Noisy modem

[WillA51]

I am getting thoroughly fed up with the fan noise from the XB6 modem.  Even when placed in the basement on a resilient pad, the noise transmits through to the main floor.  It is clearly a problem with this model as it is the second one that Shaw has sent me. 

What is especially infuriating is that I had a Hitron (fanless and silent) modem, and which worked fine even after upgrading to 300Mbps but Shaw support insisted I needed this crap modem instead, for which I pay $10 per month more than I did previously!

Shaw, DO SOMETHING about your inferior equipment!

[Kritiker]

Try to escalate the case and/or talk to a different Shaw customer service or technical support agent. Pick the category that you haven't already talked to. Perhaps one will let you "downgrade" back to a Hitron. When I expressed concerns about the XB7 I was assured, by a customer service rep that if I had to downgrade back to the Hitron it wouldn't be a problem. What I wasn't told was whether I would still be at 500Mb/s or back to 300Mb/s.

In any event you should be trying to get the modem rental charge waived/discounted back, especially if you are on a bundle. Some bundles include the modem rental and 2 rent-free TV players.

I just replaced a Hitron CGNM-2250 which had been running reliably and quietly providing me (in bridged mode) with reliable 300 Mbps legacy Internet. Had I not wanted 500 Mbps, I too would have stayed with the Hitron I had.

I upgraded to Fibre+ 500 and was told I would get an XB7 on several web pages and by several people. When I finalized the arrangement, I was almost given an XB6, but after I mentioned to the agent that I had been promised an XB7 and that I thought it was a better fit to my requirements, she was able to provide me with the XB7. It is now running well and relatively quietly, making an easy on the ears low, white-noise, again in bridged mode. It would be more noise than I'd like in my office but it's now in the laundry room and soon will be moved into the kitchen, both places where a gentle noise isn't annoying.

Good luck.

[WillA51]

Thanks for the advice.  Unfortunately when I last talked to an agent about it they told me the older modem was no longer available.  My experience with various agents is that they have limited ability or motivation to change anything.

I asked about waiving the $10/month rental but got nowhere.  In any case, that would not have solved the noise issue. I'm resigned to buying a wireless extender (I was offered a $50 "discount" on a $10/mo extender rental for my troubles - not worth it on a 2 year contract!) but there is still the problem of where to locate this @##$% modem so I can't hear it.

Not sure what you mean about "picking a different category." It all goes through the same pipeline and Shaw have a record of all chat and phone sessions connected to the account.

[rstra]

@WillA51 

Are you on a 2 year plan? The price of the modem is part of the pricing, even though you see it as a separate item on your invoice.

Unfortunately, there is no going back to the legacy modems. 

[WillA51]

My previous plan included the modem which was then discounted off the bill, unlike the present one.  So this 2 year plan is therefore about $20/month more.  I would not have agreed to it if I'd known the issues.

Do you know if the XB7 modem is fanless or at least better soundproofed?  If so I will try to get that instead. 

[rstra]

@WillA51 

The XB7 does have a fan, but it probably doesn’t run as often as the XB6 because it uses a wall power adapter and not a built in power supply. 

[Kritiker]

@rstra is right - there is a fan but it is fairly quiet - at least mine is - just a bit of white noise.

[ConnFail91]

I would have to agree! Ten bucks a month or 120/ year, therefore ive paid $360 for this piece of junk so far. Getting fed up with Shaw altogether .. 

[jgyie8]

Crappy bluecuve modem. Shaw; Why not solved ? 

[mdk]

@jgyie8 -- Why not solved ? 

I recently upgraded from "Fibre+ 300" (maximum of 15 Mbps  upload) with the Shaw HITRON modem to "Fibre+ 500" (with a maximum of 100 Mbps upload) with the Shaw XB7 modem. I can verify that both the HITRON and the XB7 are very quiet. My two-year Value Plan only had 4 months left when I renewed/upgraded, and I'm paying only $4/month more than I started my Value Plan, 20 months ago.