Do I Need To Update My Modem
Your modem needs to update its firmware whenever the manufacturer issues a new version of it. New versions of firmware will exist released when your modem manufacturer fixes a bug or addresses a security concern in your modem's software.
Past updating your modem's firmware, you lot're improving both the security and performance of your modem.
So how do you update your modem's firmware?
The skilful news is, y'all're not responsible for updating your modem'southward firmware. Your internet service provider (Internet service provider) will send firmware updates to your modem.
This doesn't mean you shouldn't pay attention to your modem's firmware. In some cases, ISPs won't update your modem firmware as often as they should. Sometimes they won't update your firmware at all.
It'southward your job to make certain that your Internet access provider is updating your modem'south firmware.
In this post I'll break down everything you need to know nearly updating your modem. Nosotros'll discuss:
- How your modem firmware is updated
- Where you can find your modem's current firmware version
- How to determine what firmware version your modem should take
Let's get going.
What is modem firmware?
Before we get over the process of updating your firmware, permit's start from square one.
What is your modem'south firmware, exactly?
Your modem's firmware is the software that determines how your modem functions.
This includes:
- How it starts upward and shuts downward
- How it connects to your Isp to provide you with an cyberspace connection
- What the settings page looks like when you log in to your modem's settings
If you haven't noticed past now, it's a very important function of your modem. In fact, your modem won't work without it.
When you receive a modem, the firmware will come preloaded on information technology. That'southward considering the manufacturer builds your modem with the firmware embedded on a computer chip in the device.
The only way your modem'due south firmware tin can be inverse is by updating the firmware or installing brand new firmware on the device. Every bit a user, you can't make any changes to how your modem's firmware functions.
Why should I update my modem firmware?
Making sure your modem's software is updated is very important.
Any time a software bug or security flaw is plant in your modem's lawmaking, the manufacturer will update the lawmaking for your modem and issue an update.
If your modem's firmware isn't updated, it won't receive any performance or security updates that the modem manufacturer develops.
This includes new features likewise. If your modem manufacturer develops a new feature for your modem, you won't be able to employ it unless you lot have the latest software.
Chances are, you paid skilful money for your modem. Fifty-fifty if you're renting it and paying monthly. You want to make certain you're getting the best performance, features, and security to go with it.
Peculiarly today with everyone emailing, banking, and shopping online, you lot want to make sure your net connection is as secure as possible.
How to update your modem firmware
When it comes to updating your modem, in that location's skilful news and bad news.
The good news is that the procedure for updating your modem doesn't require as much endeavor as updating your router does. In fact, updating your modem requires no action on your office at all.
That's correct. You read that correctly.
You aren't responsible for updating your modem. Your ISP is.
Ok so if that's the practiced news, what'south the bad news?
Before nosotros go into that, let'south intermission down how the modem update process happens.
How does your ISP update your modem firmware?
Any time your modem manufacturer bug an update to your modem'south firmware, they send it to your Internet access provider.
From there, it's your Internet service provider's job to make sure your modem gets updated.
Earlier the update is pushed to your modem over your internet connectedness, there's more to be washed.
When an Isp gets a firmware update for a specific modem, they have to check and exam it. Starting time and foremost, your ISP needs to make sure that the internet connectedness between the ISP and the modem owner (you) however works properly after the update.
Once the modem update has been tested and everything works properly, your Internet access provider will upshot the firmware update.
This firmware update volition but affect the modems continued to the Internet service provider of that specific make and model. In other words, your modem will only be updated if your manufacturer issued an update for your specific model. All other modems connected to the ISP won't be updated.
When your modem receives the update, it'll automatically install it.
This'll all be invisible to you. The only style to know if your modem was updated is to check the firmware version on the device, which nosotros'll go to later.
Ok. Then earlier I mentioned there was bad news when it comes to updating your modem.
Now that I've described how your modem should be upgraded, let'due south take a await at the downside.
The bad news well-nigh modem updates
What'due south bad nearly your Isp updating your modem for you lot? Information technology seems like a pretty piece of cake procedure.
The trouble with your ISP being in charge of updating your modem is that your modem doesn't always get updated like information technology should.
This can exist especially true when your internet programme isn't with a large provider. For example, I'one thousand talking about the major players similar AT&T, Comcast/Xfinity, Verizon, or Cox Communications.
Let's looks at information technology from an ISPs perspective.
They have thousands of customers, and their customers all have different modems.
Some modems are make new.
While others are older.
Some are made by large manufacturers.
While others are made from smaller, less well known manufacturers.
The bottom line is that in that location could be thousands of unlike modems connected to a given ISP. As a result, it makes information technology actually hard to manage all of these modem updates.
Let's say you have an older modem that's not very popular.
Is your Internet access provider going to spend a lot of effort testing and checking modem updates for that modem if merely a minor number of their customers take that same model?
I don't think then.
Another thing to keep in heed is that checking and testing modem updates costs your Internet access provider coin.
Are they going to spend money to accept updates tested for a modem that only a small-scale number of their customers have?
Especially if you take an net plan with a smaller ISP. They may not have a upkeep for testing that other, larger ISPs have.
Hopefully you lot tin can come across the bigger picture here.
The lesser line is that you don't have the same amount of control over your modem updates because your ISP is responsible for updating it.
As a result, all ISPs don't update modems like they should.
How to tell if your modem firmware has been updated
If your Internet service provider isn't going to update you modem when they should, you lot need to know well-nigh it.
So how practice you go near confirming that yous have the most updated version of firmware on your modem?
The first thing to do is bank check what firmware version your modem currently has.
How to check your modem's electric current firmware version
In order to check what version of firmware is currently installed on your router, you'll need to access your modem's settings.
In order to become to your modem's settings, you'll demand to know your modem'south IP address.
Determine your modem's IP address
Don't worry if you lot're non certain what your modem's IP accost is. Yous tin can usually find your modem'southward IP address listed on a sticker on the actual device.
For instance, I take a Netgear CM600 modem. On the lesser of my modem there'southward a sticker that lists its IP address.
As you can encounter, my IP accost is 192.168.100.1. Almost modems should accept a like IP address.
If you don't know your IP address and your modem doesn't take a sticker on information technology, you should try looking online. Modems are shipped with default IP addresses, and at that place are many resources online that list what those default addresses are.
For example, this site details the common IP addresses for Netgear modem's similar mine. But do a Google search for the make and model of your modem and you should be able to find its default IP address.
Log in to your modem'south settings
Once you've determined your modem'south IP accost, type it into your internet browser's search bar.
This'll bring you to your modem'due south login folio.
Log in to your modem with the username and countersign you created for information technology.
If you haven't created a username and password, you can log in with the default values that come with the modem.
How do you lot know what the default values are?
Luckily, this information is listed on your modem besides. Merely take a wait at the aforementioned sticker you lot looked at to find your modem's IP address.
If I hadn't inverse my default password, I'd be able to log in to my modem using "password" equally my password.
If yous don't have these default values listed on your modem, you lot can nigh likely find them online. Similar to your modem'southward default IP address, you should be able to discover the default username and countersign for your brand and model as well.
Every bit a security note, if you lot oasis't inverse the default password for your modem to a custom password, you lot need to. As I mentioned, the default countersign for your modem can exist establish online, which means anyone with access to your network would be able to become to your modem's settings.
Changing the default countersign of your modem volition assistance go along hackers and bad actors from being able to mess with your modem's settings. Merely irresolute the password away from the default goes a long mode towards making your modem more than secure.
This is very important. Take the few minutes to change your modem'due south password if you haven't done so already.
Cheque the firmware version installed on your modem
Ok, now yous've logged in to your modem.
The adjacent pace is to encounter what version of firmware is installed on your device.
Thankfully, this is like shooting fish in a barrel to detect.
Correct when I log in to my modem, the firmware version is listed right on the home page.
As you can see, the firmware version installed on my modem is V1.01.22.
If you have a different brand and model of modem, your firmware version may not be listed on the Home folio. As a result, I'll show you another way of accessing this information in your modem'south settings.
Even if your modem is a different make and model, the steps to find out the firmware version of your device should be similar.
In my case, I can find my firmware version simply by clicking the Advanced tab.
Once on the Advanced tab, my modem'due south firmware version is conspicuously listed.
Now you know what version of firmware is installed on your modem.
Find the latest version of firmware for your modem
Ok and so you know the firmware version of your modem.
The question is: is this the virtually recent version of firmware that your modem's manufacturer has released?
There's only one way to find out.
Nosotros need to go to the source to see what the latest firmware version for your modem is.
In this instance the source is your modem manufacturer's website. That should give united states the information nosotros're looking for.
I'll use my modem as an example. As a reminder, my modem is a Netgear CM600 modem.
My modem's manufacturer is Netgear, then I did an net search for Netgear'south website.
I accessed the Support department of Netgear'south website and was able to access the back up page for my CM600 modem. Within this page, there was a header for firmware and software downloads.
Here's what data was listed in this section.
This section says that firmware upgrades are provided by the ISP. Nosotros're well aware of this at this point.
I wanted more information, so I clicked the provided "Knowledge Base of operations" link.
The "Knowledge Base" provided a list of the latest firmware for all of Netgear's modems. This was exactly what I was looking for.
Hither's what information technology showed for my CM600 modem.
As you can see, depending upon your ISP you may take a dissimilar version of firmware.
My internet plan is with Comcast, and then it looks like my modem firmware should be version V1.01.22.
What a relief.
As nosotros determined in the previous steps, I saw that my modem has firmware V1.01.22 installed. This ways that my ISP is updating my modem like they should.
Equally a result, there'due south no further action at this indicate. I just need to check back in a few months to run into if a newer version of firmware has been released.
What to do if your modem firmware is outdated
In my case, my modem's firmware matches the latest version released by the manufacturer.
What if this wasn't the instance? What tin y'all do?
There are a few things you can do if your modem firmware doesn't friction match the latest version.
We'll take a await at each one so you accept a proficient thought of what your options are.
Reboot your modem
If your modem says it has an quondam firmware version, the first thing to endeavor is to reboot your modem.
When you restart your modem, it runs through multiple checks when it powers up.
I of those checks is to run into if the latest firmware version is running on the modem.
If the modem isn't running the latest version of firmware, it'll get the updated firmware from your Internet access provider and install it.
Essentially what you're doing when you reboot your modem is forcing your modem to double check its firmware. If it'due south out of engagement, it should update automatically equally long as the ISP has issued the firmware update.
Once your modem has powered dorsum upwards, cheque the firmware version once again by following the procedure I previously outlined.
If the firmware is still outdated, try contacting your ISP.
Contact your ISP
When it comes to your Internet access provider, sometimes the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
If your modem's firmware is outdated and rebooting your modem didn't update information technology, give your Isp a telephone call.
On some occasions information technology may accept them a while to issue a firmware update later it's released. If y'all call your Isp you can become a status of the firmware update. They should be able to tell you if they're working on the update or not.
If enough customers call looking for a modem update, it might motivate them to get the the update released sooner.
On the other hand, they may tell you lot that they won't exist updating your modem's firmware. If that's the case, you tin either wait into getting a new Internet service provider or buy a new modem.
Find a new ISP or buy a new modem
Allow's say you've tried rebooting your modem and calling your ISP.
Rebooting your modem didn't piece of work, and your Internet service provider said they won't by updating your modem.
What practise you do now?
I would advise taking ane of two actions. You can:
- Try to notice a new ISP
- Purchase (or rent) a new modem
Information technology's not safe for you to have a modem that isn't updated, because it can leave you open to some serious security concerns. You demand to take action.
Detect a new Internet service provider
If your current Internet access provider won't update your modem, peradventure there's another one that will.
Depending upon where yous live, yous might have a few different ISPs to choose from. If your ISP says they won't update your modem, it might be worth calling their competitor to run into if they'll update your modem's firmware.
For some people this won't exist an selection, as there'south merely one major cyberspace provider in the area. This is the instance for me. At that place's only one Internet access provider that provides coverage to my area, so my hands are tied on this front end.
With that said, this isn't the instance for everyone. It might exist worth taking a few minutes to see if at that place's some other Internet service provider that can both provide you with internet and update your modem.
Buy (or hire) a new modem
If your ISP won't update your modem, information technology's virtually likely that:
- The ISP you're using isn't a major provider
- Your modem is old or an uncommon make and model
If yous don't want to change your ISP (or at that place's no Internet access provider in your expanse) and you want your modem to receive updates, you don't take much of a option. You'll have to change your modem.
One selection is to rent a modem from your Isp. Renting a modem will just near guarantee that it'll receive firmware updates. That'south considering ISPs won't rent out modems that they don't update.
This comes with some tradeoffs though. Rented modems from the Isp are ordinarily modem and router combination devices, and they don't usually offer as many features as standalone modems and routers do.
On meridian of that, renting a modem can be expensive because you're paying for it every month.
If you buy a new modem that's a popular brand and model, it'll most likely receive updates from the Internet access provider because a lot of their customers will have the aforementioned model that y'all do. On acme of that, buying your ain modem will exist cheaper than renting a modem in the long run.
The lesser line here is that y'all want your modem to get firmware updates when they become available. Whether yous find a new Internet access provider or change out your modem, just brand certain that your modem volition get updated.
Wrap upwardly
I can't say it plenty. Your modem needs to be receiving firmware updates.
Although there may be less to practise on your end when it comes to updating your modem, that doesn't mean you should turn a blind centre.
You all the same demand to cheque to brand sure your modem is beingness updated. The risk is as well great from a security standpoint not to. On meridian of that, you don't want your internet functioning suffering considering your Isp won't update your modem.
If you take any questions or y'all would like to share your personal experiences with your modem updates, please feel free to drop a annotate below.
If you found this textile interesting, cheque out some relevant posts I've previously written:
What is a Modem Router Combo?
Why Practise Modems Demand to Be Rebooted?
How to Update Your Router: The Ultimate Guide
Does Your Modem Affect Your Net Speed?
Does a Modem Have an IP Address?
Source: https://network-from-home.com/home-network/how-to-update-modem-firmware/
Posted by: chambersfelf1972.blogspot.com
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