Spectrum IPv6: Yes, With a Capable Modem in Most Areas

Spectrum IPv6 is live in most of its service area, and you get it there with a modem that can handle IPv6. The one line in Spectrum’s own FAQ reads “IPv6 is available today with an IPv6 capable modem in the majority of Spectrum’s footprint.”

You keep IPv4 at the same time, so anything that only knows IPv4 keeps working. The plain answer comes first in each section below, and Spectrum’s own words follow where the FAQ has them.

Does Spectrum support IPv6?

Yes, with two conditions in Spectrum’s sentence: an IPv6 capable modem and a home inside the majority of its footprint. No modem models are named on the FAQ, and for a modem you bought yourself the page says to check with the manufacturer.

Spectrum says it is making sure every connection on its network can reach both IPv4 and IPv6 content, in its words: “We are ensuring that all Internet connections through our network are capable of reaching both IPv4 and IPv6 content and that our end users have access to both.”

Does Spectrum run IPv4 and IPv6 together?

Yes. The FAQ calls this dual stack: both protocols run at once, and anything that only knows IPv4 keeps working.

The FAQ’s definition reads “This means that IPv4 and IPv6 run concurrently at the network level. Dual Stack service ensures that legacy devices, applications and content that support IPv4-only will continue to function while IPv6 deployment continues.”

The two protocols do not talk to each other directly. The FAQ puts it as “IPv4 and IPv6 are not directly interoperable.”

Will your devices use IPv6?

Equipment Spectrum supplies is tested and certified for IPv6 in its lab. For a modem or router you bought yourself, the FAQ says to check with the manufacturer on whether it supports IPv6.

Both sentences, as printed: “For Spectrum equipment, we test and certify our devices in our lab for IPv6 capability.” / “For customer-owned equipment, please check with the manufacturer to determine if your specific device and operating system will support IPv6.”

On computers and mobile devices, Spectrum’s view is that they likely already support IPv6, since IPv6 has been around for quite some time.

If your Spectrum connection is the problem rather than the protocol, start with Spectrum internet keeps dropping or Spectrum 2.4 or 5 GHz.

How do you check whether you have IPv6?

The FAQ gives no steps for checking whether your own connection has IPv6. The page prints the line “Find out more about IPv6, and how to test your device’s compatibility.” and the word test appears in two places on it, that line and the lab certification sentence above, and neither is a procedure.

For a plain description of the address itself, the FAQ puts the two shapes side by side: an IPv4 address is a 32 bit address of 4 octets, and an IPv6 address is 128 bits written as 32 hexadecimal characters, the numbers 0 through 9 and the letters A through F. Its two examples are “Example of an IPv4 address: 24.128.21.12” and “Example of an IPv6 address: 24da:db8:ac10:fe01:2aa:ff:fe00:56ab”.

Can you turn IPv6 off?

Opting out is a no in Spectrum’s FAQ, which adds that you can disable IPv6 on your device and should check with the manufacturer for instructions.

The answer as printed: “No. However, you can disable IPv6 on your device. Check with your manufacturer for instructions on how to do this.”

Is IPv6 less secure than IPv4?

IPv6 and IPv4 get the same security standing in Spectrum’s FAQ. Its one line answer is “IPv6 has the same inherent security as IPv4.”

Why are networks moving to IPv6?

Address space is the main reason most network operators move to IPv6. The FAQ says “While the enormous address space is the primary reason most network operators are motivated to adopt IPv6, there are other advantages that are likely to show benefits in the future.”

Its list of those other advantages has five items: better multicast, a more flexible and extensible header architecture, the potential for more granular Class of Service, the potential for better network mobility, and better peer to peer capabilities.

IPv4 is staying for now. The first answer on the FAQ begins with “No one can yet predict when, or even if, IPv4 will no longer be used globally.”

For more on the service itself, see Spectrum home internet.

Where Spectrum’s FAQ stops

It prints no router or modem setting for turning IPv6 on. The words router, enable and turn on do not appear on the page, and its one modem line is the IPv6 capable modem requirement.

It names no modem models. The words model and approved do not appear on the page.

It prints no prefix length. The word prefix does not appear on the page.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to do anything to get IPv6 on Spectrum?

Two conditions are named in the FAQ: an IPv6 capable modem and a home inside the majority of its footprint. It prints no setting to turn on, since the words enable and turn on do not appear on the page.

Will my old devices stop working on IPv6?

No. Spectrum runs dual stack, and its FAQ says IPv4 only devices, apps and content “will continue to function while IPv6 deployment continues.”

How do I turn off IPv6 on Spectrum?

The opt out answer in the FAQ is a no, and it says you can disable IPv6 on your device and should check with your manufacturer for instructions.

Sources

• Spectrum Support: IPv6 Frequently Asked Questions