watch high-definition videos or just go about using the internet for regular tasks like e-mails and chat, the Zoom 5370 will rock it all. Despite being a mid-tier modem it has some features of top models giving you more value for your money. It also has very positive customer reviews that stand proof to its superior performance. Go ahead get one yourself and you will be glad that you finally bought your own modem.
You might also like our articles on Wacom Cintiq Pro 13 reviews, JBL Everest 300 review and GoPro Hero 3.
Resources
- http://www.zoomtel.com/products/5370.html
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DOCSIS
- https://www.cnet.com/how-to/home-networking-explained-part-8-cable-modem-shopping-tips/
- https://www.howtogeek.com/186941/buy-your-cable-modem-instead-of-renting-it-to-save-4-8-per-month/
- http://www.dslreports.com/forum/r23133055-What-is-the-advantage-of-buying-my-own-cable-modem