Cable Modems?

[boatpuller]

I'm not real computer literate, am getting highspeed cable internet service and they want $4. 95 per month to lease a cable modem, is this a good deal or would I be better off buying one? They will install it either way but they recommend the lease because if anything goes wrong with it they will fix it, I haven't had any hardware problems with my computer and I would think that the cable modem should be relatively trouble free unless I get a bad one and then I should discover that while it is still in warranty.

So should I buy or lease?

If I buy is there a brand that is better than the others or any special features to look for?

Thanks,



Caleb

 

[Xgunfighter]

I use a Tishiba PCX2200 on Cox cable. I bought the modem for 89 bucks. Cox charges 10 per month for rental. Easy install. Check with your service to see a list of modems they use. Then go to best or comp city etc for a good price.

 

[bighammer]

I got service at Charter Cable, but if I had got it thru Circuit City, I would've had a $50 rebate on the purchase of the cable modem. So here I rent at 4 or 5 bucks a month:{

 

[Todd G]

If rent was only $5. 00/month, I would rent. Cox charged me $15/month so I bought one. I did a lot of testing on different cable modems and found (for me) that the Toshiba 1100 was the fastest. I tested the Motorola 4100, Linksys, and the newer Toshiba 2200. All were considerably slower than the 1100 (as in 40%). I could have bought a Motorola for $89 or any of the others for $99. I paid a little more for the additional speed of the 1100. I get consistant 2. 6 megabit dowloads with it.



If you rent, you can just ask for a new modem every year and they will give you the latest one they offer. If you buy, you're stuck with old technology. At $5/month, it would be worth it to just rent IMO.

 

[JConley]

www.linksys.com They have boxes for sale, and they provide a lot more features. I wouldnt worry about it going bad. They have no moving parts, and they last for years since they are never powered down. Computers that stay on 24-7 will also last longer than ones powered off and on all the time.



Forgot to meniton. As far as old technology, the ethernet port that plugs into the cable connection is rated at 10 MB per sec, and on cable service you will only get around 2MB at best. There really isnt anything to upgrade on a cable modem unless you want more features such as wireless or routing. Then you would have to buy another box.

 

[joel]

I had one quit on me....

I was renting with ATT, considering buying since they were charging $10/month, and all of a sudden the one they provided quit working. I called them and the next day, they brought out a new one and I was up and running again. I think it was pretty much a fluke, though. Just before I left/moved, they changed their rate structure so that instead of $10/month rental, they lowered it to like 3. 95/mo, meaning they raised the rates for modem owners by $7/mo or something. Didn't pay complete attention since I hadn't bought one yet. Once I get to TX, I'll check out the options again, but at $4/mo, I'd probably just rent; it'd take you more than 20 months (at $80) to start coming out ahead. Plus, you can ask for upgrades as they come out. Just some points to consider... .

 

[QRTRHRS]

Lightning!

I rent mine and for good reason. I get a good bit of lightning and the modem was wiped in less then a year of having the service. Besides, with the rapid pace of technology changes, just like your PC, that modem is soon obsolete.

 

[DGFoster]

I rent mine right now,but I am going to buy one soon,I have tryed them all and the Motorola SurfBoard 4200 is the best by far.

Go to www . dslreports.com for more info. .

 

[boatpuller]

Thanks for the replies

Thanks everyone for responding, went to ask a few more questions and they have a special that started this week, sign up for a whole year and get the modem for free.

Might look for a faster modem later but going from 56K to 7**K should be enough for now.



Thanks again,

Caleb

 

[dmurdock]

If you have a choice, make sure you get one that uses an ethernet connection vs. the usb connection (between the modem and the computer).

 

[DGFoster]

Ethernet definatly