Can I Buy A Modem Instead Of Renting From Comcast
mr miller something you may not understand is that the equipment that you purchase or lease isnt designed to have an infinite lifespan manufacturers like arris motorola scientific atlanta and other electronics providers design equipment so that they can update it but with early docsis (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification ) modems that software can be updated for only so long till theyve reached the maximum life of the device for example when a company like comcast transitions from a docsis 2 (your old gateway) to a docsis 3 (your new one) the maximum speed go from a theoretical 6-12 to well over 50 depending on what service you have how well your lines work what site you are talking to and the actual electrical response of the piece of equipment in your home. The statement comcast killed my modem is not correct in reality what most likely occurred is an equipment failure
can i buy a modem instead of renting from comcast
You can purchase a VOiP modem online on ebay but it is very unlikely Comcast will be able to activate it. I work for comcast and have never managed to get our computer system to recognize a VOiP modem that did not come from Comcast.
IF anyone even had a clue as to how wifi worked, you may not be so ignorant to the hard facts. Please do buy your own modems!!! Less crying and whinning CC techs have to listen to from ignorant and clueless dumbasses. ;-)
Ive been a comcast customer by default due to my HOA for four years. I purchased my own modem router and worked fine for two years then noticed terribly slow speeds, loss of internet/signal etc.. Turns out that since its not leased from comcast, theyre bot obligatded and didnt allow the modem updates hence all the issues im having. I purchased a different modem and this time a seperate router and no problem for two years. Now same thing happened and due to the frustration, im leasing the modem/router from comcast :(
I have purchased my own modem since the beginning. I update it regularly according to the recommended modems. Now comcast tells me that I cannot reach my average speed unless I rent a modem from them. HOw do I get the speed I pay for without having to rent a modem from them?
This is almost 5 months past your post, I own the ARRIS SURFboard SB6183 (164) and used it over a year ago with comcast. We moved and used RCN, now moved again and have to go back to Comcast. Now they are saying my modem is out of date and I need to buy a newer model. As of 5/2/19, are you still using that model or did they make you update it too?
This means a strong WiFi connection for everyone and WiFi coverage that will reach every corner of your home. The new NETGEAR DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem for Internet and Voice (CM500V) provides a connection to high-speed cable Internet and supports two phone lines. It automatically prioritizes voice over Internet for best call clarity and also offers enhanced call features such as 3-way conference calling, caller ID, call forwarding and more. This cable modem is ideal for XFINITY from Comcast Double and Triple Play service plans.
The drawback to buying your equipment is the overall expense. If your modem, router, or gateway fails, the replacement comes out of your wallet. The burden of cost is also yours when you want to upgrade. Free technical support from your internet provider may or may not be available.
That said, if you are about to move soon, renting for a couple of months might make more sense instead of buying. As the modem you buy might not work in your next location. Also, if you rent a modem, Comcast offers tech support and free replacements.
So I currently have a Netgear AC1600 Wifi Cable Modem and it has been acting up for the past month. I originally brought it in 2016 when I moved into my older place then when I brought my house a year and half ago I moved it into my house. The Modem randomly drops and I have to reset it in order to get it working again (I know this isn't comcast's fault for once) and my dad said that I should rent one then buying one as he always have modems start breaking after a couple of years with Comcast (since moving to Verizon Fios he hasn't had any issues). So I'm wondering if I should go back to renting a Comcast Wifi or if I should buy a new one that may only last a couple of years.
One of Comcast's most ludicrously profitable businesses is renting out cable modems. These devices, which allow users to access the internet over cable networks, can cost as little as $30 if you buy them used. And until recently, Comcast was renting them out to people for around $8 per month. In other words, as little as six months of modem rental fees cost more than buying a device outright.
I got a good deal. The modem I purchased retails for $69.95 on Amazon. The refurbished price has risen to $55 from the $30.95 I paid last year. And you might need to pay more if you need a modem that supports features such as voice calling.
Yes, you need both. When you get equipment from Comcast Xfinity, you usually get what is called a combo or wireless gateway, which just means that single, tall device is both a router and a modem. However, the router is what enables all of your devices to speak to one another, regardless of internet connection, and the modem is what connects your home network to the internet.
Comcast Xfinity also makes available a site that helps you find a compatible modem based on your area and internet speed, but you have to provide your ZIP code and your internet speed for them to give you a list of which personal options are most compatible. Depending on where you live this can range from just a handful of modems and routers you can purchase through almost 100.
But if you want to control your modem from the Xfinity mobile app, an Xfinity modem like the xFi Gateway is the right way to go. The xFi Gateway is available by directly renting from Xfinity for $14 per month.
Doing so is usually a smart move. For instance, plenty of decent modems cost less than $100. With the average cost of renting a modem from your provider sitting at around $10 per month, a device like that would pay for itself in less than a year and then continue saving you money each month after that. In other cases, where providers will rent you a high-end gaming router or a decent mesh router for a modest monthly fee, doing so might be a pretty decent deal.
Astound Broadband offers home internet service in several large metros across the country -- including Austin, Chicago, Houston, New York and Seattle -- and the modem and router rental terms vary from region to region and plan to plan. In some cases, the rental fee can be included for as low as $3 per month, but in others, you'll need to pay as much as $15 monthly.
Xfinity offers customers the option of renting the xFi Gateway, which combines a modem and a router into a single device at the cost of $14 per month. You can skip that monthly charge by using your own modem and router.
Mediacom is a midsize cable internet provider, and customers need to pay $13 per month to rent a cable modem from the company. You can skip that fee by using your own modem, but it'll need to be at least a DOCSIS 3.0 model (and Mediacom recommends going with a newer DOCSIS 3.1 model). Here's the full list of approved hardware (PDF).
Kinetic is Windstream's home internet service, and the equipment rental fees vary slightly by region, ranging from $7 to $10 per month. Paying that fee gets you a combination modem-and-router gateway device, but you can skip the fee outright if you use your own modem and router hardware.
WideOpenWest -- or WOW, as the company enjoys branding itself -- charges customers $14 per month to rent a cable modem, but you can skip that fee by using a WOW-approved modem (PDF) of your own. Separately, customers can pay $10 per month to rent a two-piece Eero mesh router (the regular, non-Wi-Fi 6 version from 2019, to be specific). And yep, you can skip that fee if you already have a router that you're happy with.
Whether you are looking to live somewhere long-term or temporary, you need internet and Wi-Fi service to do a lot of things nowadays. This may have you wondering about purchasing a modem and router or renting one. Xfinity offers modems and routers to rent. But, is it better to buy your own modem and router or to rent the equipment through Xfinity?
Thinking about it long term, buying a modem and router is cheaper than renting them. However, you do have to spend more money upfront, ranging from $100 to $200 dollars for each piece of equipment, depending on their performance.
On the other hand, the installation process when renting a modem and router from Xfinity is better for non-tech savvy people than when you purchase the equipment. This is because Xfinity has a 24/7 customer support service to help you set up your modem and router.
When you rent a modem and router from Xfinity, you may get underperforming equipment. The equipment that they provide may have fewer channels which can cause slower megabits per second. This, in turn, causes slow internet speeds on each device connected to the modem and router.
If your cable internet provider charges you an expensive modem rental fee every month, consider buying your own modem instead. A modem generally pays for itself in the first year of ownership, and most will give you speedy internet for years to come. After researching nearly 100 cable modems over the past six years, we recommend the Motorola MB7621 as the best cable modem for use with most internet service providers (ISPs) and internet plans.
If you have a gigabit or multi-gig internet plan and your ISP allows you to use your own modem, the Motorola MB8611 is the best of the DOCSIS 3.1 modems that are widely available right now, thanks to its relatively low price and two-year warranty. You need a DOCSIS 3.1 modem to guarantee gigabit speeds from most cable ISPs, and some ISPs like Sparklight recommend DOCSIS 3.1 modems for new cable modem activations.
I have to disagree. For combined modem/router devices, you may be able to update the router portion of the firmware, but NOT for the modem section. And the user cannot update any firmware at all for cable modems alone. This process was set many years ago to prevent people from stealing internet service. Unfortunately, it also gives the ISP full control of your device and the reason to deny line debugging if they chose. 041b061a72
