Are you shopping for a cable modem but have no idea which brand and/or model to buy? To help you start on the right foot, let us give you a hint: The best cable modem is the one that offers support for DOCSIS 3.0. Clearly, the list should include these two: Motorola MG7550 and Motorola MG7700. Both are also certified by leaders in cable service, which include Xfinity, Comcast, Cox, and Charter Spectrum.
Now, which between the two is a better choice? We are providing here a comparison of Motorola MG7550 and Motorola MG 7700 in terms of performance, features, ports, and prices to answer this question and to help you come up with a well-informed decision. Read on.
Main Differences
Motorola’s MG7550 and MG7700 are very similar in terms of specifications, compatibility, and features. For example, both rely on a built-in AC1900 dual-band Wi-Fi Gigabit router. The price is also similar, with the MG7550 being slightly cheaper.
There is only a bigger difference in the number of channels: The Motorola MG7550 has 16 downstream channels and 4 upstream channels. The Motorola MG7700 on the other hand has 24 downstream channels and 8 upstream channels.
Comparison – Motorola MG7550 vs MG7700
Motorola MG7550 | Motorola MG7700 | |
 |  | |
Wi-Fi 4 | IEEE 802.11 n/b/g 2.4 GHz | IEEE 802.11 n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
Wi-Fi 5 | IEEE 802.11 ac/n/a 5 GHz | IEEE 802.11 ac/n/a 5 GHz |
Wi-Fi 6 | ||
WiFi Speeds | 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps | 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps |
Downstream Channels | 16 | 24 |
Upstream Channels | 4 | 8 |
External Antennas | 0 | 0 |
RAM | not stated | not stated |
Processor | not stated | not stated |
WAN Ports | 0 | 0 |
LAN Ports | 4 | 4 |
USB Port | ||
Wi-Fi On/Off Button | ||
Power On/Off Button | ||
WPS/Reset Button | ||
WiFi Encryption | WPA, WPA2, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, TKIP/AES, 802.1x Authentication | WPA, WPA2, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, TKIP/AES, 802.1x Authentication |
SPI Firewall | ||
IPv4 | ||
IPv6 | ||
Dual-Band Trechnology | ||
External Memory Slot | ||
Dimensions | 9" x 8.5" x 2.5" / 22.9 x 21.6 x 6.35 cm | 9" x 8.5" x 2.6" / 22.9 x 21.6 x 6.4 cm |
Warranty | 2 years | 2 years |
Motorola MG7550 | Motorola MG7700 |
| | |
Wi-Fi 4 IEEE 802.11 n/b/g 2.4 GHz | Wi-Fi 4 IEEE 802.11 n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
Wi-Fi 5 IEEE 802.11 ac/n/a 5 GHz | Wi-Fi 5 IEEE 802.11 ac/n/a 5 GHz |
Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
WiFi Speeds 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps | WiFi Speeds 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps |
Downstream Channels 16 | Downstream Channels 24 |
Upstream Channels 4 | Upstream Channels 8 |
External Antennas 0 | External Antennas 0 |
RAM not stated | RAM not stated |
Processor not stated | Processor not stated |
WAN Ports 0 | WAN Ports 0 |
LAN Ports 4 | LAN Ports 4 |
USB Port | USB Port |
Wi-Fi On/Off Button | Wi-Fi On/Off Button |
Power On/Off Button | Power On/Off Button |
WPS/Reset Button | WPS/Reset Button |
WiFi Encryption WPA, WPA2, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, TKIP/AES, 802.1x Authentication | WiFi Encryption WPA, WPA2, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, TKIP/AES, 802.1x Authentication |
SPI Firewall | SPI Firewall |
IPv4 | IPv4 |
IPv6 | IPv6 |
Dual-Band Trechnology | Dual-Band Trechnology |
External Memory Slot | External Memory Slot |
Dimensions 9" x 8.5" x 2.5" / 22.9 x 21.6 x 6.35 cm | Dimensions 9" x 8.5" x 2.6" / 22.9 x 21.6 x 6.4 cm |
Warranty 2 years | Warranty 2 years |
Performance
Motorola MG7550 features both the 16×4 DOCSIS 3.0 cable modem and the AC1900 Dual Band Wi-Fi Gigabit Router. It is almost similar to the Motorola MG7700 as the latter also has a built-in AC1900 Dual Band Wi-Fi Gigabit Router. The only difference is the specification of the Motorola 7700 cable modem: 24×8 DOCSIS 3.0. Both devices may be DOCSIS 3.0 cable modems, but they are still compatible with DOCSIS 2.0 and 1.1 services. Compared with DOCSIS 2.0, downloads using the Motorola MG7550 are 16 times faster, while downloads using Motorola MG7700 are 24 times faster.
If you are looking for a device that can offer high-speed shared Internet, either cable modem is a good choice as both let you connect to a maximum of 253 wireless and Ethernet devices.
With Motorola MG7550, the cable modem comes with 16 downstream channels with a speed that can go as fast as 686 Mbps and 4 upstream channels at a speed of up to 123 Mbps. The Motorola MG7700, on the other hand, has eight upstream channels with speeds that can go as high as 246 Mbps and 24 downstream channels at a nominal speed of above 1000 Mbps. However, the actual numbers of speeds of the upstream and downstream channels of both tools may still depend on several factors, such as your cable provider’s speed, with the Motorola MG7700’s suggested maximum actual downstream service speed of 650 Mbps. Both MG7550 and MG7700 come with full-band capture digital tuner that lets you achieve faster, reliable Internet connection and higher speeds.
But what makes these two more powerful when it comes to faster, more stable, and better wireless coverage are the AnyBeam and Power Boost technology. For additional speed and range according to the FCC limit, they both carry the Wireless Power Boost technology. Their wireless clients, on the other hand, can enjoy improved performance and range because of the focused support provided by AnyBeam implicit beamforming at 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz. Additionally, they come with the built-in Wi-Fi Gigabit Router, which allows on-board direct connection. However, only the MG7550 works on Wi-Fi DFS frequencies. This feature helps minimize the chance of your Wi-Fi connection interfering with that of your neighbor. Checking their internal antennas, they have the same number that they are able to provide send and receive channels (three for each).
Features
Even in features, Motorola MG7550 and MG7700 are similar. They are compatible with IEEE 802.11 n, ac, g, and b devices, which include computers, smartphones, HDTVs, game stations, and tablets. Basically, you may not encounter any issue when it comes to gadget use as these are common. They also work for IPv4 and IPv6; thus, you are assured of robust, flexible network addressing. Because they are designed as a vertical unit, shelf space is not a problem as it can fit easily. This shape also helps make the wireless performance and cooling better. At the back, they have the power jack, Coax cable connector, WPS, as well as power and reset buttons. However, only the Motorola MG7550 has the WLAN enable and disable function.
For parents who want to make sure that their children get access only to content suitable for them, they can never go wrong choosing between MG7550 and MG7700 because both have built-in parental control capability. They also comprise Configuration Manager that allows context-sensitive help, where users can easily get access to the information they need right from the application; thus, they no longer have to read the user manual.
Each cable modem already comes with a wireless security password, so the setup can be done faster and will not give any trouble. Changing it is a breeze as well, and there’s also the advanced firewall to offer additional security.
Motorola MG7550 and MG7700, which are also alike when it comes to product dimensions (8.6” H x 9.1” x 2.6” W), feature seven status-reporting LEDs. To assure you of a good investment, they also come with power surge circuits and ruggedized lightning.
Ports
The similarity of MG7550 and MG7700 continue with ports as they both feature four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports in case you opt for a wired connection for your tablet, computer, HDTV, or other Ethernet-compatible devices.
Price
Motorola MG7700 comes at a higher price, $174.97, as of this writing. The Motorola MG7550 is at $144. Using the MG7700 can save $132 or higher each year for cable modem rental fees. On the other hand, the MG7550 lets you save $120 or more. However, actual savings still vary on your cable service provider.
Conclusion – Motorola MG7550 vs MG7700
As we compare the two cable modems, we have discovered that they are similar in most specifications, compatibility, and features. So regardless of which cable modem you choose to purchase, you can expect to enjoy almost the same level of speed and performance. If you are concerned then with your budget, you can go for the one that has the much lower price—the MG7550. Otherwise, you can opt to buy the Motorola MG7700 if you firmly believe that products that cost higher tend to be more reliable than those that come cheaper—which is clearly not the case here because, as we said, they are almost the same.
Primarily, both Motorola cable modems have built-in AC1900 Dual Band Wi-Fi Gigabit Router, Wireless Power Boost, and AnyBeam beamforming. They can also build connections to a maximum of 253 wireless and Ethernet devices. For faster, reliable Internet connection and higher speeds, MG7550 and MG7700 have a full-band capture digital tuner. More importantly, they are compatible with almost all devices people commonly use today: tablets, computers, smartphones, and notebooks.
If there’s one specific factor that makes the MG7550 better, it is its ability to work on Wi-Fi DFS frequencies that therefore lessen the vulnerability of your wireless connection to interfere with that of your neighbor.
