Recently, I upgraded my Cox home internet to their Gigablast plan, providing me with up to 1 Gbps download speeds; to complement this improvement, I added a Technicolor CGM4141 Panoramic Wi-Fi Modem to help spread this signal to the entire house. As I have used this system for a few days now, I felt that it is time to properly review it.

One of the most enticing features about the Technicolor CGM4141 is its dual-purpose abilities as both a modem and router. In addition, the device will automatically select the best Wi-Fi frequency and allow rules to be set to facilitate managing specific devices on the network (great for kids).

For specs, the modem is DOCSIS 3.1 compliant, includes an IPv4/IPv6 router, 802.11n 2.4 GHz/802.11ac 5 GHz dual-band technology, 32×8 channel bonding, PacketCable 2.0 eDVA, 2-port Gigabit Ethernet switch with advanced routing capability, and an internal power supply and optional battery backup (24/8 hours). For security, the integrated firewall provides Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI), and an integrated Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDS) engine monitors a wide range of attack patterns and logs potential security breaches to a local cache or remote server. BPI+ communications privacy is utilized to secure the data exchange between the gateways and the cable operators’ servers. These features, coupled with Cox’s included Security Suite and a mix my own protection, provide me with peace of mind knowing that my data will always be my own.

Upon installation, I quickly realized how useful the Panoramic Wi-Fi app is. While I didn’t really need help with the instructions on how to set up the device, it was nice to be able to control pretty much everything on my network from my phone, no matter where I was located. With the app, I can see real-time performance information, network activity, be alerted when new devices connect, create individual profiles, name devices, and effortlessly troubleshoot any issues I run into.

Compared to my older Wi-Fi router, the Technicolor CGM4141’s range is a massive upgrade. Placed in the central-most location in my house, I have a full signal on all floors and even quite far into the front and backyard. In the future, if I need even more coverage, I can install Panoramic Wi-Fi pods, thus creating a mesh Wi-Fi network. The Panoramic Wi-Fi Pods help to eliminate dead zones, are self-optimizing, able to be managed with the Panoramic Wi-Fi app, and have an AC1200 Wi-Fi capacity rating.

While we are still unpacking from the move, I did have a few chances to check out the performance offered by the Technicolor CGM4141. The modem itself is located on our main floor, so I went into the finished basement, upstairs, backyard, and even the end of the driveway to test the network’s coverage. To my surprise, the only time I lost more than a bar of the signal was at my mailbox, quite far from the placement of the modem. As we have been so busy moving in, I have yet to do a full speed test at different locations around the house, but I can definitely say that websites and streaming videos load almost instantly. I also haven’t had the time to test its wired speeds, as my computer is still inside multiple boxes. For such a small modem, I was pleasantly surprised that the performance of the device made my older giant brick of a router look like something out of the ’90s.

Speaking of streaming video, while I am Roku user, I decided to add a Cox Contour Stream Player to the mix as I ended up saving money with my plan by doing so. My Roku stick was most likely outdated, but still, the performance of the Contour Stream Player is an extensive upgrade. My favorite feature is the microphone on the remote, which allows you to merely press a button and speak what you wish to watch. For example, when our baby is crying, I can say, “Baby Einstein on YouTube”, and be immediately taken to their YouTube page. The only thing that I miss from Roku is the ability to dd Hulu, so I might need to use both devices. While I most likely won’t add Cox’s home security plan, Homelife, the Contour remote can control Homelife’s lights, thermostats, and locks. Also, the Contour Stream Player can connect to speakers and headphones through Bluetooth, making it an excellent and inexpensive hub to a sound system.

Overall, I am thoroughly pleased with the upgrade to Cox Gigablast, the Technicolor CGM4141, and the Contour Stream Player. While the internet plan and every device I am now using are new, I still ended up saving around $30 a month from my old plan. Not too bad!

Content and Images: Cox. (2019). Technicolor CGM4141. Retrieved from https://www.cox.com/residential/support/technicolor-cgm4141.html.