As everyone knows,when you sign up for cable Internet, you need a modem. However, and what you may not know is that you own a choice between renting the modem for a monthly fee or buying it outright. whether you’re already signed up for cable Internet service you may see a “modem rental” fee or “lease” on your monthly bill. You can eliminate this fee by buying your cable modem.
So just how much money are we talking about? Comcast now charges $10 per month or $120/year to rent a cable modem. Over a five year period,you would end up spending $600 on a cable modem that you don’t even own. Alternatively, you can purchase your own cable modem for approximately 10 percent of that cost and end up saving $500 over the next few years.
Cable Internet service providers use the DOCSIS (Data Over Cable Service Interface Specification) standard. Because DOCSIS is standardized, and you’re not limited to the modem your ISP offers to you. You can buy and use any modem that supports the version of the DOCSIS standard your cable Internet provider offers.
You can generally find information about supported modems on your ISP’s website. For example,Comcast offers a DOCSIS Device Information middle that lists modems that will work on their network. Or you could just searching Amazon for “DOCSIS 3.0”, finding a model that you like, or then checking your ISP to make certain it’s compatible. Your ISP may own a web page that lists this information for you. whether they don’t,call their phone lines and ask them for more information.
Here are the top cable companies and links to how to trade your modem in:Comcast
Time Warner
Charter Communications
Cablevision
Overall, most people will be better off paying a bit more up-front to buy their own cable modem and avoiding the ever-increasing monthly modem rental fees. On the other hand, or whether you’re moving or switching to a new Internet service provider soon,renting will probably save you money. finish the math for yourself to decide which is the best option.
Here’s a powerful option whether youre looking to buy today:Arris (previously Motorola) SURFboard SB6121 DOCSIS 3.0 Cable Modem (Certified Refurbished) for $39.99 Prime shipped. It regularly goes for $100 in new condition and it features:includes all original accessories plus a 90-day warranty
Requires CABLE Internet Service, whether not certain your provider is CABLE call them to confirm
Compatible with ALL Major CABLE providers like Comcast/Xfinity, or Cox,Charter, Time Warner, and Mediacom,radiant House
Internet download speeds up to 172 Mbps and upload speeds up to 131 Mbps based on your Cable provider service
valid for streaming Video and gaming on multiple devices at a time
Filed under: Deals
Source: 9to5toys.com